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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes09172008-20081203113721 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 Present: 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 7:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Bob Button, MEMA Director presented plan to the board. The purpose of this plan is to identify natural hazards facing Mansfield, to assess local vulnerability to these hazards and to identify and implement hazard mitigation strategies. The Town of Mansfield, working with SERPEDD, began to develop a hazard mitigation plan in 2004. It is now finished and ready for submission to FEMA. The board in its entirety agreed that it is a comprehensive and well thought out plan. Motion: To approve plan as presented. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Bob Kievert from Medline, Lynn Tokarczyk, Business Development Strategies Claire O'Neill, Regional Director, MA Office of Business, Ed Tartufo and Kara Griffin from the Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce are present as well. Medline is America's largest privately held national manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies and services. Medline manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 medical products, encompassing both medical-surgical items and one of the largest textile lines in the industry. The company is currently leasing an approximate 204,000 square foot facility in the Cabot Business Park. The proposed project consists of purchasing a land parcel and constructing an estimated 325,000 square feet of distribution space. The project investment is estimated at $16.25 million: $15 million for building construction and 1.25 million for new machinery and equipment plus additional costs for land related expenditures. The Company expects to retain 48 full time jobs and create 10 new full time jobs. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 1 Medline intends to apply as a Certified Project under the Commonwealth's Economic Development Incentive Program that includes a state 5'70 EOA Investment Tax Credit and local property tax relief in the form of Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Claire O'Neill, Regional Director, MA Office of Business spoke in support of Medline and of Mansfield's utilization of the Commonwealth's Economic Development Incentive Program. Ed Tartufo from the Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce spoke about how Medline first came to Mansfield as tenants of the Cabot Business Park and like Mansfield so much that they want to build a much larger facility here. Medline has outgrown the first building they rented in and now have outgrown their present headquarters. It is encouraging that their business has grown so much in the past years as they want to now invest and build here. The Clerk read the public hearing notice into record. Mike Nealy, Owner of Mansfield Sportsplex, Brian Coffee, proposed manager of Mansfield Sportplex are present. Motion: To open hearing. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes There was a brief discussion of back taxes and utility charges owed to the town; however Mr. Nealy has paid the electric dept. debt and will pay the back taxes owed to the town. Selectman Dentino and Baldwin don't recall seeing a light dept. settlement and Mr. D'Agostino will provide the board with a copy of the letter. Motion: To approve license pending payment of taxes and appoint Brian Coffee as Manager (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:1 passes (Dentino nay) · Tri Town Chamber of Commerce is requesting a water and sewer connection fee waiver of $2,500 for their renovations on their new headquarters. The chamber sent a letter in January requesting waiver of building fees, not realizing that the water and sewer connection fee waiver was not included in the request. The chamber is also holding an October festival on October 7th that benefits the local food banks. Motion: To waive water and sewer connection fee. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · State has released draft regs on the use of flaggers. A construction zone safety plan will be released soon stated when and how flaggers will be used. · Bluetooth devices have been purchased by various depts. and there are a total of 17 devices that have been purchased townwide. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 2 · The Mansfield water dept. has been awarded the Utility of the Year Award from the NE water works association. Pam Gagnon, Gladiola Terrace. Questions about auditors report. Rockland Credit Union insures up to 50 million. The Town Manager will talk to the Treasurer/Collector about the possibilities. A brief discussion around administrative policies and an over view of personnel who take home municipal vehicles was held. There are a few different policies that have been written over the past 20 years so the board will develop one comprehensive policy and discuss at an upcoming meeting. In three weeks, this will go on the agenda again to vote on a transportation policy. . Warrant No. 12 in the amount of $2,897,385.85 Motion: To approve warrant No. 12 in the amount of $2,897,385.85 (Aptowitz/Moran) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) · One day beer and wine license from West Village on West St. for event on 9-25-08. 5pm to 9pm. Positive approval from public safety back. Motion: To approve license. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Request for permit fee waivers from the Airport Commission. The poles along a section of Fruit St. need to be lowered as they interfere with incoming airspace. Motion: To approve permit fee waivers (Moran/ Aptowitz) 3:1:0 passes · Rodman Ride for Kids next Saturday, September 27th. They will riding on Franklin and Maple just like last year and public approval has come back. Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Dentino) 4:0 passes · Bond documents from Roxanne Donovan, Town Treasurer. The Town has awarded Eastern Bank the bid for $1,600,000 in Bond Anticipation Notes. Motion: To sign bond documents. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 3 . Resignation from Karen Prevett from the Animal Welfare Committee. Motion: To accept resignation with regrets and send letter of thanks. (Aptowitz/Dentino) 4:0 passes · Resignation from Cindy Ostowski from the Conservation Commission. Motion: To accept resignation with regrets and send letter of thanks. (Aptowitz/Dentino) 4:0 passes . Block party request from Marie McCabe, 48 Wexford Drive. They would like to hold the event this coming Saturday, September 20th. Routing slips back from public safety. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Application for permission to hold the Billy Kelly Memorial 5k road race on November 23rd. Approval from public safety has been submitted with letter. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Letter from Lee Azinheira regarding chip sealing of Fruit St. . Letter from Anne Farrell, 23 Morrow St, regarding establishing an Alcohol and Drug Awareness Coalition in Mansfield. . Memo from Kurt Gaffney regarding last week's discussion of the restricted water installers license for Oliveira Construction. · Old business from Chairman Levine: Not present . Old business from Selectman Dentino: He wants to see Town buy the minimal truck/equipment for what the department really needs. Lee Azinheira and Mark Cook from the Highway Department were present for the discussion and Mr. Azinheira explained why the department really does need heavy duty trucks/equipment with power options. With all the equipment that the dept. personnel carries~utilizes in these trucks, power windows and locks are needed as Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 4 the driver can not lean over and let the passenger in and it is much easier to secure the vehicles. Selectman Dentino stated that he found numerous trucks available locally in the area and in the newspapers for less than the town paid for their recently purchased vehicles. He stated additionally that bids could be done for each vehicle manufacturer so they could compete with each other. Mr. Azinheira stated that the dept. cannot just go out and buy a vehicle off the lot as the town must follow procurement procedures. Mr. Cook also stated that they have looked at numerous ways to purchase vehicles the cheapest way possible and it is usually more expensive to get a stripped out work truck and add power options than it is to buy a vehicle with a package. More questions about the town managers car repairs. Why did we not report this to the insurance company when it happened? If so, why wasn't it covered? What is our deductible? Mark Cook stated that the car was taken to three different body shops and the car needed maintenance work in addition to the bumper cover that was needed. It is often more cost effective to do the maintenance work than to let rust set in. (In order to prolong the useful live of the vehicle.) Selectman Dentino asked why the bill was paid partly out of different accounts. Vehicle maintenance has been always paid for out of the highway dept; however they have been trying to put vehicle maintenance budgets back in individual depts. to cover specifically their vehicles. So the vehicle repairs were paid partly out of the town managers account and the highway dept. · Long motion concerning scope of service by special counsel reviewing Mr. D'Agostino's contract read by Selectman Dentino. However paper was not submitted for minutes. . Old business for Selectman Moran: He went to the Mansfield Garden Club anniversary party last week and he wanted to publicly acknowledge all the work they do around town. · Old business for Selectman Baldwin: She will do a spread sheet of the legal counsel firms that are interested in working for the town in respect to the review of the town managers contract. Atty. Mangiaratti drafted an RFP to send out to counsel. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 5 Selectman Moran stated that he voted against having independent counsel review the town managers contract as the charter specifically states how to handle a town managers contract. However as the board voted to go forward with this review he was in support of the RFP that Atty. Mangiaratti drafted. Selectman Aptowitz stated that while he has read the town managers contract he has questions about parts of the contract and is in support of the RFP as well. He also disclosed that many years ago he worked at the same law firm as two of the firms submitting for the work. He did not have any interaction with the lawyers as he is an accountant but they did work for the same firm. Selectman Moran again stated that the town managers contract is a broadly written document. The board has discretion in making judgments without the use of special counsel. He feels that Selectman Dentino's latest suggestion to have special counsel review the Stoyle/Beliveau case in respect to the contract review is expanding the scope of service. . Old business from Selectman Aptowit~: Perhaps the town needs to explore ways to save on health insurance. Whether it is the GIC, self insurance, higher co pays. . New business from Selectman Baldwin: None . New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Formalize a policy about notification of significant events in town such as a shooting, large fire, major accidents. The finalist for the town accountant positions will be before the board at next weeks meeting. Selectman Dentino and Aptowitz are on the hiring committee. . New business from Selectman Dentino: He would like to see the Town Managers expenditures have a limit before he needs approval. Motion: The Town Manager needs to get approval for anything over $750 (Dentinol Aptowitz) Discussion: Selectman Moran feels that $750 is too low for the position of Town Manager. Selectman Aptowitz would like to take more time to review expenses. Amendment: The Town Manager needs to get approval for anything over $500 (Dentinol Aptowitz) Motion withdrawn Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 6 · New business from Selectman Moran: Requirements of liquor license holders that buildings are not built yet. Give draft liquor policy to board and put back on agenda in three weeks. · New business from Chairman Levine: Not present Motion: To adjourn at 9:46 PM (Aptowitz) 5-0 Passes ;;:er~ ~-t--~ tPdOk g; 2tJtJ~ Signature of Clerk Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 17, 2008 7