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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 01/12/00 Board of Selectmen Minutes January 12, 2000 Present: Chairwoman Royle, Clerk Wills, and and Robinson John D'Agostino, Town Manager Selectmen Amoruso, McCarter, i : .) 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 28 - $3,383,010.69 Motion: To approve. (Amoruso-Robinson) Chairwoman Royle abstained on all Board of Health items, Selectman Robinson abstained on the School Department payroll, and Selectman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. B. Licenses and Permits Amended Memorandum of Agreement from Mass Highway for Chapter 90 funds - $160,920.99 Motion: To sign. (Amoruso-Wills) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes . December 15, 1999 Motion: To approve. (McCarter-Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. . January 5, 2000 Motion: To approve. (Amoruso-Wills) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Action: State & Local Government Letter from the Town of Rowley Board of Selectmen requesting the Selectmen draft a letter of support and/or a resolution supporting direct airline service from Boston to Rome The existing service serves the city of Milan and requires travelers to connect from Milan to Rome. Other State and Local Government Letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General informing the Selectmen that the Town Manager successfully completed the Design and Contracting certification seminar in the Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) program 2. Questions and Comments - None 3 . Town Manager's Report . Mr. D'Agostino is scheduled to meet with David Caron, TPC Golf Course representatives, and DPW Director Lee Azinheira on Thursday at 10:30 am and is then scheduled to meet in Boston on the Morrison Well Interbasin Transfer application. Depending upon the outcome of Town Staff communication with the Water Resource Commissioners prior to that meeting, Mr. D'Agostino mayor may not be attending the meeting. If the Commissioners will, again, be seeking additional information, Mr. D'Agostino will attend. Chairwoman Royle, Selectman Amoruso, and Selectman McCarter may also attend. · A joint meeting with the Foxborough Water and Sewer Commissioners is scheduled for Thursday evening, February 10, at 7:30 PM. The topics of discussion will be the Foxborough Stadium sewer agreement and connecting Foxborough's proposed public safety building to Mansfield's sewer system. · Mr. D'Agostino is in the process of establishing contract negotiations with the collective bargaining units. The meetings will be held frequently. When there appears to be an agreement forming, Mr. D'Agostino will inform the Selectmen of the salient portions of the agreement. · Testing of the low band frequency radios is underway. They have been crystal clear from Mansfield to New Bedford. Now testing will commence from inside the chocolate factory and other buildings in town to ensure reliable communication in the event of an emergency. The radios will be fully implemented by March. · At Monday's staff meeting, the needs assessment phase of GIS Implementation began with Woodard and Curran. A series of meetings will be established with departments to determine which information is available and which information will be shared. Mr. D'Agostino would also like to make this information available on the internet. Chairwoman Royle commented that it would be important to go beyond Town boundaries when compiling information, ,:e. aquifers. 4. Discussion with DPW Director Lee Azinheira and Water Operations Manager Kurt Gaffney A. Feasibility of a Storage Garage and Offices at Cate Springs Mr. Gaffney explained his proposal to construct a new garage, 54'X105' at Cate Springs. The present building at Cate Springs was built in 1914 as a pumping station and is in the Zone 1. The State does not like the day-to-day operations within four hundred feet of a well site. Also, the existing building does not have a bathroom. Mr. Gaffney is proposing a new building, where the day to day operation of the Water Department would occur, approximately one hundred eighty feet from the existing building. The building would house a four stall garage, holding eight vehicles, and an office in the front, a cafeteria, locker room, men's and ladies bathrooms, and a control room. Everything would be kept out of the four hundred- foot well zone. The existing building would remain and would be used for supplies. Trucks could be kept in the new facility, stocked, and ready to go. Funding for the project is proposed by a transfer of funds at Town Meeting from accounts of projects that have been completed but within which a balance still remains-Oxford Tank, 105,000; Water Fluoridation, $60,000; KOH, $192,000; Well Rehabilitation, $30,000. The total of all balances for the completed projects is $389,000. Mr. Gaffney has spoken with builders and has been assured that a building could be built with this amount of money. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments Chairwoman Royle commented that she does not want to see the balance of the Well Rehabilitation Account used for this project in case it is needed at some point in the future. Mr. Gaffney responded that the wells would not need to be rehabilitated for another five years. Town Manager D'Agostino commented that the Selectmen will need to schedule a workshop to discuss the issue of the Walsh Wellfield with Tata & Howard and that he does not feel the wellfield was built to specification. Selectman Robinson questioned having two municipal garages in town and stated with the Highway garage on East Street he would like to see a building smaller than 54'X105'. Selectman Robinson also commented that he feels there should be one central location for motor pool. Selectman Amoruso inquired of the style proposed for the building and if the location proposed is the best and most desirable location. DPW Director Azinheira responded that the building would be made of wood, which he has been told is cheaper for this size building, and that this would be the best and most desirable location as far as cost and time are concerned Selectman McCarter asked if any design studies had been completed and how firm the cost estimate is. Mr. Azinheira responded that he would like to have the design study completed and a firm cost established to bring the project to Town Meeting. Mr. Gaffney stated that he is seeking the Selectmen's permission to move forward with a study for the project. Selectman McCarter commented that he would rather be working with water issues, i.e. ridding the water system of the iron and manganese. Mr. D'Agostino commented that the Board must be aware that the activities at Cate Springs do not comply with State Statute. When asked about a grandfather provision, Mr. Gaffney responded that a clause does exist but that the operation should not be this close to the well in the event that something does happen. Clerk Wills commented if a spill were to occur at the new building location, it would still run down the hill and that if storage trucks travel on the roadway to pick up supplies from the existing garage, the potential for a spill would still exist too. Clerk Wills also asked if a carport could be built at the back part of the building to house materials so that they would be kept out of the rain. Lastly, Clerk Wills asked if the building would carry the Town into build-out and if it would increase the efficiency of the Department. Chairwoman Royle suggested storing the Water Department trucks at the Highway Garage. Selectman Robinson commented that East Mansfield has a problem with water staining over the last two weeks. Selectman Robinson also stated that Morton buildings cannot be used in Mansfield; the Town could not use them previously because they do not pay prevailing wage. Lastly, Selectman Robinson stated that he does not have a problem integrated the fleet but that he does have a problem building a 120' X 54' garage there. Mr. Gaffney responded that he would not have a problem having an office and bays at the Highway Garage but that the cost of both the addition at the garage and a new bu1'lding at Cate Springs should be reviewed DPW Director Azinheira stated that the scope of the Highway Garage Feasibility Study could be expanded to include evaluating both sites, at Cate Springs, and constructing an addition at the Garage and that he would discuss this with the Municipal Building Committee. B. Maple Street Subdivision Selectman Robinson asked what effect a new subdivision at the end of Maple Street would have on the present water pressure problem in that area. Mr. Gaffney responded that larger pipes would increase water volume, not pressure, and that the only way to increase pressure is by raising the tank or installing individual boosters. Discussion among the Selectmen followed regarding whether or not the above subdivision would be considered a water extension or connection, and Selectman McCarter requested the Town Manager request Mr. Gaffney review the draft water extension policy and provide a recommendation. Motion: To nominate Kurt Gaffney as an associate member of the Municipal Building Committee for the Water Department project (addition to the Highway Garage or new building at Cate Springs), subject to the Municipal Building Committee's agreement. (Amoruso-Wills) All in favor. Passes. C. ¡:Ioor brain ~egulations Mr. Gaffney explained a condition of the Interbasin Permit for the Morrison Well is adoption of Floor Drain Regulations by April 1. The Board of Health will be adopting regulations by April 1. Mr. Gaffney sought the Selectmen's support to contract with the firm "Prism" to assist the Water Department with implementation of the regulations. Selectman Amoruso commented that there may need to be some discussion with businesses regarding this regulation. D. Whispering Pines Chairwoman Royle asked if Mr. Azinheira received communication back from Norton regarding connecting Whispering Pines to Mansfield's municipal sewer. No. E. Winter Operations Manual DPW Director Azinheira distributed a snowplowing and procedures and equipment memorandum and a Winter Operations Manual with minor changes for the Selectmen's review and comment. F. Water Rate Study As discussed and requested a few weeks ago, Mr. Azinheira met with Woodcock and Associates and discussed the possibility of including a seasonal water rate in the water rate study. Based upon the discussion, Mr. Woodcock submitted a proposal for a rate study, dated January 6,2000, for the Board's review. 5. Town Manager Report Continued . AI Bacchiocci officially retired from his position as Assistant Building Inspector on January 11, 2000. Presently, this position does not have a job description. The Selectmen are in receipt of a proposed description for review. · The Selectmen are in receipt of a memorandum from Matt Miller, Animal Welfare Committee Chairman, regarding Animal Welfare Committee appointments, as a result of a general by-law amendment that passed at the Special Town Meeting establishing the Committee as a permanent Committee with definite term lengths. Tabled until next week. · Selectmen will need to review a revised job description for the Selectmen's Executive Secretary position because the present secretary will be leaving the position in the beginning of February to stay home with her children. 6. Selectmen Old Business · Selectman Amoruso drafted two letters for the Selectmen's review, one to the Cable Television Commission regarding cable rates and the other to MeidaOne regarding a corporate change in their van policy. Motion: To send the letter to the Department of Telecommunications and Energy, Cable Television Division, and to MediaOne. (Amoruso-McCarter) (4-0-1) Selectman Robinson abstained. Passes. · ';electman ~obinson stated that he has been the Selectmen's representative on the Bristol County Commissioners Advisory Committee for the last two or three years and asked if the Board would like to appoint a new representative. The Committee meets twice a year on Saturday mornings at the Taunton Courthouse. Selectman McCarter nominated Selectman Robinson to represent the Selectmen on the Advisory Committee,' Clerk Wills seconded the nomination. Selectman Robinson was unanimously appointed · Chairwoman Royle requested the Town Manager ask Rayna Rubin for a copy of the results of the water test well report that Woodard & Curran oversaw at the Great Waves site. · Chairwoman Royle requested the Town Manager provide a copy of Woodard & Curran's letter regarding the well report to the Conservation Commission and Planning Board. · Chairwoman Royle requested the Town Manager to please encourage the Police Chief to provide his comments on C.J.Scooter's entertainment license renewal application by next Wednesday to determine if a public hearing will be required on the application. 7. Selectmen New Business · Selectman McCarter asked if there is any indication when Great Waves would be applying for a building permit. Town Manager D'Agostino responded that he does not believe the proponent has yet and that the Building Inspector would contact him when they do. Mr. D 'Agostino continued to state that the Selectman may want to refer to correspondence in the Confidential File. · Selectman Amoruso stated with the Tweeter license approaching, the Selectmen will need to decide how to handle this year's license renewal review. · Selectman Robinson announced that an Amtrak representative will be present at next week's Selectmen's meeting. As soon as Selectman Robinson completes compiling a list, Amtrak will conduct safety classes with daycares in Town. With the high-speed rail trains on their way, Amtrak would also like to conduct classes with Electric Department linemen to bridge the gap. Amtrak feels the Light Department and DPW are key players. Mr. D'Agostino suggested the Emergency Management should also be included in the training. Lastly, Selectman Robinson stated that Amtrak would like to provide a safety program for adults in Town. Chairwoman Royle suggested cable television may be the perfect media to do so. · Chairwoman Royle requested the Town Manager ask the Police Chief for an update on the White Property. . Chairwoman Royle announced that the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee will be hosting a water conservation and lawn care seminar tentatively on March 30,2000, at the Norton Middle School. . Chairwoman Royle requested the Town Manager send a letter to the Cable Access Program Director, Jack O'Neill, stating that the replays of the Selectmen's meetings are terrible. The sound is not audible. Selectman Amoruso responded that he discussed this with Jack O'Neill already and he is in communication with MediaOne. 8. Motion: Adjournment - 10:25 PM To adjourn. (Amoruso-McCart~r) All in favor. i ) , '\ ~ ! ,I;; ..' / ì, ), (~ ~'}/~ I' )~ ;/ .' ì (JJ \~ (: \. ' ,'I, ' C/~"rk'J Šignat: roe Passes. ----.J1.i\AUt/) \':\ ,j2W0 Date of ApproI/¡'