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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes03182009-20090410114716 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18, 2009 Present: Chairman Ann Baldwin, Vice Chairman Kevin Moran, Clerk Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Sandra Levine, John D'Agostino, Town Manager Superintendent Luis Lopes and Representative William Flannery presented an overview of Mansfield's assessment of the SE Regional School's FYlO budget. They like other school systems in the area have experienced a reduction in funding and an increase in expenses. In order to offset these conditions they have instituted a hiring freeze, increased employee hours (for same salary) and reduced both administrative and school staff. They have also been restructuring the way they administer their health care plan just like Mansfield is looking at. Cuts in facilities maintenance and bus service have also been discussed. 38 Mansfield students currently attend SE Regional, down 4 students from last year. Selectman Levine asked about the 45'Yo reduction in operation costs. Sup. Lopes stated that they have put 3 million dollars in the facilities this past year so their buildings are in good shape for now. Selectman Aptowitz asked about the formula that is used to determine the amount the town pays. Upon first look there appears to be a disparity in what each community pays however it is not a per public cost. Superintendent Lopes stated the state formulates many items such as the taxes/property value assessments and town medium income into what they feel the particular town can afford to pay. Selectman Moran asked about after school bus runs. There will no longer be a run right after school at 2:30pm, only one at 4pm to capture all the students that participant in after school sports or activities and encourage the students that don't to do so. Mr. D'Agostino asked about the health care costs that they plan to capture by raising the office visit co-payment visit by $5. They expect to save about $350,000 over all with other cost saving measures. If this is successful it would allow for the restoration of half of the current staff reductions. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18,2009 Barbara Burgo, Partnership Specialist for SW Census Bureau and Town Clerk Helen Christian were present. Overviews of census gathering procedures were presented. The initial phase of census gathering is address canvassing. Census employees go house to house and gather information from residents that haven't responded to mailings. Selectman Levine asked what kind of ID census personnel will be able to show residents when they knock on their door. Census personnel will have ID badges on them in addition to hand held census computers and handouts. Ms. Burgo stated that all personnel will have hand held computers and ID badges identifying them as census employees. She is also asking the town to post flyers and provide information in many forms to increase community awareness of the importance of census information retrieval. Chairman Baldwin agreed to print a news release for distribution via flyer, email, website and cable. COSI representatives did not show up for meeting. David Centrella, Mansfield resident, full time constable/investigator for Department of Revenue. Joel Thomas, East Bridgewater resident, constable for five years and also works full time (for the Department of Revenue mainly). Selectmen Moran and Levine are impressed with the qualifications of both applicants. Motion: To appoint Joel Thomas as constable. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Motion: To appoint David Centrella as constable. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Paul McDonough, 14 year resident and civil engineer. He is interested in volunteering on a committee that combines and WWII history and providing school scholarships as well. Selectman Aptowitz is glad to have both a history buff and volunteer for this valuable committee. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18, 2009 2 Selectman Levine is also glad to have a citizen interested in public services however she wanted to make sure that Mr. McDonough knew that this particular committee only met a couple times of year. Motion: To appoint Mr. McDonough to the WWII Scholarship Committee. (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes AI Bregnard, he has lived in Mansfield his whole life and wants to give back to the town. Selectman Moran and Aptowitz welcome Mr. Bregnard to public service and are happy to have him. Selectman Levine warmly welcomed Mr. Bregnard to the Park and Recreation Commission as she has known his family for years. Motion: To appoint Mr. Bregnard to the Park and Recreation Commission. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes None Selectman Moran gave a brief overview of the proposed policy and added that it is what the board has been doing in the past. This however formalizes it and puts it in writing. The proposed changes include putting in a requirement that the licensee provide a schedule of construction and/or length of time license will not be utilized. Instituting a set period of time of lag time before board takes action. Mr. D'Agostino asked the board if they would like a public hearing to be held before license action is taken to protect the town from any legal action. The board thought that would be a good idea and when they are ready to address it again they do so. · Warrant No. 38B in the amount of $359310.27 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18, 2009 3 · Warrant No. 38A in the amount of $1,481,136.99 Motion: Approved (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes · Meeting minutes from December 30, 2008 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/ Moran) 4:0 passes · Meeting minutes from January 14,2009 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/ Moran) 4:0 passes · Meeting minutes from January 21, 2009 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Parade permit request from Mansfield youth baseball. Motion: To approve permit request. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Park and recreation is requesting a gift account be set up especially for the purchase of a cargo van. As long as the gift account is set up to only accept gift funds it is ok with the town accountant. Motion: Approved as requested. (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes · Email from Lou Andrews, Mansfield Animal Shelter, regarding allowing Verizon to install a utility pole for the new animal shelter at no cost. · Request from Town Clerk Helen Christian regarding setting the date of town meeting. Proposed town meeting date of Tuesday, May 26th. Motion: To postpone town meeting until May 26th. (Moran/ Aptowitz) 4:0 passes · Letter of request from Jim Miller of the Mansfield High All Sports Booster Club asking for permission to hold annual 5k walk on May 17th. The course begins at the High School to East St, Branch St, Ware St and back to the school. Motion: To approve race upon police and fire approval. (Aptowitz/Levine) 4:0 passes · Letter from Mansfield Firefighters Association thanking everyone who has donated to them in the past and advising the public that the only funding raising that they willing be doing this year is a direct mailing. · Letter from the Planning Board regarding the granting of a special permit to M WWC. They will be looking for a retail beer and wine license as well. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18,2009 4 · Decertification letter for Innovative Spinal Technologies to be sent to state upon vote of board. Motion: To decertify TIF agreement for Innovative Spinal Technologies. (Aptowitz/Levine) 4:0 passes · Ambulance receipts and rates from Neal Boldrighini were discussed. · Budget update on the 5 year forecast was reviewed today with FinComm and layoffs will most likely be able to be avoided. · Stimulus funds/grants that may be available to town. However in 2014 the grants would expire and the town would have to pick up the difference if they wanted to retain the level of service. By the year 2014 the town will most likely need these additional people anyway due to anticipated population growth. · Concerns over lack of firefighter coverage. 1,100 simultaneous runs are now at an all time high and if a third emergency happens there may not be coverage available at this rate. Selectman Moran would like to hear input from both the fire chief and the police chief to discuss the town's growing needs and population growth. Selectman Levine asked why the grants would increase the tax base. Mr. D'Agostino stated that it doesn't increase the tax base during the grant period however after the grant expires the tax base would expand to encompass the cost of the personnel. As you can see there are pros and cons for accepting grant monies. · Old business from Selectman Levine: Will be talking to Lee Azinheira about large pot holes in streets. · Old business from Selectman Dentino: Not present · Old business for Selectman Moran: Ask Mr. D'Agostino for update on PEG funding and when cable will be pulled in the town hall (thus providing cable access programming to Verizon customers.) Mr. D'Agostino has talked with Rick Cologne of Verizon and the high school should be ready by April and the elementary schools by June. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18, 2009 5 · Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: Middle school champs as well. He was out on Rt. 140 with Mass Highway and John Sullivan to discuss issues and Mike Ahern will draft a letter to MA highway about addressing these issues. · Old business from Chairman Baldwin: None · New business from Chairman Baldwin: Motion: Roll call vote of board on Friday, March 13th to send letter to Judge Woodlock asking for decision. (Aptowitz/ Moran) 4:0 passes · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: He has received many emails from residents asking when Verizon Fios will be available in their part of town. Verizon will be forwarding a roll out schedule to the town offices soon. · New business from Selectman Dentino: Not present · New business from Selectman Moran: He has drafted letter to Mansfield Cable Access that makes them the official PEG grantees of the town. Motion: To have chairman sign letter and send out. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · New business from Selectman Levine: Congrats to all on the Mansfield high school sports teams that have won first place and finals. This is a mark of achievement in that they have maintained these high standards for years. Motion: To adjourn at 8:58 PM (Levine) 4-0 Passes ~e:kJ; ~~~ Signature of Clerk ~'/ ;; 2~~~ Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 18, 2009 6