Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes05142008-20080716122220 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 Present: Chairman Sandra Levine, Vice Chairman Ann Baldwin, Clerk Kevin Moran, Selectman George Dentino, Selectman Jess Aptowitz, John D'Agostino, Town Manager The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:30pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion: To nominate Sandra Levine for Chairman. (Baldwin) 4:1 passes (Dentino nay) Motion: To nominate Ann Baldwin for Vice Chairman. (Moran) 3:1 passes (Dentino nay) Motion: To nominate Kevin Moran for Clerk. (Baldwin) 4:0 passes Motion: To adjourn bos meeting and open Light Commissioners Meeting. (Baldwin) 4:0 passes Vice Chairman Dentino opened the meeting and called for nominations. Motion: To nominate Ann Baldwin for Chairman. (Levine) 3:0 passes (Baldwin/Dentino abstain) Motion: To nominate George Dentino for Vice Chairman. (Levine) Light Commissioner Dentino declined the nomination. Motion: To nominate Jess Aptowitz for Vice Chairman. (Moran) 3:0 passes (Dentino/ Aptowitz abstain) Motion: To nominate Kevin Moran as Clerk. (Aptowitz) 3:0 passes (Dentino/Moran abstain) Motion: To adjourn Light Commissioners Meeting and reopen bos meeting. (Baldwin) 4:0 passes Neil Rhein from the Great Mansfield Cleanup was present for discussion and gave a brief description of what a Keep Mansfield Beautiful committee could do for the town. Research and experience prove that litter attracts more litter. A clean community, by contrast, discourages littering and raises local living standards. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 1 The incredible response to the first Great Mansfield Cleanup, with more than 1,000 volunteers, confirms that Mansfield residents support efforts to clean up and beautify our town. Through Keep Mansfield Beautiful, we can create a volunteer organization that will focus on helping to beautify, maintain, and protect Mansfield's environment. Selectman Dentino asked if the committee would require any funding from the town. Mr. Rhein did not believe so as they plan on fund raising and applying for community grants. Selectman Aptowitz also asked if the committee would be looking for start up money. Mr. Rhein stated that he did not plan to but if the town has money they would like to give he would be happy to receive it. Selectman Moran asked if Mr. Rhein though the group would be sustainable through time as it is more difficult a task than a one day event like the great clean up. Mr. Rhein stated that he does believe that such a group would be able to be maintained for a variety of projects. Selectman Baldwin asked about the use of signs indicating town beautification and/or recycling stations through out town such as the athletic fields. Lee Azinheira answered that could be a possibility. Chairman Levine asked Mr. Rhein about the qualifications that he would like to see in committee members and the number of members he would seek to be on it. The town can advertise the committee on the town web and cable station. Also, what would be the projected timetable for organizing this group? Mr. Rhein projected that the group could be up and running by July. Motion: To organize a "Keep Mansfield Beautiful" committee. (Moran/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Amendment: To have the group consist of 9 members. Lee Azinheira and Kurt Gaffney were present for discussion. The water and sewer rates are increased annually to meet the funding requirements of the operating budgets. The sewer rate (including capital improvements) has been raised 20'10 for FY07, '08 and proposed for '09. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 2 Selectman Dentino asked questions about the different aspects of the rate plan. Selectmen Baldwin and Moran do not have any further questions. Motion: To approve sewer rate as submitted. (Aptowitz/Moran) 5:0 passes Discussion: Selectman Dentino votes to approve rate with regret as residents have seen many increases. Mr. Azinheira stated the reasons for the increases and use of the reserve funds. Selectman Aptowitz is also concerned about the increase in rate. Mr. Azinheira proposed a 5'70 water rate increase for FY09, the increase has been 4'70 for the past few years, but with reduced revenue projections for new connections, we need to increase it by 5'70 for FY09. These rates would be increased on June 1, 2008. Quarterly billing vs. monthly billing questions from Selectman Dentino. The water dept. has one meter reader and as the meter readings are transmitted electronically it only takes a day to read the entire town. The quarter billing will reduce administrative costs and postage on mailings. Motion: To approve water rate as submitted. (Baldwin/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes (The rate sheets had been previously submitted to the board) Finance Committee Chairman Gazzolo was present. An overview of CIP articles, the Finance Committee has not voted on any of the articles but will by tomorrow evening. They are awaiting response from bond counsel. Town Meeting warrant articles Article 34: It is written the same as the last time and Selectman Baldwin is not in favor of taking away authority from the Building Inspector. She pointed out that Selectman Dentino was right in bringing this point up last week. The board has decided to talk to next week. Special Town Meeting warrant articles None addressed. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 3 Ellen Whitney, Concerned Citizens member. Congratulations on the election of Selectman Moran and Aptowitz. Also congrats to Selectman Dentino on winning the citizens best award from the Sun Chronicle. They will continue to work to support the residents and board members who work towards bettering the town. Dan Donovan, Congratulations to both Selectmen Moran and Aptowitz. He has been involved in town politics for many years and has seen many boards and town managers come and go. He feels that the town presently has a great town manager that cares about the welfare of the town and he hopes that the present board will do so as well. . Memorial Park non compliance order update. Selectman Dentino feels that this issue should not have been brought up at the meeting. He believes that this should have been discussed during executive session as it involved potential litigation. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the letter he referenced is a public document and he did not discuss the contents of the violations. Chairman Levine stated that she asked about this issue last week as well. . Gerrini landscaping was of great help on the North Common during the Great Mansfield Clean Up day. Thank you for all your hard work. · Rt. 106 bridge area paving is almost complete and the trip signal issues will hopefully be addressed soon as well. Northern Construction is the contractor for Mass Highway and has a punch list that they should be following and completing before concluding the project. . Finance Committee will be meeting tomorrow evening at 7pm. · Sita Memorial re-dedication will be May 18th at 4pm. . June 9th possible date for next Light Commissioners Meeting. . Mention of special town meeting articles. . Warrant No. 46 in the amount of $2,514,976.61 Motion: To approve warrant No. 46 in the amount of $2,514,976.61 Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 4 (Baldwin/ Aptowitz) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) Discussion: Possibilities of getting the warrant before 5pm on the evening of the meeting. Chairman Levine suggested that if board members cannot get in to the office prior to the meeting that they can view the warrant items the next day in the treasurer's office. · Drainlayers license for SL T Construction Corp. Motion: To approve license for SL T Construction Corp. (Moran/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Discussion: Selectman Dentino stated that he will no longer abstain as he trusts that Town Engineer Sullivan covered everything. · Minutes of April 9,2008 Motion: To approve minutes. (Baldwin/Dentino) 2:0:3 passes . Fifth annual report /Stormwater NPDES Permit from John Sullivan · Memo from Brenda Hodges thanking the board, the town manager, the finance committee, concerned citizens and others for their help in balancing the FY09 budget. . Bulletin from DOR regarding seminar for recently elected Selectmen. Thursday, June 5, 2008 at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester. RSVP by May 23th. . Letter from Mrs. Zimel of Foxboro regarding the value of MMAS and the possibility of having an arts center in Mansfield. · Email from Mr. Fuller of Mansfield regarding the work on Rt. 106. He was unhappy with the progress of the work and thought it was the town's fault. Mr. Sullivan explained that Mass Highway was responsible for the work and we are actively trying to get them to complete the work. . Letter of resignation from Jess Aptowitz from the Finance Committee. Motion: To accept resignation and send thank you letter. (Moran/Baldwin) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 5 · Old business from Chairman Levine: None · Old business from Selectman Dentino: Why was Executive Session posted for a meeting that he was not present for? The previous Chairman scheduled the meeting and Town Counsel was present at the regular meeting for other reasons so he updated the board on other executive session issues. He feels strongly that as the board appoints the Town Accountant they should be apart of the interview process. Mr. D'Agostino stated that staff and the Town Manager have done this in the past but it can be done several different ways. A short discussion ensued on the ways this could be accomplished. · Old business for Selectman Moran: None · Old business from Selectman Baldwin: Update on Amante Rest. And possible meeting with town counsel re: Shawmut Ave. RFP . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: None · New business from Selectman Baldwin: When will the highway garage work start? The Highway Dept. requested the work last year and it hasn't started yet. Chairman Levine would like to ask Lee Azinheira/Mark Cook to come in and explain any problems they may be having. · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Thank you to the voters for electing him. Congrats to Selectman Moran and as he has resigned from the Finance Committee there is a spot available. Motion: To have the Board of Selectman made aware of all union contracts negotiations before the contracts are signed. (Aptowitz/Dentino) Discussion: timelines, conditions, etc. Chairman Levine suggested that they table it to next week. Second withdrawn from Selectman Dentino. He would also like to see a financial update section on the agenda. In addition, he would also like to have Selectman office hours posted for the general public to be able to come and speak with a board member. The hours would be announced at the meetings. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 6 · New business from Selectman Dentino: Wonderful presentation at the COA last week for the seniors and a long term employee that was leaving the town. All the men he saw cried and the women didn't. Residents are being asked to maintain sidewalks, cul-de-sac planting areas and right of way areas. The town does not have the man power to do all of these areas but he does not feel that the residents should be responsible for it. There lays the problem... the town can't, the developers won't and not all residents want to. Chairman Levine suggested that perhaps this is something that the new Mansfield Beautiful committee would take up. Selectman Dentino wanted to revisit the issue of removing a position from the Police Dept. budget. Chairman Levine stated that the budget was already set so no. Selectman Dentino then stated that he only wanted to track the unexpended funds from that unutilized position. Selectman Dentino also wanted to revisit the issue of funding a MBC Secretary. He has reviewed the postings and minutes of the past meetings and there have not been enough meetings and work to justify the cost of a secretary right now. He would like that expense to be tracked as well. · New business from Selectman Moran: Thanks to his supporters/voters and Mary his wife. Congrats to Selectman Aptowitz, and recognition of hard campaigns by Mr. Goldman and Mr. Pascucci. He hopes to live up to the public's expectations of him. · New business from Chairman Levine: Congratulations and welcome to the new board members. The pay is great and the time commitment can be extensive. However, thank you for your commitment to the town and to this board. Chairman Levine thanked the board for voting her as chairman and hopes to fulfill all the duties and responsibilities that being the chair holds. She looks toward to the board going forward together as a whole. They need to regain the unity and civility that boards in the past have had and to continue to serve the town together. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14, 2008 7 Motion: To adjourn at !0:40PM (Baldwin) 5-0 Passes ^~ ~-t-~ Signature of Clerk fufr ~ 2~~t? Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 14/ 2008 8