Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 2-20-1985BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( FEBRUARY 20, 1985 Q PRESENT: Chairman Wills; Selectmen D'Onofrio, McNair, Levine, Dunn; Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag was saluted. 2. Minutes of February 6 and 13, 1985 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of February 6, 1985. Dunn /D'Onofrio Chairman Wills pointed out omission of his question to Mark Audet, (under Item 6) asking if he would allow the Dog Officer or a Rep- resentative of the Town to inspect his property at any time. The consensus of the Board was for the secretary to insert this. Motion VOTED: 5 -0 as amended MOTION: To approve the Minutes of February 13, 1985. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 3. Warrant #35 MOTION: To approve Warrant #35 in the amount of $2,204,944.87, dated Febru- ary 20, 1985, broken down as follows: McNair /Dunn 4. Correspondence General Fund - School Lunch - Special Revenue - Motor Pool - Sewer Enterprise - Water Enterprise - Electric Enterprise - $1,409,579.72 5,072.08 9,274.83 472.84 152,037.80 322,824.83 305,727.77 VOTED: 4 -0 Levine abstained a) Copy of a letter to the Town Manager from Chairman of the Recreation Com- mission re: Appointing Louis Cinelli an Honorary Member of the Recreation Commission. MOTION: To make him a Member Emeritus. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 b) Copy of letter to the Town Manager from Town Counsel re: Contract opera- tions. c) Letter from Bristol County Tricentennial Committee re: Plan for a celebra- tion in Taunton June 2, 1985 and asking for participation from the Town of Mansfield. Discussion indicated referral to the Historical Commission. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( FEBRUARY 20, 1985 PAGE 2 d) Notice from the Bristol County Retirement Board re: Approval of benefits for Ralph Medeiros. e) Letter from MMA re: Federal budget cuts proposed to eliminate revenue shar- ing, CDAGs, UDAGs, wastewater treatment and transportation funding. f) Letter from Army Corps of Engineers re: Inspection of Wastewater Treatment Plant February 20, 1985. g) Letter from David Benjamin re: Resignation from Conservation Commission. There was some discussion as to what Mr. Benjamin feels the Board should be doing in support of the Commission; Chairman Wills voiced the feeling that the Board should be careful when 'considering and appointing people to such a commission.because of the importance of its decisions . * MOTION: To accept his resignation with regret and send him a letter of appreciation. Dunn /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 h) Letter from Building Inspector re: Complaint received from Mrs& Mrs. Kirby, 1407 East Street, together with copy of a letter from him to Town Counsel and Town Counsel's reply. Some discussion followed with the consensus of the Board that a letter go to the Kirbys explaining that the Zoning By -law they quoted has since been corrected. It was also established that the Board would like to see a copy of the letter the Building Inspector advised he would send to Mr. and Mrs. Booker limiting the trucking activity. i) Copy of letter from the Finance Committee to Supt. of Schools requesting his attendance at the Finance Committee meeting February 28th. j) Copy of letter from Attorney James Perkoski re: Notification of hearings and meetings scheduled concerning APR. Q Letter from Judith A. Carlberg re: Signs to be installed at the parking lot next to the Mansfield Cooperative Bank. It was noted that the bank is paying half the cost for the signs. 1) Letter from Chief Census Supervisor, Secretary of State Office,,re: Recom- mendation that additional funds be paid to the Town Clerk for assuming ad- ditional responsibility of supervising the State Census. After discussion it was decided the Board members could look into this in- dividually to learn what is involved, before making a decision. m) Letter from Office of the Secretary of State re: Deserving voters for the Mass. Voter Hall of Fame. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 1985 PAGE 3 n) Letter from MMA re: Participation of members of the Board on Advisory Com- mittees of the MMA. The Chairman reminded the Board that it will be losing its contact with the MMA when the present Town Manager leaves next month; he is a member of the MMA Board of Directors. o) Letter from Mass. DPW re: Denial of Town's request to prohibit heavy com- merical vehicles on Central Street. p) Notification of a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing from John C. and Carol Hurley, of Easton, for sale and repair of electronic display systems at 274 Fruit Street. q) Notification of DPU hearing, February 27th, re: Joint application by Bos- ton Edison Co., Cambridge Electric Light Co., Montaup Electric Co. and others for guarantees of indebtedness of Conn. Yankee Atomic Power Co. r) Memo from Police Chief re: Radar violations and Disturbances related to licensed liquor establishments. 5. Camp Dresser & McKee Jim Glendye was present with the CUM monthly report on the Wastewater Treat- ment Plant which ended with the indication that 97.49% of the contract work has now been performed, as of January 31, 1985. He indicated they are focus- ing on a June 1st start -up. He had one Change Order for additional lighting for the lime slurry tanks and sludge retention tanks, where they found the former lighting inadequate; total for Change Order: $4,962.35. * MOTION: To approve the Change Order for additional lighting in the amount of $4,962.35. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 The Town Manager advised that he and CD11 had a meeting with DEQE last week concerning an extension of the date for operation to begin to June 1, 1985. 6. BUDGET WORKSHOP a) Library Trustees - Dinah Amsden, Library Director, and 4 Trustees were present to review their proposed budget. Dinah Amsden went down the line items, giving explanations for increased amounts and answering any ques- tions. She advised the Board that the amount under Capital Outlay is for a new telephone system which they need desperately. There was discussion about the consultant's appraisal of the Tom Hall as a future library and the need to determine whether the floor construction would carry the weight; the Town Manager will try to find the original plans, which should ( clarrify this. Discussion ended with the Chairman thanking all present for the work they do for the Town. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 1985 PAGE 4 b) Recreation Commission - Paul Split, Recreation Director, and Paul Beaure- gard, Vice Chairman of the Commission were present to review their pro- posed budget. The Town Manager opened by reminding the Board of last year's commission wishing to remove the Revolving Fund by putting its uses back on the tax base, which he does not feel is the way to go. He also pointed out the change in staffing from full -time to several part -time, which is a saving for the Town, in benefits, and allows for variable work- ing hours, an advantage for the department. Paul Split would like to have the amount for Operators doubled in order to pursue items on their Master Plan, many of which he cannot do with his present force. Paul Beauregard said the Commission would like to see $2,000 added to Supplies, Printing and Advertising so that more equipment could be bought, or new programs started;.it would allow some flexibility. Old Business a) Ed Tartufo, Chairman of the Board of Health, and the Health Agent, Karl Drown, came before the Board for direction concerning the Stearns Avenue Dump Site /Hercules Powder. The Selectmen had been given a Memo from the Town Manager with a copy of an Administrative Order from DEQE, dated Febru- ary 25, 1985, concerning closure of the site within 30 days. The Board of Health's concern is that the EPA has not proceeded with the recommenda- tions of the NUS /FIT report, although they were advised, by phone, in Oct- ober that it would be done by the Dept. of Environmental Quality Engineer- ing. To date it has still not been done, and the Board of Health feels it is important to determine if there are hazardous wastes there before closure, thus eliminating possible repercussions years ahead. The Board of Health would like the Board of Selectmen to request an extension of time and that the EPA complete the recommended testing. The Town Manager suggests a hearing to appeal the.decision. He also said that Hercules has been willing to participate in a closure but, perhaps, not in an investi- gation, and this should be considered also. MOTION: To appeal the time frame of the DEQE Order. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 When it was suggested that the motion should include writing of letters to the appropriate people, it was established that this was implicit in the motion. b) The Town Manager then advised the Board that Lycott Environmental Research, Inc. has done some additional testing on the landfill and has submitted a report on their findings. He will make copies for the Board members, but it was felt best that Lycott be asked to come in for discussion with the Board. The Town Manager is to arrange this. c) The Town Manager had distributed a Memorandum covering requests for speed signs in residential areas, and the one for Maverick Drive in particular. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 1985 PAGE 5 The Memo stated that 30 MPH is the standard speed in residential areas, unless otherwise posted; if you install one in this area, there will very likely be requests for others; and police enforcement of additional areas would be limited. Also, to install such a speed sign a public hearing is required. * MOTION: To hold a public hearing for the purpose of a 20 MPH speed limit on Maverick Drive. VOTED: 3 -2 Dunn and Wills opposed d) The Board had been given copies of four Memos from the Director of Public Works covering: Signs for the Mansfield Cooperative Bank parking lot; Lime system update; Highway Garage fire (roof repairs must go through the Chapter 579 requirements); Sewer system operating costs /Semi -fixed vs. Flow variable. There was discussion concerning Foxborough's new request to make no pay- ment until 90 days in advance of receiving flow. The feeling was that Mansfield has already been paying on this for two or three years; at the the last meeting with Foxborough it was felt there was agreement that there would be no more "wrinkles" thrown in, and this is one; Selectman D'Onofrio felt it would not be a commitment for them, and it won't be a contract without any "consideration ". The consensus of the Board is that any municipality that wants to join the town's wastewater treatment plant must have their money up front. The Town Manager is to relay this back to Foxborough. e) Selectman McNair mentioned the potholes in the industrial park; the condi- tion of the railroad track crossing was also mentioned. The Town Manager will refer this to the DPW. f) Selectman Levine then opened discussion on the need to get moving to ac- quire, at least, the Acting Town Manager; she also suggested setting the salary for the new Town Manager, which must be done prior to Town Meeting, for the budget. * MOTION: That the proposed budget show the Town Manager's top salary to be $45,000. Levine /Dunn Some members of the Board questioned this urgency. * MOTION: To table the motion. D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 3 -1 Levine opposed; Wills abstained ( Further discussion centered on whether the Board would pay expenses for those asked to come for interviews; there was a difference of opinion. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 1985 PAGE 6 The consensus was to send a letter to the Finance Committee advising them that the Board will be looking for some money in this process. The Chairman then asked Selectmen Levine and D'Onofrio to try to meet and formulate suggested action, etc., prior to next week's meeting. He also said he feels the Acting Town Manager is most important and suggested tak- ing action next week. Discussion followed with the consensus that the Board will take action next Wednesday night to make a choice so that every- body will know, and anyone who is interested in applying please give their name to the Board of Selectmen's secretary prior to February 27th. 8. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn at 11:25 P.M. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: Date signed