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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 4-12-1995all UN',liLEl;11V1E1V MINUTES APRI -L 12, 1995 0:- iJ PRESENT: Chairman Royle, Clerk Ronald, Selectmen Colella, Pasg0aIy" and Robinson_ -7fS 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of alleigance. A. Warrant No. 42 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 42 in the amount of $588,694.65. (Pasquale - Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. Chairman Royle abstained from all Board of Health related items. B. Minutes MOTION: To approve the minutes of March 29, 1995. (Pasquale- Ronald) (3 -0 -2) Selectmen Colella and Robinson abstained. PASSES. C. Licenses and Permits 1. Proclamation for Volunteer Week - April 23 -29, 1995 MOTION: To declare April 23 -29, 1995 Volunteer Week. ( Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. 2. Open Air Parking Facility - 875 South Main Street At the request of Chairman Royle, Clerk Ronald read two memoranda concerning the above license application. The first memorandum from the Planning Board stated that the Plannign Board had not sent its recommendation to the Building Inspector on the site plan and that they were scheduled to review it on April 19. The second memorandum was from the Building Inspector and stated that the site plan process still had not been completed so he cannot give a recommendation. The application was not acted on this evening and will be scheduled for consideration by the Selectmen once the Department Head comments are addressed. 3. Liquor License Certificate for West Mansfield Variety d/b /a Rum Runner Wine and Spirits The Board signed the license at this time. 4. Request for Reserve Fund Transfers from William Williams, Town Manager Reserve Fund Transfer Request No. 9 for approximately $4,370 for Town Manager legal expenses MOTION: To approve Reserve Fund Transfer No. 9 for legal expenses in the approximate amount of $4,370. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. Reserve Fund Transfer Request No. 10 for specialized services for approximately $4,000. MOTION: To approve Reserve Fund Transfer No. 10 in the amount of $4,000. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. D. Correspondence I. Action Correspondence: A. Resident: Letter to the Board of Selectmen from David R. Devnew requesting an adjustment on his water bill for 1994 and recommendation from the DPW Billing Supervisor MOTION: To deny the request for adjustment based upon the DPW Billing Supervisor's recommendation dated April 12, 1995. (Pasquale- Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Madeline Brennan requesting the Selectmen proclaim May 14 -19 "Bike to Work Week" MOTION: To proclaim May 14 -19 Bike to Work Week. (Pasquale- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. B. Board and Committee: Letter from James Whalen, Library Board of Trustees, offering a large moral of Mansfield for display in the new Town Hall C. State and Local Government: Letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance requesting the Selectmen support of House 1448 II. A. Resident Letter from Frank J. Benett, Balcom Street, to the Selectmen requesting the Gilbert Street bridge be opened Letter to the Board of Selectmen from Mansfield residents expressing opposition to the expansion of the downtown MBTA station Letter to the Board of Selectmen from Richard Morse, Elm Street, concerning land he owns located off of 581 Elm Street B. State and Local Government: Letter from Mass Highway to the Board of Selectmen concerning the Williams Street bridge 2. MBTA Train Station Chairman Royle summarized the time line of events that led up to a letter from Geoff Slater, Director of Planning, MBTA, dated April 11, to Board of Selectmen. The letter from Mr. Slater was in response to a letter from the Selectmen which stated several conditions they would like met before they would vote to support expansion of the downtown train station. Chairman Royle reviewed Mr. Slater's responses to the conditions. In summary, the letter from Mr. Slater stated the following: the MBTA cannot guarantee direct access onto Rt. 106 nor to a 1,600 space cap; the MBTA will comply with the Town's landscaping requirements; the project can be designed so that runoff flows into the town's drainage system; the MBTA is willing to assume all maintenance, operation, and security costs; the MBTA is willing to terminate their existing lease, will support the Town's request for funding for Route 106 traffic improvements, will paint the railroad bridge, will support the Town's petition for a by -pass road, and will support the Town's petition to have Route 106 repaved. 2 station without a definite commitment from the MBTA and until a significant public hearing is held. After discussion of Mr. Slater's letter to the Board of Selectmen, the following motion was made and voted on: MOTION: To send a letter to Governor Weld, Secretary Kerestiotes, and Legislators asking them to act as an intermediary between the MBTA and Mansfield Board of Selectmen concerning methods and ways of resolving problems of expansion. This should be noted as an intrusion and should not be negotiated through the press. (Pasquale - Colella) (4 -1) Clerk Ronald Opposed. PASSES. MOTION: To send a letter to Geoff Slater, MBTA expressing the Selectmen's non - support of the expansion of the downtown station or any expansion on School Street in West Mansfield based upon the MBTA's letter dated April 11 and their inability to meet the objectives of the Board of Selectmen and of the community. (Pasquale - WITHDRAWN) MOTION: To send a letter to the MBTA stating the Selectmen cannot support expansion of the downtown commuter rail parking lot, nor is it in support of the School Street project. ( Colella- Pasquale) (4 -1) Selectman Robinson Opposed. PASSES. Following the above motion Selectman Pasquale stated that he would like everyone to understand if the META conies back to the Town with a counter proposal, the Selectmen will have to listen to them. 8:20 PM Dias West Mansfield Variety 428 Elm Sheet- Beer and Wine License Public Hearing Mr. Dias and his attorney, Gerry Marsan, were present for this public hearing. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments Members of the Board of Selectmen asked the applicant questions concerning who would run the facility, the proposed hours of operation, and the Police Department's recommendation. Public Questions and Comments Greg Matoian, 3 Coach Road, stated that he does not object to the issuance of a beer and wine license to Mr. Dias and that he hopes that the Selectmen require the present buffer be kept for the site. Karl Clemnney, 390 West Street, asked if the applicant has to go through site plan approval. Dick Sheehan, 355 Otis Street, asked if the business would remain privately owned. Chairman Royle closed the public hearing at 8:45 PM. MOTION: To approve the license for wine and malt. (Pasquale- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. 4. Questions and Comments Monday's Town Meeting. j Walter Meehan, Williams Street resident, addressed the Board concerning deeds for land adjacent to the Williams Street bridge. Leonard Flynn, 100 Jewell Street, stated that ]re understands the Selectmen's frustration relative to expansion of the commuter rail station and that he feels they are doing a good job working with the MBTA. 5. Discussion with Gilbert Street Residents The following Town Staff members were present for this discussion: Arthur O'Neill, Police chief, Traffic Safety Officer, Lance Lawson, and Robert Swanson, Town Engineer. Robert Swanson, Town Engineer, reviewed a memorandum from him to the Town Manager dated April 11 stating requirements for a truck exclusion and the cost to install sidewalks on Gilbert Street. Police Chief Arthur O'Neill stated that the Town can conduct the studies required for a truck exclusion on its own but that the Town has petitioned the state for truck exclusions on other streets in the past and have been turned down because the State is very specific on issuance of exclusions. Traffic Safety Officer Lance Lawson stated that the State is very reluctant to grant commercial heavy vehicle exclusionary permits and that there are several requirements that must be submitted ( before they will review the request for a truck exclusion. Next, Officer Lawson explained the criteria which must be met in order for a commercial truck exclusion. Also, in response to a question from Mr. Williams concerning the number of truck exclusions in Mansfield, Officer Lawson stated that there are only two legal truck exclusion signs posted in Mansfield, one on Hope Street and one on Swett Street and that the West Streets signs are illegal. Public Comment: Dick Sheehan, 355 Otis Street, inquired about plans to reconstruct the Plain Street bridge. Marianne MacDonald, 388 Gilbert Street, inquired about the route trucks would take if a truck exclusion was imposed on Gilbert Street, Peter Herilhy, 100 Gilbert Street, expressed concern regarding trucks using Gilbert Street. Susan Morse, 581 Elm Street, stated that she feels the traffic should be shared by residents including Gilbert Street residents. Jim Bryant, 170 Otis Street, stated that traffic has increased on Otis Street since the Gilbert Street bridge has been closed and requested the traffic be spread out to Gilbert Street also. Deborah Mercier, 385 Gilbert Street, expressed concern regarding traffic on Gilbert Street and the speed of vehicles while traveling over the Gilbert Street bridge. J Ed Flowers, 431 Gilbert Street, asked about the timetable for reconstruction of the bridge and the location of sidewalks and stated that cars drive too fast on Gilbert Street. Dick Sheehan, 355 Otis Street, inquired about alternate routes truck traffic would take and spoke about requirements which have to be met for a truck exclusion. Nita Terlizzi- Keefe, 395 Gilbert Street, asked what effect a truck spill on Gilbert Street would have on the Ash Property wells. Ed Met-tins, 363 Balcom Street, expressed concern regarding traffic. Nita Terlizzi- Keefe, 395 Gilbert Street, requested a three -way stop sign be installed at the intersection of Otis, Gilbert, and School Streets. Chairman Royle closed the discussion at 10:30 PM. 6. Town Manager Report William Williams, Town Manager, requested the Selectmen approve the following purchase orders: Mainline Construction - $9,000 - Grade Shoulders and Slopes on Otis Street MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. ( Red Head Supply (Water Meters) - $13,550 MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale- Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. Laidlaw - $11,000 - Household Hazardous Waste Collection MOTION: To approve. (Robinson - Pasquale) (4 -0 -1) Chairman Royle Abstained. PASSES. 7. Selectmen Old/New Business Chairman Royle stated that Cub Scout Pack 51 will be selling Easter plants at the Highway Garage this weekend. Chairman Royle suggested the Selectmen appoint a liaison to the Finance Committee to enhance communication between the Finance Committee and the Selectmen. Selectman Colella nominated Selectman Pasquale to be the liaison which passed 4 -1 with Selectmen Robinson opposed. Selectman Robinson inquired about the status of the MBTA Advisory Conuuittee and asked if it should be dissolved. Discussion concerning the Committee followed among the Selectmen. Chairman Royle stated that due to the number of responsibilities she has Chairman she would like to withdraw from the Committee. MOTION: Selectman Robinson should continue on the Advisory Committee as the Selectmen's representative. (Collela- Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. 5 gltAIC MOTION: To nominate Selectman Colella to serve on the Train Station Advisory Committee as a representative of the Selectmen. (Pasquale- Ronald) All in favor. PASSES. Selectmen Pasquale reminded the Selectmen that lie has requested all comments on the Great Woods license by this Friday. Selectman Pasquale also requested that a letter be sent to the Foxboro Board of Selectmen concerning the northeast corridor electrification project and that we find out which Town streets have erroneous "No Tlnu Trucking" signs on them. 8. Adjournment - 10:55 MOTION: To adjourn. (Ronald - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. i. /erk's Signrrtrrre Mute Vf Approvcr!