Sharon Springs Roundup: Select Board to Vote on AFSCME Contract; Building Committee Eyes $715,869 Water Plant Invoice
Sharon Springs boards and committees met across a packed two-week schedule, with agendas pointing to several consequential items — including a proposed three-year labor contract and a water treatment plant invoice exceeding $715,000. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, the items below reflect what each body was scheduled to consider, not confirmed outcomes.
Select Board — July 14
The Select Board was scheduled to vote on a successor collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 362 covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The board also planned to vote on appointing Robert Hertzel to the Economic Development Committee, with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2027, and to consider expanding that committee's size and membership criteria. Other agenda items included discussion of a draft land development agreement with developer Rich Derosas for adaptive reuse of the Carnegie building, approval of one-day liquor licenses for Castle Island C2H at Ward's Berry Farm summer events, and an executive session on strategy for the Sunrise Senior Living, LLC v. Town of Sharon litigation.
Sharon Standing Building Committee — July 7
The committee was set to review construction updates for the town's Water Treatment Plant — including process piping, sitework, electrical conduits, a start-up plan, and building enclosure — and to approve Invoice Voucher #43 for $715,869.86 covering construction work through May 2026. The agenda also included approval of HVAC invoices totaling $85,592.00 for the high school project and approval of the June 23, 2026 meeting minutes.
Planning Board — July 9
The Planning Board held a virtual public hearing on a Minor Site Plan Review application for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center at 414 N Main St and 4 Nasir Ahmad Road. The agenda also included a presentation on PO Square Guidelines and an executive session on strategy for the Sunrise Senior Living, LLC v. Town of Sharon Planning Board litigation.
Conservation Commission — July 16
The commission scheduled a public hearing on Land Disturbance Permit LDP-0003 for Sunrise Senior Living at 313 Norwood St, 317 Norwood St, and 5 Edge Hill Road. Continued and new public hearings on aquatic invasive management for The Cape Club (NOI SE280-0672, Ponds 1–7) and LMAC Lake Massapoag (AOOC SE280-0425) were also listed.
Housing Authority — July 6
The Sharon Housing Authority held a public hearing on its Proposed Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2027, including a three-year capital improvement plan, a maintenance and repair plan, and the current operating budget. Public comments were accepted until the hearing closed.
Other Recent Meetings
- **Economic Development Committee (July 6):** Scheduled to adopt procedures for new business signage, citing the former yoga studio on Billings, and to plan a Business Brainstorming Group meeting.
- **School Committee (July 6):** Executive session for collective bargaining strategy with the Sharon Teachers Association at the District Office, 75 Mountain Street.
- **Recreation Advisory Committee (July 9):** Final presentation by the Athletic Field Working Group; update on summer beach pass sales and program registration.
- **Energy Advisory Committee / Municipal Solar Oversight Committee (July 13):** Updates on the Mt. Street LF project, library construction (mechanical complete by 8/13, PTO in 2026), and the Ames Field Pond Street canopy (start 8/10, main construction after Labor Day).
- **Transportation Advisory Board (July 14):** Discussion of South Main Street Signals, Commuter Rail/Train Station, and Massapoag Rotary projects, plus an East Street sidewalk letter.
- **Library Trustees (July 15):** Review and decision on the Library Director's probationary status.
- **Finance Committee (July 16):** Review of governance committee findings and the Town Clerk and Board of Assessors Review Subcommittee charge and timeline.
Coming Up
- **July 21 — Sharon Standing Building Committee:** Vote on Water Treatment Plant Invoice Voucher #44 (Apex engineering, $139,310.69) and High School HVAC invoices totaling $85,592.00.
- **July 22 — Zoning Board of Appeals:** New hearing on case 1944 for 168 Massapoag Avenue.
- **July 22 — School Committee:** Executive session for collective bargaining with the Sharon Teachers Association.
- **July 23 — Planning Board:** Continued public hearing on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center Minor Site Plan Review; executive session on Sunrise Senior Living litigation.
- **July 30 — School Committee:** Executive session to conduct collective bargaining with the Sharon Teachers Association.