Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 8-28-1996Board of Selectmen _ Minutes Sc' l (' August 28, 1996 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Mahana, Selectmen Colella, Pasquale, and Robinson Christopher Marion, Acting Town Manager William F. Williams, Town Manager` 1. Board of Selectmen Meeting Call to Order at 8:30 PM 2. Fire Department Lease Discussion with Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel Robert Mangiaratti, Esq., stated that the Town proposed to convey title to the West Mansfield Fire Station to Mr. Zecher prior to Town Meeting if lie would lease the building to the Town. Mr. Zecher agreed to rent the station to the Town at a rent of $700 a month for 8 weeks. The property will be fully insured by the Town under the lease agreement. The closing on the Station is scheduled for September 9. MOTION: To direct the Town Manager to execute the lease. ( Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Prior to voting on the above motion, members of the Board of Selectmen commented on and asked questions concerning the expected completion date of the new fire station. Mr. David Young, Municipal Building Committee Chairman, responded that the new West Mansfield fire station should be completed eight weeks from the September 9 Special Town Meeting, assuming funding for the project is passed at the Special Town Meeting. 3. Fire and Police Department Capital Projects Discussion Mr. Williams, Town Manager, introduced the following members of the Municipal Building Committee: David Young, Chairman, and James Liddick, Larry Carpenter, and Richard Feeley, as well as Municipal Projects Clerk of the Works, Lou Bartolini; Don Walters, architect, Strekalovsky and Hoit, Fire Chief, Ed Sliney; Fire Department Deputy Chief Bellevance; and Arthur O'Neill, Police Chief Municipal Building Committee Secretary Maureen Doherty was also present. Mr. Williams began the discussion stating in the future, with similar projects, he would prefer to have plans at the beginning of the process from which the cost estimates could be based. Mr. Williams also suggestd a new plan for construction management of Town projects which would not the full burden of the projects on volunteers and would include soliciting secondary cost estimates, a "value engineering" review, and establishment of a realistic budget by a professional estimator. Lastly, Mr. Williams explained why he feels the Town is in the position of requesting additional funds for the capital building projects and reviewed the budget procedure followed for the projects. A. Police Station David Young, Municipal Building Committee Chairman, stated that the Town is on schedule with the project and reviewed the history of capital plan beginning in May of 1993. Don Walters, Stsrekalovsky & Hoit, presented the plan for the Police Station and stated that the cells, locker room, and dispatch are the most expensive areas. Mr. Walters stated that he tried to utilize as many existing walls as possible and that the overall layout he has designed works best for this particular building; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing will be approximately 50% of the cost. A portion of the `ring road" around back of the police station has been eliminated. Next, Police Chief O'Neill explained why the Police Department needs the entire Town Hall stating since the current station was constructed the police department has grown 125 %. The Police Department currently employs one female officer, but did not employ any when it was first built and, therefore, does not have a female locker room. Also, the police station does not have a public rest room and has only one bathroom each for males and females. Also,Chief O'Neill stated the number of cells shown on the building plans are suitable and proper for Mansfield's size and that it is .dangerous to put alot of people in one cell as is done sometimes now. Lastly, Chief O'Neill stated that additional space is needed to store Officer's equipment which they presently either carry with them or store in their cruisers. David Young stated that the Municipal Building Committee has been reviewing the police station for three years and the project estimate is $1.6M. • Public Questions and Comments Steve MacCaffrie, 236 Mill Street, stated that the Municipal Building Committee put in a lot of hours reviewing the capital projects, but only because they wanted to. Mr. MacCaffrie also stated that the members have the expertise to estimate the project costs and that he feels it would be foolish to have someone else come in to do the estimating. Lastly, Steve MacCaffrie stated that he made a mistake with the sprinkler system once the third bay was put in the West Mansfield fire station. Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, questioned the reduction in the budget for the project and the reasoning behind it. • Selectmen Questions and Comments Questions from the Board of Selectmen were concerning the location of the cells; State requirements for existing and new cells; construction of a holding facility similar to Foxboro on Great Woods property; number of cells in Foxboro; if additional funding will be requested for cameras and furnishings; if funding for telephone cabling, computer wiring, and central dispatch has been included in the budget estimate; if a time study individual has been employed by the architect; and the dimensions of the centralized dispatch area and its ability to accommodate extra dispatchers. ( B. Town Hall 2 Municipal Building Committee Chairman David Young reviewed the status of this project and stated that it is on schedule. • Public Questions Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, questioned the budget estimate and the change in its amount. C. Central Fire Station Municipal Building Committee Chairman David Young reviewed the status of this project. D. West Mansfield Fire Station David Young reviewed the history of the West Mansfield fire station and stated five items are included in the article requesting additional funding at Special Town Meeting: site work, sprinkler system, flooring/carpeting materials, case work, and a communications tower. Public Questions: Peter DeTrolio, 496 Elm Street, asked if the reserve fund transfer for $125,000 passed in January 1996 was for an unforeseen expense and why it was unforeseen and also asked why the sprinkler system cost was not figured into the project budget. Mr. DeTrolio also stated that not including the communication wires in the budget was beyond him and questioned why the cost of black top was not figured in the budget cost. Ralph Penney, Planning Board Member, submitted a memorandum from the Planning Board in support of the Central Fire station staying downtown and requested it be read into the record by the Clerk. Ralph Penney, 336 Maple Street, stated that in his opinion, as lie reads the Charter, the Municipal Building Committee should not be deciding the best way to spend the taxpayers money on the projects. Mr. Penney reviewed the history of the capital projects. Fire Chief Slinney, stated that he feels the memorandum submitted by Mr. Penney from the Planning Board is out of order and referenced the Fire Chief s duties in the Charter. Selectman Colella responded to Cluef Sliney stating that the Selectmen make the polices for the Town. Selectman Pasquale stated that when the recommendation came back from Selectmen's representative on the Municipal Building Commnittee that the West Mansfield station was going to be expanded he was upset, but the Selectmen were told that the expansion of the third bay had nothing to do with where the Chief went. Selectmen Pasquale stated that he wants to keep the downtown as vital as possible and explained his understanding why the public safety facility is not in the Police Station. Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, asked if the $125,000 reserve fund transfer was for an emergency and recommended the Selectmen place a question on the ballot that reserve fund transfers cannot exceed $10 or $15,000 for the Annual Town Meeting. Clerk Mahana requested Town Counsel define Section 5 -14 of the Town Charter, Duties and Responsibilities of the Municipal Building Committee, in writing. Clerk Mahana stated that he would like to know what the powers of the Municipal Building Committee are and would like to make a motion that the DPW Director be appointed a construction assistant for the building projects. The Selectmen took a five minutes break at this time, 10:55 PM; and "Town Manager Williams Williams left the meeting. 4. 11:05 PM Fire Department Aerial ladder Truck Discussion Fire Chief Edward Sliney and Deputy Chief Bellevance were present for this discussion. Fire Chief Sliney reviewed a packet of information concerning the aerial ladder truck, dated August 27, 1996, which he had distributed to the Selectmen. Fire Chief Sliney reviewed two options referenced in his memorandum refurbish the aerial ladder or 2purchase a new ladder. The first option would cost approximately $74,000, and the second option, purchase a new ladder, would cost approximately $108,000. Fire Chief Sliney expressed concern for the safety of his fire personnel and recommended purchasing a new aerial ladder truck by the lease purchase method. Wren Hayes, a self - employed fire truck repair man was in attendance at the Selectmen's meeting. Mr. Hayes stated lie worked on sixteen to seventeen ladder trucks and that he feels very well qualified to repair the ladder truck. Mr. Hayes reviewed the condition of the truck and ladder from an inspection he conducted. When asked by Chairman Madan for an estimate to repair the truck, Mr. Hayes responded that a cost of $10,000 seems high and that a lot of the cost is coming from liability. Fire Chief Sliney stated that he spoke with the Vice President of E -I who stated that Mr. Hayes never worked on one of their trucks, as Mr. Hayes stated previously. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions and commented on validity and credibility of American LaFrance, liability, difference between a 250 foot ladder truck and 150 foot ladder truck, repairing vs. lease purchasing a new truck, whether or not repair work could be done in Mansfield's vicinity, cost of a brand new ladder, number of payments remaining on the pumper, trade -in value of the truck, cost to send for an inspection, and compliance with bidding requirements. Fire Chief Sliney requested the Board of the Selectmen entertain a motion to purchase a new aerial ladder truck rather than repairing the current truck. MOTION: To table in order to find out more information concerning liability. (Pasquale- Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. 11 5. Warrant 10 - $3,173,418.85 I ' MOTION: To approve. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 6. Correspondence Actions: Resident Letter from Ellen M. Murley, 69 Elyse Road, requesting permission to have a Labor Day block party on Saturday, August 3 i, beginning at 2PM between 53 and 69 Elyse Road. Recommendation from the Police Department is attached. MOTION: Chairman Madan to act on the block party request on his own recommendation. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. 9. 12:15 AM Adjournment d I, ��J C ark's " ign ture Date of Approval J 5