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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-09-13Board of Selectmen Minutes October 9, 2013 Present: Jess Aptowitz; Chairman, Doug Annino; Vice Chairman, Kevin Moran; Clerk, George Dentin, Olivier Kozlowski, William Ross; Town Manager Chairman Aptowitz called the meeting to order. Chairman Aptowitz reminded that this meeting is �.� . • 11111111111111111 . 11111111111 111, Chief of Police Ron Sellon and Lieutenant Sam Thompson from the Mansfield Police Department are present. Chief Sellon noted that over the past six months the Police Department has gone through a massive period of change, not the least of which stemmed from Chief Sellon wanting to make the department a more transparent organization and re- engineer and reorganize in regards to how the process, products, practices and any form of intelligence is shared. There have been numerous changes to the department in regards to the addition of a School Resource Officer, Comcast changes outlined in previous BOS meetings, regionalizing of services and social media aspects to name a few. Chief Sellon reported that in a year from now the Police Department will complete the largest turnover in both Chief Sellon and Lieutenant Thompson's tenure, which would mean at that point the total allotment of officers in the Police Department with less than three years on the job to be approximately 60 %. Chief Sellon noted this creates both opportunities and concerns in regards to training, oversight, quality control and customer service. The proposal being made to the Board by Chief Sellon has historically been part of a model at the Police Department where the 6:00pm — 2:00am shift was staffed with an additional Lieutenant. This unfortunately was switched in 2005 to a day shift to assist with administrative duties. Chief Sellon noted that there is a potential of having many younger and newer officers on duty at that time and he would like to ensure some form of rank structure, oversight and command presence. Chief Sellon noted that the two issues that have guided this is the fact that with any federal lawsuit filed against a municipality starts with "failure to supervise properly and failure to train" and it is his intention to eliminate or at least minimize it. Chairman Aptowitz, to be clear, noted that Mansfield has a Chief of Police and in the past five years two Lieutenants (one, acting as an executive officer and the other as operations, which Chief Sellon referred to as an Administrative Schedule) that basically worked a 9:00am — 5:00pm shift. The Chairman noted that now, with all of the retirements, there is just the Chief and Lieutenant Thompson, Mr. Ross noted that he spent quite a bit of time reviewing the proposal with Chief Sellon and stated that there were a few changes. Mr. Ross noted that one concern would be taking a patrol officer off the street, due to a promotion, but the concerns for a command presence are more important. Mr. Ross stated that he would look in the FYI budget to backfill the patrol position so that the Town would have a full complement. John Stanbrook, Finance Director, has looked at the financial projections and found the extra position, of an additional Lieutenant, to be affordable. Mr. Ross felt that the benefit outweighs the cost in terms of having a Lieutenant in command of that shift and that the Chief makes a good point in that Lieutenant Krikard worked in that position for years and was critical in their development. Board Of selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page i of 7 Mr. Ross supported the recommendation of the Chief and asked that the Board do as well. Mr. Annino asked what the impact on the budget in the future is. Chief Sellon noted that by his calculations the impact is due to expiring benefits from the Quinn bill (from both Lieutenant Seekall and Officer Whitty retiring), making the new Lieutenant position and the back filling of patrol officer position less expensive. Mr. Ross stated that the impact to the FY14 budget would be $8,200 assuming the Town does not back fill the patrol officer position and for FY15 is about $40,500 assuming the patrol officer is back filled, about $59,600 for FY16, $77,000 for FY17 and grows to $101,000 in FY18 and this is with step increases and assuming the patrol officer position is backfrlled in the FYI budget. Mr. Annino felt it made a lot of sense but asked that if there will now be a need for another officer. Chief Sellon stated he would not like to lose an officer because it provides financial flexibility down the line in that by adding an officer and applying them to the shift reduces the overtime expenditures. Mr. Annino asked-if the new Lieutenant would be coming from within to which Chief Sellon stated yes. Mr. Dentino thanked Chief Sellon for incorporating a comparison by Town into his proposal. Mr. Dentino asked how many patrolmen the Town of Canton had as it was missing from the comparison to which Chief Sellon stated that they are in the process of hiring additional patrolmen but thought the number was around 37 patrolmen. Chief Sellon did an additional comparison of surrounding communities in regards to arrests and protective custodies and found the average police department has between 200 — 350 arrests, pcs, custodies ect. Chief Sellon reported that Braintree, which is much larger than Mansfield had 700 and Natick, again a much larger community, had 800. Chief Sellon reported that the Town's Police Department had just under 1,500. Mr. Dentino asked if Lieutenant Krikard's position was filled to which Chief Sellon noted it was, by Lieutenant Thompson. Mr. Dentine, asked if the School Enforcement Officer was a grant to which Chief Sellon reported no and that it is paid out of the operating budget. Mr. Dentino questioned where the administrative duties (follow up) of reports would be passed on to. Chief Sellon noted that the current system allows for a police offer to type and print their reports and submit for review, the Detective Sergeant then reviews all reports submitted to determine which are most likely to have an effective follow up and then the remainder are filed. Chief Sellon noted the way this should be operated is for the Operations Lieutenant to review all reports. Chief Sellon explained that a plan is in process to eliminate paperwork going forward. Mr. Dentin also inquired how the Operations Lieutenant will handle both dispatch and patrol under the reorganization. Chief Sellon explained that once the reorganization is complete it will allow the Operations Lieutenant insight into the reports and ensuring they are being written accurately and whether the officer is giving it enough follow up. Mr. Dentino felt that Chief Sellon was giving a concerted effort to try to hold the costs and be more streamlined. Mr. Moran felt the proposal was very well put together. Mr. Moran's one concern was if there were an instance where the Town could not backfill the patrol officer position in FY14 and FYI 5, is this still a worthwhile reorganization. Chief Sellon felt it would be. Mr. Moran asked if this would allow for more statistical based policing to which Chief Sellon noted it would and further stated there has been a number of initiatives in trying to cut costs and one of those is entering into a partnership with Curry College and their Criminal Justice Program. He noted that at the end of October a graduate student will work two days a week to establish a baseline for how to start a substantive crime analysis program in a medium to small police department. This is no cost to the Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 2 of 7 community. Mr. Moran noted without the backfill position it is nominal but he understands why Chief Sellon wants to keep the position as Mansfield is not the Mansfield he grew up in. Mr. Kozlowski noted that between the thoroughness of the proposal, the presentation and questions from the Board he does not have much to add other than he liked the flexibility of scheduling with the addition of the Lieutenant versus a Sergeant and the ability to supervise and address the potential liability issues. He commended Chief Sellon. Chairman Aptowitz noted that Officer Lantanzio (School Enforcement Officer) is not in a patrol car as he is situated at the High School but he directly impacts a shift in a positive way in that it has streamlined communication between the Police Department and the Schools. Mr. Annino inquired as to the 1500 arrests and protective custodies, if that number would diminish if the Comcast Center was not in play. Chief Sellon noted it is difficult to answer because the Town can't take Comcast out of the equation because it impacts service and handling of prisoners and the work generated. Mr. Annino thought it was a staggering number. Motion: To support the Chief of Police's proposal to add a third Lieutenant position to the Police Deoartment (Kozlowski/Moran) PASSES 5:0 spaces designated by each lease to the Board, he noted the following: Mansfield Senior Housing Authority has 28 registered vehicles with 22 spaces reserved for residents south of Park Street and 6 residents who park at the lot north of Park Street. Mr. Ross noted it is a 42 unit building and there are 4 spaces reserved off street for visitors. Grain Mill was given 21 spaces but there are currently 29 permits issued. Mr. Ross is researching that and felt that there is an immediate need to get them back to 21. Jackson Court has 24 spaces but that lease has run out as of 1999. Mr. Ross noted Jackson Court does not assign spaces and his research showed that the Town could create additional spaces there to make up for the ones lost when additional driveways were installed. Mr. Ross reported that a new license agreement is needed, especially if additional are to be added. Chairman Aptowitz noted that Jackson Court maintains its own parking lot. Mr. Ross felt that the old agreement could be used as a model with Town Counsel's review. Fairfield spaces are all set up in a permanent easement document and nothing can be done there as they are in perpetuity. Chairman Aptowitz asked how many spaces could be created from the old Fales Oil site to where Jackson Court currently begins to which Mr. Ross reported approximately 10. The Chairman noted that Jackson Court should not lose out on spaces that were originally designated to them. Motion: For Mr. Ross to work with Jackson Court to work out a license agreement (Annino /Kozlowski) Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 3 of 7 Discussion Mr. Kozlowski asked if Mr. Ross could ensure clarification of the difference between a lease and a license. Mr. Dentin noted the importance of designating these spaces as reserved spaces as there could be an issue going forward. He felt that stickers of some sort would need to be applied. Mr. Ross felt it was a good point and he would follow up on that with Town Counsel. Chairman Aptowitz asked the Board if the motion should read for Mr. Ross to work with all the establishments and Town Counsel and report back. Mr. Dentino is still concerned that there are too many stickers /permits out there for the number of spots allotted. Mr. Dentino felt stickers needed to be visible and only given to people within the residences who have registered vehicles. Mr. Ross noted that most of this is policed within the individual complexes and that the only problem is with the Grain Mill which he will follow up on as the Police Department currently issues those permits. Mike Forbes, Executive Director of the Mansfield Housing Authority, restated Mr. Ross's earlier report but stated that those spots are posted and stickers issued to those residents. Mr. Annino didn't understand why the Town didn't treat everyone the same and designate the number of parking spaces for each development, issue that number of stickers and then have the developments police and maintain it themselves. Mr. Ross felt that was the direction this discussion was going. Mr. Annino felt they should all be the same, a license or an agreement, for the same period of time and should stipulate maintaining it on their own. Mr. Ross would take Town Counsel's advisement as to whether it should be a license or an agreement. Mr. Dentino would like to see restriping and numbering as well. The consensus of the Board was for Mr. Ross to work with Town Counsel and each development on resolving this issue. None A. Approval of Warrants Town Vendor Warrant No. 14015T $313,137.92 Motion: To approve Town Vendor Warrant No. 14O15T $313,137.92 (Annino/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Electric Department Vendor Warrant No. 14015E $1,560,347.80 Motion: To approve Electric Department Warrant No. 14015E $1,560,347.80 (Annino/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Town Payroll Town Medicaid Payroll Warrant No. 14O15PT $341,613.93 Motion: To approve Town Payroll Town Medicaid Payroll Warrant No. 14O15PT $341,613.93 (Annino/Kozlowski) 4:1 Dentino NAY Town Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant No. 14O15TV $107,216.02 Motion: To approve Town Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant No. 14015TV $107,216.02 (Annino/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll Warrant 14015PS $1,452,265.97 Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 4 of 7 Motion: To approve School Payroll /School Medicaid Payroll Warrant 14015PS $1,452,265.97 (Kozlowski/Dentino) PASSES 4:1 Annino NAY School Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant 14015SV $472,38231 Motion: To approve School Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant 14015SV $472,382.31 (Annino/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 B. Event Approval • Consideration of Request by Sherri Gurnon, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, for the Town's Annual Halloween Parade Sunday, October 27 Motion: To approve the annual Halloween Parade (Moran/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Mr. Ross noted that the advertisement for Boards and Committee vacancies will be posted in the Sun Chronicle on October 15th and November 12t11 and that the application can be found on the Town's website. Mr. Ross noted that he has learned that there will be a vacancy for the Building Committee as Maureen Doherty will not seek reappointment. Mr. Dentino would like to see a proclamation for Ms. Doherty. Mr. Ross followed up on the Chairman's request to change parking fines and in Mr. Ross' research found that those fines are established by State law and the Town cannot change the $25 fine. Mr. Ross reported that paving on Bird Road and East Street is completed and the Town will wait a few days to stripe and finish shoulder work. Mr. Ross reported that the Town is looking into a conceptual design on North Main Street and North Oakland to convert back into two -way. Preliminary ideas will be presented at a later time. The Town has met with adjacent property owners to make them aware of the idea and to let them know they had input in the process. The advantages include getting trucks away from the train station and cutting the turns they have to make, doubling traffic by the businesses in the area and being able to add 30 -35 additional spaces through angling. Town Engineer, Rick Alves is in the process of creating a preliminary schematic and cost estimate. Also, the thought process is to do some possible street scaping and tie this into the North Common design which it is believed will add to economic growth in the area. Mr. Ross has been working with Town Counsel on a revised Surrounding Community Agreement regarding Plaimidge. He noted nothing needed to be done before the end of the month and that ensures that the Board will have time to review. The Town will be shutting off water on October l llh to replace a gate valve that, as part of the valve turning program, broke in the closed position. Starting Friday at 8:00pm the water will be shut off for six to eight hours from Oakland, Charles street area but not include Sweat, Curtain and Shield streets. The DPW distributed flyers door to door and have the Town Manager's office has utilized social media (Facebook and Twitter). Mr. Ross again noted this happened during an exercise program and better to have it happen then and proves how important this activity is. Chairman Aptowitz is concerned that this may affect businesses in that area during their busiest time of the week and felt that it was unfair. Mr. Ross noted that sidewalk work around the South Common will begin on Friday, 11th. The sidewalk will be removed along Town Hall and South Main Sheet sides. Mr. Ross noted that new curbing, grading and new sidewalks will be installed moving north around the Common. While on Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 5 of 7 the topic of the area surrounding the Common, Chairman Aptowitz reported that in his research he found that the Crugnale dumpster, currently located in the street has a three week permit to be on the premises. This is due to such a small space at the construction site. Mr. Ross spoke to Chief Boldrighini about Mr, Dentino's concern that the light on North Main Street does not turn red with an emergency. Chief Boldrighini stated the light is rarely used but will further investigate. Mr. Ross also reported that he is still investigating width and dimensions of parking spaces that Mr. Dentino inquired about at an earlier meeting. Mr. Ross reported that Deb Herbert attended an open meeting training session. Notes from that meetine would be forwarded to the Board. Mr. Kozlowski noted he was glad that Ms. Herbert attended the open meeting law session and he personally felt that he and Deb had a good grasp of what the State is looking for (as there are great videos available) but would like to see training for all the Town's Boards and Committees Mr. Kozlowski had the opportunity to attend both a MMA Legislative Breakfast and the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association's fall meeting. He noted that the Governor has no inclination of releasing the final $100 million for road repairs. He also reported that there is list of 81 communities for marijuana dispensaries and Mansfield is not on list. The Selectmen's Association had a great talk about the training completed as a result of the Boston Marathon Bombing by the Assistant Superintendent of the Boston Police Department and the Watertown Police Chief. Mr. Kozlowski reported that the Black Doll Museum was robbed after its ribbon cutting ceremony and if anyone has information please contact the Mansfield Police Department. Mr. Kozlowski noted that the Community Garden had its end of season wrap up and discussion on additional ideas about expanding farmer's market possibly and relocating to the North Common, Mr. Kozlowski hoped to be meeting soon with the group dedicated to the revitalization of Memorial Park, particularly the playground area and their ideas. Mr. Annino asked about the North Common flag pole to which Mr. Ross stated it would be up this fall. Chairman Aptowitz noted he was told that it was ordered. Mr. Annino asked that Mr. Ross keep in mind brochures and marketing to which Mr. Ross noted that Shaun Burke is working on. Mr. Annino would also like them to think about video as well. Chairman Aptowitz noted three people are retiring who are well deserving of recognition: Paul Whitty and James Seekell 'of the Police Department and Joe Courtemache of the Fire Department. He would like to have plaques in their honor if it is ok with the Board. The consensus was to have Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 6 of 7 something done. Mr. Dentino inquired if anything was done for the people retired from the Light Department. Mr. Ross had given the information to Gary Babin but was unsure of if it was done. Chairman Aptowitz asked that proclamations be done for the six Girl Scouts receiving the Silver Award in November. Chairman Aptowitz would like a mural status from the Committee. Mr. Ross stated he will find out and have that forwarded to the Board. Chairman Aptowitz noted that Bristol County will be meeting regarding budgets and he will be attending. Chairman Aptowitz would like follow up regarding the crossover at the subdivision on Branch Street — Lincoln place. It was his understanding from initial meetings that there was supposed to be bollards. Mr. Ross will follow up. The Chairman would like Bruce Montgomery, Comcast Center, scheduled as soon as possible. None. Motion: To adjourn the BOS meeting at 8:49pm (Kozlowski /Annino) PASSES 5:0 /T /l Signature of Clerk Date of Approval /Tracey Whalen Board Of Selectmen's Meeting October 9, 2013 Page 7 of 7