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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 9-16-1998Board of Selectmen h Minutes 90 S P ?� I -; i 9. 0 1 September 16, 1998 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk McCarter, Selectmen Mahana; ]'Robinson, and 5 Royle John D'Agostino, Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 12 - $2,412,591.61 Motion: To approve. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Chairman Madan abstained from all Building Department items, Selectwoman Royle abstained from all Board of Health items, and Clerk McCarter abstained from all Municipal Building Committee items. Passes. B. Licenses and Permits • Request from William Faiella on behalf of the residents of Echo Hills Drive for Permission to block Echo Hills Drive off to through traffic on Saturday, September 26, from 12 Noon to 6 :00 PM Motion: To grant the block party for September 26 from 12Noon to 6PM pending Police Chief approval. (Boyle McCarter) All in favor. Passes. • Thana Common Victualler All Alcoholic License Certificate for the Change in Officers/Directors and Stockholders Motion: To sign. (Mahana - Royle) All in favor. Passes. • Constitution Week Proclamation for the Week of September 17 to 23, 1998. Motion: To sign. (Mahana - Royle) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes • Minutes of September 2, 1998 Motion: To approve the minutes of September 2, 1998. (McCarter - Mahana) (4 -0 -1) Selectwoman Royle abstained. Passes. • Minutes of September 9, 1998 Motion: To approve the minutes of September 9, 1998. (Mahana - McCarter) All in favor. Passes. • Executive Session Minutes of August 26, 1998. Motion: To approve. ( Royle- Mahana) WITHDRAWN 2. Questions & Comments Chairman Madan introduced Karen Doucette, NEMS Tobacco Control Coordinator. Ms. Doucette explained that the Selectmen would be hosting a call -in pledge program this evening for a group of Town employees and their friends, "Mansfield Cares ", who will walk in the American Cancer Society "Making Strides" walk on October 4, 1998. Richard Boucher, Treasurer - Collector, Karen Doucette, and Sandy LaRossee, Assistant Treasurer, accepted pledges throughout the evening. 3. 7:50 PM Discussion with Dorothy Freeman, Norton Planning Board Member, concerning Land Bank Programs Ms. Freeman reviewed the Land Bank Program and suggested the Town wait until the Annual Town Meeting to bring an article before the townspeople. Ms. Freeman also suggested the Selectmen establish a Land Bank Program Committee. Members of the Board asked if a distinction between, residential, commercial, and industrial property could be incorporated into the program. 4. 8 :15 PM Street Acceptance Public Hearing Motion: To waive the reading of the notice. (Robinson - Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Public Comments: ( David Riley, James Street, asked if acceptance of James Street would result in widening of the road. The Town Engineer, Lee Azinheira, responded that work presently planned for James Street has nothing to do with its acceptance and that the hearing is one of several steps to formally accept James Street. Once it is accepted, James Sheet will be added to Mass Highway's list of accepted sheet to be inchided in the formula to calculate Mansfteld's share of Chapter 90 finds. Clerk McCarter read a letter from Planning Board Chairman, Thomas French, stating the Planning Board does not support acceptance of Bicentennial Court, Keefe Street, Liberty Street, Mary Alice Way, and Shawmut Avenue Extension. Mr. D'Agostino read a letter from Sonny & Melissa Tang, 4 Mary Alice Way, and Stephen and Cathy Kennedy, 2 Mary Alice Way, requesting the Board reconsider accepting Mary Alice Way and paving it. Cathy Kennedy, 2 Mary Alice Way, stated that the biggest problem with the drainage issue is in the winter when snow is pushed to edge of the street and blocks the water from draining into the woods. Mark Markeson, Keefe Street, requested the Selectmen support the Planning Board and their recommendation to stricken Keefe Street from the list of streets proposed for acceptance. Ted Mahoney, property owner on Keefe Street, requested the Selectmen support the acceptance of Keefe Street. i Mark Markeson, Keefe Street, stated he was told by the DPW Director that Keefe Street would not be plowed or maintained by the town, and that he actually mows Keefe Street. George Johnson, Day asked spring if it is not accepteed. d. why patch work was done on his street this past Motion: To layout all the streets but Keefe, Bicentennial Court, and only the paved Portion of Liberty Street and old portion only of Shawmut Avenue (Boyle- Mahana) All in favor. Passes. Chairman Madan closed the public hearing at 8 :45 PM. 5. 8:45 PM Discussion with Charter Commission Charter Commissioners John Dunn, Ralph Penney, Sara Forbes, Tom Dwyer, and Tod Sankey each introduced themselves. Lou Amoruso arrived during the discussion. Charter Commission Chairman Dunn reviewed the evolution of the revised proposed Charter and highlighted several of the proposed amendments. Chairman Dunn explained that the document would go directly to a ballot question and ( would not be voted on at a Town Meeting, however, the Commission would like to review the amendments at Town Meeting. A copy of the report must be forwarded to every household having one or more voters, and the Commission would like to meet with boards and committees, staff, and the Town Manager to discuss the amendments. Board of Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the following: who, under the proposed document, would hold dog hearings, if the amendments would be voted on in their entirety or individually, the next step if the amendments do not pass, an elected vs. appointed Board of Light Commissioners, and when the document would be mailed to residents. Commissioner Penney suggested holding a joint workshop with the Selectmen to review the proposed amendments. 6. 9 :20 PM Cable License Amendment Discussion Selectman Robinson left the room for this discussion. Town Manager D'Agostino reviewed items requested of Time Warner by the Council on Aging as part of the license amendment and Mr. Leuci's concurrence with the request, if the Selectmen approve the amendments this evening. Members of the Board discussed the following: Channel alignment authority, senior discount provision and the Selectmen's willingness or lack there of to give up one or two access channels and Cable Advisory's recommendation on same in light of the additional items presented by Time Warner. Town Manager D'Agostino suggested that he call Mr. Leuci and request additional time to vote on the license amendments to discuss Time Warner's additional donations to the Council on Aging with the Cable Advisory Committee. The Selectmen would like Cable Advisory's recommendation. 7. 9:50 PM Eastern Container Release Deed for 60 Maple Street Selectman Robinson entered and the meeting. Motion: To approve the Release Deed for Eastern Container at 60 Maple Street as recommended by Town Counsel. (Royle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. Selectman Mahana tivas not present for this vote. 8. Correspondence State and Local Government Letter from James Moynihan, Town of North Attleboro, relaying his and the North Attleboro Selectmen's concerns relative to the FY99 Bristol County budget Miscellaneous ( Letter of complaint from Kennan Rosenthal, Waltham, regarding "security procedures, or a lack thereof, at Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts." Mr. D'Agostino reported that a meeting is being scheduled ivith Bruce Mongtomery, the Chairman of the Board, the Police Chief, and Mr. Rosenthal to review this complaint. 9. Old Business A. Town Manager Town Manager D'Agostino reported the following: • One hundred twenty -five letters have been sent to residents on Church, Chilson, and Cottage Street inviting them to next week's 8:30 PM public hearing with the Selectmen to discuss the sidewalks on the streets and whether or not to include an article on the Special Town Meeting warrant to fund sidewalks. • A joint meeting with the Foxboro Water and Sewer Commissioners and Norton Board of Selectmen for Thursday, September 24, at 7:30 PM. Mr. D'Agostino read a letter from the Town of Norton raising their objection to Mansfield's charging a 14% late penalty on water and sewer bills. • The sewer extension workshop has been postponed to Thursday, November 19. • An executive session has been scheduled with Attorney Dalton and Richard Morse and his attorney next week at 7:00 PM. • All Town Meeting warrant articles must be received by September 30, 1998. The Selectmen will sign the warrant on October 7, and Special Town Meeting will be on October 26. • The Town will begin the notification process to re- designate parking spaces in the commuter lots effective October 5. The Parking Enforcement Officers will distribute notifications to commuters prior to that date a minimum of three times. • The open -air regulations are scheduled for a vote by the Selectmen on September 23 and will be reviewed by Town Counsel prior to that date. • The Town expects to have $1,150,245.54 available in Free Cash. Clerk McCarter asked if a workshop had been scheduled to discuss Free Cash. Town Manager D'Agostino suggested that it should be used one -time capital expenditures only and that a workshop would be scheduled to policy on its use. • The Town Hall picnic was a success. Donations received to help to defray the cost of the event were greatly appreciated. B. Selectmen • Selectwoman Royle inquired about the status of a Town Meeting vote appropriating $5000 for work on Branch Street including surveying, installation of sewer and sidewalks. • Clerk McCarter asked if a Parking Enforcement Officer had been hired yet 10. New Business A. Town Manager • Mr. D'Agostino suggested the Selectmen consider adopting a policy for seasonal decoration of Town commons. Selectwoman Royle questioned the funding source to purchase additional decorations. B. Selectmen • Selectman Robinson stated he has received several phone calls concerning trash collection and that the trucks are leaking a foul smelling substance. Selectman Robinson has also been told that they witnessed the company taking newspaper out of recycling bins and putting it in the trash trucks. • At Malcom Smith's request, Selectwoman Royle announced the Mansfield Elk's Lodge will host an information night for guests of members of the Elks, all Town residents, Thursday night, at 7:30 PM. • Selectman Mahana asked if a program similar to the small sewer extension program could be established for sidewalks. Town Manager D'Agostino is exploring this option. • Selectman Mahana also stated that a number of people were unable to vote at the poles yesterday because they had not answered their census and were put on an inactive file. • Lastly, Selectman Mahana questioned articles on the draft Special Town Meeting warrant for the Fire Department's purchase of a heavy duty commercial washer and dryer and protective clothing. • Clerk McCarter asked how the new Light Department Director is progressing and wished the Mansfield High School Football team and all the other sports teams good luck. Motion: To open the Special Town Meeting warrant. (Mahana- Robinson)AII in favor. Passes. • Members of the Board discussed the type and number of articles to be included on the Special Town Meeting warrant. It was suggested that the articles should be of a financial nature and/or sundry items that could not fit into the Annual Town Meeting. Selectwoman Royle suggested the Town Manager draft a policy on articles for inclusion in Special Town Meetings for the Selectmen's review. 11. Adjournment 10:35 PM Motion: To adjourn. ( Mahana- McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Clerk's Signature Date of Approval