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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 4-1-1998Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 1, 1998 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk McCarter, Selectmen Mahana; Robinsoni atld R- y e John D'Agostino, Town Manager L . • „ 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P1V1'fo�lowed by the pledges of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 40 - $2,107,445.60 Motion: So moved to put a hold on a bill from Rubin and Rudman, which pertains to Mr. Larch's lawsuit against the Light Commissioners. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes. Motion: That we send a letter to the attorneys requesting a detailed itemized statement including the number of billed hours and the rate and find out if the Town should be paying the by sending a letter to Town Counsel (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Motion: To approve Warrant No. 40, excepting Voucher No. 11601. (McCarter Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items. Selectman Royle abstained from all Board of Health items, and Clerk McCarter abstained from all Recreation Commission items. B. Minutes • Minutes of Joint Meeting with the Municipal Building Committee, March 18, 1998 Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle- McCarter) All in favor. Passes. • Minutes of March 25, 1998 Motion: Move to approve. ( Royle- McCarter) (4 -0 -1) Chairman Madan abstained. Passes. C. Licenses and Permits • Application from the Building Department for an $8,333.65 Reserve Fund Transfer Request because of insufficient funds appropriated to the salary account Madan abstained and left the room. Motion: So moved that we recommend approval. ( Royle Robinson) All in favor. Passes. • Application of South Shore Antique Auto Foundation for a public entertainment on Sunday license for their Amoral Trading Bee on Sunday, May 10, at Great Woods Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle- Mahana) (All in favor) Passes. Chairman Madan would like the applicant to know that drinking is not allowed in the parking lot. • Auctioneer Special Permit Application of Benson Associates for May 11, 1998 Motion: So moved. F:ULPIMAA40198.doc Page I of 7 (Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. • Application for a Parade Permit for Mansfield Little League for Sunday, April 26, ( approved by Police Chief O'Neill Motion: Move to approve. (Boyle Mahana All in favor. Passes. • Bristol Liquors License Certificate Motion: Move to sign. ( Royle- Mahana) (4 -0 -1) Clerk McCarter abstained. Passes. D. Correspondence Action: Board and Committee Memorandum from Leslie Pasch, Secretary, Mansfield Historical Commission, requesting a letter of support for the Historical Commission's pre- development grant application for the Fisher - Richardson House Motion: Move we send a letter of support ( Royle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes Motion: To send a letter complimenting the Historical Commission on their efforts and success in having the Fisher Richardson House named to the historical register. (Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, requesting the Board vote to grant MIFA authority to float the bond issuance on behalf of HUB Folding Box Company Letter from John Moretti, Superintendent of Schools, requesting the Selectmen discuss the School Committee budget that has been published in the Warrant at $21,519,320 Miscellaneous Letter from the Garden Club of Mansfield requesting permission to post signs for their May 9 Annual Plant Sale on the North and South Commons beginning on April 24, 1998 Motion: So moved. ( Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. Other: Town Manager and Staff Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, informing the Selectmen of the Balcom Ridge Lots bid results Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, asking which date the Selectmen would like to hold a water workshop with Woodard Curran, April 14, 16, or 21 A majority of the Board of Selectmen leas in favor of holding the lorkshop on April 16 State and Local Government FATLP\MWWO198.doc Page 2 of 7 Letter from Trudy Coxe, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs congratulating Mansfield on receiving a Grade of B on the 1998 Municipal Recycling Report Card and announcing that Mansfield will receive an additional incentive payment of $3,624 for the first six months of the new Municipal Recycling Incentive Program Letter from Judith Robbins, Mayor, City of Attleboro, in response to the Selectmen's February 23 letter taking exception to the City of Attleboro's legitimate concern for the safety of our residents with regard to the Amtrak rail line electrification Letter from Karl Eklund, SRPEDD, stating SRPEDD has joined the Old Colony Planning Council in Brockton and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in Boston to facilitate the efforts of a citizen Task Force on Growth and Change in Southeastern Massachusetts to be known as the Vision 2020 Project Letter from Greg Guimond, SRPEDD, requesting assistance with undertaking a region wide expansion and refinement of their GIS mapping database Has been forwarded to appropriate Department Heads Letter from the Attorney General's Office stating Great Woods has been named four times in the past six months by defendants when asked whether they were served alcohol prior to their driving under the influence of intoxicating liquors violation and if so where — The Attorney General's Office also noted that Great Woods has generated four reports since 1995. Letter from Bruce Montgomery, General Manager, Great Woods Center for the ( Performing Arts, requesting action on his entertainment be postponed until April 8, 1998 Motion: So moved. (Robinson- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. 2. Questions and Comments Andy Gazzolo, 25 South Main Street, asked if the School Committee's budget was changed but someone other than the School Committee and stated that he feels uneasy about it being changed by someone other than Committee. Mr. Gazzolo stated he does not feel the Town Manager can change the amount of the School Committee's budget article and asked that the validity of the Town Manager's action be reviewed. Richard Franklin, Cavan Crossing, stated lie would like an explanation from the Selectmen on how Mr. D'Agostino felt it was appropriate and within his responsibility to change the School Committee's budget amount. Mr. Franklin stated he feels Mr. D'Agostino is out of line. Selectman Robinson stated he attended last night's School Committee meeting and they made it very clear that there was no communication between the Superintendent and the Town Manager concerning the reduction in the School Committee's budget by the Town Manager. 3. Discussion with Walter Wilk, Finance Committee Chairman Mr. Wilk stated 1.1M$ was located and cut from the Municipal budget, with an increase of only $600,000 over last year's budget. The Finance Committee has met several times FATLPVYM40198.doe Page 3 of 7 with the School Department, asked if they could make a significant reduction in their budget, but has yet to receive any substantial cuts. Mr. Wilk requested direction from the Board of Selectmen, stating the School Department's original budget of $21,081,000 was well within 2 '/2 limit but that an override would be required with the present amount requested combined with the Municipal budget. Discussion among the Selectmen and Mr. Wilk followed concerning the amount of money encumbered by the School Department last year, free cash estimates, lack of School Department's flexibility, satisfaction with number of cuts made by municipal side, funding amount for capital budget, and if the foundation budget is what is recommended under Education Reform Act. 3. Questions and Continents continued Lori Amoruso, Brookside Road, stated the Town Manager is correct and the Charter does state that the budget is the Town Manager's; however, as far as he knows, the School Committee's number has never been changed on the warrant. Mr. Amoruso stated the Town Manager's action may be a question of communication and protocols. Jeff Roach, 68 Hall Street, stated everyone he knows is hoping not to go over Proposition 21/2. 4. Discussion with Doreen Tighe re: Farmer's Market Ms. Tighe, owner of Bookends, requested permission for the Downtown Business Association to hold a Farmers' Market in the parking lot next to Mansfield Cooperative Bank on Thursdays from 1:30 to 7:00 from June 25 to October 22, 1998. The Downtown Business Association will be responsible for insurance and signs. Mr. D'Agostino will discuss whether or not zoning would be an issue for the market. Motion: Move to endorse the farmer's market as presented. (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. 5. Eastern Container Corporation The Chairman reported that due to the inactive status of the Mansfield Industrial Development Financing Authority (the "Authority "), the Board had been asked to consider and act upon the proposed development of certain property comprising industrial development facilities by RLH, LLD/Eastern Container Corporation (the "Borrower ") in the Town of Mansfield (the "Town ") and to request that the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency ( "MIFA ") assume the role of the Authority in financing this project in the Town. After further discussion, the Board offered the following resolutions and moved the adoption of the same, which was seconded by the Board: WHEREAS: The Authority has become inactive over the last ten years, and there are currently no actively serving directors; and WHEREAS: The Board has the authority, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40D S3, to appoint the directors of the Authority; and FATLPVvM40198.D0C Page 4 of 7 WHEREAS: The development of certain property comprising industrial development facilities (the "project ") to be owned and used by the Borrower in its business of packaging manufacturing has been proposed for the Town, consisting generally of the addition to an existing building at 60 Maple Street, in the Town of Mansfield; and WHEREAS: The Borrower has made application to MIFA for the financing of the Project through the issuance of up to $4,000,000 of Industrial Revenue Bonds (the "Bonds "); and WHEREAS: The Board for itself and on behalf of the Authority, wishes to request that MIFA assume the role of the Authority issuing Bonds. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: (1) That the Board solely for the purpose of considering and acting upon the proposed Project in the Town of Mansfield, hereby acts for itself and as directors of the Authority; and (2) That the Board hereby requests that MIFA assume the role of the Authority in financing the Project by the issuance of Bonds pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 23A and Chapter 40D to finance the Project and that the Board cause a copy of this resolution to be delivered to MIFA. The foregoing resolution, having been put to a role call vote, the result of which was as follows: For the Resolution: Selectman Mahana Clerk McCarter Selectwoman Royle Selectman Robinson Chairman Madan Motion: To support the request of Eastern Container Corporation to request from Mass Development the authority to support their request to issue a bond. (Mahana - Royle) All in favor. Passes. Selectman Mahana Aye. Clerk McCarter Aye. Selectwoman Royle Aye. Selectman Robinson Aye. Chairman Madan Aye. 6. Old Business A. Town Manager Mr. D'Agostino reported on the following: • The services of the newly hired paramedics were utilized this Monday. • Update on the Witch Pond Well F:1TL MM40198.doc Page 5 of 7 • Paul Howard will be present at next week's Selectmen's meeting to give a status update on the Walsh Well. • Mr. D'Agostino spoke with Chris McCabe, Norton Town Manager, regarding their sewer payment due to the Town of Mansfield March 27. Mr. McCabe is working with the bank to see that the payment is made. • A Train Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for April 3 at LOAM, to which the Selectmen are invited. Selectwoman Royle asked if a Train meeting could be held in the afternoon so she could attend. • Mr. D'Agostino spoke with the Planning Board this evening regarding the train station plans. • A meeting is scheduled this Friday with the Town Engineer, DPW, and business owners abutting the Oakland Street rail crossing. It appears as though the Town will have an amiable solution in which both parties will share. B. Selectmen • Selectman Mahana asked when a tour of transfer stations would be scheduled for the Selectmen. Mr. D'Agostino stated he would provide the Selectmen with a memo of dates and times and will request the Selectmen indicate the best time to go on the tour. Motion: That the Board send a get well letter to Representative Hyland because of medical problems. ( Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. • Clerk McCarter asked what the $9,200 fee Professor Mullen is being paid to work with the Town's Industrial Development Commission entails. Clerk McCarter also asked if Friday's Train Station meeting would be open to the public. • Selectwoman Royle asked if a $9,200 Reserve Fund Transfer for Professor Mullen was ever approved. Referencing a photograph that appeared in the Sun Chronicle of a child feeding geese at Fulton's Pond, Selectwoman Royle suggested the Town adopt a by -law to enforce the signs posted at the pond stating "Do Not Feed the Geese ". Selectwoman Royle suggested the Manager request the Police Chief s opinion on a by -law and stated that Plymouth, Dennis, and Yarmouth presently have by -laws. Selectman Mahana stated Winchester also had a problem with Canadian geese and the Manager may want to contact their Town Manager, Chad Maurer. Royle questioned land purchase for witch pond well; when will the water rate increase take affect. will we see a more water rate report; 7. New Business FATLP \MM0198.doc Page 6 of 7 1 A. Town Manager Mr. D'Agostino reported that the heating and air conditioning unit failed at the Library and a heating coil split causing flooding. The damage is well under $10,000, and it is anticipated that the library will open on Thursday. B. Selectmen • Selectman Robinson asked the Selectmen's Secretary to find out when the next Selectmen's Association meeting will be. • Selectwoman Royle requested that a fact sheet on the appropriate amount of water needed for lawns be compiled and distributed to the public. Motion: That we send a letter to our legislators with a copy to the Mass Selectmen's Association endorsing 100% reimbursement for regional schools. ( Royle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. Selectwoman Royle stated she would like to request clarification from Southeast Regional Vocational Technical School as to why the budget amount is so different year after year. • Clerk McCarter asked for a comparison of this year's well levels with last year's. • Chairman Madan stated he would like the residents to begin to experience the result of work done in the Water Department by allowing sprinkler use this year with close monitoring. • Selectman Mahanna stated that lie does not want to hear any more excuses from Tata & Howard with regard to the Walsh Well and that he wants to see results, not hear excuses. 8. Adjournment 9:45 PM Motion: To adjourn. 9:45 (Mahana- Royle) All in favor. Passes. �G Clerk's Signature FA LAMM0198.doc VAYK Date A proval Page 7 of 7