HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-20-1999Board of Selectmen
Minutes
January 20, 1999
Present: Chairman Madan, Clerk McCarter, Selectman Amoruso, Robinson, andAoyle
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John D'Agostino, Town Manager ?: 7
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1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the ;pledge `df
allegiance. Chairman Madan welcomed the newly elected Selectmen, Lbu
Amoruso. J'r
A. Warrant No. 30 - $3,288,892.91 c, n
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Motion: So moved.
(Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Chairman Madan abstained on all Building' ' �
Department items, Clerk McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building
Committee payroll, and Selectwoman Royle abstained on all Board of
Health items. Passes.
B. Licenses and Permits
• Application of Mansfield Women of Today for an Auctioneer's Special Permit at the
Holiday Inn on March 20, 1999
Motion: To approve the auctioneer's special permit.
(Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes.
• Request from the Police Department for a Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of
$10,000 to match a grant received for the Violence Against Women Program
Town Manager D'Agostino stated if this is going to be a reoccurring grant each year,
that the matching funds should be committed within the Police Department budget.
Motion: To recommend approval of the reserve fund transfer.
(Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes.
• Application of Southshore Antique Auto Foundation Trading Bee for a Public
Entertainment on Sunday License on May 16, 1999, for their Annual Flea Market
Carl Webber, applicant, was in attendance in the audience and offered to answer any
questions the Selectman may have concerning his application. Questions asked were
concerning whether or not the Trading Bee is held in other communities during the year,
payment of taxes by individual vendors, whether or not individual vendors obtain business
certificates, and the number of vendors that participate. Mr. Webber responded as
follows: the "Bee" is not held in any other communities during the year; the income goes
into a fund for scholarships, the Foundation does pay taxes; approximately three hundred
vendors participate; and Great Woods charges the vendors a $5.00 parking fee. Mr.
Webber asked if vendors participating in arts in the park, craft fair, or the annual plant sale
are required to obtain business certificates and stated that it would be chaotic if all Trading
Bee vendors were required to do so.
Motion: To approve the license for Southshore Antique Auto Foundation.
(McCarter - Royle) All in favor. Passes.
C. Correspondence
Action
State and Local Government
Letter from the Massachusetts Lottery Commission notifying the Selectmen that they
received an application for a Keno license from Tahana Restaurant and that if Mansfield
objects to the issuance of a Keno license to Tahana, Selectmen must request a hearing
within 21 days of receipt of the letter
Other
Resident
Letter from Karl Clemmey, South Main Street, referring the Selectmen to his previous
letter of October 26, 1998, in which he suggests the Selectmen require the vendors of the
South Shore Antique Auto Trading Bee to obtain business certificates
Board and Committee
Letter from H. Thomas French, Chairman, Planning Board, stating the Planning Board
unanimously supports the three nominations for priority protection areas as part of the
Regional Land Use Plan
Letter from H. Thomas French, Chairman, Planning Board, stating the Planning Board
with five (5) members present voted to send a positive recommendation to the Road
Commissioners on the Chauncy Street/Pratt Street Intersection Improvements with
suggestions (A copy of this letter• has been given to the Town Engineer)
2. Questions and Comments - None
3. 7:50 PM Discussion with Fire Chief Sliney re: Budget Shortfalls in the Fire
Department
Fire Chief Sliney updated the Selectmen on the Status of the Fire Department budget
stating that he has kept shifts at status quo and that he has had a fairly normal week with
nothing extraordinary occurring. Medics are still at the Academy, will graduate February
5, and will be back on staff soon after, With the return of the medics, the staff level will
be back at six and sometimes seven. The figures being requested at the Special Town
Meeting remain the same. Fire Chief Sliney requested the townspeople vote on January
25 and stated if the article fails he will be looking at layoffs as of March 1.
Clerk McCarter asked if the Fire Chief had met with the Finance Committee on the Special
Town Meeting article, and Mr. D'Agostino responded that the Committee me last evening
and voted to support all six articles. Mr. D'Agostino also stated that there would be a
reduction in some of the line items, specifically, Article 6 would be reduced from $40,000
down to $25,000.
Fire Chief Sliney recognized Wayne Jackman's achievement, who was recently certified as
an EMT Intermediate last week.
Town Manager D'Agostino read a letter from the Foxboro Department of Fire and
Rescue thanking Mansfield for assistance with a recent fire.
4. 8:00 PM Presentation of Professor Mullin's Findings and Recommendation
\ IDC members Jay Barrows, Thomas Prestwhich, Chris Trombetta, Karl Briggs, Walter
Jenkins, and IDC applicant, Jim Adams were present, as was Professor Mullin.
Mr. Barrows explained the purpose of Professor Mullin's report and the IDC's future
plans and goals.
Professor Mullin explained the mission statement and findings and recommendations
outlined in his report.
Board of Selectmen Questions:
Members of the Board of Selectmen commented on and asked questions concerning the
following: statements made in the introduction, prior development of a permitting process
guide, restrictiveness of zoning in industrial park, strategies to alter attraction for
warehouse and attract offices, balance expansion/size, why separate zoning would be
required for biotech, demand for fiber optics, and what is required of the Selectmen.
Mr. Barrows responded that the IDC hopes to present a budget and would be seeking the
Selectmen's and Finance Committee's support. The Commission would also like to
present an annual report to the Selectmen and Community and to report to the Selectmen
on a quarterly basis.
Lastly, Town Manger D'Agostino inquired of the Commissions interest in serving also as
the Town's Industrial Finance Authority, to which Mr. Barrows responded that he thought
the Commissioners would be supportive.
Motion: That we endorse the Mullin report for the IDC and that we show our
support for the IDC to move forward.
(Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes.
5. 8:45 PM DPW Reorganization Presentation
A. Reorganization
Town Manager D'Agostino reviewed the present and proposed organizational structure of
the DPW and requested the Selectmen consider accepting the job descriptions for the
following positions: Director of Public Works, Town Engineer, Water Operations
Manager, Highway Division Operations Manager, Manager of Public Buildings and
Special Projects, Public Works Office Manager, Subdivision Inspector, and Administrative
Secretary for the Department of Public Works. Mr. D'Agostino also reviewed the salary
ranges for the newly created positions, cost, and a comparison of salaries in other
communities.
Board of Selectmen Questions:
Members of the Board of Selectmen commented on and asked questions concerning the
following: figures currently in the FY2000 budget for DPW, whether or not the DPW
Director could also act as the Subdivision Inspector, affect of the hiring freeze on
reorganization/new positions, requiring ASE certification for the Highway Operations
Manager and Motor Pool Foreman, comparable Director and Engineer salaries, inclusion
of a Bachelor's degree as part of the DPW Office Manager's qualifications, and number of
hours to be worked by the Subdivision Inspector.
Motion: To include a Bachelors degree or equivalent number of years of experience
as part of the qualifications for the Public Works Office Manager job
C description. This qualification will not apply to the existing manager but
would to future hires.
(Boyle — Amoroso) (4 -1) Chairman Madan opposed. Passes.
Discussion among the Selectmen continued concerning the increase in salaries, whether or
not an analysis of cost savings for the town in terms of efficiencies had been done, and
room for future consolidation with the School Department.
( Motion: To support the proposed reorganization of DPW as presented.
(Boyle- Amoruso) (4 -1) Selectman Robinson opposed. Passes.
Job Descriptions
Motion: To approve the job description for the Highway Division Operations
Manager with the amendment that part of the qualifications include ASE
Certification or the ability to obtain certification within a specified time
frame.
(Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes.
Motion: To approve the job descriptions as amended for the following positions:
Director of Public Works, Town Engineer, Water Operations Manager,
Highway Division Operations Manager, Manager of Public Buildings and
Special Projects, Public Works Office Manager, Subdivision Inspector, and
Administrative Secretary for the Department of Public Works.
( Amoruso- McCarter) All in favor. Passes.
6. Old Business
A. Town Manager
Town Manager D'Agostino reported on the following:
• The Board of Selectmen is in receipt of a water model prepared by Tata and Howard,
in which an average daily water use of 73,100 gallons is indicated for Great Waves.
On a peak attendance day, the draw down would be 140,000 gallons. Clerk McCarter
asked what impact, if any, tivould Great Waves have on Mansfield's water sources if
they sink their bedrock rvells. Selechnan Amoniso questioned the affect on adjacent
communities. It was suggested that the Board invite Mr. Howard into a future
Selectmen's meeting to review the water inodel report.
• A meeting is scheduled for this Friday with VHB, Joe Blair, Financial Consultant for
VHB, and Joe Ditchman, to discuss what roles, if any, Mr. Ditchman can play with the
train station renovation project.
B. Selectmen
• Selectwoman Royle requested the Selectmen consider placing a water fowl by -law on
the upcoming Town Meeting warrant.
• Chairman Madan requested the Selectmen take a position on the upcoming Special
Town Meeting Warrant Articles 1 -6
Motion: To support all of articles and amend Article 6 down from $40,000 to
$25,000.
(Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes.
• Selectman Robinson asked the Town Manager if he had received an answer to his
question last week on whether or not the Town sends its vehicles out for Tube jobs.
Mr. D'Agostino responded that the Town does do some of the vehicles internally --
Highway, DPW, Town fleet vehicles, and the Police Department- -and that any
sophisticated repairs are sent out. Selectman Robinson stated that he is upset that he
noticed a voucher to pay for a town vehicle to have four new tires placed on it.
Motion: That if cars are going to be sent any other place for preventative
maintenance than the highway garage, than the Motor Pool Foreman
should send them,
(Robinson -No Second)
Motion: That the Motor Pool Foreman in the Highway Department coordinate
maintenance with the Electric Department for all passenger or sports utility
vehicles.
(Robinson -No Second)
Mr. D'Agostino will investigate the nature of the tire request and stated such items
should be sent to the motor pool. The Town Manager will report oil the motor pool at
next week's meeting and stated all preventative maintenance should be done there.
7. New Business
A. Town Manager
• Town Manager D'Agostino reported that DPW Maintenance Supervisor, Mike Ahern,
recently received his pilot's license, and spoke of the good relationship between the
Town and Airport.
B. Selectmen
• Selectman Robinson spoke of meetings and workshops he attended while at the MMA
Annual Meeting and Trade Show last weekend and conveyed Representative
Gardner's request for support of special education reform. It was suggested that
additional information be sought from Representative Gardner concerning her request
for support.
• Selectwoman Royle stated that she would be providing the Selectmen with
telecommunication information she received while at the Trade Show. Selectwoman
Royle also inquired about correspondence in the Reading Folder concerning Hotel tax,
and the amount charged by Mansfield; notification of a "Planning for Growth" grant
program and "Communities Connected by Water" program; and resolution of a
flooding problem experienced by a resident at 520 Williams Street.
• Selectwoman Royle, referencing a memorandum from the Finance Committee to
Department Heads, questioned the line of authority from the Committee to the
Department Heads.
Motion: To send a memorandum to the Finance Committee requesting that they
direct all correspondence to Department Heads through the Town
Manager.
( Royle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes.
• Selectwoman Royle stated that she feels the Town should start charging for parking
( stickers, perhaps after the deadline date, January 1, and suggested the Town Manager
discuss this with the Town Clerk's Office and also ascertain if a Town Meeting vote
would be required to do so.
f.
Motion: To refer to the Town Manager to discuss with the Town Clerk and to bring
back a recommendation for a fee for the recycling/parking resident stickers.
(Boyle — Madan) All in favor. Passes.
Mr. D'Agostino suggested the Selectmen may wish to establish two separate sticker
programs, one for commuter parking and the other for recycling.
• Selectwoman Royle requested an opinion from Traffic Safety Officer on lowering the
speed limit on Union Street, which is currently 30MPH.
• Selectman Amoroso stated that he would be resigning from the Cable Access Board of
Directors and that there are also presently two vacancies for positions appointed to the
Board by the Selectmen.
• Selectwoman Royle noted that the Selectman, with the passing of former Selectman
Mahana, need to appoint a representative to the Capital Improvements Committee.
Before doing so, the Selectmen questioned the meeting night for the Committee.
• Clerk McCarter thanked a Mansfield resident, Harold Collins, for his donation of two
flags to the Town.
• Clerk McCarter also reminded the residents of the upcoming Special Town Meeting,
Monday, January 25, at 7:00 PM.
• Clerk McCarter inquired about the delay in starting the "Rails to Trails" project
because of the lack of funding.
• Chairman Madan announced that the Annual Town Meeting warrant would close on
February 1, 1999.
8. Adjournment —11:00 PM
Motion: To adjourn.
(Boyle- Robinson) All in favor. Passes.
Clerk's Signature
Date of Approval