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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSelect Board 05/03/2023,I Select Board Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 Present: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chair; Mr. Frank DelVecchio, Vice -Chair; Neil Rh ir-jl leer Mr'�OT Aptowitz and Ms. Diana Bren were present in Meeting Room 3 A/B at Town Hall. 1`9.1�58virtyurfi2s'rTown Manager; Mr. Barry LaCasse, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director; Ms. Terelr 11ftrpU' ob Superintendent and Mr. Ed Donoghue, and Assistant Superintendent for Finance Ore alsUres-eft. rn 1. Call To Order Select Board Meeting -Pledge of Allegiance Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chair called the meeting to order at 5:3013M. He asked those present to state the pledge of allegiance. He then reminded everyone that the meeting was being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast on Mansfield Cable. 2. Discussion and Consideration to Approve the Revised Animal Control Officer (ACO)/Animal Inspector Job Description Deputy Chief, Michael Ellsworth was present virtually via GoToWebinar and explained that they added more information to address the Boards questions from the last meeting. The first edit was part of the education and experience to include the language "in a professional environment such as a veterinary clinic or animal shelter." He then noted that under special requirements they have added that within the first year of employment as an ACO has to pass the initial state mandated 20-hour qualification training and maintain eight hours of annual core competencies. The Board had no additional questions. Motion: To approve the Revised Animal Control Officer (ACO)/Animal Inspector Job Description. (Rhein/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 3. Discussion and Consideration to Approve and Sign the First Amendment to the Purchase and Sale Agreement for 291 North Main Street Mr. Dumas provided a summary of the items that are being amended in the purchase and sale agreement for the sale of the old North Main Street Fire Station. The purchase price was increased from $300,000 to $360,000, the lender is also requiring that the property be owned by a single purpose LLC and that once this amendment is executed the closing will be within sixty days. Motion: To approve and sign the first amendment to the purchase and sale agreement for 291 North Main Street. (Rhein/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 4. Discussion and Consideration to Accept the Donation of the Scoreboard for Memorial Park from Mansfield Youth Football and Cheer Mr. Dumas explained that this item was from Kevin Gill who is the current President of Mansfield Youth Football and Chair. They have received support from the Recreation Commission and are now seeking the Select Boards approve. Mr. Trowbridge asked if there was a cost to the Town and Mr. Dumas responded that there was not. Motion: To accept the donation of the scoreboard for Memorial Park from Mansfield Youth Football and Cheer. (Rhein/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 S. Review and Approve Consent Agenda All items on the Consent Agenda may be adopted with a single motion. Any member of the Select Board may request that an item be withdrawn from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration in which case that item will be voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda. All licenses have been routed through Town Hall Departments and any conditions have been noted below. A. Vote to Approve Meeting Minutes: Select Board Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 • April 19, 2023 B. Vote to Approve Warrants: • Town Vendor Warrant No. 23043T in the amount of $295,201.89 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 23043E in the amount of $102,205.81 • Town Vendor Warrant No. 23044T in the amount of $233,943.52 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 23044E in the amount of $39,046.14 • School Vendor Warrant No. 23044S in the amount of $541,718.51 C. Consideration of Permits and Licenses: Consideration of Special Events Application for the Mansfield Animal Shelter Friends • Consideration of Special Events Application for the Annual Memorial Day Parade • Consideration of Banner Request for Mansfield Farmer's Market Motion: To approve the consent agenda. (Rhein/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 6. Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Public Hearing Mr. Dumas began the discussion and stated that Fiscal Year 2024 was known to be a difficult budget year and the process first started back in August of 2022 and there have been eleven meetings in total to go through the challenges and to also meet the goal of providing level services to the residents. Mr. Dumas then turned the presentation over to Mr. LaCasse who went through a presentation starting in August through today and the progression of how the budget began at a $5 million deficit and as of today it is balanced. He noted that all of the meetings were open to the public and it was as transparent as they could get. He also noted the website was maintained with all the information and all of the presentations and back up materialLastly, he provided the Free Cash Plan and the capital projects that are going to be voted on at Town Meeting. Ms. Murphy, Superintendent then made a few remarks in regards to the budget and wanted it noted that what is being said around town about the schools being shortchanged and how she does not feel that way. The schools have a budget that has been supported 4-1 by the School Committee. She stated that over the last eight years the average budget increases each year is a 2.97 percent over the previous year. This year the increase is 2.92 percent from FY23 to FY24 which is spot on and the enrollment of students continues to decline slightly. She stated that they will continue to make improvements even with reductions and will continue to have low classroom sizes and offer the courses at the high school that they always have. Mr. Donoghue then provided the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. He provided a summary of the reductions the schools made through the budget process over several months. Mr. Rhein thanked everyone for the work that has been done and also noted that he was not sure how things could have been more transparent than the process that was in place the last year. He stated many towns are struggling but Mansfield is doing quite well. Mr. DelVecchio then asked Mr. LaCasse to explain the cherry sheets and why those numbers change over time. Mr. LaCasse responded that the sheets represent the state aid municipalities will receive in state assessments until the Governor releases their budget which this year it was a new Governor so more time was allowed for her to complete her budget. The House of Representatives will then create their budget and do not have to follow the Governors budget. Then the Senate gives their budget and then finally it goes to conference and he expects that it will change a few more times before it is finalized. Mr. DelVecchio then commented that he wanted to thank everyone for their hard work including the Finance Committee and School Committee and thought it was a great process this year. Mr.`Aptowitz thanked the School Committee and Finance Committee and then thanked Mr. Dumas, Mr. LaCasse, Mr. Donoghue and Ms. Murphy and their staff. He stated that it is a lot of time and effort put in this process. Ms. j Bren stated that being part of the Budget Subcommittee was a great learning experience for her. She stated the presentation tonight showed the great journey that has taken place the last few months and noted the partnership and collaboration that we can share with the community is wonderful Ms. Maureen Doherty of 3 Darby Drive asked about the ARPA money possibly being available for the Council on Aging. Mr. Dumas responded that there are many big cities that have not spent their allocation of the Select Board Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023 County ARPA funding and if there is money left there could possibly be a funding opportunity for Mansfield. He stated that Mansfield has used all of their initial funding. Ms. Doherty stated that North Attleboro got theirs and Mr. Dumas stated that North Attleboro used their funding for a COA and Mansfield used funding for revenue replacement and then the county dollars went to funding PFAS projects and interventionists at the schools. Ms. Sandra Levine of 20 Walnut Street came forward and asked Mr, Donoghue if on slide eight where there is a listing of salaries in the amount of $357,000 included sick days and benefits or is that just salary alone. Mr. Donoghue stated that that amount is a portion of their salaries and that grant funding is paying for the additional salary and that benefits are carried in the Town's side of the budget. Mr. Robert Martin of 18 Barbara Road a retired Mansfield Police Department Sergeant came forward and read a statement in regards to the police department in the past twenty-two months and felt that Chief Sellon was not being allowed due process. He then provided the printed statement to Ms. Champagne for the meeting file. Mr. Trowbridge responded that the Town is in mediation and are not allowed to speak per judges' orders. 7. Resident Comments and Questions There were no resident comments or questions. Mr. Trowbridge stated that tonight was the last meeting for Mr. Aptowitz and Mr. DelVecchio and he wanted to thank them and their families and for the leadership that they have provided. Ms. Bren read a poem she wrote thanking them for their service and giving back to the community. Mr. Rhein commented that on the Select Board alone and being conservative of using ten hours a month Mr. Aptowitz has given seventy-five days of his life and thirty-six days for Mr. DelVecchio to the Town. He added that the number does not include time for Light Commissioners or subcommittees that each has served on. He thanked them for their demeaner and judgement and stated that they will be missed. Mr. DelVecchio stated that there was a surprised reception last week that he almost missed. Mr. DelVecchio stated that he was leaving the Board with a final quote from the Idylls of the King Quotes by Alfred Tennyson about Camelot and when you spend a lot of time doing something you have your ups and downs; good times and bad times and he appreciated the respect he received from the residents of Mansfield and the kindly advice he has been given. The quote was "The old order changeth yielding place to new and God fulfills himself in many ways lest one good man should corrupt the world." The service we do and the tackles we take on are complex and are being dealt with by human beings. He said like the Grateful Dead song "What a Long Strange Trip Its Been" but he would not miss it for the world. Mr. Aptowitz said he had a lot of people to thank and his wife for holding campaign signs and sometimes in the pouring rain and dealing with all of this. He thanked the Town employees who all work hard and all the residents. He stated that he has served with eleven other Select Board members and he is proud of the flag on South Common for Corey Shea and all the Town projects that were done during his time. He wished everyone the best and stated that it is time to move on. Mr. Trowbridge then thanked Ms. Kiera O'Neil and Ms. Lauren Scher for their service on the School Committee. Mr. Trowbridge then asked for a round of applause for Mr. Aptowitz and Mr.-Txswbridge-- 8. Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting There were no items. 9. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the May 3, 2023 Select Board meeting at 7:07PM. (DelVecchio/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 Signature Date/ Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne 0 Select Board Meeting Minutes May 3, 2023