Cell Tower, Sacred Heart Property, and Meals Tax on Tap for Special Town Meeting Tonight

Tonight, voters in Sharon will head to the high school when the special town meeting is held at the auditorium at 7 p.m. To read the warrant in its entirety, click here.

One of the bigger issues was expected to be Article 2-4 which dealt with the zoning for a residential development at Rattlesnake Hill. Last week however, the selectmen made their intent known to ask town meeting to take no action on the articles. 

An article that could allow another cell tower in town will also be on the warrant. Article 1, if approved, would confirm the town’s prior vote in 2011 and authorize the selectmen to lease 411 and 421 East Foxboro St. to AT&T for the purposes of installing a multi-carrier wireless communication monopole facility and related access and improvements, on such terms and conditions as the selectmen shall determine.

With the building already down, Article 5 will ask the town to vote to appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Balance for the construction and rehabilitation of the Sacred Heart property for recreational use, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee.

On Sept. 17, the selectmen voted 3-0 to recommend to the reuse committee to budget $70,245 to be requested by the Community Preservation Committee for the field, nine parking spots, and sprinklers.

Article 6 will ask voters to consider approving a local meals excise tax of 0.75 percent.

Article 7 would rase and appropriate a sum of money for resurfacing of public ways and for the reconstruction of sidewalks. 

With $24,9000 left from the high school roof project, Article 8 will transfer the money to the standing building project - building repair/new construction if approved.

Article 9 will see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be added to the stabilization fund.

With the town’s 250th birthday coming up in 2015, Article 10 will see if the town will raise and appropriate the transfer of funds to the Town of Sharon’s 250th Anniversary Committee under the direction of the selectmen for celebratory events and activities to make the Town’s 250th Anniversary. The budget estimation given at the Sept. 27 selectmen meeting was in the $30,000-50,000 range.

Article 11 looks to create an adult entertainment zone in the light industrial zone . While a town cannot ban adult establishments, a designated zone where they can be located can be created.

This article is not intended to promote or bring adult businesses to Sharon but rather regulate where they can be located in the event that an adult establishment attempts to open in Sharon. 

Article 12 would authorize the selectmen to negotiate and enter into a contract for the disposal of the town’s solid waste for a period of no more than 25 years.

Both Articles 13 and 14 deal with billboards on Route 1 with Article 13 authorizing the town to lease property for a billboard and Article 14 updating the bylaws for digital billboards.