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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 08/17/2005 ;'.L 1\ 'L '') , V t.ti! rj' '..... ':.:, OFF'(~c , J L, '_ Present: Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen O~j SFP ! 5 M1 to: f 0 Minutes of August 17, 2005 " . i;'.\d~ri;"i D Chairman Roger Achille, Vice Chairman Bernard Dolan, Clerk S~~JA~cl~,TTS Selectman Louis Amoruso and Selectman Michael McCue Town Manager John D'Agostino r Motion: To go into Executive Session at 7:30 pm for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and to return to open session at the conclusion of the discussion. (McCue - Dolan) Roll Call Vote: Amoruso, aye; Dolan, aye; Achille, aye. 3-0 Passes Selectman McCue and Selectman McCarter arrived at 8:00pm, during the pending litigation discussion. After returning to open session, Chairman Achille called the regular meeting to order at 8:25pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. r". . Warrant No.8 in the amount of $5,530,820.20 Motion: To approve (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes (with Selectman McCarter abstaining from payroll) . Warrant No.7 in the amount of $2,109,824.64 Motion: To approve (Amoruso - Dolan) 5-0 Passes (with Selectman McCarter abstaining from payroll) . Regular Session Minutes of August 3, 2005 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes . Executive Session Minutes of August 3, 2005 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve but not release (McCue - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes . Hackney Carriage Licenses for Vehicle Number's 125 & 129 from Foxfield Taxi Motion: To approve and sign licenses (Amoruso - McCue) for discussion r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 1 . . r Selectman McCue asked if we need to concern ourselves with the inadequate owner markings notation on the inspection report. The Town Manager said it might be the lettering and not being large enough. Selectman McCue suggested adding a line under Officer Lawson's signature that says" approved" to be clearer. The Town Manager said that Amended motion: To approve license subject to fixing adequate owner markings (Amoruso - McCue) Vote: 5-0 Passes . Memorandum from Town Engineer John Sullivan regarding the House-to-House Inspection Update for 150 Oakland Street! ADM Cocoa. Motion: To send letter of appreciation to Plant Manager Frank O'Korn (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes . Letter from Timothy Ditchman regarding his proposal for the temporary expansion of his parking lot. Town Manager asked if we should we send notification that there is a letter notifying him of the moratorium. Board said to send letter to Mr. Ditchman. Selectman Amoruso said that there was no approval for the expansion at the ZBA meeting. . Memorandum from David Field, Senior Engineer regarding the Sewer I & I Construction r update. . Memorandum from John Sullivan, Town Engineer regarding the Route 106 Improvement project. . Letter from the Mansfield Music & Arts Society requesting a waiver for the tent permits for their 12th Annual Arts Festival, which will take place on the South Common on Saturday, September 24th and Sunday, September 25th. Motion: Waive the town's portion of the fees for the tent permits (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes . Letter from the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project announcing a vacancy on the Commission for the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project. . Notice of Hearing from the ABCC relative to the action of the Board in denying a wine/malt license to Touma, Inc., dba Family Food Mart. There will be a hearing held on October 5th. Letter should be sent to Town Counsel. . Notice from Mansfield DPW announcing that the Town will be conducting right-of-way spraying on roadsides beginning on August 22nd and ending on October 3rd. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 2 (' r" r · Memorandum from Town Treasurer/Collector Richard Boucher regarding the refund of bond issues. Motion: That, in order to reduce interest costs, the Treasurer is authorized to provide for the sale and issuance of bonds under G.L. c. 44 S 21A to refund all or any portion of the remaining principal of and redemption premium and interest on the Town's Water Bond dated January 20, 1982, Water Bond dated July 1, 1982, Water Bond dated November 15,1982, Water Bond dated June 8,1983, Sewer Bonds dated January 1, 1994, Municipal Purpose Loan of 1997, Bonds dated August 15, 1997 and Municipal Purpose Loan of 2000 Bonds dated April 15, 2000; and that for this purpose the Treasurer is authorized to provide for the preparation and distribution of a Preliminary Official Statement; provided, however, that no bonds shall be issued under this vote unless and until the final interest rates and other terms of the refunding bonds are approved by this Board. (McCarter -Dolan) The Town Manager said that we are going to save a significant amount of money and noted that it will take some time to pull this information together, but we could save around a million dollars. Selectman Amoruso added that we are getting in at the right time. Vote: 5-0 Passes . Memo from Town Treasurer/Collector Richard Boucher regarding the 2006 capital borrowing & refunding. Selectman Amoruso read a portion of page 2 of the August 17, 2005 memo regarding 2006 capital borrowing and refunding. Motion: To authorize the Clerk of the Board of Selectmen to sign page two of the August 17, 2005 memo from Richard Boucher, Treasurer/Collector, regarding 2006 capital borrowing and refunding. (Amoruso -Dolan) Vote: 5-0 Passes . Memorandum from Town Clerk Helen Christian asking the Board to appoint election workers for a one-year term from September 1, 2005 through September 1, 2006. Selectman McCarter read the workers names as listed by the Town Clerk. Motion: To appoint election workers as listed in the Town Clerk's memo dated August 8, 2005 for a one-year term from September 1, 2005 through September 1, 2006 (McCarter - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes . Letter from Town Counsel regarding the memorandum of agreement for the lockup facility at the Ash Street Jail. Selectman McCarter noted that Town Counsel suggested some changes and said that we can authorize our signatures predicated on the changes make to the agreement. Motion: To sign agreement predicated on the changes made to the agreement (Amoruso - McCue) 5-0 Passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 3 . , r . Letter from Health Agent Scott Leite suggesting that the Board install signs at Fulton's Pond reminding pet owners that it is against the law to not properly remove and/or dispose of your animal's waste. The Town Manager said that we will post the signs. Selectman Amoruso commented that he was in Fairhaven and there are signs there and there are devices that distribute plastic gloves so owners can remove the waste. The Town Manager doesn't think signs will do it and believes that these plastic bag devices may be worth some investigation. Motion: to authorize the placement of signs at Fulton's Pond and the Bike Trail and to investigate the feasibility of the plastic glove dispensers (Dolan - Amoruso) 5-0 Passes . Letter from Town Counsel to George Dentino regarding Mr. Dentino's request for public records. . Note from Town Clerk Helen Christian asking the Board to consider giving out a Good Citizens A ward. Selectman McCue said we can issue a proclamation or some type of award and Selectman Amoruso asked what the criteria would be and the Town Manager said that we need to develop the criteria first. . Letter from MMAS requesting permission to place painted signs advertising the summer theater program production of Snoopy. The Town Manager replied, granting permission to r place signs. . Letter from the Walpole Board of Selectmen requesting permission to borrow Mansfield's reserve ladder truck for approximately 4 months. Selectman McCarter read the letter from Joe Denneen, Chairman of the Walpole Board of Selectmen. The Town Manager said that as a result of the ISO rating, we may want to consider saving it for future use and said that we can have Town Counsel draft up an agreement. Motion: To allow the Town of Walpole to borrow the reserve ladder truck subject to proper documentation being worked out by Town Counsels and the Chiefs (McCarter - Dolan) Selectman Amoruso asked if we will we hurt ourselves by allowing other communities to borrow this apparatus. Selectman McCarter asked how long Norwood had it. Six or nine months. Selectman Dolan added that the ISO rating still isn't sitting well with him and the Town Manager said that we will make sure the Chief looks into it. Vote: 4-0-1 Passes (with Selectman McCue abstaining) . Letter from the Deutsche Bank Championship with their parking plan for the Tweeter Center. Selectman Dolan asked why we received this so late. The Town Manager does not know why it was late coming to us, but he is sure it is an oversight. They are looking for a parking permit to be issued. The Board was given a copy of the vote from last year. The Town Manager said that r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 4 r the request is for 6,000 spaces on an existing site, which has site plan approval. The use would be over a 7 -day period of time. They are looking for approval of the request. He recommends approval predicated on the issues brought forth in the comments by the Police and Fire Chiefs as well as Nick Riccio, Building Inspector. Motion: To grant the request of the Tiger Woods Foundation to have temporary use of the parking lots at the Tweeter Center on the dates specified; and to waive all fees since it is a charitable organization (Amoruso - McCue) for discussion Amended motion by Selectman McCarter: To amend the original motion to require adherence of the staff recommendations Selectman McCue asked where does it say the fees are asked to be waived. Amended motion by Selectman McCue: To amend the amended motion to approve the waiver of the fee predicated on the receipt of a letter asking for the waiver Vote: 5-0 Passes . Memo from Town Treasurer/Collector Richard Boucher regarding the renewal of bond authorization notes for FY05 capital projects. Selectman McCarter read the memo from Mr. Boucher dated August 17, 2005. Motion: To sign the note and certificate included with the memo from Treasurer/Collector Richard Boucher in his August 17, 2005 memo. (Amoruso - Dolan) 5-0 Passes r We have convened our first TIF Committee meeting with Spherics, Inc., a bio adhesive technology company. We met with company representatives who feel confident that the FDA will approve their products for reformulation. If so, the number of people hired could be significant. They are proposing to add 25 employees and the salaries run from $45,000/$50,000 to $300,000. If we approve the project, we will put in customary language relative to hiring local employees. Spherics hopes to be in the Industrial Park by April 2006. Weare trying to schedule a TIF Committee meeting for a special tax assessment, which is different from a TIF and deals specifically on the entire value of the land rather than on just the incremental value of the improvements. This is a larger sum of tax revenue that we will be foregoing for a shorter period of time. The type of industry that we are referring to is the leisure industry and the company is Samsonite. All of the executives will be moving from Boulder, Colorado and Rhode Island. Having Samsonite as an anchor is important to the town. They do a good amount of manufacturing - whether or not that comes with the executive component is yet to be determined. Selectman McCue said that in the past 3 to 4 years, the town has tried to position itself to attract businesses like this. We are now seeing the fruits of our labor by leveling the tax rates and we .r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 5 . T r were proactive to get involved with the Economic Target Area. He asked if Samsonite ever discussed the option of a TIF. In order to make this move financially viable, the TIF was not helpful to them. It is a large chunk of money but we would like to get some sort of jinanciallinkage back to the town, like getting Samsonite to donate funds to the Animal Shelter, or some organization like that. Executives will be eating out more and will be flying into the area as well. He believes there will be a huge economic benefit to this move. Selectman McCue noted that a Special Tax Assessment is a different animal and said that the existing building that they are going to purchase is being taxed now and under this assessment, the building will not taxed and we will be giving up money. There is going to be an equal or greater economic return. The positive aspect is that it is for 5 years, not like 20 years like a TIF. Selectman McCarter asked if these businesses will not come here if we don't give them the TIF and the Special Tax Assessment and asked who handles the request. Yes. The TIF Committee will be making a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen and then it will go Town Meeting. In the case of the Special Tax Assessment, the benefits will be at the local level. Selectman McCarter asked why we are sending the Special Tax Assessment to the TIF Committee. Selectman McCue said that the Assessment and the TIF are similar and Selectman Amoruso said that the TIF Committee brings a recommendation to the Board. Selectman McCue: r Asked the Board if they would like to consider the issue of the Town Manager's salary. He noted that the Town Manager has budgeted 5%, so we cannot go higher and added that year after year, the Town Manager receives consistently high grades and believes that should be reflected in the merit increase. r" Selectman McCarter asked if the Board is talking about the base salary from the town and from the Light Department. Selectman Amoruso replied that it is open to our determination. Selectman McCue believes that the stipend separate and distinct and it is open to what we want to do. Selectman Dolan noted that we need to take accounting procedures into account. Selectman Amoruso said that he is considering 3.5% to 4% and noted that this fits in with how other employees in town are paid. He would want all of it to come from the town side and the $10,000 stipend to remain the same. Selectman McCarter said that the Town Manager's salary now is $127,172, including the $10,000 from the Light Department. Selectman Amoruso believes that the Board should take the percentage based on the total but fund it from the town only and the $10,000 will come out of the Light Department. Selectman Dolan noted that he was thinking the same as Selectman Amoruso. Selectman McCarter pointed out that the town also pays a portion of the Town Manager's 457K. Motion: To give the Town Manager a 4% raise, with the $10,000 stipend from the Light Department to remain the same (Dolan - McCue) for discussion Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 6 , , r Chairman Achille commented that the Town Manager provides professional and competent leadership but that he is looking more at the 3.5% side because he isn't sure how this will impact collective bargaining. Selectman McCue noted that he doesn't disagree with Chairman Achille but pointed out a situation last year where the Board voted to give him 5%, but there wasn't enough money budgeted for that, and he ended up getting 3.5%, so that is a factor. Chairman Achille noted that we do want to provide incentives and raises and noted that this is a tough decision, but when we are providing 4% raises, what does that do when we go to collective bargaining. Selectman Dolan pointed out the hours that the Town Manager puts into his job. Selectman McCarter said that the Board needs to set an example and believes that 4% is a little too high. Vote: 3-2 Passes (with Selectman Amoruso, Selectman Dolan, & Selectman McCue for the motion and Selectman McCarter and Chairman Achille opposing) Selectman Amoruso: He attended the Transit Oriented Development meeting, run by the Cecil Group, at the Train Station on Monday. He was a little disappointed in some of the presentation, but he felt there weren't enough people there and he thinks we need to disseminate the information better. Noted that it is a short period of time if we are to get this done by October. The Town Manager said that the approval letter from the state took a month longer than expected. Selectman Amoruso suggested starting the meeting later in the evening, so we can reach out to people. He didn't think there was enough communication between Cecil Group and landowners (i.e. Ditchman, Clemmey, Paul Connors). The Town Manager will talk to Cecil Group about these things. r Selectman Dolan: Wanted to compliment the Electric Department on the recent storms. He heard good things about the DPW removing trees. Chairman Achille noted there a tree fell down across the street from his house and DPW was there promptly to remove it. The Town Manager said that an emphasis was placed on cutting down limbs that are close to the lines, to help minimize outages. Selectman McCarter: Resident indicated to him that there are lights not going on at Memorial Park. Asked what the status is on the plaque at the Train Station indicating that the clock is owned by the Town. The Town Manager said that he'd put up the plaque. Chainnan Achille: Noted that half of the "Entering Mansfield" sign by Central Street isn't there - it is one of older signs. The Town Manager said that we'd replace it. .r" Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 7 . T ,-.., ! r r Selectman McCue said that on September 11th, there will be a Family Fun Day at Cocasset River Park in Foxboro in honor of Mike McGinty, a Foxboro resident who died on September 11th. He believes the event is from 10-5. He will get more information. (Amoruso) 5-0 Passes /J/-?/!/~ !iJ~~~ ~1I"t 3;' 2005 Date of Approval Signature of Clerk Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 17, 2005 8 ~- _..~