Linda Callan

Town of Sharon, MA

The Town of Sharon looks like a typical New England town--its central Post Office Square marked by three tall white church spires, its tree-lined streets leafing green in summer and traced with delicate white lace in winter. Yet this picture postcard comes to life as a busy commuter town of professionals, academics, civil servants, and business people as well as local enterprises, restauranteurs, artists, and active participants in a network of civic organizations. Sharon has an Open Town Meeting form of government, with three Selectmen and volunteer committees providing town governance. Sharon, located 22 miles south of Boston, and almost midway between Boston and Providence, has access to Boston and Providence via MBTA commuter trains stopping at the Sharon station, and to New York City and Washington, D.C., via Amtrak trains at nearby Route 128 station. Its population of 18,000--32 percent are children under 19, 56 percent are adults 25-64 years, and 10 percent are seniors over 65--lives mostly in single-family houses ranging from relatively modest ranches to luxury properties. Many town residents have second- and third-generation family roots in Sharon, but the town is also notable for its diversity and openness to newcomers. The Town governance structure consists of a three member Board of Selectmen, elected for three year staggered terms, and an open Town Meeting. The seven member School Committee is elected, as are the Library Trustees, Assessors, and Planning Board members. The Town Moderator and the Town Clerk are also elected.