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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 8-7-1996BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES AUGUST 7, 1996 n' c: ' >_. PRESENT: Acting Chairman Mahana, Acting Clerk Robinson, and Selectmen Colella and Pasquale 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 nominations for an Acting Chairman and Acting Clerk, and the pledge of allegiance. • In the absence of Chairman Madan, Acting Chairman Mahana called for nominations for an Acting Chairman. Selectman Pasquale nominated Selectman Mahana to be acting Chairman, which passed unanimously. • Selectman Colella nominated Selectman Robinson to be Acting Clerk, which received two votes. Selectman Robinson nominated Selectman Pasquale to be Clerk. A. Warrant Nos. 6 & 7 ( Warrant No. 7 - $1,051,678.14 MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Warrant No. 6 - $1,970,893.04 MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. B. Licenses and Permits • Bond for Richard Boucher, Treasurer - Collector MOTION: To approve the bond for the new Treasurer - Collector (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. • Drianlayers License Application for Dejonco Construction MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Colella) Alt in favor. PASSES. • Request for Reserve Fund Transfer - $20,000 - Water Department To begin work on a test well and groundwater investigation for a new water supply source. MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 11 Selectman Pasquale noted that there will a line item on the Special Town Meeting Warrant to replenish the reserve fund and the Board of Selectmen has expressed its support for the article. Letter of Complaint from Magic Carpet Limousine that Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts charges a $20 fee to limousines and attached opinion from Town Counsel stating that he does not feel this constitutes an open air parking facility A consensus of the Board of Selectmen was in favor of directing the Town Manager to respond to Magic Carpet Limousine's complaint. C. Minutes e Minutes of July 17, 1996 MOTION: To approve (Colella - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. • Minutes of Judy 24, 1996 MOTION: To approve (Colella Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. D. Correspondence ACTION: Resident Letter from Edward Curtin requesting the posted speed limit on Elyse Road, Pattys Road, and Donald Allen Drive be reduced from 30 MPH to 15 or 20 MPH with an attached negative recommendation from the Police Department MOTION: That the Town Manager respond on behalf of the Board of Selectmen with the comments of the Police Department. (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Dick Cleary, 22 Riverwood Drive, requesting permission to bold a block party on September 1, with a rain date of September 2, and to have Riverwood Drive blocked off to non- resident traffic during that time This request has heen forwarded to Police and Fire Departments for review and recommendation. MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Jeff and Janet Bernardone, 120 Samoset Avenue, requesting a stop sign be installed at the intersection of Brook Street and Samoset Avenue with an attached negative recommendation from the Police Department MOTION: To deny the request. (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Karl Clenuney, 390 West Street, requesting the exact alleged license violations that the Selectmen used to base their decision to suspend his license Acting Chairman Mahana requested the Town Manager forward a copy of the minutes of his hearing. Pa Board and Committee Letter of resignation from the Animal Welfare Committee from Rita Parvey MOTION: To send a letter to Ms. Parvey thanking her for her time sewed. (Pasquale - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Jeff Siena, Chairman, Airport Commission, requesting the Road Commissioners include the reclamation and repaving of the parking lot at Mansfield Municipal Airport as part of the reclamation and repaving operations on Fruit and Short Streets Town Manager and Staff Report from the Police Department of an open air parking lot violation at the McNeeley lot located at 888 South Main Street Miscellaneous Petition from Mansfield residents and Mulberry Pre- school patrons requesting the Selectmen allow the pre- school children to run through the sprinklers for 20 minutes during the afternoon Acting Chairman Mahanra asked John Buckley horr much mater would be used by a sprinkler for hrenty mimrtes. MOTION: To grant all day care and preschool programs permission to have twenty minutes a day in the afternoon for sprinklers (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. OTHER: State and Local Government Letter from Bristol County Retirement System to the Board of Selectmen concerning Veteran's Buyback Legislation Acting Chairman Mahana stated that he would like to go on record as supporting this. MOTION: To send a letter to the Bristol County Retirement system stating the Selectmen support this legislation. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. This letter should be addressed to Maria Lopes Chairman of County Commissioners. Miscellaneous Letter from Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts with additions to the master list for the 1996 season 2. Questions and Comments Peter DeTrolio, 496 Elm Street, commented on funding for the Plymouth Street fire station and asked why certain items were not figured in the project cost. Bob Palanza, John Street, stated that lie has started a new petition to place an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant. The article instructs the Selectmen to keep the downtown train station open and to open a new Station off of Route 140. Mr. Palanza stated that there are a lot of citizens who feel the second station should be looked at more closely. Selectman Pasquale stated that the Selectmen did look at two stations early in the process and the MBTA stated that they would not put two stations in Mansfield. Selectman Colella stated that the Selectmen voted twice to keep the station downtown. Jay Barrows, member of the Downtown Business Association, stated at a recent meeting the Association inquired about the status of the plans for the six or seven space parking area downtown. Mr. Barrows also inquired about use of the vacant lot next to the fire station for a parking area for downtown employees and suggested the Town lease the land rather than purchase it. Selectman Pasquale responded that lie would not have a problem with Mr. Barrows approaching the lot owner to discuss leasing the land with the Town Manager but would not be in favor of purchasing it. Acting Chairman Mahana asked if the Selectmen would be in favor of renting the land for the same amount as its taxes, $1,600. Mr. Williams noted that after the Fates site at 11 Shawmut Avenue is cleaned up there may be a possibility of creating a parking area there. AI Turinese, 63 Pleasant Street, asked when the Plymouth Street fire station became the central fire station, as referenced under a picture of the West Mansfield fire station in the Mansfield Buzz. Mr. Turinese also stated that lie feels it is time to stop asking for additional funding for the municipal buildings projects. 3. Town Manager Report A. Morrow/Noonan Street Sewer Extension Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, stated that the low bid for the installation of the Morrow and Noonan Street sewer extension came in less than anticipated. Since the bids came in lower, the sewer line may be extended an additional one hundred seventy feet to service three additional residences, as has been requested. Mr. Azinheira recommended the Selectmen's approval of the additional one hundred seventy feet. MOTION: To approve. (Colella- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. 4. 8:45 PM New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and Mansfield Electric Department Pole Relocation Hearing Both Paul Champion of New England Telephone and Gary D'Ambra of Mansfield Electric were present for the hearing. Mr. Champion explained that the pole relocation is necessary to accommodate a new street known as Winslow Way. The telephone pole is currently in the middle of the street's location. Gary D' Ambra of the Electric Department stated that lie sees no problems with the relocation. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning ownership of the pole to be relocated and when the old pole would be removed. At 8:50 PM, Acting Chairman Mahana closed the hearing. MOTION: To approve. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. 5. Town Manager Report Continued A. Fire Department Aerial Ladder Truck Report Fire Chief Sliney and Deputy Chief Bellevance were both present for this discussion 51 u Fire Chief Sliney reviewed the history of the ladder truck since delivery in 1977 referencing his memorandum to the Town Manager dated August 6. Fire Chief Sliney stated that the ladder truck will not last through the winter and requested an article be placed on the warrant to replace the vehicle. Board of Selectmen Questions: Questions and comments from the Board of Selectmen were concerning whether or not the Selectmen could support purchasing a new truck, the number of calls the vehicle is sent out on, if the proposed new truck would be a light or heavy duty truck, cost difference between a medium and heavy duty truck, number of runs a day the truck is sent out on and the percentage of runs another truck could be sent to instead, possibility of mutual aid, the number of times the ladder has actually been used, frequency of surrounding cities /towns replacing their trucks, if the ladder truck could be traded in, and if the Finance Committee has reviewed the funding schedule. Mr. Williams requested an update from the Fire Chief on revisions to the Capital Plan. Fire Chief Sliney asked the Board of Selectmen if they would place an article on the warrant to purchase a ladder truck. MOTION: To support placement of the article on the Special Town Meeting warrant for the purchase of a new ladder truck for $450,000. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. Acting Chairman Mahama stated that he will support placing the article on the )rarramt but irill not support it at Town Meeting. Acting Chairman Mahanra will support repairing the ladder truck. Selectman Colella stated that he feels the same wary as Acting Chairman Mahana. Selectman Pasquale noted that he will support purchasing the ladder truck B. Fates Fuel Supply Fire Chief Sliney stated that three aboveground storage tanks were removed from Fates Fuel Supply this date. C. Plymouth Street Fire Station Next, Fire Chief Sliney stated that Mike Ahern, Doug Ronald, and Carlos from Cablevision Industries have volunteered to install phone lines, cable wire, and data lines for the Plymouth Street Fire Station. Chief Sliney requested, since this is a volunteer job, the electrical fees for the project be waived. MOTION: To waive the Town's portion of the electrical fees. (Pasquale - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. Selectman Pasquale suggested thank you letters be sent to the above individuals. The Board of Selectmen took a three minute break at this time. D. Bridge Update Mr. Azinheira gave an update on bridge work stating that a letter has been forwarded to Mass Highway requesting clarification of bridge work to be done in Mansfield. E. Special Town Meeting Articles Branch Street Sewer Line Warrant Article Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, explained a warrant article which he is requesting funding to replace a portion of the Branch Street sewer line. Mr. Azinheira is hoping to have actual bids or quotes for the sewer line by the Special Town Meeting. • Water Meter Replacement Program Article John Buckley, Assistant DPW Director, explained an article he is proposing to fund a water meter replacement program. Mr. Buckley is proposing an article to appropriate and transfer funds, $128,300, from the water capital account into meter replacement account. Mr. Buckley would like to use Town forces to do the work which will reduce the total cost of the project. The Town is eligible for a grant for this program which would reimburse the Town $56,000. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the number of meters to be replaced; capital meter program currently in place; guarantee that the funds will be used for the program; timing of work; whether any of the meters be used for new homes; and labor cost. MOTION: To support this article being added to Town Meeting with revised numbers. (Pasquale- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. • Article No. 24 - Water Department Enterprise Account Briefly discussed at this time was who had the authority to spend money from the enterprise accounts. Andy Gazzolo, Finance Committee Chairman, requested a written opinion from Town Counsel stating that the Selectmen need Town Meeting's authority in order to spend enterprise funds. Selectman Pasquale suggested inviting the Finance Committee to the Selectmen's enterprise account discussion with Chris Woodcock of Woodcock & Associates. • Article Nos. 25 -28 Next, Mr. Williams briefly explained Articles 25, 26, 27, and 28. • Sodium Report John Buckley, Assistant DPW Director, stated that he is still compiling a sodium report on surrounding towns which he will have hopefully completed by the next Selectmen's meeting. • Well Testing for Bacteria Mr. Buckley gave an update on well testing lie has been conducting on a daily basis for presence bacteria. Some tests did record as ecoli. • Water- Ban update Mr. Buckley reported that there have been one hundred and three violations of the water ban recorded to date. • Remaining Warrant Articles Mr. Williams quickly reviewed the remaining articles on this dates draft warrant. Acting Chairman Mahana suggested including an article on the warrant to authorize a repair of the Fire Department Aerial Ladder Truck in case the article to purchase a new truck does not pass. 6 Acting Chairman Mahana also stated that he would like an article on next year's warrant to set aside money to purchase water from Easton. • Town Accountant Interview Mr. Williams informed the Selectmen that the next round of interviews for the Town Accountant position will be this Friday beginning at 8AM. L Norton Sewer Billing r. Williams stated that he asked Town Counsel to initiate legal action to recover money from past due sewer bills owed to the Town by the Town of Norton. Selectman Pasquale noted that he supports this action. 6. Selectmen A. Old Business -NONE B. New Business o Memorandum from the Finance Committee dated Judy 29, 1996 Selectman Pasquale referenced a memorandum from the Finance Committee dated July 29, 1996, in which the Committee states $70,000 may need to be cut from the expense side of the budget because of the Selectmen's actions with Electric Department funds. • Next Light Commissioners Meeting Selectman Robinson state that he would like to hold a Light Commissioners meeting on Monday, August 12, to meet with three panelist from MWEC and that he would like to reschedule the August 21 meeting to August 28. • Warrant No. 7 Selectman Robinson noted that he should have abstained during the Selectmen's vote of approval of a voucher for his wife on Warrant No. 7. • Conversation with the Town Manager Selectman Colella commented on a conversation he had with the Town Manager earlier this date. • Financial Manager Acting Chairman Mahana inquired about preparation of an outline for a Financial Manager and asked where the Town would save $30,000 by establishing the position. • Line Item Budget Acting Chairman Mahana requested the Town Manager prepare a rough line item budget using past or existing budgets and show the percent increase in the budget. • Use of Town Counsel Acting Chairman Mahana asked if Department Heads have been requesting opinions from Town Counsel without first getting the Town Manager's approval. Mr. Williams responded that the only Department Head that would do that would be the Building Inspector because he utilizes his services often. • Cable Access Audit Acting Chairman Mahana stated that lie is still working on trying to get an audit done for Cable Access. Selectman Pasquale suggested a letter be sent to Cable Access stating that the Board of Selectmen selected Attorney Kennedy in Foxboro to conduct the audit and would appreciate them being given all the resources to the audit as was promised. 11:10 PM - Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn. (Robinson - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES. Y 9A() 10 Date ofAppromd