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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 7-23-1980BOARD OF SELECTMEN/LIGHT COMMISSIONERS A G E N D A JULY 23, 1980 7:00 P.M. Correspondence Review 7:30 P.M. Light Commissioners Radio Bid Award 8:00 P.M. Public Hearing - Bristol Package Store 8:10 P.M. Art Stockus - Whitman & Howard Correspondence Warrants - Week of 716 #8 Town Expenses - $7068.14 Minutes of July 9, 1980 Vote to file Grant Applications for Wastewater Treatment Plant Town Manager's Report Board Reports Pendina Items Traffic Lights at 140 & Forbes Traffic Lights at 106 & N. Main St. Landfill Cover Materials Water Ban Charter Study CDM.Draft Report l BOARD OF SELECTMEN/LIGHT COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF THE MEETING JULY 23, 1980 Meeting opened for correspondence review at 7:00 P.M. PRESENT: Chairman Norman Mahana, Selectmen Avery, De Long, May, and Levine; Town Manager Wm. P. Metropulos. Call to Order 7:30 P.M. Light Commission - Rate Cases - Jim Hall informed the Board of his attendance at a recent meeting for information on the refunds for the settlement of R10, Rll; R12 which will amount to approximately 4360,000, hopefully to be received by the middle of next month. A small amount, $11,000, was received on W1 case. Selectman Levine asked Mr. Hall what happens to the money when it is received and he replied the Light Commissioners will decide. Personally, Mr. Hall, felt he would like to make a recommendation for use of refund three months from now, since the department is presently running behind on the fuel adjustment. He noted the return does not have to go on the balance sheet for income. Radio Bid Award - It was announced that low bidder was Motorola at $12,209 with an option for additional $1,843 for Town Hall base. Jim Hall explained he would like to have a power frequency set aside strictly for electric department in times of emergency so there will be no overide by other departments. Base station would be maintained for contact with other departments. Low frequency base station is main- tained in Tom Hall. An option is provided for base station in Town Hall with new high frequency radio. A small base station will be kept at plant to maintain communications throughout other departments. Bid includes receiver and transmitter for plant. On a motion by Selectman DeLong, seconded by Selectman Avery, radio bid x was awarded to Motorola including the option for a total of $14,052. VOTED: 5 -0. Light Department Office Manager John Redding then proceeded to discuss the revised May financial statement. On a motion by Selectman Avery, Seconded by Selectman Levine, Light Commissioners Meeting was adjourned until after Board of Selectmen Public Hearing scheduled for * 8:0o P.M. VOTED: 5 -0. Bristol Package Store Public Hearing was opened at 8:00 P.M. with the reading of published legal notice by Clerk May. Chairman Mahana asked if owner of record was present. Mr. Glarro was present to transfer ownership to Steven Payne. Letter of reference from Arthur O'Neil was read. Selectman Avery asked if there were any changes in structure to which the owner replied no. Selectman Levine asked if the Package Store would be expanded to the former meat market. Mr. Payne replied that there were no plans now to do so. If the additional store were to be used, a request would come before the Board. Until then the doors would be kept locked between the stores. Hearing no further comments from the floor, Selectman Avery moved to transfer license from Glarro, Inc. to Bristol Package Store, seconded by Selectman May. VOTED: 5 -0. WATER BAN SITUATION - At 8:05 P.M. Chairman Mahana asked Arthur Stockus to report on questions listed previously, and any other pertinent information. Mr. Stockus reported that it appears the water ban is working. The weekend before the ban went BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING JULY 23, 1980 Page 2 into effect, the average usage was three million gallons. This weekend it dropped off to 2.3 million gallons. Monday and Tuesday the pumping rate was 2.8 million gallons with businesses back on line after vacations. Art Stockus felt no additional steps were necessary at this time. If things remain as they are, present ban might carry us through summer. Selectman Avery asked how many hours wells are being pumped at consumption rates mentioned and was told by Bob Morrison about 22 hours. Art Stockus commented that the wells are designed so that periodically they can be pumped for longer periods, but normally should be pumped only 12 -16 hours daily. Selectman Avery asked how long we could continue to pump the wells at this rate, and Art Stockus replied he would like to see a short duration. Many of the present wells have been pumped for twenty -four hours over a long period of time. Selectman Avery asked if we could continue to pump for 22 hours per day and keep consumption at present levels for remainder of summer. Art Stockus feels this can be done without permanent damage to wells. Art Stockus reported that the wells on Mill St. would contribute about 340,000 Gals. to system. The length of mains involved to tie into system would cost approximately $400,000. Alternative A would be to run a main up Mill Street to common to tie in. Alternative B would be to tie in to access road of Dustin well. The cost and time involved might make these alternatives inpractical. Ash property site on Gilbert Street will require a prolonged pumping test. The cost proposed covers a 15 day pumping test. A prolonged test in most cases will run 7 to 10 days. Art would also like to run an observation test on the observation well behind town barn. DEU will not hold public hearing on proposed well sites at Maple Street until results of these tests are known, since there was a question of dumping at this site and salt storage. Art Stockus reported that Wells 4 & 5 could be treated for maganese problem, however, he would like to compare cost figures on filtration system for wells. It might be feasible to install several small diameter wells to draw cleaner water and tie in with one existing well. Chairman Mahana commented that in 1953 we were pumping a total of 833 million gallons and this is about where we are now. With new wells added, we are still at approximately same rate. Chairman Mahana feels that he would like to correct the problems at existing wells rather than drilling more holes. Art Stockus feels the treatment of iron and maganese is an expensive proposition. He gave an approximate figure of $800 thousand dollars Ito construct filtration system. Chairman Mahana asked if the iron concentrations were dangerous to health. Art Stockus replied they were not but they were above the State limits and there would be a noticeable taste to water with some staining of clothing. Art Stockus informed the Board that with an expenditure of $10,000, it is possible to clean and test Wells 4 & j. Selectman Avery asked how long this would take and Art replied that both wells could be done within 22 to 3 weeks through Whitman & Howard, since an advertisement for bids would take longer. Chairman Mahana asked Art Stockus the schedule for the two new wells. He replied that if $15,000 were added to the specs to the cost of the station, temporary pumps could be installed for next summer in one or both wells by May 15, 1981 to be used until the permanent ones are installed in the Fall. Chairman Mahana then asked the status of Well #2. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING JULY 23, 1980 Page 3 Arthur Stockus replied that #2 has been pumped and Bob Morrison has taken samples to Olivera Labs to be tested. Results should be available Friday. Cleaning of Well #2 is a borderline question now. Selectman DeLong asked if this well should have been cleaned before. Art replied that this well was cleaned in 1975 and should be able to run about 5 to 10 years depending on use before needed again. Selectman DeLong asked for a timetable on Well 4 &5 assuming the tests prove favorable. Art stated the results would go to State to be approved which should only take a day and then would go on line. Selectman DeLong moved that the Town authorize Whitman & Howard to spend up to $6,000 from Line Item 712 Well Cleaning for the cleaning of either #4 or #5, * seconded by Selectman May. VOTED: 5 -0. Arthur Stockus suggests that programs be initiated to educate the public on Water Conservation. He also noted to the Board that the Farmers Home Loan papers were for 40 years. The normal borrowing time in Massachusetts is usually 15 -20 years. Conventional bonding won't require a hearing, but a 40 year loan would require an emergency finance board hearing. This should not delay project by much. Selectman DeLong moved to accept the 40 year loan at 5 %, seconded by Selectman Avery. * VOTED: 5 -0. Art Stockus to make arrangements for hearing. On a motion by Selectman DeLong, seconded by Selectman May, the Board voted to authorize Whitman & Howard to spend monies not to exceed $19,000 for the test pumping on the Gilbert Street (Ash property) site and for testing behind the Town Barn. VOTED: 5 -0. LIGHT COMMISSIONERS(continued) A comparison of residential rates was presented by Jim Hall and John Redding showing Mansfield to be better than Mass Electric and Taunton. Jim Hall reported that he was called out on Saturday to trim around fire alarm. He took a low price from contractor(Bancroft) to trim trees. Jim Hall feels that 25% of the Town should be done each year on a rotating basis. He noted it would cost approximately $1,000 per week for four weeks to clear way fire alarm areas. He has insurance rider from contractor. Lien Bill - Jim Hall reports that on July 16 a bill was signed whereby Municipal Electric Departments now have the same lien authority as water department., to go into effect 90 days from July 16. Local banks and real estate agents will have to be informed that this will be in effect. He also reported that John Redding has submitted 16 names for deliquent accounts to be submitted to small claims court. Chairman Mahana asked Jim Hall to check with John Ahearn regarding Christmas tree lights and decorations and report back. There being no further business to be discussed as Light Commissioners, the Board dismissed Jim Hall and John Redding and thanked them for information presented. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING JULY 23, 1980 Page 4 SEWER RATES Selectman Avery moved that operation and maintenance charges be paid out of user fees and capital improvements costs be put on tax rate, seconded by Selectman Levine. Selectman Avery commented that although he would prefer to see both costs defrayed by user, the Board had an obligation to those people at Town Meeting who voted for the WWTP under the belief that capital costs were going to be defrayed through taxation. * VOTED: 5 -0. (Selectman May left the meeting at this time. Correspondence Whitman & Howard letter regarding Water consumption. Letter from J. Radlo, State DPW updating commitment to build an overpass over 1 -495 for Great Woods access. Letter from Great Woods Study Committee requesting that Town Engineer check meets & bounds of I -495 footbridge parcel. Letter from State Water Resources Commission relative to sludge disposal study and sampling results. DPW Motor Pool Report June 30 through July 18, 1980. Highway Division request for service report through July 14, 1980. Copy of letter from Town Counsel to Stephen W. Cutillo relative to Air Charter Services insurance and performance bond -for Mansfield Airport. Attleboro Area Council for Children notice of public hearing on August 7 at 7:30 in Attleboro. Letter from SRPEDD enclosing Basic Information Folder for F%Y81 SRPEDD Budget. Letter from State House of Representatives urging the establishment of an Energy Resource Commission. WARRANTS #8 ToVm Expenses for $7,368.14 approved on a motion by Selectman Avery, seconded by * Selectman Levine. VOTED: 4 -0. #9 for $152,230 approved on a motion by Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman DeLong, * VOTED: 3 with Selectman Levine abstaining. Minutes of July 9 page 3 paragraph 4 omit to appoint. On a motion by Selectman Avery seconded by Selectman Levine, the Board voted 4 -0 to approve the minutes of July 9 as corrected. On a motion by Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman DeLong, the Board voted to sign grant application for Wastewater Treatment Plant. VOTED: 4 -0. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING JULY 23, 1980 Page 5 Town Manager Report Brockton Office, Bureau of the Census, indicates re- canvassing has been completed. Figures may not be available until end of year. Bureau indicated they would not accept town wide figures. Azalea Road - John Prescott has set a market value of $800. On a motion by Selectman DeLong, Seconded by Selectman Avery the Board voted to set a minimum bid * of $800 on the Azalea Road property. VOTED: 3 -1 with Selectman Levine opposed. Selectman Levine moved I ifor reconsideration of motion. She feels minimum bid should be lowered to $500. No Second. Met with officials of Federal Railroad Authority on planned electric passenger service, New Haven to Boston (Catenary System. They came to Town regarding owner- ship of bridges. It was established that the State owned the bridges. They would like a letter from the Town indicating there are no objections to the Catenary System. The projected goal is to place on line in 1983- Selectman Avery stated that if there were any costs to the Town resulting from project, the railroad would pay for costs. Town Manager talked toiPolice Chief regarding Auxiliary problem, and reports that Chief has discussed matter with Steve Quinn. The decision was left with Quinn. Relative to the Affirmative Action Plan, Town Manager reported the Commission against Discrimination called requesting Plan before July 30 or Federal funds would be denied. Selectman DeLong suggested a minority breakdown be obtained from the Bureau of Statistics,also that an Equal Opportunity Policy Statement be included. Selectman Avery moved that the Affirmative Action Plan be submitted, with clauses * noted, to the proper authorities, seconded by Selectman Levine. VOTED: 4 -0. Board Reports Selectman DeLong reminded Board that Mass Municipal Association suggests getting reservations in early for annual conference in October. Selectman Levine noted that the Mansfield candidates for Town Manager position who were not to be interviewed have all been sent letters of notification. Selectman Levine requested a copy of the Zoning Board of Appeals findings on the Old Colony hearing. Selectman Levine asked who is enforcing the water ban. Town Manager reported that he has given a memo to the Police Department regarding the water ban and violation slips have been made up. If Police see any violations, they whould inform the person verbally and give them copy of ban notice. Then Police will notify water dept. Second offense, Police will notify Water Dept., then water will be shut off. A certified letter is not needed. The first warning is submitted to the Water Dept. to be put on record. Chairman Mahana stated the time has come to send a letter to Foxboro Selectmen relative to the sign on Rte. 140 notifying them of illegal placement of sign and intent to take legal action. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.