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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-12-1986I BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 MAR 2 0 PRESENT: Chairman D'Onofrio; Selectmen Dunn, McNair, Mahana; Town Manager Selectman Levine arrived at 7:45 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order and the Flag saluted at 7:30 P.M. 2. Minutes of March 5, 1986 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of March 5, 1986. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 3. Warrant #40 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #40 in the amount of $917,813.76, dated March 12, 1986, broken down as follows: General Fund - $588,142.51 Revenue Sharing - 11.81 Special Revenue - 15,646.66 Sewer Enterprise - 5,851.70 Water Enterprise - 7,687.05 Electric Enterprise - 300,474.03 McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) New England Telephone Petition #86 -2 for pole removal on Mill Street. * MOTION: To approve New England Telephone Petition #86 -2. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 b) Transfer Request #23 in the amount of $751.98, Plumbing and Gas Inspec- tors fees for February. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #23 in the amount of $751.98. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 c) Transfer Request #24 in the amount of $1,591.25, Public Building Expense, for hot water heater repairs and repair to one roof heater. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #24 in the amount of $1,591.25. McNair /Mahana VOTED: 4 -0 d) Sunday Entertainment renewal application, Sheraton Mansfield Inn. * MOTION: To approve the Sheraton Mansfield Inn Sunday Entertainment renewal application. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 McNair abstained BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 2 5. Correspondence a) Letter to Chairman of the Board, from Chairman of the Planning Board re: Planning Director's responsibilities. - Copy of Town Counsel's letter to the Planning Board Chairman. b) Notice of withdrawal of Petition #86 -1 by New England Telephone. * MOTION: To permit the Telephone Company to withdraw its Petition. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 c) Communication from Mass. Dept. of Revenue re: Receipts and Assessments as detailed in the Cherry Sheet. d) Copy of The Community Connection from State Auditor's Office. e) Notice from SRPEDD Director re: Applications for purchase of vans /mini- buses. f) Memorandum from Planning Director re: 60,000 Sq. Ft. Article Public Hear- ( ing Wednesday, March 26th. - Board felt it should take a position and have a representative at the hearing. g) Copy of Memo from Planning Director re: Growth Management Council Select- men appointees. - The Town Manager reviewed this and pointed out the need for action by March 26th. * MOTION: To accept the proposal as outlined, with the addition of a rep- resentative from the Board of Health. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 h) Letter from GATRA re: Concern over proposed Reagan Administration Budget for mass transit in FY -87. * MOTION: That the Board send a letter of protest for proposed cuts in mass transit for the Northeast Corridor specifically, to Rep. Barney Frank. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 i) Copy of Warning of Loss of Appeal to Board of Assessors. - Shirley MacPhee indicates it has, and will be, taken care of on time. j) Notice of Public Hearing by DPU re: U.S. Sprint Communications Co. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 3 k) Memorandums to Board from Town Manager re: - Proposed One -way on West Cottage Street - Merckens Chocolate Sewer Bill - The Town Manager reviewed this situation, advising the Board that Merckens has now agreed to pay 50% of the back water bill. - Selectman Mahana said the path the Board has followed shows that it it concerned not only with private billings, but also business. The Chairman pointed out this shows the Board's willingness to not require payment until facts are ascertained. - West & Forbes Intersection - Of the three alternatives, the Board's unanimous choice was for a full set of traffic lights, with a "demand pad" on the least traveled street. The Town Manager advised that it is very expensive, but per- haps funding can be found - Discussion raised the possibility of using the old lights at Rt. 106 and North Main. - It was decided the West & Forbes intersection problem is second on the priorities list, after Hercules Dump closure. - Speed limit on Lawndale Road - The Town Manager feels the documentation required by the State DPW would probably be in vain. Selectman McNair pointed out that with the number of residents who came out for this hearing, the Board owes them the effort to pursue their requested 20 MPH speed limit, which the Board then agreed to do. - Following this discussion, the Chairman raised the possibility of the Board have an "emergency power ", as a possible answer to the River Street problem. He was advised by the Town Manager that the applica- tion for a No Parking permit has to be resubmitted, as it was sent in for a Fire Lane and the State does not use that terminology. It is in process. 1) Copies of Town Counsel letters: - to Town Manager re: Library A/E Agreement - to Tom Manager re: Sodium Levels in Public Water Supply - Selectman Levine said she still wants to know, from Town Counsel, what legal procedure can be taken by the Board regarding loss of two wells; i.e. sue the State? It was decided to ask Town Counsel to com- pile a synopsis of what has taken place over the past 4 or 5 years, for a documented complaint against the State. * MOTION: To proceed with the first step of instituting a suit to gather data, and to find out from Counsel what we need to file a suit. Levine / Mahana VOTED: - "5 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETINGS MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 4 a - to Town Manager re: Expansion of Sewer Project - to Planning Director re: Required Setbacks for Proposed Streets m) Letter from Citizens Scholarship Foundation re: Support via Second Annual Telethon March 16th. Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School Supt. Paul O'Leary had been asked to come before the Board to review the two Warrant Articles for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant; i.e., Equal Edu- cational Opportunity Grant and Professional Development Grant. He briefly covered the purpose of the two articles, explaining they were asking for support of them by the Board. Selectman Mahana commended the Superintend- ent on running a tight ship and turning out superior students who are read- ily placed. * MOTION: To support the Articles as proposed by the S.E. Regional School. 7. McHana /McNair Finance Committee VOTED: 4 -0 Levine abstained All members of the Finance Committee, but one, were present to go over the Budget for FY- 87, -as they have established it. The Chairman, Ed McQuaid, had given each Board member a packet which contained diagrams and charts illustrating and listing apportionments to various factors of the municipal- ity. He said they had met with all department heads and the School Commit- tee, then arrived at the best overall package for the entire town, as they see it. He said some requests could not be met if they were to stay within the revenues the Town has, and they reduced the 1985 Free Cash amount, for expenditures. They are supporting the Town Manager's request for a dispatch system, but have not allowed for any other personnel increases, except the part -time Conservation Agent. Articles they do not support are the two for sidewalks, lights in Memorial Park, Water Enterprise funds to Debt and Int- erest, and employees' health benefit increase. They feel strongly that the Town should continue to add to the Stabilization Fund at a rate of at least 2% per year for several years. The Town Manager said he questions three areas: The Public Works Department has not been adequately funded for several years; he would like to be able to shift personnel from the Electric Department to the Public Works Depart- ment; need for an MIS Manager for the WWTP, Water Department and Septage Sys- tem. He explained the work the Electric Dept. Office Manager has been doing, analyzing and making recommendations for handling the Water Department office procedures. The Town Manager is very impressed with Alan Jones work and would like to see him appointed as the MIS Manager, on a part -time basis. His time would be split between the Electric Dept. and Public Works. Ed McQuaid suggested concentrating his time 50/50 between sewer and water this * * * * * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 5 year, but to put in a line item (General Fund) in case money becomes avail- able, so that some of Alan Jones' time could go for the Municipal side if and when possible. MOTION: That we fund the MIS effort and split 50/50 in the Water and Sewer Accounts ($8,500 each). Dunn /Mahana No vote taken MOTION: To table the Motion until we get information on fund balances. Dunn /McNair VOTED: 5 -0 Selectman Dunn said he was very pleased with the Finance Committee presenta- tion of their report, that it gives a good overview. It was decided that the Board would meet with the Finance Committee next Tuesday, March 18th, to go over the various accounts in detail. 8. Old Business a) The Town Manager explained that in order for the Firefighters contract to be approved and payment be made, he was required to draw up an addi- tional article. He conferred with both Town Counsel and the Town Modera- tor, who agreed that the way for it to be presented now was to insert a Special Town Meeting within the Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting. *prior to July 1, 1986 MOTION: To open a Special Town Meeting within the Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting. McNair /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 MOTION: To sponsor and insert the following Article: To see if the Town will vote to raise, appropriate or other- wise provide a sum of money to fund a collective bargaining agreement executed with the Mansfield Firefighters Associa- tion, or take any other action in relation thereto. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 MOTION: To close the Special Town Meeting Warrant within the Special Tom Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 b) The Town Manager had given members of the Board copies of a matrix done by the MMA for FY -85. Working from that and the spot survey he had done BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 6 for three key positions, he had worked up a proposed matrix for Mansfield's non -union personnel for FY -87. * MOTION: To adopt the matrix as presented to us for FY -87. Levine /McNair VOTED: 5 -0 The Town Manager then addressed some particular positions which present a problem, from the standpoint of staying within the prescribed 6 %. The first is the Assessor's Office Manager. The Assessors had requested a full -time Office Manager, and the Town Manager feels it needs to be con- sidered. For Public Safety, the Town Manager feels the amount allocated for both the Fire Chief and the Police Chief should be close to $35,000. For the Police Chief he suggested charging a 10% administration fee for Special Details, which will be considerable with the opening of the Great Woods Performing Arts Center; such fees would then increase the Police Chief's total salary; that part would be appropriated out of the General Fund. c) Selectman Dunn then asked to bring up item 5 in last week's Minutes, con- ( cerning the Motion to "insert Articles.... into the Special Town Meet- ing Warrant ", pointing out that he would like it to read "To sponsor and insert... ". * MOTION: To reconsider the Minutes of March 5, 1986 and change the second Motion under item 5 to read: "To sponsor and insert Articles 1 through 15 into the Special Town Meeting Warrant." Dunn /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 d) Selectman Mahana then wished the parting Selectman, Sandra Levine, best wishes and good luck, which was echoed by other members of the Board. Selectman Levine then asked for a few minutes to say her goodbyes. She first presented the remaining Board members with a gift, a jar of M & Ms, followed by a parting speech in her own inimitable style, thanking each and everyone for their support, help, acceptance. She said the other members of the Board of Selectmen had helped her grow. She wished the new Town Manager, Rande Wilson, alot of luck. e) Chairman D'Onofrio then read a short prepared speech reflecting what he has learned, and felt, over the past three years, and referred to his good friend, Selectman John McNair, as the epitome of a public servant. He also thanked his wife for being a supporter, a critic and his best friend. 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 12, 1986 PAGE 7 MINUTES APPROVED: Mo,lcy Date signed