Sharon Update
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--- News from the Source---
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To hear Selectman Heitin explain it, the entire town is embarrassed over the recent “secret meeting” in which several board chairmen gathered to hear the plans of local developer Michael Intoccia. His table thumping and stern words at the Selectman’s meeting of September 13th would lead you to believe devious deeds were afoot. However, there appears to be more to the story. The “secret” meeting was held on Labor Day to discuss potential developments that Intoccia is planning in the town. The meeting was planned through efforts of Selectman Chairman Grasfield, with the hope of being proactive in understanding how best to accommodate planned developments within the town. Granted, the meeting was held on a holiday and it was technically out of town, at the offices of Intoccia in his Funway/Christina’s complex. But as far as we can tell, the attendees didn’t arrive in dark robes, under cover of darkness and greet each other with secret handshakes. To the contrary, the planned attendees were various board members from the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Finance Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals. According to Chairman Grasfield, the concept of the meeting had been discussed in an executive session with his colleagues Selectmen Roach and Heitin. Where the communication issue arose is that the specific night of the “secret” meeting wasn’t provided to Heitin or Roach. Should Chairman Grasfield have let his colleagues know of the meeting? Absolutely. A simple e-mail would have been sufficient and would have avoided the issue. That oversight needs to be avoided in the future. Did Selectman Heitin go a little overboard? Without question. His intimation that Chairman Grasfield was up to less than honest things was totally off base. And by association he impugned the reputations of other hardworking, honest and reputable board members. His major claim that Chairman Grasfield has issues with communication would appear to be true, but only between the Selectmen members. However, communication between boards has never been better, and that success can be attributed directly to Grasfield’s tireless efforts to reach out and be inclusive across all boards. Going forward, Chairman Grasfield should ensure his colleagues are apprised of meetings and information. That is only professional courtesy. Selectman Heitin needs to temper his accusations and realize that there are plenty of hardworking boards that will diligently work together to address the issues of the day. -Paul Pietal- |
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