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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 9-04-13Board of Selectmen Minutes September 4, 2013 Present: Chairman Jess Aptowitz; Clerk Kevin Moran, George Dentino, Olivier Kozlowski, Town Manager William Ross Chairman Aptowitz called the meeting to order and reminded everyone the meeting is being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast. Chief Neal Boldrighini and Deputy Chief Jim Puleo introduced Gary Reagan, a military veteran and EMT, as Mansfield's newest firefighter. Town Clerk Marianne Staples swore Mr. Reagan in and his wife and daughter helped him pin on his badge. The board members congratulated Mr. Reagan on his accomplishments. Mary Hourigan, 475 Chauncy Street, said she was involved in the schools for many years when her children were young. She said now she is very interested in services for Mansfield's seniors and has been volunteering with the COA. Mr. Dentino said it is obvious Mrs. Hourigan is a caring person who would be a great fit with the COA and thanked her for volunteering. Mr. Kozlowksi thanked Mrs. Hourigan for volunteering her time. Mr. Moran said seniors are a growing population and service needs are increasing. He thanked Mrs. Hourigan for volunteering. Mr. Aptowitz said Mrs. Hourigan would be an excellent addition to the COA. Motion: To appoint Mary Hourigan to the Council on Aging (Dentin- Moran) All in favor. PASSES Mr. Stanbrook explained the town commissioned Malloy, Lynch, Bienvenue CPAs, LLC to do this study in 2011, which was completed in July 2013. The document is on the town's website. The study resulted in a tentative five -year plan with a timetable and tentative cost for each recommendation. Mr. Stanbrook said they will be developing a more customer- focused policy and procedure review. Mr. Stanbrook explained some of the tasks recommended in the report have already been done, including hiring a director of finances and the imminent hiring of a human resources director. He said the town is also looking into hiring a purchasing agent in FY 2015. The report recommends more town - school cooperation in finance and accounting. Mr. Ross said the town and schools have already been working together on maintenance and purchasing. Board Of Selectmen's Meeting September 4, 2013 Page I of 5 Mr. Ross said this is a set of goals to use for Mr. Stanbrook's department, which, other than the human resources and a possible purchasing agent, will not cost a lot. Mr. Stanbrook explained the possible costs of some of the items. Mr. Stanbrook said the report suggests the town use a bi- weekly payroll system. Mr. Ross said he has discussed that with some of the union bargaining units; the School Department already uses bi- weekly payroll. Mr. Stanbrook said he would like the town to use the report to improve services. Mr. Ross said the Finance Committee supports the report and the action plan to move forward. He said he will report regularly to the Board of Selectmen and the public about the progress the town is making on the recommendations. Mr. Kozlowski said he would like to be sure the savings realized by hiring new positions will be more than the cost of the new hires. Mr. Moran said this appears to be a good plan and it is evident the town needed a finance director. Mr. Dentino asked when the study began; Mr. Ross said May or June 2011. Mr. Dentino asked total cost of the study. Mr. Stanbrook said the report cost $45,000 and the ongoing work $7,500. Mr. Dentino asked the total cost of the recommendations; Mr. Stanbrook said the total for five years is around $1.2 million, most of which would be in the new positions. Mr. Dentine, asked the projected future of SoftRight. Mr. Ross said the report's found that the software is capable of doing the job Mansfield needs it to do, but suggested it be reevaluated in a few years. Mr. Dentino said he remembers being told SoftRight wouldn't work for the School Department. Mr. Ross said SoftRight works for the Schools; Mr. Stanbrook agreed. Mr. Dentine, asked where the schools are with SoftRight; Mr. Ross said his plan is to integrate the schools. Mi. Ross said the bulk of the funds being expended are in the new positions, and there is no ongoing contract with the company that prepared the report. Mr. Aptowitz asked if the bill for the report has been paid; Mr. Stanbrook said it is process. Mr. Aptowitz asked if the town audit is scheduled for October. Mr. Stanbrook said it is. Mr. Ross said he has met with the VFW to work out dates when there are no functions scheduled. Motion: To invoke the suspension of the VFW liquor license from Sunday, September 22 through Saturday, September 28, 2013 ( Kozlowkki- Dentino) Three in favor. Moran abstained. PASSES Mr. Ross presented a draft, worked out at the staff level, and asked the board members to share their comments. He said there will have to be a public hearing for the adoption of the regulations. Board Of Selectmen's Meeting September 4, 2013 Page 2 of 5 Mr. Ross said several members have suggested adding a prohibition against restaurants charging corkage fees. Mr. Kozlowski said the draft should be clear about violations resulting in the loss of the "BYOB" license. Mr. Ross said he doesn't think this would be a license, but rather a set of regulations. Mr. Kozlowski asked if the lack of a license would hamper the town if a business was doing this, but there was no license to revoke. Mr. Moran asked about penalties; Mr. Ross said the General By -Laws includes a fine schedule. Mr. Moran suggested the by -law require businesses to register with the town and asked if this kind of license falls under ABCC; Mr. Ross said it does not. He said the Attorney General's office approved the "BYOB" by -law adopted at Annual Town Meeting in 2013, but also said the town would have to comply with the state regulations. Mr. Dentine suggested defining "premises" because some businesses have outside seating. Mr. Dentino said #5, prohibiting employees from serving or handling alcohol, and #7, requiring the business to seal the bottle, are contradictory. Mr. Ross said he would talk with Chief Sellon. Mr. Kozlowski asked if this would be limited to beer and wine; Mr. Ross said he would check the by -law that passed at Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Dentino said #4, forbidding an "intoxicated person" from consuming alcohol on the premises, is unclear. Mr. Kozlowski said the penalties should be clearer. Mr. Ross suggested outlining the penalties in #9. Mr. Aptowitz suggested the board discuss this again, then schedule a public hearing. Mr. Ross said he will revise the draft for next week's meeting. A. Review /Approval of Minutes of Meetings B. Approval of Warrants Town Vendor Warrant No. 14010T $1,760,033.46 Motion: To approve Town Vendor Warrant No. 14010T $1,760,033.46 (Kozlowski - Moran) All in favor. PASSES Electric Department Vendor Warrant No. 14010E$36,401.01 Motion: To approve Electric Department Warrant No. 14010E $36,401.01 (Kozlowski - Dentino) All in favor. PASSES School Department Vendor Warrant No. 140105 $365,913.05 Motion: To approve Electric Department Warrant No. 14010E $365,913.05 ( Kozlowkki- Dentino) All in favor. PASSES Board Of Selectmen's Meeting September 4, 2013 Page 3 of 5 Town Payroll Town Medicaid Payroll Warrant No. 1401 OPT $322,407.65 Motion: To approve Town Payroll Town Medicaid Payroll Warrant No. 1401 OPT $322,407.65 (Kozlowski - Moran) Three in favor. Dentine, opposed. PASSES Town Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant No. 14010TV $97,571.88 Motion: To approve Town Deductions Vendor Payroll Warrant No. 14010TV $97,571.88 ( Kozlowkki- Dentin) All in favor. PASSES C. Banner /Sign Approval • Mansfield Shelter Friends — A Celebration of Animals September 4 -28, 2013 Motion: To approve the banner for Mansfield Shelter Friends — A Celebration of Animals (Moran- Kozlowski) All in favor. PASSES • Sign on South Common for Mansfield Shelter Friends — A Celebration of Animals September 28, 2013 Motion: To approve the sign for the Mansfield Shelter Friends — A Celebration of Animals Sign on the South Common (Moran- Kozlowski) All in favor. PASSES • Sign on North Common for Mansfield Lions Membership Drive September 30, 2013 Motion: To approve the sign for the Mansfield Lions Membership Drive on the North Common (Moran- Kozlowski) All in favor. PASSES • Tri -Town Chamber's Oktoberfest Banner October 8, 2013 Mr. Ross explained the banner includes the word "Covidien," but not the logo, which was also on last year's Oktoberfest banner. Motion: To approve the Tri -Town Chamber's Oktoberfest Banner (Dentin- Moran) All in favor. PASSES D. Correspondence • Citizen's Petition from Terry Longley, Highland Avenue, requesting to amend General By -Law Chapter 6, Section 3 Mr. Ross said his office received a letter and a petition to change the 1931 by -law prohibiting playing ball in the streets. He said the letter requests the Board of Selectmen lay aside the by -law until the petition can be heard at Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Ross said he does not believe the Board of Selectmen has the ability to do that. He has sent the matter to town counsel because it does not appear to be in the correct format for a citizens' petition; if it is not, there is time for it to be re -filed for the Town Meeting warrant. Mr. Ross said he received a late request from MMAS for a banner on the North Common, but there are already two other banners scheduled to be hung at that time. Mr. Dentino suggested the banner could be placed in another location or attached to posts and installed as a temporary sign. Mr. Ross said he would talk with MMAS to work something out. Mr. Ross said he has examined the recent seal coating work and thinks the rubberized material is working well, both when it is installed and later when the road is swept. He said there may be Board Of Selectmen's Meeting September 4, 2013 Page 4 of 5 some drainage issues with flat driveways. Mr. Dentino asked if the stone had washed away after the recent heavy rains. Mr. Ross said Mr. Dentine asked about credit card costs. He said he has spoken with the Town Treasurer about ways to reduce credit card company fees. He suggested a more convenient way for people who are be uncomfortable going through his office would be to go directly through their bank. Mr. Ross said in light of several recent drug overdoses at Boston music venues, he thinks Mansfield's law enforcement and EMS services have worked well together at the Comcast Center. He said that was one of the most important things to come out of a Fall 2O12 review of services. He said the coordination of emergency services and patrols on the lawn area have improved, and the number of serious incidents has been reduced. He credited Chiefs Boldrighini and Sellon for this. He said he will meet with emergency services and Comcast personnel after the season to review how it went. Mr. Aptowitz asked about ways to analyze illegal drugs; Mr. Ross said the town has drug testing kits, but not the machines Boston has. Mr. Ross said he will talk with Chief Sellon about the machines. Mr. Moran said he is concerned about the Commonwealth's new tech tax making Mansfield less attractive to tech companies. Mr. Kozlowski said there is a group seeking an injunction of that tax. Mr. Kozlowski said he has started a blog on the Mansfield Patch website to discuss local and state political issues. Mr. Aptowitz said he heard from a resident who was upset about traffic at the DeutschBank golf tournament at the TPC over Labor Day weekend. Mr. Ross said the traffic plan was followed, but Chief Sellon hopes to review and update that plan. Mr. Dentino said there should be a way to leave the left -hand lane open and to keep traffic moving. Mr. Aptowitz asked if the MMED audit has started; NIr. Ross said it has. Mr. Kozlowski asked about the MMWEC license. Mr. Ross said Mr. Babin will be updating the board at next week's meeting. Motion: To adjourn at 8:50 pm (Aptowitz- Signature of Clerk Board Of Selectmen's Meeting September 4, 2013 Page 5 of 5 ql // / 2:013. Date of Approval