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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes03242010 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 24, 2010 Present: Chairman Baldwin, Vice Chairman Moran, Clerk Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Dentino, Selectman Sandra Levine, William Ross, Town Manager Absent: fire dept award ceremony fire Chief Neal Boldrighini presented Firefighter John Robbins with an Award of Merit for his actions, while off duty, that saved the life of a neighbor who was choking. Liberty Mutual also has a program that honors people who go above and beyond to help their fellow man and presented Mr. Robbins with an award as well. Many members of the fire dept. were present in support of Mr. Robbins. In addition, Town Manager Ross and the Board of Selectmen praised him for his heroic actions. Q&C Andrea McKnight, Rumford Ave, has been before the board in January regarding the limited parking in the downtown area. With the winter parking ban (for overnight parking) the parking is even more limited in her area. Ms. McKnight has been talking with Mr. Ross and he has spoken with staff about this issue as well. A possible resident sticker program is being developed for consideration by the board. Ms. McKnight has asked that any program/sticker fees be waived; however the board is hesitant to do so. Selectman Dentino asked for clarification on the exact areas in question as parking is limited downtown and designated short term on North Main St. for a reason. Weekly Business Warrant No. 10038T in the amount of $482,849.63 Motion: To approve. (Moran/ Aptowitz) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10038E in the amount of $31,304.49 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10038S in the amount of $506,344.61 Motion: To approve. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino) Boord of Selectmen Minutes of Morch 24, 2010 Warrant No. 10038PT in the amount of $261,130.12 Motion: To approve. (Moran/ Aptowitz) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10038TV in the amount of $76,472.48 Motion: To approve. (Levine/Moran) 4:0:1 passes (Dentino) . Application for parade permit from Mansfield T Ball on April 17th. Motion: To approve permit. (Moran/Dentino) 5:0 passes . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 3, 2010 Motion: To hold for next meeting. . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 17, 2010 Motion: To hold . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 24, 2010 Motion: To hold . Application for Common Vic license from Cold Stone Creamery Motion: To approve. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes . Request for transfer of funds from Town Manager Ross. 1. $120.00 to pay for officer physical 2. $1,620.00 to pay quarterly drug testing 1. Motion: To approve transfer and have Chairman Baldwin sign. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes 2. Motion: To approve transfer and have Chairman Baldwin sign. (Aptowitz/ Moran) 5:0 passes Correspondence . Letter from Kevin McNatt, NPGF Chairman re: recommendations for grant awards for 2010. 1. Mansfield Animal Shelter $5,000 grant. The grant is for the purchase of AC components for the HV AC system at the shelter. 2. Mansfield Beautification Committee: The first grant is for $1,200 and is to be used to purchase a new North common sign. The second grant is for $7,000 to cover the cost of labor and materials to build a stone wall at the Mansfield Green Recycling Center. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of March 24, 2010 2 3. Veterans' Department. A grant for $6,195.00 for replacing the existing wooden War Memorial Honor Roll on the East Common with a permanent stone monument. 4. Library. A grant for $2,575.00 for the purchase of materials and supplies to assist patrons in seeking employment. 5. MIDS. A grant for $1,712.00 for the purchase of bins, totes, van ramp and your website update 6. Mansfield Band Parents, marimba and vibraphone purchases. Motion: To approve as read. (Levine/Moran) 3:1:1 passes (Aptowitz nay/Dentino abstain) Selectman Aptowitz still feels that these funds should be used for an ambulance fund. Selectman Dentino has questions about using some of the funds for school band. He would like to hold off on that one as band may not be around next year. Band purchase will be put off for a few weeks until budget set. . Special town meeting is set for May 4, 2010. Motion: To open warrant for special town meeting. (Levine/ Aptowitz) 5:0 passes . Email from John & Gloria Rice, Mill St. expressing their interest in the Board of Selectmen supporting a local option meals tax. This may be addressed in April. Town Manager Report . Update of health insurance committee work. . Update of Softright conversion process. It has been slow but they are getting there. . Questions about the hiring freeze instituted in 2008. Mr. Ross would like to promote an employee to a vacant position and leave the lower position vacant. However he would like the support of the board before pursuing this. After a brief discussion the board agreed to support. . Mr. Ross has completed the overtime/comp time evaluation requested by Selectman Dentino. Board of Selectmen old and new business . Old business from Selectman Dentino: When are we going to review town counsel applicants? The Board will interview select applicants on April 21't. . Old business from Selectman Levine: She also agrees with Selectman Moran's assessment and would like to see careful consideration of future planning. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 24, 2010 3 . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: He also agrees with Selectman Moran and has been expressing this for years now. Question: have enterprise accounts submitted a 5~o budget reduction? Mr. Ross responded yes, they have. . Old business from Selectman Moran: He would like the DPW to direct attention to work at the Memorial Park playground. It is falling into disrepair. He is also looking forward to working with Smith & Nephew on their STA proposal. Budget issues: This is a different budget cycle than the last few years and we (the town and schools) need to make permanent cuts and changes in the way we do business. We can not sustain the level of spending we have in the past. . Old business from Chairman Baldwin: Agrees with Selectman Moran on budget analysis. . New business from Chairman Baldwin: Chairman Baldwin, Chairman Gazzolo, and Chairman Miller met this afternoon to set ground rules for the April141h budget forum. Mr. Ross will be putting a PowerPoint presentation together for the board to utilize. Selectman Dentino would like the presentation to be placed on the website prior to the meeting for citizen review. He would also like the residents to have an opportunity to post questions for the forum prior to the event. . New business from Selectman Aptowitz: Fye music store in Stop & Shop Plaza is going out of business. The residents and business are hurting and he is sad to see them go. . New business from Selectman Dentino: Town commons need attention with overgrown shrubbery, etc. Perhaps some the NPGF requests can be filled by Eagle Scouts looking for projects instead of the fund. Yes, the town and the economy in general is feeling pain and we need to pull together to make the budget work. Unions need to make concessions in order to meet the budget, even with possible layoffs. We cannot sustain our current level of spending; we just don't have the revenue. . New business from Selectman Moran: None Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 24, 2010 4 . New business from Selectman Levine: Please see Health Agent Scott Leite regarding a healthy planning grant from 2008. Do we still have any funds? Mr. Ross will discuss with Mr. Leite. She would also like to have any board discussions during the board meetings instead of emails between members even if they are through the town server. Adjournment Motion: Adjourn to Executive Session at 9:15pm (Moran) 5-0 Passes Roll call vote: Chairman Baldwin, Selectman Moran, Selectman Dentino aye, Selectman Aptowitz aye, Selectman Levine aye. 5:0 passes f~ ~UN~ Signature of Clerk ~~ 2/, 2tJltJ Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 24. 2010 5