Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSelect Board 08/13/2025Select Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2025 Present: Mr. Walter Wilk, Chair; Mr. Michael Feck, Vice -Chair; Mr. Kostas Loukas, Clerk; Mr. Brendan Roche and Ms. Maureen R. Doherty were present in Meeting Room 3 A/B ar foWh:'O Il OFFIcE 1. Call To Order Select Board Meeting - Pledge of Allegiance Mr. Wilk called the meeting to order at 6:08 PM. He then read t&WdAt AsIgLlmd asked those present to stand for the pledge of allegiance. 2. Recognition of Lauren Topping j "•" .. t : kl.)`F TTS Mr. Wilk began with recognizing Lauren Topping and asked her to come up to the podium to be recognized. He read a proclamation presented to her by the Board for her dedicated service and for bringing attention to a homeless female and veteran who were living on Town property. She coordinated outreach, collection and distribution of supplies, helped arrange housing, and arranged medical care for the couple. The Board thanked her for her selflessness and contributions to the Town and its residents. Ms. Topping added that this was a collaborative effort amongst many people within Town and that the couple is doing very well. 3. Discussion and Consideration of One Day Beer Wine License for Angle Tree Brewery Mr. Wilk recognized Jonathan Connolly from Angle Tree who was present virtually via GoToWebinar. He asked him more about his application and why he is applying. Mr. Connolly stated that Mansfield's 250th anniversary is coming up and he was approached about doing a beer garden on August 231d at Memorial Park. He stated that his company has done several off -site events and thinks that their services could enhance the community feel of the celebration. He continued that their brewery, located in North Attleboro, is very family friendly and they frequently do events catered toward families. Ms. Nancy Griffin was recognized and mentioned that the 250th committee had sought vendors in Town for a Beer Garden after receiving word that many people were very looking forward to having one. After receiving no results from vendors in Town, the committee expanded its search outside of town. Angle Tree reached out with a very attractive package. Mr. Wilk asked if this was contingent on specific paperwork and Ms. Griffin answered that they have completed their application for the Board and is just seeking their approval at this point. Motion: To approve the One Day Beer and Wine License for Angle Tree Brewery and waive the fee. (Loukos/Doherty) Passes: 5:0 4. Enter into Executive Session and Return to Open Session for the following reasons: Executive Session pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(2) to discuss strategy and in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and/or to engage in negotiations with nonunion personnel if discussion would have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Town This item was no longer needed. S. Consider Modification to Town Manager Employment Contract Mr. Wilk stated that this item would be modifying the Town Manager's current contract, amending the terms of the existing agreement to that of a separation agreement. Motion: To approve the modifications to the Town Manager Employment Contract. (Feck/Roche) Passes 5:0 6. Public Comment (Per the Select Board Operating Procedures: The Chair may give visitors who are not listed on the agenda an opportunity to speak to the Board during the Public Comments session; however, the Chair may limit their speaking time at the discretion of the Chair.) Mr. Wilk recognized Ms. Sandra Levine of 20 Walnut Street and she asked when is this change to the employment agreement effective and Mr. Wilk responded for August 29th. Ms. Levine asked about the Select Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2025 separation agreement finances and Mr. Wilk stated that this information is contained the separation agreement that he will make a copy of and give to her. Mr. Wilk recognized Ms. Beth Collins of 7 Atwood Street who was present virtually and she stated that the Fire Department posted a variety of statistics which highlight their staff shortages as compared to the national recommendations. She asked for support of the firefighters in the upcoming budget process. Mr. Peter Wiggins was recognized virtually attending and he expressed a positive comment about Mansfield overall as a Town. 7. General Budget Discussion — Including Budget Subcommittee Update The general budget discussion agenda item is a regular Select Board agenda item that will be for the discussion on any fiscal year budgets and may include discussions of past fiscal years or future fiscal years. Mr. Wilk informed the Board that he had attended the first FY27 budget meeting. He said that the budget planning process will begin in September for FY27. The first draft of the budget, which has no increase in staffing, has a shortfall of $5.8 million. He continued to say that more funding from the State of Federal government is not expected. The Board members asked about other possible revenue opportunities and the possibility of selling available property. Ms. Doherty suggested that the Board take a look at how they would handle CIP. Mr. Feck proposed that we could use Free Cash to get us through one more year given that the cuts would be similar. Mr. Wilk stated that during his time on the Finance Committee that he helped work to remove Free Cash from the budget and given the reliance on it to balance the budget, it took roughly eight years. Mr. Wilk also noted that Bond Rating agencies do not like to see Free Cash balancing the budget and it only delays the cuts that would be necessary. Mr. Loukos asked if the Budget subcommittee takes Public Comment and Mr. Wilk answered yes. Mr. Loukos then suggested that the public should attend the Budget Subcommittee budget meetings to become informed and to make their opinions of the budget known prior to Town Meeting. Ms. Doherty asked if the town did sell land, is there any way that the profits could be put into a fund for things like roof repairs for example. Mr. Wilk confirmed that there is, but there are different mechanics on how it would be managed such as the Select Board having the power to use or it needed to go to Town Meeting to use it. Mr. Wilk stated that putting away money for certain items may be better suited to be a Town -wide discussion. Ms. Doherty asked about the Financial Policies and asked Mr. Feely in the audience who is on the Finance Committee and he confirmed that the Finance Committee is happy with it and have made their own comments on the document and that the next update would be from the Chair Sara Walsh. Mr. Feely then got up to reiterate Mr. Wilk's perspective on Free Cash and the tighter that we budget, the less opportunity there is to create Free Cash opportunities and we are already pushing projects off and we are aware of items coming up such as replacing the fire equipment so that the uniforms do not have PFAS in them. These sorts of expenses are not optional. Mr. Feely continued that the idea that the budget will get better hasn't happened for a while and we need to be very careful with Free Cash and the decisions that are made with it. 8. Select Board Member Committee and Liaison Updates The Board passed over this item. 9. Public Comments (Per the Select Board Operating Procedures: The Chair may give visitors who are not listed on the agenda an opportunity to speak to the Board during the Public Comments session; however, the Chair may limit their speaking time at the discretion of the Chair.) There were none. Select Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2025 10. 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 and events have been routed through Town Hall Departments and any conditions have been noted below. A. Vote to Approve Meeting Minutes: ➢ July 30, 2025 ➢ August 6, 2025 B. Vote to Approve Warrants: ➢ Town Vendor Warrant No. 2607T in the amount of $2,532,006.61 ➢ Electric Vendor Warrant No. 2607E in the amount of $2,127,238.01 ➢ School Vendor Warrant No. 2607S in the amount of $510,030.08 C. Consideration of Permits and Licenses: ➢ Consideration of Banner Request for Belmond's Wish ➢ Consideration of Sign Request for the 250m Celebration Committee ➢ Consideration of Special Events Application for Colonial Drive Block Party D. Proclamations: ➢ 250th Celebration Proclamation Motion: To approve the Consent Agenda. (Loukos/ Roche) Passes 5:0 11. Consideration and Approval of Town Payroll Warrants: ➢ Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 2605PT and 2605MT in the amount of $1,272,767.43 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 2605PT and 2605MT in the amount of $1,272,767.43. (Loukos/ Doherty) Passes 5:0 ➢ Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 2605TV and 2605MTV in the amount of $410,888.89 Motion: To approve Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 2605TV and 2605MTV in the amount of $410,888.89. (Loukos/ Doherty) Passes 5:0 ➢ School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 2605PS in the amount of $1,653,938.60 Motion: To approve School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 2605PS in the amount of $1,653,938.60. (Loukos/ Roche) Passes 4:0:1 Doherty abstained. ➢ School Deductions Vendor Payroll 2605SV in the amount of $464,590.02 Motion: To approve School Deductions Vendor Payroll 2605SV in the amount of $464,590.02. (Loukos/Doherty) Passes 5:0 12. Correspondence ➢ Email from Bertucci's Licensing ➢ Email from Grace Curry ➢ Notification from Verizon ➢ Invitation to Norwood Hospital Rally ➢ Email from Keith Purrier ➢ Email from Michele McCarthy Mr. Loukos read the list of correspondence items. 13. Select Board Member's Comments and Questions Mr. Loukos added that the Board of Health put out a statement about Cyanobacteria in Kingman's pond and that people and people with pets should be careful as it is harmful to dogs. Ms. Doherty brought up that the motorized bikes on the Rail Trail have become an issue again despite the signage that prohibits them. Ms. Doherty stated that a -bikes are considered motorized vehicles. Mr. Loukos added that his understanding is Select Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2025 that they have not yet been classified as motorized vehicles but there is legislation being processed that would classify a -bikes as motorized vehicles and allow places to prohibit them. 14. Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting There were none. 15. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the August 13, 2025 Select Board Meeting at 6:4113M. (Doherty/ Roche) Passes 5:0 Signature Minutes prepared by Michelle Henderson 9/N-S Date Documents used in meeting: 1. One Day Beer and Wine Application from Angle Tree Brewery 2. Meeting Minutes of July 30, 2025 and August 6, 2025 3. Consideration of Banner Request for Belmond's Wish 4. Consideration of Sign Request for the 2SOth Celebration Committee 5. 250th Celebration Proclamation 6. Email from Bertucci's Licensing 7. Email from Grace Curry 8. Notification from Verizon 9. Invitation to Norwood Hospital Rally 10. Email from Keith Purrier 11. Email from Michele McCarthy Select Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2025