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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes04212010 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 Present: Chairman Baldwin, Vice Chairman Moran, Selectman Dentino, Selectman Sandra Levine, William Ross, Town Manager Absent: Clerk Aptowitz FinComm budget presentation Andy Gazzolo, FinComm Chairman, provided an overview of the financial discussion from Friday. The breakdown from where the town will shift the approximately $873,000 under an agreement worked out last Friday. The largest amount of cash, about $640,000, will come from the delay of planned contributions to an account set up for future retiree health care benefits. Under the plan, the town will move $50,000 from its free cash account into its general revenue fund, in addition the finance committee's reserve fund will be cut in half to $100,000 to support the schools operations. The FinComm had planned on having $200,000 for the next fiscal year to protect the town against high cost of snow and ice removal in addition to other expenses. The town also forwent the filling of a much needed personnel director to fund the school deficit. Selectman Dentino still has questions about the proposed HR position. It was discussed last year and failed so he was unaware that it was on the docket again for this year. Mr. Gazzolo stated that this position is a shared one between the school and the town and most likely will be included in the budget next year as well. Selectman Dentino also has several questions regarding what qualifies as an "after school activity or group". In addition to sports programming, it would include music, drama, enrichment clubs such as French/Spanish club etc. Chairman Gazzolo suggested Mr. Dentino consult with the school dept. for his specific non financial questions. Selectman Moran stated that the school dept. also still needs to set user fees for sports and clubs in addition to their final cuts prior to town meeting. As of yet, the school committee has not posted a meeting for this. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 Selectman Levine also asked questions about the proposed HR position. It was advertised as a split position however the town would be paying for the whole position. Mr. Gazzolo stated that is how the agreement was crafted by the town manager and the superintendent. However, since the position is not being funded, it may change in the future. Mr. Ross stated that additional budget details will be forthcoming prior to town meeting. However, he needs the numbers from the schools before he can do that. Q * C Gary Forget, Webb Place. Thank you Mrs. Levine for your service to the town both as a school teacher and as a twice serving bos member. Mr. Forget still has concerns about the schools budget not only this year but especially next year. The school budget is already forecast to be in the red for .next year so real cuts need to begin this year to prepare. Joe Delgrosso, Webb Place. Mr. Delgrosso asked the Board of Selectmen when the School Committee "dropped the bomb" about cutting sports and extra curriculum activities. Chairman Baldwin stated that it has been known for quite some time that the schools were running a deficit however it came as a surprise that the school committee cut the way they did. Thank you for your service to the town, it takes special people to volunteer so much time to their community. And Mr. Delgrosso does not want to see any overrides, the schools need to learn to budget what they have. Warrant articles Chairman Baldwin asked to skip the financial articles this week so they will begin the warrant review on: Article 17. Selectman Dentino has questions regarding the wording of the article. Motion: To support. (Moran/Levine) 3:0 passes (Selectman Moran out of room) Article 18. Selectman Dentino has questions about the layout of this article as well. Mr. Ross understands that the language has been reviewed by MMED Director Babin, however Selectman Dentino is still leery about the wording. Motion: To support. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 2 Article 21. Motion: To support. (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Article 22. Motion: To support. (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Article 23. Motion: To support. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 24. Motion: To support. (Levine/Moran) 3:1 passes (Dentino nay) Article 25. Motion: (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Article 26. Motion: (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 27. Motion: (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 28. Motion: (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Article 39. Motion: (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Article 40. Hold: questions about eminent domain language. Article 41. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Article 42. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Article 43. Motion: To support (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 44. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Article 45. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Article 46. Need clarification from Planning Board Article 47. Motion: To withdraw article (Levine/Dentino) (Baldwin/Moran nay) 2:2 fails SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT Article 13. Motion: To support. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 14. Motion: To support. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Article 15. Hold. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 3 Article 16. Hold. Need clarification from Conservation Commission Article 17. Hold. Have engineering in. Selectman Dentino has questions about the project. (Otis St. Dam) Weekly Business Warrant No. 10041T in the amount of $1,740,878.65 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041E in the amount of $31,226.91 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041S in the amount of $239,263.40 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041PT in the amount of $265,931.02 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041TV in the amount of $77,914.72 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041PS in the amount of $1,339,952.36 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10041SV in the amount of $411,085.28 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10042PT in the amount of $263,523.14 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10042TV in the amount of $78,223.47 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10042PS in the amount of $2,288.71 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) Warrant No. 10042SV in the amount of $468.35 Motion: To approve. (Moran/Levine) 3:0:1 (Dentino abstain) . Meeting minutes for March 10th, 17t\ 24th, 31st Motion: To approve March 10, 2010 (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 21. 2010 4 Motion: To approve March 17,2010 (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve March 24, 2010 (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Motion: To approve March 31, 2010 (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes . Water Installers License application from P. Beatty Excavation. (Water Operations Manager recommends approval) Motion: To approve. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes . Commercial parking lot applications: (Routing slips have come back positive, still waiting for Chief O'Neill.) Note: received app. next day 1. 888 S. Main St. LLC Motion: Approve pending Chief O'Neill signature. (Levine/Dentino) 4:0 passes 2. A-C Intermediate (75 Chauncy St) Hold: signature needed on application. 3. Foundry LLC ( River St). Motion: Approve pending Chief O'Neill signature. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes (plus 750 So. main St. address issue resolved with assessor's office) 4. Rumford LLC (875 S. Main St) Motion: Approve pending Chief O'Neill signature. (Moran/Levine) 4:0 passes (Brush needs to be cleared from fire hydrant.) . Application for Block Party from Don Pierce. Mayflower Drive June 6th lOam - 6pm. Mr. Pierce is also requesting permission for a cancer walk. (He will be having walkers on sidewalks to avoid traffic in street (and the need for a detail). ***Police and fire are good with both with noted restrictions on application. *** Motion: To approve. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes Correspondence . Letter from Lynne Foster, UniBank Fiscal Advisory Services. regarding the potential of hurting our bond rating by using reserve funds. . The Mansfield High School class of 1935 donated $307.25 to the Mansfield Ambulance Fund. Letter of thanks sent from Chief Boldrighini. . The 23rd Canoe River Awareness Day is coming up on May 8th at the Fish and Game on East St. See www.craac.orq for more info. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 5 . Letter of request from Beth Flint for use of the public parking lot for the farmers market from July 15th and each following Thursday (2 -6pm) to September 23rd. Motion: To approve (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes . Mansfield Housing Authority Board Member Edward Carl has resigned due to health reasons. Beth Oberlander's term is to expire May 11th and she wants to be appointed to fill the remaining year of Eddies term as the resignation was given too late to have the seat listed on the ballot. THIS WOULD BE A JOINT BOS /HOUSING APPOINTMENT. Add deadline for submission on web -May 12th. . Notice from PERAC regarding municipal employee retirement benefits. . Letter from Planning Board recommending approval for Bird St. substation. . Water and sewer rates will be discussed next week. . Fee waiver document drafted by Mr. Ross and Mr. Riccio. This is for storm damage to basements. Town Manager Report . Follow up letter regarding meeting with GA TRA and the MBT A. The method for paying for train station parking is still being reviewed and hopefully will be up soon. Upgrades for the station area are still being reviewed for possible expansion. . The possibility of reducing the speed limit on Fruit St. is slim with out a study and a lot of work with the state as they set the limits. Due to these costs and limitations the Board of Selectmen will not be pursuing this. . Mr. Ross would like the new bos, school committee, FinComm, citizens to form a subcommittee to review the budget and where we need to go for FY12 starting in August. Several highly qualified residents have offered their services in this endeavor. The bos thinks it is a good idea and will present it to the school committee. Board of Selectmen old and new business . Old business from Selectman Dentino: Still looking for update on possible expansion of GA TRA service in town. Mr. Ross has been looking into it and the seniors have been very interested. Mr. Dentino would like to see a survey done to indicate demand. The Mansfield Crossing developers are also interested in getting bus service. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 21, 2010 6 . Old business from Selectman Levine: Update on meals tax revenue. $139k could be available via a meals tax for next year. The bos had also held up payment for the Mansfield Band Parents to purchase musical instruments through NPGF committee. Motion: To approve grant. (Levine/Moran) 4:0 passes The town still does not have a commission to SRPEDD. Mr. Ross is interested and will find out if he can take position. Note: He unfortunately cannot as they meet on Wednesday nights. . Old business from Selectman Aptowitz: Not present . Old business from Selectman Moran: None . Old business from Chairman Baldwin: None . New business from Chairman Baldwin: She agrees with both Selectman Dentino and Selectman Levine. However, she would like to take it a bit further and stated that the school committee and their supporters would have disrupted town meeting if their demands were not met. So that is why she gave the school committee funds, not because she wanted to. It went against everything she believed but she felt that this settlement was the best for the town. . New business from Selectman Aptowitz: None . New business from Selectman Dentino: Very sad to see Ed Carl have to give up his housing authority seat due to illness. And thank you to Beth Oberlander for offering to pick up the year. Also Selectman Levine has requested that the bos send a letter of thanks with regret to Mr. Carl. Mr. Dentino is also concerned about the possibility of our bond rating being lowered. He feels that UniBank should have kept an earlier eye on the situation as they are the towns financial advisors. Mrs. Levine stated, perhaps, but giving stabilization funds to the schools was our decision and perhaps again, they should not have. New business from Selectman Moran: He has also been concerned by the events of the past couple of weeks. He really wants to go to town meeting and start working with the school committee on next year so there is plenty of time to prepare. Board af Selectmen Minutes af April 21. 2010 7 There were no winners in this budget, the school lost , the municipal side lost and most regrettably the towns people lost. . New business from Selectman Levine: Motion: To postpone town meeting to May 25th. (Levine/Moran) (Baldwin/Dentino nay) 2:2 fails Selectman Moran stated he would like to go forward as planned. Chairman Baldwin stated that as well. Getting concessions from the unions will not be done by July. Shame on the school committee for playing on the fears of parents and students threatening to cut all sport and after school programming; and then posturing to take funds from the municipal side on town meeting floor. In addition, the FinComm has not taken the school committee to task for their actions like they did with the Board of Selectmen last year. So once again the school committee has held the town hostage and it worked. FinComm should and does know better as this kind of power play affects our bond rating, not just the budget. Adjournment Motion: Adjourn at !0:04pm (Levine) 4-0 Passes Jl~ ~UN~ Signature of Clerk ~/ 2~ 2tJltJ Date of Approval Boord of Selectmen Minutes of April 21. 2010 8