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Home My WebLink AboutSELECTMENminutes03312010 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 31, 2010 Present: Chairman Baldwin, Vice Chairman Moran, Clerk Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Dentino, William Ross, Town Manager Absent: Selectman Sandra Levine Smith & Nephew EOA ISTA presentation Lynn Tokarczyk, Business Development Strategies, introduced the following people who will be speaking on behalf of Smith & Nephew. Rich Pellagrini, MOBD Director Geary Munroe, VP Smith & Nephew Jay Barrows, State Representative Kara Griffin, Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce Ed Tartufo, Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce Maria Correia, Holiday Inn Don Cleary, TIF Committee Lou Andrews, TIF Committee Mr. Munroe gave a brief overview of the company's operations and their anticipated renovations at the Cabot Business Park facility. Staying in Mansfield is their first choice however they need to secure a Special Tax Assessment (STA) in order for the project to be economically feasible. Ms. Tokarczyk then gave a very brief review of what STA's are vs. a Tax Increment Finance (TIF). Mr. Cleary also gave a presentation on the work that the TIF Committee did in negotiating with Smith & Nephew. The Committee proposed to offer a 13 year STA and the company accepted. Now the Board of Selectmen must vote in favor in order for this agreement to go forward to town meeting. Selectman Aptowitz mentioned to the audience how this agreement is meaningful to the town in addition to the company. Plus, the company receives a larger financial credit from the state. Selectman Dentino added that not only is this a good deal for the town and Smith & Nephew, there are other communities that wanted their business however; the company would like to stay in Mansfield if possible. The town is never looking to give away tax revenue but this is a good investment in the town's future growth. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 31, 2010 Selectman Moran and Mr. Ross also commented on the advantaging on having such an advanced manufacturing facility here in town. The company provides skilled labor jobs at a fair wage. In addition, the employees seemed to be happy to work there. Rep. Barrows echoed the sentiments that Smith & Nephew is the type of facility that Mansfield (and the state at large) has been looking for to fill our business park. Mr. T artufo also commented about the rezoning of the business park in past years that have lead to attracting great business's to the park. Limiting tax incentives to select types of business has helped in maintaining the integrity of the park. In addition, the few TIF's that have been decertified have not hurt the town over the long run. Motion: Vote to approve the creation of the 130 Forbes Boulevard EOA pursuant to MGL c. 23A, Section 3E, and submit said EOA for approval to the EACC. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Motion: Vote to recommend to Town Meeting the proposed 13 year Special Tax Assessment (STA) Plan and Agreement, pursuant to MGL c. 23A, Section 3E, between the Town of Mansfield, Smith & Nephew, Inc. (Endoscopy Division) and ARE-MA Region NO.30, LLC. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Motion: Vote to recommend to Town Meeting the proposed application by Smith & Nephew, Inc. (Endoscopy Division) for a Certified Expansion Project pursuant to MGL c. 23A, Section 3F. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Weekly Business Warrant No. 10039T in the amount of $1,025,783.62 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10039E in the amount of $220,679.23 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10038PT in the amount of $276,677.82 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) Selectman Dentino abstaining from payroll as well as vendor Warrant No. 10039TV in the amount of $80,406.05 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) Warrant No. 10039PS in the amount of $1,319,766.78 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) Board of Selectmen Minutes of Morch 31. 2010 2 Warrant No. 10039SV in the amount of $406,113.05 Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino) . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 3, 2010 Motion: (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes · Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 17, 2010 Motion: (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of February 24, 2010 Motion: (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Water Installers license application for Christian and Feck Motion: To approve (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes . Drainlayers license application for Christian and Feck Motion: To approve (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes · Common Vie license application from Subway on Copeland Drive Motion: To approve. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Selectman Aptowitz is upset that the owner waited until today to apply for license, However, he will approve. . Hackney Driver Licenses applications for Mansfield Taxi. Town Manager approves. Motion: To approve hackney driver license for John McKenzie. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Maureen Collins. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Wayne Demers. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Scott Fagan. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Cheryl Christie (Moran I Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Donald Marco. Motion: To approve hackney driver license for Kevin Davis. (Moranl Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Boord of Selectmen Minutes of March 31, 2010 3 Chairman Baldwin stated that the Board of Selectmen was going to have a joint forum with the school committee and FinComm but that had to be cancelled. They were also going to close the special town meeting this evening but they will wait until next week so the school committee can provide data on an amount of money they need to close their budget, why they need it and what they are going to do to plan for next year. School Committee member DelVecchio stated the committee would like to put an override article on the warrant for 2.4 million dollars. However, they don't have a solid number yet. Motion: To postpone closing annual special town meeting to next week. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes Correspondence . Letter from RARE Hospitality dba LongHorn Steakhouse. They are undergoing a corporate wide Change of Officers. ABCC has already approved application. Motion: To approve change. (Aptowitz/Moran) 4:0 passes . Letter from Lou Andrews, 255 Fruit St. regarding lowering the speed limit and adding dangerous curve sign. Motion: Hold for next week- get input from PD . Request from SRPEDD requesting the Board of Selectmen to appoint a resident to the Commission. The seat is currently vacant. This vacancy will be put on cable and the town's website. Town Manager Report . Brief announcement about FEMA assistance due to the recent rain storms and flooding. The town ran an Emergency Operations Center within town hall yesterday and having GIS mapping of the town was invaluable to locating homes, hydrants, mile markers, etc when the fire dept or PDW was called out for assistance. The schools and student body pitched in to help find shelter and fill sand bags. Mr. Gonsalves from Canoe River Campground opened up his facility to help with shelter as well. . Lee Azinheira spoke about the availability of a flexible dumpster bag that are available at Home Depot and Benny's for $30. Many residents had flooding with damage to their homes and belongings so they will have a lot of trash to dispose of that will not fit in the trash barrel. Board of Selectmen Minutes af March 31, 2010 4 . Some streets in town are still flooded so please be careful when approaching streets with water on them. Other streets are still closed due to flooding and will re-open when it is safe to do so. . The waste water treatment plant was at capacity with the flooding but has not had any substantial problems. Board of Selectmen old and new business . Old business from Selectman Dentino: Still has a question about drug/alcohol testing costs. Union concessions have to continue to be made for an insurance reform to work. . Old business from Selectman Levine: Not present . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: None . Old business from Selectman Moran: An override is a one time fix. We need to look long term. . Old business from Chairman Baldwin: None . New business from Chairman Baldwin: April 14th forum with the school, fincomm and the bos. 20 minutes each. Residents can ask one question each from the mic. Selectman Dentino would still like to have resident questions in advance. Their will be no moderator. . New business from Selectman Aptowitz: None . New business from Selectman Dentino: None . New business from Selectman Moran: None . New business from Selectman Levine: Not present Q&C Gary Forget, Webb Place. The town receives money for excise taxes and he would like to see some of it put aside for road maintenance. The town streets are riddled with pot holes. He also received his tax bill this afternoon and a large part of it goes to support the schools. His pay has been reduced over the past year and his taxes continue to rise. Perhaps the school personnel need to cut back as well. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of Morch 31. 2010 5 Adjournment Motion: Adjourn to Executive Session at 8:35pm (Moran) 4-0 Passes Roll call vote: Chairman Baldwin aye, Selectman Moran aye, Selectman Dentino aye, Selectman Aptowitz aye, 4:0 passes jJ~ ~w~ Signature of Clerk ~~ 21, 2&11&1 Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 31, 2010 6