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WHAT TOWN COMMITTEES AND BOARD DO
Learn more about the committees and boards I serve on -- and the Select Board I hope to be elected to this May.
PLANNING BOARD
Planning for Smart Growth
Sharon, MA Planning Board Overview:
Responsible for guiding and regulating the town's land use and development
Plays a key role in shaping the community's growth and development strategies
Functions and Responsibilities:
Reviewing and approving site plans, subdivisions, and zoning bylaws
Ensuring compliance with local zoning regulations and ordinances
Collaborating with developers, residents, and other stakeholders to balance community needs
Community Engagement:
Facilitating public hearings to gather input on proposed projects
Encouraging transparency and community involvement in the planning process
Long-Term Planning:
Developing and updating the town's comprehensive plan
Considering factors such as infrastructure, transportation, and environmental impact
Collaboration with Other Departments:
Working closely with various town departments, including public works and environmental agencies
Ensuring coordinated efforts for sustainable and responsible development
Zoning and Land Use Regulation:
Establishing and updating zoning regulations to reflect community goals
Balancing the interests of property owners, businesses, and the overall community
Vision for Sustainable Development:
Focusing on environmentally conscious and resilient development practices
Striving for a balance between economic growth and preserving the town's character
Advisory Role:
Providing recommendations to town officials on matters related to land use and development
Serving as a resource for residents seeking information on zoning and planning issues.
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Taking Care of Our Community
The Sharon Housing Authority is dedicated to providing low-income housing to the public with preference for residents of Sharon. The Authority provides eighty-eight one bedroom apartments for elderly and disabled citizens at the Hixson Farm Road complex, six two bedroom apartments for families at the former Pleasant Street School and a residential facility on Bay Road which is leased on a long term basis to the May Center. The Authority also holds Alternative Housing Vouchers -- a rental assistance program in the form of transitional vouchers that provides a housing option for non-elderly disabled persons. The Authority's funding comes from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MUNICIPAL SOLAR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Addressing Climate Change and Growing Town Revenue
The Town of Sharon works in partnership with solar providers to plan for and install solar arrays on town-owned land and buildings. These solar installation help Sharon (and Massachusetts) achieve our carbon reduction goals, as well as reducing our power costs and even earning rent from the use of our capped landfill on Mountain St (~$500K per year for that site alone!).
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Learn more about current projects at
https://www.townofsharon.net/energy-advisory-committee/pages/municipal-solar-arrays
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Turning the Master Plan into Reality
The Economic Development Committee advises the Select Board, Planning Board and other town boards on matters related to economic development and to support, promote, encourage and advocate for projects that expand the Town's commercial and industrial tax base in a manner that strengthens the local economy and diversifies the tax base consistent with the character of our community.
The Sharon Economic Development Committee (EDC) works proactively to promote, encourage and facilitate the development of responsible and properly planned commercial and industrial growth within the community in order to expand and strengthen the local economy and diversify the community's tax base and to give the Town's residents more opportunities to live, work and thrive in an economically focused and financially stable community.
SELECT BOARD
This is the job I want! Please vote for me in May!
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Town of Sharon is to deliver the highest quality municipal services in a fiscally responsible and an operationally responsive manner to the citizens that it serves. The Town Administrator will maximize the potential for Sharon’s volunteer boards and commissions and its professional staff to respond effectively to community and individual citizen needs through the use of long-term strategic planning and enhanced communications with residents.
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Fiscal Priorities and Strategies:
Develop responsible and responsive operating and capital budgets that seek to balance the demand for services against the variety of financial circumstances experienced by Sharon citizens and businesses. Manage Sharon’s finances to mitigate dependence on property taxes by enhancing revenue from other sources. Seize opportunities to reduce long-term costs of town government operations and in the delivery of services.
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Review, and modify as appropriate, financial policies relative to undesignated fund balance, enterprise fund reserves, stabilization and capital funds, debt, overlay reserves, self-funded activities (health insurance), cash investments, and certified free cash.
Organizational Objectives:
Review service delivery models and develop strategies to improve operations.
Facilitate efforts to enhance Town infrastructure to meet community expectations and aspirations for services.
Strengthen accountability of organization through professional development, evaluation and recognition of senior management team.
Community Priorities and Objectives:
Support citizen efforts to improve sustainability.
Modify governance model to strengthen service delivery and enhance accountability.
Continue to improve and enhance communication with residents through public meetings, print media, and electronic mediums.
Address development proposals by seeking to assure net community benefit; mitigate potential negative consequences.
Promote engagement, inclusion and equity among traditionally underrepresented segments of Sharon residents through community conversations, policy review, and employee and committee training.
Provide support for implementation of economic development initiatives and promote local businesses.​