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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-13-1999Board of Selectmen Minutes January 13, 1999 Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk McCarter, and Selectman Robinson <'?. l 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. 29 - $1,841,207.15 Motion: To approve. (Robinson - McCarter) All in favor. Chairman Madan abstained on all Building Department items, and Clerk McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. Passes. B. Licenses and Permits • Drainlayers License Application of Timothy Mello and Positive Recommendation from the Town Engineer, Lee Azinheira Motion: To approve. (Royle- McCarter) All in favor. Passes. • Deed for the Sale of Landon Church Street to Donald and Patricia Daniels Motion: To sign. (McCarter - Robinson) All in favor. Passes. • Request from Southshore Antique Auto Foundation for a Public Entertainment on Sunday License for a Flea Market on May 16, 1999 Motion: To table until next week. (McCarter - Robinson) All in favor. Passes. • Alcohol Training Policy Motion: To sign the Alcohol Training Policy. (McCarter - Robinson) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes • Minutes of December 30, 1998 Motion: So moved. (Robinson- McCarter) (2 -0 -1) Chairman Madan abstained. Passes. • Minutes of January 6, 1999 Motion: So moved. (Robinson - McCarter) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Resident Letter from David Guadagnoli, 7 Elmwood Court, concerning parking at the commuter rail station and receiving two parking tickets for parking in a resident space with his rental car, which does not have a resident sticker, while his own vehicle, which has a 1999 sticker, was in the repair shop Clerk McCarter noted that the Selechnen did recommend the Parking Clerk waive all tickets received by Mansfield residents for not having a 1999 Resident sticker during the first four or five business days in January. The Parking Clerk responded to the Selectmen in writing stating that there would be no wary of determining which of the tickets issued were issued to residents. The Parking Clerk continued to state that 1,168 Mansfield residents took the time to obtain their new stickers as of.lanrraty 1, and only 508 residents had obtained stickers since. Towtr Manager D'Agostino provided each of the Selectmen with a proposed policy to be implemented during next year's transition period for obtaining new Resident stickers. Letter from Nancy Flynn, 20 Samoset Avenue, and Theresa Campbell, 30 Samoset Avenue, thanking the Selectmen for assistance with having tree stumps removed from their properties Board and Committee Memorandum from Richard Feeley, Chairman, Municipal Building Committee, advising the Selectmen that they and the Town Manager have appointed Paul Alan Letendre of Yarmouth Port, MA, to the position of Project Coordinator for the Mansfield High School Additions/Renovations project. Town Manager and Staff Invitation from Patrolman Thomas R. Connor for the Selectmen to attend the February 3, 1999, DARE Graduation at the Jordan Jackson School from 1:15 PM — 2:30 PM 2. 8 :00 PM Questions and Comments - None 3. 8:00 PM Discussion with Frank Gay Gatra, re: Transportation Service Frank Gay, Gatra, distributed copies of the grant application Gatra submitted to the State to provide subscription transportation service in Mansfield. Mr. Gay explained that originally the application was to provide transportation service from the train station to the industrial park but the number of users were not great enough to justify the application so the application was expanded to include transportation from residences to the industrial park and commuter station. The grant is comprised of both Federal (80 %) and State (20 %) money at no cost to Mansfield. Funding will not be confirmed until late spring or early summer, with the program planned to commence in late summer or early fall. The program would run for one year and would be open for Mansfield residents only. The service could provide traffic mitigation during the train station renovation project. Vans used would be similar to the Council on Aging's van and would hold eighteen to twenty passengers. Board Questions: Members of Board of Selectmen expressed concerns and asked questions regarding the following: what would happen should Federal funds not be available after the first year of the program, why the program would work now when the Selectmen were told previously that it wouldn't, possibility of offering the service free to Mansfield residents up until the train station renovations arecompleted, and the number of shuttles proposed. 4. 8:20 PM SRPEDD Priority Protection Areas Land Use Study ( The following persons were present for this discussion: Steve Smith, SRPEDD; Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development; Leonard Flynn, Natural Resources Trust Mr. Smith explained that SRPEDD is seeking the Selectmen's input on three nominations for inclusion in the Priority Protection Areas Land Use Study, which were received after the deadline. Mr. Flynn reviewed the three areas nominated for inclusion: Great Woods, Canoe River, and Wading river. Board Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the following: why the nominations were submitted late, whether or not the Industrial Development Commission's recommendation has been sought for inclusion of priority development areas in the study and whether or not there will be an opportunity to submit priority development areas for inclusion. Motion: To include the three areas: Canoe River, Wading River, and Great Woods as priority protection areas in the Land Use Study. (McCarter - Robinson) All in favor. Passes. 5. 8:30 PM Chauncy Street/Pratt Street Intersection Improvements Public Hearing The following staff members were present for this public hearing: Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer; David Field, Assistant Town Engineer; Police Chief O'Neill; and Lance Lawson, Traffic Safety Officer. Clerk McCarter read he public hearing notice aloud. Town Engineer Lee Azinheira presented the proposed intersection improvements and stated that he met with a number of residents concerning the improvements. New concrete sidewalks and granite curb are proposed in all areas that are disturbed. Officer Lawson stated that he endorses the plan and that he believes it would create a safer intersection, increase site distance, and will slow traffic for those who want to make a right onto Pratt Street. Police Chief O'Neill stated that he agrees with Officer Lawson and that the reconfiguration would slow traffic for those turning right onto Pratt Street, but that there will be potential for rear collisions for vehicles that stop to turn onto Pratt Street from Route 106. Lastly, Police Chief O'Neill stated that he would agree with the endorsements of both the Engineering and Planning Departments. Public Comments Alan Skar, 54 -56 Pratt Street, stated he feels the intersection improvements would make more sense and that he agrees with the Police Chief's comments concerning turning onto Pratt Street but that he is not sure of an alternative. Lastly, Mr, Skar asked that the Town make sure cosmetically that every attempt is made to have the newly grassed area fit into the neighborhood and asked who would be responsible for its maintenance. Mr. Scialoia, 62 Pratt Street, asked if when the Town is extending his front walk as part of the project it could be curved towards his driveway rather than the sidewalk. Town Engineer Azinheira noted that this would be the same distance. Chairman Madan and Selectman Robinson stated that it would not make a difference to them, Board Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen commented on and asked questions concerning maintenance of the newly grassed, discussing landscaping options with abutters, and some members of the Board expressed opposition to deeding the land to the abutters until the Town is certain that the intersection will never again change. Additional questions asked were whether or not State approval would be required for this project, the cost ($45,000), funding, and whether or not an article would be placed on the Town Meeting warrant to fund the improvements. 9:00 PM Motion: To close the public hearing. (Robinson - McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Motion: To approve the proposed layout of the plan of proposed intersection improvements at Pratt Street and Chauncy Street prepared by Lee Azinheira, Town Engineer, and David Field, Assistant Town Engineer, and to resolve landscaping issues with the abutters. (McCarter- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. 6. 9:00 PM Discussion with Serena Nardone and David DiMarzio concerning Interest in Purchasing Land on Lawndale Road Both Serena Nardone and David DiMarzio were present to express their interest in purchasing a portion of the Lawndale Road right of way which is 29.75 wide and 333.85 long from Lawndale Road's intersection with East Street. Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, submitted a memorandum to the Town Manager outlining the procedure to sell the land and providing his recommendations. Members of the Board of Selectmen expressed no opposition to moving forward with procedure to sell this portion of land. 7. Old Business A. Town Manager • As requested by the Police Chief, Mr. D'Agostino issued a reminder that the police examination application deadline is January 29, 1999, with the test scheduled for May. • A meeting will be held shortly with Mr. Ditchman, Ostendorf - Morris, VBB Architects, and the Financial Consultant concerning the train station development. • A Train Station Advisory meeting will be held in February. • Mr. D'Agostino met with Police Chief O'Neill and Superintendent Moretti regarding crossing guards in front of the East Street School complex. The Police Chief will have an officer stationed with the Crossing Guards as much as possible. Superintendent Moretti will instruct crossing guards to be on site before and after school, and house masters will address crossing safety issues educationally. • The Massachusetts Municipal Association Trade Show is scheduled for this Friday. Mr. D'Agostino will be meeting with Town Engineer Lee Azinheira and the Town's water consultants, Woodard and Curran, at an interbasin transfer meeting in Boston on Thursday regarding the Morrison well. • Mr. D'Agostino met with all unions involved with reorganization of the Department of Public Works and will be meeting with all DPW employees involved on January 20 at 8:30 AM to articulate the plan for reorganization. • A $19,000 transfer request will be required to complete renovations of tennis courts at memorial park, due to the unsuitable material encountered that had to be removed. • Departmental budget hearings are scheduled to begin next Tuesday and will continue through mid February, at which time the Town Manager will recommend budgetary cuts. B. Selectmen • Clerk McCarter requested a breakdown from Attorney Dalton of the estimated cost to appeal the Morse case stating that he remembers a much lower figure then the $30,000- 40,000 presently being quoted. • Clerk McCarter requested a written opinion from Town Counsel on a finding issued but a Judge that Great Woods and an adjacent open air parking facility are competitors and whether or not that would be grounds enough to require Great Woods to obtain an open air parking license. • Chairman Madan reminded voters of the January 25 Special Town Meeting. 8. New A. Town Manager B. Selectmen Business • Clerk McCarter, referencing a list of Mansfield's top ten water users, which includes the proposed Great Waves Water Park using 73,000 gallons per day, asked what the 73,000 gallons consists of, potable water, irrigation, pools, etc. • Clerk McCarter asked if the town's water consultant had issued an opinion on the effect of Great Waves on Mansfield's water supply whether or not they use their wells. • Lastly, Clerk McCarter thanked the Village at Willow Crossing for the January 11 tour, and mentioned that staff at the Village informed him of possible meeting room space for community organizations. • Selectman Robinson requested, with the start of the new year, that the DPW Head Mechanic determine when all vehicles are due for inspections and start conducting maintenance checks to be sure that all safety aspects are checked and that there are no surprises at inspection time. Town Manager D'Agostino stated he believes the Police Chief will be requesting a Reserve Fund Transfer to place additional funds in the Police Department's Vehicle Maintenance Account as a result of his request for two additional vehicles not being included on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Selectman Robinson asked if the DPW Motor Pool performs all oil changes on town - owned vehicles and stated he would prefer that they complete all repairs /maintenance they are able to. Chairman Madan asked if the Town Manager could discuss with the Police Chief the possibility of purchasing a speed limit monitor that sets on the back of a cruiser. 9. 9:40PM Adjournment Motion: To adjourn. (Robinson - McCarter) All in favor. Passes. ___ c - /W IJA /A C erPs Sigi atun e Date of pproval"