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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-26-1994BOARD OF SELECTMEN'S REVISED MINUTES JANUARY 26, 1994 cL� SQ PRESENT: Chairman Pasquale, Clerk Ronald, Selectmen Penney, Robinson, and I�y e, and Wil- liam F. Williams, Town Manager J 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. followed by the pledge of allegiance. 2. 7:30 PM Warrant Warrant No. 31 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 31 in the amount of $4,047,541.35 (Penney - Robinson) Selectman Royle abstained from all Board of Health issues. PASSES. 3. Correspondence RESIDENT CORRESPONDENCE: Letter from Leigh Gannon, seventh grader at Qualters Middle School, expressing her concerns regarding wasting water, recycling, and air pollution due to cars and trucks Clerk Ronald read the above letter atoud. Selectman Royle will respond to this letter. BOARD AND COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENCE: Note from Maureen Doherty, Municipal Building Committee Secretary, to the Board of Selectmen stating that Rich Feeley will be unable to attend this evening's Selectmen's meeting Memorandum from SRPEDD with an enclosed report summarizing SRPEDD activities pertain- ing to Mansfield for 1993 TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF CORRESPONDENCE: Invitation from Dr. Nicoletti, Superintendent of Schools, to an important meeting with Ms. Sally von Benken from NESDEC regarding increases in student enrollment projections through the year 2004. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 1994, at 7:00 P.M. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE: Memorandum from Bristol County Retirement Board to the Board of Selectmen regarding ap- propriation for Fiscal Year 1995 Massachusetts Department of Revenue Bulletin MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE: Letter to the Board of Selectmen from Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, regarding surplus state land adjacent to Route 495 Chairman Pasquale gave an update on the surplus land. Letter from Leonard Kopelman, Esq., the Board of Selectmen stating workshop dates and times that the Selectmen may wish to attend Report to the Town of Mansfield from SELF HELP INCORPORATED Letter from Paul K. O'Leary, Superintendent, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School, stating that the Town of Mansfield was selected to represent the City of Brockton and other towns within the the school district for collective bargaining purposes A quarterly report from Treasurer Joe Malone Old Business Selectmen Chairman Pasquale stated that two vacancies still exist on the Fair Housing Committee. Selectman Ronald gave a report on the I -Net project and stated that Bob Gene will be giving a presentation on it next Thursday. Selectman Ronald will report back to the Board on February 9, 1994. Town Manager William Williams, Town Manager, referenced a memorandum dated January 25, 1994, which he sent to the Board of Selectmen concerning parking, or lack thereof, at the train station. Discussion followed concerning whose responsibility it is to provide parking for the com- muters, the MBTA or the Town. Chairman Pasquale suggested a letter be sent to GATRA and the MBTA advising them of the availability of Cleveland Twist Drill for commuter parking and that goals of the Board of Selectmen be discussed at the Selectmen's meeting of March 2. Selectman Penney suggested that any plan to purchase the building should deal with traffic. Selectman Royle stated that she would be infavor of increasing the commuter parking but for Mansfield residents only. Chair- man Pasquale suggested that the letter to be sent to GATRA and the MBTA be put off until after the Selectmen's scheduled workshop of March 2, 1994. Selectman Robinson stated that he would like to assist the Town Manager in writing the letter. It was also discussed that the MBTA may be expanding its region. 5. 7:50 P.M. - Downtown Parking Discussion Acting Police Chief O'Neill was present for this discussion. Chairman Pasquale referenced a memorandum from William F. Williams, Town Manager, to the Board of Selectmen, in which Mr. Williams recommended the Selectmen designate downtown areas as no parking from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M., except in designated areas for multi - (amity residents, to prevent commuter use of parking designated for commercial busi- ness. Acting Chief O'Neill stated that the system would be workable even though it is in be- tween shifts. William Williams, Town Manager, stated that he reviewed solutions together with Acting Chief O'Neill and that the sticker system proposed by Officer Lawson would be effective but would require additional personnel. Discussion among the Selectmen followed concerning the locations for the signs, parking ticket fines being used for employment of a meter maid, allocating parking spaces for multi - family residents, ticketing vs. towing, and the Old Colony right -of -way speed bump. At this time the following Mansfield business owners spoke voicing concerns such as: George Pantos of Jimm hour parking from 8:OOE what the stores would do 's Pub suggested that the enti .M. to 10:00 A.M.. Chairman that opened before 10:00A.M. e strip downtown be designated two Pasquale responding by questioning Bernard O'Malley stated that he thought no parking from 8:00 to 10:00 AM would eliminate the shift problem for the Police Department but that he has tenants which may be parked during that time, and that a sticker program may be helpful for the situation. Mrs. Bouche of Century 21 stated that she has a problem with 10:00 A.M. because her office, as well as other offices in her building, open at 9:00 A.M. Andrea Micheli of Bookends stated that she would be in favor of no parking between the hours of 6 and 9AM and that she would not object to stickers being given to people in the apart- ments. Selectman Royle stated that she would like to see one space for each apartment, twenty -one spaces for the grain mill, and for stickers to be used. Dick Paulson of Mansfield True Value requested that two hour parking signs be put up on Thursday because he would like something done about the parking immediately. Tom Press stated that he would like something to be done about parking on the end of the strip closest to Route 106 and also stated that there aren't any spaces designated for physically chal- lenged people. Acting Chief O'Neill stated that an alternative to resident parking stickers would be a placard system, in which each building owner would be given a certain number of placards. Discus- sion followed concerning the number of placards to be allocated for each apartment unit, busi- ness, etc., two -hour parking between 9AM and 5PM , and enforcement of the placard system. Selectman Ronald suggested that two -hour parking signs be installed in the downtown area tomorrow as a temporary measure. MOTION: To install signs stating No Parking between 6AM and 9AM with a placard program for abutting businesses and abutting residents at a fee to be established and managed by the Police Department as the enforcing authority (Old Colony Way and the Municipal parking lot next to Mansfield Cooperative Bank.) for a three -month trial period. (Penney - Royle) (4 -1) Selectman Robinson Opposed. PASSES. Discussion followed concerning who would pay for the placards and a temporary two hour parking limit downtown to begin tomorrow, in effect until the placard system is. (A consensus of the Selectmen was to wait for the placard system.) 6. Questions and Comments Carlos Cruz gave members of the Board of Selectmen copies of documents and a letter request- ing the Board investigate his complaints against the Mansfield Police Department. Mr. Cruz was informed by Chairman Pasquale that it is not the policy of the Board of Selectmen to discuss police matters at their meetings and suggested he file a written complaint with the Lieutenant at the Police Department and if there is no response at that time, contact the Town Manager. Acting Police Chief O'Neill told the Selectmen that Mr. Cruz has been informed of the proper procedure to file a complaint and that lie continues to refuse to speak to Mr. Cruz because he records their conversations. Mr. Cruz requested copies of the Police Department Rules and Regulations and was told that Acting Chief O'Neill could send him copies of the internal affairs regulations. Once again, Chairman Pasquale informed Mr. Cruz that this is a Police matter not a Selectmen matter. Selectman Royle responded to a "Letter to the Editor" in the SUN CHRONICLE from Ralph ( Penney, in which she is accused of certain items. Selectman Royle stated that his statements were misleading and then responded to several individual items referenced in the article, one in particular that was Ms. Royle directed the Town Manager to put together a sitewalk at the Textron facility without all of them knowing and without a vote of the Board. Chairman Pasquale stated that it is unfortunate that this has been done through the newspaper and that he feels that the Selectmen have an obligation to look at all possible Town Hall sites. William Williams, Town Manager, stated that he was not directed by anyone and that he largely put together the sitewalk at the Textron Facility at the Department Heads request. Selectman Penney stated that he was mainly upset that the Textron Facility was looked at without a vote of the Selectmen. Chairman Pasquale responded that if Selectmen Penney was upset or had hard feelings he should have brought it up at a meeting not through the newspaper. It was also stated that all members were invited to participate in a walk -thru on November 30, 1993 and only Selectman Royle and Chairman Pasquale attended. 7. Municipal Budget Discussion - Water and Sewer Rates Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, recommended the Board of Selectmen consider increasing Water Department Fees, as mentioned in his memorandum to the Town Manager dated January 11, 994. Members of the Selectmen asked Mr. Swanson questions regarding how the new rates were ar- rived at, installation of water service and meters for new subdivisions, if the increases can be justified, and sewer hookup inspections during the weekend. (, MOTION: To revise the Water Department fee schedule as proposed by the Town En- gineer (in his nventorandunt dated January 11, 1994) to become effective March 1, 1994. (Penney - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, recommended the Board of Selectmen increase the sewer rates for haulers by 6496 in two phases, from $28.00 to $46.00. The first increase of $9.00 would take effect immediately with the second increase in July. The proposed rate would in- crease the proposed revenue for FY1995 from $80,000 to $90,000. Discussion followed concerning increasing in two phases, one increase this year and one next year, using the increase as a deterrence to other communities from hauling septage to Mansfield vs. a means of raising revenue, whether or not septage is received from towns other than Foxboro and Norton, possibility of dual rates for in and out -of -town haulers, increasing fees for Foxboro and Norton, time frame for expansion of the plant, and the need to increase the rates. MOTION: To increase the septage rate from $28.00 to $46.00 in two $9.00 increments (January 26, 1994 and July 1, 1994) as recommended by the Town Engineer in his memorandum dated January 11, 1994. (Royle -NO SECOND) Chairman Pasquale requested Mr. Swanson look into an increased in rate for Norton and Fox- boro. Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, also stated that a public hearing for the Ware Street sidewalks has been scheduled for next Wednesday at 8:20 P.M. and that the Town will only need easements or land gifts from twenty -two out of fifty -six residents on Ware Street. Mr. Swanson also stated that he sent out letters to Ware Street residents informing them of the hearing. New Business Selectmen Chairman Pasquale stated that he has received a memorandum from Andy Gazzolo, Finance Committee Chairman, in which Mr. Gazzolo has requested all non - essential expenditures be put off until the budget can be reviewed. Chairman Pasquale requested that all non - essential purchase orders be held until Feburary 9, 1994. 9. Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn. (Ronald- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES.