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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 03/29/00 Board of Selectmen Minutes March 29, 2000 Present: Chairman McCarter, Selectmen Amoruso and Donovan John D'Agostino, Town Manager The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. Motion: To nominate Selectman Amoruso as Clerk Pro-tem in the absence of Clerk Wills. (Donovan-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes Town Manager John D'Agostino, Treasurer Richard Boucher, and Accountant Bea Kearney presented an updated budget review. Mr. D'Agostino reviewed cuts made thus far, noting there is still a $2.8 million deficit. Totals of operating budgets from 1997 through 2001 for Town and Schools were given. School related expenditures represent 65.44'70 of the present budget, with an increase of 19.97'70 on the part of the Schools and 3.3'70 on the Town side of the budget. Net school spending figures were also reviewed, reflecting $3.357 million in excess of the State required funding of $25,465,346. Mr. D'Agostino stated unless the School Department is able to further reduce their budget needs, lay-offs and a decrease in Town services will be inevitable. Other means of balancing the budget would be cutting $1 million from the Capital Improvements Program and moving to user fees for solid waste collection. Mr. D'Agostino noted an over-ride at this time is not necessary, nor would it be appropriate unless our ability to provide services to our children and residents of the community is degraded. · Warrant No. 38 in the amount of $2,631,878.61 Motion: To approve and sign the warrant. (Amoruso- Donovan) All in favor. Passes. Chairwoman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. · Hackney Carriage Licenses for Foxfield Taxi - approved by the Police Department Motion: To approve and sign the licenses for Vechicles 63, 66, 62 and 57. Minutes of March 29, 2000 1 (Amoruso-Donovan) All in favor. Passes · Junk Dealer License for Hugh Tripp at 334 Franklin Street - comments of the Planning Director and Building Inspector were noted and will be incorporated into a cover letter to be sent to the applicant with the license. Motion: To approve and sign the license subject to the requirements that all business be conducted within the principal building and the necessary permit to conduct a home occupation be obtained from the Building Inspector. (Amoruso-Donovan) All in favor. Passes · Letter from John Della Russo of Town Taxi stating he would not be able to be present at the meeting to discuss his request for a rate increase, but would be willing to attend the next meeting. Selectman Donovan did not favor proceeding with the request until the applicant comes before the Board to explain the increase in the rate for waiting time. Mr. Della Russo will be invited to the next meeting. Selectmen also requested that Foxfield Taxi be contacted to see what their hourly waiting rate is. . Memorandum dated March 27th from Gerald Scherma, Veterans' Agent, requesting reinstatement of Veteran's Memorial for 2nd Lt. Albert J. Sita regarding replacing the memorial plaque in its original location at the intersection of Oakland and Maple Streets. Motion: To approve the request. (Donovan-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes Tom Fuller of 35 Darby Drive - stated he was "disheartened" by the comments of Amos Robinson the previous week when he was not elected Chairman. Mr. Fuller noted such comments should not be made in generalities, and with the many issues facing the Town, a chairman should be selected based on qualities of leadership. He expressed concern about the Selectmen's ability to work together in light of the situation. He was assured by those present that they have every intent of working together in the interest of the Town. Leonard Flynn of 102 Jewell Street - commented that the map presented the previous week by Ralph Penney was one done for LegoLand when it was proposed Minutes of March 29, 2000 2 several years ago and was exclusively for that purpose. He noted many changes have taken place with parcels shown on the map since that time. George Dentino of Gladiola Terrace - questioned the opinions obtained from Town Counsel Robert Mangiaratti and Special Counsels Dan Bailey and Mark Roberts regarding the Great Waves project, noting his disagreement with the opinions and a Gloucester case in support of his position. Chris Paquin of 885 School Street - asked if the Selectmen had considered his latest letter regarding the request for fee waivers in conjunction with water connections being done in a renovation project. The Board had not yet received his letter and will consIder it when received DPW Director Lee Azinheira noted our wastewater discharge permit is now due for renewal. The DEP and EPA are soliciting comments from the Town before issuing a new draft permit and there is an opportunity for the Town to request reasonable changes to the permit to modify and/or eliminate discharge and monitoring requirements that are not pertinent to the operation of the Mansfield facility. He presented an amendment to our agreement dated November 10, 1998 with Camp Dresser & McKee for consulting services not to exceed $20,000 in the preparation of the draft permit. Motion: To endorse Amendment No.1 to the Agreement dated November 10, 1998 with Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. for professional engineering services relating to the Industrial Pre-treatment Program not to exceed $20,000. (Donovan-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes Mr. Azinheira also advised the Selectmen he had prepared a letter to MassHighway for their signatures asking for a change in the scope of the Route 106 project as discussed previously with the Board. Motion: To sign the letter to MassHighway (Amoruso-Donovan) All in favor. Passes Town Manager D'Agostino provided copies of Bella English's article that appeared in Sunday's Boston Globe offering her opinion on Great Waves anticipated presence in Mansfield. He noted several misrepresentations made and suggested the Selectmen might want to respond to her comments. Selectman Amoruso noted not responding would infer tacit agreement with it and he intended to respond. Selectman Donovan stated he was not involved with the Great Waves decision and Minutes of March 29, 2000 3 thinks it would be a waste of time to respond to the Globe. Chairman McCarter to address the factual accuracy of the Great Waves wells having no effect on our water supply. The consensus of the Board of Selectmen was to respond, attaching a copy of the Woodard and Curran letter, a copy of the proposed agreement, and a copy of the Town Meeting vote related to Great Waves. Selectman Donovan reported: · They fixed the pothole on Park Street, but they took away the grate and now there is a big puddle. · With regard to the lady with the parking ticket complaint, he looked at the parking lot at the Train Station and talked to the Parking Clerk, David Alward. Selectman Donovan stated the lines should be marked on the diagonal instead of straight in. Chairman McCarter reported the Tweeter Sub-committee expects to have a proposed license to vote on next week. Selectman Donovan extended congratulations to the Mansfield Youth and Metro- West basketball teams, as well as the Winter Color Guard for their accomplishments, and to the Mansfield Ice Hornets for their successful fund raiser. He also thanked Ed Jameson, Peter DeGirolamo, Mike Ahern and all others who worked on the Girls Softball field over the weekend. Motion: To send a letter of thanks to those who worked on the field. (Donovan-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes Selectmen Donovan reported contacting the MBT A regarding his concern for the safety of people standing under the wires at the Train Station. Bob Hayden of the MBT A will be coming to Mansfield tomorrow at 12: 30 p.m. to take a look at the situation. Chairman McCarter noted there is a vacancy on the Housing Authority as the result of Selectmen Donovan's resignation upon his election to the Board of Selectman. A joint appointment by the Selectmen and Housing Authority will be required to fill the vacancy and the Housing Authority will be contacted. Motion: To adjourn at 9:25 p.m. (Amoruso-Donovan) All in favor. Passes Minutes of March 29, 2000 4 '-0000'/ ~ /;, ,/'.... " f'~' -'~/ ,.".---- ~o ~~;?-'I¡Y- L IM/2<.~<" [ll"h-j Clerk's Signature l} / ç-,/o l) Date of Approval Minutes of March 29, 2000 5