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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-13-1999Board of Selectmen 1A A Minutes October 13, 1999 Present: Chairwoman Royle, Clerk Wills, and Selectmen Amognso Call Robinson 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. 15 Motion: To approve. (Arnoruso- Robinson) All in favor. Chairwoman Royle abstained on all Board of Health items; Selectman Robinson abstained on the School Department payroll; and Selectman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. B. Licenses and Permits • Request of Jay Barrows for a one day full alcohol license on Saturday, November 27, for Mansfield High School's 25°i Reunion at the Canoe River Campground and for a waiver of the $25.00 fee Motion: To approve subject to approval by the Police Department. (McCarter - Wills) All in favor. Passes. Motion: To waive the twenty -five dollar fee. (Wills - Amoroso) (1 -4) Clerk Wills in favor. Fails. Drainlayers License application of Efficient Excavating and positive reconrrnendation from the Town Engineer Motion: To approve. (Robinson - Amoroso) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes of September 22, 1999 Motion: To approve. (Robinson - Amoroso) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Action Town Manager & Staff Letter from Town Counsel Robert Mangiaratti outlining the next step that must be taken as part of the procedure to use town -owned conservation land for the new Williams Street Bridge and roadway in accordance with Articles 26 and 28 of the 1998 Annual Town Meeting. An Assistant House Counsel suggested the Town ask the Governor to submit a bill for this legislative session to include a vote on Town Meeting Articles 26 and 28. Town Counsel drafted a letter to Governor Cellucci for the Board's review, which is attached. A copy of this letter is in each of your packets. Motion: To authorize the Town Manager to send the letter on our behalf requesting the legislation in the format and including information provided by Town Counsel. (Amoruso- Wills) All in favor. Passes. Other l Town Manager & Staff Letter from Robert Mangiaratti, Town Counsel, in response to the August 9, 1999, inquiry of resident George Dentino Miscellaneous Letter from Clarence R. Randall, Post Commander, VFW, requesting the Selectmen's presence at the November 11, 1999, Veterans Day ceremony, which will begin at 10:00 AM at Memorial Park The rain location will be in either the High School auditorium or gym. All Selectmen will bepresent. 2. Questions and Comments George Dentino, Gladiola Terrace, stated Town Counsel's October 6, 1999, response to his August 9, 1999, letter should be sent back because it does not address his letter asking if the Zoning Board of Appeals has the authority to overturn a decision of the Superior Coma which overturned a Zoning Board of Appeals decision. Town Manager Dilgostino will provide additional information, i.e. Zoning Board decision, to Town Counsel for f rther review of Mr. Dentino's inquiry. David Hammond, 48 Branch Street, placed a bucket of dirty tap water on the Selectmen's table and stated that he called the Water Department this morning and was told that a main was probably being installed for the Versa Care building on South Main Street. This does not explain the other four or five times this has happened. If the Town cannot keep the water supply clean on a normal basis, what is the Town doing constructing big projects that are going to routinely produce this effect. Mr. Hammond continued stating his concern is the water supply in the Town and the condition of the main. He received an estimate of $100 from Sears to clean out his hotwater heater and hopes to submit his bill to the Town for payment. Acting Water Operations Manager Steve Bishop responded that the Town flushed Eddy Street last night and that there have been a couple of water main breaks in the area over time. The mains in that area need to be addressed in the future. Mr. Hammond suggested that the Town give residents twenty-four hours notice and send out fliers to all households affected by flushing and post the streets to be flushed on the same signs as the water ban. Lastly, Mr. Hammond stated that he is willing to see his water rates go up to take care of the water main problem, recommended if an article is put before Town Meeting to replace water mains that the Selectmen support it, and if Town Meeting does not support the article he would ask the Town Meeting to support a moratorium on construction affecting water quality. Mr. Bishop offered to look at Mr. Harnnrond's water, and Mr. Hammond asked if he could also flush out the water heater Bill Gerber, 362 Central Street, noticed DeWolfe Real Estate striped their parking lot a few days after he sent a letter regarding striping to the Building Inspector. Mr. Gerber, however, has not received a response to his letter from the Building Inspector. 3. Water Quality Report for Consumer Confidence Town Engineer John Sullivan and Acting Water Operations Manager Steve Bishop were present for this Report. The Department of Environmental Protection issued a mandate requiring all towns to issue an annual water quality report to consumers by October 1, 1999, and annually by July 1 of each following year. Messrs. Bishop and Sullivan reviewed the report to be mailed to residents. 4. Town Manger Report • Kurt Gaffney of Marshfield accepted the position of Water Operations Manager in Mansfield and will start on November 9. Michael Thompson of Lincoln, RI, accepted the position of MIS Director for the Town. • Board members have been provided with a Departmental Vehicle Usage memorandum and a draft Fee Waiver Policy memorandum, both of which Mr. D'Agostino would like to discuss at the next Board meeting. • Each Selectman has been given a copy of a legal opinion from Rubin and Rudman regarding whether or not the Light Department can donate money to the Town. • The Selectmen are scheduled to meet with the School Committee on the proposed multi - purpose field development on October 19 at 8:00 PM. Mr. D'Agostino has not received any definitive information yet, but he has been promised that he will have it by Friday. A small amount of money will be sought to fund a design study to establish three options for a design plan. Selectman McCarter inquired ifpart of the conversation world be whether the project could be reimbursed by SBAB, and Clerk Wills stated that he is concerned with the cost. Chairwoman Royle asked if the Treasurer could provide a list of existing debt, including what has been paid off recently. Town Manager D'Agostino stated he would also request anticipated debt. • The next Selectmen's Association dinner is scheduled for October 28 at the Bridge Street Cafe in Dartmouth. • Fire Chief Ed Sliney, Emergency Management Director Robert Button, and DPW would like to schedule a meeting with the Selectmen to discuss the prospect of moving from the North Main Street Fire Station, building a safety complex on Route 106, expanding the DPW barn to include a fleet maintenance area, and upgrading and expanding the office area. Mr. D'Agostino would propose to eliminate the North Main Street Fire Station and use the money from the sale to help finance the development of a Route 106 Fireliouse. Relocating the Fire Station from North Main Street to Route 106 would cut response time by two and one -half minutes, allow an equal distance to the two firehouses throughout the town, and provide overlapping set-vice for the schools and the most populated portion of town. The North Main Street Fire Station is not adequate; trucks built today cannot fit within the structure. Selectman Robinson connnented that if relocating the station would hurt dorvntou,n businesses or cause their insurance rates to increase he would not be in favor of it. Selectman Robinson would like to look at a one -man department at the Air port, cis has been discussed in the past. Selectman McCarter asked if the downtown station could be expanded to the adjacent vacant lot. Chairwoman Royle requested Mr. D'Agostino ask the Fire Chief to respond to Selectman Robinson's inquiries. • Town Manager D'Agostino will be out of the office next week, Tuesday - Thursday, while attending an Inspector's General course in construction contracting. • A water capital charge workshop is scheduled for October 25 at 7:30 PM but will be rescheduled to a regular meeting night, as has been suggested by Board members. • Last Thursday's Foxboro Stadium sewer connection meeting was well attended. Foxboro needs a short-term solution to a long -term problem. Mr. D'Agostino summarized the meeting discussion. Chairrvonan Royle would like to talk with the oivners of the Tweeter Center, Great Waves, TCP Golf Course, and Campanelli Development and require the same use of ivater conservation measures. Selectman McCarter feels the Board should look at voting on expansions of water systems and taking a proactive role; recycling water could be a condition of approval. • This year's Senior Leaf Pick -Up will be on Fridays, November 5, 12, 19, and 26. Seniors are urged to contact the Council on Aging to have their leaves picked up. • Beginning October 18 and 19, 1999, at lam, weather permitting, the following streets are scheduled for their final course of paving: Court Street, Columbus Avenue, Hodges Street, Rock Street, Shawmut Avenue, Church Street, Chilson Avenue, and Cottage Street. The Mansfield Highway Division is asking that all residents not park vehicles on the roadway between Gam — 5pm. All parked cars will be towed at the Town's expense. Discussion followed concerning whom should be responsible to pay the towing charges. 5. Selectmen Old Business • Clerk Wills asked if Mark Cook, Highway Operations Manager, met with Kevin McNatt of the Historical Society regarding removing the brush at the Fisher Richardson House. Toivn Manager D'Agostino responded that he thinks it had been straightened out. • Clerk Wills inquired about the status of repairing the Oakland Street rail "bump ". This is scheduled to be temporarily patched until the Town can fix both Maple and Oakland Streets. The DPW Director intends to meet with the abutters to the rail spur to discuss the cost of the project. • Selectman Wills inquired of the number of articles that have been submitted for inclusion on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Chairrvornan Royle asked if the Selectmen would like to include Charter Revisions on the Special Town Meeting warrant. A consensus of the Board was in favor of reviewing all of the articles and then deciding. • Selectman McCarter inquired of the Town's plans for the Rails to Trails project. Mr. D'Agostino responded that he does not have an update from the Town Planner. During their last conversation, Mansfield ivas going to try to proceed to the town line. "No Trespassing" signs ivill be posted along the rail in Norton. Clerk Wills requested the Town Manager look into the possible utilization of the Town's property along the rail near Route 123 by a private business for warehousing. 6. Selectmen New Business • Selectman Robinson suggested the Selectmen set up a meeting with Amtrak representatives and stated that he would like to be one of the first communities to / meet with Amtrak to voice concerns regarding sound barriers and fencing for the High Speed Rail Project. • Selectman Robinson requested the Town Manager ask the Town Engineer to look at Mill Street near the Norton Town line because the road is sinking. • In reference to correspondence in the Reading Folder, Selectman Robinson asked the Town Manager if staff would be sent to a Census 2000 workshop. Copies of this correspondence have been given to the Town Clerk and Planner. • Selectman McCarter stated he was asked by a resident if the recycling park hours could be increased by utilizing the senior tax program and suggested posting a notice at the Council on Aging. • Selectman Robinson inquired of the Sunday dates for leaf composting. Every Sunday in November from 8am to 12 Noon. • Clerk Wills stated that he read in the paper that the Town hired a bridge consultant and asked how many bridges are being reviewed by the consultant, at what cost, and the time frame. • Chairwoman Royle encouraged residents to apply for annual board and committee appointments. • Chairwoman Royle stated an executive session will need to be scheduled with Town Counsel for an update on legal cases, either from 7pm -8pm on a regular meeting night or on an off night. • Chairwoman Royle asked if it would hurt or hinder Mansfield to request Representatives Birmingham and Finneran to pass the budget. Selectman Amoruso responded that an agreement in principle has been reached 7. Adjournment — 9:45 PM Motion: To adjourn. (R binson - McCarter) t,ll in favor. Passes. Clerk's Sign ; ure Date o App' val