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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSelect Board 09/30/2020Select Board Meeting Minutes September 30, 2020 Present: The members of the Select Board all participated remotely via using GoToWebinar: Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Chairman; Mr. Neil Rhein, Vice -Chair; Mr. less Aptowitz, Clerk; Mr. Michael Trowbridge and Mn Stey,4-S�h?gnnveld. Mr. Kevin Dumas, Town Manager and Mr. Barry LaCasse, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director also'pa A�;ated using the GoToWebinar, but were at Town Hall in Meeting Room 3 A/B. t - �0 A, 11, 7 a 1. Call To Order Select Board Meeting -Pledge of Allegiance Chairman DelVecchio called the meeting to order at 5:3313M. He then asked those present to state the Pledge of Allegiance. He reminded everyone that the meeting was being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast on Mansfield Cable. The public was not allowed to be present in Town Hall. Chairman DelVecchio read a statement and provided an email address and phone number to those watching directing residents to send their questions in, and they would receive a response within twenty four hours. Ms. Lynn Cavicchi, Vice -Chair of the School Committee opened the School Committee meeting at 5:36PM, Ms. Kiera O'Neil was not present at the start of the meeting. Mr. Brian Eagle, Chair of the Finance Committee opened the Finance Committee meeting at 5:37PM and took a roll call vote confirming all members were present. Mr. Scott Feely, Chair of the Capital Improvements Committee Open Meeting at 5:38PM. 2. Discussion of PFAS and Well Improvements with DPW —Water Division Mr. Dumas began the discussion stating that Lee Azinheira, Kurt Gaffney, Mark Cook and Matt Violette were present in 3 A/B. Mr. Dumas stated that he did not expect a vote of the Boards/Committees this evening, but wanted everyone to hear the information together about the CIP Emergency Needs that are proposed for Special Fall Town Meeting. Mr. Azinheira gave a brief introduction of PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) stating that they can be found in food, commercial house products, workplace and drinking water. He stated that in 2016 the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) published a drinking water health advisory for PFAS. In June of 2019 Mass DEP asked communities to voluntary start testing for PFAS and in September Mansfield started testing finish water and all sites were below the twenty parts per trillion as recommended by MassDEP. In April of 2019 Cate Springs tested 22.4 parts per trillion and later in August the Walsh Well tested at 22.9 parts per trillion. Mr. Azinheira stated the concern is that if these wells are not used there is not enough water supply for the demand of drinking water needed. The cost estimate for the treatment system to remove PFAS at the Cate Springs Well is $4,180,000 and Walsh Well treatment to remove PFAS and upgrade to pumping capacity is estimated to be $6,670,000. Prescott Wells Number 8 and 9 is a third location needed upgrades to the pumping system and treatment with an estimated cost of $2,950,000. Mr. DelVecchio then invited members of the Finance Committee who had questions to turn on their cameras. Mr. Eagle then stated that many of the Finance Committee questions pertained to the funding mechanism for this large project. Mr. LaCasse then came on the webinar and explained that they are proposing to fund the project in a way that will not cause a huge spike to ratepayers but rather spread it out overtime. Mr. LaCasse then went through an answered the questions he received ahead of time from the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee members were each given an opportunity to ask follow up questions followed by members of the Select Board, School Committee and CIP. 3. Discussion of DPW Highway and Water Division CIP Needs Mr. Lee Azinheira presented a PowerPoint presentation on the CIP request for vehicles. Mr. Cook began the discussion stating that snow plowing has been a concern for that last couple years because many of the contractors have reduced their fleets and do not want the wear to affect their vehicles. Mr. Cook stated that for a sizable storm approximately fifty vehicles are needed. The vehicles that are needed are the heavier larger ones. Mr. Cook explained that these are upgrades to the vehicles that were scheduled for replacement this year and after finding out that one of the largest contractors for the Town has reduced its fleet by a third it would be better to upgrade the vehicles being replaced. Mr. Azinheira explained that an analysis was completed of the current fleet and it was determined that seven vehicles needed to be replaced and the average age of them is seventeen years. He stated that the vehicles will be shared with the Highway, Water and Sewer Departments. He then explained each vehicle and the use of the Select Board Meeting Minutes September 30, 2020 vehicle Which all reduce the dependency the Town has on contractors to assist with snow plowing. Members of CIP asked their questions followed by the Select Board and the Finance Committee. The School Committee did not have any questions. CIP adjourned their meeting at 7:54PM 4. Discussion of Appropriation Recommendations for Consensus Meeting Mr. LaCasse presented the appropriation recommendations for Fall Town Meeting. He stated that the State has committed to FY20 level funding and there is now $1,995,046 in additional State Aid that was not anticipated since Annual Town Meeting that needs to be appropriated. Mr. LaCasse recommended that it be allocated to the Finance Committee Reserve Fund and hopes that everyone can come to a consensus on that for the next meeting on October 15 because this provides the flexibility to the Town should it be needed. He would anticipate that at Annual Town Meeting in May that the funds could be allocated back to the stabilization fund because money was used from that account to balance the budget. On his next slide Mr. LaCasse showed the FY2020 General Fund Free Cash and the appropriations being requested. Members of the Finance Committee asked a few questions and made comments followed by the School Committee and Select Board. Everyone agreed that flexibility was critical for the coming year for unknown expenses especially in the schools. No motions were made. The School Committee adjourned their meeting at 8:2313M, followed by the Finance Committee at 8:24PM. 5. Resident Questions and Comments There were no resident questions or comments. 6. Call for the 2020 Special Town Meeting scheduled for November 7, 2020 and Open the Warrant Motion: To call for the 2020 Special Town Meeting scheduled for November 7, 2020 and open the warrant with a close date of October 7, 2020 at 12 noon. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Schoonveld — Aye Trowbridge — Aye Aptowitz — Aye DelVecchio — Yes Passes 4:0 7. Discussion and Consideration of the Select Board's Intent to Take a Vote on Reducing the Quorum Needed for Special Town Meeting and Schedule Such Vote for October 21, 2020 Motion: To publish the Select Boards intention to take a vote on reducing the quorum needed at Special Town Meeting and any other town meeting during the pendency of the Governor's State of Emergency and schedule such vote to happen at the Select Board Meeting on October 21, 2020 at 5:30PM. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Mr. Schoonveld commented that knowing what the items were on the warrant that the board should not consider less than two hundred attendees and was not in support of any reduction. Mr. Trowbridge disagreed that during the pandemic the Board needed to make sure the business of the Town could continue. Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld — No Trowbridge —Yes Aptowitz — Yes DelVecchio — Yes Passes 4:1 8. Discussion of Select Board Meeting Schedule and Times Mr. DelVecchio stated that he received a request to reconsider the meeting time of Select Board meetings. He added that in November one Wednesday is Veterans Day and the other is before Thanksgiving so the Planning Board would be meeting the same night, therefore meetings would have to end by 713M. He stated that the Select Board can meet at 5PM or there are Monday dates available if the Board wants to switch to a different day. Mr. Schoonveld stated he could not meet any earlier and wanted to go back to 6:30PM now that the Board was meeting in person at their next meeting. Mr. Trowbridge stated that as long as meetings are offered through GoToWebinar they should start at 5:30PM and once things are normal the Board could go back to the 6:30PM time slot. Mr. DelVecchio agreed that once people were commuting back to Boston, but most people are home and done with work. Mr. Rhein asked if they could split the difference and make it 6PM. Select Board Meeting Minutes September 30, 2020 Motion: As long as the Select Board continues to use GotoWebinar meetings will start at 5:30PM and once everyone is live at town hall then meetings go to a 6:30PM start. (Trowbridge/Aptowitz) Roll Call Vote: Rhein — Yes Schoonveld — No Passes 4:1 Trowbridge —Yes Aptowitz — Yes DelVecchio — Yes 9. Review and Approve Consent Agenda All items on the Consent Agenda may be adopted with a single motion. Any member of the Select Board may request that an item be withdrawn from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration in which case that item will be voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda. All licenses have been routed through Town Hall Departments and any conditions have been noted below. a) Approval of Select Board Meeting Minutes for: • September 16, 2020 b) Vote To Approve Warrants: • Town Vendor Warrant No. 21012T in the amount of $2,149,891.45 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 21012E in the amount of $354,270.30 • Town Vendor Warrant No. 21013T in the amount of $430,687.02 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 21013E in the amount of $160,487.42 • School Vendor Warrant No. 21013S in the amount of $339,767.89 c) Permits and License: • Consideration of 2020 Drainlayers License for New England Gravel Haulers, Inc. Motion: To approve the consent agenda. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld — Yes Trowbridge —Yes Aptowitz — Aye DelVecchio — Yes Passes 5:0 10. Consideration and Approval of Town Payroll Warrants: • Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21012PT in the amount of $396,094.20 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21012PT in the amount of $396,094.20. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld — No Trowbridge — Yes Aptowitz— Abstain DelVecchio — Yes Passes 3:1:1 • Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 21012TV in the amount of $123,918.92 Motion: To approve Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 21012TV in the amount of $123,918.92. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld—Yes Trowbridge — Yes Aptowitz—Yes DelVecchio—Yes Passes 5:0 • Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21013PT in the amount of $407,443.10 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21013PT in the amount of $407,443.10. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld—Yes Trowbridge —Yes Aptowitz— Abstain DelVecchio — Yes Passes 4:0:1 • Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21013TV in the amount of $126,918.07 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 21013TV in the amount of $126,918.07. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein — Yes Schoonveld—Yes Trowbridge —Yes Aptowitz—Yes DelVecchio — Yes Select Board Meeting Minutes September 30, 2020 Passes 5:6 • School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 21013PS in the amount of $1,688,361.42 Motion: To approve School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 21013PS in the amount of $1,688,361.42. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld — Yes Trowbridge — Abstain Aptowitz — Yes DelVecchio — Yes Passes 4:0:1 • School Deductions Vendor Payroll 21013SV in the amount of $529,680.89 Motion: To approve School Deductions Vendor Payroll 21013SV in the amount of $529,680.89. (Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld—Yes Trowbridge — Yes Aptowitz — Aye DelVecchio — Yes Passes 5:0 11. Correspondence • ABCC Advisory Regarding Extension of Allowance of Outdoor Table Service Mr. Aptowitz read the above notice. 12. Select Board Member's Comments and Questions Mr. Trowbridge, Mr. Aptowitz and Mr. Rhein had no questions or comments due to the late hour. Mr. Schoonveld stated that he had received lots of questions on Halloween and thanked Mr. Dumas for clarifying that the Town is not cancelling Halloween and good recommendations were given. Mr. DelVecchio had no questions or comments either. 13. Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting There were no items. 14. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the Select Board Meeting of September 16, 2020 at 8:50PM. (Aptowitz/Schoonveld) Roll Call Vote: Rhein —Yes Schoonveld—Yes Trowbridge — Yes Aptowitz—Aye DelVecchio — Yes Passes 5:0 C��ie l i natur Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne // �� Date Select Board Meeting Minutes September 30, 2020