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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-14-1979BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS A G E N D A March 14, 1979 7:30 p.m. - Call to Order Warrant Minutes - March 7, 1979 Clerk's Folder Correspondence 7:45 p.m. - Ed Rosenberg - JayCee's RE: Annual Town Clean -up 8 :00 p.m. - Hearing on the proposed water rates Robert Saquet - Chairman of the NBC Board Reports Town Manager's Report PENDING - Traffic lights at Franklin & 106 Emergency Policy Job Classifications Back Bay Brook Phase 3 Water Rates Foxboro Traffic Mall Pattern Sanitary Landfill REminders - CSF meeting tomorrow night at the Town Hall CLOSING OF THE WARRANT FOR THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Present: Selectman Lyman C. Avery, Frank Colella, David R. Clemmey and Antonino Caponigro, Jr. Town Manager William P. Metropulos. (Selectman Robert M. Delong absent) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Selectman Caponigro moved that Selectman Clemmey be Acting Chairman, seconded * by Selectman Avery. Voted 4 -0. Selectman Caponigro moved that Selectman Avery be Acting Clerk, seconded by * Selectman Colella. Voted 4 -0. A Warrant in the amount of $642,853.33 was read. This was approved on a motion by * Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. A Revenue Sharing Warrant in the amount of $3650.00 was read. This was approved on * a motion by Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. The minutes of March 7, 1979 were read. These were approved on a motion by Select- * man Avery, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. Correspondence A letter was noted from the Executive Office of Communities and Development, in- forming us that Governor King has designated this office as the State Clearing- house under the direction of, Byron J. Matthews, Secretary of State. A letter was noted from the Commonwealth of Mass., Department of Public Works, regarding the signs along Route 140, a state highway.in Mansfield. Notification of a City Manager /Fire Chief leadership seminar to be held was noted. The meeting to be held closest to this town will be in Boxboro, May 31 to June 2. A letter was received from Nabisco regarding the proposed increase in the water rates. They agree that the water department should be self sustaining, however, before revising the rates they would suggest that the town and its water department bring its ratio of water billed to water being pumped up to a more reasonable level, also that the increase be gradual rather than lump sum. A request was received from D.R. Betts, house movers, requesting to move a house from 200 School Street to 109 Walnut St. A question was brought up by Selectman Caponigro regarding the removal of trees. The Town Manager noted that the house that was removed last week had trees removed that had already been marked for re- moval by the tree warden , so by having them removed by the house mover it saved the town money. Selectman Caponigro moved that the request be granted subject to check- ing out whether trees have to be removed or not, also that approval be granted from * all departments involved. Seconded by Selectman Colella. Voted 4 -0. ( Correspondence from the Civil Defense Agency was noted with information on a series of training courses to be held at the Civil Defense Training Academy in Topsfield. -1- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 2 A letter was noted from the Brockton- Foxboro District of Seventh -DAy Adventist Churches asking permission to conduct a Tag -day in the Town on June 1, 1979. Permission was granted on a motion by Selectman Caponigro, seconded by Selectman * Avery. Voted 4 -0. A letter was noted from the Mansfield Fire department informing the board that Mansfield Firefighters completed a hazardous materials course by Massasoit Community College, Air. Phillip Blye, instructor. The eight week couse was con- ducted at the central station in Mansfield. A request was received from the Mansfield Band Parents, requesting permission to conduct a parade on Monday, March 19, 1979 forming at the Town Hall and ending at the Mansfield High School parking lot. (other information regarding this was dis- cussed later on at the end of the meeting) A motion was made by Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman Caponigro, granting * permission for this parade. Voted 4 -0. A letter was noted from the Mansfield Jaycees regarding the Air Show that is to be held at the airport on Sunday, May 20th. The Jaycees are requesting permission to hold a parade on that day, 9:00 a.m. to march from the Common to the Airport. Permission was granted on a motion by Selectman Caponigro, seconded by Selectman * Avery. Voted 4 -0. It was noted that they will have to apply to the Town Clerk for the licenses needed for the small carnival they intend to have. Ed Rosenberg and Dick Veren of the JayCees met with the Selectmen to discuss their annual clean -up project scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 1979, Mr. Rosenberg noted that as of 6:00 p.m. tonight they were planning on using vehicles from the Army, but received a call at 6:00 p.m. tonight informing him that the Army cannot give him any trucks, he contacted some of the other contractors in town and as of right now they do not have any additionaly trucks and unless the town can help they will have to cancel. Asked how many trucks they will need, Ed noted that will need as many as they can get but six would be enough. Last year they ran short with seven trucks. Selectman Colella, who drove one of the trucks last year, noted that he can think of at least four off hand that he knows about . Mr. Rosenberg feels that they could use about ten trucks. Selectman Caponigro asked the Town Manager to check with Thom Bonome, highway director, to see if he can get some tonw trucks and men to drive. Ed Rosenberg noted that he will be back next week to to let the Selectmen know how they made out. A report from the police department was noted with a report that there were two disturbances during the week at Jack's Cafe. A letter was noted from the Council -on -Aging with an update report on the accounts that are overdrawn and the amount of money they will need in order to meet their expenditures until July 1. A transfer request was noted from the Council -on -Aging for Acct. 678 -10 in the amount of $320.00, vehicle repairs & gas. Approved on a motion by Selectman Avery, seconded * by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. 2 BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 3 A request for a transfer was noted from the Council -on -Aging in the amount of $150.00 for Acct. #678 -2, Fuel. This was approved on a motion by Selectman Avery * seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. A request for a transfer was noted from the Council -on -Aging in the amount of $110.00, for Acct. #678 -4, Telephone. Thisias approved on a motion by Selectman * Avery, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0.- * * * * Town Manager's Report The Town Manager reports that the town hall fire alarm systa'itis not operating right because the light comes on. However, it has been checked out and it is okay, the soukd is working correctly. Regarding the traffic signals at 140 and Forbes, nothing new has developed in this area. Bids have gone out from the light department for pole type transformers. The bid is scheduled to be opened on March 29, 1979., Carl fuel has notified us the various increases in the fuel price since January 4th of this year. The Town Manager noted that Chad Maurer is working on an update report of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Tomorrow night the Town Manager noted that he is meeting with our Board of Health and Francis Corliss of Foxboro to discuss the joint sanitarian of both towns. An estimate to update the vault in material is $3146. This does not include labor, which is figured at about $403.20 for two men . A motion was made to put an article in the Special Town Meeting to request $5000. to update the inside of the vault by Selectman Avery, seconded by Selectman * Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. The Town Manager noted that he received a letter from the State regarding the Oak St. Culver, it was noted that they will investigate it and tell us what their findings are. * * * * - PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing was held at 8:00 p.m. to discuss a revision on the proposed Water Rates and to update and revue the Rules and Regulations of the Water Commissioners of the Town of Mansfield. Ron Dubuc, Superintendent of the Water Dept. was present and answered questions that the Board had regarding the Regulations. -3- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 4 Selectman Avery asked Ron how he determines the wasting of water. Ron noted that this is a visual thing, people who waste water and do not care, leaks found in cellars, hoses running for no apparent reason. Ron noted that these people are told about this and if they do not take care of it their water can be shut off. Selectman Avery asked Ron how he reached the percentage he did as far as water pumped that is not billed -. Ron noted that he took a random sample of 15% of customers and came up with an average times the number of residential customers, this is how he arrived at the 65% , billing for water being pumped. Ron noted that he could be 5 to 7% off. This first figure was a ballpark figure, rates cannot be based on what is being pumped because of the amount being used for fire protection, hydrant testing etc. Selectman Avery asked Ron if it is true that the towns now on a self supporting basis are billing 80% of the water usage. Ron said that he did not know, but he is sure that 65% is a more realistic figure. Selectman Avery asked Ron if given time could he come up with the correct figure. Ron noted that he could, but he is short handed right now this is why he had to do it the way he did. Ron notes that access to meters is hard a lot of them are inside and we also have dead meters. This people are given estimate bills which are based on bills of the ( passed. Less than 10- houses in town do not have meters because they don't have cellars, so people without meters will be charged the average consumption of users in their class. Ninety -eight percent of the town is metered. Ron notes that a lot of the leaks are because our system is old and of figure of 10 -.15% is not high and his department repairs leaks as they are found. However, Ron does not feel that spending $3000 to $4000. for a rate study is justified: Ron also feels that you can't hope for more than 95% to be metered. $20,000. is noW funded for meter replacements yearly, this could all be done at once by hiring outside help to do the work but the initial cost would be very high. Lincoln Holske, 48 Draper Ave. wants to be sure that. the charge is fair and was also concerned with the fact that out in the Elm St. area 185 new homes has been built and wonders if there is adequate fire protection out there-and-need a- loop,of a larger proportion. Mr. Holske also questioned the fact that industrial users get'- a rate break because of higher -usage and the fact that a'homeowners water can be shut off because of non - payment , is the industrial users paying their share? Ron noted that the larger users have a rate break of 33 %, however, the rate structure has not been changed, the last rate increase was back in 1973, in 1976 it was talked about but nothing came out.of it. Peter Fontanini, owner of Fabric Care Center, Thomas St. referred to the article he read in the Mansfield News that his bill would double going to $7000, whereas someone like Owens - Illinois would be paying $3500. However, Mr: Fontanini was given an explanation about this by Ron, what it has been is that support of the water department came off the tax bill and Owens - Illinois has a high assessment therefore they pay more, where Fabric Care Center is assessed much lower and what came off of his tax was less. The way it will be set up now is that the proposed rates are based on how much water is used. Selectman Clemmey told Peter that the only classification we have right now are based on water consumption and asked that Ron add another Article, Article 6 - See Addendum l,rates and charges. -4- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 5 $2.40 of the tax bill supports the water department and with the new rate, the rate structure will be the same for everyone. Ron noted that he has never seen rates for water where their are different classes of rates for businesses and residential users. Mr. Fontanini feels that his business is a necessity, people have to wash their clothes. Ron noted that when the wastewater treatment plant is working it has to be self supporting and there will be strict guidelines mandated by the EPA based on the basic charge to service residents and businesses and based on what is pumped in. Dave Devenue wants to know why people who are on sewer have to pay 5% on their water bill to support the MDC sewerage service. Ron noted that this will balance out evenutally with(:the new wastewater treatment plant, the budget is being kept the same as last year except for the pumping , this is the only increase in four years. The Town Manager commented on the MDC and noted that this is based on 50% of the population. Dave Devenue asked 'why people who are not on sewer are not paying for the whole thing. Selectman Clemmey noted that this charge is to the town only and Mr. Fontanini wanted to know why they can't be charged on their water bill. Mr. Holske noted that their gripe is that they have to pay to have the guy come and pump them out, so they should be able to have the service to dump it. A letter was read from George Young who could not be present for this hearing which noted that before a rate increase is established that a rate study should be done and that larger users should be assessed a greater base charge than smaller residential ones. The hearing was declared closed. A motion was made by Selectman Colella to wait another week on the decision. This received no second. Selectman Avery moved to adopt the regulations as presented by the superintendent with the exception mentioned by Selectman Clemmey regarding Article 6 which is the * old rates, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. Selectman Avery moved that a decision on the rates be deferred until we have a * full board, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. MBC - Bob Saquet- met with the Selectmen to present two articles for the Special Town Meeting. Article 1 - To see if the town will establish under provisions of Mass. General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 8D, a- Historic Commission of the Town of Mansfield for the purposes and with the rights and duties provided by law, to be composed of five members, appointed by the Board of Selectmen for terms of three years, except that the initial appointment shall be one member for one year, two members for two years and two members for three years, and to raise and appropriate $500. for expenses of said committee. Article 2 - To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000. for engineering studies, preliminary plans and budget estimates for renovation and expansion of the Public Library on Union Street and Park Row. -5- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT Minues of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 6 Bob noted that the Historic Commission would prepare a history of the Town and once this is done there is federal funds available for historical buildings. To date thi- is the only avenue they have for funding. Selectman Clemmey feels that in order to establish this Commission it would need an amendment to the Home Rule Charter and Bob Saquet noted this was not true. Joanne Wood noted that Historical Commissions require a very strict state control. A motion was made by Selectman Caponigro to submit those two articles for the * Special Town Meeting, April 4, 1979, seconded by Selectman Avery. Voted 4 -0. Town Manager's Report - continued - Additional street lights were requested at 151 Stearns Avenue. This request was made before and the lites in that section are now on every other pole and the light department can see not need for additional lites. The other request was at 1012 West St. and this was for additional wattage. The light department put in 175 watts and do not recommend any more, because in that area more houses will be built and more lights will be put in and it may be that the pole in front of 1012 may not be here. Selectman Colella moved that action be taken on 151 Stearns Ave. and moves that they be given a light. This received no second. The Town Manager noted that he received a letter from a Mike Murphy regarding damage to his mailbox and the Town Manager checked this out and highway drivers claim they did not hit any mailboxes . The Town Manager has written a letter telling him that we are denying his request for payment. Mr. Murphy wrote back saying that he wants his claim honored and brought before the board or the Town Counsel. The Town Manager noted that he spoke to the Town Counsel and he feels that we should not pay. Selectman Avery said to write him a letter telling him it was referred to the board and the Town Counsel and as a former FinCom member he knows we have no money. Clerk's Folder Cousin's Pizza, East St. requesting a Common Victualler's License. This is the second week . that this has come up and no one was present to represent them. Selectman Caponigro moved that they be granted the license. This received no second. The license is being taken under advisement until next week again and requested that someone appear to discuss it. Two jurors were picked for Superior Court in New Bedford, for their April 1979 session. Janet Corrigan Albert Zaffini 22 Clinton Street 9 Hillside Terrace Board Reports Selectman Colella gave his figures on what he feels it would cost to remedy the problem at the Oak St. Culvert. The high figure is $35,000., the low figure is $33,000, and could be even lower. This figure will be included in an article for �. the Annual Town Meeting. Selectman Caponigro reported on his meeting he had this afternoon with GATRA. Bad news, Larry Ross of GATRA reports that they have no idea what the rail subsid}i:./ will cost this eyar and will not have any legitimate figure for the town meeting. -6- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting March 14, 1979 Page 7 Selectman Caponigro noted that Leon Lombardi, our Representative has called a meeting for this Friday with GATRA. The next meeting of GATRA will meet here at the Town Hall in Mansfield. Selectman Caponigro wants to know if we want to go ahead with the bus service to Attleboro,he figures the cost will be about $8000. Selectman Caponigro notes that they keep tossing around this $300,000. figure. Selectman Clemmey feels that they are trying to assess us like the MBTA system. The board members all wished Selectman Clemmey good luck in the up- coming election Monday, March 19, 1979. Selectman Clemmey thanked the board and noted that he also want to thank the townspeople for allowing him to serve the town for the past three years and hopefully he will be able to serve the town for another three years. Selectman Avery moved that the warrant for the Soecial Town Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 4, 1979, at 8 :30 p.m, be closed, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. * Voted 4 -0. -7- BOARD OF SELECTMEN March 15, 1979 Minutes of the Meeting Present: Selectman David R. Clemmey, Lyman C. Avery and Robert M. DeLOng. Town Manager William P. Metropulos The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Selectman Avery moved to accept and submit Article 5 for the Special Town * Meeting, seconded by Selectman Clemmey. Voted 3 -0. Selectman Avery moved to accept and submit Article 6 for the Special Town * Meeting, seconded by Selectman Clemmey. Voted 3 -0.