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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 04/27/05 \/ ,.",~ i (' EO r I" ('-.' :. (' Present: Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen 9: 29 Minutes of April 27, 2005 " ' !', ' " i ,.\ ";,1' ,i:"i..,L) Chairman Steven MacCaffrie; Vice Chairman Roger AJIDil?;~l&R~fn1JJ> Dolan; Selectman Louis Amoruso and Selectman Michael McCue Town Manager John O. D' Agostino The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7 :00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. DPW Director Lee Azinheira presented the Board with a memo he wrote back in March as a result of the presentation he did for the Finance Committee. Mr. Azinheira said that the wastewater treatment plant went online in 1985 and that a lot of equipment needs to be replaced. He put together rough numbers for CIP and this was presented to the Finance Committee, who asked him to look at alternatives. He noted that scenarios 1 & 2 are similar and that scenario's 3 & 4 add plant expansion. No matter how we look at it, the town will have some large investments for the future. Mr. Azinheira said that Attleboro just went through that and we are trying to set up an enterprise fund so we can start building up some cash. ('i'" The numbers he came up with are preliminary and are based on the info that we have at this point. Chairman MacCaffrie asked Mr. Azinheira when our inter-municipal agreement disappears and the Town Manager replied that it will disappear in the year 2011. Mr. Azinheira said that the rates are based on our share - the other town's share would change only in scenario 3, but in scenario 3, our share in based on our need for 400,000 gallons per day. Selectman McCue asked what our cost is in scenario 3 and Mr. Azinheira replied that is about $12 million. Chairman MacCaffrie asked what would happen if the other towns do not want the additional capacity and Mr. Azinheira replied that we would not do scenario 3. Selectman Achille asked if the capital improvements are warranted, what Mr. Azinheira sees as the benefits of entering into an enterprise account. Mr. Azinheira replied that if we start increasing it sooner, you will end up with lower rates in the long run. Since 1998, when we factored in the debt exclusion and any money in form the general fund, we have a little over $1.3 million in surplus. Chairman MacCaffrie commented that we are in a hole we can't dig ourselves out of now. Selectman Achille asked how it will affect the budget if we allocate this amount and the Town Manager replied that the budget should support itself and the wastewater enterprise account should support itself if it happens. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that if there was a million in free cash, shouldn't it be put into accounts that need it and the Town Manager replied that in that example, if $250,000 was generated by the ratepayer, that money should remain with the water department. Selectman Dolan noted that he looks at this issue as building for the future. Selectman McCue noted that he fully appreciates the value and the premise of the enterprise account, but he doesn't see what has changed from last year to sway his reservations - he still feels that we should wait for uptrends in the economy. Finance Committee member Jim Lazzara ,-. commented that the Board should look at the upgrades that are necessary to keep the plant running - you pay for it now, or later. Selectman McCue said that he is still uncomfortable about Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 ".- r locking up the money. Mr. Lazzara said that the plant is 20 years old and it will require more money for repairs. Selectman Amoruso questioned why the town does not use surplus money and transfer it into the wastewater depreciation account because the enterprise account remove some flexibility and the Town Manager replied that you shouldn't use ratepayer money for supplementing the general fund. The Town Manager said that it might be prudent for the Board to pass a policy that all sewer money go directly into the sewer enterprise account. Selectman Dolan said that the money should go back to the department that the ratepayers are paying to. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that the ratepayers are not just residents, they are business too. Selectman McCue noted that he is worried about the financial climate. Motion: To not support Article 5 (d, (McCue _ Achille) 4-1 Passes (with Selectman Dolan voting to support Article 5) . The owner of Magic Pizza, Nabil Baalbaki, appeared before the Board at their request. He said that nothing will change because of the new ownership - same menu, same hours. Selectman Amoruso said that we like to meet new business owners and this gives the business some free advertising and wishes Mr. Baalbaki good luck with the business. . Warrant No. 44 in the amount of$1,410,931.02 Motion: To approve (Amoruso - Achille) 5-0 Passes . Minutes of Regular Session Apri120, 2005 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve (Amoruso -McCue) 4-0-1 Passes (with Selectman Achille abstaining) . Hackney Carriage License for Vehicle # 7 from Town Taxi Motion: To approve and sign license (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes . Hackney Carriage License for Vehicle #'s 111, 112 & 121 from Foxfield Taxi Motion: To approve and sign license (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes . Parade Permit Application for the 4th Annual Family Walk for the Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, to be held on Sunday, May 22nd at 1:00pm. Motion: To approve permit (Dolan -Achille) 5-0 Passes r Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 27, 2005 2 r · Parade Permit ApJ?lication for Memorial Day Parade, which will begin at 1 0:00am on Monday, May 30 . Motion: To approve permit (Dolan - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes · Check in the amount of $8,000 from Mansfield Little League for the pavement of the access road to the Otis Street fields. Motion: To accept check for deposit into a gift account for the purpose of paving the access road to the Otis Street fields (Dolan - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes · Letter from the Massachusetts Educators Association received April 19th regarding labor contract negotiations. · Letter from the Attleboro District Court Bar Association dated Apri119th inviting the Board to Law Day Exercises at the Attleboro District Court on Friday, May 6th at 10:00am. r · Letter from Colliers International dated April 19th regarding Smart Growth and the development of land surrounding the MBT A train station. · Mass. Municipal Association Action Alert received April 19th regarding local aid amendments to the House Ways & Means budget. · Invitation from the Department of Housing and Community Development dated April 21 st for a workshop on the principles of planned production. Correspondence from Town Manaeer and Staff: · Memorandum from DPW Director Lee Azinheira regarding the incorrect water rates approved by the Board on April 13th. Motion: To approve corrected rates, effective June 1,2005 (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes Selectman Dolan noted that the Rails to Trails Cleanup is this Saturday - come help clean up the trail. Chairman MacCaffrie said that before we sign the special town meeting warrant, can we put a placeholder for an article to authorize the Board to sell or rent surplus town land. Town Manager noted that he has written a memo about this issue - we can sell surplus land that we have identified and put that money into the stabilization account, which is currently at $1.3 million, and it will take several years to replenish. The Town Manager said that we would identify the r"" Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 3 r land, come back to the Board and show them the parcels that we would sell and the Board would grant the authority to sell. Motion: To put a placeholder on the special town meeting warrant for the purpose of obtaining authorization for the Board to sell or rent surplus town land. (Achille - McCue) 5-0 Passes The Town Manager said that Barbara Rose called in to say that the cleanup for the Rails to Trails is from 1O-12pm on Saturday. Motion: To enter into Executive Session to discuss Airport Security and to return to regular session following the conclusion of the Executive Session (McCue - Dolan) 5-0 Passes Roll Call Vote: MacCaffrie - aye; Achille - aye; Dolan - aye; Amoruso - aye; McCue - aye. Returned to Regular Session at 8: 18pm r Motion: To sign the Special Town Meeting Warrant (McCue - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes In attendance: Susan Russeell, Director of Tax for Medline; Tom Stevens, nF Committee member and IDC member; Gay Wells, Regional Director, Mass. Office of Business Development; Stephanie Mercandetti, Regional Municipal Coordinator, Norfolk County; Walter Jenkins, nF Committee member; Nancy Hinote, Assistant Assessor. Ms. Russell began by thanking the Town Manager for spearheading this. Medline is the country's largest privately-held national manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies and services. Medline sells everything from wheelchairs to walkers to glucose strips - hospitals and nursing homes are their biggest clients. She added that we had two separate distribution centers in Mansfield and they need to expand. She noted that Medline likes being in Mansfield and are looking at 50 Hampden Road. There were 3 locations they were looking at and they wanted to stay in Mansfield and move forward. Ms. Russell said that the expansion into 50 Hampden Road would require a capital investment of approximately $1.5 million: $1 million for leasehold improvements and $500,000 in new machinery and equipment. Medline's goal is to be up and running in May. She said that they would retain the 38 employees they currently have and in term of new employees, with a 3 year lease, there would be 15 new employees, including skilled workers and truck drivers. She also added that Medline would commit to opening up construction to local businesses. The average ,'-' wage for the employees would be $30,000. Ms. Russell said that Medline maintains 27 distribution centers nationwide - the old Medline distribution centers were at about 100,000 sq. Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 4 ".- ft., but now they average 450,000 sq. ft. In terms of our commitment to Mansfield, this is a band-aid. IT is a short lease - we want to stay here and grow, and that is why the lease is short: Medline wants to build. Medline plans to identify an existing building or land site to construct an estimated 300,000 sq.ft. of distribution space. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that Medline is looking for a 5-year TIF and asked Ms. Russeell if Medline would anticipate asking for a TIF on the new building, even if this TIF was still in effect. Ms. Russell noted that she has talked to the Town Manager about this and that there are some legal issues involved. She said that the goal is to get this TIF in front of management to show them that this makes sense. She also added that Medline is looking to put pressure on AMB, the property owners. Ms. Mercandetti noted that the first step in the TIF process is approval at Town Meeting, then it goes to the ETA Council and then it goes to the state. Ms. Wells added that this project is the type that the state loves. Selectman McCue asked if there are cases in which there have been overlaps in TIFs. Ms. Wells replied that she is not sure but that she can look into it. She further added that this TIF couldn't be rolled over - a new one would need to be renegotiated. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that once a TIF is granted, the town doesn't down value the cost of the property - it remains taxable from the assessed value. Ms. Russell announced that Medline would donate $1,000 worth of cold packs for Mansfield schools. Selectman Amoruso noted that he is on the TIF Committee and that this is a good thing to do in order to get more down the line. The Town Manager added that it will leverage an investment of$15-20 million. ".- Selectman Dolan asked Ms. Russell if it is realistic to assume that we will find qualified employees. Ms. Russell said that Medline is putting in a new screening system, an online job application, etc. and that she doesn't see it as an unattainable goal. Selectman Achille asked why we have made the pool larger in the ETA area. Ms. Mercandetti replied that the goal is always Mansfield first and then the other 9 ETA towns. She added that Medline will work with the One-Stop Career Centers and noted that the beauty of the program is that is helps the local economy. Chairman MacCaffrie commented that we need to get the other towns to approve this as well. Ms. Russell added that Medline wants local people, as transportation is a huge issue. Motion: To support Article 29 (McCue - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes The Town Manager noted that we also have to approve 50 Hampden Road as an Economic Target Area (EOA). Motion: To designate 50 Hampden Road as an EOA (McCue - Achille) 5-0 Passes ".- Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 5 ".- In attendance: Chairman Andy Gazzolo, Mike Sams, Jess Aptowitz and Charlene Lavin ".- Mr. Gazzolo said that there is good news and bad news; the town side has been cut down to our request, and that translates into no new hires and some cuts. He added that the total gap is $1.6 million. He has spoken to School Committee Chairman Mike Trowbridge, who said that the School Department has cut out $915,000. At this point, Mr. Trowbridge said that the School Committee has an extra $500,000 to discuss next Tuesday. Mr. Gazzo1o said that cutting that amount is not sufficient - no new hires can be added. He added that the Finance Committee believes that cutting new hires and addressing school fees may be the only way. Selectman Dolan said that the Finance Committee recommended no new hires and that the town not replace retirees or those who have left and Selectman Dolan believes that the town is backing up. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that in theory, we lost before we even started. Mr. Gazzolo noted that our issues are with benefits and salaries. Mr. Sams added that we are down in stabilization funds. The Town Manager noted that he wrote a memo to the Board that the Finance Committee also received. In it, the Town Manager said that we have to wean ourselves off our opium fix- we have a revenue stream that we cannot rely on. Mr. Gazzolo reiterated that the School Department has to come up with fees and cuts. Chairman MacCaffrie said that the Board needs to meet with the School Committee and that the town only has a certain pool for money to work with. Selectman Dolan added that the town side is at bare bones. Mr. Gazzolo that we are dismantling a lot of the town side. Mr. Gazzolo said that he believes that everything should be on the table, including salaries, trash fees, school fees, insurance etc. Selectman Dolan said that the School Department has to look at the community as a whole, and not just the school system. Mr. Gazzolo suggested that a 5-year projection be done - we cannot afford a 6% increase in salaries. Selectman Amoruso noted that when you look at Proposition 2 ~, it catches up to you. The Town Manager added that we do not have money for road repair. Chairman MacCaffrie said that the Board, Finance Committee and School Committee will meet during next week's Board meeting. FY06 Budget: The Town has met the Finance Committee's request to trim another $450,000 from the town's operating budget without a significant impact to programs/services or personnel. We will not hire additional staff or replace any existing vacancies. It is imperative that we not balance the budget using stabilization funds, which is currently at $1.6 million. He circulated a memo to staff to that effect. He noted that the town has taken the cuts without significantly impacting staff. In order to make this budget work, we are preparing to ask CIP to borrow $500,000 for DPW infrastructure repairs - he is looking at uncommitted funds for Chapter 90 - our infrastructure is crumbling. If we don't invest money soon over the next two years, the costs escalate significantly. He fully supports the purchase of heavy equipment for DPW and for 2 or 3 vehicles for the Police Department, which desperately needs an updated fleet. The vehicles repair and maintenance budget of the Police Department has been over expended. It has been a difficult budget process and we have been fiscally responsible. ~ Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 27, 2005 6 r Announcement: The Town Manager has been reading in the local papers about his candidacy for the position of Town Manager in Billerica. He informed the Board that he has officially withdrawn his name from further consideration as a result of recent personal circumstances. He will be seeking a new three-year contact next year as required under his existing contract, which means that he intends to stay in Mansfield for the foreseeable future and hopefully will be able to continue to work with a supportive board to more this town forward in a position and productive directions, as he has done over the past 8 years as Town Manager for this community. Chairman MacCaffrie noted that he thought his first year on the board was a tough budget year. He commended the Town Manager on what he has done in terms of budget cutting. He noted that the decisions the Town Manager has made were difficult and he appreciates his time and effort. Canoe River Awareness Day: The 18th Annual Canoe River Awareness Day will be held on Saturday, May 7 at the Mansfield Fish and Game, beginning at 8:30am. He noted that Water Department Operations Manager Kurt Gaffney will be conducting a tour of the new water department building. The Town Manager encouraged the public to attend the festivities. Sewer Connection with Foxboro: We have sent notification to DEP relative to the potential violation of the intermunicipal agreement with Mansfield and Foxboro regarding the Foxboro sewer connection for the proposed affordable housing project. We are hopeful that DEP will not permit the hookup and send the issue back to Foxboro to get Mansfield's consent. ".- Selectman Dolan: Discussed the potential liquor violation letter from Chief and asked fellow Board member what are we want to do about it. Motion: To send a letter to the store owner asking about TIPS training for the individual (Amoruso - Dolan) 5-0 Passes Chairman MacCaffrie: Chairman MacCaffrie noted that one of the Town Meeting article votes ended up in a 2-2 tie. Selectman Achille noted that this would allow us to exempt personal property under $2,000 and that we are expending more than what we are taking back. Selectman McCue noted that he isn't going to vote to support it - to him, it says that if your takes are under $2,000, then you don't have to pay it -there are certain efficiencies of town government that you will never achieve. Selectman Dolan said that under the guidelines they have now, they have to go after the money and noted that this article gives them the ability to exempt certain small personal property accounts. Motion: To support Article 35 r-- (Dolan - McCue) 3-2 Passes (with Chairman MacCaffrie & Selectman McCue voting in the negative) Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 7 ".- r ".- Motion: To enter into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and to return to regular session for the sole purpose of adjournment Roll Call Vote: MacCaffrie - aye; Achille - aye; Dolan - aye; Amoruso - aye; McCue - aye. (Amoruso) 5-0 Passes ~~ Signature of Clerk .Rav ~ 2PPS Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of Apri127, 2005 8