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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-29-1997Board of Selectmen Minutes October 29, 1997 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Royle, and Selec Robinson* Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager 0 PI 12. 2 1 tmen Colella, Mahana,; aid 1. The meeting was called to order at 7 :30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 18 - $3,069,900. 10 Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle - Colella) All in favor. Passes. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items, and Clerk Royle abstained from all Health Department items. B. Licenses and Permits • Reserve Fund Transfer Request for Additional Clean Up at Police Station Renovation Project Motion: So moved. ( Mahana- Colella) All in favor. Passes. C- Minutes • Minutes of October 22, 1997 Motion: Move to approve as submitted. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. • Executive Session Minutes of October 15, 1997 Motion: Move to approve and release. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. D. Norton Sewer Settlement Motion: Move to sign the agreement for judgment as just read. ( Royle- Colella) Selectman Mahana urged the Selectmen to direct the funds into the Wastewater Treatment Plant depreciation find for future enlargement or upkeep of the plant. All in favor. Passes. E. Correspondence Action Resident Letter from Lori Robbins, 10 Erick Road, Unit 40, requesting an abatement of her water bills for the last two billing periods Memorandum from Vel Bishop, DPW Billing Supervisor is attached. Motion: Move to support Vel Bishop's ruling. Board of Selecmten's Minutes -1- October 29, 1997 (Boyle - Mahana) Chairman Madan stated it is important to note that if the Selectmen support Ms. Bishop's recommendation, the resident is still entitled to a hearing. All in favor. Passes. t Letter from Roy A. MacDonald requesting a hearing due to the recent DPW denial pertaining to hookup to town water Memorandum: from DPW Director, Dan Clifford, attached. Motion: So moved to hold a hearing. (Colella- Royle) All in favor. Passes. State & Local Government Letter from Bernard McCourt, District Highway Engineer, asking Mansfield and Foxboro to assume control of Central Street Memorandum from DPW Director, Dan Chord, is attached. Motion: So moved on Mr. Clifford's recommendation that the town of Mansfield assume the section of Central Street being offered to us by Mass Highway after Mass Highway reconstruct the sidewalks and roadways to Mass Highway's specifications from the Central Street garage to the Foxboro town line. Members of the Board noted that they are assuming the Town will not be assuming responsibility for any bridges. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Other Resident Letter from Karl Clemmey requesting the Selectmen review the detail billing system with the Police Department due to his receiving "Past Due" notices on bills he has already paid Motion: To send the letter to the Police Department and Treasurer's Office requesting an explanation. (Mahana - Colella) All in favor. Passes. Letter from Michelle Haley, 260 Gilbert Street, requesting "No Thru Trucking" on Gilbert, Balcom, Otis, and Bungay Streets Board and Committee Memorandum from the Municipal Building Committee concerning contaminated soils /paving at the Police Station site Memorandum from the Municipal Building Committee concerning the Vault -HVAC System Memorandum from the Municipal Building Committee concerning the variance for the handicap ramp at the Town Hall entrance Town Manager & Staff Memorandum from Judith F. Scott, Town Clerk, concerning the Town Hall Vault Memorandum from Police Chief O'Neill requesting the Selectmen announce the Police Department is experiencing a severe shortage of crossing guards Board of Selecmten's Minutes -2- October 29, 1997 Letter from Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, with a suggestion relative to the Norton sewer capacity billing settlement Motion: To respond to Mr. Burke with our recent motion to approve the settlement. (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. State & Local Government Letter from Mass Highway Commissioner Sullivan stating that a traffic line painting contract is ongoing and the intersection of Routes 106 and 140 is due to be completed by October 24 Memorandum from the Department of Education with attached listing of communities who applied to the Foundation Reserve Program and received funding Letter from SRPEDD stating they have hired an engineering consulting firm for the interchange study of Route 140 at 495 2. Questions Comments Marianne Kinney, 388 Gilbert Street, submitted a letter requesting blind driveway signs be installed on Gilbert Street approaching the bridge in both directions. Ms. Kinney also gave an update on her efforts to institute "No Thru Trucking" on Gilbert, Bungay, Balcom, and Otis Streets. Acting Manager Boucher noted that he received word this date that Senator Keating received a copy of the package sent to Mass Highway requesting "No Thru Trucking" and that he expressed his support to Mass Highway. 3. 7:50 PM Discussion with Walter Wilk, Chairman, Finance Committee A. Special Town Meeting Articles Mr. Wilk stated that the Finance Committee is concerned with the number of water articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant and that it appears several department's failed to put a number of items on the capital improvement list. The Finance Committee is concerned that the Selectmen's capital improvements policy is being circumvented. Mr. Wilk expressed concern with the amount of review time provided for articles and questioned funding sources for the articles. *Selectman Robinson entered the meeting. Selectman Mahana stated that while he supports acquisition of the Witch Pond land he does not support the article requesting $500,000 for construction of the Witch Pond Well No. 10. Chairman Madan stated the Town's water consultants will be making a presentation on all warrant articles at next week's Selectmen's meeting. B. FY99 Budget Mr. Wilk inquired of the budget process for this year, to which Acting Manager Boucher responded he has sent out memorandums to Department Heads to begin the process. C. Water Rate Study Board of Selecmen's Minutes -3- October 29, 1997 Mr. Wilk stated a couple of weeks ago, Finance Committee member Gerry St. Hilaire offered his services to conduct a water rate study for the town. Mr. St. Hilaire works for a corporation that has the appropriate software to conduct the study. Mr. Wilk feels the article on the warrant requesting funding for a water rate study is a waste of money and that it could have been done in- house. Chairman Madan responded if the Finance Committee members are still willing to help with the study he thinks the Selectmen would appreciate it. Clerk Royle stated she agrees with Mr. Wilk on both the water rate study and capital improvements process. Clerk Royle will only support the water articles pertaining to land acquisition and DEP mandates. D. Increase of Inspection Fees Paid to Inspectors Mr. Wilk stated on September 11 he forwarded a memo to the Board of Selectmen asking how the Town will address the loss of revenue due to an increase of the percentage of fees paid to inspectors and has not heard back from the Board. Mr. Wilk urged the Selectmen to take a look at the fees and be sure the town can reclaim money lost. E. Miscellaneous Mr. Wilk asked if he could invite the capital improvements committee to next week's water articles meeting and, lastly, thanked Mr. Boucher for reducing the Town's bond rating which reduces borrowing interest. 4. 8:25 PM Tax Rate Classification Hearing Assessors John McNair, Al Turinese, and Paul Folkman, and Assistant Assessor Shirley MacPhee were present for the hearing. Mr. Folkman reported the Board of Assessors voted two members in favor with one opposed to recommend the Selectmen continue the downward tax rate trend and consider 104 %. Public Comments Toni Prestwich, Shadybrook Lane, IDC member, requested the Selectmen consider the Board of Assessor's recommendation and move towards an equal tax rate for industrial and residential. Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, requested the Selectmen consider a tax rate of 1061/o to help the residential taxpayers. Selectman Mahana asked if in the last five years Mansfield has drawn any business from Attleboro. Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, suggested 2.5% increase for both residents and businesses. Motion: To close the public hearing at 8:55 PM. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. l Board of Selecmten's Minutes -4- October 29, 1997 Motion: To keep the rate at 105 %. (Colella- Robinson) (3 -2) Chairman Madan and Clerk Royle opposed. Passes S. Discussion with SRPEDD Jim Hadfield and Roland Hebert, representatives of SRPEDD, and Lenney Flynn, SRPEDD Commissioner, were present for this discussion. Roland Hebert explained the reason the Route 495/140 interchange was chosen by SRPEDD to study. Chairman Madan stated this evening, the Planning Board voted six members in favor with none opposed to support SRPEDD's proposed study of this area provided it in no way is expanded to include an alternative road through the Great Woods. Mr. Hebert stated the Planning Board's vote is totally acceptable to SRPEDD. Mr. Flynn expressed displeasure with the lack of protocol followed with this project, i.e. involvement of the Town's SRPEDD Commissioner. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board asked questions such as why this intersection was chosen, what will happen upon completion of the study, whether or not the study is a benefit to Norton more than Mansfield, extent of study in Mansfield, and increasing the scope to include more of Mansfield. Motion: Move to support the SRPEDD study for a possible interchange at South Main Street only and not to encompass the Great Woods ( Royle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. 6. Proposed Zoning By -Law Amendment of Mr. Clemmey Dan Clemmey, Peter Sangermano, and Dianne Sangermano were present to make a presentation relative to a zoning by -law amendment proposed by Mr. Clemmey. Mr. Clemmey has a petitioned article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to add a definition to the Zoning By -Law " 3.3. 10 Residential and Assisted Care Retirement Facilities ". Mr. Clemmey requested the Selectmen's support for his petitioned articled and turned the presentation over to Mr. Sangermano. Mr. Sangermano explained his assisted care and retirement facility, "The Village at Waterman Lake" in Greeneville, Rhode Island. Mr. Sangermano also presented plans of a proposed facility in Mansfield and showed a video of the Rhode Island facility. Mrs. Sangermano explained the services provided by their facility. Board of Selectmen Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the effect of the facility on the Town's Council on Aging, if units would be rented or sold, why the partners have chosen Mansfield for their next facility, impact on traffic and the Town's fire/ambulance Board of Selectaten's Minutes -5- October 29, 1997 service, total value of project, financing security; number of residents, number of units, future tax exemptions, if taxes would be based on value or occupancy; plans for additional facilities in Massachusetts, and cost to seniors. A member of the public spoke stating that the Selectmen should keep in mind that the petition is for a zoning by -law amendment which includes the entire R2 zone not just the area presented this evening. The gentlemen also stated that any project could go on this site not necessarily the one presented this evening. 7. Old Business A. Town Manger Mr. Boucher stated the Department of Public Works is working on updating parking signage downtown and gave an update on bridge maintenance. B. Selectmen Clerk Royle read the Special Town Meeting warrant posting for November 18. Motion: So moved to sign. (Robinson - Mahana) All in favor. Passes Acting Manger Boucher stated a letter has been received from Great Woods stating its $20,000 donation to the Town should be distributed as voted by the Selectmen. 8. New business A. Town Manager Acting Manager Boucher announced the Town Clerk will be retiring as of December 31 of this year but her last day will be December 1 with use of vacation time. B. Selectmen Selectman Mahana stated he has been told the action the Selectmen took this evening maintaining the 105% tax rate is saving the average homeowner about ninety -five dollars a year. Selectman Robinson requested DPW repair the damaged bench on the East common. 9. Adjournment 10:00 PM. 'X�vfxll' 4UAQ , LEM, 0 rk's Signature Date of Approval Board of Selecmten's Minutes -6- October 29, 1997