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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes12032008-20090210140110 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 Present: Chairman Sandra Levine, Clerk Kevin Moran, Selectman George Dentino, Selectman Jess Aptowitz, John D'Agostino, Town Manager Introduction of Lorilee Fish, Recreation Director, Kathy Codella Assistant, and Kevin Kept, Clerk of the Recreation Commission. Selectman Dentino asked if you don't have enough people to fill an activity do you let the instructor know? Lorilee stated that we wouldn't hire an instructor unless the activity was full. Motion: To allow Park and Recreation to hire spring/summer help out of their revolving accounts. These are seasonal, non benefited positions. (Moran/ Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Town Manager D'Agostino gave the board a brief update on the request of Lou Costa, MIS Director. The technician position has been vacant for several months so the MIS Director had been doing what he can and had hired temporary help until a technician can be hired. Selectman Dentino would like to see a comparison between the surrounding towns and Mansfield to determine what services are being provided before voting on this. Selectman Dentino believes that this position is not necessary and we should make do with the staff we have. Selectman Aptowitz stated that he would like to see the MIS office administrator be trained to be a technician as well so she can provide service in both areas. Andy Gazzolo, FinComm Chairman stated that he would like to see under utilized personnel from other departments fill in where needed in the MIS Department. Chairman Levine stated that rather than take a vote this evening she would like to see the technician job description for the next meeting. The Town of Mansfield should look at our needs in respect to MIS/GIS and not of the needs of other communities. The board will discuss again next week. Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 Mike Ferrari, Fruit St. Congrats to boys cross country team. In reference to the recession that the area is in, he hopes it is over soon and the town can move forward. Jack Goldberg, FinComm: He is glad that the board followed the fincomm's suggestions and implemented a hiring freeze and Audit Committee last week. Karl Clemmey, S. Main St: Mr. Clemmey read a prepared statement and is in support of the board not renewing the Town Manager's contract. After that he spoke out of turn and was asked to leave the podium. Gary Babin, Light Department Director, made a brief statement about the board's action regarding vehicle use and professional development. He will follow up with further information at the December 15th Light Commissioners Meeting. Selectman Dentino does not feel that the board needs Mr. Babin present at Board of SelE~ctmenmeetings in order to discuss Light Commissioners business. Selectman Aptowitz stated that Mr. Babin was not singled out at the meeting and sometimes Light Commissioners business is discussed at Board of Selectmen meetings. Mr. Babin requested that if the board discusses Light Commissioners business that they let him know for the next Light Commissioners meeting so that staff can be adequately prepared. Additionally Selectman Aptowitz asked if the holiday lights are metered and if the town pays for the electricity. Mr. Babin did not believe that they are specifically metered and while they are on timers, they can certainly be adjusted or turned off. The board also discussed the opinion letter that Attorney Lehane drafted regarding the board formulating a comprehensive vehicle policy. Mr. D'Agostino gave a brief recap of the letter for the viewing audience. Selectman Moran has formulated a vehicle use policy for the board to review. The board will review the policy and discuss it at the next meeting. Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 2 Memo from Lee Azinheira, DPW Director regarding a professional development policy waiver request. The WWTP department would like to send 6 people to certification training in Taunton and the board policy states that approval of more than 2 people per department would require bos approval. A lengthy discussion ensued over the issue of "gray areas" of a straight out ban on travel reimbursement. Selectman Moran would like to see the board issue a case by case decision on travel requests as opposed to an outright ban. A lot of training and education of department heads and staff will be lost due to this policy. Not only does the employee benefit from the training but the town does as well. Chairman Levine asked the board to consider all the information that was presented tonight and perhaps the vote can be reconsidered or amended at the next meeting. Motion: To approve the training of 6 WWTP employees's to attend the training requested. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes · Warrant No. 22B in the amount of $1,135,186.91 Motion: Approved (Aptowitzl Moran) 4:0 passes · Warrant No. 23A in the amount of $1,223,347.18 Motion: Approved (Aptowitzl Moran) 4:0 passes · Motion: To include approval of school dept bill to minutes (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Common Victualler licenses approved: Honey Dew, 99 Copeland D'Angelos, Stefanos Dunkin Donuts Jimmy's Pub Dub's Discount Liquors Majic Pizza Cousins Pizza Mansfield House of Pizza Tratoria Della Nonna Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 3 Motion: To approve each license as read. (Aptowitz/Moran)4:0 passes · Minutes of October lO, 2008 Motion: Hold for next week. To hold Minutes of November 25, 2008 for next week as well. · Thank you letter from Donna Harrington, Leaf Raking Coordinator of Project Leaf thanking the board, the schools, the Police Dept and all the people who made this project a success. · Letter from SRPEDD stating that we are entitled to 20 hours of technical assistance every year in addition to sustainable development/land use and municipal partnerships. Additional information is available by contacting SPREDD at 508- 824-1367. · Eric Hart and I met with Superintendent Hodges and Ed Vozzella on the issues of transferring funds between accounts. This practice can continue as long as there is sufficient explanation for the transfer. We also discussed the budget and whether or not the schools are going to meet their budget. They conveyed that they will and may encumber what they need at the end of the fiscal year. The revenue projection for FYlO is between 2/0 to 3.49/0. The school dept. in FYlO has salary contracts of between 6/0 to 7.2/0 to meet. This kind of projected deficit can not be made up in FY09 alone, we'll continue to reduce spending and review all P.O.'s and spending as the fiscal year progresses. We need to accept the $25,000 Pilot from the light dept. for town use. And I just got word: Mansfield beat Bishop Feehan 22-6. Yeah Mansfield! Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 4 · New business from Selectman Baldwin: Not present · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: The School committee will be voting a member to the audit committee at their next meeting. The FinComm has voted Jack Goldberg as their representative. Would like to have the football team, coaches, cheerleaders, and band to a meeting for recognition and a proclamation for the individuals involved. Mike Redding at the schools is the contact. Thank you to the Town Manager for continuing to meet with the school superintendent to discuss the towns budget needs. · New business from Selectman Dentino: Upon review of the phone records he has found that the town has been expending a great deal of funds on phone use and on out of state calls. Mr. D'Agostino stated that when he started as the town manager each department had a phone line that cost $50 each. He purchased a Centrex phone system where 10 lines serviced the whole town. This has saved the town a significant amount of money over the years. Uniform allowances should be used for Police, Fire, Water, DPW, employee's that need uniforms to do their job. Not all union employees need to have a uniform allowance and that should be looked at in the next contract negotiations. Selectman Dentino would like to see the town manager contract review start. A copy of each RFP will be placed in the Board of Selectmen mailbox with a request for ranking by next week. Selectman Dentino would also like to know if Mr. D'Agostino is looking at any other budget cutting measures for FYlO. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he is and will discuss with the board as soon as he has the numbers together. Obviously personnel and health care costs are the biggest expenditure and the hardest to cut. Overtime budgets will also be examined however, if there is a reduction in personnel, there will be an increased need for overtime to cover shifts, workloads. Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 5 · New business from Selectman Moran: Would like to know status of Crosby Valve building purchase. Mr. D'Agostino stated that they are progressing with their plans and he will bring more information to the board as it evolves. The department heads are currently processing a level funded budget and a 51'0 reduction budget in MUNIS. As soon as they are available Mr. D'Agostino will bring them to the board. Thank you to all that participated in the Christmas parade last week. . New business from Chairman Levine: Is the school dept. expecting the town side to help them make up lost revenue again this year? No, the reductions will have to come from the school side this year as they make up the majority of the budget. Christmas celebration at the COA is next Friday so please rsvp by next Monday. Motion: To adjourn at 10:27 PM (Aptowitz) 4-0 Passes ~~ ~w~ Signature of Clerk ~~ f 2~~~ Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of December 3, 2008 6