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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENMinutes04012009 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 1, 2009 LJ --i~ iCE Present: Chairman Ann Baldwin, Vice Chairman Kevin Moran, Clerk Jess AptOwitz, Selectman Sandra Levine, Selectman George Dentino, John D'Agostino, Town Manager ~ l: 51 Shawmut Ave Extension vote of intention to layout a town way. This is based upon the recommendation of the Town Engineer and Director of Planning. The Board of Selectmen will be asked to accept this street at next weeks meeting. Motion: To layout Shawmut Ave Extension on a plan title "As Built of Shawmut Ave Ext." as prepared by Hutchins Trowbridge Associates. We hereby report this laying out to the town for acceptance and order that the same be forthwith filed in the office of the Town Clerk. (Moran/Levine) 5:0 passes A resident had questions about when the town manager's contract will expire. Chairman Baldwin said his contract is up in November and the board is currently looking at organizing a sub committee and hiring a tm selection firm. Will Mr. D'Agostino get a "golden parachute" sort of package? The Chair stated if Mr. D'Agostino leaves before his term is expired he may receive a six month severance package. Chairman Baldwin stated that she received an email from Mike Trowbridge that he will be the school committee representative on the sub committee. Selectman Moran clarified why he voted against this motion last week. It wasn't the composition of the sub committee that he was opposed to; it was that it came up late in the evening and he felt it deserved more discussion before a vote. Selectman Aptowitz stated that he just wanted to get it out there last week to get the ball rolling. He realized that they would want to discuss it again more in depth. Mr. D'Agostino stated that the search firm that the board selects could have a different way to go about interviewing potential town managers and that is something to think about Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 !II as well. There are several layers to looking for, screening, interviewing and hiring town managers. Selectman Moran stated that he spoke with a representative from MMA in relation to the process of hiring a town manager to get a better handle on the subject. As the process is very comprehensive he wants to get as much information about the process as he can. Selectman Dentino followed up that he thinks the search firm will do their part and then the sub committee will take their lead from them. He thinks that a seven member sub committee is best to get this work done. Selectman Levine stated that she has been on sub committee's such as this one to hire a town manager and it has always been at least a nine member group. She would like the group to be involved from start to finish. Chairman Baldwin then followed up on the process for sending the tm search group solicitation letter, interviewing members for the sub committee, interviewing/selecting a firm and then the tm screening process. Resident Bob Bernstein asked the board if they know what they are looking for in a search committee or a town manager? Selectman Levine stated that she has done this three times before so she feels comfortable with interviewing candidates. However the Board of Selectmen will make these decisions together. Mr. Bernstein wants to make sure that the Board of Selectmen is moving on this topic as it is a very important decision. The board members stated that they realize that time is of the essence however they want to be careful in their selection of a town manager as it is a very important appointment. Mr. D'Agostino offered some suggestions on hiring a search firm and a town manager. You want to make sure that this person not only has the administrative qualifications but is familiar with industrial parks and other important aspects of Mansfield town government. There are only 4 communities in the Commonwealth that have a town charter like Mansfield's so it is important that this person has a grasp on these issues. The board will get all changes to their search letter to John by Monday for a vote next week. Also letters of interest for the sub committee need to be in by April 8th for appointment. Selectman Dentino would like to be on the subcommittee but will abstain as he is up for re- election and may not be here later in the year. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 2 !II Selectmen Moran, Baldwin, Aptowitz and Levine would all like to be on the sub committee however only two of them will be. After a brief discussion Chairman Baldwin withdrew her name for consideration. Chairman Baldwin passed the gavel to Vice Chairman Moran and made the following motion Motion: To nominate Jess Aptowitz for the search sub committee. (Baldwin/Dentino) 3:0:2 passes Motion: To nominate Kevin Moran for the search sub committee. (Dentino/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Motion: To reconsider vote of nomination of Jess Aptowitz to be unanimous. (Dentino/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes Motion: To nominate Jess Aptowitz for the search sub committee. (Moran/Dentino) 5:0 passes · Warrant No. 40B in the amount of $1,615,123.12 Motion: Approved (Aptowitz/Baldwin) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino abstain) · Warrant No. 40A in the amount of $1,527,911.64 Motion: Approved (Moran/Levine) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino abstain) · Town Meeting and election warrant posting read into record by the clerk. Motion: To approve and sign warrant. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes · Meeting minutes from February 18, 2009 Motion: hold · Request for sign on South Common from the Mansfield High School Drama Club. They would like to display for two weeks prior to event on May 8_lOth. Motion: To allow sign for drama club. (Aptowitz/Levine) 5:0 passes · Emailletter from Bob Saquet requesting the board take a serious look at forming a town manager search committee. Both Selectmen Dentino and Baldwin took exception to the tone of the letter. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 3 !II . Letter from the NPGF Committee regarding their recommendations for donations for FY09. Motion: To approve recommendations. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes . Emails from the Board of Selectmen to one another discussing the merits of a seven vs. nine member TM search committee. . Email alert from Jerry Gibbs of the Raynham Cable Committee regarding a petition being circulated by the CW affiliate in Providence requesting officials to sign off on ending Channel 56 in Bristol County. . Letter from the Garden Club regarding there upcoming plant sale. They would like to set up two signs at the South and North Commons from May 8th to May 16th to advertise for the event on May 16th. Close Park Row at 5am through lpm on that date. Have town hall bathrooms open from 6am through 1pm on that date as well. Motion: To approve signs and event (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes . Letter from David Coccia, President of MMAS requesting a waiver of the building permit fee and the town's portion of electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits to be done at 377 North Main St. when they expand shortly from Crocker St. Motion: To waive town fees. (Levine/Dentino) 5:0 passes . Letter from Gary Babin requesting the bos waive site plan review for MMED project. Motion: Waive site plan review for MMED. (Levine/Moran) 5:0 passes . Budget discussion for May 6th with dept heads during bos meeting. There will be a 6:30pm start time for this one. . Reduction of town reports, town meeting warrant articles and supporting documents to save money and we will post it in pdf format on the web as well. . Chairman Baldwin stated that the school and the municipal side have had budget issues the town will present one budget at town meeting. . Selectman Dentino voiced concern over the date of this budget meeting being changed to the May 6th date. He also felt that the selectmen's meeting was too small for the crowd that may come to the meeting. Mr. D'Agostino stated that our conference room can hold many more chairs than it presently does. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 4 ,. · Budget discussion regarding union concessions and what will happen if this doesn't happen. · Long discussion regarding potential changes in healthcare and what employees will have to give up to get to theses changes ensued. · Mr. D'Agostino believes that the town unions will agree with his plan and he will know more after his meeting with them next Monday. However the school unions must agree to this as well, it is an all or nothing deal. The town cannot do it without the schools as their health care plans and budgets are tied together. Without these concessions by April 24th there will be layoffs in order to balance the budget. · Ambulance receipts where briefly overviewed. · Good news: Federal Reserve chairman indicated that he believes the recession will be over by the end of the year. · Old business from Selectman Levine: None · Old business from Selectman Dentino: Looking for update on Verizon Fios wiring issues. Mr. D'Agostino stated Verizon thinks communication wire should be exempt from inspections and fees. The town does not and they are waiting for a ruling from the state. In a compromise offered to Verizon the town suggested they pay the fees and if the state feels they don't have to pay, the fees will be refunded. · Questions about health club reimbursement benefits. According to Mr. D'Agostino the reimbursement varies from union to union. Also our BC/BS health insurance reimburses the employee a certain amount. However they do not combine. · Old business for Selectman Moran: None · Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: First quarter snap shot on web and need to be updated to second quarter. · Do we have an update on the snow and ice deficit? Hopefully we will not get any more snow this year. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 5 ,.. · He would still like to designate a finance section on agendas for 15 minutes each week. · Old business from Chairman Baldwin: None · New business from Chairman Baldwin: Would like Mr. D'Agostino to discuss the Entertainment License renewal with Bruce Montgomery as opposed to the board. · New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Motion: To extend meeting to 1O:40pm (Aptowitz/ Moran) 5:0 passes · New business from Selectman Dentino: Would like to recognize a few students that have excelled at state and national sporting events. · New business from Selectman Moran: None · New business from Selectman Levine: Earth Day is April 18th and Mansfield is promoting a multi town event. · People whose property was damaged over the winter need landscape repair by the DPW. · Update on the south coast rail project. It appears that new trains will not be going through Mansfield however a final decision will be issued by next week. Motion: To adjourn at 10:36 PM (Levine) 5-0 Passes /e# ~ev~ Signature of Clerk ;;1?,?7 ~, 2~~'f' Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of April!, 2009 6 .