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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-22-1986M r, :9 R-3i <<>(_)II &l Ii JAN 3 119£36 I f BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 22, 1986 - - -- - - -- ..�_. PRESENT: Chairman D'Onofrio; Selectmen McNair, Mahana; Town Manager; Selectman Levine arrived at 7:40 P.M., Selectman Dunn at 7:55 P.M. 1. The Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. The Chair- man then asked all those present to join in a moment of silent prayer for Jim Bachman who had passed away over the weekend. He stated that Jim had been a long -time resident of Mansfield and a member of the Planning Board for the past two and a half years. 2. Minutes of January 15, 1986 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of January 15, 1986. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant #33 M 5 MOTION: To approve Warrant #33 in the amount of $971,756.57, dated January 22, 1986, broken down as follows: McNair /Mahana Licenses & Permits General Fund - School Lunch - Special Revenue Motor Pool - Sewer Enterprise - Water Enterprise - Electric Enterprise - VOTED: 3 -0 $624,387.29 5,549.83 10,415.06 139.84 3,720.40 3,191.68 324,352.45 a) Application for Common Victuallers License, Bernard Camiel, d /b /a Bernie's Ltd., 14 South Main Street; taking over Brothers Restaurant. MOTION: To approve the Common Victuallers License Application. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 b) MOTION: To approve and sign a Certificate of Appreciation for a yet - to -be -named person. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 Ronald Bonvie Ron Bonvie, John Pollis and Bob Currivan were back in the hope of wrapping up approval of the Sewer Conneciton Permit for Webron Realty, 272 Chauncy Street. Bob Currivan opened by explaining that this sewer extension is BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 2 based on an original plan, submitted by RIM Engineering in 1982, and ap- proved by CDM. The Town Manager picked up, adding that when CDM reviewed and approved the plan, they did so with 9 conditions recommended. He said the pipe has not been tested for infiltration yet, and the grade is a little flatter than normal. He has had the Town Engineer review the entire situa- tion. No records of an inspection can be found; therefore, certain recom- mendations of CDM cannot be verified. The manhole structures are not up to Town standards and must be adjusted. There is need for a State Permit and it is believed that one was issued, but it has not yet been found. The Town Engineer's and Town Manager's recommendation is to approve the exten- sion as a private line for a period of two years, which should be sufficient time for potential problems to show up. * MOTION: To approve the sewer extension subject to the conditions and terms as identified by the Town Manager. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 6. Correspondence (covered prior to arrival of Selectmen Levine and Dunn) a) Amended Hearing Notice from DPU re: AT &T Communications of New England, Inc. b) Letter from Robert C. Webb, of Braintree, re: 5 lots of land on Fruit Street over which the Town owns a right -of -way; he requests the Town give up its rights to that portion of land as, he claims, it now has no func- tion whatsoever. Mr. Webb wants to sell the 5 lots and cannot until this is resolved. * MOTION: To refer the matter to Town Counsel. McNair / Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 c) Copy of letter to Town Manager from Town Counsel re: Request of Select- man Levine. d) Letter to Board from Chairman Jackson of the Recreation Commission re: Line item for AAARC being transferred to Education account. - The Chairman asked if they had discussed this with the School Depart- ment; Chairman Jackson said they are in the process now. e) Letter from Attorney Nicholas J. Scobbo, Jr., re: Posting enclosed legal notice as ordered by the Mass. Dept. of Public Utilities. f) Letter from Margot Jellinek re: Curvin's "piggery" and other things. - Chairman D'Onofrio said he had received a phone call from Mr. Hovey a while back concerning pig carcasses being buried on the property. - The Town Manager was asked to check with the Health Agent on this. g) Letter from Special Commission on Local Aid re: Public hearings for testi- mony on proposed local aid for FY -87. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 3 h) Invitation to "Open House" by Brugliera Real Estate, Inc., on February 7th. i) Letter from Supt. Paul O'Leary, S.E. Regional School re: Two Articles for Town Meeting Warrant. j) Report on January 14th inspection of WWTP by Army Corps of Engineers. k) Copy of Memo to Mansfield Police Assoc. & Mansfield Firefighters Assoc. re: Public Safety portion of the Town Manager's proposed budget for FY -87. 1) Copy of letter to Hi Tech Graphics, Fitchburg, MA, from the Town Manager re: Award of Annual Town Report. m) Copy of letter to School Business Manager from Town Counsel re: Contract and specs for High School roof repair. n) Letter from Boy Scout Troop 17 re: Appreciation for support of their annual Christmas tree sale. o) Petition to include an article on condominium coversion on the April 7th Town Meeting Warrant, submitted by Joan and Gilbert Wood, 150 Rumford Ave. 7. Bob Button /CD Director Bob Button had asked for a few minutes with the Board to tell the members that the Civil Defense Agency -has received a 1978 Ford ambulance for their various activities, to carry equipment, for use as a First Aid station, etc., but not as an ambulance unless there is a real crisis. He reported that it is in good running condition. He then turned to the problem of having the generator repaired and the hope of being given permission to request a Transfer Request to pay for said re- pairs which should be reimbursable sometime later. He stressed the need to have a dependable generator, particularly because the Police Station relies on it in the event of a power failure. Bob said for a cost of $250 Richard Bros. had found a company to look at the generator and give a detailed re- port (copies of which everyone had). Selectman Mahana asked if the Electric Department couldn't handle some of the repairs; that they have an electrical engineer. The Town Manager sug- gested possibly the DPW Dept. could do at least some of the engine work, then possibly have someone outside do the generator work. Bob Button then asked for the Board's thoughts on handling storm related expenses. Chairman D'Onofrio said the Board may have to call a Special Town Meeting to re- appropriate money to the various departments. There is a chance of both State and Federal funds for reimbursement later. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 4 8. Joint Boards and Committees Meeting A Memorandum had been sent to all board and committee chairman concerning tonight's meeting and suggesting six pertinent topics but, also, asking for each board's and committee's suggestion of other topics of special inter- est to them. All information received had been consolidated for those in attendance. The Chairman opened by asking if there were any more addi- tions to the list; there were none. Selectman Dunn started by reviewing the considerations and approach his 5 -Year Planning Committee is working from. He said they have established a projected population through 1990 and from that they are looking at ef- fects on utilities, education, services, buildings, recreational needs. The above will require an increase in staffing, increase in benefits, and include compliance to mandates. They hope to have developed an action plan by Spring 1986. Chairman D'Onofrio said that with projected revenues of approximately 4% and projected expenses at about 8 -9 %, everyone can see there are going to have to be some adjustments to the 1987 Budget; there are also some Town Meeting Articles which will have an impact on our Town. One such article is the proposed Cluster Development issue. He said he was sorry the Plan - ning Board did not have at least a representative present, but that out of respect for Jim Bachman, they were not meeting tonight. Natalie Broderick, wife of Ed Broderick who is proposing a "Planned Residential Development" by -law for Town Meeting, was present to answer questions concerning cluster developments. Stewart Sweet, Conservation Commission Acting Chairman, said the Conservation Commission had no real problem with it as long as there would be no more family units than in a regular subdivision development; he was told there would not be. Chairman of the Board of Health, Ed Tartufo, pointed out that a cluster development encompasses several of the listed topics on tonights topic sheet: sewer expansion, open space, conservation, water protection. Someone mentioned hearing that about 1500 new homes will be built in Mans- field within the next two to three years; it was felt that this is not real- istic. Al Turinese wondered if a by -law could be enacted requiring that wherever severing is being put in, the homes along those streets must con- nect within a specified period of time. It was suggested that the cost to home owners could be pro -rated over a period of years; or possibly share costs with the DPW (owner pay for materials, DPW the labor). Ralph Seifert, IDC Chairman, addressed the issue of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant and the need for more connections, and reminding everyone it was built as a tri- town project. He said Mansfield needs industry which uses sewer; also that homes with sewer connections are more valuable on the market than those with septic systems. He suggested that the Industrial Zoning Committee place greatest priority on those sites which have sewer. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 5 Another topic, Municipal Buildings, was addressed. Dinah Amsden, Director of the Library, gave a run -down on the Library's use, users and facilities, then reported that they have three options to consider for improvement of the Library: a new free - standing, one -story building, expansion of the pre- sent building, or use of another building in town. The Library Trustees have a meeting scheduled with the Municipal Building Committee for January 27th. The building next to the Fire Station was mentioned as unsafe, unsightly, and a disgrace to the town. It was suggested that it be condemned which could allow taking by eminent domain after sixty days. The Town Manager will attempt to learn who the owner is. The DPW Garage is still in need of the insurance settlement for last year's fire. The Town Manager feels it needs a regular maintenance schedule, and before too long, will need expansion. Bob Marshall, Chairman of the Council on Aging, spoke to their urgent need for larger and modernized facilities. He then suggested consideration of a "Government Building ", in which two or more of the needed new and larger facilities could be incorporated under one roof, such as the COA and Library. Such a building would be less costly to build and more economical to main- tain. Water resource.acquisition and land acquisition was another subject discussed, and is felt to be of prime importance. It was mentioned that Broderick Corp. has purchased land the Town was considering for a well site. Ed Broderick is willing to negotiate with the Town for that portion of the property. It was felt that West Mansfield needs a new well site in the near future. Con- cerning land acquisition, Ralph Seifert spoke strongly to the chance for the Town to pick up a strip of land between Oakland Street and Rt. 106, which R.T. Engineering now owns but is willing to donate to the Town. He feels this will certainly alleviate the trucking worries in that area, and stated that the Board of Selectmen has the responsibility to at least look at it. Pros and cons were discussed. Ed Tartufo said he would like to see a map designating Town -owned property such as the one which used to be up for resi- dents at Town Meeting. Paul O'Neill, Board of Selectmen GATRA representative, mentioned hearing that GATRA was talking about a multi -level parking garage at the Mansfield commuter station. The Board decided to ask Francis Gay, GATRA Director, to meet with the Board next month to up -date them on the parking situation in Mansfield. It was also suggested, by the Chairman, that GATRA consider re- opening the East Foxboro station. Downtown project was covered briefly. Al Willis, Chairraan.of the Airport Com- mission expressed concern by his commission for protection of approach zones. This subject came up in enswer to Selectman Levine's question, to him, about BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 22, 1986 PAGE 6 the proposed 5 new homes planned next to the Airport; there is to be a pub- lic hearing tomorrow night on this proposal. He went on to say he feels it is time the Town does something about recognizing that there is an airport and there is a need for funding; the Commission cannot wait for Federal fund- ing, which is a long drawn -out process. Selectman Levine said she had read the High School is considering a,change in type of heat, and she wondered if this would °affect rates, etc. Deborah Graham, Conservation Commission, said the Commission needs a Conser- vation Agent and is hoping to use a student from a university. A resident from Hope Street, who had been present throughout the Foxboro Terminals hearing and was vehemently opposed because of concern for children's safety, asked if a "No Through Trucking" sign couldn't be put up. The Chairman asked her to discuss with her neighbors the proposition of partnership with the Town for sidewalk development. Old and New Business The hour being late, only two topics were brought up. Selectman McNair asked about the Bella Vista /Winthrop Street parking situation. This has been referred to the Police Department. Selectman Dunn said he had received a phone call from a town merchant ex- pressing concern for competition from a non - establishment type salesman, selling T- shirts, hats, etc., locally. The Town Manager will refer this to Town Counsel. 10. Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn (at 10:47 P.M.) McNair /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: Clek Date 'signed