The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink Aboutmin brd of selectmen 02/14/01 Present: RECEIVED TOWNCLFR~(S OFFICE o I fEB 22 AM 9: 43 February 14, 2001 .'A ... MA'š'~Á~#fJELD Chairman David W. McCarter; Clerk Bradford E. Witls; ~Mi&t't~ Louis P. Amoruso, Amos M. Robinson, and Daniel Donovan. John O. D'Agostino, Town Manager Board of Selectmen Minutes of r The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Motion: To go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and to return to Open Session at the conclusion of the discussions. (Amoruso-Robinson) Roll Call Vote: Robinson, aye; Amoruso, aye; Wills, aye; McCarter, aye 4-0 (Selectman Donovan not present at this point) Passes The meeting reconvened in Open Session at 9:04 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Chairman McCarter announced to the public that we spent the last two plus hours in Executive Session discussion potential and pending litigation issues. r · Minutes of February 7, 2001 Motion : To approve (Amoruso-Wills) 4 -0-1 with Selectman Robinson abstaining Passes · Warrant No. 34 in the amount of $2,290,313.95 Motion: To approve (Robinson-Amoruso) 5-0 with Chairman McCarter abstaining from Municipal Building Committee payroll and Selectman Robinson abstaining from School Department payroll r\ · One Day Temporary Wine License for Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce for a wine tasting to be held at the Holiday Inn Mansfield in conjunction with their Taste of Tri- Town Community Food Festival on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The application has been reviewed and approved by the appropriate department heads. Motion: To approve and sign (Robinson-Amoruso) 5-0 Passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 14, 2001 1 r · Dog Complaint of Humane Officer Jeffrey Collins for Selectmen's signature. A hearing will be scheduled when the dog owner is notified. Motion: To sign the complaint (Robinson-Wills) 5-0 Passes There was no correspondence. Selectman Donovan spoke about the MBT A blaming employees for late trains. He noted the engines are not strong enough to pull additional cars and the MBT A should take a look at themselves. He said he's never seen the conductors nasty to anyone despite the crowded conditions and they should stop blaming the employees. He also spoke of the Middle School students' accomplishments in the math team and super bowl. We will notify their teachers and invite the teachers and students in to a meeting for a certificate presentation. r The Town Manager reported on the following: · Announced that we are running a $6,099.60 deficit in the snow and ice budget for the first time since 1995-96. $188,140 was appropriated for snow and ice removal. Additional storms will run $35-40,000 per storm. Motion: To continue the snow and ice removal throughout the Town as needed throughout the remainder of the season. (Robinson-Wills) 5-0 Passes Clerk Wi/Is asked for a report at the end of the winter breaking down all the expenses, including our trucks, materials, personnel, and contract labor. · Spoke of the use and condition of the present sidewalk plow. It was purchased five to six years ago at a cost of $90,000. In the future we will be looking at equipment that has a greater use than being able to just plow the sidewalks. He also discussed snow removal in the downtown. · Presented pictures he received today from Jack Beliveau of the school projects in which our electrical engineer is participating. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 14, 2001 2 r · Total contract costs for the settlement of all union contracts is $245,000. $280,000 had been appropriated by Town Meeting. There are a number of union positions within the budget that need to be reclassified. The reclassifications are funded in the $245,000 figure. Salary surveys have been done in each case of reclassification. He has committed to funding two additional firefighter positions this year to increase our manpower level. There were also four positions left open by retirements and disability that have been filled. · Is committed to hiring an additional police officer to serve as the Police Resource Officer through a grant received. The position was agreed to prior to the Police Management Study being done. · Is committed to hiring one full-time outreach worker for the Council on Aging. The current staff of 1 t have a case load of 40 people each. The outreach workers go out to people confined to their homes to assist them in their needs, calling in other professionals as needed. r · We have a need to hire a part-time secretary for personal services to the Town to assist the Veterans Agent/Human Resource Person in maintaining vacation/sick time records and doing necessary filing. We also need to hire someone to codify our zoning by-laws. This has not been done in many years and it is important to know when each zoning by-law has changed. This could be done by a student intern. There is also a need for a secretary to be shared between Public Buildings and Highway. · Issues within the budget over which we have no control are employee benefits. Our health insurance line item increased by $785,000. This includes insurance for all teachers, as well as our current employees and retirees. Engineering and Highway are looking for significant increases. MIS was looking for an increase for GIS, but this will be met through SRF loans at OCYo interest. The total of $785,000 for GIS can be phased in over a period of years. · Sewer is requesting $291,264 over last year's budget and has been asked to go back and cut the 7.6CYo increase. If we were to agree to that increase, we would increase the sewer rates. The Arts Council budget is increased to $6,866 to match the grant amount from the State. We have a $560,000 revenue deficit at this time based on projections. SBAB funds had been included in the revenue projections and cannot be. They need to be balanced by budget cuts. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 14, 2001 3 ( · Have appropriated $40,000 to the Hercules landfill site cleanup. We expect to have an agreement with Hercules to assist with the cost. · Have committed to a $1 million budget for capital improvement projects. The Town Manager reviewed some of those requests. · We're looking at closing a budget deficit that exceeds approximately $1.6 million and will get it to within the projections we indicated we would live within. This will be done even if it requires layoff of existing personnel. This includes the $1 million capital budget, but does not include the $560,000 shortfall in the revenue projections. · Further budget discussions on ways to reduce the shortfall evoked discussion about the police traffic detail for the Train Station. Chairman McCarter suggested asking the Town Manager to direct the Police Chief to use an on-duty officer for this purpose. · All Selectmen passed on old business. r · Selectman Robinson asked about mailboxes being vandalized. The damage was caused by heavy snow being plowed. There is a policy that covers the situation. If there is negligence on the part of the Town, we are responsible. There are, however, stipulations as to how far back from the right-of-way mailboxes are placed. · Clerk Wills asked for a list of new hires for each department with the number of hours they would be working. The Town Manager provided it. · Chairman McCarter asked that the Town Accountant, Town Treasurer/Collector and Assistant Assessor be included in the Finance Committee discussions next week. · Clerk Wills asked follow-up questions on various on-going projects: clean-up of Clemmey Tank property; meeting with Norton Selectmen; meeting with the director of the charter school. We wl1/ provide a copy of Town Counsels opinion of clean-up of property he issued on the Homestead property. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 14, 2001 4 r r r . Selectman Donovan noted the GA TRA bus is parking right on the corner and creating a safety hazard at Crocker Street and Mansfield Avenue. He suggested Ptlm. Lawson take a look at it. The Town Manager wi/I speak to GA TRA about it and suggest they find another place to stop. Motion: To adjourn at 10:45 p.m. (Donovan-Wills) 5-0 Passes /( ø Q J Signatur of Clerk Date Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 14, 2001 5