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Home My WebLink AboutSELECTMENminutes02022011 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 2, 2011 Present: Chairman Kevin Moran, Clerk Douglas Annino Selectman Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Olivier Kozlowski and William Ross, Town Manager. Absent: Vice Chairman George Dentino DPW update on snow and storm issues Lee Azinheira, DPW Director is present for meeting. Mr. Azinheira provided the board with a brief update of the DPW's activities over the past months and winter maintenance costs. This is the worst and most costly winter since 1996. Snow removal and street maintenance crews have been out every night however, it has snowed every week for the past month and they are running out of space to put it all. The winter maintenance budget is already over budget $272,254.59 and we still have February and March to go. The Department is working as hard as possible to keep the streets clear and the banks low. After a few questions from the Board of Selectmen it was recommended by Selectman Aptowitz to increase the winter maintenance budget next year. Due to massive snow banks many of the storm drains are blocked and flooding has occurred all over town. In addition, the heavy snowfall has stressed (and caved) many building roofs in the area. Town staff is monitoring the roofs of our municipal buildings. The building dept. has also alerted town business of the hazards of not clearing their roofs where necessary. Mr. Ross stated that while we have spent more funds on snow and winter maintenance, the town also has many more roads to cover than some of its neighbors. The DPW staff has done an excellent job and the MMED staff has additional assisted the DPW when possible. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of February 2. 2011 Budget update Mr. Ross has been working with the Finance Committee on the FY12 budget. He provided the board and public with a brief recap as they are due to make a formal report in the next two weeks. The governor has released his FY12 budget to the legislature and we are waiting to see where that goes before being able to formulate a more comprehensive budget. Governor Patrick has also introduced a few bills that may make bargaining for health care and retirement benefits easier for cities and towns. MA Municipal Association Conference Mr. Ross in addition to Chairman Moran, Selectmen Aptowitz and Kozlowski went to the MMA annual conference last weekend and received some valuable information from the seminars. As it turns out the town has already created many of the cost saving measured the governor had suggested. Unfortunately, we have not been able to implement some of them due to collective bargaining issues. Downtown merchant parking Chief O'Neill submitted a letter to the Board of Selectmen regarding the difficulties in monitoring/controlling the use of downtown parking lots. Back in 1994 a merchant sticker program was developed to assist downtown businesses with parking however, now in 2011 the demand for these stickers had outstripped the resources for parking. Selectman Annino stated that when he was on the Planning Board they did a downtown parking study that revealed the fact that there is plenty of parking available downtown. However, most of it is behind buildings. (not as convenient and visible as on street parking). Selectmen Aptowitz and Koslowski suggested the business owners and employees utilize the back spaces thus freeing up front parking for customers. Either way the program needs to be tweaked in order to make the downtown a more user friendly area. Mr. Ross will take back the board's comments to the Police Chief and try to formulate a plan. Q&C None Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 2, 2011 2 Weekly Business Warrant No. 11030T in the amount of $1,236,063.29 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski! Annino) 3:0:1 passes (Aptowitz abstain) Warrant No. 11030E in the amount of $347,085.25 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/ Annino) 3:0:1 passes (Aptowitz abstain) Warrant No. 11031T in the amount of $340,968.58 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski! Annino) 3:0:1 passes (Aptowitz abstain) Warrant No. 11031E in the amount of $413,066.93 Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Warrant No. 11031S in the amount of $52,949.64 Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes These payroll warrants were previously voted. Payroll warrant No. 11027PT from 1-4-11 $313,819.94 Payroll warrant No. 11027TV from 1-4-11 $217.28 Payroll warrant No. 11027PS from 1-4-11 $1,271}20.30 Payroll warrant No. 11027SV from 1-4-11 $407,413.91 Payroll warrant No. 11028PT from 1"IHl $293,815.26 Payroll warrant No. 11028TV from 1-11-11 $92,979.35 Payroll warrant No. 11029PT from 1-18-11 $293,602.77 Payroll warrant No. 11029TV from 1-18-11 $87,979.22 Payroll warrant No. 11029PS from 1-18-11 $1,285,312.85 Payroll warrant No. 11029SV from 1-18-11 $412,616.59 Common Victualler license for Quan's Kitchen. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Common Victualler license for Mangia Bene. Motion: To approve while payments are being made (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Renewal of Sheltering Agreement between Mansfield and Foxboro. Animal Control Officer Collins stated that the agreement has worked well and recommends renewing it. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 2, 2011 3 Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of January 5, 2011 Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of January 19, 2011 Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Water Installer license application for Cat Alley. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Application for street closure from Harbor One Credit Union. Public safety has approved. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes Correspondence . Letter from ACS Relay for Life requesting permission to display sign on South Common during the months of May and June for June 20th event. Motion: To approve (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) 4:0 passes . Email from Tracy Circle resident inquiring as to the availability of FIOS in his area. . Road Change request from Samoset Ave resident. She would like a change at the intersection of rt. 106 and rt. 140. Public safety and engineering have been notified. . Letter from resident regarding costs saving for plowing and snow days. . Letter from NPGF announcing applications are now available on web and the town clerks office. . Town Manager review forms are in the board packets for review. Please read and get back to Chairman Moran with comments. Town Managers Report . Town Accountant search committee has formed and will begin reviewing resumes soon. In the meantime, the town is fortunate to have contracted with an interim Town Account until the position is filled. Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 2. 2011 4 BOS Updates . Selectman Kozlowski: Question about the feasibility of monthly parking pass at the train station. Mr. Ross stated we could look at it when we get new system. · Selectman Aptowitz: Follow up on street signs that are lacking. One on West Church St. is missing. . Selectman Annino: Asked how many hrs. and how much Mr. Stanbrook will be working for the town. Mr. Ross stated that he will earn his current hourly wage and work about 8 hrs. a week. . Selectman Dentino: Not present . Chairman Moran: Please call the Dept. of Public Works or the Town Managers Office if you need assistance with storm related issues. However, please be patient, our staff is working as hard and as quickly as possible to resolve these issues. Adjournment Motion: Adjourn at 8:43pm (Aptowitz) 4:0 passes i3oU;;7~ ~ Signature of Clerk f'b~ f,' 2(/11 Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of February 2, 2011 5