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Home My WebLink AboutBOS MINUTES 5-29-1996BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES May 29, 1996 ss Jtl ? 2 Al In: L Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Mahana, and Selectmen Colella ,lsasgdale;lsndl (S Robinson William F. Williams, Town Manager Christopher Marion, Assistant to the Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 49 - $3,033,966.63 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 49. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items. PASSES. B. Licenses and Permits Common Victualler Certificate for Paul Frechette - Mansfield Municipal Airport - Approved May 22, 1996 MOTION: To sign. (Pasquale - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. C. Correspondence ACTION Resident Letter from Mary McGrath, 15 Morrow Street, requesting a "two -hour parking only" sign be installed on Morrow Street MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale- Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. Petition from Willow Street residents requesting the posted speed limit for Willow Street be 25MPH, speed limit signs be posted at regular intervals along Willow Street, "Children at Play" signs be posted at both ends of Willow Street, and "Dangerous Curve" signs be posted before Cabot Pond in both directions MOTION: To approve the request subject to the letter dated May 11, 1996 from Police Chief O'Neill. (Pasquale- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. OTHER Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from Larry Gallagher, Town Accountant, concerning Electric Company Cash Balances Miscellaneous Invitation from the Mansfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution to attend a ceremony on May 30, following their placing of a marker at the grave of Major Zebulou White, a Revolutionary War soldier Letter from Stephen Grossman, Cablevision Industries, noting a change in cable's channel lineup Letter from Stephen Grossman, Cablevision Industries, with an attached performance bond Letter from Granada North American, Inc. stating that they are planning business transactions that will likely lead to employment losses to resident(s) of Mansfield D. Letters to Representatives Hyland and Poirier and Senator Keating concerning Federal Impact Legislation - Educating Federally Assisted Students MOTION: To forward the letters on behalf of the Board of Selectmen and notify the School Committee. (Mahana - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. 2. Questions and Comments Winifred Thomas, Henry Street resident, requested the Selectmen read a statement from members of the Emergency Management Agency imploring the Selectmen to reconsider their decision of May 15 and exempt the Mansfield Emergency Management Agency from any cutback in their fleet inventory. Selectman Pasquale noted that only a member of the Board who voted in the majority (lie did not) could bring the issue back up for reconsideration. Brian Clang, 61 Morrow Street, stated that he does not feel his request for an expansion of the Morrow Street sewer- extension to include his lot was addressed at last week's meeting. MOTION: If there are funds in the project, we can extend the sewer. If sufficient funding is arailahle. (Mahana - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Mr. Azinheira stated that he would work on another arrangement if funding is not cmailable 3. Town Manager Report A. Special Town Meeting Date Mr. Williams stated that a workable date, as suggested by Judith Scott, Town Clerk, for a Special Town Meeting would be August 5. MOTION: For an August 5 Special Town Meeting. (Robinson - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. MOTION: For the Board to reconsider its previous vote and meet every week during the summer months rather than every other week. (Mahana- Colella) (3 -2) Selectmen Robinson and Pasquale Opposed. PASSES. MOTION: For the Light Commissioners to meet June 5 at 7:30 PM rather than June 3 in order to be televised. (Mahana - Colella) (2 -3) Clerk Mahana and Selectman Colella in favor. FAILS. 4. Sewer Lateral Fee Public Hearing - 8:00 PM Clerk Mahana read the public hearing notice aloud. Town Engineer Azinheira recommended the Board of Selectmen set the sewer lateral fee at six hundred ($600) dollars. Members of the Board of Selectmen questioned and commented on the lateral fee in relation to Board of Health fees, if the intent is for the money to go back into the sewer extension program, and if a Town Meeting vote is needed to spend the funds on sewer extensions. MOTION: To approve the lateral fee as recommended by the Town Engineer. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. 8:20 PM - Selectman Robinson left the meeting at this tinge. 5. Town Manager Report Continued A. Water Conservation Plan John Buckley, Assistant DPW Director, and Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, were present for this discussion. Mr. Buckley presented a three step water conservation plan to the Selectmen to be followed from June to September: Beginning June 1, a voluntary restriction will be in effect; a mandatory restriction will begin June 15, and if at any time during the summer well production exceeds sixteen (16) hours per day for four consecutive days, or if the well level reaches ten (10) feet from the top of the screen, or if mechanical, chemical, or biological problems arise as the result of low well level, a "Water supply State of Emergency" will be declared. Next, at the request of the Town Manager, Mr. Buckley explained why the Ash Property well will not be on line until the Spring of 1999. Selectmen Questions and Comments Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the timetable for the Ash Property, permitting process for the Albertini Well in conjunction with the Ash well, depth of wells, Prescott well permitting timetable, private well permitting procedure, and industrial park well development permitting procedure. MOTION: To approve all three phases (of the water conservation plan). (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Clerk Mahana requested monthly statements for water pumped vs. billed, and Chairman Madan requested the reports be submitted weekly. 6. Purchase Orders •Tata & Howard - $3,250 - Update Water Conservation Plans 3 •Redhed Supply - $6,890 - Replace Water Line on Thompson Street *Leonard Safety Equipment - $1,320 - Ambiant Air Breathing Pumps *Easton Winwater - $3,279 - Memorial Park Sewer *Overall Construction - $2,888 - Excavator Rental for Memorial Park *New England Environmental Equipment - $4,370.50 - Automatic Compost Sump for IPP MOTION: To approve all the purchase orders as requested by various departments. (Mahana - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 7. Selectmen A. Old Business *Inspectors' Compensation Chairman Madan passed the gavel to Clerk Mahana and excused himself from the meeting and left the room for this discussion. MOTION: To restore the 65% inspectors and 35% Town inspection fees. (Colella- Mahana) (2 -1) Selectman Pasquale Opposed. PASSES. Prior to voting on the above motion, the Selectmen discussed the amount of revenue that would be lost due to the increase in the inspectors' fee, relativity to inspectors' fees in neighboring cities and towns, eg. number of inspections vs. fees charged, and why this issue must be voted on this evening. • Charles Sheet Drainage Selectman Colella inquired about the Charles Street drainage situation. Chairman Madan stated that he received a resubmission of a petition requesting the Charles Street drainage system be repaired. Mr. Williams stated that the project is scheduled for this year. Chairman Madan inquired about the date for the project to begin and weather or not paving would be included. • Article in the Sun Chronicle Selectman Colella commented on misinformation in a Sun Chronicle article concerning the hour at which votes were taken by the Selectmen concerning the train station location. • Keith Development - Sewer Extension Clerk Mahana asked why a sewer extension was never done that was promised a couple of years ago by Mr. Keith costing about $250,000. Selectman Pasquale responded that it was Town Counsel's opinion that if the contract had been in written form for the sewer extension it would not have been enforceable because it would still be considered a gift. • Norton Water Billing Status Clerk Mahana inquired about the five hundred ($500) dollar balance due the Town of Mansfield by Norton. MOTION: To go along with the Town Manager to wait until June 14 to hear from Norton as to their responsibility for payment. (Mahana- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. • Cable Access Budget MOTION: To forward all materials we have to the Attorney General's Office and have them look into it. (Mahana - Colella) WITHDRAWN by Clerk Mahana. Prior to the above motion being withdrawn, the Selectmen discussed sending the matter to the Attorney General's office vs. having an audit done first and then, depending upon what is found, sending the issue to the Attorney General's Office. MOTION: To have an audit done. (Mahana - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. A consensus of the Board of Selectmen was in favor of directing the Town Manager to direct the Town Accountant to begin the audit process. B. New Business • Water Sources Clerk Mahana asked if the Town Manager had received any feedback from area Towns on the letter he sent on Mansfield's possible purchase of water. • Municipal Budget MOTION: To see the Municipal line item budget restored. (Mahana - Colella) (3 -1) Selectman Pasquale Opposed. PASSES. • Telephone Calls Clerk Mahana expressed displeasure with the number of telephone calls listed on the Town Manager's phone bills to Selectman Pasquale and asked what was discussed during the phone calls. Selectman Pasquale responded that the calls were related to Town of Mans - field business. 8. Adjournment - 9:40 PM MOTION: To adjourn. (Colella - Pasquale) Alt in favor. PASSES. Clerk's Sigimture Date of Approval l,7