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Home My WebLink Aboutmin brd of selectmen 01/19/00 Board of SeleçtM1ej1 Minutes' . January 19, 2000 .- ; '¡ ,,) Present: Acting Chairman Robinson, Clerk Wills, and Selectmen Amoruso and McCarter 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 29 Motion: To approve. (Amoruso-McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Acting Chairman Robinson abstained from voting on the School Department payroll and Selectman McCarter abstained from the Municipal Building Committee payroll. B. Minutes . January 12, 2000 Motion : To approve. (McCarter-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. . Executive Session Minutes of December 29, 1999 Motion: To approve but not release. (McCarter-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. C. Correspondence Action: Board and Committee Memorandum from Matt Miller, Chairman, Animal Welfare Committee, suggesting the Selectmen advertise for all of the seats on the Animal Welfare Committee and interview the applicants at a future Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To adopt the schedule proposed by Matt Miller in his memorandum dated January 11, 2000, regarding both permanent and alternate members of the Animal Welfare Committee. (Amoruso-McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum Town Engineer John Sullivan requesting the Selectmen consider scheduling a public hearing for discussion of an application for a small sewer extension on North Main Street A consensus of the Board was in favor of scheduling a public hearing to consIder the application but inviting Mr. Sullivan to a Selectmen's meeting to discuss the application before the hearing. Other: Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, to the Board of Selectmen regarding a service fee that MediaOne will be charging for service calls that do not result in finding a fault or responsibility on the part of MediaOne Mr. D'Agostino suggested inviting Mr. Foss in to discuss a variety issues from the MediaOne's corporate van policy to the newly adopted service call fee. The consensus of the Board was to invite Mr. Foss or a representative (''a decision maker'') to a meeting. Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, regarding the new gymnasium and athletic fields 2 . Town Manager Report . The meeting with TPC representatives last Thursday was productive. The golf course group understands the Town's need to use reclaimed water at the golf course. . Chairwoman Royle, Selectmen Amoruso, Water Operations Manager Kurt Gaffney, DPW Director Lee Azinheira, and the Town Manager met with the Water Resources Commission last Thursday. The Commission voted that the Town's interbasin transfer application for the Morrison Well is complete and that the next phase, the public hearing phase, would begin. Two hearing dates have been set, February 17 at 7:00 PM at the Attleboro Public Library and February 29 at 7:00 PM in the Mansfield Town Hall. After the public hearing process has been completed, the Commission will have ninety days to act on the application. 3. 8:00 PM Amtrak High Speed Rail Update with Tom Karasay and Russ Hall, both from Amtrak Acting Chairman Robinson began the discussion stating that the last update received by the Selectmen was on September 28, 1999. Acting Chairman Robinson also commended Amtrak Officer Meade for the outstanding job he did with the safety program in the schools. Funding for track fencing was not included in this year's Federal budget, but hopefully will be next year. Thirty-four trains will be on line by the end of 2000. Accelatrains will be on line by the end of January. Mr. Hall addressed the Selectmen stating safety programs have been underway in Mansfield for twenty years. Mansfield has participated in the program five or six times. A lot of outreach programs and education is available for the community and may be provided by contacting Mr. Meade. Tom Karasay commented that Amtrak livened the wire from New Haven, Connecticut, to Boston. Discussion: Selectman Amoruso commented that there had been plans to fund fencing in areas in Mansfield, but fencing has not been installed. Mr. Amoruso is concerned that while jogging along the tracks, he noticed that he was able to access the tracks easily. Mr. Hall responded to this concern emphasizing education, and Mr. Karasay responded that the Town would have to wait for funding for fencing. Selectman Amoruso also commented that the railroad bridge on School Street, with the wooden vs. the more commonly used metal barriers, is an ugly mess. Mr. Karasay responded that both the Elm and School Street brIdges are on MassHighway's list to be redone and that the cost of the metal barriers, $100,000, is too expensive for a temporary barrier. Selectman Amoruso commented if the bridge is not fixed by this summer he would expect to see something done and stated that a lot of people watch the trains from this bridge. Selectman McCarter commented that he still has not seen any fencing and that he does not whom he can complain to. Mr. Karasay responded that two locations are on Amtrak's list, 1,300 feet on North Main Street and 300 feet on Rumford Avenue, and that the crews would be installing the fencing once the weather breaks. All fencing required by the Federal Ralï Association has been completed, but Amtrak will be installing this additional in Mansfield Acting Chairman Robinson commented that an area on School Street meets all of the criteria for fencing-a church, daycare center, and recreational facility abut the tracks- but has none and asked where the ball dropped. Mr. Karasay responded that 700 feet of fencing had been set aside for this and asked for a Selectman to volunteer to walk the tracks with him. Selectman Robinson agreed to walk the tracks, and Selectman Amoruso stated he would if he is able to. Clerk Wills asked if six foot fencing should be installed on top of the wooden barriers already in place on the Elm Street bridge to stop people from throwing things over the bridge into the electrical lines. Tom Karasay stated that Amtrak has to keep repairing the track fencing at American Paper Company because the trucks keep backing into it and asked if the Town could do something about this. Mr. Karasay also asked that the Town consider adopting a regulation requiring track fencing in new developments adjacent to the rail line. Public Comments: David Hammond, 49 Branch Street, inquired of the present (JOO MPHj and future speed (110 MPH) of Amtrak trains when travelling through Mansfield's station. As it is now, when waiting on the platform near the "yellow zone" commuters have to hold onto the fence when the trains go by. Mr. Hammond strongly recommended not allowing the trains to travel so quickly through the station. Mr. Hal! responded that Mr. Hammond would not see any more danger with the greater speed than there presently is. Mr. Karasay responded that train warning indicators are being installed to warn commuters that the train is on its way and to clear out. Lastly, Mr. Hammond stated he feels the platform on the inbound side of the tracks to Boson should be closed. Lastly, Acting Chairman Robinson requested safety videos from Amtrak to play on Cable Access. Mr. Hall w¡jf contact the Cable Access Director on Thursday. 4. Selectmen Old Business . Encroachment Upon Public Ways Town Manager D'Agostino requested the Selectmen take action on a draft letter to property owners whose property encroaches upon the public way, attached to a memorandum from the DPW Director dated December 1, 1999. A consensus of the Board was in favor of sending the letter out as is. . Floor Drain Regulations DPW Director Lee Azinheira stated that it is his intention, if the Board has no objection, to begin to start evaluation of inspections for compliance with the Floor Drain Regulations that will be adopted by the Board of Health by Aprill. Adoption of Floor Drain Regulations is required as part of permitting requirements for the Morrison Well. Selectman McCarter asked if the Board of Health may adopt such a regulation with fines included in it, or if it would require a Town Meeting vote. Selectman Amoruso commented that he would rather see the consultant conduct the inspection and present his findings and suggested solutions. Selectman Amoruso also commented that he feels the Town Meeting should be involved in this, not just the Board DPW Director Azinheira suggested beginning inspections and reporting his findings back to the Selectmen. Motion: To endorse the recommendation of the DPW Director to hire Prism to perform the necessary tasks for implementation of the Floor Drain Regulations, as outlined in Prism's letter, dated January 4,2000, at a cost not to exceed $9,872.00. (Amoruso-McCarter) All in favor. Passes. · DPW Director Azinheira commented that the Town does test Mansfield's water for M TBE. · Woodcock & Associates, Inc. Water Rate Study- Proposal Dated January 6, 2000 Mr. Azinheira explained that Town staff would provide information to Mr. Woodcock and he will provide water rate options. A consensus of the Board of Selectmen was in favor of proceeding with the water rate study. · Eastfield Village In response to an inquiry made by Acting Chairman Robinson at last week's Selectmen's meeting, Mr. Azinheira provided the Selectmen with a memorandum dated January 19, 2000, regarding the status of the construction of the Eastfield Village subdivision and the water connection. · Snow Plowing/Sanding of Unaccepted Subdivision Roads Mr. Azinheira provided each Selectmen with a list of unaccepted subdivision roads along with their status regarding plowing. · Winter Operations Manual - No Action Taken · Selectman Amoruso stated that there is always a problem with water collecting at the Route 106 underpass in the winter. Mr. Azinheira responded that he would look at it. · Selectman Robinson requested the Town Manager find out about the pavement on Route 106 near St. Mary's Church. 5 . Town Manager's Report · Next Thursday through Sunday, the Town Manager will be attending the MMA Trade Show in Boston. Mr. D'Agostino asked the DPW Director and MIS Director to attend the vendors' portion of the show. · Mr. D'Agostino is scheduled to meet with Gatra and the Federal Transportation Administration on Wednesday, January 26, 2000, at 11:45 AM regarding the scope of the train station renovation project. · The first capital improvements' meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 3, at 6:00 PM. Clerk Wills and Selectman Amoruso requested a later meeting time than 6:00 PM. · A joint meeting with the Foxborough Water and Sewer Commissioners is scheduled for Thursday, February 10, at 7:30 PM. · Mr. D'Agostino is scheduled to hold a coffee hour with the seniors at the Council on Aging on February 17 at lOam. · Mr. D'Agostino will host a meeting with Hope Street residents around February 17 regarding the proposed parking for the fields. Clerk Wills stated that the Hope Street resIdents would like Mr. D 'Agostino to answer their questions at least one week prior to the meeting. Mr. D'Agostino will send notification of the meeting and answers to the questions to the residents. · The Police Chief provided comments on C.J. Scooters application for weekday live entertainment. · Remediation plans for the Hercules Dump Site are being explored. 6. Selectmen Old Business Continued · Selectman McCarter asked if Mansfield's recycling goals had been met. Selectman Robinson added that NEED's trucks continue to leak. Selectman McCarter asked if Mr. Gay, Gatra, would be attending a Selectmen's meeting and stated that he is concerned with a letter in the Reading Folder stating the legislature is taking everything in Gatra's budget out and giving it to the MBT A. Selectman McCarter would like to do whatever has to be done to put Gatra back in the picture. Selectman McCarter requested the Town Manager send letters to Senator Spraque and Representatives Hyland and Poirier. Referencing a letter in the Reading Folder from Frank Gay to Joe Ditchman, Selectman McCarter asked, in light of the letter, if additional parking spaces are anticipated at the train station. Mr. D'Agostino responded that it is his understanding that more spaces are not anticipated but that the station may move up more towards Cleveland Twist. Selectman McCarter urged the Board members to read the letter from Gatra. Mr. D 'Agostino suggested that the Selectmen have the authority to limit the number of open air parking licenses issued in a year. Selectman Robinson commented that in order for him to support the train station renovation plans, an access road in Foxborough would have to be built. Selectman McCarter requested the Town Accountant provide a list of funds unspent in accounts for projects that have already been completed. Motion: That the Tweeter Center live entertainment license be negotiated by the Town Manager and two Selectmen. (Wills-Amoruso) (2-2) Acting Chairman Robinson and Selectman McCarter opposed. Fails. · Assistant Building Inspector's Position Description. Motion: To approve the proposed job description for the Assistant Building Inspector as provided to us. (Amoruso-McCarter) (3-0-1) Selectman Robinson abstained. Passes. · Selectmen's Executive Secretary Job Description Motion: To approve as amended. (Amoruso-McCarter) All in favor. Passes. · Clerk Wills recognized a memorandum from Mike Ahern, Public Buildings/Special Projects Manager, dated January 19, 2000, stating Bill Madan of United Oil offered to donate a used oil truck to the town for use as a water truck Motion: That we accept the gift to be made into a water truck for the town. (Wills-McCarter) (3-1) Selectman Robinson opposed. Passes. · Acting Chairman Robinson requested the Town Manager request a copy of the Scenic Road By-Law from the Planning Director. 7. 10:40 PM Adjournment Motion: To adjourn. (McCarter-WiIJs) All in favor. Passes. I' r--/, 1 Î ,/~2~) ¡' Clerk's Signature . . i I f I" , 'I" i~ I. V VA}' i I I / 'ì 6 .fÿî J d ..j I .,' Date of Approval