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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes09032008-20081001115615 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 Present: Chairman Sandra Levine, 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 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Chipotle Mexican Grill will be going into the new Mansfield Marketplace across from Mansfield Crossing. Matthew Cox will be the manager of record. Attorney Matthew Fogelman is also here to represent Chipotle. There are 600 locations nation wide with very few alcohol violations. They offer beer and margaritas with sit down food service. There is not a separate bar in any of their establishments. lOam to llpm are the typical hours of operation. Selectman Aptowitz asked about the construction schedule. Chipotle expects to start construction later this month and should be open by next May/June. There will be 50 booths in the restaurant and ten tables on the patio. Selectman Dentino asked questions about the design of the patio. It is out in the open and it would be hard to control liquor service/consumption on the patio. The manager stated that the patio will be gated with the door only opening from the inside of the patio area. . The board is not comfortable with liquor service on the patio as it is so open. Chipotle does restrict alcohol service on the patio is some other locations for this reason. The board discussed putting the patio exclusion in the license. Motion: Grant license with alcohol on patio exclusion in addition to obtaining all other permits and required inspections. (Dentino/ Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Robert Brown, Peter Bulus, Gary Babin and Bea Kearney were present. Andy Gazzolo, Chairman and other members of FinComm (Jack Goldberg, James Lazzara, Tom Ratliff) were also present. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 The general fund revenues and expenditures from pg 17 of Town statement records (fy07) budget book were discussed in detail. A brief overview of the management letter for town records report was discussed. · Ambulance receipts accounts receivable · New Government Accounting Standards Board (GASBY) notation, page 4 · School funding from the state is up slightly · Excise tax receipts are expected to be up as well. There was a lengthy discussion about the unfunded pension debt that the town is carrying. There is currently not a process in place that would let the town set aside dedicated funds for this. Selectman Dentino is concerned over this and wants to set aside funds now. Mr. Gazzolo and Mr. D'Agostino advocated that the town wait for upcoming legislation that would assist cities and towns with this task. Motion: To adjourn bos and resume as Light Commissioners. (Dentino/Moran) 4:0 passes The audit review of the Electric Dept. was then reviewed. Mr. Goldberg would like to see the audit reports come out sooner that they presently do. Numerous and complex accounting issues were discussed. Cash flow and rate change issues were addressed as well. Account receivables practices were also mentioned. These were all technical issues, not monetary ones. Selectman Moran asked if the auditors found anything unusual about the pilot program and its distribution of funds. No, they did not replied Mr. Brown. Selectman Dentino asked several questions about assets and liabilities in relation to retained earnings. He also asked about the accounting practices used by previous auditors vs. the methodology that Brown & Co. uses. He doesn't agree with the way the town/auditors do it. Pg 15 of financial statement. Selectman Dentino points out that he disagrees with statement in last paragraph. Motion: To accept light dept audit report from years ended June 30,2007 (Levine/ Aptowitz) 3:1 passes (Dentino nay) Motion: To adjourn light commissioners meeting and resume Selectmen meeting. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 2 There are some technical issues that need to be worked out with the reporting of the budget overviews; however the reports are financially accurate. Motion: To accept town report on examination of basic financial statements. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Jack Goldberg comes back to table. He has additional questions about Pg 4 of the main town audit book about parking enterprise funds. He also addresses some concerns over Investments (pg 36 in book). He would like to discuss investment strategies that could be used in the future. · First job classification compilation is complete. Thank you Lauren for all your hard work on this report. · Inclusion of benefit package costs for next round. · Coffee hour with TM and Neal next Thursday at the COA · Second draft of Verizon cable license agreement · Graves report from Veterans Agent John Hogan. · Kingman Pond Dam work will be starting next Monday · Rt 106 (East St) work has been completed · 3 members of fire dept. are assisting in New Orleans (hurricane relief) · Warrant No. 09 in the amount of $2,097,516.45 Motion: To approve warrant No. 09 in the amount of $2,097,516.45 (Aptowitz/Moran) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) . Warrant No. 10 in the amount of $1,838,211.47 Motion: To approve warrant No. 10 in the amount of $1,838,211.47 (Aptowitz/Moran) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) · Minutes of August 20, 2008 Motion: To approve minute of August 20, 2008 with changes (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes · Banner request from MHS Boosters Club to hang banner across Rt. 106 from 9-27 to 10-12-08. Motion: (Dentinol Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 3 · Application from Glee Gifts for one day beer and wine license. Event date of 9-11- 08 from 6pm-9pm. There was some question of if she even needed license but any business that dispenses alcohol at any time needs a license. Motion: To approve license pending confirmation from the ABCC. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Request for street closure from Richard Wade, Sr. Warden of St. John's. They would like to close High Street between Rumford Ave and West Church St. on October 4th from lOam to 4pm. Request has been routed through public safety and has come back positive. Motion: To approve request. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Request from SRPEDD to re-nominate Chris McGowan to the newly expanded SE MA Commuter Rail Task Force. Motion: To approve re-nomination. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Memos from Andy Gazzolo, Chairman of FinComm regarding the need for immediate changes in budget planning. Motion: The town will not employ additional hires, nor assign benefits or raises that are not contractually mandated for FY09 and going forward. (Dentinol Aptowitz) 4:0 passes · Email from Red Button, MEMA regarding the town's system of paying bills. His department often does not have 30 days in which to pay vendor bills so paying them as soon as possible is vital to him. · Memo from SRPEDD announcing a SE commuter rail task force meeting September 10th from 4-6pm and the MA Highway District 5 office in Taunton. · Email from Bob Freerksen, Lakeview Ave resident, he is opposed to providing Covidien with a TIF agreement. · Mary Barton Rau, Shawmut Ave. Question on budget reporting. Would like to see budget vs. actual quarterly reporting on website. Selectman Aptowitz is conducting segment on this at the next meeting. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 4 · Old business from Chairman Levine: Questions about executive meeting expenditures for legal bills and counsel. · Past discussion of licensing of taxis and possible livery services. This will be on agenda at a future date. · Old business from Selectman Dentino: He requested that the board's secretary does not open mail addressed to him. The other board members would still like theirs opened and stamped in for them. Motion: To extend meeting to 1Q:45pm (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Selectman Dentino would like to see legal billing submitted to the town in a timelier manner and with more clarification of the services rendered. Motion: To extend meeting to 11:00pm (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Further discussion of employees that take home vehicles. Minutes from a 2004 meeting were referenced. Re-advertisement for Town Accountant position is only in the on line version of the Beacon. Selectman Dentino thought we were going with print as well. Mr. D'Agostino stated there wasn't enough time to make the print edition. · Old business for Selectman Moran: Wanted to note that Bea Kearney did send a memo to the board regarding the possible warrant split. · Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: None · New business from Selectman Baldwin: Not present · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Would like to know when Ware and Essex are going to be paved. They have been milled for a long time now. · Selectman Aptowitz made a statement about the fact that the board needs to get along in order to be an effective board and he would like to see that happen more often. · He would also still like to have fiscal section of the meetings, once a week. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 5 · New business from Selectman Dentino: Some of our fleet vehicles have luxury items such as automatic windows, power locks, air conditioning and other non necessities such as an MP3 compatible radio, multi cd changer and chrome bumper. Mr. D'Agostino will follow up with the DPW on this issue. · New business from Selectman Moran: None · New business from Chairman Levine: None Motion: To adjourn at 11:02 PM (Aptowitz) 4-0 Passes ^~ ~-t-~ Signature of Clerk ~~k 21'; 2~~~ Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 3, 2008 6