MINUTES

BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING

                                                                May 14, 2013

                                                                      7:00 p.m.

 

The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:02 p.m. in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman William Heitin, Selectman Walter Joe Roach, Selectman Richard Powell and Town Administrator Benjamin Puritz.

 

APPOINTMENT OF RYAN MCGRATH AS A SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER

 

Chief Bernstein said he was pleased to recommend Ryan McGrath as a Special Police Officer.  He said Mr. McGrath is a long-time Sharon resident, attended Sharon schools, is in the Air National Guard.  He said Mr. McGrath would like eventually to be appointed as a full-time police officer.  Mr. McGrath said he is half way towards his Criminal Justice Associates Degree

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to appoint Ryan McGrath as a Special Police Officer in the Town of Sharon.

 

APPROVAL OF MONUMENT AT JAMES A. KEATING, MEMORIAL PARK

 

Deputy Chief McGrath spoke about the heroics of World War II Veteran, First Sergeant James A. Keating. He was a recipient of the silver star which is one of the highest awards a soldier can receive.  He provided the Selectmen with a rendition of the proposed monument which will include an etching of First Sergeant Keating’s face, and his award from President Truman as well as his date of death.  Deputy Chief McGrath said the monument will be six feet high – he said he had added an extra foot to accommodate the design.  He said that the Historic Commission, the intern who designed the park and Town Engineer Peter O’Cain - all approve the design.  Deputy Chief McGrath said that the last monument in Sharon constructed to honor veterans honored World War II veterans.  He said many of the surrounding towns have memorial honoring veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm.  He said that none of the funds for this monument are coming from the town coffers.  He said though the cost of the monument is $9,000 – none of the funds are from Town coffers.  He said he has already raised $4,500 without any public fundraising as of yet.  The Selectmen are all in support.  There was discussion regarding landscaping at the base of the monument.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the design of the James A. Keating Monument

 

SANDRA BIBER: CANDIDATE FOR SHARON DISABILITIES COMMITTEE

 

Ms. Biber said that she has worked in social services for many years.  She had learned that there are several vacancies on the Disabilities Commission and decided to apply.  She said that she had attended several of the meetings. She spoke about the fundraiser that the Disabilities Commission had just conducted in order to raise funds to award a scholarship to a graduating senior.  Selectman Powell said that he knows Ms. Biber personally and professionally and believed she would be an excellent addition on the Disabilities Commission.

 

MARK PARRISH, PRESIDENT OF CRESCENT RIDGE DAIRY: APPROVAL OF WINE SALES AT FARMER’S MARKET

 

Mr. Parrish said that Crescent Ridge Dairy is going to be hosting a Farmer’s Market for 21 weeks beginning on June 8th.  He explained that the Crescent Ridge Farmer’s Market has been certified by the state as an agricultural event.  Mr. Parrish also said that there will be three wineries included in the Farmer’s Market. On August 5, 2010, Governor Patrick signed “An Act Relative to Economic Development Reorganization” that provides for the sale of wine from a licensed farm winery at an approved agricultural event in Massachusetts.  Chairman Heitin explained that the approval of farm wineries at Farmer’s Markets is a local decision.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve wine sales at Crescent Ridge Farmer’s Market and to approve the wineries as presented this evening

 

JOE EMERSON: APPROVAL OF ABBY S. ZEITLAN MEMORIAL RUN ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2013

 

Mr. Emerson said the purpose of the race is to raise funds for the Abby S. Zeitlan Scholarship.  He reviewed the race route with the Selectmen.  He said they would like to host the race on November 29th in part because Ms. Zeitlan’s children will all be home from college at that time. Chief Bernstein, who was in the audience, said that a police detail would be needed and as the bathrooms would be closed at the beach the group might need to either rent a portapotty or see if the schools would open the High School bathrooms.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Abby S. Zeitlan Memorial Run contingent upon approval of the Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works

 

POLICE CHIEF BERNSTEIN AND FIRE CHIEF WRIGHT: CREATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY REASIBILITY STUDY COMMITTEE

 

Chief Bernstein and Chief Wright reviewed with the Board a list of potential members for the Committee.  Chief Wright reviewed the timeline with the Board and he said he hoped to place the RFP out tomorrow with a proposed close date of late June. At that point an architectural firm would be selected.  The Board decided that Selectmen Roach will serve on the Committee as well.  It was pointed out that the by-law states that the Department of Public Works Superintendent, the Town Engineer and Town Administrator be appointed to this Committee as well.

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to establish the Public Safety Feasibility Study Committee to include DPW Superintendent Eric Hooper, Town Engineer Peter O’Cain, Chief Joseph Bernstein, Chief Jim Wright, Bill Croteau, Richard Rice, Town Administrator Ben Puritz, and Selectman Joe Roach.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes of May 6, 2013

 

 

CONSIDER PLACING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS ONLINE

 

Selectman Roach asked that this item be held.

 

APPROVAL OF BANNERS

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request of the Sharon Recreation Department from May 23 – June 3, 2013 (1st position)

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the banner request of  the Friends of Sharon Council on Aging for the Lakeside Gallery from June 3 – 10 (2nd position)

 

AWARDING OF CONTRACT FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY

 

Chairman Heitin explained that the Town conducted a Hazard Waste Collection each year.

 

VOTED: (Powell/Roach) Voted to approve the contract with PSC for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

 

SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA

 

APPROVAL FOR OUT OF STATE TRAVEL FOR RECREATION DIRECTOR AMANDA DENI AND ASSISTANT RECREATION DIRECTOR CHRISTINE KASPARIAN

 

Chairman Heitin said that there is money in the budget to accommodate the travel of these two employees to the National Recreation and Parks Association Congress and Exposition to be held in Houston, Texas from October 8 – 10, 2013.  He said normally the Board doesn’t permit two members of a Town Department to conduct out-of-state travel in one year.  However, no one attended this meeting last year and both employees are fairly new. Therefore, he believes an exception should be made.

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to approve the attendance of Recreation Director Amanda Deni and Assistant Recreation Deirector Christine Kasparian in Houston, Texas for no more than $2,000.

 

APPROVAL OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT SUMMER HIRING FOR 2013

 

Selectman Roach recuse himself as he has a family member on the list

 

VOTED:  (Heitin/Powell) Voted to approve the Recreation Department Summer Hires as presented on a list to the Selectmen

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

VOTED:  (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to adjourn for the evening to discuss Collective Bargaining with the SMEAS, real property acquisition as it relates to the Rattlesnake Hill property, and at the conclusion thereof to adjourn for the evening. Discussion of these items in public session would be detrimental to the Town’s bargaining position and at the end of Executive Session will adjourn for the evening. 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Heitin:   Aye

Roach:  Aye

Powell:  Aye