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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 4-16-1997TCi, r, C! lC RECEIVED Board of Selectmen OFFICE Minutes 97 MAY —7 PM 4: 29 April 16, 1997 Ei,i;FS� IFLD MASS CHUSFTTS Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Royle, Selectmen Colella and Mahana 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. 43 - $2,229,122.3 7 MOTION: To approve. (Colella - Royle) Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items, and Clerk Royle abstained from all Health Department items and Voucher No. 13086. PASSES. B. Minutes Minutes of March 26, 1997 MOTION: Move to approve. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Minutes of April 2, 1997 MOTION: Move to approve with an amendment that a notation be added requesting a plaque dedicating the Highway Garage in memory of Ralph Galvin be installed. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. C. Licenses and Permits Drainlayers License Application of P. Beatty Inc. along with a license fee for six months in the amount of $125 MOTION: To approve drainlayers license for P. Beatty Excavation with a license fee of $250. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Letter from Town Counsel, Robert Mangiaratti, dated March 26, 1997, suggesting amendments to the Town's Taxi regulations. The amendments must be advertised prior to adoption. MOTION: So moved to go forward with and advertise. (Colella - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. D. Correspondence Action Resident Letter from Barbara Gibbs, 69 Rumford Avenue, requesting permission to have trees removed, at her expense, which are on town property adjacent to her fence. Ms. Gibbs states that she will replace the trees, at her expense, with evergreens inside the fence. Ms. Gibbs was present to answer any questions the Selectmen may have had. Ms. Gibbs did state that she is uncertain if the trees are located on her land or town land. MOTION: So moved to approve. (Colella - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES. Board and Committee Letter from Dr. Ken Torman requesting the Selectmen accept his resignation as a member of the Airport Commission MOTION: Move to send Dr. Torman a letter thanking him for his seven years of service on the Airport Commission. (Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Other Resident Letter from Marie Bradley, 10 Pine Needle Lane, requesting permission to have a yard sale on the Common grounds located at Franklin Street and Pine Needle Lane on April 26, 1997. Lorilee Fish, Parks and Recreation Director, forwarded Ms. Bradley the proper application forms. Board and Committee Letter to the Clerk of Courts, Dedham Superior Court, concerning A.W. Greymont Co., Inc. vs. Aldo Paglia, Janet M. MacMunn, Trustee of Remus Realty Trust and Massapoag Construction Co., Inc.; Norwood Cooperative Bank, Trustee; and Town of Mansfield Memorandum from Thomas French, Chairman, Planning Board, concerning the draft Mansfield Sewer Master Plan Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from Daniel Clifford, DPW Director, to Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager, concerning a Highway Department Activity Report Memorandum from Robert Morrison, Acting Assistant DPW Director, to Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager, regarding a well update Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, to Steven Dean Esq., Dean and Scott, concerning the Paine School Lease Memorandum from Richard Boucher, Acting Town Manager, from Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, recommending another attempt be made to get Attleboro's permission to connect John P. Smith's subdivision to their Water Main Acting Manager Boucher has been in contact with Attleboro Officials. They are reviewing the request to see what may or may not be the problem. Attleboro's concern is that this may use rip some of their capacity. 7 Memorandum from Daniel B. Clifford, DPW Director, concerning the tennis courts at Memorial Park Chairman Madan asked if an article has been placed on the warrant to fund repairs to the tennis courts. MOTION: To submit an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to fund repairs to the tennis courts. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. Memorandum from Leslie Pasch, Library Director, to the Municipal Building Committee, concerning the Library/Council on Aging roof State and Local Government Invitation from the Easton Conservation Commission to attend the 30th Anniversary of the dedication of the Wheaton Farm to be held at the Barn located on the east side of Bay Road at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, May 3, 1997 Letter from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to the Mansfield Historical Commission stating the National Register nomination for the Fisher - Richardson House has been tentatively scheduled for consideration by the State Review Board on June I 1 Miscellaneous Notice of bond cancellation from Hanover Insurance Company for Cablevision Industries Letter from Jay Barrows, Downtown Business Association, to close and use parking lot downtown in front of Shepards Flowers for a food court on May 17 MOTION: Move that we agree to closing that lot so the downtown merchants can set up the food court and any other activities for the date and hours specified. (Mahana- Royle) All in favor. PASSES. 2. Questions and Comments Karl Clemmey, 390 West Street, stated that the Selectmen must, under the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 148, Section 56, request the Town adopt commercial parking regulations at a Town Meeting. Mr. Clemmey also stated that the wrong law is referenced concerning entertainment license fees and that the fee is set locally. Clerk Royle requested who regulates fee for entertainment licenses be reviewed and the commercial parking regulation issue also be reviewed. MOTION: To place an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to adopt rules and regulations for open air parking facilities. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 3. 7:50 PM Council on Aging Interview Eileen Flint was present to interview to fill one vacancy on the Council on Aging. Ms. Flint introduced herself to the Board of Selectmen and explained her interest in the Council on Aging. 3 MOTION: Move we appoint Ms. Flint to the Council on Aging. (Colella- Royle) All in favor. PASSES. 4. Discussion with Town Engineer, Lee Azinheira, and Acting Assistant DPW Director, Bob Morrison, concerning Water Billing and Meter Upgrades Town Engineer Azinheira stated he and Mr. Morrison put together an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to transfer $102,000 from the Water Capital Account to replace water meters and upgrade the water billing system. The new system would make meter reading more efficient and accurate and will allow personnel to pick up additional tasks. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning funding, Witch Pond Well site funding, Walsh Well funding, number of employees reading meters, joint water /electric meter reading, use of the system utilized by the gas company system where the computer reads meters over the telephone, and the previous proposal to replace meters using matching grant funds. Clerk Royle requested Mr. Azinheira discussed using a joint meter reader with the Electric Department. Next, Mr. Azinheira explained two wastewater articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant, Articles 12 & 13. S. 8:35 PM Special Permit Fees Public Hearing Clerk Royle read the public hearing notice aloud and an excerpt from a memorandum from Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, recommending amendments to the special permit fee schedule. In his memorandum, Mr. Burke suggests the Board of Selectmen create a third category for special permit fees to contain Cluster Residential and Residential Compound special permits. The fee for the third category would be the same as for a traditional subdivision plan, $400 submission fee, plus $300 per lot shown on the plan, plus $5.75 per lineal foot of roadway. Public Comment David Johnson, PMP Associates, stated that he is involved in designing a development in Mansfield and that anything that can be done to encourage residential compounds and cluster developments should be considered. MOTION: To close the public hearing. (Boyle - Mahana) All in favor. PASSES MOTION: That we amend the special permit fees and create a third category to contain residential compounds and cluster developments with a $400 submission fee, plus $300 per lot shown on the plan, plus $5.75 pre lineal foot of roadway, effective April 17. ( Royle- Mahana) All in favor. PASSES 0 6. 8:43 PM Ambulance lee Public Hearing Fire Chief Sliney and Richard Saunders of Comstar were present for the public hearing; Clerk Royle read the public hearing notice. Fire Chief Sliney stated that purpose of the hearing is to request the Selectmen consider an increase in the ambulance rates. The last revision to the rates was in February 1995, effective July 1995. Fire Chief Sliney reviewed his memorandum to Acting Town Manager Boucher, dated April 10, 1997, which contains recommended fees, 10% increase in fees, and fees reflecting a 20% increase. Fire Chief Sliney explained that an abatement procedure is in place but that he sees very few. The ambulance service is at an 83 percent collection rate and has collected more funds than what is needed to cover its FY97 budget. The account currently is a couple thousand dollars ahead. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the recommended fees vs. 10/20% fee increases, a fee waiver mechanism, possibility of a dual rate for outside municipalities, funding to train paramedics, private ambulance charges, balance of ambulance revolving account, cost to residents, average ambulance bill, and the need to review ambulance fees more frequently. MOTION: Move to adopt Chief Sliney's recommended fees effective April 17, 1997. (Colella - Royle) All in favor. PASSES. Selectman Mahana requested a report from Comstar reflecting the average bill for every ambulance run for Mansfield compared with an average bill from a private ambulance service. 7. 9:12 Teleport Communications Continuer) Public Hearing Clerk Royle read a letter from Teleport Communications requesting an extension of the public hearing. MOTION: Move to continue the public hearing for Teleport Communications Group to Wednesday, April 30, at 8 PM. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 8. Old Business A. Ton n Manager Acting Manager Boucher stated that he needs direction from the Board of Selectmen on union contract negotiations. A meeting should be scheduled tivith labor counsel in the afternoon, approximately 4PM Clerk Royle stated that she has discussed her involvement in union negotiations with the Ethics Commission. The Commission stated in decision making she would have to ask herself if she has a reasonable financial interest in the outcome. Clerk Royle stated is4th that in mind she would have to be oul of negotiations from the beginning. i 5 Clerk Royle inquired about landscaping at the new Town Hall. Next, Mr. Boucher reported on the following issues: • In discussing sidewalk plowing with the DPW Director, the plows are too big for the sidewalks; the Director is trying to resolve the problem. • He and the Selectmen are in receipt of memoranda regarding this year's road and sidewalk program. Selectman Colella and Clerk Royle stated they may want to add a couple of streets, Acting Manager Boucher requested the streets in writing. R Selectmen Clerk Royle requested a report of revenues vs. expenditures in the Water Department and stated that she would be happy with the bottom number. Clerk Royle also asked if items could be added to a memorandum from Department of Public Works Director concerning outstanding items at the Town Hall. If so, Ms. Royle would like the following items added: clearer designation signs in the elevator, additional signage in the building, and installation of "In" and "Out" signs over doors in the hallways. Lastly, Clerk Royle stated she is in receipt of copies of bills concerning land banking from Representative Hyland and asked if the other Board members would like copies. Selectman Colella stated he feels two items should be high priorities on Mr. Clifford's, ( DPW Director, list of outstanding Town Hall issues: foot pads on the roof and a properly installed roof ladder. Selectman Colella has also heard many complaints about difficulty opening Town Hall entrance doors. Lastly, Selectman Colella asked if the Selectmen would be appointing Great Woods liaisons this years, which was tabled. Selectman Mahana stated that the Selectmen used to have vouchers on their office table on Tuesday evening but that they were not there last night. Selectman Mahana also requested the Acting Manager review parking on Old Colony Way because commuters have been parking there. Chairman Madan noted that some commuters have also been parking in the Grain Mill lots. Selectman Mahana made a statement concerning the history of the Selectmen requesting an audit of the Cable Access Corporations records and the final audit. Selectman Mahana stated the audit report is available for anyone who would like a copy. 9. New Business A. Selectmen Clerk Royle stated a couple of years ago the Selectmen discussed attempting to remove poles from the downtown area and requested Acting Town Manager Boucher discuss the issue with Light Department Manager John Larch. Clerk Royle suggested a joint letter, from the Board of Selectmen and Light Commissioners be sent to Nynex inquiring of the ` procedure to remove the pole and place the lines underground. 11 Clerk Royle asked if the Annual Town Meeting warrant could be taken up before the Special Town Meeting warrant articles at the Town Meeting. Chairman Madan suggested discussing the idea with the Town Moderator. MOTION: Move to close the Special Town Meeting warrant. (Boyle- Colella) All in favor. PASSES. 10. 9:42 PMAdjournment MOTION: To adjourn. _� (Mahana,Qolella) All in favor. PASSES. Z Clerk's Signature Date f Appr1oval 7