By Michelle L. Santoro
Sherman – Meeting for the first time following the failed school renovation project referendum, the Sherman Board of Selectmen (“BOS” and/or “Board”) convened for its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Mallory Town Hall. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Board commenced with a Moment of Silence for the eighteen (18) victims of the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine earlier that week. Sherman Volunteer Fire Department (“SVFD” or “Department”) Chief Chris Fuchs summarized the Department’s activities for the past month. Chief Fuchs discussed Residential and Commercial Supplemental Water Supply.
In his usual fashion, Public Works (“PW”) Supervisor Kris Fazzone provided a comprehensive report on his department for the past month. He advised about the number of compliments he receives from residents regarding the “good” job PW is doing with respect to mowing in town.
After a third straight month on the agenda, the Board unanimously approved PW’s request to move to a Town meeting its request for an amount not to exceed $5,700 for a “fence post mower” attachment, which will assist with moving around guard rails. As an FYI, Mr. Fazzone advised the Board PW will seek to bring to a Town meeting a capital expenditure request for the replacement of its mower that has reached the end of its typical life span. While the mower is still operational, Fazzone advised PW seeks to avoid the expected 2024 price increase and currently, the PW’s mower has an approximate $2,500 trade-in value.
The request is tabled until a future meeting. Mr. Fazzone ended his report by saying, “Thank you for tolerating me.” Selectman Joel Bruzinski summarized the content of the most recent School Building Committee (“SBC”) meeting, which he noted was the best attended meeting to date. Mr. Bruzinski said the architect has ceased working and a full accounting of services rendered, and costs, is planned. Bruzinski pointed out how cooperative and accommodating the architectural firm was when working with the SBC. The SBC has a few details to wrap up with respect to its original charge. Mr. Bruzinski is of the opinion that how the SBC proceeds from this point is a decision for the Board of Education. Both Bruzinski and Selectman Robert Ostrosky acknowledged the receipt of feedback from the community regarding the school, which Mr. nOstrosky identified as “very honest and very strong.” The Board agrees everyone needs to listen.
Sherman’s application for a $240,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (“STEAP”) grant for pickleball courts was approved. First Selectman Don Lowe read the Resolution, pursuant to state statute section 465, authorizing the BOS to accept the grant, and the funds, which acceptance was approved unanimously by the Board. As part of the grant, the Town’s portion is twenty percent or $48,000. The Board then unanimously voted to bring to Town meeting a request for the Town to fund the matching portion of the grant. The pickleball courts are planned for Colonial Field, almost adjacent to the community gardens, near the proposed site for the proposed senior center.
Linda Hubbard of the Sherman Commission for the Arts (“CFA”) presented to the Board the CFA’s desire to implement a CivicLift calendar for the CFA. Mr. Lowe reminded those in attendance that the idea behind the CFA’s creation was to coordinate all the arts, meetings, projects and events occurring in town. Mr. Lowe expressed interest in a Town calendar of events. Mr. Ostrosky voiced concerns about access and oversight. A town calendar with the “Town of Sherman” name would need administrative controls. “Everything gets very gray very quickly.” While Mr. Bruzinski agreed to follow up with Revise (the website’s designer) to ask whether it could provide such calendar without the need for an additional, outside service, the Board agreed to table CFA’s request until next meeting, giving it time to digest all the information provided by Ms. Hubbard. The annual cost for CivicLift’s service is $2,500.
Mr. Lowe made a motion to expend the sum of $408 – likely from the van maintenance line – as the Town’s portion of a DOT 5310 grant for a new senior center van. The total cost of the van is $129,541. The Board unanimously approved the motion. It also voted to bring to Town meeting a proposal to amend Sherman’s Disabled Veterans’ property tax relief ordinance. Mr. Lowe plans to engage the Town’s attorney to draft the amended language prior to said Town meeting. Mr. Lowe also requested Board approval to honor Town employee Carol Havens by naming the unnamed road in front of Mallory Town Hall near the Sherman Playhouse “Carol Havens Way.” The motion passed unanimously.
Other items discussed at the meeting included a storage shed for Mallory Town Hall, a generator for the senior center, the cost for which might qualify under LoCIP, according to Ms. LaVia, and the fact that speeding continues on Leach Hollow Road. The next Board of Selectmen meeting is early because of Thanksgiving; it is scheduled for Thursday November 16, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Mallory Town Hall.