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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-24-1999Board of Selectmen Minutes : t1 March 24, 1999 Present: Chairwoman Royle, Clerk Wills, Selectman Amoroso, McCarter, 00 R3bihsorr' ' 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. 39 Motion: To approve. (McCarter - Amoruso) All in favor. Chairwoman Royle abstained on all Board of Health items, and Selectman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. B. Licenses and Permits Reserve Fund Transfer Request of Veterans Agent for $7,500.00 Motion: To recommend approval. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. C. Minutes Minutes of March 10, 1999 Motion: To approve. (Amoroso- McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Executive Session Minutes of January 27, 1999; December 2, 1998; October 28, 1998; October 21, 1998; September 30, 1998; September 23, 1998; September 9, 1998; and September 24, 1997 Motion: To release the executive session minutes to the public. (Robinson- Arnoruso) All in favor. Passes. D. Correspondence Resident Letter from Gerald and Patricia Bedard requesting the Selectmen's assistance with the lack of recycling service provided by NEED State and Local Government Letter from Ginny Coppola, Aide to Rep. Hyland, informing the Selectmen of an upcoming summit among citizens, federal, state, and local officials to discuss funding for land conservation outdoor recreation, and historic preservation April 5, 1999 at 3:00 PM Miscellaneous Letter from Mark T. Stopa requesting to speak to Town Counsel Re: Sale of the Balcom Ridge tots Request for a parade permit and invitation for the Selectmen to participate in the May 31 Memorial Day Ceremony from George Auld, Jr., VFW Post Commander Motion: To approve parade permit for VFW 32499.MN Page I of (Robinson- McCarter) All in favor. Passes. Letter from Time Warner with three enclosed checks: 1. $3,186.50 Payable to Town of Mansfield - Franchise Fee 2. $185,967.77 Payable to Cable Access — 5% of Annual Gross Revenues 3. $8,500.00 Payable to Cable Access -Cable Access Program Director Letter from Dick Samuels, Managing Partner, Great Waves, in response to comments made at the March 3 Selectmen's meeting and on WBZ -TV Invitation from Citizens' Scholarship Foundation to attend a reception on April 8 at 6:30 PM to honor new permanent fund sponsors 2. Questions an Comments Sara Forbes, Clinton Street, announced a Great Waves Steering Committee, "Wave Good Bye ", was formed last evening and will host a residents meeting on March 30 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall. The Committee was not in any way involved with the Great Waves fliers distributed to residents. Ms. Ready encouraged the Selectmen to participate in appealing the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Peter DeTrolio, 496 Ehu Street, encouraged the Selectmen to appeal the Certificate of Compliance issued by MEPA for the Great Waves project and asked the Selectmen for their comments. Chainvonran Royle responded that the Selectmen im be contacting Town Counsel and that if a decision is made to more forward would she would prefer to hire and environmental attorney. Mr. DeTrolio also suggested the Selectmen encourage taxpayers to write to the Governor expressing disappointment with the decision and encouraged residents not to do business with Bankboston. Lastly, Mr. DeTrolio suggested the Town should take another look at whether a water park use is allowed by zoning. Karl Clenumey, 750 South Main Street, stated that his family did not distribute fliers in opposition to Great Waves. Eight weeks ago, Mr. Clemmey asked the Selectmen to review requiring business certificates for all vendors participating in the May 5 South Shore Antique Auto Trading Bee at Great Woods. A non- profit organization organizes the event, but the vendors are for - profit. Mr. Clemmey insisted the Selectmen visit the Trading Bee. Chairwoman Royle responded that the Tonwn Manager fvould discuss this issue u4th skiff and tlrctt if business certificates are required for the Trading Bee vendors, the Town would have to require certificates for craft fcdr, card shows, and plant sale vendors also. Mr. Clemmey suggested the Town hire a professional to review the Great Woods entertainment license and stated that he would like to meet with the Great Woods subcommittee to discuss Great Woods license issues. Marianne Kinney, 388 Gilbert Street, stated reporters and television cameras were at her house this date running a story on the high speed rail project. MSNBC spent the day yesterday with Dave Carol of Amtrak. The broadcast will air on MSNBC on Thursday or Friday at 9pm. 32499.MIN Page 2 of 6 Clerk McCarter stated that he, individually, had nothing to do with fliers distributed in opposition to Great Waves and denounced implications made by the flier. Chairwoman Royle contacted The Sun Chronicle to state neither the Selectmen nor the Town Manager ( were involved with the fliers. Selectman Robinson excused himself front the meeting for the follotiving interview. 3. Cable Access Board of Directors Interview for Reappointment Robert Varley introduced himself and stated the reason for his application for reappointment to the Cable Access Board of Directors. Board of Selectmen Questions Members of the Board asked Mr. Varley questions concerning payments received from Time Warner for operations and Cable Access Director's benefits, if there would be a problem returning the funds if it is found they were given inappropriately, status of studio construction, and plans to improve cable reception. Motion: To appoint Robert Varley for a three -year term on the Cable Access Board of Directors. (McCarter- Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. Mr. Varley noted that three additional vacancies exist on the Cable Board, two of which are appointments of the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Directors is seeking volunteers with construction and contracting experience to assist with studio construction Selectman Robinson returned to the meeting. 4. 8:15 PM Discussion with Finance Committee Re: Budget Finance Committee Chairman Jim Noris and members Gerry St. Hilaire and Joe Cutillo were present for this discussion. Finance Committee Chairman Noris distributed a memorandum to each of the Selectmen updating the Board on the present status of the FY2000 budget review. Board of Selectmen Questions and Comments: Members of the Board asked questions such as whether or not consideration had been given to having replace teachers' aides laid off with full time teachers, benefits, etc.; Quinn Bill funding, employment of a collection agent by the School Department for Medicaid reimbursements, and the necessity of the present municipal hiring freeze. Motion: That we remove the hiring freeze for the Municipal side. (Amoruso- Wills) (3 -2) Selectmen McCarter and Robinson opposed. Passes. Town Manager D'Agostino reviewed budgetary shortfalls addressed at Fall Special Town Meetings from 1993 -1998 and suggested it seems as if a pattern has been set to straighten out shortfalls at the Special Town Meeting. Chairwoman Royle commented that she would prefer to address capital improvement items at the Fall Special Town Meeting rather than the operating budget, and Mr. Noris agreed. Mr. Noris also commented that the only funding requests that may be required at the Special Town Meeting would be to reimburse the School Department for special education. 32499.MIN Page 3 orb Mr. D'Agostino stated the Selectmen would have to make a decision on whether or not to hire Special Counsel to fight the Certificate of Compliance issued by MEPA to Great ( Waves, the cost of which would probably be a minimum of $50,000. Selectman Robinson stated he is in favor of appealing the decision. Motion: To authorize the Town Manager to investigate appealing the Great Waves MEPA Certificate of Compliance, costs, direction, etc. (McCarter- amended below *) Motion: To authorize the Town Manager to appeal the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs File No. 11392 (McCarter - Robinson) WITHDRAWN Mr. D'Agostino ivill inform the Selectmen of potential appeal costs at next iveek's meeting. *Motion: To authorize the Town Manager to investigate appropriateness of the appeal, cost, direction, etc. (McCarter - Wills) (4 -1) Selectman Robinson opposed. Passes Chairwoman Royle stated she would like the entire board to meet with Town Counsel and that a special meeting would be appropriate on next Tuesday or Thursday. Finance Committee Chairman Noris will update the Selectmen on the budget status again in a month or so. 5. Old business A. Town Manager A decision has been rendered and Certificate of Compliance issued to Great Waves by the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The Town Manager's Office has received and recorded a number of calls in opposition to the project. Mansfield's business retention and attraction brochure has been finalized with Downtown Business Association President, Jay Barrows, and Jackie Cohn, consultant. The brochure will be submitted to the Selectmen for review prior to going to print. * Ajoint sewer master plan meeting has been scheduled for April 8, 1999, at 7:30 PM. The next Train Station public meeting will be on May 6 at 7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM registration. Selectman Amoruso asked if a "Question and Answer" period would be incorporated into the meeting agenda and suggested one should be. Another cable provider has acquired Mediaone. The Selectmen will still have to following the procedure to transfer the license from Time Warner to Mediaone; however, the transfer to the third company could take one more year off the license. * William Flannery, Mansfield's Southeast Regional School representative, will attend the Selectmen's April 28 meeting along with the Southeast Regional Superintendent 32499.MIN Page 4 of 6 and Business Manager. Both Superintendent Moretti and the School Committee have been invited to attend this meeting also. ( Mr. D'Agostino attended a Southeast Regional Health Insurance Consortium meeting this date, at which two insurance carrier proposals were considered - -Blue Cross and the present carrier Harvard Pilgrim. Fifty -one percent of the membership was in favor of staying with Harvard Pilgrim. Mansfield and a few other communities are considering leaving the consortium in an effort to attain lower insurance cost. DPW Director interviews will be held next Wednesday and Thursday. B. Selectmen M The Village at Willow Crossing is seeking permission to pay its $176,714.220 capital Charge in three or four installments. Motion: To allow the Village to pay the capital charge in four installments with no interest over the next four quarters, the first payment payable Ivithirr thirty days. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. Selectman McCarter asked if it is normal for the Treatment Facility to be over capacity for twenty -one days of if he should be alarmed. 'Town Manager D'Agostino stated that he should not be alarmed and it is not a problem. M Chairwoman Royle stated, in regard to land on Gilbert Street the Town Manager brought to the Selectmen at last week's meeting, she sometimes wonders why the Town purchases landlocked land and questioned the value of the land. Chairwoman Royle also suggested the Manager solicit comments from the Planning Director and Conservation Agent. 6. New Business A. Town Manager The Selectmen may want to consider appointing an new member to the Airport Commission and also may want to ask the Airport Commission to present Airport expansion plans to the entire town during a Selectmen's meeting. A consensus of the Board was in favor of doing so. B. Selectmen The Board of Selectmen may also need to appoint a representative to the Self -Help Board of Directors. The Board's present representative, Bill Madan, would like to continue serving. Consent may be required from the two other communities Mansfield shares a representative with. Motion: To appoint Bill Madan continue to represent the Selectmen on the Self - Help Board. ( Royle- Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. 32499.MIN Page 5 orb * Selectman Robinson questioned the sufficiency of funds requested by the Veterans' Agent for the FY2000 budget. Selectman Robinson also stated gas prices are on the rise, which should be captured in the appropriate budgets. * Selectman Robinson requested a meeting to discuss the Electric Department pilot program portion of the budget stating he does not want to see the Electric Department paying the Town $300,000 as part of the program if it would not be paying that amount in taxes. Lastly, Selectman Robinson stated he received a booklet of upcoming APPA workshops, which he will leave with the Town Manager in case any Selectmen are interested in attending. * Selectman Amourso, in regard to a letter in the Reading Folder from Brown and Barrett offering audit services, asked if the Town would have to go out to bid for audit services. The Treasurer - Collector, Richard Boucher, who was in the audience, responded that if it is a service, the Town does not have to. Selectman Amoruso suggested with the Great Woods entertainment license negotiations on- going, consideration should be given to asking the Police Chief to appoint someone to oversee Great Woods, assuming he feels it would be a reasonable approach. Chairwoman Royle responded that she likes having the Chief at Great Woods. Selectman McCarter has concerns regarding the amount of time the Chief spends at Great Woods but feels it is issue under the Town Manager's authority. Town Manager D'Agostino responded stating the Police Chief presently holds a conhact outlining a number of horns to be worked at Great Woods and that he does not want to negatively impact the Chef, i.e. his salary. Mr. D'Agostino ivordd, however, like to establish a letter of agreement once the contract expires. x Referencing correspondence in the Reading Folder from Lt. Crickard regarding applying for a grant for additional police officers, Clerk Wills asked if, at end of three year grant program, Mansfield would have to hire the officers and if there will be any retirees at that time. Yes. 7. Adjournment 11:00 PM Motion: To adjourn. (Robinson - Amoruso) All in favor. Passes. Clerk's Sign ure Date f A proval 32499.MMN Page 6 of 6