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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes03212012 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 21, 2012 Present: Chairman Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chairman Olivier Kozlowski, Clerk Douglas Annino, Selectmen Moran, Selectman George Dentino William Ross Town Manager Absent: SERegionalschooJ budget update Supt. Lopes and School Committee member William Flannery are present for discussion. The SE Regional School Committee met last night and voted the FY13 budget of $22,052,133.00. They lost federal grant monies for this year so they expect to be making staff cuts or reductions for the 2012 -2013 school year. Enrollment of Mansfield children is down significantly for this year as well. In addition, costs are up such as required bus transportation. Total assessment is based on town "ability to pay" state formula, not on enrollment figures. Due to this formula the town is over paying education costs by $800,000.00 as the state is not reimbursing at the rate it is supposed to via target sharing. Selectman Moran stated they are doing a commendable job at controlling the rising costs of education. Selectman Kozlowski asked a few questions about transportation costs for related schools. Sup. Lopes stated regional transportation costs affect all regional and charter schools alike. Selectman Dentino welcomed the gentlemen and stated that they are doing a super job with what they have to work with. Chairman Aptowitz asked if they have contacted the state representatives for the towns/cities involved in the district. Supt. Lopes stated they have and hope to be able to make a different in pending transportation legislation. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of March 21, 2012 New England Folk Festival update Harold Henry, Event Chairman and President Bill Cowie are present for discussion. NEFFA is a non-profit organization with these objectives: . To preserve folk traditions in New England and elsewhere · To encourage the development of a living folk, culture · To encourage high standards of quality and performance in the folk art This event will be held at the Mansfield High and Middle schools on April 20-22 2012. This is the 6th year they have been in Mansfield. Selectman Dentino has gone for the last few years and stated it is always a great time with even better desserts. He highly recommends the event. The board members thanked the gentlemen for coming in to see them and wished them a successful event. Motion: To grant and waive entertainment license fees. (Moran/Dentino) 5:0 passes Keep Mansfield Beautiful presentation Neal Rhein, Chairman of KMB is present with some of his committee members. 5th Annual Great American Cleanup is April 28th. In addition, they have coordinated several litter/recycling projects around town throughout the year. Last year's event was featured on a CBS news story. It can be seen at www.keepmansfieldbeautiful.com. In addition, they were able to work with the Garden Club and the DPW to renovate the Farmers Market site, Mansfield Green entrance and the trash barrel beautification project. Goals for this year include an expanded "curb appeal" project downtown to assist with the downtown economic development plans. Beautify North Common project in conjunction with the Rt. 106 historical mural project. The group has also been trying to work with the schools on increased recycling all throughout the system. The board members each thanked the committee for all their hard work and dedication to keeping the town beautiful. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 21. 2012 2 JJ Bridge-Eagle project Mitch Negus, Boy Scout Troop 17, has completed his Eagle project of building a foot bridge over a stream at the J J School playing fields. Mr. Negus thanked all of his sponsors such as the non-profit gift committee, donors and the town engineer for all their support. He would like to dedicate the bridge to Nancy Kitchen, Mansfield athletics, who recently died. Selectman Moran grew up with Mr. Negus's father and is happy to see that Mitch is such a shining star. Each board member thanked Mr. Negus for doing such quality work and his dedication to his boy scout work and community. It is truly a beautiful bridge. Q&C None Intent to layout or i accept streets The Planning Board has recommended that DiMascio Drive and Shea Circle by accepted by the town. This is a several step process starting with a "vote of intention to layout a town way" from the Board of Selectmen. Once the board votes in the affirmative a public hearing is held. The process will continue to town meeting vote and then on to acceptance as a public way. Motion: Intent to layout a town way (DiMascio Drive) (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Motion: Intent to layout a town way (Shay Circle) (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Consideration of . parking enterprise funds for Fales Oil commuter lot use Selectman Kozlowski stated that they discovered that parking enterprise funds cannot be used for a general parking lot, it has to be designated a commuter parking lot. However, Select Dentino brought up the fact that the available commuter parking we currently have isn't being fully utilized. Article 7 on the town warrant discusses parking lot expenditures and if this project were approved by the board, it would have to be added to the article for town meeting approval. Boord of Selectmen Minutes of March 21. 2012 3 After an extended discussion of the pros and cons of spending money to make the property into a parking lot, the board discussed just removing the building as it is a public safety risk. Motion: To use funds from the parking enterprise fund to create a commuter parking lot. (Kozlowski) no second. Consideration of funds for NEPP A Training Center This was discussed at the last MMED meeting and was delayed to get the board members more information. 73 out of 74 communities have already signed on to the program. Selectman Dentino stated that N. Attleboro has an Associate Membership and they have not paid the assessment either. In addition, he noticed that several MMED employees have gone to trainings but not in their class or grade. The training does not seem to fit the position. Selectman Dentino stated he has reservations about paying the assessment and other organizational matters. However, Selectman Moran stated that they have discussed this matter several times and he would like the board to vote on the issue this evening. Motion: To approve the assessment to be paid out over 3 years. (Moranl Aptowitz) 3:2 passes (Dentinol Annino nay) Consideration of additional PILOT for street lights Chairman Dentino opened the Light Commissioners meeting. Mr. Ross consulted with Mr. Stanbrook, Town Accountant, about the possibility of funding additional street lights. However, they were unable to come up with an avenue to raise the funds without going through the general fund. And in using the general fund, only 30'}'o of the amount can be used for that purpose. (70'}'o of general fund monies go the schools). As such, creating such a pilot is not feasible; in addition to time constraints due to the upcoming town meeting. (The accounts would have to be funded to that higher number prior to town meeting.) " Selectman Moran knows that people would like to see the lights back on, however we cannot afford it. We need additional funding for education, public safety and road maintenance. These are more of a priority for the welfare of the community. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 21, 2012 4 After a lengthy conversation among the members on how to fund this, Mr. Ross plainly stated that we have a bigger town budget than revenue. There has to be cuts, not enhancements, in order to have a balanced budget for town meeting. The conversation will be continued at next weeks meeting. Motion: To adjourn light commissioners meeting and resume board of selectmen meeting. (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Town Meeting warrant structure Attorney DeRensis has recommended several changes to the way the articles are displayed on the warrant. However, town meeting is only a few weeks away and this change in format may cause some disruption at town meeting. During the conservation of possible changes, Atty. DeRensis stated that the school committee can submit an unbalanced budget. However, that is a proposed budget. The town manager has the authority to provide an alternate, balanced budget. If someone proposes to add for example: "one million dollars to the school budget" they have to have a revenue source that it will come from (ex: taken from DPW) in order to have a balance budget. If not, the Moderator will rule them out of order. The board members and town manager are reluctant to change the warrant due to both time constraints, by-laws and voter confusion. Motion: To present warrant as defined by town counsel. (Annino/Moran) Motion: Amendment- provide cap on proposed warrant figures. 4:1 passes (Aptowitz nay) Motion: To extend the meeting until l1:OOpm. (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Mr. Ross discussed the fact that the school makes their own motions, the planning board their motions, etc. with the town manager making the rest of them. Weekly Business Town clerk posting for town elections read into record by the clerk. Motion: To post as required by law. (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 12037PT in the amount of $258,604.74 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 4:1 passes (Dentino nay) Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 21. 2012 5 Warrant No. 12037TV in the amount of $77,185.92 Motion: To approve (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 12037P5 in the amount of $1,347,544.61 Motion: To approve (Moran/Kozlowski) 4:1 passes (Annino nay) Warrant No. 120375V in the amount of $438,703.49 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 12038T in the amount of $92,007.30 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 12038E in the amount of $851,665.34 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/ Moran) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 120385 in the amount of $361,478.10 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski! Moran) 5:0 passes Warrant No. 12038PT in the amount of $262,591.80 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/ Moran) 4:1 passes (Dentino nay) Warrant No. 12038TV in the amount of $78,408.44 Motion: To approve (Kozlowski! Moran) 5:0 passes Minutes of February 22, 2012 bos meeting. Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Minutes of March 14, 2012 bos meeting. Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Water Installer license application from Plainville Pump Motion: To approve (Kozlowski!Moran) 4:1 passes (Annino nay) Application for parade permit from Veterans Agent John Hogan. May 28th from lOam - noon. Motion: To approve (Kozlowski/Moran) 5:0 passes Correspondence None Boord of Selectmen Minutes of March 21, 2012 6 Town Managers Report o We did not receive the Community Assistance Grant that we had applied for. (Veterans District). We had high hopes of receiving it, as it is a great project, and it fit the description of what the state was looking for. o The train station pay machines are going to be installed soon and will be a much needed asset to the towns collection process. BOS . Selectman Kozlowski: Community garden site has been approved by the ConComm. . He is not in support of having a Charrette on Saturday. It may turn into a budget battle and that is not what the meeting is for. However, Dr. Mullin has assured the board that will not happen. Motion: To extent meeting to l1:lOpm. (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Motion: To extent meeting to 11:15pm. (Moran/Kozlowski) 5:0 passes Chairman Aptowitz: He would like to have the town manager to put our insurance out to bid. o Selectman Annino: None o Selectman Moran: None o Selectman Dentino: None Adjournment Motion: Adjourn meeting at l1:lOpm (Kozlowski) 5:0 passes 23()u;t'~ ~ Signature of Clerk ~'t' II, 2tJ12 Date of Approval Boord of Selectmen Minutes of Morch 21. 2012 7