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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes11252008-20090202134512 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25 I 2008 Present: Chairman Sandra Levine, Vice Chairman Ann Baldwin, Clerk Kevin Moran, Selectman George Dentino, Selectman Jess Aptowitz, John D'Agostino, Town Manager Special thanks to all the town personnel, especially Veterans Agent John Hogan, and all the townspeople that participated in Cory Shea's funeral yesterday such a great tribute to a young fallen hero. Setting and amending the Q&C policy is the prerogative of the current chair and doesn't require a vote of the board. Selectmen Baldwin and Moran agree with that stance. Selectman Aptowitz would like to see Q&C earlier in the meeting as opposed to later. Chairman Levine stated that she has always felt that the business of the town should come first. In contrast Selectman Dentino feels that the primary business of the board should be to serve the people and then town business. So therefore, Q&C should be early in the meeting to accommodate the most people possible. A vote was not taken on this matter. Selectman Dentino stated that the 1981 vehicle policy is the only policy that was approved by the Board of Selectmen. A few amendments have been made over the years by the previous and current town managers to the policy and Selectman Dentino does not feel that these should stand as the board never voted on them. Selectman Dentino would like to take back vehicles from non essential personnel one month from now. However, Selectman Moran feels that this would violate the union and employment contracts with the employees to whom cars were assigned. Selectman Aptowitz would like to see the town manager handle this issue with the department heads to assess who really needs to take vehicles home. Town Manager D'Agostino referred to the 2000 vehicle policy amendment that he authored. On duty personnel and first responders were asked at this time to carry beepers and to comply with other conditions. It was negotiated with these contracts that Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 these employees would receive a vehicle to take home instead so they could response to the scene asap if necessary. A lengthy discussion ensued over the possibilities of reviewing non union personnel employment letters. As employee compensation is reviewed annually so should other benefits assigned the individual. Motion: To have Atty. Lehane review the vehicle policy for next week if possible. And advise the board with the legalities of taking vehicle use out of employee letters. (Aptowitz/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Selectman Baldwin has read all of the emails that staff have sent. While she understands the need, we need to cut back travel somehow. Selectman Moran stated that he feels a freeze would be detrimental to town services. We definitely need to cut back but we should leave the discretion of decision making with the town manager. Mr. D'Agostino is the person who knows best if the particular training in question is needed. Selectman Aptowitz would like the process to start with the employee asking the town manager for permission to attend training and then the town manager brings it to the board for approval if he agrees that the training is necessary should there be a freeze in place. Selectman Dentino would like to add to # 1 of his education/professional development policy that: If training is offered online the internet option must be utilized when available. (This would be in addition to the standing paragraph that states: Only seminars, conferences, and training that is required for certification will be approved and paid for by the town.) Add to #6: Town Manager approval of conferences for certificates and licenses for all employees. (This would be in place of the paragraph that states: Town Manager approval of more than two employees requires notification of the Board of Selectmen prior to approval.) Motion: Gary Babin to go to NEPA conference as he is the president and represents Mansfield and public safety exclusions. (Baldwin) fails Motion: To accept Selectman Dentino's education/professional development policy as amended in parts #1 and #6. (Dentino/Baldwin) 3:2 passes (Levine/Moran nay) Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 2 Motion: To reconsider the hiring freeze motion that failed last week. (Baldwin/Dentino) 5:0 passes Motion: To institute a hiring freeze with the exception of public safety. (Should a position by vacated) in addition to the hiring of a college intern for Engineering over the Christmas break. (Baldwin/Dentino) 4:1 passes (Levine nay) Motion for amendment: To exclude the park and recreation seasonal employees. (Moran/Levine) 3:2 fails. Lee Azinheira is present and added to the discussion that in addition to summer temp workers, he has questions about hiring snow/ice plow operators. Mark Cook is also present and would like to provide further clarification on how even one part time temp employee makes a big difference in the volume of workload that gets done during the busy seasons. Kevin O'Donnell, Water Operation Foreman and town resident. He would like to shed some light on the situation where a water operator retired and a "new hire" came on to fill the old one that retired. It wasn't a new position that was added. Andy Gazzolo, Fincomm Chair, suggests that a full hiring freeze be instituted and address the issues as they come up. . Warrant No. 21B in the amount of $738,622.19 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Discussion: Selectman Dentino only votes for the warrant when he has the opportunity to fully review the warrant. Other than that he abstains. · Warrant No. 22A in the amount of $1,592,276.53 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Baldwin) 5:0 passes · Minutes of October 15, 2008 Motion: Approved as amended. (Baldwin/Moran) 5:0 passes · Advanced payment for school student field trip. The town will be reimbursed from Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 3 the students after the trip. Motion: To advance funds to the school dept. (Dentino/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes · Close out documents re: Community Development Block Grant. Motion: To close out grant and have chairman sign documents. (Baldwin/ Moran) 5:0 passes · Letter from town counsel outlining proposed audit committee. In summary, the town may implement the FinComm's proposal to create such committee, via by-law or on a ad hoc basis. However, the authority of the committee cannot conflict with the authority of other town officials under the Town Charter. Motion: To establish an ad-hoc audit committee consisting of one bos member, one fincomm member, one school committee member and two at large members (who do not hold any political seats) with term lengths of 2, 2 and 1 year in accordance with correspondence from town counsel dated November 14, 2008. (Aptowitz/Dentino) 3:1:1 passes (Levine nay, Moran abstain) Motion: To appoint Selectman Aptowitz as the bos member on the audit committee. (Dentino/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Chairman Levine stated that she does not feel that a Selectman or a School Committee member should be on an audit committee as the average bos or school committee member does not know much about audit procedures. Selectman Moran does not want any elected people on the committee in order to remove any form of political motives. · Report from the Haunted Hallows Committee. They had a very successful event and will be donating $12,020.00 to the Mansfield Animal Shelter. Action items: 1. To discontinue electric service and waive the fee for hook up next year. 2. Storage area for prop trailer is yet to be determined. 3. Presentation of check at later meeting to animal shelter Motion: To accept action items (Moran/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 4 · Memo from Michele Grenier regarding Maple Park Conservation area renaming. The formally known park is now called the Corporal Robert Francis Hardy Memorial Park in honor of Mr. Hardy. (Only Mansfield resident killed in the Korean War and he used to live on edge of the park.) · Lee Azinheira made a short presentation on the planning stages of aRt. 495 South bound ramp. However now that Mass Highway is in support of this project it is now being held up by Federal Highway. He would like to send a letter to Congressman Frank asking for assistance with communications with Federal Highway. Mr. Azinheira is afraid that if this is held up for much longer that we will lose funding for this very important project. Motion: To ask for a letter from Congressman Frank in assistance with this. (Aptowitz/Dentino) 5:0 passes Mr. Azinheira also gave a brief update on the Automated Recycling program that stated this past July 21st. The town has already seen a marked increase in recycling and a decrease in trash tonnage for the same three months monitored. In addition there has been a lot of positive feedback from the residents regarding this new program. Selectman Aptowitz also stated the paving on Ware St. has now been finished; and is curious why some driveways have a strip patched at the bottom of the driveway and other patches go up a bit more. Mark Cook replied that due to grading issues on Ware St. some properties had to be repaired to a different level in the driveway. Some residents are still concerned about roadway/driveway flooding and Mr. Cook is aware if the issues and is handling them on a case by case basis. Chairman Levine asked why some houses on Branch St. were grass seeded more than others. After street work is done, grading is done and grass is replanted where disturbed. Some locations had more disturbance than others so were treated accordingly. · Recap of town support and sorrow over losing a Mansfield service man, Cory Shea. 1,600 American Flags were donated by local businesses and several where on display and held by resident observers and mourners alike. Thank you to all the staff and surrounding town staff that participated in this. Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 5 Selectman Levine requested that the people and organizations responsible for putting on this wonderful tribute be sent a letter of thanks. A list will come from the Veterans Agent. Kevin O'Donnell came back to the podium to update the board on the employees involvement with the holiday parade this Sunday at 3pm. They would like to utilize 2 DPW trucks to tow a holiday sleigh and DPW parade participants. The sleigh was made and decorated by the DPW employees on their own time and the trucks will be operated by DPW employees on their own time. Selectman Dentino commended Mr. O'Donnell on participating in such a great and well thought out community event. Bob Reid, 34 Oak St. wanted to express his sorrow on losing a fellow Mansfield resident. He also wanted to thank the people involved with providing such a great effort. In addition, while he believes that the Selectmen are doing the best job they can for the town, please consider the morale of the employees affected during these discussions whp.rp. johs are disclJssed Mr. Reid also stated that while the board does engage in lively debate, some times they go too far in their arguments and get too heated. The board needs to work together and not against one another. Pam Gagnon, Gladiola Terrace. Congratulations on being leaders and taking a tough stance on approving policies that needed to be done. · Old business from Chairman Levine: Could we ask Covidien to donate supplies to the school nurses? Mr. D'Agostino will talk to Superintendent Hodges about this idea. · Old business from Selectman Dentino: Still looking for how a person goes from J6 to J11 in two years. Town Manager D'Agostino reiterated that he has provided this information to him in a memo a while ago and the answer still hasn't changed but he will provide the information again. Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 6 · Old business for Selectman Moran: Although the board received a great volume of information regarding a possible spending freeze and it was a lot of information to go over but he feels it is necessary to get the full picture and make an informed decision. . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: None · Old business from Selectman Baldwin: None · New business from Selectman Baldwin: To not reappoint the town manager when his contract is up. Motion: To move that the Selectmen notify the Town Manager, pursuant to Section 4 of his employment contract, that the Town will not reappoint him at the end of his term on November 30, 2009; and that such notice be given in a letter to the Town Manager from the Chairman, on behalf of the board, to be delivered within the next 48 hours. (Baldwin/Dentino) 3:2 passes (Levine/Moran nay) Selectman Moran feels that this is poor timing on this issue. Traditionally the town manager notifies the board of his intension to ask for renewal of contract in April and the board responses to the town manager in May. Putting this on the table now is a vote of no confidence in the town manager and in sense makes him an ineffective manager or commonly known as a lame duck. Selectman Dentino also feels that early notification of non renewal is best for both the town and for Mr. D'Agostino. Chairman Levine does not feel that this is the proper time to do this. We are coming into a difficult budgeting season and we need a strong administrator to handle this. Selectman Aptowitz would agree with the motion if it had been made in the spring, at the traditional time, however he feel the timing is off to do it now. · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: The rails to trails lights on East St. are not lined up and he is afraid that people will not see it before crossing the road. If stop signs can be added it would be useful. MBT A parking contract. Selectman Aptowitz would like the town manager to contact them and possibly discuss a new contract. He would also like to discuss union contract updates at the next executive session. Renewals are coming up for FYlO and we need to get a handle on it. Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 7 · New business from Selectman Dentino: None · New business from Selectman Moran: An elderly resident contacted him and was very happy to come home and see their leaf free yard. (Provided by students and volunteers of the great community leaf rake.) · New business from Chairman Levine: None Motion: To adjourn at 11:02 PM (Aptowitz) 5-0 Passes 1:e-rPn- ~-t-~ Z3et/~k I/; 2~~~ Signature of Clerk Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 25, 2008 8