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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-8-1997Board of Selectmen Minutes October 8, 199 7 °10CT2I ,99 n: Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Royle, and Selectmen Colella, Mahana, d 35 Robinson :, -� h -LD Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 15 - $1, 634,235.34 Motion: Move to approve. (Royle- Robinson)(4 -0 -1). Passes. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items and Voucher No. 3516; Clerk Royle abstained from all Health Department items. Selectman Mahana abstained from the entire warrant. Selectman Colella questioned Voucher No. 3498 re: the length of time the Town is being billed for by the MB1A. B. Minutes • Minutes of October 1, 1997 Motion: To approve as submitted. ( Royle- Colella) (4 -0 -1) Chairman Madan abstained. Passes. • Executive Session Minutes of September 30, 1997 Motion: To approve but not release. ( ( Royle- Colella) (3 -0 -2) Chairman Madan and Selectman Robinson abstained. Passes. C Licenses and permits Request for a parade permit for Saturday, October 18, for the Mansfield High School Homecoming Parade Motion: So moved to approve. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Action Town Manager & Staff Invitation from Lorilee Fish, Park & Recreation Director to attend the Annual Halloween Parade on October 26 at 2:00 PM and to send a representative to be a judge Motion: To send the chairman. (Colella- Robinson) No vote. Because the Chairman will be leading the parade, he will be unable to judge the costumes. Clerk Royle offered to judge if available. Miscellaneous Request from Grove Building Company for a building permit fee waiver for Library Construction Improvements Motion: To waive the Town's portion of the building permit fee since it is a Town project. (Boyle- Robinson) (4 -0 -1) Chairman Madan abstained. Passes. Thirty letters from residents in the Gilbert Street area requesting "No through Trucking" on Bungay, Balcom, Otis, and Gilbert Streets Motion: That we send copies of these to Mass Highway. ( Royle- Madan) All in favor. Passes. Other Board and Committee Letter from the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee reintroducing itself Town Manager & Staff Memorandum from Robert Morrison, Assistant DPW Director, thanking several Town employees for their hard work above and beyond their normal duties under adverse conditions -- Foolish Hill Cleanup Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, to Georgia - Pacific Corporation Roofing Service Department, concerning the Mansfield's claim for defectively manufactured shingles installed on the roof of a municipal building Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, to Martin & Heaney, concerning the MacDonald property on Mill Street State & Local Government Letter from Cable Television Commission to the Board of Selectmen in response to the Selectmen's correspondence of September 9 concerning "An Act Authorizing the Department of Public Utilities to Issue Statewide and Regional Licenses for the Operation of Community Antenna Television Systems and Eliminating the annual Cable License Fee." Letter from Representative Poirier with enclosed letter to Commissioner Sullivan re: "No Thin Trucking" on Gilbert, Bungay, Otis, and Balcom Streets Great Woods Sound Reports 2. 7:40 PM Discussion with Bob Wilson of Versa Care re: Hillside Adult Day Care Center Mr. Wilson summarized the history of Hillside Adult Day Care Center and explained what the center offers. Compo Chemical is giving the Center 2.5 acres of undeveloped land along with 5 acres of wetland, on which to construct a new facility. Bankboston contributed $15,000 towards the facility and is sponsoring a kick -off celebration later this month. Mr. Wilson presented the plan of both the exterior and interior of the building. Anyone wishing to help with the project should contact Bob Wilson, Versa Care, P.O. Box 2037, Attleboro, or may notify the present daycare center on North Main Street in Mansfield. Motion: To welcome Hillside Adult Daycare Center to its permanent facility in Mansfield and endorse the plan. (Boyle- Colella)All in favor. Passes. �, 3. Discussion with Jay Burrows re: Santa's Visit and YMCA Road Race Jay Barrows, Downtown Business Association President, announced that the annual YMCA roadrace will begin at 11:00 AM at Deranco on Gilbert Street on November 2. The kids' race will begin at 12:15 that day at the YMCA. Next, Mr. Barrows requested the Board of Selectmen prohibit parking on North Main Street on the day of the Christmas parade, November 30. The parade will begin at 3 PM at the train station and will be followed by the Town's tree lighting ceremony. At a later date, the Association may be requesting permission to close the small downtown parking lot the first week in December to provide a temporary location for Santa's house. Motion: To institute no parking on North Main Street beginning at 2PM the day of the parade. (Mahana- Madan) All in favor. Passes. 4. Discussion with Fire Chief Sliney and Deputy Chief Bob Bellavance re: EMT Paramedics Fire Chief Sliney stated the ambulance study committee is recommending the ambulance service remain with the the Fire Department and supports enhancement of the Department's EMTs to a paramedic level. Chief Sliney reviewed an "Ambulance Revenue Projection ", dated October 8, 1997, for the addition of four paramedics to the Fire Department, Chief Sliney stated that he is recommending the addition of an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant for $25,000 to equip the ambulance with the proper tools for the paramedics. Deputy Bellavance reviewed a graph of ambulance activity over a year's period. Bourn ofSelectnien Questions and Continents Members of the Board of Selectmen commented on and/or asked questions concerning the following: the number of runs paramedics from other communities were used; other communities who employe paramedics in- house; the number of qualified EMT -Is in the Fire Department; timing for State approval of a waiver for EMT -Ps to work with EMT -Is; number of persons the Fire Department is being increased by; number of firemen working towards EMT -I certification; whether or not the paramedics to be hired will also be firemen; funding origination for the paramedics, funds to start the program, and funds to begin saving for a new ambulance; and the possibility of hiring two paramedics January 1 and two more on July 1, rather than hiring four at once.. Motion: To sponsor the three necessary articles to start the four paramedics, the $25,000 start up cost, and a $25,000 transfer from the ambulance revolving account to the capital account for an ambulance. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes. 5. Questions and continents 8:45 PM Marianne Kinney, Gilbert Street, submitted and read a letter her husband wrote from her Neighborhood Association in response to Police Chief O'Neill's negative recommendation for "No Thtu Trucking" on Gilbert Street, Bungay Road, Balcom Street, and Otis Street. Motion: To include the rebuttal with the Selectmen's packet to the State requesting "No Thru Trucking" on Gilbert, Balcom, Bungay, and Otis Streets. (Colella- Royle) (4 -0 -1) Selectman Mahana abstained. Passes. 6. 8:45 PMRt. 106 Lnproventents Informational Meeting Town Engineer, Lee Azinheira, explained the limit of the project is from Forbes Boulevard to the Foxboro town line and from Hope Street to the Easton town line. Presently, there is no definitive funding, nor has a construction schedule been established. The Town is coordinating the project's utilities. Mr. Azinheira introduced representatives of the project's engineering firm, VHB- -Paul Jordan, Mark Berncini and Mass Highway representative, Wallace McFarro. Representatives of VHB reviewed the project's status. It is anticipated that a 25% improvements design will be submitted to the Town in late November, which will be submitted to the State following Town review. Comments will be accepted by the engineers in either verbal or written form. Public Questions and Comments Maureen Hermann, 153 Eastman Street, requested VHB take the following into consideration when designing the improvements: speed limit, additional traffic lights, and installation of a sidewalk. Ms. Hermann also requested installation of a crosswalk at the Route 106 /Sturbridge Drive intersection. Selectman Mahana questioned installation of additional traffic lights. Clerk Royle suggested VHB plan for ten years from now when designing the improvements. Resident, 574 East Street, inquired of plans for installation of sidewalks. Gene Former, Emphriam Drive, stated that he is concerned with the intersection of East Street with Route 106 near the Flint Farm and that he would like a right hand turn lane installed coming from Rt. 106 onto East street. Mr. Fornier also suggested signalization and installation of "Dangerous Intersection" signs. Paul Lechter, Weaver Lane, agreed with Ms. Hermann's statements, and stated that there have been many bad accidents at Sturbridge Drive/Route 106 intersection. Stearns Avenue is also a bad intersection. Board ofSelectnten Questions and Conrntents: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked commented on and asked questions concerning plans for the Canoe River bridge, removal of the sidewalk's grass strip near St. Mary's church; repainting of lines at the intersection of Route 106 and Forbes Boulevard; review of the light timing at the Route 106/Forbes Boulevard intersection; inclusion of downtown in the project; future for signalizaion from Hope Street to the Easton line; review of the East Street/Route 106 intersection near the Town's highway garage; construction start date; installation of "Caution Children" signs, installation of "Stop" Signs, and possibility of reducing the speed limit. Five Minute Break 7. Town Manager A. Old Business Acting Manager Boucher informed the Selectmen of a memo from Town Clerk stating that the Town Moderator is not available on November 17 for the Special Town Meeting but will be available on November 18. Motion: So moved that we postpone the Special Town Meeting to November 18. (Robinson - Royle) (3 -0) Mahana and Colella were not present for this vote. Passes. Acting Manager Boucher gave an update on the drainage problem at the front entrance to the Town Hall. In order to begin working on the problem, the Town Engineer is requesting permission to dig test holes in the South Common. A discussion among the Selectmen and ActingManager followed concerning the Municipal Building Connnittee's discussion of the problem last evening; who is at fault, status of outstanding claims; reviery of the Town Hall's contract language; whether or not drainage can legally be placed on the conunon; alternatives to installing a drainage system on the common; and establishment of former esthuates for all alter natives for repair of the system. Motion: To allow the Town Engineer to proceed with the test holes on the South Common and report back with a firmer estimate on the total cost of the project and a schedule of events on the common to be sure the work does not interfere. (Boyle- Colella)All in favor. Passes. B. Selectmen Clerk Royle inquired of the status of the contaminated soils discovered on the Police Station renovation site. Clerk Royle also inquired about a memorandum from the DPW Director concerning electric bills at the Police Station site. A discussion concerning responsibility for the bills followed Chairman Madan requested the Acting Manager flag" all releases for the Police Station project, as did Selectman Mahana. Clerk Royle requested a copy of the page of the Police Station project's contract pertaining to electricity and requested comments front the Police Chief regarding the bill. Clerk Royle inquired of the status of outstanding Town Hall issues referenced in a letter from the Assistant Building Inspector to Acting Manager Boucher. Clerk Royle also mentioned that the Board is in receipt of information from the Parks and Recreation Director concerning insurance should the Town establish a skateboard park. Lastly, Clerk Royle referenced a memorandum from Vel Bishop, DPW Billing Supervisor, requesting clarification of the Selectmen's October 1 vote to raise water rates. The intent of the vote was to increase the rates 10% for water consumption beginning November I and another 10% the following billing cycle. 8. New Business A. Town Manager Acting Manager Boucher reviewed memoranda from the DPW Director concerning installation of sidewalks on Branch Street and Sunday openings for the recycling park in November. Clerk Royle requested, at the DPW Director's request, that residents not sweep their leaves into the street because the street sweeper cannot handle them. R Selectmen Selectman Robinson reported on a dedication ceremony he attended this date for the Veterans Cemetery in Agawam. This is the first State veterans' cemetery in Massachusetts. Clerk Royle suggested a letter from William Moore to the Board of Selectmen be forwarded to the Municipal Building Committee. Motion: To forward the letter from William Moore, 54 Union Street, to the Municipal Building Committee. ( Royle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Clerk Royle asked when the Selectmen would be appointing members to Boards and Committees. Lastly, Clerk Royle stated that she is upset with Police Chief O'Neill's memorandum opposed to a three way stop sign at the Otis Street /Gilbert Street intersection. Clerk Royle feels strongly that the three -way stop would be appropriate in this location. Motion: To have the Chief come in to discuss his memorandum regarding installation of a three -way stop sign on Gilbert Street. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes. Chairman Madan stated that the Old Country Store finished renovations to the old West Mansfield Fire Station and will be opening a new store in the location on Saturday. Selectman Mahana asked if the Town is in receipt of the $20,000 donation from Great 1 Woods yet. Selectman Mahana also commented on the beautiful job the Mansfield Garden Club did with the with flowers at the Mansfield/ Easton town line and at the Town Hall. Selectman Colella stated that he would like the donation from Great Woods to be given to the Animal Shelter. Acting Manager Boucher noted that the Selectmen are in receipt of a draft Special Town Meeting warrant, which will be updated again for next week's meeting. 9. 10:30 PMExecutive Session to Discuss Negotiations Motion: To go into executive session for negotiations and come out only to adjourn. (Robinson - Royle) Selectman Robinson Aye. Clerk Royle Aye. Chairman Madan Aye. Selectman Colella Aye. Selectman Mahana Aye 10. Arljournnient 11:40 PM Clerk's Signature � Date of Approval