Notes From Sherborn Selectmen's Oct. 27 Meeting

Here are some notes from the Sherborn Board of Selectmen's meeting Thursday night:

Downtown Revitalization

The Sherborn Planning Board presented an update on the revitalization of Sherborn’s downtown at the Selectmen’s meeting Thursday night.

Chair of the Planning Board John Higley noted that in each of the town’s master plans revised over the years they all wrote about updating the town center. He said the 2001 master plan was clear in supporting the idea of keeping the town consistent with “the jewel that is Sherborn."

Selectmen Chair Tom Twining said that they needed to be careful and that “a poorly executed development will destroy the character of our town.”

Twining said that with a carefully executed plan would come money to maintain the future of the town.

Twining said that in moving forward with a downtown revitalization they should define what it is they would like to accomplish and how.

Selectmen Paul DeRensis said he is hoping for, “vibrant downtown community.”

Planning Board member Robin Perrera said their goal is to create more of an, “enhancement versus change.”

Higley said that the Planning Board would like create more contact with the townspeople and set up a Facebook page and a blog called Sherborn Happenings and post Town Planner Gino Carlucci’s blog on Dover-Sherborn Patch. 

Selectmen Approve Hiring Freeze

Bruce Jamerson of the Sherborn Personnel Board gave a short presentation on what he has learned so far in his new position.

He stated that going forward the town should not hire any new people to work over 20 hours per week because the town will have to pay for benefits and a pension plan that the town cannot currently afford.

Jamerson said after looking over the cost of adding any employee to work over 20 hours that it could cost the town between $25,000-$30,000 a year in pension and health benefits.

“Going forward, we should be combining jobs,” he said. Meaning combining the jobs of people that already work and are receiving benefits from the town.

Resident Grace Shepard said that Jamerson should inquire further about the part-time positions he has reviewed, because some of them are also part-time employees in other departments of the town.

In the end the Selectmen voted unanimously to put a hiring freeze on any new jobs over 20 hours per week that would incur pension and benefit payments from the town.