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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 2-11-1998Board of Selectmen Minutes .:_C ._I_- C February 11, 1998 i'' Ic C i C_2 F, 110: 44 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk Ro le > and Selectmen Colell� t "Mal" " iTc Robinson \J.. John D'Agostino, Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 followed by the pledge A. Warrant No. 33 - $2,258,207.33 ` Motion: Move to approve. ( Royle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items, and Clerk Royle abstained from all Board of Health items. B. Minutes • Minutes of February 4, 1998 Motion: Move to approve. ( Royle- Colella) All in favor. Passes. • Executive Session Minutes of February 4, 1998 Motion: Move to approve the content. (Boyle- Robinson) (4- 0- 1)Selectman Mahana abstained. Passes. C. Licenses and Permits • Certification of Betterment Charges for the Construction of Sewer Mains on Noonan and Morrow Streets Motion: To approve and sign as submitted. (Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. • Reserve Fund Transfer Request to fund a Secretary for the Finance Committee - $1,200 Motion: Move to endorse. (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. • Reserve Fund Transfer Request for Roof Repairs at the Town Hall - $9,800 Reimbursement from the roof contractor will be sought. Motion: So moved. (Mahana - Royle) All in favor. Passes. • Copy of a letter from Town Counsel to Keith Purrier's attorney, David Simas, with enclosed Agreement for Judgement in the amount of $1000 in connection with the Town's taking of a portion of his Ware Street property for installation of sidewalks. Motion: So moved. (Mahana- Colella). All in favor. Passes. C. Correspondence Resident Letter from Steven Thomas, 946 West Street, requesting the Town install sidewalks along West Street, from the 495 bridge to as far as possible. Has been forwarded to DPW Director for review. Letter from Stuart Golde, 19 Lancashire Drive, requesting the Selectmen, at their meeting, fully explain their decision not to renew the Light Department Manager's contract and strongly consider reversing the decision Board and Committee Letter of resignation from Susan Talavera from the Animal Welfare Committee Motion: To accept her resignation with regret and ask the Chairman to send her a thank you letter. (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, to the Board of Selectmen concerning the increase in the cost of health care benefits Letter from Charlie Masison, C &P Realty, requesting the capital charge calculation for the gymnastics academy, the replacement building at the Big 4, be based upon a Category A classification, warehouse, storage, bowling alley, etc., rather than the present Category C classification, country clubs, laundries, etc. Other Letter from Joan Sozio, Chairperson, Town of Foxborough, Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, notifying the Town of Mansfield of their plans to connect Greenview Estates, located in Foxborough's critical needs area, to Mansfield's sewer treatment plant. The Foxboro Water and Sewer Commissioners would like to discuss the connection at the February 12 joint meeting. 2. Questions andComments A Branch Street resident asked why Selectman Colella requested the Town Manager to install "Do Not Feed the Geese" signs at Fulton's Pond and suggested a fence may be a better way of keeping the geese off of neighboring properties. Peter DeTrolio, 496 Elm Street, asked if Selectman Robinson received an opinion from the Ethic's Commission concerning his employment with Time Warner Cable. Kathy Piusz, 3 Heather Lane, stated in the last few days she has worked the Department of Public Works during the demolition of the Mystic Club and commended the employees in that department. Chairman Madan read a prepared statement written by Town Counsel Mangiaratti concerning non - renewal of John Larch's (Light Department Manager) contract. Selectman Colella followed up commenting on non- renewal of Mr. Larch's contract, the Light Department's previous purchase of a backhoe, Michael Forbes' name being discussed during discussions concerning non - renewal of Mr. Larch's contract, and his reelection. Clerk Royle stated she feels that it is unfortunate that the former Light Department employee, Kathy Ferrick, was also discussed during discussion concerning non- renewal of Mr. Larch's contract and that her name appeared in the newspaper. Clerk Royle also requested a copy of the statement Chairman Madan read from Counsel and stated she did know it had been requested. Discussion followed concerning requests to Town Counsel from the Chairman and Board. 3. 8:15 PM Discussion regarding Winter Street Traffic Phil Schrothe, Winter Street resident, was present for this discussion. Mr. Schrothe stated an accident that occurred last week at the foot of his driveway prompted his sending a letter to the Selectmen requesting the Selectmen consider the following: lowering the speed limit on Winter Street to 25MPH, making Winter Street one -way, installing speed bumps on Winter Street, and installing sidewalks on Winter Street. The Board of Selectmen also received a letter from Linda O'Connell, Gander Lane resident, requesting the Town install two signs on Winter Street warning motorists of the dangerous curve. In response to the two above - mentioned letters, the Selectmen received a memorandum from Police Chief O'Neill and Traffic Safety Officer Lawson, dated February 9 and February 7, 1998, respectively. Motion: We as Road Commissioners reduce the speed limit on Winter Street to 25MPH, install signage as recommended by the Police Department and requested by resident Linda O'Connell, and request the Police Chief step up patrols in the area. (Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. 4. Old Business A. Town Manager Town Manager D'Agostino reported on the following: • The Fulton's Pond signage will be discussed further with the Animal Control Officer to see how the problem with the geese can be mitigated. • Town Hall hours signs will be installed within a week and will be consistent with present signage. • Mr. D'Agostino is waiting for Cambridge Officials to provide him with additional information on the bus stop violation task force. If grant money becomes available, it will be applied for. • Guidance from Town Counsel is expected on how to approach the Time Warner issue. The Selectmen can move forward once the information is received. • The meeting last Thursday concerning cost overruns relative to the police station project was extremely productive. B. Selectmen • Clerk Royle inquired about the status of the Town's interest in St. Mary's land at the corner of Balcom and Gilbert Streets. A letter has been sent to the parish dated this date concerning the land. • Selectman Mahana noted that the responsibility for the landbank tax is now on the land purchaser, rather than the seller. 5. New Business A. Town Manager Town Manager D'Agostino reported on the following: • The Finance Team will meet Thursday to review the $1.4 million budget deficit and make recommendation on budget cuts. • National Development recently discussed a proposal for land in the industrial park with the Selectmen. A meeting with a manufacturing company who may relocate to the industrial park will be held in the near future. Mr. D'Agostino will provide the Selectmen with a complete update as soon as possible and hopes to announce the manufacturing company's name soon. • Water rate revisions are planned for presentation to the Selectmen at their next meeting. Finance Committee member Gerry St. Hilaire and Water Department staff will be present. • Mr. D'Agostino attended a tabletop discussion with Robert Button, Mansfield Emergency Management, on the high speed rail project. Representatives of Amtrak and the MBTA were present. The focus of the discussion was high -speed rail and safety. The Police and Fire Chiefs and Mr. Button will put together a tabletop discussion concerning track safety to be televised for a series of weeks. Clerk Royle suggested the Town Manager air generic tapes on cable as well. Selectman Robinson suggested the Department of Transportation in New Haven may have a lot of train safety tapes and also suggested the Boston fire department as a resource. Clerk Royle suggested track safety discussion should be held in the schools. • A Department Heads meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning. At that time, Mr. D'Agostino will announce who the Acting Town Manager will be while he is out having rotator cuff surgery. Mr. D'Agostino will be out of the office on February 20 and the week of February 23 and will return on a limited basis the following week. • Mr. D'Agostino will be moving to Mansfield on or before March 1. • A Boston Globe reporter is putting together a profile of Mansfield, because it has the largest concentration of young families and fourteen year olds in the State. In the article, Mansfield will be compared to Chatham, who has the largest concentration of older person in Massachusetts. • At the request of Congressman Frank's Office, a task force has been formed, concerning train track safety. Mr. D'Agostino would like to serve on the Committee, as will Marianne Kinney, and a member of the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Robinson will serve as the Board's representative. B. Selectmen • Clerk Royle asked the Town Manager to look into possible uses for land located on I Pine Street. Motion: That we earmark, through a Town Meeting vote, payments received from the Town of Foxboro for inflow and infiltration improvements. (Boyle= Robinson) Clerk Royle and Selectman Robinson in favor. FAILS. Chairman Madan and Selectman Mahana would like to wait for more information. • Selectman Colella stated he received a call from Bobby Gorham, Mansfield constable, requesting identification cards for all constables. Town Manager D'Agostino responded that identification cards would be provided. • Selectman Colella requested the Town Manager review institution of a "No Parking" zone on Willow Street on the North side at the curve near Cabot Pond. • Selectman stated the traffic light at the fire station does not always turn red when fire trucks are exiting the station. • Selectman Mahana requested that school bus operators be instructed not to use Winter Street as a short cut when not picking up or dropping off children. This request is a result of residents' complaints. • Selectman Mahana stated that Monday evening the Selectmen held a meeting with National Development, at which time establishment of a trash transfer station was discussed. Selectman Mahana asked the Town Manager to encapsulate the proposal for the transfer station how it came about. Discussion among the Selectmen concerning the proposal followed. 6. 9:35 PM Adjournment Motion: To adjourn. (Mahana- Colella) All in favor. Passes. Nr( _ Et �- E ` ' Q-: --f / Jerk's Signature Date of Approval