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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-20-1999I 1 1 +. Board of Selectmen Minutes X51- I`:rhCl_ October 20,1999` ICE ( Present: Chairwoman Royle, Clerk Wills, and S eC fen U4uZ Ud Robinson John D'Agostino, Town Manager I L c 1 P�� � t;J3,_(IS 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Warrant No. 16 - $728,772.65 Motion: To approve. (Wills - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. Chairwoman Royle abstained on all Board of Health items, and Selectman Robinson abstained on the School Department payroll. B. Licenses and Permits • Request from United Way to post their fundraising thermometer sign on a downtown common Motion: To approve as appropriate. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. • Application of Mansfield High School for a Parade Permit for the Home Coming Parade on October 30, 1999, at 12:30 PM Motion: So moved to approve. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. • Application of Suzanne Tallarida for a Parade Permit for the York Road neighborhood to celebrate Halloween on Sunday, October 31, 1999, at 4:00 PM Motion: To approve the parade permit application for York Road. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. • Application of the VFW for a Parade Permit for the Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 1999, at 10:00 AM. Motion: To approve. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. • Memorandum of Agreement from Mass Highway for Chapter 90 Funds - $160,920.99 Motion: To sign. (Robinson - Royle) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes • Minutes of October 6, 1999 Motion: To approve. (Robinson - Wills) All in favor. Passes. • Executive Session Minutes of October 6, 1999 Motion: To approve but not to release. (Amoruso - Robinson) All in favor. Passes. D. Bond Anticipation Notes Motion: To approve the sale of a $22,390,000 at 4.25 percent Bond Anticipation Note of the Town dated October 28, 1999, and payable April 26, 2000, to State Street capital markets, LLC. at par and accrued interest plus a premium of $53,913.87. ( Amoruso- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. E. Correspondence Action: Board and Committee Letter of resignation from the Animal Welfare Committee from Kelly L. Johnson With this resignation, we have tivo vacancies and two applicants: Elizabeth Wagner and Karen Mueller. Their applications are in your packets. Motion: To appoint Elizabeth Wagner and Karen Mueller to the Animal Welfare Committee and welcome them to attend a future Selectmen's meeting to introduce themselves to the Board. (Robinson - Wills) All in favor. Passes. Other: Resident Letter from Jim Higgins, 41 Angelina Lane, regarding gym space for Mansfield Youth Basketball Association State and Local Government Letter from Representative Poirier informing the Selectmen of a new funding program through DEP, Technical Assistance grant Funding Round, which provides grants up to $10,000 each to selected communities and citizens groups for expert advice and public education about hazardous waste disposal sites. To participate in the program, a Letter of Intent must be filed with DEP by November 5, 1999. Letter from Representative Poirier regarding this year's Chapter 90 funds for municipal roadways Request of Michael Souza, Boy Scout Troop 17 Tree Sale Chairman, to use the town property between the South Common and the Police Station for the annual tree sale Motion: To allow them to use the town property for the annual tree sale from November 28 to September 22, 1999. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. At the request of Bill Flannery, Chairwoman Royle announced that Southeast Regional Technical School will be hosting an open house this coming Saturday, October 23, 1999, from 1 -5pm. Chairwoman Royle announced that the Selectmen are in receipt of a letter of resignation from Vivian Sweet from the Board of Library Trustees Motion: To accept the resignation and send Ms. Sweet a letter of appreciation of her services; we will truly miss her. (Robinson- Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. Selectman Amoruso noted that a letter of appreciation should also be sent to Kelly Lynn Johnson in appreciation of her serving on the Animal Welfare Committee. 2. Foxborough Stadium Proposed Sewer Connection Request Update DPW Director Lee Azinheira and Town Engineer John Sullivan provided an update on discussions with the Foxboro Water and Sewer Commissioners and the Foxboro Stadium regarding temporary connection of the Stadium to Mansfield's sewer system. - The Stadium inquired what the inflow and infiltration charge would be. Mr. Azinheira stated that he would not recommend entering into an agreement with the Stadium for the short term unless guarantees are in place for the long term. Another update will be provided at next week's meeting. 3. Discussion with Recreation Chairman Dave Leary and Director Lorilee Fish regarding Plymouth Street Fields The Recreation Commission and Town Manager are trying to work out an agreement with the Army Corp. of Engineers of Attleboro to clear trees at the Plymouth Street Recreation Facility. The Corp. will do the work contingent upon the following: they are provided with a master plan of the fields, provision of an insurance binder, and provision of fuel and food. The Corp. is presently doing a job in Medfield and would like to move the machines directly from that project to Mansfield, probably sometime in March or April. Last evening, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a gravel parking area for the facility. Questions: Members of the Board of Selectmen asked questions concerning the following: number of fields to be cleared, stump disposal, if wetlands would have to be crossed to reach the new fields, the name of the original contractor that cleared trees for the fields, the name of the contractor who cleared trees at the Airport, plans for another baseball field and basketball court(s), and maintaining a tree line to separate fields and act as a buffer. Town Manager D'Agostino stated that the proposed Master Plan will be presented to the Selectmen and their support sought. Mr. D'Agostino thanked Lester McGolderick for putting the Town in touch with the Army Corp. 4. Assistant Accountant Job Description Discussion Town Accountant Bea Kearney was present for this discussion, as was the Assistant Director of Personnel Services, Gerry Scherma. Ms. Kearney submitted a list of financial tasks that she would like to institute but presently does not have the time to. Town Manager D'Agostino explained that although the Board of Selectmen has a professional accountant on staff, she spends most of her time bookkeeping and he would like to see her establish financial policy for the town, update financial processes, and assist with long range financial planning for the town. Mr. D'Agostino also stated with the establishment of the Assistant Accountant's position, there may, or may not, be a need for the present bookkeeper's position in the department. (The employee in that position has been out on workers compensation for sonic time now.) Mr. Scherma added that hiring an Assistant Accountant would allow the Accountant freedom to do analysis and study. Although the Accounting Office hours for the bookkeeper would be reduced, the position could be used in the Treasurer's Office as well. Questions: Members of the Board asked if more than clerical assistance is needed, the salary range, funding for the position, whether or not the position would be a union position; who would hire the Assistant, and whether or not additional hires will be proposed for FY01 and, if so, all proposals should be reviewed at one time. Motion: To establish the new position description for that of the Assistant Town Accountant as provided herein. (Amoruso- Wills) (3 -1) Selectman Robinson opposed. Passes. Motion: To approve the position of Assistant Town Accountant, meeting the requisites of the job description, and with a salary range between $28,300 and $34,670, as proposed in the memorandum dated October 18, 1999, from Gerry Scherma. (Amoruso- Wills) (3 -1) Selectman Robinson opposed. Passes. 5. Town Manager Report • Mr. D'Agostino and other staff members are finishing up the Inspector General's procurement classes this week. • Board members are in receipt of the paving schedule for the upcoming weeks. Selectman Robinson inquired of contingency plans in case of snoiv ivith the drainage areas already lifted in preparation of paving. Mr. D'Agostino asked the DPW Director to provide him with a tentative schedule for next year's paving schedule sometime in March or April. Chairwoman Royle suggested that there needs to be more communication ivith the Road Commissioners during the ivinter or early spring. • The Old Colony Multi - Purpose Trail is at 25% design. It is anticipated that Mansfield is on track for funding and that the trail will be completed in Mansfield. "No Trespass" signs will be posted along the rail in Norton. If signs are not posted, after a number of years, property owners encroaching on the Town's property earn the right to the land. Chairioman Royle inquired of the balance of the $80,000 allocated for the project. • Board members have been provided with a draft fee waiver policy for review. Chair•ivoman Royle commented that she prefers the October 13 draft to the December 1998 draft but that the some of the December memo should be incorporated into the October draft. Reference should also be made for religious purposes, Toivn of Mansfield, and public school projects. Selectman Amoruso suggested including a notation "The Selectmen reserve the right to reject or not ivaive a fee for• a not-for- profit organization or non-profit " on profit" and reference CMR 780. • Board members are also in receipt of a Department Head vehicle inventory and individual responses from each Department Head. Selectman Robinson commented that he has comments but before making them he ivould like to discuss them one oil one ivith the Toivn Manager. Clerk Wills commented that the report looks fine as is, if a Department Head takes a vehicle hone and has to return to ivork on the weekend, he /she would have a vehicle and that he feels that it is a plus for the Town. Chairwoman Royle inquired why the School Department does not have the same attitude as the Toivn and stated she sees more and more Toivn vehicles going home. Selectman Robinson asked if a Form 1059 is issued to each employee who is assigned a Town vehicle. Selectman Amoruso commented that he would be concerned when the car is outside of a certain range, long miles etc. When asked by Selectman Robinson if a mileage limit should be established, Selectman Amoruso responded that he has thought about it but that he feels the vehicles are well controlled. Discussion continued regarding incorporating the town vehicle into the total compensation package. • Electric Department Donation to Social Services Motion: That we accept the donation from the Electric Department to Social Services in the amount of $20,000 for heating. ( Amoruso- Robinson) All in favor. Passes. 6. Selectmen Old Business • Clerk Wills feels last night's joint Selectmen/School Committee meeting was beneficial in getting the mutli -sports complex project started, inquired of the cost of remediation measures for Memorial Park contamination, and suggested before beginning remediation efforts that the Town should determine the plans for the park. Selectman Amoruso suggested a plan for remediation should be in place but at the same time stadium plans should be kept in mind with the possibility for reimbursement. • Selectman Robinson asked if the Town Manager received an answer regarding sinking at the lower end of Mill Street. • Selectman Robinson received a call from the resident of 31 -33 Church Street complaining about the Church Street sidewalk, or lack thereof. It may be time to get the Church Street residents together to update them on the sidewalk issue. • Chairwoman Royle stated several years ago the State sent a letter to the Town inquiring of the Town's interest in accepting South Main Street from Route 495 to Spring Street. The Town responded affirmatively. The State said before turning the street over to the Town they would repave the road and the sidewalk. Chairwoman Royle suggested sending a follow -up letter because the sidewalks located in that portion of South Main Street are broken up and dangerous. Motion: To close the Special Town Meeting warrant. (Wills - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. 7. Selectmen New Business • Clerk Wills read in the newspaper that the City of Attleboro experienced problems with MediaOne's reception, and he suggested that someone call MediaOne to ensure that it does not happen in Mansfield. Mr. D'Agostino reported that MediaOne would like to gift an abandoned building in the industrial park to the Town. If the Town accepts the gift, an emergency back -up generator could be housed in it. • Selectman Amoruso stated that he spoke with Frank Foss regarding placing fiber optic cable in the industrial park and Mr. Foss stated that the project would be evaluated in approximately one year. • Mr. D'Agostino sent Mr. Foss a letter requesting an upgraded character generator system, but has not had a chance to return his call in response to the letter. • Selectman Amoruso noticed a number of emails in the correspondence folder and suggested developing a policy for all Town Hall public employees. Mr. DAgostino is working on a policy. • Selectman Robinson inquired of the status of the Canoe River Water and Sewer project. The road between St. Mary's Church and Pratt Street should be closed down. If the contractor is not going to do anything, the Town should be ready to take the bond and do the work Mr. DAgostino responded that the Town has to follow the contract and procedure spelled out under Chapter 149, which has been done to date. The Town Engineer, John Sullivan, responded that the Town put the bond company on notice that the intend to pull the bond. The contractor had not performed for two to three weeks, but he is now back on the site. The compaction tests from St. Mary's Church to Pratt Street failed and the compaction has to be done over, for which reasonable time must be given. As of yesterday, the Town put the bond company on notice that we intend to supplement the work with our own forces, using bond money, the bond company }vas not happy. Lastly, Selectman Robinson asked if an engineer is always on site for the project, to which Mr. D'Agostino responded affirmatively. Chairwoman Royle stated Town Counsel is scheduled to provide an update on pending litigation to the Board next Wednesday, from 7pm — 8pm. • The fourth train station renovation public hearing will be on Tuesday, November 9, in the Town Hall. 8. Adjournment 11:00 PM Motion: To adjourn. (Robinson-Amor o) All in favor. Passes. l Clerk's Sigh ature r V Date ofAp roval