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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-26-1997Board of Selectmen Minutes March 26, 1997 .:U1CF 97 APR 14 AN 9: 31 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Royle, Selectmen Co ellF`'R6binsohM Royle W�is14 f'1;11SETTS Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance A. Warrant No. 40 - $1,095,317.94 Acting Town Manager Boucher stated he has suggested better documentation be provided for a police detail voucher on this week's warrant. MOTION: To approve. ( Royle- Mahana) Clerk Royle abstained from all Health Department items; Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items. PASSES B. Minutes • Minutes of March 12, 1997 MOTION: So moved. (Robinson- Colella) (4 -0 -1) Clerk Royle abstained. PASSES. • Minutes of March 19, 1997 MOTION: To approve. ( Royle- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. C. Correspondence Action: Board and Committee Letter from Ralph Penney stating that with his recent election to the Charter Review Commission he must resign from the Planning Board MOTION: To accept Ralph Penney's resignation and send him letter in appreciation of his serving on the Planning Board. (Robinson - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from Judith Scott, Town Clerk, stating the Special Town Meeting warrant will have to be closed by April 16 and signed by April 23, 1997 Other: Resident Letter from David McCarter, 152 Dean Street, requesting consideration as a citizen at large member of the Town Manager Search Committee Clerk Royle suggested a separate file on the TMSearch Committee be started. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from Robert Morrison, Acting Assistant DPW Director, concerning the Witch Pond Land. Letter from Volterra, Goldberg, Mangiaratti, and Jacobs concerning executive session to consider applicants for the interim Town Manager position State and Local Government Letter from the Department of Environmental Protection stating Mansfield has been selected to receive a Municipal Recycling Grant Acting Town Manager Boucher stated that setting up a revolving account is required for the grant money. Memorandum from SRPEDD with an attached survey of priority planning areas for development and preservation; Clerk Royle requested Acting Torvn Manager Boucher review this correspondence and suggested it should be sent to the Planning Board for completion. Miscellaneous Letter from Joseph Rezza offering to sell his property located adjacent to the Witch Pond Well Aquifer, approximately 96 acres, for $1,000,000 Clerk Royle read the letter aloud at Chairman Madan's request. Selectman Mahana suggested no agreements be entered into until testing is completed. Acting Torvn Manager Boucher stated the proposal is workable but the Toivn would have to be sure its getting a fair deal. Clerk Royle stated she wants to be assured there is a need to ( purchase the land for well development and that all the land may not be needed Letter from Leonard Flynn, President, Natural Resources Trust, concerning preservation of the Great Woods Letter from "The Concerned Citizens and Businesses of Agawam" requesting the Selectmen contact the Attorney General and let him know that the local zoning by- laws are sacred and should not be over -ruled by any state agency, namely the Department of Public Utilities Clerk Royle suggested a copy of this letter be forwarded to the Light Department. Letter from CVI to Mansfield Cable Access with enclosed check in the amount of $143,194.85 representing the cable access fee for 1996 Selectman Mahana and Chairman Madan suggested a review of the current cable license concerning distribution of license monies to see who this check should have been submitted to. D. Discussion with Mary Horrigan and Barbara Bayon concerning the Orthodox Congregational Church Food Pantry Mansfield resident Barbara Bayon stated that the Orthodox Congregational Church will be opening a food pantry in the near future due to the cooperative efforts of ( West Side Benevolent Society and the Town's Social Worker Deborah Supernaught. It is hoped that the pantry can be open before the end of the spring. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning combining the efforts of West Side Benevolent Society and the Orthodox Church and drop -off locations for food. Ms. Bayon asked if a drop box for food could be located in the Town Hall. Ms. Bayon also reviewed progress with the renovations for the pantry stating that the only services they are lacking is that of a plumber to install a 75,000 BTU gas heater, which has yet to be purchased. Clerk Mahana suggested s short message be placed on the Town's local cable channel stating the pantry's need for plumbing services. 2. Questions and Comments Karl Clentmey, 390 West Street, stated he previously requested the Board of Selectmen participate in installation of a southbound ramp off of Rt. 495 and requested more "push" from the Selectmen. Mr. Clernmey also requested the Selectmen give the Planning Director more direction on the project. Mr. Clemmey suggested a new way of the ordering warrant articles be established as his articles always appear on the warrant last, which he does not feel is fair. 3. 8:00 PM Conservation Commission Interviews One applicant, Bill Ottaviani, was present to interview for the Conservation Commission, on which two vacancies exist. Board of Selectmen Questions One question asked of the applicant was his opinion on purchasing conservation land during tight fiscal times. MOTION: So moved to appoint. ( Mahana- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 4. Old Business A. Torun Manager • Dustin Well /Water Update Acting Town Manager Boucher gave an update on Dustin Well No. 7 stating the Water Department does have $8,000 in budget to freeze the well, as was discussed at last week's meeting. Restoration of the Oxford tank will be beginning within the next two weeks. The water mains from Oak Street to North Main Street will not be relined but valves will be replaced. • Mass Municipal Association Consulting Group Acting Town Manager Boucher stated he spoke with Mark Morse of the MMA Consulting Group concerning the Town Manager search. Mr. Morse provided Mr. Boucher with a series of questions concerning the search which need to be answered by the Selectmen. Copies of the questions have been distributed to Selectmen. Mr. Morse will be available to meet with the Selectmen next week. B. Selectmen { Selectman Robinson stated he received a request from the Council on Aging requesting parking restrictions on Hope Street be reviewed. The senior citizens are concerned that when they go on shopping trips to the mall, they often park on Hope Street longer than the two hour restriction. The Council on Aging has requested the Town Manager and Selectmen give circumstances such as this consideration. Selectman Robinson noted that Bruce Glazer will not be seeking reappointment to the Cable Access Board of Directors and requested the vacancy be advertised. In reference to a letter the Board of Selectmen received from Town Counsel, Selectman Robinson inquired of the Town's lease agreement for the Paine School. MOTION: To let the Acting Town Manager work with Bob Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, to terminate the lease and reach a settlement. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. Clerk Royle stated she feels Bruce Glazer may be entitled to a plaque for his service to the Town as a member of the Cable Access Board and publicly thanked Bruce for his years of service to the Town. Selectman Colella thanked and commended Mr. Boucher for a call he received a couple of days ago, inquiring of concerns referenced during "Selectmen Old and New Business" at last week's Selectmen's meeting. Selectman Colella inquired of the status of EMCZ. Selectman Colella inquired of available grant money for cleaning the Rumford River brooks. Clerk Royle suggested this could be a project for the Conservation Commission. Selectman Mahana suggested Acting Town Manager Boucher find out if labor counsel has given a decision on the Supreme Court's decision that sergeants and lieutenants in the St. Louis Police Department aren't entitled to time - and -a -half pay for working overtime. Selectman Mahana also thanked Mr. Boucher and the Water Department for the Water Department's weekly progress reports and asked if the weekly reports could be expanded to the Department of Public Works and any other departments who have ongoing projects. Lastly, Selectman Mahana inquired about the status of repairs to the Council on Aging/Library roof. MOTION: To commence suit on the roof. ( Mahana- Robinson) All in favor. PASSES. 5. 8:15 PM Teleport Communications MOTION: To continue to April 2 at 8:00 PM. (Robinson - Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 6. New Business A. Selectmen Selectman Mahana asked if the Fire Chief would be updating the Board of Selectmen on ambulance fee comparisons between Mansfield's ambulance fees and private ambulance fees, Selectman Mahana requested a yearly summary from Comstar reflecting items such as the number of ambulance runs. Selectman Mahana inquired of the balance of the Cable Account and the amount allocated to the Town. If funds are available, Selectman Mahana stated he would like to see it used to install cameras at the schools. Lastly, Selectman Mahana publicly thanked the Finance Committee for all its work on the Town's budget. Selectman Colella requested the Selectmen issue a proclamation to Mansfield High School's basketball coach to be presented to him at a banquet tomorrow evening. MOTION: To send a letter of congratulations. (Colella- Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. Selectman Mahana commended Acting Town Manager Richard Boucher who has gone above and beyond the normal requirements because he has assisted the Finance Committee throughout whole budget process. Selectman Mahana also recognized Town Accountant Bea Kearney for her assistance. Clerk Royle made note of a letter dated March 20 from the Foxboro Water and Sewer Commissioners, notifying the Selectmen of a meeting with the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee to discuss establishment of an Aquifer Protections Committee because of the concern over the water supply for Attleboro, Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Plainville, and Wrentham. Chairman Madan stated that he is planning on attending the meeting. Next, Clerk Royle publicly commended Arthur O'Neill for receiving a $30,000 grant under the Violence Against Women Act. Clerk Royle would like Chief O'Neill to discuss his plans for the grant money at a Selectmen's meeting. Lastly, Clerk Royle thanked Bob Morrison, Acting DPW Director, for allowing Steve Bishop, Water Department employee, to give her a tour of the wells this week. Selectman Colella stated the residents in the North Main Sheet area from Geno's Cafe up to Charles Sheet would like the speed limit lowered to 30 or 25 MPH. Town Engineer Lee Azinheira responded that State approval is usually required to lower speed limits on small sections of roadway similar to this. Selectman Robinson asked if compost would be made available to Town residents this year. 7. 8:30 PM Street Acceptance Public Hearing �- Clerk Royle read the public hearing notice aloud giving notice of the Selectmen's intent to layout Fawn Lane, Plowshare Cowl, Brian Lane, Robyn Lane, Wexford Drive, Kerry Drive, Necco Road, Serena Allen Way, Fox Street, Perkins Avenue, and Plymouth Sheet. Town Engineer Lee Azinheira noted a packet the Board of Selectmen received from Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, dated March 26, which states only minor comments relative to the streets up for acceptance. All streets will be reinspected prior to Town Meeting. Public Comments James Flannagan, 69 Kerry Drive, inquired about installing street signs, stop signs, slow signs, re- seeding the grass strips, and re- cementing curbing. Mr. Flannagan also stated when sidewalks were installed they where built up in front of his home causing the lower right side of his property to have ponding. Mr. Flannagan asked if the area would be repaired. Fred Leach, 35 Wexford Drive, thanked Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, for his work in recovering the developer's bond to complete the roadway. Mr. Leach expressed concern with the extension of Cavan Crossing stating the roadway currently has a rough surface, and no sidewalks or street lights have been installed. Town Engineer Lee Azinheira responded that the extension of Cavan Crossing is not up for acceptance. Board of Selectmen Questions Selectman Robinson requested submission of completed punch lists to the Selectmen by the Wednesday night before Town Meeting. John Riley, 22 Plowshare Court, inquired about a low area in front of his home in between his and his neighbors lot. Water collects near a tree planted in this area. The sidewalk in front of his property acts as a dam. Lastly, Mr. Riley stated he does not feel the tree will live. Lastly, Mr. Riley stated he feels the street looks good. Board of Selectmen Questions continued: Clerk Royle asked if all streets have been completed for two years and if a procedure should be developed concerning streets signs so that residents do not have to ask the Selectmen for the signs but they will already be installed. MOTION: To install signs on Kerry and Wexford Drive in accordance with the Police Department's recommendation. (Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. I MOTION: To layout Fawn Lane, Plowshare Court, Brian Lane, Robyn Lane, Wexford Drive, Kerry Drive, Necco Road, Serena Allen Way, Fox Street, Perkins Avenue, and Plymouth Street. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Prior to voting on the above motion, Selectman Robinson suggested that streets whose punch lists have not been completed should be pulled from the warrant. Chairman Madan stated he does not feel the roadways being completed by the Town should be included in Selectmen Robinson's statement. Town Engineer, Lee Azinheira, stated if for some reason roadways are not completed by the Wednesday before Town Meeting he could attend the Selectmen's meeting and explain why. Selectman Royle requested the Acting Town Manager check into having the ventilation system in the Selectmen's meeeting shut down during Selectmen's meetings, as she has received many complaints about the loudness of the system. S. 9:00 PM Executive Session MOTION: To go into executive session to discuss personnel matters, contract negotiations, and pending litigation, and come out only to adjourn. ( Royle- Robinson) Selectman Robinson - Aye. Clerk Royle - Aye Chairman Madan - Aye. Selectman Colella - Aye. Selectman Mahana - Aye. ��� u 1�. Clerk's Signatur Date of Approval