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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-20-1985BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVE14BER 20, 1985 PRESENT: Chairman D'Onofrio; Selectmen McNair, Mahana; Town Manager Selectman Dunn arrived at 7:33 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of November 13, 1985 NOV 2 71985 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of November 13, 1985. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant #22 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #22 in the amount of $2,393,633.80, dated November 20, 1985, broken dorm as follows: General Fund - - $2,019,263.35 Revenue Sharing - 1,476.25 Special Revenue - 3,837.40 Motor Pool - 54.68 Sewer Enterprise - 3,494.46 Water Enterprise - 3,620.89 Electric Enterprise - 361,886.77 subject to the Town Accountant signing it. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses and Permits a) Sewer Connection Application for Alan Brown, 12 Creeden Street; a com- mercial connection to an existing line. * MOTION: To approve the Sewer Connection at 12 Creeden Street, subject to line being checked to assure it is in satisfactory condition. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 b) COA application for a $5,000 grant for physical fitness program. * MOTION: To have the Chairman execute the grant application on behalf of the Board. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 5. Correspondence a) Letter from Mr. & Mrs. Harrington, 69 Rumford Ave., saying "Thank you" for cooperation from the Board of Selectmen. - Mr. & Mrs. Harrington were present, and Selectman Mahana and the Chair - man commended them for their public spirit and consistency in pursuing the issue. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 PAGE 2 b) Letter from Dennis E. Sorel re: Claim for Reimbursement due to Dangerous roadway. * MOTION: To refer to Town Counsel. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 c) Memorandum to Town Manager from Chairman of Conservation Commission re: Cobb Street /Clemmey problem. d) Letter from Attorney Edward T. Troy re: Catalano's liquor license trans- fer. e) Calendar of Holidays for 1986, from ABCC; these will be sent to all licensees. f) Letter from Gov. Dukakis re: Appreciation to all Town employees and citi- zens for a job well done following Hurricane Gloria *. g) Memorandum to Chairman D'Onofrio from Barbara Hagg, Town Accountant, re: Financial records of Town. - Chairman D'Onofrio said the Board has no concern with the financial records of the Town and that the statement made, and referred to, at the Special Town Meeting were directed to a certain department. Barbara Hagg was present as well as the resident who had made the statement; he voluntarily corrected the misconception, stating his comments were for the Water Department only. h) Letter from Planning Board Chairman re: Gelerman & Cashman bill. * MOTION: To approve the bill as submitted, and to pay it out of Town Counsel Expense. Dunn /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 i) Letter from Governor's Office of Community Services re: Martin Luther King holiday. j) Notice to Board from Christmas Decorations Committee re: "Mansfield Com- munity Christmas Celebration" for December 2nd, 6:30 P.M. *Selectman Mahana asked the Town Manager what progress had been made with the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency); Rande said he and the de- partment heads had met with FEMA, State DPW and Army Corps of Engineers representatives that morning. The next step is to ascertain dollar amounts for damage. He also said he is concerned about drainageways through town with trees, logs, etc. possibly blocking them; the Board felt a survey of all such drainageways would be too large an expense. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 PAGE 3 6. Joe Zeneski Mr. Zeneski, former DPW Director, had asked to be on the Agenda tonight, hav- ing learned that a letter to him, from Town Counsel, had been read at last week's meeting. He said he would like to know why and how this happened. The Chairman asked the Town Manager to review the circumstances, as well as Town Counsel, who was present; in short, that certain papers and notebooks were missing after Mr. Zeneski's resignation, and after contacts with him, some items were returned, some were not, so it was then turned over to Town Counsel. The Town Manager said he had questioned some bills on a project, and he could find no records pertaining to them. At this point, Chairman D'Onofrio said today some papers had been found by the DPW Office Manager, so perhaps the entire matter has now been resolved. Joe then said he had offered his services as a consultant when he resigned, and he would still be glad to be called upon, for which the Board thanked him. Fire Chief /New Firefighters Chief Sliney was present to, introduce three new Firefighters who had com- pleted the course at one of the Fire Academies and had graduated with good recommendations; one had previously been a Call -man. The three are: John Peri, Phillip Fontaine and Bruce Naslund. The Chairman welcomed them, then spoke of the onerous duties they are taking on. Chief Sliney said that with the addition of these three men he is currently fully staffed. He then explained the procedure required to hire Civil Service men, indicating it took seven months to receive Permanent Certification for these three men, and this was a shorter time than usual and only because he made repeated trips in to the Civil Service office. He now has three additional profes- sional firefighters. NOTE: Selectman Dunn had to leave the meeting at this time. 8. Mansfield Lodae of Elks While Chief Sliney was still present, Ed Rosenberg of the Elks Club, along with two other members, presented him with a check, in the amount of $300.00 for the Jaws -of -Life. Chief Sliney said this puts the fund "over the top ". He went on to say he had also received, this afternoon, a check in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Brugliera Construction Co. (Joe Brugliera) for the fund. He and the Chairman thanked the Elks and Mr. Brugliera, in absentia, for their public spirit and efforts. Old Business a) The Tom Manager mentioned the job descriptions, for Town Engineer and DPW Director, and the adjustment in the Administration Positions Classi- fication Plan to incorporate the two positions, copies of which each BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 PAGE 4 Board member had been given. He said he only received ten resumes after advertising the position twice; there is alot of competition out there right now. He is setting up interviews now. Selectman Mahana said he had seen that Attleboro has recently hired a new City Engineer, and that he would like to see their job description for the position, for comparison. The Town Manager was told to proceed with his interviews. b) Selectman McNair asked if the final report on the Compo Chemical spill had ever been received. The Town Manager said it had, just last week; in short, it was equipment malfunction and human error. He will make a copy available for Board members next week. c) Selectman Mahana reminded the members that an appointment should be made for the Recreation Commission. Two nominations were made: Linda Anteski - *Appointed Richard Reardon d) Selectman Mahana said he had reviewed the parking situation at the West /East Street /N. Main Street intersection. He said there is one parking spot on the west side of N. Main, which he feels should be able to stay. There are three on the north side of West Street; one or two of them should be eliminated to permit space for trucks to make the turn. The Town Manager felt it should be reviewed with measurements taken to ascertain what is plausible. e) Selectman McNair again questioned the Crocker Street tow zone situation. The Town Manager said he is still waiting for more detail on how to cor- rectly handle it; the State DPW says it must go to Town Meeting, Town Counsel does not think so; all that is required is a public hearing. Chairman D'Onofrio suggested having Town Counsel write to the DPW. f) Chairman D'Onofrio asked if the members approved his proposed letters to employees and Civil Defense volunteers who worked following Hurricane Gloria. * MOTION: To accept the letters to the Civil Defense Force, DPW Personnel, Office Personnel, Electric Department and Other Personnel who helped the Light Department, and Lineman and other technical personnel of the Light Department„ as proposed, and have the Chairman of the Board sign them, with a copy sent to the manag- ers of the departments and a copy inserted in all personnel files. McNair / Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 10. New Business a) The Town Manager reported there had been two water main breaks today, resulting in dirty water, both caused by contractors, who will bear the cost of repairs; the Town is working on them. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 PAGE 5 b) Selectman Mahana mentioned one area he would like to look at; is there any combined listing of underground storage tanks in town. He is con- cerned about old ones, which are most prone to leaks, which could affect water quality. He would like to see such a list compiled, the tanks all checked and broken down into those which have met standards within the last, perhaps 5 -10 years, etc. The Town Manager will investigate. c) Chairman D'Onofrio brought up the matter of meeting dates for December, considering Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Wednesdays. It was de- cided to wait for a full Board, before making a decision. Members were reminded December is a full month, requiring license approvals, board and committee appointments. d) Chairman D'Onofrio then asked the Board how it would like to handle the contractural item of educational allowance for the Town Manager. He has already enrolled for an Executive MA course. * MOTION: To establish a policy to pay for the educational expense of the Town Manager up to $1,000 per year, as '.long as there is a passing.grade, and to pay up front. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 3 -0 11. Budget Workshop Chairman D'Onofrio opened by saying the Board should establish a policy for the Town Manager in developing a budget. He suggested adopting a master plan for allocating resources of the Town, then referred to a diagram he had drawn on the blackboard, which showed three suggested categories: 1) Operat- ing budgets: Education, Municipal, Stabilization, Capital Improvements, Debt and Interest, Warrant Articles, Reserve Funding, Overlay Reserve, Overhead; 2) Master Plan for Town's expansion; 3) Other Priorities /Policies. The Chairman said he would like to see possibly, 10% of the municipal budget. Town Meeting's advisory vote for 6 % -5% budget, applied to operating budgets. that advice from the Finance Committee received and considered. a stabilization fund established of, Someone reminded those present of -4% spending over the previous year's The Chairman feels it is essential and other entities of the town are Selectman Mahana suggested combining some services, so there would not be overlaps, such as maintenance of vehicles, grounds, as a means of savings. The Town Manager said he would look at two things this year - Joint dis- patch and joint meter reading. Chairman D'Onofrio would like to see new tax money allocated towards some special use, such as road improvements or other improvements, instead of just putting it into the pot. ( Consensus of the Board was to pursue the matter and encourage the Finance Committee and School Committee in further discussion. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 PAGE 6 12. Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn (at 9:35 P.M.) McNair / Mahana A member in the audience expressed dismay, said she had wanted to ask a couple of questions about last Saturday's Town Meeting. The Chairman said they would reconvene. She had a question about the hotel /motel tax and also about, what she termed, an "increase in the number of voters" when three votes were taken on Article 17; also, can it be proven that all voters were eligible. She was joined by Karen Gallanti who said people were coming in and out and not being checked. There was brief discussion about secret balloting, or other means of indicating closer surveillance of eligible voters; no conclusions were reached. MOTION: To adjourn (at 9:50 P.M.) Mahana /McNair VOTED: 3 -0 /. / a/ / 7C si g Date en den d