HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 03/01/00
Board of Selectmen
Minutes
March 1, 2000
Present:
Chairwoman Royle, Clerk Wills, and Selectmen Robinson, Amoruso and
McCarter
John D'Agostino, Town Manager
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of
allegiance
· Warrant No. 34 in the amount of $3,465,741.40
Motion: To sign the warrant.
(Amoruso-Robinson) All in favor. Passes. Chairwoman Royle abstained on
Board of Health payroll; Selectman Robinson abstained on School payroll;
Selectman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll
. Request of Detective Larry Crossman for Special Exemption status under M.G.L.
Chapter 268A, Section 20b. This would allow him to serve as Truant Officer
for the School Department and as a Detective with the Police Department.
Detective Crossman explained his working schedule, noting he would not be
performing the duties of each position simultaneously. Town Counsel opinion was
also reviewed, outlining the steps necessary to grant this exemption, all of which
have been met.
Motion: To grant the Special Exemption under M.G.L. Chapter 268A, Section
20b as requested.
(Wills-McCarter) All in favor. Passes
· Minutes of February 23, 2000
Motion: To approve.
(Amoruso-Wills) All in favor. Passes
. Letter from Paula Savill of Foxfield Taxi Corporation requesting a rate increase
from $2.50 for the first mile to $3.50 for the first mile; from $.20 each
additional 1/10 mile to $.30 each additional 1/10 mile; senior discount of $.50
per trip will still apply
Selectmen requested a public hearing be scheduled
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. Letter from Chief Police Arthur M. O'Neill with list of proposed questions for
interviews with Animal Welfare Committee when applicants are interviewed.
Selectmen noted the questions will be helpful and asked that all department
heads be asked to develop a list of questions for appointments to their boards
. Scoutmaster Ron Boucher introduced and outlined the accomplishments of
Joseph Skylar Fernandes in obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Chairwoman
Royle presented Skylar with a proclamation in honor of his achievement on
behalf of the Board of Selectmen.
Present were: William Sarro, Sr. and William Sarro, Jr. of Dub's, represented by
their attorney, Don Kaiser; Sgt. Robert Martin and Officer Roy Bain of the Police
Department. Officer Bain reviewed the details of the December 18, 1999 incident
which occurred at 6:15 p.m. Sgt. Martin explained the procedure established by
the Commonwealth with regard to obtaining a second form of identification when an
out-of-state license is presented as identification. He also noted the two
individuals arrested were present and willing to answer any questions the Selectmen
may have or respond to any comments made. Mr. Sarro and the young lady arrested
apologized for the incident, Mr. Sarro noting his embarrassment. Selectmen
remarked that this is an isolated incident and appropriate steps have been taken to
make sure it doesn't happen again.
Mr. D'Agostino reported on the following items:
. Meetings are scheduled to go through the budget process and come up with
dollar amounts in preparation for Annual Town Meeting
. Council on Aging Ridership Program - cost breakdown of providing a second van
was detailed and compared with the cost of having GA TRA provide the service.
Selectmen were concerned with performance guarantees, wanting to make sure
that seniors would not get stranded.
Motion: To accept the Town Manager's recommendation to continue with the
Town-provided service until the end of the fiscal year and during the same
period have the new provider operate a second vehicle on a trial basis to gauge
the effectiveness of the service before making a full commitment to the new
provider, provided that service begin no later than April ¡st.
(Amoruso-Wills) 4-1 with Selectman McCarter opposed. Passes
. Plymouth Street Field - work is continuing with the tree removal process in
anticipation of the Army Corps of Engineers coming in to perform additional
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work. The Town is working in conjunction with the Conservation Commission and
has met with Leonard Flynn to provide more than the required buffer for the
conservation land. An additional meeting will be held with the Planning Board as
the Municipal Clearing House. The Town has also received permission from the
Planning Board for the removal of 42,000 to 44,000 cubic yards of material
from the Highway Garage property. The material will be used as fill in the
remediation of Memorial Park, with the balance used for the construction of the
Plymouth Street playing field we are developing with the soccer group.
. Walsh Well - an open house will be held on April 30th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Selectmen requested this be put on the Cable Community Bulletin Board of
Selectmen
. Inter-Basin Transfer Update - a public hearing was held in Mansfield last night
with Lee Azinheira, Kurt Gaffney, David McCarter and John D'Agostino in
attendance. Water conservation management will be required, with summer
water bans continuing. The Town reiterated its commitment to recharging the
aquifer and using reclaimed water. A follow-up meeting is scheduled with the
Water Resources staff next Tuesday. John D'Agostino, Woodward & Curran,
Lee Azinheira and Kurt Gaffney will be attending.
Selectman Wills suggested we give reclaimed water to the residents of
Mansfield to water their lawns and wash their cars. This will not be possible
because of the risk of someone drinking the water and the cost of piping the
Town. Selectman Amoruso noted he will be attending the meeting also and
there is still opportunity to send in written comment. Mr. DAgostino was asked
to write a letter on behalf of the Town for the Chairwoman to sign on behalf of
the Water and Sewer Commissioners.
. Amtrak Meeting held last Friday - the meeting was fruitful, with Congressmen
Barney Frank and James McGovern clear on what they expect. The MBTA has
agreed to maintain the fencing; the amount of fencing each town will get is not
resolved; they will report back on the type of fencing. The Town Manager,
Chairwoman Royle and Selectman Robinson attended.
Chairwoman Royle noted the Planning Board Public Hearing will be held on March
15th, but she would allow David Doran, President of Doranco, to address the
Selectmen on the issue. Mr. Doran noted his business is now in compliance with
zoning, and the proposed rezoning would make him non-conforming. This would
create a hardship for him in the future expansion of his business on the land he has
purchased for that purpose. He noted Doranco is a family business with 150
employees. He maintained they would not be able to remain competitive in meeting
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the demands of his customer base if expansion plans are held up waiting for zoning
approvals.
Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, and Tom French, Planning Board
Chairman, presented the proposed zoning amendment articles to the Selectmen.
Mr. French outlined the history of the proposed amendments, noting they are based
on the recommendations made in the 1993 Great Woods Land Use Study, the 1996
Master Plan, and the 1998 Mullin Report.
Article 53
To amend Section 5.7 Residential Compound paragraph 5.7.2 Standards - the
purpose of the amendment is to prevent developers from creating Form A lots to be
excluded from the development of a residential compound.
Article 54
To amend Section 4.4 Off-Street Parking and Loading and Section 4.4.4 Design and
Special Conditions, paragraph 4.4.4.3 Location - this would improve the
"streetscape" by putting parking on the sides and back of buildings in business and
industrial districts.
Article 55
To amend Section 4.2.2, reducing the required front setback and building height -
Mr. French explained this amendment expands upon the previous one to improve the
"streetscape" in business and industrial districts. Selectman Amoruso noted
decreasing the building height would eliminate a story, making land either less
valuable or more expensive to purchase because you won't get as much square
footage in the building. His concern was that with additional height, you'd get more
individual business into the building and more money going into them to make them
attractive.
Article 56
To amend Section 4.2.2 Density and Dimensional Regulations - Business and
Industrial Districts - the amendment is intended to clarify setbacks in the
Industrial 1 and 2 Districts.
Article 57
To amend Section 3.3.4 Rooming House by deleting the definition and use - the
amendment is being proposed because the Planning Board does not believe the use is
in the best interest of the Town and there is a concern rooming houses could
become dominant in the Downtown area.
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Article 58
To amend Section 3.5.7 Hotel/Motel by deleting the words "...more or less..." - this
is a housekeeping article for the purpose of clarification.
Article 59
To amend Section 3.6.2 Bulk Material Storage and Sales by deleting a comma - this
also is a housekeeping article. Mr. French and Mr. Burke noted the interpretation
of zoning often turns on punctuation.
Article 60
To amend Section 3.0 Principal Use Regulations, Table 3.5 Schedule of Principal Use
Regulations - Business Uses
Mr. French explained the Mullin Report recommended retail uses not be allowed in
Industrial Districts. The Planning Board is not eliminating the use, but rather
allowing them by Special Permit. This gives the Town more discretionary authority
and puts the onus on the proponent to do what is in the Town's best interest.
Article 61
To amend the Zoning Map to rezone a 21.11 acre area of land along Branch Street
from Industrial 2 to Residential 1 - This amendment is also based on the
recommendation of the Mullin Report. Chairwoman Royle stated her concern about
turning a former hazardous waste site into residential property. Mr. Burke noted
the parcel is completely surrounded by residential and Branch Street is only 18-22
feet wide. Both the street and the quality of life for the residents gets destroyed
by heavy truck traffic and it makes no sense to keep the parcel industrial.
Article 62
To amend the Zoning Map to rezone a parcel of land consisting of approximately
54.8 acres on Gilbert Street from Industrial 2 to Residential 1 - Mr. French said
the Planning Board is looking at what is in the best interests of the residents and
Town. Selectman McCarter noted there is already a viable business in that area
employing 150 people. Selectmen were concerned about increasing the probability
of residential development in an area where all the children would have to be
bussed to school. Alternate uses for the area were discussed. The Planning
Director suggested the only way to have complete control over the development
would be for the Town to buy the land and market it for specific land uses through
a request for proposals.
Selectman Robinson:
· Requested an update on the Homestead Property
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The RFP for the J-Iomestead cleanup is scheduled to go out when the 30-day
appeal period has been exhausted
· Asked that the pothole at Franklin Street and Route 106 be cold patched.
The contractor for Route 106 has been notified about the pothole, and a letter
is being prepared for the State Legislators asking for assistance in segmenting
the project to move it up in the TIP. Selectmen requested that DPW Director
Lee Azinheira check on what the commitment was from the State and hold them
to it. In the interim, the pothole will be cold patched
Selectman Amoruso:
· Attorney Bill August is reviewing the cable license. Cable Access does not want
to accept the additional responsibility for the van without compensation.
Residents are being told the Town has increased the cost of cable.
· MediaOne may be putting on an additional charge for what the Town charges
them. These issues will be addressed at the Cable Access meeting tomorrow
night.
· Would also like to start putting a group together as recommended by the State
to start negotiating the license renewal.
Selectman McCarter:
· Offered an apology to the Town Manager, stating in checking the minutes he
sees that the hiring freeze was in fact lifted.
· Announced the Tweeter Center subcommittee would be meeting next
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. prior to the Selectmen's meeting. Anyone from the
public is welcome to send in their suggestions or concerns and responses from
department heads will also be addressed.
· Asked that a workshop be scheduled with the Finance Committee
The Town Manager is preparing a summary of the budget, after which there will
be a meeting with the Finance Committee
· Asked when the Coral Street house will be sold
The Town is working on getting the information and will be sending out a request
for proposals
Clerk Wills:
· Suggested we present a proclamation to Dennis DiGloria at Village at Willow
Crossings for allowing us to use their facility for the Bristol County Selectmen's
meeting
Selectman Robinson w/Ï/ send a thank you note.
Chairman Royle:
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· Asked if anything has been done about Scott Wagner's offer of a time capsule
and suggested it would be a good thing to start thinking about in commemoration
of the Town's 225th celebration
· Announced the Canoe River Aquifer Committee is sponsoring a Lawn Care and
Water Conservation Seminar March 30th at the Norton Middle School and asked
that the information be posted on the Cable Community Bulletin Board.
Adjournment - 11 :05PM
Motion: To adjourn.
(Wills-McCarter) All in favor. PASSES
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