Sharon Springs meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sharon Springs boards weigh school funding, water plant costs, and solar projects

Sharon Springs town boards held a series of meetings over the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published, so no final decisions are known. The most consequential items on the agendas include a School Committee vote on canceling a $75,000 playground donation, a $36,986.77 water treatment plant invoice, and a vote on middle school sports fees.

School Committee

The School Committee met Aug. 12 and Aug. 19. On Aug. 12, it considered a motion to cancel acceptance of a $75,000 donation from the Cottage PTO for the Cottage Street Elementary playground. It also discussed superintendent candidate Dr. Jocelyn, including a presentation and possible appointment, and considered forming a subcommittee to facilitate community introductions. On Aug. 19, the committee discussed and possibly voted on middle school sports fees and a family cap, a motion to rescind the July 29, 2026 appointment of the superintendent effective July 1, 2027, and acceptance of a $10,000 Marijuana Mitigation Fund donation and up to $20,000 from SHS Boosters. It also referred new policies on budget adoption and cell phones, and revisions on student fundraising and superintendent recruitment, to a policy subcommittee.

Water Treatment Plant

The Standing Building Committee met Aug. 18 to review construction updates for the Water Treatment Plant, including roof testing, paving, and electrical work. It considered approval of invoice Voucher #45 from Weston & Sampson for $36,986.77 for engineering services from June 27 to July 24, 2026. Roof testing passed on Aug. 10.

Solar and Energy

The Energy Advisory Committee and Municipal Solar Advisory Committee met jointly on Aug. 10 to vote on draft minutes from July 13 and receive updates on solar projects, including the Mt. Street rooftop project, Middle School rooftop removal, and the Ames Field Pond Street canopy, which is set to start after Labor Day. The Energy Facilities manager reported on off-bill credit allocations for DPW projects, Well #5, Middle School, Pond Street canopy, and Syncarpha.

Other Boards

• The Transportation Advisory Board met Aug. 12 to discuss South Main Street signals, the commuter rail/train station, the Massapoag Rotary, and an East Street sidewalk letter.
• The Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing Aug. 12 for application 1945 at 125 Beach Street.
• The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee met Aug. 13 to elect officers, plan Sharon Day on Sept. 27, and discuss website upgrades and a 3-minute public comment limit.
• The Planning Board met Aug. 19 and Aug. 20. On Aug. 19, it held a public hearing on an Accessory Dwelling Unit bylaw amendment and discussed a battery energy storage system bylaw. On Aug. 20, it discussed a bond release for the Audubon Preserve Subdivision and PO Square Guidelines, and entered executive session on litigation with Sunrise Senior Living LLC.
• The Library Trustees met Aug. 19 to review a traffic counting system, several policies, and a director probationary review.
• The Water Management Advisory Committee met Aug. 20 to discuss drought status, the Water Master Plan, and the new water treatment plant.

Coming up

• **Select Board**, Aug. 25: public hearing on Eversource poles on Old Post Road, vote on moving meeting notice posting to the town website, and appointment to the Lake Massapoag Advisory Committee.
• **Commission on Disabilities**, Aug. 27: review of accessibility at athletic fields, town website, Community Beach and Memorial Beach, and playgrounds.
• **School Committee Negotiations Subcommittee**, Sept. 2: executive session for collective bargaining with the Sharon Teachers Association.

Sharon Springs meetings: Carnegie building reuse, water plant invoices on recent agendas; minutes not yet published

Recent Sharon Springs board and committee meetings were scheduled to weigh a land development agreement for the Carnegie building, more than $224,000 in construction invoices, and several zoning and personnel matters. All recent meetings listed below were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

Building Committee

The Sharon Standing Building Committee was scheduled July 21 to vote on Water Treatment Plant Project Invoice Voucher #44, an Apex engineering services invoice of $139,310.69, and on High School HVAC invoice vouchers totaling $85,592.00. The agenda also listed construction updates for the water treatment plant covering process piping, sitework, electrical ductbank, and a draft start-up plan, plus a budget update and window-testing update. A follow-up Building Committee meeting is set for August 4 with additional water treatment plant construction updates.

Select Board

The Select Board's July 22 agenda included a discussion and potential vote on a land development agreement with developer Rich Derosas for the adaptive reuse of the Carnegie building, including a due diligence period and conditions of sale. The board was also scheduled to vote on appointing Anthony Fortunato, Jillian Jennett, and Matthew Zinno to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for terms through June 2029, and Griffin Weiner as student representative through June 2027. A vote to approve the India Association of Greater Boston's flag-raising ceremony on August 16, 2026, at the Sharon Community Center front lawn was also listed.

School Committee

The School Committee held two executive sessions, on July 22 and July 30, under M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a), to conduct collective bargaining with the Sharon Teachers Association and discuss bargaining strategy. A July 29 remote meeting was scheduled to discuss and potentially vote on the Superintendent's contract, with an executive session to discuss strategy regarding pending litigation (AAA No. 01-26-0000-1807).

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals scheduled a new hearing on case 1944 for the property at 168 Massapoag Avenue, along with review of minutes from its May 13, 2026 meeting. No other specific items were listed beyond topics not anticipated within 48 hours of posting.

Planning Board

The Planning Board was set to continue a public hearing on a Minor Site Plan Review for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center at 414 N Main St, 414A N Main Street, and 4 Nasir Ahmad Road. The agenda also included discussion of a PO Square Guidelines proposal and an executive session regarding Sunrise Senior Living, LLC v. Town of Sharon Planning Board, et al. (Land Court Civil Action No. 26 PS 000212).

Coming up

• **Finance Committee, Aug. 3:** FY2026 Town budget closeout, landfill solar lease financial implications, elected officials' salaries, Carnegie Library building update, and vote on June 29 minutes.
• **Economic Development Committee, Aug. 3:** Introduction of new member Bob Hertzel, planning for a business website, business directory and calendar, Small Business Saturday, and Porch Fest on August 30.
• **Select Board, Aug. 4:** Public hearings on an alcohol license transfer from Ginkgo Restaurant to Cooking Girl Cambridge LLC at 386-388 South Main St., Verizon and Eversource utility poles on Nasir Ahmad Road and Lakeview Street, a Robin Road block party closure, and a one-day liquor license for Castle Island Brewery C2H LLC at Ward's Berry Farm on October 12.
• **Building Committee, Aug. 4:** Review of $85,592.00 in High School HVAC invoices and water treatment plant construction updates.
• **Energy Advisory Committee and Municipal Solar Advisory Committee, Aug. 10:** Joint meeting covering solar project updates including the Mt. Street landfill project, Middle School rooftop removal, Ames Field Pond Street canopy construction, and off-bill credit allocations.

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.