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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 6-19-1996BOARD OF SELECTMEN' MINUTES n - i'i 02 June 19, 1996 I(S PRESENT: Chainnan Madan, Clerk Mahana, and Selectmen Colella, Pasquale, and Robinson 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 52 - $39701,387.41 MOTION: To approve. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. PASSES Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items, and Clerk Mahana abstained from Voucher No. 15036. B. Warrant No. i - $552,033.20 MOTION: To approve. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. C. Licenses and Permits Town Manager Reserve Fund Transfer Request No. 16 - $1,505.60 MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Letter to Emergency Finance Board fi-om the Board of Selectmen, dated June 19, 1996, requesting a hearing on the bond issue for the school renovations MOTION• To sign. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. D. Minutes of June 12, 1996 MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. E. Correspondence ACTION: Resident Request from Elena Carlson, 10 Down Lane, for permission to hold a block party on Saturday, August 17, from 3 -6pm MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Request from Gary Forget to impose no on sheet parking at the beginning of East Street to Branch Street Traffic Safety Officer has recommended against this request. No action was taken by the Selectmen. Town Manager and Staff Letter from William F. Williams, Town Manager, to the Board of Selectmen notifying the Selectmen of his continued desire to seek a contract renewal and requesting a timely reply ClerkMahana read this letter aloud. Miscellaneous Letter from the Cable Access Board of Directors stating that Cable Access voted unanimously to perform an audit at its expense, at a cost of up to $5,000, for the past ten years or as far back as appropriate based upon IRS and State regulations for record keeping The Cable Access Board has agreed to accept an auditor of the Selectmen's choice. MOTION: To go ahead with the audit. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. MOTION: To let the Chairman make a decision on who the auditor will be. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. OTHER: Miscellaneous Letter from Time Warner Cable to the Board of Selectmen informing the Selectmen that Time Warner Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Letter to the Board of Selectmen from Howard L. Frim, Quincy, informing the Selectmen of an incident he was involved in at Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts Letter from Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts stating revisions to their performance list Letter from Benjamin Puritz, Town Administrator, Sharon, in response to the Town Manager's request for water Letter from Judith Robbins, Mayor, City of Attleboro, in response to the Town Manager's request for water Letter from Rosemarie Levesque, Office Administrator, Town of Norton, in response to the Town Manager's request for water FA Clerk AMahana suggested the Selectmen consider meeting frith the Easton Board of ( Selectmen concerning a crater agreement.. Letters to Senator Keating, Representatives Hyland and Poirier, requesting state financial assistance with emergency repairs and a rehabilitation project needed for the Fulton's Pond Dam Memorandum to the Town Manager from David Young, Chairman, Municipal Building Committee, concerning Keyes Associates reactivation of the School Project and letter from Keyes Associates dated June 4, 1996 Mr. Williams stated that Keyes Associates has requested additional money for project delays. Town Counsel will be meeting with the Municipal Building Committee Tuesday evening at 6: 45 PM concerning this issue. Letter from Robert Leomburno to Town Counsel concerning the condition of Sadies Way Memorandum from William Williams, Town Manager, to the Board of Selectmen stating that he made a public set-vice announcement concerning water conservation on cable Letter from David Albanese to the Board of Selectmen requesting an exemption from the water conservation plan while his lawn is being established. MOTION: Not to grant an exemption to the resident while his lawn is being established. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. 2. Questions and Comments Peter DeTrolio, 496 Elm Street, inquired about the fire station sprinkler system and construction of the new fire station relative to code requirements. Mr. Williams suggested Mr. DeTrolio direct his questions to the Municipal Building Committee, who will be meeting on Tuesday, June 25, at 6:45 PM., Selectman Pasquale requested Mr. Williams request the Municipal Building Committee respond to Mr. DeTrolio's questions. Selectman Pasquale stated a few weeks ago there was an issue during the Selectmen's meeting concerning the number of telephone calls the Town Manager makes to him and that yesterday he received a letter and a telephone bill which was sent to his boss concerning the phone calls. Selectman Pasquale stated that letter was signed by Richard Robinson but no one by that name is listed in the street listing. Clerk Mahana stated that his copies of the phone bill did not leave his possession, nor did he make any copies of them. Michelle Barton, 3 Maryalice Way, requested the Police Department report on the traffic situation with the ACME /Cleveland parking lot on line, as the previous Board voted, and F requested the number of tickets the Police Department has issued in writing since the lot has been in operation. Chairman Madan suggested Ms. Barton put her request in writing to the Police Department. 3. Recreation Commission Interview - One Position - 1999 Bob Pierce was present to interview for the vacancy on the Recreation Commission. Mr. Pierce explained his interest in serving on the Recreation Commission. MOTION: To appoint Bob Pierce to the Recreation Commission. (Pasquale - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. 4. Town Manager Report Water Conservation Update John Buckley, Assistant DPW Director, stated that the mandatory water ban is currently in effect and that the Town is in the process of mailing out the water conservation plan to residents along with electric bills. The plan has been in the newspaper and on cable. Mr. Buckley also stated that the wells have been pumping approximately 2.2 million gallons a day and that the ten foot mark is beginning to be approached on some of the wells. If there is not sufficient rainfall, the Town may have to move to the last stage of the plan. Lastly, Mr. Buckley summarized the fine procedure for violators of the conservation restriction. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen inquired about upgrading wells and installing a manifold system, well maintenance program, car wash compliance with the conservation program, car wash water usage per vehicle, whether or not a water recycling system is used by the car washes, industrial park compliance with the program, and the process for permitting private wells. Mill Pond Dam Mr. Williams updated the Selectmen on the status of the Mill Pond Dam project stating that it has been deferred to next year because funding is currently not available. DPW Project Update Dan Clifford, DPW Director, Mark Cook, Highway Foreman, and Mike Ahern, Highway Leadman, were present for the DPW update. Mr. Clifford gave a status report of DPW projects referencing his memorandum to the Town Manager dated June 18, 1996. Mr. Clifford also commended Messrs. Cook and Ahern and Ms. Amicone, DPW Office Manager, for all their hard work, as did Mr. Williams. Members of the Board of Selectmen also commended the entire DPW staff for the job they have been doing. Southeast Regional Services Group (SERSG) Contract in Mr. Williams referenced authorization granted at Town Meeting to enter into the SERSG contract. Mr. Clifford stated that Mansfield will be using 95 percent of the items on the list. MOTION: To accept. (Pasquale - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. Purchase Orders DPW - C.N. Wood Inc. - $84,000 street sweeper MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Colella) (3 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. DPW - G.S.P. Inc. - $10,458 janitorial services *Selectman Robinson entered the meeting. MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Colella) (3 -0 -2) Selectmen Pasquale and Robinson abstained. PASSES. DPW - Partners Quality Lawn Turf Management Services - $15,000 ( MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Mahana) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. DPW - RUS Image in Action - $5.74 per employee per week - provide and clean uniforms MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Robinson) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. DPW - Southworth- Milton Inc. - $94,300 - cateipillar bulldozer MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Robinson) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. Wastewater - Advanced Pollution Control - $4,706 Emergency cleaning of two septage receiving tanks 'Phis purchase order had already been approved by the Town Manager because it was an emergency. Building Department - Automation Concepts and Tech. Inc. - $1,557 - computer network MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Robinson) (2 -0 -2) Chairman Madan and Selectman Pasquale ( abstained. Clerk Mahana was not present for this vote. PASSES. 5 DPW - C.N. Wood - $1,107.82 - parts for the Elgin Sweeper MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Robinson) (3 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. Police Dept. - Andrews Computers - $5,000 - Imaging system MOTION: To approve. . (Colella- Robinson) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. Recreation Dept. - Peach Productions - $1,500 - Performances MOTION: To approve. (Mahana - Colella) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. Police Dept. - Andrews Computers - $25000 - Laptop - D.A.R.E approved grant MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Robinson) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. July 5 Request for Day Off Mr. Williams referenced a request.the Selectmen received from Highway, Water, and Wastewater employees for permission to have July 5 off in addition to the July 4 holiday. The employees would use their own personal or vacation time; and that this request would not set precedent for future holidays with the same situation. Mr. Williams also noted that any regularly scheduled employees will have to. work at their regular pay on July 5. MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Mahana) (3 -1 -1) Selectman Robinson opposed; Selectman Pasquale abstained. PASSES. Transportation Improvement Plan Mr. Williams reviewed the Transportation Improvement Plan recently distributed by SRPEDD, Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District Norton Sewer Billing Mr. Williams informed the Selectmen that this issue has been referred to Town Counsel. Robert E. Walsh Well Field Mr. Williams informed the Selectmen that a meeting will be scheduled in the near future with the Senate concerning permitting of the above referenced well held. Draft Personnel Policy 11 Mr. Williams noted that the Town does have a draft policy which is in the review stage; the final review will be made by Town Counsel. Selectman Pasquale stated that he would like a section added containing the procedure for employees to report infractions. 5. Selectmen A. Old Business Selectman Pasquale referred to a memorandum from Police Chief O'Neill in response to a letter of complaint that Great Woods is charging a parking fee for limousines. Selectman Pasquale requested Police Chief O'Neill and Fire Chief Sliney be asked whether or not this is a violation. Selectman Pasquale also inquired about the preparations for Special Town Meeting, if the Town has received a response from the State concerning designating a portion of I -95 a "low salt area ", and asked if a letter had been sent to the St. Mary's Church Building Committee yet. 6. New Business MOTION: To place a freeze on hiring all municipal ernployees -- Highway, Water, Sewer, Town Hall, etc. (Colella - Mahana) WITHDRAWN MOTION: The chairman should make up the weekly agenda for the Board of Selectmen. (Colella- Mahana)(3 -2) Selectmen Pasquale and Robinson Opposed. Seleebnan Pasquale noted that this is already incorporated in the Polices and Procedures of the Board of Selectmen. PASSES. Chairman Madan made a disclosure statement concerning his being employed by the Town of Mansfield and his ability to participate in the Town Manager's contract negotiations. Chairman Madan's disclosure statement is outlined in a letter to the Town Clerk dated June 19, 1996. Mr. Williams stated that he submitted an item along with his payroll change form for the next fiscal year that needs to be discussed, sick leave incentive. Mr. Williams did not utilize any of his sick days during the past year. The sick leave incentive program is available for all non -union personnel who have used zero or a minimal amount of sick days. Chairman Madan noted that Mr. Williams' contract does not contain a clause concerning sick leave incentive, nor does the personnel policy. Discussion among the Selectmen followed concerning the history of the incentive program, availability to all non -union employees, and institution of a sick leave buy back program similar to the State at 20 percent. MOTION: To disapprove (Mr. Williams sick leave incentive). (Mahana- Colella) (3 -2) Selectman Robinson and Pasquale Opposed. PASSES. h MOTION: For the people working on the personnel policy to look into sick time buy back program for Municipal employees, whether unionized or not, similar to the State program. ( Mahana- Colella) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Robinson abstained. PASSES. Clerk Mahana stated that he would like to look into establishing an enterprise account for the Water Department under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 53fl/2. MOTION: To accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 53fl/2. ( Mahana- Colella) No vote. MOTION: To review the impact of the establishment of an enterprise account as provided by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44 Section 53f1/2. ( Mahana- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. MOTION: To review the feasibility of a Finance Director with the Selectmen to still appoint the Board of Assessors and Town Accountant. ( Mahana- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Clerk Mahana stated that Cable Access pays their program director by choice, and that Cablevision Industries would but they would also have control of the position. Clerk Mahana also stated that he agrees with a letter the Town Manager wrote to Walter Lindberg, Norton Town Manager; stated that Mass highway has forms for persons on low sodium diets to obtain bottled water; inquired about responses received to the advertisement for a Town Accountant and the salary range; stated that the 1990 School Department annual report stated that it was their intention to move into the Roland Green School; and referenced the Levesque law suit recently served on the Town and asked what steps are being taken by the Police Department to prevent it from happening again. Lastly, Clerk Mahana asked who has been cutting the hay at the former dump site, stated that he has received complaints about potholes on Branch Street, requested an executive session to discuss a Norton Estates land claim, and stated that the Town Manager handled himself very well at last evening's Municipal Building Committee meeting. 7. Adjournment 9:50 PM MOTION: To adjourn. (Pasquale- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Date of Approval 3