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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-5-1997Board of Selectmen Minutes November 5,1997 r `_ Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Royle, and Selectmen;- /,11p nau, 9bFpsopd *, and Colella 1. The meeting was called to order at 7.30 PMfollowed by &ip1e_"dge of pl(egtd�ce A. Warrant No. 19 - $2,190,300.07 Motion: To approve. (Boyle- Colella) Clerk Royle abstained from all Health Department items, and Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items. Motion: Move to approve and release executive session minutes of October 22, 1997. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. B. Minutes of October 29, 1997 Motion: To table. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. (3 -0 -1) Selectman Mahana abstained. Passes. *Selectman Mahana entered the meeting in the middle of the above motion. C Licenses and Permits • SERSG Contract Extensions Burgeiois & Shaw pavement reclamation Motion: Move to sign the option to extend the contract. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Crack Sealing Inc. crack sealing Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Standard Line Paint Company pavement striping Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Commonwealth Guardrail Inc. installation of steal beam and guardrail Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. • Hackney Carriage Licenses for Foxfield Taxi Vehicle Nos. 34, 45, 41, and 30 Motion: So moved. (Colella - Royle) All in favor. Passes. • Deeds for Balcom Ridge Lots being sold to Rick Rosemark and Sam David Motion: Move to sign the Release Deed for those two lots. ( Royle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Action Miscellaneous It /Ah 7 Letter from the Elks requesting a waiver of the Town's portion of the fees for Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire and Health licenses for renovation of their building at 140 North Main Street and requesting a refund of the Town's portion of the permit fee for an electrical permit to install lighting Motion: Move to support the Elks request for the waiver of the town's portion of the fees. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Resident Letter from Ralph Uva, 43 Highland Avenue, regarding miscellaneous issues Board and Committee Memorandum fi•om the Municipal Building Committee concerning Police Station project centralized dispatch Clerk Royle questioned funding source. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from the Recreation Department thanking all those persons who participated in this year's Halloween parade State and Local Government Letter from the Office of the Attorney General informing the Selectmen that in the last six months, Great Woods has been named at least four times when a defendant who has either been convicted or plead guilty of operating under the influence of intoxicating liquors has been asked by the court whether or not and where they were served alcoholic beverages prior to the violation Letter from Mass Highway Commissioner Sullivan in response to Mansfield's request for Mass Highway to review the timing of traffic signals at several intersections in Mansfield and requesting accident reports for the last three years at the intersections in order to fully investigate the existing conditions Officer Lamson is compiling the reports. Miscellaneous Letter from Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts concerning their donation to the town Notification from Little, Brown and Company that their Mansfield distribution facility will be closing and relocation to Indiana. Tipenty -nine employees will be layed- -off effective December 31, 1997. Letter from the Massachusetts Town Clerks' Association regarding the Town Clerk's recent letter of resignation Maliana and Royle suggested the letter should be directed to the Town Manager. 2. Questions and Comments Walter Wilk, Finance Committee, requested on behalf of Finance Committee and Capital Improvements Committee, that the Special Town Meeting warrant be opened and closed l to include three prior capital improvement articles so that all capital improvements items will be considered equally. Motion: To have a special within the special for this one article. (Mahana- withdrawn) Mr. Wilk suggested the Selectmen meet with the Finance Committee and Capital Improvements Committee five to six weeks prior to Town Meeting in the spring. Discussion among the Selectmen and Mr. Wilk continued concerning the free cash estimate, postponing the Special Town Meeting, and holding a joint meeting with the Finance Committee prior to the Special Town Meeting. 3. Questions and Comments Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, stated in order to hold a Special Town Meeting within the Special, fourteen days notice must be given prior to the meeting date. 4. Meeting with Woodard and Curran, Water Consultants, and Bob Morrison, Assistant DPW Director Doug Reed and Bob Chappell of Woodard & Curran were present for this meeting, as was Mr. Morrison, Assistant DPW Director. *Selectman Robinson entered the meeting. Doug Reed reviewed the following relative to Mansfield's water supply: why Mansfield is in the water business, typical reasons for new water supply, why growth challenges the town's ability to meet expectations, reduction in well yield, typical tasks to secure a new water supply for Witch Pond Well No 10, and how the Town "s money is spent on the system. Members of the Board of Selectmen inquired of the completion schedule for the Witch Pond Well and when funds will be needed for its construction. Walter Wilk, Chairman, Finance Committee, requested clarification of statement made previously by the water consultants that when both the Ash and Witch Pond wells are on line in 1999, the Towns needs will just be met and will still be looking for new sources. Mr. Wilk also questioned which factors have an impact on the water system and if growth is a factor. Public Questions and Comments Paul Johnson, 19 Mayflower Drive, questioned the basis for water consumption projections and if private well installation had been factored in. Shirley Hanlon, Chalnperson Conservation Commission, questioned the number of wells involved for the Walsh Well, the maximum pumping capacity, proximity of the Witch Pond well to conservation land, and why the Walsh Well permitting process took so long. Jim Norris, 6 Goward Drive, questioned funding amounts for Special Town Meeting Articles 4, 5, 6, and suggested Article 6 be more specific. Next, the Water Consultants reviewed the Special Town Meeting warrant articles involving the town's water supply. (` Board of Selectmen Questions The Board of Selectmen asked if any of the articles could be put on hold. Mr. Reed responded that the water quality study could easily wait but that he would recommend beginning the water management plan. Mr. Reed also stated that Article 18 concerning Canoe River Aquifer monitoring could not wait. ( S. 9:30 PM Discussion with YMCA re: Mystic Club Ed Hurley, Jay Barrows, Robyn MacDonald, and Ed Hurley of the YMCA were present. Mr. Hurley stated that the YMCA responded to a request for proposals for the Mystic Club property on Balcom Street. Robyn MacDonald stated that the Y would like to use the property primarily for parking and at times for recreation during parking down time. Jay Barrows gave a brief update on the YMCA's activities. Public Comments Ron Halgreen, 25 Balcom Street, asked if the fate of the Mystic Club has been determined and stated that he feels the biggest asset would be to have the Mystic Club removed. Barbara Orlando, 24 Balcom Street, requested the Selectmen specify recreational uses allowed on the lot, commented on the soda machines in front of the YMCA, and expressed displeasure with YMCA's outside lighting. Paul Johnson, Mayflower Drive, suggested if the YMCA does lease the property, a YMCA representative, Selectmen's representative, and neighborhood representative should discuss lot activities. Selectman Mahana nominated Selectman Colella to coordinate a subcommittee with Barbara Orlando to discuss uses for the Mystic Club property. Peter DeTrolio, 496 Elm Street, questioned the size of the Mystic Club lot and the safety of children playing in the parking lot. Jonathan Cuneo, 49 Balcom Street, asked if a fence would be installed around the Mystic Club lot if it is used only for parking. Motion: Town Counsel to draft up a new lease or addendum to the John Berry lease for the Mystic Club for the YMCA. (Mahana- Royle) All in favor. PASSES. The following discussions occurred prior to the Selectmen voting on the above motion: Frank Deganmerino, 131 Shawnmt Avenue, questioned recourse Ms. Orlando would have if problems occur relative to the parking area. Paul Johnson, Mayflower Drive, suggested a notation in the lease or addendum be made that event and facility planning should involve the abutters. Richard Devine, 6 Morgan Road, stated that he feels the trade -offs made to have the YMCA in Mansfield is greater and that if a residence was located on the Mystic Club property they could make noise all day and night. Jonathan Cuneo, Balcom Street, stated that YMCA patrons have parked in front of driveways in the vicinity of the Y. Clerk Royle suggested the Y distribute notices to its patrons asking them not to park in front of driveways. ( Stephanie Motel, 19 Otis Street, requested activities be kept in the back of the YMCA's building. Ms. Motel also stated after the YMCA's closing hour, she has observed kids being dropped off at the Old Country Store's parking lot to rollerblade and rollerblading on her porch. 6. Old Business A. Town Manager Mr. Boucher noted that the hazardous waste has been removed from the Police Station site. Selectman Mahana asked who initiated the call to Clean Harbors for the site clean up and why the Town paid their bill if it did not call them. B. Selectmen Clerk Royle announced the Public Library is open Sundays 1 -5PM. Selectman Colella stated a downtown business man spoke to him about parking behind the Grain Mill and Jimmy's Pub and suggested the Town may need to establish another parking plan because commuters are taking up all the spaces. 7. New Business A. Town Manager Acting Manager Boucher announced that Omnipoint, who is leasing space on the Oxford Tank for antennas, donated a check in the amount of $45,000 towards painting the Oxford Tank and $1,500 towards inspection costs. Chairman Madan questioned the number of antennas on the tank and the lease rate. Motion: So moved to accept the gift. ( Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. Acting Manager Boucher gave an update on a meeting this morning concerning school complex parking. Selectman Robinson stated he would like to talk to the MBTA representative quoted in a recent Sun Chronicle article concerning Mansfield's train station and tell him that Mansfield does not want to "fix up" station but would like a nice station for the twenty - first century. Clerk Royle stated she is serving on a Steering Committee sponsored by The Literacy Center in Attleboro and they are setting up a satellite program in Mansfield at St. Mary's parish center. The Literacy Center will be leaving a confidential survey around town. Anyone interested in taking a GED class is encouraged to contact one of the following agencies: Council on Aging, Recreation Department, or the Literacy Center in Attleboro. Selectman Colella asked if the Selectmen would agree to have the Light Department purchase and hang Christmas wreaths on the Town Hall connector. Motion: So moved, with lights shining on the wreaths. ( Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. Selectman Colella requested the DPW look at the railroad line behind the Grain Mill and Jimmy's Pub parking lot because there is a lot of trash in the area. Selectman Mahana mentioned a memorandum from the Superintendent of Schools commending Mike Ahern for his cooperative spirit while coordinating the Memorial Hall painting project. Selectman Mahana stated Mr. Ahern should be commended. Clerk Mahana noted that a number of Board and Committee vacancies still exist. Chairman Madan stated in the vicinity of 180 or 184 Branch Street the Town left tree stumps and a neighbor to the property is wondering if the town will remove the stumps. Chairman Madan announced that the new Town Manager's contract was delivered this date, and Mr. D'Agostino will be starting December 1. Copies of the contract are available to the Press.. Mr. D'Agostino would like to meet with Department Heads prior to his beginning work. Clerk Royle read a statement regarding Town Manager contract negotiations for Mr. D'Agostino, expressing disappointment with the manner in which negotiations were conducted and that in her opinion it was a "done deal ". 8. Adjournment -11 :10 PM Motion: To adjourn. (Boyle- Colella)AII in favor. Passes. Jerk's Signature Date of Approval