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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-19-1986BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 BERM PRESENT: Selectmen D'Onofrio, McNair, Mahana, Harrington; Town Manager Selectman Dunn arrived at 7:56 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. The meeting was called early to allow John Larch, Light Department Manager, and Mark Magyer, MMWEC representative, to discuss the Hydro Quebec Phase II connection. They explained that this is the first opportunity to partici- pate in owning a part of a transmission line; there are no other utility resources that are on the drawing board at this time. Seabrook I should be on -line by January 1, 1987. Prices have been firmed up for Phase II with Canada; variables include oil price, financing, other costs. They said any pool must have a reserve capacity; Mansfield's load is still increas- ing. John Larch recommends that as long as the cost of fossil fuel is be- low 6.8 /kilowatt hour, this is a good deal. Selectman Mahana asked is the Town committed whether it purchases the power or not? There is a proportionate amount of cost of building the line. Sel- ectman Dunn said he would like to keep dollars within the United States. Selectman Mahana asked when are we going to see the cost of electricity go down, because of the drop in oil prices? * MOTION: The Board recommends that the Light Commissioners authorize the Light Department Manager to enter into the Hydro Quebec Phase II umbrella agreement. McNair / Mahana VOTED: 4 -Qa Dunn abstained ,( 3. Board Reorganization .4A * MOTION: To appoint John McNair Chairman for the upcoming year. Dunn /Harrington VOTED: 4 -0 * MOTION: To appoint Norman Mahana Clerk for the upcoming year. Dunn /D'Onofrio VOTED: 4 -0 4. Conservation Commission The Conservation Commission, represented by Acting Chairman Stu Sweet, and Andy Barr, Paul O'Neill and Deborah Graham, were present to explain why they were requesting at least a part -time Conservation Agent. Stu Sweet said due to the amount of building and loss of good land in the town, their meetings seem to be taken up putting out fires rather than preventing them and protecting the town's wetlands. He said their meetings are also run- ning very late in order to keep up with their business. A Conservation Agent could benefit the town by carrying out duties to prevent problems before they happen; could help by applying for grants, by monitoring conditions, as well as act as a liaison. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 2 Paul O'Neill questioned whether there would be a problem finding a part - time agent. MOTION: That the Board support the Conservation Commission recommendation for a part -time agent at this time. D'Onofrio /Dunn Selectman Harrington suggested that fees charged for building be looked at to recover the Agent's salary; those who are causing development should pay for the additional costs to the Town. Sel- ectman Mahana felt resolving funding from fees was the way to go, and that it should be the Commission's responsibility to determine the fee schedule. VOTED: 5 -0 Public Hearings /New England Telephone By a Motion of Selectman D'Onofrio, seconded by Selectman Dunn, the public hearings were opened and continued until 8:30 P.M., Voted: 5 -0; a second Motion by Mahana /D'Onofrio and Voted 5 -0 was to waive reading of the notices mailed to abutters for Petition #86 -3 and Petition #86 -4. Joseph Bausk, Telephone Co. representative, was present. One abutter was also present and asked for the location of one of the poles; he was shown on the accompanying map and was satisfied (the abutter, Bob Nelson, 251 Franklin Street). MOTION: Grant the Telephone Company take the action requested. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 Cora Abel Cora Abel, accompanied by Dan Corrigan from the Great Woods Performing Arts Center Education Forum, had asked to discuss the possibility of acquiring the Spaulding School for an artist live /work center. Cora Abel advised the Board members that the Boston area has become far too expensive for artists, and with the Great Woods Performing Arts Center, as well as the Educational Forum, located in the Mansfield area, she and Dan Corrigan feel acquisition of the school for an artist center would be a cultural asset to the town, of economic value, and benefit the school system. She said the school system has been trying to attract artists to enhance their program. Joanne Colella, who has been working with Cora Abel on this idea, spoke to her support, and read a letter from Sue Iovieno, the High School Art Teacher, who strongly recommends support of the proposal. Cora had illustrations of similar units she had been instrumental in starting in various sections of Boston. She BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 3 said the highest most artists can afford to pay for a unit is $50,000; the units she has had part in are sold with an agreement that when an artist moves, the unit will be sold to another artist. The suggested proposal asks the Town to offer the School for a token amount; the artists would then, in return, offer public service to the Tom, through the School system, Senior Citizens, and it would also bring in property tax money. Joanne Colella reminded the Board members, the school is a public building, and she thinks it would be nice to keep its use for public benefit. It was mentioned that the assessed value is $63,000. Selectman D'Onofrio felt the Board should be given a fair market price figure. Selectman Mahana said he thinks the idea has great potential, but he would like a more com- plete financial presentation. Selectman Dunn said he endorses the concept, but not for any one developer's benefit. Selectman Mahana also suggested an option of lease /purchase, perhaps for a year. Cora Abel envisioned 4 or 5 units for the building. Cora and Dan Corrigan volunteered to come back with a definite plan in a month. Joan Colella asked the Board to delay any final action on the present Warrant Article for the Spaulding School, for this year's Town Meeting. No commitment was made. 7. Joe Zeneski Joe Zeneski had asked for time in the hope of persuading the Selectmen to withdraw their Town Meeting Warrant Article calling for 60,000 square foot lots and agree to support the Planning Board sponsored article which is similar. The article he was referring to was submitted by Karen Galanti, and supported by Joe. Karen was present and joined Joe in asking that the two Boards work together for one Article $XHXXX"X rather than as a divided front in which, possibly, both Articles might be defeated. Selectman Dunn repeated what he had been heard to say several times earlier, which was that the Article he had submitted, and was sponsored by the Board, was worded to try to get developers to extend sewer lines to developments which will pro - tect water quality and be economically beneficial to the town. Joe Zeneski asked, what if both articles pass; which would have precedence? The tone then changed, with referral by Karen to correspondence she had re- ceived from a State office (she did not have it with her!), claiming it in- dicated the way the John Dunn /Board Article was handled was wrong. John Dunn reiterated that the Board had received reassurance from Town Counsel that everything was in order; he went on to say that what he had tried to do at the last Town Meeting was to modify the Planning Board Article. The meet- ing ended with the indication that if and when the Board received a copy of the letter referred to, it would give the matter further consideration, if indicated. 8. Minutes of March 12, 1986 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of March 12, 1986. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 Harrington abstained * M * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 4 9. Warrant #41 MOTION: To approve Warrant #41 in the amount of $1,809,267.96, dated March 19, 1986, broken down as follows: General Fund - $ 920,274.50 Revenue Sharing - 615.12 School Lunch - 5,363.53 Special Revenue 14,361.03 Sewer Enterprise - 3,917.29 Water Enterprise - 3,536.63 Electric Enterprise - 861,199.86 Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 10. Licenses & Permits a) Petition for Change of Manager by the American Legion Post #198 for their Club liquor license; change from Stanley Hayner to David L. Blessinger. MOTION: To approve the change of Manager for the American Legion Post #198. Mahana /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 b) Petition for Change of Manager by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3264; change from Robert A. Marquis to Robert E. Gleason. MOTION: To approve the change of Manager for the Veterans of Foreigh Wars Post #3264. Mahana /Dunn 11. Correspondence VOTED: 4 -0 MaNair abstained a) Copy of letter from District Highway Engineer, J.R. Cronin, to Robert J. McDonagh, Chief Engineer re: Maintenance - Snow & Ice Control. b) Letter from DEQE re: Division's 1986 Fundable List for Infiltration/ Inflow Grants. - The Town Manager advised the Board that the Town is on the fundable list and that CDM will be in next week to discuss it with the Board. c) Letter from Atty. John P. Mulvee re: J.E.P.J., Inc. Request for Permis- sion to Pledge Alcoholic Beverage License's executed letter for place- ment in their file. * MOTION: To grant the Alcoholic Beverage License Pledge. Mahana /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 5 d) State Housing Funds pamphlet from Executive Office of Communities & Development. e) Letter from Director of Civil Defense Agency of Mass. re: Importance of National Flood Insurance Program. f) Letter from DEQE re: Sludge Landfill, Phase I groundwater quality. - The Town Manager explained the situation. g) Letter from Chairman of Westport Solid Waste Disposal Study Committee re: Possibility of shared solutions to pressing problem of solid waste disposal; some discussion followed. h) Letter from Rep. Barney Frank re: Congressional efforts to preserve the General Revenue Sharing Program. i) Request for waiver of Site Plan approval by Pastor Hans W. Theerman, Mansfield Assembly of God, and a question about other fees. * MOTION: That the Board waive the Site Plan Approval Fee. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 The Board felt that other fees should be considered, by the vari- ous Boards and Committees, as they come up. j) Copy of letter from Town Counsel to Town Manager re: Contract between Town and CDM relative to Lyons Brook Lateral Sewer in proper form for execution. k) Copy of Memorandum to Finance Committee from Town Manager re: Public Works Space Needs. 1) Letter from President of the Mansfield Permanent Firefighters Assoc. stating that the Association is receptive to the "Dispatchers" proposal. 12. Old Business a) The Town Manager reviewed information and a required certificate author- izing someone to act as the agent for the Town regarding the Lyons Brook Lateral Sewers, Contract No. 8. * MOTION: To authorize the Town Manager to sign on behalf of the Board as the Town agent. D'Onofrio /Harrington VOTED: 5 -0 b) Selectman Dunn presented the Zoning Board of Appeals Application to Ap- peal the Building Inspector's decision concerning Tighe Trucking. At BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 6 the same going on the Board is he feels that Counsel) can time, he on that advised property, appealing the Tom Counsel represent the the Board he had noticed there is bulldozing and he feels the owner should be told that Building Inspector's decision. He also said should be consulted as to whether he (Town Board since the Building Inspector is involved. MOTION: To submit the appeal fo the Zoning Board of Appeals and ask Town Counsel to review and outline what process the Board should follow, and advise as to whether he can represent the Board. Dunn /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 The Town Manager will ask the Building Inspector to notify Tighe Trucking of the Board's appeal. c) Selectman Harrington was voted to represent the Board on the Growth Management Council - 4 -0. The 2 citizens at large will be solicited by placement of an ad, and will file an application with the Town Clerk. d) The Town Manager reported meeting with the Finance Committee the pre- vious evening, and that he had been on the phone with the Chairman, Ed McQuaid several times today over a means of increasing the Assessors' Office Manager position to full time, as well as the Building Depart- ment's secretary and Town Clerk's assistant. Also to bring the Fire and Police Chief's salaries up to acceptable levels. He said he would also like to restore one position to the Highway Department and add one to the Water Department. He had given each Board member a packet of information suggesting ways to cover all of the above; i.e., 10% Adminis- trative Fee for outside details, reduction in Construction Materials Ac- count, increase in revenue from Building Inspection Fee change, and re- placing the approximate 400 dead water meters which would justify the position for the Water Department. In the listing of maximum salaries for management employees, it was noted that an additional $3,000 for the Right -To -Know Coordinator would go to the Health Agent, and the night meeting rate had been raised .to $10 /hr. MOTION: That the Board adopt the final salary budget recommendations of the Town Manager. D'Onofrio /Mahana VOTED: 5 -0 MOTION: That the Board support a salary of $26,000 for the Town Accountant. D'Onofrio /Harrington VOTED: 5 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 7 Selectman D'Onofrio explained that the Mansfield Accountant's salary is low compared with a survey of surrounding towns. 13. New Business Selectman Dunn introduced a discussion on the Town Manager's salary, saying he and Selectman Mahana had met to review it, giving consideration to some specifics requested by the Town Manager concerning the retirement funding and a vehicle for his use. For the vehicle, they suggest the same arrange- ment as the Electric Department Director has - $150 /month for use of his own car; this would be a better investment for the Town from an economic standpoint and is agreeable to Rande. As for the retirement fund, he is paying 8% for which he receives no inter- est. He had understood he would be building an annuity, which the Town plan does not. He also would like a plan in which he would not lose if he moves on, and the average time for a Town Manager is five years. Selectmen Dunn and Mahana recommended another retirement plan at 4% ($1780 /yr.), ef- fective from Rande's time of employment (September 1, 1985). Rande will have to continue to pay in to the County plan. Turning to the salary itself, Selectman Dunn said a survey of salaries for towns within the area indicated $36,000 to $42- 45,000. He said he and Sel- ectman Mahana looked at responsibilities, addressed parity between the Town Manager and the Electric Department Manager, and were recommending a salary in the mid to high 40s. They suggest allowing two increases within a year's period with the first performance review between $39,000 and $43,500; the second $45,500, making a total for the fiscal year $44,500; the next increase would be July 1, 1987. Selectman Mahana again addressed the issue of the Town Manager being the only employee of the Town required to live within the town. He said there are two options: one would be to readdress the Town Charter, which takes two years; the other is to raise the salary appropriately. Selectman D'Ono- frio supported putting the Town Manager in a financially adequate situa- tion. Discussion then turned to the expense account which would have to be in- creased to cover the retirement and vehicle expenses. Selectman Harrington asked, "Where will the money come from ?" Selectman D'Onofrio suggested tak- ing an additional $6,400 from the Construction Materials Account, which would more than cover the increased expenses. The Town Manager is to try to work it out with the Finance Committee. * MOTION: To have a line item submitted in the Warrant to support the recom- mendations of the sub - committee. D'Onofrio /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 Dunn had left room; Harrington abstained BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 19, 1986 PAGE 8 14. Adjournment a) Selectman Mahana said he wanted to take a minute to welcome the new mem- ber to the Board, Lawrence Harrington, and congratulate him, with the hope that he will do well for the constituents of the town. b) Chairman McNair read the Firefighters Association letter, which had been handed him during a break (listed with Correspondence). There were three Firefighters present, with Joe Sarro as spokesman, who voiced a desire to be able to discuss the Dispatcher proposal; they said they have ideas. There;was brief discussion during which the Town Manager advised them that he had sent a Memo inviting input. The discussion ended with the Firefighters being told if they made an appointment with the Town Man- ager, he would welcome their ideas. MOTION: To adjourn (at 11:05 P.M.) D'Onofrio /Mahana VOTED: 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: C�