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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 5-1-1985* * * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 1, 1985 � 1 MIL -U\Jl -11 MApY - 91985 T CLEfIK PRESENT: Chairman D'Onofrio; Selectmen Dunn, McNair; Acting Town Manager; Selectman Mahana arrived at 7:40 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of April 24, 1985 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of April 24, 1985. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant #45 MOTION: To approve Warrant #45 in the amount of $1,582,976.31, dated May 1, 1985, broken down as follows: General Fund - $1,141,126.57 School Lunch - 18,804.32 Special Revenue - 7,409.93 Sewer Enterprise - 302,414.73 Water Enterprise - 43,583.32 Electric Enterprise - 69,637.44 McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses and Permits a) Application for Common Victuallers License under the name of Maxmillians Ice Cream Cafe, Inc., owned by Marc Bluestein & Mike Schiffer, located at 214 N. Main Street. MOTION: To approve the Common Victualler License. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 b) Application for a One -day Common Victuallers License by the Mansfield Scout Jubilee Committee, for June 8th, hours 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., on the South Common, for a Boy Scout promotion. * MOTION: To approve the One -day Common Victualler License. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 MOTION: To waive the fee for the One -day License. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 c) Transfer Request #10 for the Electrical Inspector's Fee for the month of May in the amount of $1,473.88. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #10 in the amount of $1,473.88. Dunn /McNair VOTED: 3 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 2 d) Transfer Request #11 for the Plumbing & Gas Inspectors' Fee for the month of May in the amount of $1,485.70. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #11 in the amount of $1,485.70. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 e) Transfer Request #13 for the Assistant Building Inspector while the Building Inspector is on-vacation, $500.00. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #13 in the amount of $500.00 McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * f) MOTION: To approve and sign the Water Bond for the Town in the amount of $650,000. McNair /Dunn Joan Cutillo explained that this is for temporary financing while the review of Town's permanent financing is being made. VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence - Week of April 18 -24, 1985 a) Announcement from Executive Office of Energy Resources re: Year -long cycle of Energy Conservation Improvement Grants. b) Letter from Mass. Selectmen's Association re: Second annual Workshop at Clark University in Worcester, Saturday, May 11th. c) Letter from Phil Hall, Race Director for New England Triathlon Series re: Use of Mansfield roads for bike race and a water station on Rt. 140. Joan Cutillo advised that the Police Chief is responding to this and suggesting use of the old Rt. 140 rather than the New Rt. 140, as a safety factor. d) Letter from Paul J. Folkman, The Folkman Co., Inc., re: Safety on Winter Street. * MOTION: Refer to the Police Chief, Electric Dept. Manager and DPW Director for their review and report. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 e) DPU announcement of public hearing re: Yankee Celltell. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING j MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 3 f) Notice of Public Hearing by Mansfield Planning Board re: Application of Rose C. Rogovin, Trustee of Jess Realty Trust, to subdivide a parcel of land located on easterly side of Fruit Street. g) Letter and copy of contract from GATRA re: Executed contract between Town and GATRA for the Council on Aging Minibus and service. h) Memo from Police Chief re: Radar Citations and Disturbances Related to Licensed Liquor Establishments. * MOTION: To send Christopher's Restaurant and the VFW a letter of repri- mand that we are aware of the after -hours closing and want it to stop immediately. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 4 -0 i) Letter from Elwyn Atherton re: Downtown conditions and parking. Week of April 25 - May 1, 1985 a) Zoning Board of Appeals decision re: Kevin & Linda King b) DPU Notice of Proposed Rules re: Optional method for determining allowed rate of return on equity for water companies subject to its jurisdic- tion. c) Copy of letter to DPW Director from Norton Board of Health re: Quant- ity of septage Mansfield's new treatment facility is capable of handl- ing on a daily basis. d) Letter from Executive Director of Mansfield Housing Authority re: Section 8 Subsidized dwelling units. e) Letter from Executive Director of Mansfield Housing Authority re: Sur- plus State -owned land on South Main Street - Chapter 689, Handicapped Housing. Joan Cutillo advised the Board that there will be a second letter for some 77 acres for the Conservation Commission, which will also need a letter of approval. * MOTION: That vie send a letter of support for accepting the surplus land for both the Conservation Commission and the Mansfield Housing Authority. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 4 -0 f) Notification of Routine Right -of -way Maintenance of Railroad Ballast with Herbicide Application, from Railroad Weed Control, Inc. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ' MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 4 g) Interim Report No. 34 from Army Corps of Engineers re: Their inspection of the Wastewater Treatment Plant on April 23rd. h) Letter to Board of Selectmen from John & Cynthia Brunelli re: Auto re- pair business run by Mr. Berman at 21 Mill Street. i) Memo from Police Chief re: Radar citations and Disturbances Related to Licensed Liquor Establishments. Recreation Commission Interviews The Board interviewed, individually, each of the following, to briefly meet each person and learn their interests, background and qualifications to serve as a Recreation Commissioner: Richard Reardon, 40 Pratt Street Rick Mahoney, 14 Gilbert Street Stephen Jackson, 50 Union Street Marilyn Ouellette, Twin Oaks Village Alan Sutton, 1013 East Street Laura Nancy Hill, 25 Rumford Ave. Linda Anteski, 18 Beech Street Paul S. Dozier, 19 Riverside Drive It was an interesting better part of two hours, after which Selectman Mahana said he would like to appoint them all. The consensus of the Board was to wait until after the interviews for the Conservation Commission, scheduled for next week, in asmuchas two of those interviewed tonight are also scheduled for next week, which could be a factor in making choices. Public Hearing - Maple Street Speed Limit The Clerk read the Notice of Public Hearing, then a report from the Police Chief in which he recommends requesting authorization for lowering the speed limit from 40 MPH to 35 MPH and lists his reasons. He went on to say that 30 MPH would be more desirable, but past history has shown that for the type road the State DPW is more apt to agree with a 35 MPH limit. Doris Hershenson, 962 Maple Street, the original resident to bring this matter up, told the Board she considers it a very dangerous street, with several children along it, no sidewalks, and speeding cars and trucks, and that she has never seen a policeman out there with radar. Several other residents from the area supported this feeling; one expressed the need for the street to be resurfaced; others said the street is used as a cut - through to the Industrial Park /Foxboro Co., etc. The residents very much want to see the speed limit reduced, but feel it must be monitored if it is to do any good. Selectman Mahana said he would like to request a 30 MPH, that the Police BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 5 Chief look into posting for "No Through Trucking ", and that the DPW Direc- tor look into Chapter 90 for funds for expansion or widening of the street. Selectman Dunn, and a resident, said they had mixed emotions about improv- ing the street since it is already used as a cut - through. Selectman Mahana suggested the possibility of declaring it a "Scenic Road" which would qual- ify it for State funds; it also sets certain requirements. * MOTION: To request a 30 MPH speed limit from the Board of Selectman act- ing as Road Commissioners. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 AMENDMENT: To reconsider Motion and make it subject to no time restric- tion between requests, if the 30 MPH is refused and the Board then requests 35 MPH. Dunn /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 * MOTION: To have the Light Department Manager review the lighting in the Maple Street area to see if it complies with standards. Dunn /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 It was then established as the consensus of the Board to ask the DPW Direc- tor to look into the trucking situation in the area and any other danger- ous problems regarding safety. The Chairman then explained to those pre- sent that vie have asked for such things in the past, but have been turned down; the decision is up to the State. The Acting Town Manager will look into the Scenic Road possibility. 8. Old Business - Acting Town Manager a) A Memo from the DPW Director covered the Informational Meeting of last week for the downtown merchants concerning the downtown project. He felt it was well attended and appreciated. The greatest concern ex- pressed was access for customers and deliveries. He also said there was concern over signing (One -way and Do Not Enter) at Thomas and North Main Street, and a suggestion that the one -way flow on High Street be reversed. There is an invitation out for those interested in forming an ad -hoc committee. b) A Memo from the DPW Director advised that the.Foxboro Board of Health has sent a request for consideration of their septage handling, as they have a situation similar to that of Norton. A rough estimate of the volume of septage is 70,000 per month. - Discussion followed with the decision that the DPW Director be asked to meet with the Board next week, prepared to give an analysis of Mansfield's capacity, and alternatives and /or suggestions for both Foxboro and Norton, together with a time frame for the new plant. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 6 c) A report from the Police Chief on handicapped parking fees indicates that the Town must adopt a specific parking ordinance in order for the police to enforce Handicapped Parking in private lots (an ordinance is different than a by- lard, and may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen). Chapter 40, Section 21, which covers private lots, sets fines at $15.00 for the first offense, $25.00 the second offense, and tow away on the third offense. A $50.00 fine on public property and ways is the maxi- mum allowed. The Chief suggests getting Town Counsel's opinion on whe- ther the $50.00 fine can be used for all violations, or if it is per - missable to use one fine for private lots and another for public prop- erty. The Acting Town Manager was asked to turn this over to Town Counsel. d) The Police Chief's report on parking around the East Common indicates the only acceptable location would be on the Cherry Street side of the Common. There is a 12 foot wide grass /dirt strip from the edge of the paved road to the Common fence extending the length of Cherry Street. He feels this could be paved and lined for parallel parking. - Chairman D'Onofrio would still like the DPW Director to look the sit- uation over, possibly for angle parking, and mentioned bituminous hardtop or crushed stone, together with cost consideration. e) Joan Cutillo's investigation of the property next to the Fire Station showed that the taxes are still being paid. She said the Building In- spector has sent two letters which have been returned. Joan secured two new addresses, and the letters have been sent to them; if they are also returned, the Building Inspector will then ask the DPW Department to secure the building, because it is unsafe. f) The Shield Street sign, which was reported missing, will be taken care of as soon as the sign- making mechanism is fixed. g) A recent situation in Norfolk, similar to the Stearns /Hercules dump problem, indicates that DEQE has told Norfolk their problem is fund- able, whereas Mansfield has been told their's is not. * MOTION: To write a letter to the Division of Local Mandates request- ing clarification in light of the Norfolk hearing. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 New Business - Acting Town Manager a) Joan Cutillo advised the Board of a request from the School Department for a review of an unfavorable decision received from the Division of Local Mandates. It involves the School Department's objection to pay tuition for a student at Tri- County Regional Vocational Technical School in Franklin, because they feel the Southeastern Regional School offers BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 1, 1985 PAGE 7 a comparable program. They would like advice for the appropriate direc- tion to develop rational for their case. - Discussion ended in turning it over to Town Counsel for him to follow through and see if there is a potential action down the line if the matter is pursued. 10. Selectmen Business a) Selectman Mahana distributed his report covering the Bristol County Selectmen's Association's Spring Meeting of April 25th, which he said was a reorganization meeting. There were two featured speakers, Con- gressman Barney Frank and Jim Segal of the MMA. Selectman Mahana sug- gested, to Jim Segal, consideration of the feasibility of setting up a procedure to allow municipalities to purchase ambulances and fire ap- paratus that would be similar to the one in place now for police crui- sers. Selectman Mahana felt Jim Segal's reaction was very positive and suggests the Board follow up with further correspondence. - The Board felt this was a good suggestion and Selectman Mahana was asked to draft a letter. b) Chairman D'Onofrio advised the Board members that he had met with Brent Wilks of MMA concerning a workshop on selection of the new Town Manager. Chairman D'Onofrio suggested delaying the Light Commissioners meeting one week, until May 13th, and holding this workshop next Monday, May 6th. MOTION: To have the workshop with Brent Wilks of MMA, Monday, May 6th at 7:30 P.M. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 c) Selectman McNair voiced a desire for those present to have a moment of silence to honor two long -time residents and servants of the Town who had passed away, Former Fire Chief Cyril Bellavance and former Police Sergeant Harold Brown. The Chairman felt this would be a fit- ting closing for the meeting. Selectman Dunn said he would attend the service for Cyril Bellavance tomorrow, as representative for the Board. 11. Adjournment After a moment of silence for former Fire Chief Cyril Bellavance and Police Sergeant Harold Brown, the meeting was adjourned, at 11:00 P.M. Dat6 signed L�`