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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-26-1994BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1994 _LI) s! Der -2 t;; II (i; PRESENT: Chairman Robinson, Clerk Ronald, Selectmen Pasquale, Penney, and Royle William F. Williams, Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:50 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 18 - $971,279.22 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 18 in the amount of $971,279.22. (Penney - Royle) All in favor. Selectman Royle abstained from all Board of Health issues. PASSES. B. Licenses and Permits Foxfield Taxi - Hackney License for a Vehicle No 23 This application was held until a discussion with representatives of Foxfield Taxi later in the meeting. One -Day Common Victualler License at Robinson Elementary School for the Americana Fair on Saturday, November 5, 1994 MOTION: To approve. - (Royle- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. C. Minutes of September 28, 1994 MOTION: To approve. ( Royle- Pasquale) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Penney abstained. PASSES. 2. Discussion of Ballot Question Wording Dennis Grady and David McCarter of the Finance Committee were present for this discussion as was Dr. Nicoletti, Superintendent of Schools, Robert Gurek, School Business Manager, and the following School Committee members: Andrea Micheli, Emil Giordano, Linda Chilson, and Russell Hartman. Members of the School Committee and Board of Selectmen expressed their individual opinions concerning wording for the ballot questions for capital appropriations. Dennis Grady, Finance Committee member, stated that although a formal vote was not taken at their Saturday meeting, a poll of the Finance Committee revealed that a majority of the Finance Committee is in favor of having one question for all capital appropriations on the ballot . At the conclusion of a discussion of having one, four, two, or three questions, the following motions were made and voted on. MOTION: To prepare the ballot as four separate questions generally shown as Option A by Town Counsel (in his letter dated October 26, 1994). (Penney - Ronald) (3 -2) Selectmen Pasquale and Royle Opposed. FAILS. MOTION: To prepare one question for the entire amount, Option B. (Pasquale - Royle) (2 -3) Chairman Robinson, Clerk Ronald, and Selectman Penney Opposed. FAILS. Members of the Board of Selectmen discussed "selling" each capital project appropriation equally and in a united manner no matter which way the ballot question is worded. A consensus of the Selectmen was in favor of doing so. Clerk Ronald and Selectmen Penney volunteered to work on a campaign strategy for the Board of Selectmen. MOTION: To support four questions in the upcoming December 6 election as specified in Robert Mangiaratti's letter dated October 26, 1994 as Option A. (Pasquale- Penney) (4 -1) Selectman Royle Opposed. PASSES. 3. Correspondence Correspondence from Residents Letter from Joseph Kelly, 789 Ware Street, to the Board of Selectmen thanking the Selectmen for taking a position of fiscal responsibility towards the Capital Improvements Plan Letter from residents of Ware Street concerning the effect the Ware Street project will have on their property Clerk Ronald read this letter at the request of Selectman Penney. Miscellaneous Correspondence Letter from Patricia Zecher, Co- Chair, Jordan P.A.C, and Susan Kaplan, Co- Chair, Jordan P.A.C, to the Board of Selectmen voicing their support of Great Woods and Bruce Montgomery 4. Old Business A. Selectmen Selectman Royle referenced Old Colony Way improvements and also asked Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, about the status of the Charles Street odor problem. Selectman Royle suggested a meeting be held with Charles Street residents to discuss the odor problem. Town Manager William Williams stated that he does not feel a meeting should be held with the residents until solutions can be offered. 5. Town Manager Report A. Contract Award Recommendation WWTP Dechlorination Facilities Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, was present for this discussion. Mr. Swanson referenced a letter from Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., dated October 20, 1994, concerning their contract award recommendation and stated that everything is well within the budget. Members of the Board of Selectmen asked Mr. Swanson questions concerning operating costs and if additional manpower will be needed. MOTION: To award the contract to Dankris Builders Corp. (Penney- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. B. Mill Farm Sewer Laterals Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, referenced a memorandum from him to William Williams, Town Manager, dated October 17, 1994, concerning installation of sewer laterals relative to the Mill Farm subdivision. The project would use $9,100 of Chapter 90 funds. MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. C. Purchase Orders $7,000 - Bardon Trimont - Adjust Sewer Drain and Catch Basins and $9,700 - Tilcon - Coldplaning MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale- Penney) All in favor. PASSES. D. Historical Commission William Williams, Town Manager, stated that he met with the Historical Commission last evening and reviewed work on the Park Row School with them and discussed downtown renewal. Mr. Williams also stated that he would like to invite the Historical Commission to a future meeting of the Board of Selectmen. 8:20 PM - Ten Minute Break 6. 8:30 PM Tax Classification Public Hearing Clerk Ronald read the public hearing notice. Paul Folkman, Chairman, Board of Assessors, AI Turinese, Assessor, Walter Main, Assessor, and Shirley MacPhee, Assistant Assessor, were present for the public hearing. Mr. Folkman, Chairman, Board of Assessors, stated that the Assessors are recommending the Selectmen continue with the downward trend and drop the tax rate from 106% to 105 %. Board Questions and Comments Members of the Board of Selectmen asked the Assessors questions concerning the effect different tax rates would have on varied house values. Chairman Robinson closed the public hearing at 8:57 PM. MOTION: To set the rate at 105% as recommended by the Board of Assessors. (Pasquale- Penney) (3 -2) Chairman Robinson and Selectman Royle Opposed. PASSES. 3 9:00 PM Discussion with Foxfield Taxi John Andrews, Foxfield Taxi Manager, and Paula Saville, Foxfield Taxi Owner, were present for this discussion. Also present was Police Chief Arthur O'Neill. Clerk Ronald read a memorandum from Arthur O'Neill, Chief of Police, to the Board of Selectmen, dated October 11, 1994, which this discussion was a result of. The memorandum stated that a driver was operating a Foxfield Taxi with a suspended license and that search of the vehicle by a Police Officer yielded marijuana. John Andrews, Manager, stated that the Registry of Motor Vehicles does not notify him when any of his drivers' licenses are revoked and that he does not want to have an unlicensed person driving his vehicles. Mr. Andrews also stated that he does not know how to handle the situation. Police Chief Arthur O'Neill suggested that Foxfield Taxi require their drivers to produce driver histories on a periodic basis. Police Chief Arthur O'Neill also noted that the Town's hackney licenses do not contain an expiration date and suggested that the Selectmen may want to look into it. Discussion among John Andrews, Manager, Foxfield Taxi, the Board of Selectmen, and the Police Chief followed concerning frequency of producing driver histories, drug testing of drivers, hackney license expiration dates, adding a step to the drivers daily routine which includes showing their license prior to going on the road, and adding a stipulation to the employment contracts that if an employee does not notify the taxi company when their license is suspended or revoked they will be terminated, and suggested frequency of hackney license renewals. Selectman Pasquale suggested that Police Chief Arthur O'Neill give a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen concerning hackney license renewal at a later date. Hackney License Application for Vehicle No. 23 MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. 8. Discussion with Police Chief Arthur O'Neill Members of the Board of Selectmen and Police Chief Arthur O'Neill discussed school bus access through Mill Street while construction is ongoing, status of the DARE Program, placing Police Officers' names on their badges, re- evaluation of downtown parking, the Town's winter parking policy, and hiring a meter maid for the downtown area. William Madan, Train Station Advisory Committee Chairman, suggested that Police Chief Arthur O'Neill be given a copy of the traffic study conducted in the area of the train station for his review. Lastly, Police Chief Arthur O'Neill stated that he spoke with Mrs. Marks of the Tahana Restaurant about drivers being stopped under the influence of alcohol after having been at the Tahana sometime earlier the same evening. 4 9. Questions and Comments - NONE 10.Selectmen A) Old Business Selectman Penney asked about the status of crosswalks being placed on Copeland Drive and in front of Wendy's and Rojacks, the width of Ware Street after paving, and questioned the Civil Defense maintenance account balance. B) New Business Selectman Pasquale asked about the status of installation of a computer system and gave an update on cable being connecting to the concession stand at the Plymouth Street fields. Selectman Royle stated that she spoke with David Scarchilli of the YMCA recently and that Mr. Scarchilli stated that the YMCA is conducting a survey of their needs and have not forgotten about talking to the Selectmen about leasing the John Berry School. Discussion among the Selectmen followed concerning the John Berry School being tied up while the YMCA is in their decision making process and whether or not the Y would know of their intentions by Town Meeting. Selectman Pasquale suggested asking Cable to consider hooking up a video and audio system at the High School. Clerk Ronald stated that he would look into the idea. Chairman Robinson stated that the MBTA will be in Mansfield on Monday hopefully to discuss how the Town will be get over the right of way temporarily with wiring for the security cameras. Chairman Robinson also stated that that the surveillance camera project will be funded 80% federally. Selectman Robinson also asked about increasing the compost facility hours for leave composting. 11. Adjournment - 9:40 PM MOTION: To adjourn. (Pasquale- Penney) All in favor. PASSES. a Clerks ignatur Date of Approval 5