Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes01142009-20090319102237 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 Present: Chairman Ann Baldwin, Vice Chairman Kevin Moran, Clerk Jess Aptowitz, Selectman George Dentino, Selectman Sandra Levine, John D'Agostino, Town Manager Michele White is a new resident in town and is interested in becoming more active in the community. She is a Soil Scientist for a firm in No. Attleboro. Selectman Levine asked what type of work she performs and if it entails walking conservation sites. Ms. White stated that her job does lead her out to field work. Selectman Aptowitz also stated he reviewed her resume and she looked quite qualified to be on the commission and welcomed her to town. Selectmen Moran and Dentino also welcomed her to the town and Conservation Commission. Motion: To appoint Michele White to a term ending January 2013 (Moran/Dentino) 5:0 passes Doris Kalter has been volunteering at the shelter and would like to serve on the committee as well. Maria Spears has been volunteering at the shelter as well and would also like to serve on the committee. Carol Kosel has been volunteering at the shelter as well and would also like to serve on the committee. All three of the candidates are well qualified to serve and the board is perplexed that they can only choose one. Selectman Levine asked how long each of the candidates have worked at the shelter. Once again, their volunteer time is comparable. Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 j Motion: To nominate Carol Kosel (she has been at the shelter for a bit longer than the other two) (Levine/Dentino) 5:0 passes Jennifer MacDonald is a life long Mansfield resident and thought she would like to give back to the community. She heard Selectman Levine state at a previous meeting that volunteers were needed and decided to apply. She has children in the school system and is interested in assisting on a scholarship committee. Mrs. MacDonald, like many in town, stated she had Selectman Levine as a teacher. The rest of the board had no further questions and welcomed Mrs. MacDonald to the committee. Motion: To nominate Jennifer MacDonald to a term ending January 2012. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes William Flannery is reapplying to be on the committee as well but is not present. Motion: To nominate William Flannery to a term ending January 2013. (Dentino/Moran) 5:0 passes Robert Reid, Congratulations to Mrs. Baldwin being nominated for Chairman and a special thank you to Mrs. Levine as the past Chairman. Mr. Reid has a copy of the Board of Selectmen handbook and has read it. He is disturbed that the board does not get along and wonders how that can improve. He claps during the meetings as it is the only way he can express himself positively during the meeting. Chairman Baldwin thanked him for his comments and requested that he keeps the clapping to a minimum. In addition to the board, Mr. Reid thanked Town Manager D'Agostino for all his hard work for the town. Pam Gagnon, 2 Gladiola Terrace. She wanted to clarify the letter that Mr. Saquet sent to the board. She also requested that Selectman Levine read the email she sent to Mr. Saquet in response. When Selectman Levine declined, Ms. Gagnon continued to read from her prepared statement until stopped by the Chairman. Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 2 After last weeks interviews the Board of Selectmen has decided to go forward with a selection of special counsel. Selectman Levine stated she liked Attorney Fosket the best of the 3 interviewed. Selectman Dentino stated he liked Attorney Torres and Selectman Moran was most comfortable with Attorney Fosket as well. Chairman Baldwin would also vote for Attorney Fosket or Torres as the top candidate as well if the board so desires. The gavel was passed to Vice Chairman Moran and a heated discussion ensued between Chairman Baldwin and Selectman Levine regarding board policy. Motion: To hire Attorney Torres (Dentino/ Aptowitz) Baldwin 3:2 passes Motion: To hire Attorney Fosket (Moran) 1:3:1 (Levine abstain) fails Tentative meeting with Attorney Torres set for next Thursday between 8-12am. A second draft has been prepared by Selectman Moran and reviewed by the board. Mr. D'Agostino will forward to staff and the board will vote on the policy at the January 28th meeting. . Warrant No. 28B in the amount of $53,192.17 Motion: Approved (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes . Warrant No. 29B in the amount of $2,826,029.33 Motion: Approved (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes · Warrant No. 29A in the amount of $296,840.06 Motion: Approved (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes · Common Victualler license renewal from Papa Ginos. Motion: To approve. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes . Entertainment license renewal from Casey O'Conors Motion: To approve. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14,2009 3 · Class II auto license for Mansfield Motors Motion: To approve. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes · Class II auto license for The Tire Man Auto Sales Motion: To approve. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes · Live Entertainment for Catman Cafe Motion: To approve. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Drainlayer license applications from: 1. Walsh Contracting Corp Motion: To approve license. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes 2. Peter DeGirolamo & Sons Motion: To approve license. (Dentino/Levine) 5:0 passes 3. Cat Alley Farm Motion: To approve license. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Water installers license application 1. Peter DeGirolamo & Sons Motion: To approve license. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes: October 22, 2008 Motion: To approve (Moran/Levine) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes: November 5,2008 Motion: (Moran/Levine) 4:0:1 passes (Baldwin abstain) · 21 emailed letter in support of hiring independent counsel. 5 of them requested to be read in their entirety. . 2 letters in opposition to hiring independent counsel. Mr. Saquet also asked for his letter to be read. Clerk Aptowitz read the letter and Chairman Baldwin responded why independent counsel was retained and why going to town meeting is not warranted. Andy Gazzolo also stated that the FinComm is not in favor of early Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 4 termination of the town manager and is wary of spending additional money on this issue at town meeting. · Letter from Lou Andrews regarding email practices. He would like his letter read as well. After Clerk Aptowitz read the email.Mr. Andrews gave a brief statement regarding his service as the towns volunteer webmaster. · Discussion of reclassification of dispatcher positions. The job description and steps of positions are up for reclassification as the last time it was changed was 1988 and the job has changed significantly since then. Selectman Dentino stated he feels that 14.8'Yo is too high for these positions and due to the economic climate we are in he cannot support it. Selectman Moran is also concerned about spending this much during these tight times but is also cognizant that this was a previous contract obligation that needs to be honored. Town Manager D'Agostino explained how the contract negotiations occurred and why the numbers are what they are. Selectman Aptowitz stated that he does not understand why the updated job description was not approved before the contract was signed and came before the board for approval. As the process seemed to be backwards Mr. D'Agostino explained why this sometimes happens this way. Although it was not this current board, the previous Board of Selectmen was advised of the contract change that is being discussed now. Going forward; this Board intends to be more involved with keeping up with negotiations. Andy Gazzolo, FinComm Chairman suggested that Mr. D'Agostino talk with the union and request that they wait for this increase in FYlO instead of FY09. The town is deficit spending and does not know if or how much state aid will be cut yet. Motion: To grant the change of dispatcher classification from grade A to B (Levine/Moran) 3:0:2 (Aptowitz/Dentino abstain) passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 5 · DPW staff is recommending that we proceed with shutting off half of the street lights in the industrial park, on rt. 140 and on Eastman Street. The savings is FY09 alone would be approximately $8,000. · Preliminary motor vehicle excise tax commitment issued by the state is a 5'70 deduction. We had budgeted a 6'70 reduction for FY09 so the numbers from the state are slightly better. · I will be providing an impact statement summarizing the 5'70 reduction budget. o We expect a reduction in staff and hours at the library o We expect the elimination of bulk waste at curbside. o Additional street lights may be shut off through out town. o We have met with dept. heads and asked them to take a further look at reductions for FY09. . I have asked Ed Vozzella to explain to us the 47 school hires since July of 08 to the present. The salary amount for these individuals exceeds 1.7 million dollars at a time when we are facing significant financial challenges. . However, based on the current deficit projected for FYlO, we expect a reduction in staff in both town and school personnel. . I will be posting revenue reports on the town website and Mr. Hart is working on the expenditure reports now for next week. . Old business from Selectman Levine: Would like to see liquor license update soon. We will be doing it mid February. Also the rescheduling of the Comcast issues meeting. The trip to Franklin to see how they run the town has been postponed until at least next month. The resident who had problems with snow plowing earlier called this past storm and stated he was quite satisfied with the street plowing most recently. Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 6 · Old business from Selectman Dentino: He is still looking for back up documents that go with 3 years worth of professional development expenditures. Salt is running low at the highway garage and due to the spike in price it will be much more expensive to purchase than last year. Selectmen Dentino would like Mr. D'Agostino to check into other sources of supplies. Town Accountant Eric Hart, will be asked to come to the January 28th meeting at 7pm to discuss this issue. It appears that it is a rather large undertaking. · Old business for Selectman Moran: None . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: Thank you to the Chiefs and John Hogan for all their hard work with the VFW presentation for Cori Shea. · Old business from Chairman Baldwin: None . New business from Chairman Baldwin: Apology for raising her voice and acting unprofessional earlier in the meeting. . New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Please see him at office hours or email him if you wish to speak with him. Do not leave voice mails at his home as his children may get them. . Questions about regional and charter school expenses. These budget updates should be coming soon and then the board can plan appropriately. . New business from Selectman Dentino: Would like to get quotes for "lump sum" legal counsel. Motion: To have the live wire magazine discontinued for the rest of FY09 in an effort to save money. (Dentinol Aptowitz) 4:0:1 passes (Moran abstain) Selectman Moran abstained due to specific request by the Director of the Electric Department that he be allowed to be present when Electric Department matter are discussed. Selectman Moran abstained due to specific request by the Director of the Electric Department he be allowed to be present when Electric Department matters are discussed. Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 7 Motion: To extend meeting to 1O:40pm. (Aptowitz/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Comments in regards to letter from Gary Babin. Selectman Dentino has been looking for legal documents that Attorney Kesten ordered and the town paid for. Chairman Baldwin will ask Mr. Babin and Att. Kesten if they have these documents. . New business from Selectman Moran: Covidien is moving forward with their building and expansion plans. He is working on the liquor policy and will review with the board soon. . New business from Selectman Levine: If you wish to contact her via email please sign your name, not a nickname or username as she does not read nor respond to emails that are unidentified. Motion: To adjourn at 10:40 PM (Aptowitz) 5-0 Passes f~ ~UI~ Signature of Clerk 'M~~ /tff; 2tJtJf' Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of January 14, 2009 8