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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-8-1980BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS A G E N D A OCTOBER 8, 1980 1. 7:00 P.M. Executive Session - Police contract 2. 7:30 P.M. Call to Order 3. Minutes of October 1, 1980 4. Warrants S. Correspondence 6. 8:00 P.M. Steve Conroy - Parade Permit 7. Old Business Town Manager's Report 8. New Business 9. Adjournment BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING OCTOBER 8, 1980 PRESENT: Chairman Mahana, Selectmen DeLong, May, Levine, Avery, Town Manager Maurer. Meeting called to order at 7:30 P.M. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 1, 1980 Selectman Avery apologized for forgetting to attend the Firefighter's Relief Association Memorial Service Sunday, as well as Selectman May, Selectman May noted that on the bottom of last page reference to the grain mill should have been the Fairfield building where JayCee's would be repairing Christmas decorations. Minutes of October 1, 1980 approved with correction noted, Avery /May, 5 -0. WARRANTS * #38 Town Expenses for $24,240.01 approved Avery /May 5 -0. * #39 School Expenses for $23,292.44 approved May /Avery, 4 -1 with Levine abstaining. * #40 School Payroll for $180,358.23 approved May /Avery, 4 -1 with Levine abstaining. * #41 Town Payroll for $82,696.56 approved Avery /Levine, 4 -1 with May abstaining. DPW work schedule for 9/26 through 10/3/1980. Letter from Mansfield Recreation Commission requesting permission to consult with Town Counsel. Town Manager suggests that when a request is made the reason should also be put in writing. Selectman DeLong moved permission be granted, seconded * by Selectman Avery, voted 5 -0. Selectman Avery requests that in the future reasons be stated in writing. Invitation from Bristol County Agricultural High School to the pre =view showing of the 111980 Fall Show" to be held Thursday evening October 23, 1980 at 8:00 P.M. Note from the Building Inspector to waive the permit fees for electrical and gas - fitting work to be done at Cedar Court Housing for the Elderly, approved on a * motion by Avery /DeLong, 5 -0. Building Construction figures for the month of September estimated costs $859,090, total estimated construction costs to date for 1980, $9,392,83S. Request from Board of Assessor's to abate the betterment assessed to Karl Clemmey for 370 West Street because property was never connected to sewer. Should include stipulation that if it is connected in the future, betterment would be reassessed. Town Manager recommends that if the Board should decide to abate (abate is incorrect word, since a charge was never paid) , we should also request he return original sewer connection permit to be voided.The $10 fee would not be returned, since that was a charge for paper work. No assessment has been charged, but if he wishes to connect in the future, another application would have to be completed, and a betterment assessed. Request from Mansfield High School Athletic Director for permission to hold Homecoming Parade October 11, at 12:30 P.M. Motion to grant permission, Avery /Play. * VOTED: 5 -0. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING OCTOBER 8, 1980 Page 2 Sewer Connection permit application for 49 Fruit Street by Michael Masino, to be connected on Juniper Drive. Town Manager advised that since the Town has accepted the streets in the sub - division, we have the right to grant permission to connect. Motion Avery /May subject to the letter of condition being signed and returned by * applicant. VOTED: 5 -0. Application from Carleton N. Davis for reappointment to the Registry of Voters for 1981. At 8:00 p.m. Steve Conroy addressed the Board requesting permission for the Booster's Club to conduct a parade Thanksgiving Day commemorating the 50th confrontation between Mansfield and Foxboro Football teams. Also would like permission to contact the police and fire departments for assistance on that day. A written letter will be submitted with more specifics. Motion to grant permission, * May /Avery, voted: 5 -0. Notice of meeting from 128 WRRC to be held October 21, 1980. Massachusetts tourist information Center monthly report. Letter from Town Counsel regarding A.P. Whitaker $ Sons, Inc. case whereby $3500 was withheld as payment to them because of roof leak problems with Town Hall roof. Attorney Boyajian advised that client would be willing to take $1500 as compromise rather than the $1000 Board offered. Town Counsel requests direction from the Board. Selectman Avery commented that based upon other conversations he heard in various cases, he doesn't think the Town would win in court, and should settle on the $1500 figure. Selectman DeLong feels the reason money is withheld is just for this purpose. He feels contractor would have a difficult time sueing the town. Town Manager suggests delaying decision for a week until he hears from Town Counsel and former Selectman T. Caponigro. Letter from mansfield Public Library regarding vote to present plans for the library addition at the next annual town meeting. Letter from HUD regarding analysis for determination of possible obligation on the part of the Town for a partial reimbursement to the Government on advance for the construction of drainage works. Indications are that no further payment is due but monitoring of the program will be continued. Water Resources brochure on ground water exploration. Letter of resignation from Lawrence Pigeon from Airport Commission. Avery /Levine moved to accept with regret and to send letter of appreciation. VOTED: 5 -0. Letter from SRPEDD relative to potential Legislation affecting SRPEDD. Letter from State Water Resources Commission relative to the 4 million dollars available for the purchase of reservoir sites for future water supply purposes. Town Manager will check to see if the three ponds, Fulton, Kingman, and Cabots, would qualify for funds if they were connected and treated for possible water supply. Selectman Avery suggests Town Manager or new planner when hired should check the possibilities for use of available funds. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING OCTOBER 8, 1980 Page 3 j Newsletter from S. E. Regional Education Council noting upcoming meetings. Notification from Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission that Reading of Chapter 138, section 16C will be honored while data is being gathered for appeal, relative to distances from church or schools. Town Manager Report The amendment regarding the updating of charter reads that every 10 years it will be reprinted and made available for distribution. Town Manager suggested to Town Clerk that By -laws be included in one booklet with Charter. Selectman Avery suggested using Selectmen's Printing Expense Account since available supply is low. In response to a question raised last week about property tax litigation, Town Counsel recommends that because the company was bankrupt in the first case that it be dropped. In the second instance, there are other attachments, but Counsel recommends treasurer also have attachment put on property although we will be low on the list. Reports letter has been sent from B/S to Commissioner Amidon voicing objection to opening Rte.495 to SouthMain St. Selectman Avery voiced disagreement with ( Representative Lombardi's letter which would agree to allow local traffic to exit onto South Main while Cape traffic would continue on. Selectman Avery would like to see ramps blocked until roadway is completed and would ask Board members to inspect the area and view for themselves the dangerous conditions existing. Town Manager commented that this intersection design is a good example of how the State DPW does listen to power groups and compromised in the design of this area because conservationalists did not want too much land taken for cloverleaf. We have received correspondence from EPA and DEQE concerning problems at the existing Wastewater Treatment plant. One comment that goes back a few months which they made after an inspection is understaffing. Part of the problem, according to Town Manager Maurer, is that when we added the polishing machines the plant was upgraded to a grade 6 which requires an increase in personnel. They want three additional employees and an upgrading of present employees. Town Manager hopes they will wait untilwe can include additional personnel in budget for next year. Another complaint was that the polishing filters were out of service at the time of inspection, but that was because they were being cleaned. Town Manager met with Rev. Flug relative to the Jacob Williams fund and he will come back to Board in about two weeks with a proposal for use of the funds. There is approximately $4000 in interest that has been accumulated. Town Manager reports that a letter was sent to DBS in August listing all items to be completed by a certain date. They have completed all of the items, however, ( no commitments have been made to them for Phase III. We want everything complete on PhaseI $ II first. From talking to John Redding and C. Bregnard, there are only a few minor bugs to be worked out. One of the problems that the town has had particularly in the water department is the lack of personnel in water department. There is only one person handling the computer, the other person is on part time basis. Light Department people are assisting in bringing water department on line. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING OCTOBER 8, 1980 Page 4 Town Manager reports that last week in a letter from SRPEDD it was suggested that we make an application to be included in the labor market area to help us out in statistics for grants. They suggest either the Providence- warwick area or the Fall River -New Bedford, however, Town Manager feels Providence would be the better one for Mansfield. They want a letter from the Board. Selectman Avery commented that School Department grant applications were not approved many times because the town does not belong to a labor market and therefore feels it would be a good idea to be included. * Motion by DeLong /Avery voted 5-0 in favor of sending a letter to SRPEDD to request inclusion in the Providence Labor Market. Town Manager was asked to check the affirmative action plan to see if this should be updated to include the labor market. Town Manager noted that since coming into office, has been following affirmative action guidelines even though it has not been approved as yet. The second item reported by the Town Manager contained in the SRPEDD letter was a request for endorsement for the economic development program in the region. * Avery /Levine to continue endorsement, voted 5-0. Chairman Maliana asked to see a copy from CATV from Pollis. Selectman Levine asked when the tax bills would be ready, and Town Manager reported that according to the Assessor's it will be two or three weeks before the tax rate can be set and still longer before the bills are issued. Town Manager to check on status of re- evaluation. Capital Improvements meeting next Thursday at the Fire Station at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Mahana noted that the Tom of Sudbury had been experiencing a number of deaths among young people related to drinking of liquor and sent out notices to all liquor establishments to be careful when checking I.D.'s. He suggests that Mansfield might do the same. Selectman DeLong does not feel local merchants would appreciate such action. Selectmen Levine and Avery feel a letter of reminder could be sent. Chairman Mahana noted that water consumption has been dropping and asked whether Town Manager would soon recommend lifting of water ban. Town Manager reported he would be meeting with Whitman and Howard on Friday to discuss. We will wait until flow tests on wells are completed. Dustin Well is beginning to act like Witch Pond before it was cleaned. Whitman and Howard will look at it before making a recommendation. Dustin Well has never been cleaned since installation but funds are available if this becomes necessary. Chairman Maliana asked Town Manager to check into a house on School Street which has a garden hose coming out into drain to see if this might be a bleeder hose for the end of the line. Town Manager reported that people from MMWEC met with Jim Hall today on the Hydro- power study. Chairman Mahana reported receiving information from our GATRA representative indicating that the State Administration would support a deficiency budget for BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF THE MEETING f- OCTOBER 8, 1980 Page 5 1 commuter rail, tentatively good through February. GATRA is still holding to December 31 deadline for cutting off support. They will wait to see what happens to funding of deficiency budget. Chairman asked to have underpass in West Mansfield cleaned again, however, it was noted that cleaning proves fruitless since it becomes littered again in a week. Chairman also asked if JayCee's could be contacted to help girls paint railroad station since the cold weather is fast approaching. Chairman reported that flea market type signs are being place on poles along School Street and not being removed after date indicated. Ask to have Electric Department and DPW remove signs from poles. There being no further business a motion to adjourn was made at 9:10 P.M. * Avery /May 5 -0.