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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 5-26-1999i f- Board of Selectmen Minutes May 26, 1999 Present: Vice Chairman Robinson, Clerk Wills, Selectmen McCarter and AMOruso John D'Agostino, Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Girls State participant Katy Faria followed by the pledge of allegiance. A. Boys /Girls State Welcome Each of the participants introduced themselves to the Selectmen, and VFW Commander, William Flannery explained the program. Town Manager D'Agostino explained Mansfield's form of government. B. Minutes • May 5, 1999 Motion: To approve. (Amoroso- McCarter) (4 -0) All in favor. Passes. • May 10, 1999 Motion: To approve. (Amoroso- McCarter) (3 -0 -1) Vice Chairman Robinson abstained. Passes. • May 12, 1999 Motion: To approve. (McCarter - Amoroso) (4 -0) Passes. • May 18, 1999 Motion: To approve. ( Amoroso -Wills) (2 -0 -2) Vice Chairman Robinson and Selectman McCarter abstained. Passes. • May 19, 1999 Motion: To approve. ( Amoroso- McCarter) (4 -0) Passes. C. Warrant No. 48 - $2,178,082.24 Clerk Wills questioned the amount of a voucher, $5,804.22, payable to McRoberts and Roberts for services rendered for Great Waves stating he thought the cost of his services were not to exceed $5,000. Motion: To approve payment. (Amoroso- Wills) (4 -0) Vice Chairman Robinson abstained on the School Department payroll and Selectman McCarter abstained on the Municipal Building Committee payroll. Passes. D. Licenses and Permits I ; Application of the Mansfield Elks for three automatic amusement devices at 140 North Main Street and a request for a waiver of the $60 license fee A consensus of the Board members were in favor of inviting the applicant to next week's meeting to explain their requests. • Open Air Parking Facility License Renewal Application of Nancy Gray McNeeley for 888 South Main Street with signoffs from the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Building Inspector Motion: To approve. (Amoruso -Wills) All in favor. Passes. E. Correspondence Action Resident Letter from Guohan Yang, 27 Concetta Drive, requesting a waiver of the past due fee of $8.49 on her Water and Sewer Bill with attached recommendation from the DPW Billing Supervisor Motion: To deny unless verification is provided that the bill is postmarked the day before, day of, or day after the due date. (McCarter - Amoruso) (4 -0) Passes. Letter from Gail Rosenberg, 796 Ware Street, requesting the Selectmen modify the past water restrictions by allowing hand -held watering for growing things throughout the day or night, or extending the hours Motion: To send Ms. Rosenberg a letter letting her know our feelings at this time, the ban is presently voluntary, the mandatory ban will not take effect until June 1, and the Town is keeping a close watch on the wells. (Amoroso- Wills) (3 -1) Selectman McCarter opposed. Passes. Town Manager & Staff Memorandum from Lorilee Fish, Park & Recreation Department, requesting a waiver of the Building Dept. inspection fee for the buildings at Memorial Park Motion: To waive the town's portion only. (Amoroso -Wills) (4 -0) Passes. Other Town Manager & Staff Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, concerning the Foolish Hill Reservoir Memorandum from John D'Agostino, Town Manager, regarding the low water drawdown levels of our public water supply system Miscellaneous Invitation from Edward Rosenberg, Mansfield Elks, to attend the June 14 Flag Day Exercises at 6:30 PM on the South Common 2. Questions and Comments — None 3. Discussion with Jay Barrows and Trish Bolea, Downtown Business Association Mr. Barrows requested the Selectmen consider granting one day outside beer and wine licenses to restaurants downtown during the July sidewalk sale and welcomed the following businesses to the downtown: Welcome Home, True Value Hardware, DeeDee's Hair Salon, and Advantage Appliance. Mr. Barrows requested additional crosswalks on North Main Street at Court Street, Cottage Street, Pleasant Street, Park Street, and the Fire Station, that the Selectmen lower the speed limit downtown, and begin to consider instituting a "No Truck Zone" prohibiting 18- wheeler trucks. Motion: To refer the crosswalk, truck and speed limit requests to Officer Lawson for a recommendation. (McCarter - Amoroso) (4 -0) Passes. 4. 8:45 PM Board and Committee Interviews A. Airport Commission — One Vacancy /Three Applicants: Lou Andrews, Clement Kiley, and C. Barry Turner Each of the applicants introduced themselves and explained their reason for application to the Airport Commission. Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board asked questions of the applicants such as: whether or not they hold a pilot's license, what they would do if they were called with a neighborhood complaint, and what they feel would be the most economical way to enhance the airport. B. Cable Access Board of Directors — Two Vacancies /One Applicant: Mark Klein Mr. Klein introduced himself and explained his reason for application to the Cable Access Board. Selectmen Questions: Members of the Board questioned Mr. Klein's availability and background with the cable studio. Motion: To appoint Mark Klein to Cable Access for a term to expire April 1, 2001. (Amoruso- McCarter) (3 -0 -1) Vice Chairman Robinson abstained. Passes. 5. 9:15 PM Discussion with Fire Chief Sliney, Deputy Bob Bellevance, and Lt. Richard Towne RE: Municipal Fire Alarm System Fire Chief Sliney, Deputy Bellevance, and Lt. Towne presented plans to change over the existing hardwired municipal fire alarm system to radio controlled boxes. Funding for the project was approved at Town Meeting on May 17, 1999. The Board took a ten- rninute break at 9:40 PM. 6. 9:50 PM Town Manager Report • The School Street culvert project is moving along more slowly than anticipated, a problem was encountered relocating public utilities. • The Willow Street culvert will be under construction beginning June 1, 1999. Vice Chairman Robinson asked that the Toivn Manger confirm the School Bus Company is ware of the project. • The voluntary water ban is presently in effect with the mandatory ban beginning June 1. • Mr. D'Agostino read a public announcement concerning contamination encountered at Memorial Park. A meeting with DEP is expected for next week on site. Selectman Amorriso requested that the Towi Manager notify him of the date and time. • An EPA Pilot meeting is scheduled for June 2 regarding the Hatheway- Patterson site and the feasibility of cutting an access road through the property to the train station. • A train station presentation is scheduled for the Selectmen's June 2 meeting. After receiving the Board's consent, the fourth and final public meeting will be held. The next phase will be implementation of a design plan. Selectman McCarter questioned funding for the project. Vice Chairman Robinson .suggested the Selectmen need to discuss the MBTA assessment to Mansfield as a Board. • The House version of the budget allows Attleboro to charge an assessment to non- residents utilizing the train out of Attleboro. • An Old Colony Trail design workshop is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, from 6pm to 8pm. Selectman McCarter questioned funding for this project. • The Memorial Day Parade will kick -off at 10 am on May 31. • Mr. D'Agostino will be attending the spring Massachusetts Managers' conference in Jiminy Peak, MA from June 3 to June 5, and he requested permission to take his town vehicle out of state while attending the conference because the trip requires traveling through New York. Motion: To allow the Town Manager to use his vehicle to go to Jiminy Peak to attend the Massachusetts Managers conference. (McCarter- Amoruso) (4- 0)Passes. • The Walsh Well Treatment Plant is almost fully operational. Final DEP approval is anticipated this week. Water Personnel have been trained by the Town's water consultants, Tata & Howard. At some point, DEP will require the Town to adopt a floor drain by -law. A decision will have to be made as to who will be responsible for inspections and licensing. This will be a requirement in order to receive a favorable review for additional treatment plans and /or new wells. • Mr. D'Agostino is expecting to meet with Ralph Penney next week regarding Memorial Park contamination. The estimated cost of mitigation to clean up the entire material at a five -foot depth and remove would be $9 Million Dollars. The mitigation that DEP appears to be willing to accept will cost approximately $300,000 and will include a protective layer on the surface of two feet, which will be used to create new lower practice fields. • The town is pending hiring of a water consultant, Woodard & Curran, out of the $88,500 approved at Town Meeting for the Great Waves project. The scope of service for the traffic study has been completed and the Manager is almost ready to sign a contract. The Town will also need to hire an environmental biologist to study the vernal pool issues. Selectman McCarter connnented that he thought the Selectmen's approval was required to spend the $88,500 and asked if the Board would be informed when the complaint must be filed. Town Manager D'Agostino stated he would inform the Selectmen before spending any of the $88,500. When Selectman McCarter stated that he wanted to be sure finds are available for zoning issues, Mr. D'Agostino responded that zoning was not included in the appropriation. • Clerk Wills asked if Town Counsel had filed an opinion on his previous water hook- up motion. • Town Manager D'Agostino reported that Town staff will be meeting with Rayna Rubin within the next couple of weeks to determine what information is resident that the Town should have consultants review. Selectman Amorutso stated that he does not want to use the $88,500 to pay for a couple of consultants. • Town Manager D'Agostino requested the Selectmen consider sponsoring an article at the Fall Town Meeting to accept and implement a new local option law that permits tax agreements in connection with the cleanup of contaminated sites, `Brownsfrelds ". This would assist the Town establishing the Hathaway- Patterson site for economic development. 7. Old Business • Selectman McCarter requested Mr. D'Agostino give an update on the 495 - interchange ramp. M. D'Agostino reported that the Selectmen agreed to prove fotivard with some stipulation on the 495 southbound ramp. The Board does not want consent for the southbound ramp to dictate the need for a northbound ramp. Lastly, no homes should be taken that do not wish to he as part of the ramp construtction • Selectman McCarter suggested the Board should start thinking about establishing a subcommittee to review which Charter revisions should be brought to the fall Special Town Meeting. • Selectman McCarter asked if the community's recycling statistics had increased at all and suggested placing a sign in front of the Selectmen's table during meetings encouraging recycling. • Selectman Amoruso suggested setting up a recycling table at the July sidewalk sales. • Vice Chairman Robinson stated problems still exist with speeding on East Street in the area of the School complex. Selectman McCarter inquired about use of a speed indicator in the area, as has been used previously. • Vice Chairman Robinson stated he received a phone call from an East Mansfield resident that recyclable materials were being dumped in the rubbish truck and stated that he does not want to receive another call on this issue. Vice Chairman Robinson also stated that he does not like seeing the rubbish trucks on the wrong side of the roads picking up trash, the trucks are still leaking, and the liquid stains the street. 8. New Business • Selectman McCarter stated he attended the Conservation Commission hearing on Great Waves on Monday and complimented the Commissioners on their conduct that evening. • Clerk Wills stated that he would like to place the Town's vehicle counters at the airport to count the number of airplanes using it. • Vice Chairman Robinson stated he attended a presentation at the Qualters Middle School made by the Teskege Airman, which was fantastic. • Vice Chairman Robinson announced that the Bristol County Agricultural School Graduation will be on June 10 at 7PM. 11:00 PM Motion: To adjourn no later than 11:10 PM. ( Amoruso- Wills) (4 -0) Passes. 9. Airport Commission Appointment Motion: To appoint C. Barry Turner. (Wills- Robinson) Vice Chairman Robinson and Clerk Wills in favor. Motion: To appoint Lou Andrews. ( Amoruso- McCarter) Selectmen Amoruso and McCarter in favor. 10. Adjournment 11:04 PM Motion: To adjourn. ( o�r'uso -Wil (4 -0) Passes. 40ei*'sSigi lure Date dfApproial