HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-12-1997BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES RECF►VCU
MARCH 12, 1997 TOWN CLeR `S 0IF F'CE
97 APR -3
( PRESENT: Chairman Madan, Clerk Mahana, and Selectmen Colella, Pasquale, an fQ
Robinson MASSACHUSETTS
William F. Williams, Town Manager*
Arthur O'Neill, Police Chief"*
Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of
allegiance.
A. Certificate & Plaque Presentation
Chairman Madan presented certificates to the following persons in appreciation of their
volunteering time for the Town Hall open house on February 15, 1997: Debbie Johnson,
Billy Doherty, Kelly Doherty, Matt Miller, and Joyce Miller.
Certificates were also prepared for the following businesses, who were not present, that
donated either food, supplies, or decorations for the Town Hall open house: The Bagel
Train, Special Occasions, Honey Dew Donuts, Ro- Jack's Supermarket, The Christmas
Barn, Fresh Catch, Shepard's Flowers, and Stop & Shop.
Chairman Madan also presented Selectmen Pasquale with a plaque for his ten years of
service to the Town of Mansfield while serving on the Finance Committee from 1987 to
1991 and Board of Selectmen from 1991 to 1997. This is Selectman Pasquale's last
meeting.
B. Warrant No. 38 - $517,268.66
MOTION: To approve.
(Mahana - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES.
C. Licenses and Pennits
Application of Mansfield Little League for a Parade Permit on Sunday, April 20, 1997
MOTION: So moved.
(Mahana - Colella) All in favor. PASSES.
D. Minutes of Febrraiy 20, February 26, 1997, and March 5, 1997
MOTION: So moved.
(Colella- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES.
E. Correspondence
ACTION
Miscellaneous
Letter from Barbara D. Bayon for the Food Pantry Task Force, Orthodox Congregational
Church, requesting a waiver of the builder permit fee and the town's portion of any other
fees such as mechanical, electrical or plumbing, which may be incurred in the process of
permitting renovations for a community food pantry
MOTION: So moved.
(Mahana- Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES
OTHER
Board and Committee
Letter from H. Thomas French, Jr., Chairman, Planning Board, expressing concern with
the revised line item amount for Planning Board secretarial support for Planning Board
meetings Ihis will be addressed through the budget process.
Town Manager and Staff
Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Volterra, Goldberg, Mangiaratti, & Jacobs, to the Board
of Selectmen concerning Lot 16 Tara Estates
Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Volterra, Goldberg, Mangiaratti, & Jacobs, to the Board
of Selectmen concerning licensing Great Woods Parking Lots
Miscellaneous
Letter from Joseph W. Donze, Division General Manager, Laidlaw, to the Board of
Selectmen with attached information regarding the Plainville Landfill
Letter from Boston Scientific Corporation to the Board of Selectmen stating that it is
ceasing a significant portion of the operations at its facility located at 135 Forbes
Boulevard
2. Town Manager Resignation
At this time, Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, read the following statement:
"My name is Robert Mangiaratti. I serve as Mansfield Town
Counsel. The Chairman of lit Board of Selectmen, Bill Madan, has asked
me to read a joint statement from the Selectmen and Bill Williams
concerning the resignation of the Town Manager.
Town Manager Bill Williams and the Board of Selectmen
Chairman, Bill Madan, have announced today that Mr. Williams has
decided to resign his position effective March 15, 1997. The resignation is
by mutual agreement. Mr. Williams' contract would have run three more
years. Mr. Williams thanks the citizens of Mansfield and all Town officials
with whom he has enjoyed working since becoming Town Manager in
1991 for the opportunity to have served as the Town Manager. Chairman
Madan thanks Mr. Williams for his six years of faithful service to the Town
and, on behalf of the Town, wishes him well in all his future endeavors.
A copy of this statement is available from the Selectmen's
Secretary. Additionally, we have made available copies of Mr. Williams'
Employment Contract and the Severance Pay Agreement dated March 11,
1997. All of these documents are public records.
Under the severance pay agreement, Mr. Williams will receive
severance pay equal to nine months salary plus a payment for accrued
vacation pay and personal days.
I represented the Selectmen in the negotiations with Mr. Williams'
attorney which lead to the severance pay agreement. During that process, I
advised the Selectmen of their contractual obligations to the Town
Manager under his contract and under the Town Charter. I believe the
following points are worth noting:
a. The Town Manager's contract dated August 22, 1993,
contained a provision which extended the term of his
employment through February 25, 2000;
b. The contract expressly allows the Town Manager to accrue
up to 60 days vacation pay;
C. The contract expressly provides that if the Town Manger
resigns at the suggestion of the Selectmen he is entitled to
severance pay in the amount of not less than six months
salary; and
d. Under the Town Charter, a non voluntary termination of
any Town Manager requires a formal statement of cause
and a public hearing.
We have made this information available to the public in accordance
with public records statutes. Neither Mr. Williams nor representatives of
the Town intend to comment on the matter beyond what is contained in
these public records."
3. Questions and comments
As this was Selectman Pasquale's last meeting, he made a statement reflecting upon his
years of service to the Town as both a member of the Finance Committee and Board of
Selectmen. Selectman Pasquale thanked both former and present members of Boards of
Selectmen and members of Town Staff for their help over the years.
Chairman Madan announced Mansfield High School's basketball team had a successful
year, winning seventeen games and losing only six.
Town Manager Williams left the meeting at this time.*
2. 8:00 PM Discussion with Lou Amoruso concerning the Cable Access
Audit
Cable Access Board of Directors' President, Lou Amoruso, reviewed the "Mansfield
Cable Access Corporation Report on Disbursements For the Years Ended December 31,
1989 and 1991 ", dated February 17, 1997, Dr. Amoruso stated the auditors found poor
record keeping and that the largest items of concern was a Federal "Determination Letter"
could not be located, proving that Federal not - for - profit status was perfected.
Prior to the following discussion, Chairman Madan stated the audit is not a reflection on
the present members of the Cable Access Board.
Discussion among the Selectmen and Dr. Amoruso followed concerning where money was
spent, various checks made payable to "cash ", addition of a management report section,
the need for Cable Access to develop written policies and procedures to handle
disbursement to be signed by each Cable Access member confirming their agreement with
them, not allowing "cash" transactions, completion of the determination letter, out of
state travel and long distance telephone call expenditures, withholding of payroll taxes and
filing of 1099 contract labor forms, and submission of revenue and expense summary
reports.
Clerk Mahana stated he would like a chance to read the audit and contact Dr. Amoruso to
review it privately.
Clerk Mahana also stated he would like Dr. Amoruso to have the Cable Access Board of
Directors meeting minutes of May 11, 1987 at which Cable Access' attorney advised the
Board to avoid charitable donations.
Clerk Mahana requested the Selectmen hold the transfer of a check from Cable Vision
Industries to Cable Access due the fifteenth of this month until the Selectmen review the
audit.
Discussion followed concerning office space for Cable Access. Office space locations
discussed where the first floor of Memorial Hall, High School addition, and the former
Villa Liquors building on Villa Street.
3. Town Manager Report
"Police Chief Arthur O'Neill was present in place of Town Manager William Williams at
Mr. Williams request.
A. Relocation ofE911
Police Chief O'Neill attended a meeting this morning at which the State
Telecommunications Board agreed to cover the cost of moving Mansfield's E911 system
to the West Mansfield Fire Station during the Police Station renovations. The Town will
be responsible for the cost of returning the system back to the Police Station. Chief
O'Neill requested the Selectmen send a letter of appreciation to the Telecommunications
Board as well as to Plainville Police Chief Merrick and Longmeadow Police Chief
Marchese for their support.
MOTION: So moved.
(Pasquale- Colella) All in favor. PASSES.
B. Citizens' Police Academy
Police Chief O'Neill passed along an announcement of the Citizens Police Academy to be
administered by Lt. Walter Crickard.
C. Downtown Parking Plan
Prior to beginning the discussion of the downtown parking plan, Police Chief O'Neill
stated some consideration would have to be given to a sticker system for residents.
Traffic Safety Officer Lance Lawson began his presentation of proposed parking
restrictions stating the purpose of the plan is to standardize the regulations primarily to try
to discourage commuter traffic from residential roadways and the central business district.
Officer Lawson recommended the following, as stated in his memorandum to Police Chief
< O'Neill dated April 8, 1986
I. CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: TWO HOUR PARKING, 8:OOAM to 12
NOON, MONDAY - FRIDAY"
Nar9h Common to South Common and front Rumford Averure to Hope Street inclusive
II. SECONDARY BUSINESS DISTRICT:
Rumford Avenue to Route 140 in the West and nar7lni and tip to and including the
Sweti /Oakland Street intersection as rill as North Main Street up to Angel Street
A. Zone I : NO PARKING ANYTIME Hazardous Areas
Copeland Drive, Chauncy Street, Segments of North Main Street
B. Zone II: TWO HOUR PARKING, 8:OOAM to 12 NOON, MONDAY -FRIDAY
All other roadways within the "SECONDARY BUSINESS DISTRICT ": Central Street,
Wood Avenue, Henty Street, etc.
Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments:
Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions and commented on the following:
instituting the restriction between 8AM and 4PM rather than 8AM and 12 Noon and
signage costs.
• Hazardous Areas
MOTION: So moved on hazardous areas. No ParkirtgAnytinte on Copeland Drive,
ChauncyStreet, and segments of North Main Street.
(Colella - Mahana) all in favor. PASSES.
Downtown and Back Bay Area
MOTION: So moved on 8 -4 PM.
(Colella- Mahana) All in favor.
A notice will be placed on cable television notifying residents of the votes taken this
evening in order to give residents an opportunity to comment on them.
Lastly, Police Chief O'Neill stated that he has been requested to and will be ticketing
vehicles parked in the fire lanes at the schools, particularly at the high school.
D. Discussion with Winter Consultants Tata & Howard
Bob Morrison, Acting Assistant DPW Director, Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, and Paul
Howard and John Tata, of Tata and Howard, were present. Mr. Tata and Mr. Howard
reviewed the Robert E. Walsh Development schedule, which has been extended two
months for core determination.
Board of Selectmen Questions:
Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning what has happened at the
site that has changed the character of the water, confirmation of the construction start
date, protection of the test wells from vandalism, assurance that the well will be on line in
the spring of 1999, whether or not the permitting process is more difficult now than it was
in 1985 or 1986, why the Army Corp. of Engineers wasn't originally involved in the
process, what the MEPA process involves, previous wetlands violations at site and lost
time due to the violations, feasibility of maintaining the old transmission line at Foolish
Hill, whether or not the old pipes are candidates for relining, feasibility of an additional
reservoir at Foolish Hill, number of years Tata & Howard has been Mansfield's
consultants, whether or not Tata & Howard has ever made recommendations on well
cleaning, the number of wells presently out of commission, and additional projects Tata &
Howard is involved in town.
Lastly, members of the Board of Selectmen discussed the feasibility of developing a well
site on the Van Gernert land.
4. Selectmen
A. Old Business
Selectman Pasquale inquired about replacement of the Town Manager on a short term
basis. Chairman Madan responded that he has scheduled a meeting on Tuesday, March
18, at 7:30 to discuss a long term interim Acting Town Manager.
Selectman Colella requested a plaque dedicated to Ralph H. Garland, Mansfield's
Highway Superintendent from 1948 -1960, be placed on display at the Highway Garage as
it once was.
MOTION: So moved.
(Colella - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES.
Selectman Colella requested the asphalt and grass broken up at the end of the driveway of
42 Morrow Street during the last snow storm be repaired by the Highway Department.
MOTION: We appoint Richard Boucher with his assent as Acting Town Manager
effective March 16, 1997.
(Mahana - Pasquale) All in favor. PASSES.
5. Adjournment 9:29 PM
MOTION: To adjourn.
(Mahana - Robinson) All in favor. PASSES.
Clerk's Signature Date of Approval