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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes09192012Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 Present: Chairman Olivier Kozlowski, Vice Chairman George bentino, Selectman Jess Aptowitz, Selectman Annino, William Ross Town Manager Absent: Clerk Kevin Moran Audit Committee presentation' Jason Porter, Chairman of Audit Committee is present in addition to John Stanbrook, Town Accountant. The Audit Committee has reviewed the Brown & Co. audits for fiscal years 10 & 11. Selectman Aptowitz is on the Audit Committee so he doesn't have any questions. However he commented on the process and the lag time we experienced due to a change in staff and financial systems. He feels we are up to speed now and is thankful to the committee and staff. Selectman bentino asked Mr. Porter about the functionality of our present financial software. We transitioned from another software provider last year and experienced multiple problems with the program and lack of user training. However, those bugs have been worked out and user training has been ongoing so we should be able to add the school financials to our system soon without any more issues. Mr. 5tanbrook has been working on reclaiming funds from previous years' town meeting appropriations. Mr. Ross briefly explained the difference between cash expenditures and debt borrowing projects. Either way, town meeting will be asked to release the funds at the fall town meeting next month. Appointments Both Cheryl Collins and Michael Feck are interested in being on the Planning Board. A seat to expire January 1, 2016 and an Associate member seat to expire on January 1, 2014 are available. Motion: To appoint Cheryl Collins for a term to expire January 1, 2016. (Aptowitz /bentino) 4:0 passes Motion, To appoint Michael Feck for a term to expire January 1, 2014. (bentino / Annino) 3:0:1 (Aptowitz abstain) Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 A seat on the Finance Committee is also available due to the resignation of Jim Ragazzo. The Board of Selectmen is still interested in Yogen Chemburkar for the committee. Motion: To appoint Mr. Chemburkar for a term to expire January 1, 2013. (Annino /Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Transfer of land to ConComm Essex St. land: Map 37, Parcel 26 (12.7 acres) to be transferred to the ConComm for conservation, open space, and passive recreation purposes. Motion: To approve tronsfer of land (Annino /Aptowitz) 4:0 passes Selectman Dentino has questions about the language of the motion vs. the language that approved it at town meeting. He is discouraged by the process of approving articles at town meeting and the lack of voter participation towards the end of the meetings. Smith Rd.: Map 9, Parcel 1 (8 acres) and Map 10, parcel 24 (13.5 acres) are to be transferred to the ConComm for conservation, open space, and passive recreation purposes. Motion: To approve transfer of land (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 passes Smith Rd.: Map 10, parcel 24 (13.5 acres) are to be transferred to the ConComm for conservation, open space, and passive recreation purposes. Motion: To approve transfer of land (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 passes This is per town meeting vote of articles 37 & 38 at the spring 2012 town meeting. Land use review procedures Chairman Kozlowski would like the Board of Selectmen to review some information he has given them regarding adopting a land use review procedure. Selectman Annino believes it is a good idea to have procedures he is just wondering if this procedure would affect the transfers of the current land up for discussion. Chairman Kozlowski stated this would be for future articles and would help with the voting process at town meeting as well. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 2 Selectman Aptowitz stated that the Board of Selectmen tends to really focus on financial articles and really need to pay attention to all of the articles. As each article is important in its own right. The Board of Selectmen weighed the pros and cons of having such a policy. We do this in town meeting reviews but it has never been a formal process. Mr. Ross suggested that it might be helpful to the residents at town meeting that were unable to attend or participate in other meetings or information sessions before voting. Selectman bentino asked how articles are placed into the town meeting warrant. The first two articles are mandated by charter and then financial articles and then largely town articles by when they come in. Citizen articles have always been last. Change of Manager policy - liquor licenses Selectman Aptowitz suggested that the Board of Selectmen put a condition on the license that states the licensee must notify the Town Managers office within a certain amount of days when the manager changes. If not, there would be sanctions. We will ask the ABCC what steps the Board of Selectmen can take to enforce such a policy as renewals are set to go out in the next month. Release of executive session minutes Chairman Kozlowski stated that these minutes have previously been approved and are now ready to be released, Motion: To release July 15, 2009 minutes (Aptowitz /bentino) 4:0 passes Motion: To release July 20, 2009 minutes (Aptowitz /bentino) 4:0 passes Motion, To release August 12, 2009 minutes (Aptowitz /bentino) 4:0 passes Motion: To release August 26, 2009 minutes (Aptowitz /bentino) 4:0 passes Q &C Bill Clemmey, 175 Essex St. Comments about the process of the town meeting warrant layout. He suggested that the town clerk configure a spreadsheet for articles so they can be cross referenced. He would also like the town moderator to organize articles when asked at town meeting. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 3 Weekly Business Warrant No. 13012T in the amount of $85,653.62 Motion To approve. (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 passes Warrant No. 13012E in the amount of $565,915.28 Motion: To approve. (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 passes Warrant No. 130125 in the amount of $488,822.14 Motion: To approve. (Aptowitz /Dentino) 4:0 passes Warrant No. 13012PT in the amount of $330,741.23 Motion: To approve. (Annino /Aptowitz) 3:1 passes (Dentino nay) Warrant No. 13012TV in the amount of $94,399.33 Motion: To approve. (Aptowitz /Dentino) 4:1 passes Motion: To approve minutes of September 12, 2012 (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 passes Correspondence • letter from Lou Andrews regarding the proposed guidelines for land transfers. • Letter from Boy Scout troop 17 requesting use of West St, lot for Christmas tree sales. Scouts Nicholas Christo, Ethan Ham, Evan Gillogly were present to inform the public of the tree sale coming in November and ask the Board of Selectmen for permission to use the lot. Motion: To allow use of the lot and temp electric for the tree sale. (Aptowitz /Dentino) 4:0 passes Town Managers Report • The Board of Selectmen had requested that town committee members and retired members receive a memento of their service with their letter. A lapel pin has been designed for $3.59 each and would be available soon. • N. Common Gazebo presentation set for October 3rd at 5:OOpm. Revenue projections have come back and we are actually ahead of what we though. Bird Rd. substation is ready to go online soon. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 4 • He will not be going to the ICMA conference due to personal conflicts and will refund the town the $25 cancellation fee. Motion: To not require the town manager to pay the cancellation fee, (Aptowitz /Annino) 4:0 posses • Letter received from Mr. Clemmey regarding fees for commercial parking lots. Mr, Ross is researching how the fees were formulated. However, it was done in 1998 so it may take a little while to figure out. • The high school phone system is back on line. However, it is very old and desperately needs to be replaced, A comprehensive study will be done to see what needs to be done to integrate the schools and municipal systems utilizing our fiber network. • TOD developments are underway regarding a complete transportation system around the train station may be coordinated, • Meeting with state and local representatives, business owners to address the needs and development of the Cabot Business Park. The creation of a Business Improvement District would assist the park occupants in maintaining the public areas of the park. BOS Updates Chairman Kozlowski: Wants to remind all town boards that the Open Meeting Law prohibits deliberations via e-mail. He indicated that the selectmen have been good with observing this, however a recent email was sent by a member of another board, copying the entire Board of Selectmen and another entire board as well. Selectman Aptowitz: Attended Crossroads Veterans District meeting last week. There has been a few bookkeeping issues that have affected the workflow of visiting VSO's. The District Bylaws are under review and will be available soon. Would like to see the final audit report before the October 3rd meeting. Mr. Ross will send the Board of Selectmen what he has so far. Residents have asked about the process of selecting the next Chief of Police. Mr. Ross stated he has asked to use an assessment center and civil service has agreed. The assessment center should be undertaken soon and a new chief named by January. Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 Selectman Annino: Would like to know when the strategic plan committee will set up and run. Selectman Moran: Not present. Selectman bentino: He is very saddened by the town meeting process however he decided to vote for the article to honor the residents that do stay for the whole meeting. Adjournment Motion: Adjourn meeting at 9:320pm (Aptowitz) 4:0 passes �eaua Um" Signature of Clerk Board of Selectmen Minutes of September 19, 2012 ao1" 3, 2012 bate of Approval