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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes08312010 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2010 Present: Chairman Moran, Vice Chairman George Dentino, Clerk Douglas Annino, Selectman Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Olivier Kozlowski, William Ross, Town Manager Absent: Norton Board of Selectmen Chairman Bob Kimball, Bob Salvo, Tim Giblin, Brad Bramwell Town Manager James Purcell, Norton Water and Sewer Supt. Duane Knapp. State Rep. Jay Barrows, DPW Director Lee Azinheira and David Young, CDM Rep. Effluent recharge sites The Town of Mansfield owns and operates the Mansfield Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) that is located in the Town of Norton. A short recap of information from the previous meeting was provided for the viewing audience. Norton Board of Selectmen Chairman Kimball thanked the Mansfield Board of Selectmen for having them again and also recapped their discussion of the last meeting. Mr. Ross stated that the memorandum has been drafted between Norton and Mansfield by the town managers and that after review it will be ratified in Norton, at another joint meeting between the boards. See draft below: JOINT MEMORANDUM and PROTOCOL TOWN OF MANSFIELD and TOWN OF NORTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT EXTENSION PLAN and DISTlliCT FORMA nON The Town of Mansfield (herein, "Mansfield") and the Town of NOIion (herein, "Norton") are political subdivisions of the Commonwealth and share, among other things, conunon boundaries and a conmlOn interest in providing public sewer utilities to each community. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2010 Norton hosts a wastewater treatment plant constmcted and owned by Mansfield within the boundaries of NOIion. Mansfield hosts NOIion as a guest community with the privilege of contributing wastewater flow into the Mansfield treatment plant. NOIion and Mansfield also contemplate the formation of a wastewater treatment district with the Town of Foxborough to facilitate the provision of public sewer utility to all three communities. The intersection of their common interest has lead to a community of understanding between NOIion and Mansfield specifically as follows: I. The adequate and timely expansion of the wastewater treatment plant is of benefit to Norton and Mansfield and any fuhn'e wastewater treatment district; 2. The acquisition of land for purposes of groundwater recharge area is central to the expansion of the treatment plant; 3. To assist in the acquisition of the groundwater recharge areas, Mansfield has voted to acquire and fund the acquisition of the so-called Kok property located within the Town of NOli on and NOIion has agreed to assist in the funding of the acquisition ofthe Kok property by assigning to Mansfield NOIion's eligibility for celiain SRF loans and such other available funding for which Norton may be eligible. 4. NOIion's endorsement of Mansfield's purchase of the Kok property is made with the reasonable expectation that Mansficld will cooperate in all matters Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31. 2010 2 with Norton regarding the formation of a proposed wastewater treatment district and further that NOlion's contribution will be appropriately recognized in any future agreement of association in a future wastewater treatment district or in any future agreement between Norton and Mansfield extending Norton's guest contributor status in the treatment plant. 5. Mansfield's efforts in the acquisition of the groundwater recharge areas is made with the reasonable expectation that Norton will cooperate in matters with Mansfield regarding the formation of a proposed wastewater treatment district and further that Mansfield's contribution will be appropriately recognized in any future agreement of association in a future district or in any future agreement between Mansfield and Norton extending NOlion's guest contributor status in the treatment plant. 6. The nature and extent of cooperation recited herein may be repeated with the acquisition of other groundwater recharge areas. ACCORDINGLY, Mansfield and NOlion, acting through their respective Boards acknowledge the necessity of their ongoing cooperation and joint consultation to achieve a mutual good for both towns. Witness this day of August, 2010. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2010 3 Town of Mansfield by its Town of Norton by its Board of Selectmen Board of Selectmen / Board of Sewer Commissioners: Town of Norton by its Board of Sewer Commissioners Representative Barrows stated that it is great to see the boards working so closely and the DEP has been very helpful in moving this project along. The boards will start a joint public campaign to educate the town's people of the benefits and safety of this project. Wheaton College will also benefit greatly from this addition as their system is failing. Police Chief O'Neill came to the meeting at 6:25pm and jointed Chief Clark at the podium to discuss traffic issues at the Comcast Center that have been coming up through the summer. Traffic backs up to the center of town and people are having a difficult time getting out of the Roche Bros. plaza. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 3t, 2010 4 Selectman Aptowitz also commented that one of the real problems is drinking before the concerts in the parking lots. As such, the police don't let the patrons in until an hour or two before the concert. So now, when people come to the Comcast Center and can't get in, they hang out in the parking lots of S. Main St. businesses. Chief Clark stated that its not only the early entrance to concerts, it's the type of venues that are coming to the center, attracting a young crowd. (Popular rock or pop bands that promote tail gating or pre concert partying.) A lack of police details are also a problem but the town has limited resources to use and the Comcast will only authorize so much traffic / crowd control help. Chief O'Neill also echoed Chief Clark's thoughts and added that he would like to see Norton adopt the same public safety provisions that Mansfield has. When the southbound ramp is created for Rt. 495 traffic will be thinned out tremendously but until then we need to continue to work together to solve the existing problems. Chief O'Neill also stated that large party concerts like Jimmy Buffet jam the lots with party goers that do not have tickets and take up a lot of space in the lots that cause a public safety issues in addition to not having enough parking for patrons with tickets. Chairman Kimball stated that the towns need to take a united stand with Comcast that they will not tolerate drinking in the lots. The TPC Tournament is coming next week and drinking is prohibited in the parking lots of that event. Chief O'Neill also stated that the police dept. can provide records that drinking in the lots is not only a nuisance both a public safety hazard. People have to be hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning, seizures, and accidents. Selectmen Giblin and Aptowitz would like to have Comcast staff spot check tickets in order to control lot traffic. However, that would really back up road traffic. Mr. Ross also suggested that Comcast Center set aside a lot for early arrivals that can be more easily supervised. The excessive drinking is not only be minors however, it is wide spread. We really need to brainstorm license requirements for the next season. The lawsuit at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro is also being watched closely. Mr. Ross also noted the fire chief's concerns of cooking and grilling at the concerts. The patrons put them under their cars after cooking (while still hot) and have caused car fires. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2010 5 Selectman Annino stated this is Comcast's issue and as the licensing authority we need to hold them responsible. Selectman Kozlowski stated that although this is Com cast's issue, we need to figure out a traffic control plan that works for both towns. After a lengthy discussion between the boards and the police chiefs regarding various forms of public relations campaigns they decided to ask the schools for their assistance. Several schools have policies about student drinking that might be able to be utilized. Selectman Dentino also had a few ideas about traffic control and ticket checking. It's been done in the past and if the Comcast Center advertizes this and opens early enough to allow time for checking it could work again. The Comcast Center and we as a community have allowed public drinking in the parking lots and we need to stop it. Or at least reduce it by public relations and enforcement. Chief O'Neill stated that inside the center gates drinking is not as bad a problem. The bartenders are a professional bunch that controls the pouring and distribution of alcoholic beverages. It's the lots that we really need to focus on. Chairman Kimball asked that the two chiefs continue to be involved in any further Comcast Center discussions. The Board of Selectmen and town manager though that was a good idea too. Selectman Annino suggested we send a letter to Comcast Center concerning these concerts. September 16th will be the next meeting at Norton Town Hall. Adjournment Motion: Adjourn meeting at 9:40pm (Aptowitz) 5-0 Passes 23o~~l;: ~ Signature of Clerk ~effl-I.n 2.c: 2{}/{} Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2010 6