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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes04292009-20090611152455 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 Present: Chairman Ann Baldwin, Vice Chairman Kevin Moran, Clerk Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Sandra Levine, Selectman George Dentino, John D'Agostino, Town Manager Paul Buonpane, Troop 51 Eagle Scout, made a presentation on cleaning Happy Hallows Cemetery, repairing stones with epoxy, etc. along with a diagram of what will be cleaned. Landscaping will also be updated. Sandy suggested he contact Mansfield Beautification Committee for help with volunteers. The board members and town manager praised Paul for his dedication and work. Motion: To approve the Eagle Scout Project for repairs of Happy Hallows Cemetery in West Mansfield. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Christopher McGowan and Lenny Flynn in attendance. Selectman Dentino asked for update on what's transpired in past few months. He asked how new issues this affect Mansfield. Chris McGowan said Attleboro to Mansfield bypass route may be taken out. Decision won't be finalized until end of summer. There is now talk about putting in a 3rd rail, which will entail taking down and rebuilding Mansfield station. the state is expecting approx. 800 new riders; which the current Mansfield station can't handle. ACEC, (area of critical environmental concern) will be affected. Lenny said we should go through Stoughton route. Norton, Attleboro, and Mansfield are all in favor of Stoughton route being the priority route. However, the decision is still not made and they won't break ground until at least 2016. Impacts to us going thru Stoughton, line will go east - this mean we will have to move the line currently in place, overpasses, etc. The Board of Selectmen have told Chris we did not support the Attleboro line in prior meetings. Maryann Kinney, involved with CCAT's spoke and said Fall River/New Bedford deserve train station but this is not the way or time. Taunton has too many grade crossings along with other issues in Norton and Mansfield to make the Attleboro route viable. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 Selectman Levine - how will the state raise the funds necessary to do this and who will do the job? There is a $1.8 Billion price tag (at least) right now. Chris says we have to watch stimulus monies but even that isn't enough. Mike Ferrari, spoke about impact this will have on us and surrounding areas. Could be disruptive to fire and police as well. SRPEDD has a webpage with all information available. Motion: We should join with surrounding communities - to not support the Attleboro line and support the Stoughton line instead. (Dentinol Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Chairman Baldwin asked Gary Babin for update on Conservation Commission hearing on Site Plan review rejection of design of substation. Substation issue is due to the small size of site, we would have to go into 100' buffer. Estimated and priority habitat for rare species. 100' buffer zone is strictly enforced. NHESP can give report on if habitat does live there. Biologist may be needed to do a study. If no species found, we can apply back to ConComm. ' for an Order of Conditions. If not, we may need to look for another site, project could be in danger. Planning Board review canceled for tonight. Gary presumes we will need to do a study. Selectman Aptowitz asked why are we finding this out now? Transmission corridor was kept mowed, we have worked with ConComm and he thought it would not be a problem. Chris Cox said we worked with Conservation Agent Michele Grenier, who said to apply for a MESA filing for exemption from the 100' buffer - we did, and it was rejected. Selectman Dentino asked when MESA waiver was denied - Chris said 3 weeks ago. Mr. D'Agostino asked if this was brought up in Municipal Review Process - when drainage issue was discussed relative to this project within 100' buffer - was the conservation agent present? Gary said he believes so and it was safe to assume agent was made aware of project; 100' buffer work and said it was ok. Gary said there was optimism that we would get the waiver. Mr. D'Agostino asked what language was stated in the bylaw that made them think it was going to be ok? There wasn't a specific answer; they just felt comfortable there would be an exemption allowed for the town use. Chairman Baldwin asked to discuss this further with Light Commissioners at June 8th meeting. Chairman Baldwin asked Andy, Jack, Tom from the Finance Committee to speak about financial issues facing the town. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 2 Andy stated: 1. We need to create trust fund for unfunded pension liability. 2. Need to know how much and when to fund? Jack read an article about unfunded liabilities towns are facing. He had a study which read there is currently a $77m benefit obligation. (Everything except pensions). "Normal Cost" - amount of benefit earned in FY09: 3.2 million To start to work down 77 million cost is $4.3 million a year $7.9 million total we will need to come up with; (arc) annual required contribution Selectman Aptowitz asked for an explanation for the people at home: Unfunded liability - medical, dental & life. Need to "repay" the retirees for these costs. Current employees earn 3.2m in future benefits. We haven't put money in prior years. (This is strictly non- pension monies). That's where $77mil came in. GASBY required we do the study last year and then only recently this was brought to our attention that these liabilities would have to be saved for. Selectman Levine asked why this has to be done: Because we are required - won't project a fair picture of the financials of the town when we are audited. Need to start this trust to meet the obligation of our employees. Mr. D'Agostino stated we have until 2025 to fund pension liability however we want to start to prepare as soon as possible. $77 million broken down by department: Municipal: $21.5mil Schools: $50 mil Enterprise Account: $5.8 mil Electric: $2.4 mil Parking: $3,700.00 Waste water: $1.8 mil Water: $1.6 mil Mr. D'Agostino said everyone agreed warrant should come from each department with their individual amount at each Town and Special Town Meeting. Selectman Aptowitz thanked everyone on FinComm. for their service. Selectman Levine asked for clarity's sake - could FinComm give board packages explaining everything they said tonight? Jack said he will give everyone copies of the study. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 3 siness Warrant 44B, $528,909.68 (Moran/ Aptowitz) 4:0:1 Passes (Dentino nay) Warrant 44A, $1,500,946.59(Moran/ Aptowitz) 5:0 Passes Comcast Entertainment License: Motion: To approve Comcast entertainment license (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Water Installer License application - Cat Alley Farm: Motion: To approve license (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Drainlayers license application for Carico Construction: Motion: To approve license (Aptowitz/Levine) 5:0 passes Block party request from Dan Pierce, Mayflower Drive, including 5k road race for ACS Relay for Life: Motion: To approve request (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Garden Club letter requesting use of park row on May 24th for annual sale. Motion: To approve request (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Chairman Baldwin asked if numbers were now correct; Mr. D'Agostino told her they would be changing. Chairman Baldwin asked if they wanted to discuss changing the date of Annual Town Meeting. Mr. D'Agostino explained he is waiting for final numbers from the State and would probably change the meeting date to the middle of June. He will try to have more information for next week's meeting. Motion: To approve Article 10: (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve Article 14: (Moran/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve Article 16: (Aptowitz/Moran) with spelling error; 5:0 passes - would like Chief to come in to explain further. Motion: To approve Article 17: (Aptowitz/Moran) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve Article 18: (Aptowitz/Moran) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve Article 19: (Aptowitz/Levine) 4:1:0 Dentino opposes Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29,2009 4 Motion: To approve Article 22: need clarification on, Levine withdraws motion - Engineering Dept. needs to come in to explain further. Motion: To approve Article 33: (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve Article 34: Hold off on approval. Have Planning Dept. come in to explain further. Motion: To approve Article 35: Have Bob Saquet come in to explain Articles 35 & 36. Motion: To approve Article 37,38 and 39: Too many questions to understand. Need to have more info. Have Finance Committee come in to explain further. Put Warrant Articles on May 13 agenda. Invite Mr. Mulcahey, Mr. Saquet, Planning, Fin Com, Engineering, Con. Com., Chief O'Neil. Budget discussion; revenue being worked on - will have more information to everyone next week. Several handouts passed to members. Health Changes - 9.5'ro increase: 4.2'ro appropriated; 5.3'ro increase. No mitigation. Increased unemployment compensation for both town and schools. Amount may be increased if we don't get $2.95mil in stimulus money. Police, Teachers, Electric dept. voted against health care concessions. Mr. D'Agostino read budget numbers, deficit numbers. All numbers include house #'s; senate #'s not in yet. 6.13 positions on the Town side being laid off with more anticipated. Waiting for Ways & Means numbers to come out, probably in mid-June. Projections on deficit discussed. All numbers were also given to FinComm. Will not discuss departments affected at this time. Will be discussing with dept. heads, unions, etc. in private on whom will be affected. Offices will not be closed; we are looking at contracting out certain aspects of department functions. Selectman Moran asked if our revenue projections are the same as FinComm? Yes, we are basing it on the same numbers but will need to be discussed further. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 5 School personnel, school committee, Finance Committee chairman will come into a meeting when state numbers come in. Dispatcher Campbell and Kupla received recognition at the community brunch at Mechanic's Hall in Worcester this week for their efforts in dispatching during the shooting at North Easton Bank last April. Motion: To send commendation to the two of them here at one of our meetings. Include John's recommendation that Chief O'Neill be informed of this. (Levine/Dentino) 5:0 passes. The Great Mansfield Cleanup is this weekend; please chip in if you can. Selectman Dentino would like to have the fence area on 140 near S & S cleaned up. Questi . None Kevin Kemp did not show for interview. Email from resident requesting that the Board of Selectmen let the voters decide on the option of an operational override at town meeting. Letter from residents of Marshall Ave requesting stops signs to be added to the corners of Smiley and Marshall Aves. Public safety has been advised. Chris McGowan does not want to be re-appointed to the SRPEDD Commission so the Board of Selectmen needs to find another applicant. Special Town Meeting Warrant Motion: To sign Special Town Meeting Warrant (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes Selectman Dentino commended the Folk Festival organizers and the children involved. Asked about street sweeping. Mr. D'Agostino stated that DPW is down to one sweeper- two shifts. Only $1.00 shift differential. Shifts rearranged to 40 hours, so no overtime is paid. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 6 Selectman Moran mentioned the Animal Shelter and the fact they need more donations then ever with people surrendering their pets. Selectman Aptowitz asked to have comparison of prior years' salaries put into columns next to this years' town report for his review. Selectman Aptowitz would like to pick a dept. head to be on the TM search committee. Selectman Levine said we don't know the backgrounds of these people and they should be interviewed. Chairman Baldwin will provide date for everyone to come in soon. Selectman Levine thanked Betty Amicone for Red Flag Identity Theft and Electric Dept. clarifications. There was also a letter from Mrs. Sheehan complaining Comcast has removed channel 19, PBS, and put it on another, more expensive tier. Would like Gerry Buckley to come in & explain why a publically-paid channel that provides public television to this area would be moved. Lenny Keston was at pre-trial last week; will try to have him in next week. Eric Hart would like to come in next Wednesday for discussion about working in Rockland. Motion: To adjourn 10:30 PM (Aptowitz) 5-0 Passes ,~ ~U/~ Signature of Clerk ~e-/~ 2~~'f' Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 29, 2009 7 --~-~---._'--'-'-----"---------------"--------'-~---~---_._- . .