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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 5-16-1979BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS offalatimm., May 16, 1979 7:30 p.m. - Call to Order Warrant Minutes of April 25, May 2 and May 9. Correspondence 7:45 p.m. - Light Comm. Meeting 8:10 p.m. - Attorney White & Paul Boyden to discuss Article 22 of the 1956 Town Meeting Mr. Noonan- to discuss the MDC Facility in Walpole Town Manager's Report Board Reports PENDING !!!!!!!!!! Traffic Lights as Franklin & 106 Traffic Lights at 140 & Forbes Blvd. Job Classification Back Bay Brook Phase 3 Water Rates Foxboro Mall (Traffic Pattern) Sanitary Landfill Oak St. Culver Railroad Station Parking BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Present: Selectman Robert M. DeLong, Lyman C. Avery, Norman Mahana and Antonino Caponigro, Jr. Town Manager William P. Metropulos. Selectman Colella arrived at 8:05 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The weekly warrant in the amount of $247,986.74 was read. Selectman DeLong moved that Voucher #5646 in the amount of $6000. be withdrawn from the warrant payable to Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. the auditors working in the town. Selectman Delong notes that his reason is that we have yet to see a report from them. A motion was made to approve the warrant in the amount of $241,986.74 , * seconded by Selectman Mahana. Voted 4 -0. (This total is minus Voucher #5646) A Revenue Sharing warrant in the amount of $1335.74 was noted. This was approved on a motion by Selectman Mahana, seconded by Selectman DeLong. * Voted 4 -0. M mitpc The minutes of April 25, 1979 were read and accepted. Approved on a motion * by Selectman DeLong, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. The minutes of May 2, 1979 were read and accepted. Approved on a motion by * Selectman DeLong, seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 4 -0. The minutes of May 9, 1979 were read and accepted. Approved on a motion by * Selectman DeLong, seconced by Selectman Mahana. Voted 4 -0.` Correspondence A letter was noted from Edward T. Webber, Commander Post 198, American Legion, inviting the Selectmen to join them in a parade on Memorial Day, Play 28, 1979 The parade will form at Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m. Notice was received of a Bristol County Selectmen's Association meeting to be held next Thursday, May 24, at Georgio's Restaurant in Dighton. The Administrator's monthly report from the Mass. Tourist Information Center for April was noted. Attendance for the month is up by 25% plus rental for display space. A lab report from the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering , Lakeville was noted on the drinking water in the Town. Selectman Mahana noted that the report indicates that our water is almost pure. A letter was noted from the Division of Water Pollution Control regarding the Date] Systems, Inc. in the Industrial Park. There was a question after inspection by the plumbing inspector as to how they are handling their ".acid waste ". It has been determined by the Division of Water Pollution Control that the replacement of existing floor drains with acid resistant piping need not be done as long as they comply with the Town of Mansfield's sewer use ordinance and any other pretreatment requirements. Also consideration must be given to the proper handling of floor spills. -i- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 2 A letter of resignation was noted from Ron Dubuc, resigning as Water and Sewer Superintendent, effective June 22, 1979, The Selectmen asked the Town Manager to write a letter of appreciation to Ron for the excellent work that he has done. An application to move a house by D.R. Betts, Inc. was noted. All departments have been checked out, however, this house will be moved over senic roads and the Selectmen will not approve the permit until it has first'.been approved by the Planning Board. Correspondence was noted from SRPEDD regarding amendments to the FY 79 Trans- portation Improvement Program. The Selectmen agreed to turn all of this over to the Town Planner. SRPEDD sent a certificate of appreciation for the Town Mansfield's partici- pation in SRPEDD during the past ten years. Thee °certificate will be turned over to the Town Planner. A tour of the Seabrook Project is being planned for Friday, May 18, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Hall of the Light plant will be leaving the Town Hhll at 8:30 a.m. that morning. Approval from the EPA for reimbursement of eligible project expenses incurred to date was received. A check in the amount of $27,400. will be forwarded from the U.S. Treasury Department Disbursing Officer, Washington, D.C. Copy of the letter that the Town Manager wrote to Secretary Schlesinger re- garding the fuel allocation shortage was noted. The Town Manager also commented that this is his personal reaction to the Pule allocation and does not reflect the policy of the Town of Mansfield. And further, that whatever order is given could be over - ridden by the Board of Selectmen. An application was noted from Sandra Holske, Old Elm St. applying for the Recreation Commission and the Industrial!Development Commission. A letter from the Fire Chief was noted inviting the Selectmen and Town Manager to join department members in the line of march on Sunday, June 10, 1979 for the annual Firefighters' Memorial Sunday Observance. The parade will form at the Central Fire Station and will step off at 9:00 a /m. sharp. Another letter from Chief Leonard was noted inviting the Selectmen and the Town Manager to the annual Fire Department Banquet to be held at the Norton Country Club on Sunday, May 27, starting at 6:30 p.m.. A letter from the Electric Department was noted addressed to the Mansfield Motor Inn Association informing them that at present there is enough capacity on our electrical system to ensure an adequate power supply for the proposed Mansfield Motor INN to be located at the Industrial Park. A letter was noted from the Fire Chief in the Town of Norton thanking Mansfield's Fire Department for their response in the serious incident of May 3, 1979, that happened at Wheaton College. -2- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 3 l Correspondence from Recreational Director Paul Split was noted with informa- tion of upcoming events and the winners of the Dog Show held at the South Common on Saturday, May 5, 1979. * * ** Light Commissionerss Meeti Director James Hall and Office Manager Diane Dubuc met with the Light Commissioners. Diane noted that the billing status at the present time is at the point where the March billing should be complete tomorrow. Cash posting is being done and books still have to be proved after each billing cycle. Another terminal has been received, however, Diane noted that after so many transactions they have to stop and reprogram and this is the stage that they are at now. Billing can be keyed in the machine in four days but posting and proving is another thing. Diane noted that the machine is now running off bills and asked if any of the Selectmen would be interested in going up to observe it. The Board recessed to go up and observe the machine. The Board returned to the meeting at 7:55 pm. The next item for discussion was the air - conditioning of the computer room. Diane & Jim noted that the machine is not warranted for over heating or thermostatic conditions. The machine should be kept in a temperature of 70 degrees and the central air - conditioner is not adequate enough to handle it. The computer throws off 4000 BTU's an hour. In order to keep the temperature down to 70 degrees in this room the rest of the town hall depart- ments freeze. Jim does not feel that the cost of this project would be over $1000. the work can be done by the highway men'.. Selectman Avery asked Jim if they have talked to DBS about this problem and Jim noted that this was discussed before it was installed and they assumed that if we had central air - conditioning it would handle it. The next item that was discussed was where to move the postage machine that is now in the computer room. The Town Manager noted that fie is planning on having it moved out into the water department. .. Selectman Colella arrived at 8:05 p.m. Discussion continued again on the postage machine and the different areas thought about. The Town Manager noted that he has decided on the Water Dept. and will contact the highway department tomorrow to start on it. Regarding the air - conditioning, Selectman DeLong made a motion to authorize Jim Hall to air - condition the computer room and have the Town Counsel check the contract to see if we have recourse to the vendor. Discussion: Selectman Coella questioned how much they have been paid and wanted to know if we could hold some money back from them, he moved that $5000. be held back, this was not seconded. Selectman DeLong informed Selectman Colella that this is what his * motion says. The motion was seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 5 -0. BIB BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 ( Page 4 Regarding the work on I -495, Jim noted that the high voltage cables have been pulled in and he has scheduled School Street to be changed over to 2300 volts on Saturday morning, they will be out of the contractor's way by the 21st if everything goes right. The steel will be delivered by the 23rd and errected. Jim moted that this is just one line on School Street , West Street will be done later. Jim noted that he would like to go out for bid for materials needed for two cables to the Industrial Park. These would be feeders from the Gilbert St. sub - station. Gilbert St., Otis and School Street, is one line; from Gilbert St. up West St. to the Industrial Park is the other line. The cost for this is approximately $100,000. not including labor. Jim noted that he would like to advertise as soon as possible since there is a 28 week wait for the material and he would like to have the work done before the new Motel is built. Jim also noted that this will take care of any future growth in the Park. Selectman Mahana asked Jim if there are any problems with the Ryan Industrial Park and he noted "no ". Jim informed the Board that a tour of Seabrook is being conducted FRiday morning and anyone wishing to go is welcome to ride with him, that he will be leaving the town hall.at 8:30 a.m.. The Town Manager noted that he will meet them up there since he will be in that area. Selectman DeLong questioned Jim on the status of Seabrook and Jim noted that it is about 15% completed, we've passed all the test. We did not pass the first requirment because we were not far enough along with construction, we passed the second set of regulations and now it has been turned over to the Department of Energy's legal counsel to see if we have done anything wrong, this is where it now stands. Paul Boyden, James Vaughn, Attorney John White and Ralph Maloon met with the Selectmen to discuss a piece of land which is a triangular parcel containing 3020 sq. feet more or less on Old Colony Way. An article was submitted for the first Special Town Meeting held on May 9 and tabled pending the-Selectmen's request for more information. Mr. Boyden noted that Mr. Maloon of Rim Engineering was asked to attend tonight',s meeting because he was involved in the laying out and surveying of the property. Article 22 of the Town Meeting held in 1956 conveyed this parcel of land by vote to a Walter B. Williams and Linda C. Williams , however this was never recorded. Mr. Williams has been assessed for this parcel since 1956. Mr. Vaughn has designed a building to be put on this lot next to the existing building that now stands and future plans are for another building to go where the existing building now stands, and this parcel is necessary in selling off the entire parcel. Selectman DeLong noted that speaking as one member he sees no problem, the land is of no value to the Town and will be valuable some day, cannot see holding anyone up. Paul Boyden noted that the Town will not lose one bit of parking,that the public parking lot will stay as it is. IME BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 5 Selectman Mahana questioned Mr. Boyden as to whether there are bounds and he noted that there are 2 granite bounds covering a little over 3,000 sq. feet. Selectman Mahana proposed swaping the land if they were willing to give up about 4 parking spaces because of the�need for parking to serve the commuter rail customers. However, Paul noted that this would mean removing sidewalks, and doing reconstruction work and cost the Town money. Selectman Avery noted that he has no objections to the plan as presented tonight by Mr. Boyden. Attorney White said that he would assume that they would need another vote from the Town and will resubmit it for the next special. Selectman Avery asked if there were any objections at the Planning Board meeting when this was submitted to them and Paul noted that at that time there were no objections and they were in favor of the plan. Selectman DeLong moved that Article 5 of the Special Town Meeting held, May 9, 1979 that was tabled be resubmitted for the next Special when called. Seconded * by Selectman Colella. Voted 5 -0. MDC SEPTAGE FACILITY IN 14ALPOLE The Town of Mansfield has had a contract with the MDC facility in Walpole, a Commonwealth of Mass. operation for the disposal of septage waste. The Town pays $1.90 per capita per year for this contract, amounting to approximately $11,800. per year. An article was presented in this year's annual Town Meeting to enter into a contract again for the coming FY 79 -80. This article met with opposition from the Board of Health claiming that this facility is not being utilized enough to warrant entering into another contract. It was brought out by Ed Tartufo, Board of Health member that only two pumpers.were using the facility and the FinCom noted that in their investigation only one pumper is using the facility. The Town Manager's office obtained a list of the licensed pumpers in the Town from the Town Clerk and checked with them all, out of nine licensed pumpers, seven said that they use the facility. The Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen were in favor of this article and recommended that it pass, however, it was defeated at the Town Meeting. As a result of this, a Mr. John Noonan, a licensed pumper in the Town of Mansfield asked to be on the Selectmen's agenda for tonight's meeting. Mr. Noonan noted that the information presented at the Town Meeting was in error, that he and other pumpers are using the MDC facility. They are not allowed in any of the other facilites such as Brockton, Taunton etc. Mr. Noonan noted that he checked with the City of Brockton and was told that they do not allow septage waste disposal from Mansfield. Ed Tartufo, noted at tonight's meeting that he again today went over to the MDC facility to request a list of people using the facility and had a hard time trying to obtain this list, however, he did and it list five (5) pumpers licensed with the Town using the facility, Mr. Tartufo apologized for the error but noted that at the first of last year the Board of Health sent letters to all the pumpers asking them where they are dumping, also requesting them to send in quarterly -5- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 6 reports , as a result of this only one letter was received from a Mr. Dubord. Also, he and Karl Clemmey went over to the MDC facility and did some checking and received a list of the people dumping and this is when it was decided that not enough pumpers are using the facility. Mr. Noonan noted that he does not feel that the Selectmen are enforcing the law, that the pumpers must have a permit from Walpole along with a permit from Mansfield, a lot of the pumpers are dumping from other Towns into the Walpole facility that are not allowed in Walpole but are using the Mansfield license to get in. Mr. Noonan noted that there is no other place to take the septage waste if the contract with Walpole is dropped, and no one that he knows has a permit to dump in Brockton. Taunton told Mr. Noonan that they cannot handle any- more at their facility. After some further discussion, the Board of Selectmen decided that they would like to meet with the FinCom on this, also Selectman Avery asked Mr. Noonan to come back next week and sit in on the discussion and to bring some of the other pumpers if he can. The FinCom will be asked to meet with the Board next week. Also the Town Manager will again check out the list of licensed pumpers that the Town Clerk has asking them to verify whether or not they are using the MDC facility. Town Manager's Report As a result of the presentation at the Selectmen's meeting a couple of weeks ago put on by Rodney Ploude, So. Main Street to look into a'.solution to prevent any further accidents such as the fatality that happened the prior weekend, the Town Manager has turned over all the material to the new Town Engineer and the DPW director. Along with this the School authorities have been notified regard- ing a change in the school bus stop on FRuit St., they will take it up with the bus company. The State DPW will also be contacted on this problem. Selectman Avery asked the Town Manager if Rodney Ploude has also been asked to work on the project, the Town Manager noted that he will be as soon as he re- ceives the information from the Town Engineer. Advertisements for a Water /Sewer Superintendent have been sent out and will be carried in the Mansfield News, Sun Chronicle, Boston Globe, Beacon Magazine and Division of Employment Security. The culverton Willow Street near the Golf course has been repaired. The Williams St. bridge has been repaired, poured cement and hot topped the area. Because of the conditions of both areas and the need for immediate attention, the Chairmen of the Planning Board and Conservation Commission were notified that we would be doing the work on an emergency status. t Catch basin cleaning is being done throughout the Town by Roto Rooter, this work was started on May 7. Several referrals from CETA have been sent for the dispatching jobs at the police and fire stations. Presently, one personnin training and is working out well. Should the next two candidates check out satisfactorily, they will also begin a training program. W BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 7 The Town Manager noted that he met with the Assessors on the estimated cost for revaluation. The $180,000. is based on $37.50 per parcel times 4800 parcels. The parcel figure is based on Norton /No. Attleboro's experience. The State recommends in a proposed legislative bill - HB 2093 a reimbursement of $35.00 per parcel. Presently this bill is in the Taxation Committee. The Town Manager noted that he will be taking a week's vacation starting June 11. The Town Manager noted that he has been asked and accepted to serve on the Advisory Committee of a Wage Reporting System and to represent the MMA /MLCT. This is in relation to recent legislation enacted regarding wages of public employees and is to be used for verifying eligibility & entitlement under public assistance, unemployment insurance and veterans services benefit programs, to curb fraud and abuse of such programs. Meetings have been scheduled in Boston for May 11, June 1, 8, and 22. Board Reports Selectman Mahana noted that he would like to set up a committee to look into commuter parking for the railroad . This committee will be responsible for looking into implementing a plan to set a fee system for parking. After some discussion on the name for this new committee, it was decided to be called - COMPARK- Selectman Mahana was asked if he planned on serving as a member of the committee and he noted that he would be willing to start it off, however, the Board felt that he should be the steering officer. A motion was made by Selectman Caponigro that Selectman Mahana be the Chairman of this committee and that he pick his own committee, seconded by Selectman * Colella. Voted 5 -0. Selectman Mahana named the following people to serve on this committee: Bea Thayer 57 Charles St Richard D'Onofrio 980 West Street Fred Mueller 94 Otis Street Paul O'Neill 294 Gilbert.St. Charles Campbell 150 Rumford Ave. Robert Douglas 13 Casa Drive Rodney Plourde 416 So. Main St. Walter Costello 792 Ware Street Selectman Avery also suggest that the police and fire departments appoint some- one as a consultant to attend these meetings along with the highway director, Thom Bonome. Selectman Mahana noted that May 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectman DeLong noted that a bound marker to be placed The Town Manager noted that to the Town Engineer. the first COMPARK meeting will be held, Thursday, Town Hall. he had a request from the Historical Society for in the N.E. corner of the Fisher Richardson House. he has already taken care of this and turned it over -7- BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 t' Page 8 Selectman DeLong noted that there is a bill in the Senate regarding third party payments relative to Chapter 766, and medically related problems. This will reduce the cost as far as the school committee's budget but will bury the true cost of Chapter 766. Selectman DeLong noted that he is not opposed to it but the true cost should be known, right now the cost is in the school's budget. It was noted that when Chapter 766 was first started it cost $40 /million now it is up to $260 /million. It was also noted that the cost of Blue Cross /Blue Shield is going up and the increase is being felt by industry which the Board feels is a step in the wrong direction. Selectman DeLong feels that we should be aware of what the social programs cost us and not bury the cost. Selectman Avery noted that there is a strong effort to mandate Chapter 766 on local towns and make them pay for it except for some reimbursement, but now they are going to remove some of the cost and pass it on to the taxpayer via their medical payments. A motion was made by Selectman Delong to write a letter informing our Repre- sentative and Senators that we are not in favor of HB 3238 and Senate Bill 195. * Seconded by Selectman Caponigro. Voted 5 -0. Copies of this letter will also be sent to the BCSA and the MSA. Selectman Colella questioned the Town Manager on the status of the WW 11 monu- ment at the South Common and asked if it would be ready for Memorial Day. The Town Manager noted that he was requested to hook up a water supply for the stone cutter a couple of weeks ago and this was done and they have not heard from them since. He will check into it. Board of Assessors Al Turinese,John Prescott and Peter Saunders met with the Board to discuss re- valuation. The decision in the Andover case is not expected until the first of June but this should not alter our appropriating the money, of the 23 towns named in the suit 15 have appropriated money and have been dropped from the suit 8 are still remaining. As soon as this suit is settled all the towns that have not appropriated the money will have to be reassessed by a firm picked out by the State and the cost taken off the Cherry Sheet. So the decision has been taken out of our hands. Selectman Avery noted that when:,the article is presented at Town Meeting it should be stated what the disadvantages would be with the State doing it. Al noted that with the State doing it the Town would lose control of the cost, selection of a firm and also loss of input and quality. Selectman DeLong noted that it should also be pointed out that the State may in fact hire an out of state firm, Al noted however, that we may also hire an out -of -state firm,. Al noted that after we have revalued the State will come in and make sure that we have reassessed as close to 100% of full and fair market value and then we will have to implement classification. This will not take effect for probably 2 years. * * ** Selectman Colella questioned what happened with the No. Attleboro Selectmen last Saturday for the walkingof the bounds. Selectman DeLong noted that they met at Plain & Brown Ave., whereas Mansfield met at West St. and the Town Line. BOARD OF SELECTMEN /LIGHT COMMISSIONERS Minutes of the Meeting May 16, 1979 Page 9 i, The No. Attleboro Selectmen will'be asked to meet again, on Saturday, June 's, 11:00 a.m. and to meet on West St. at the town line. Selectman Mahana asked the Town Manager to look into a depression in the road in front of D'Rienzo's property on School St. Selectman Mahana also asked the Town Manager if it would be possible to have a cape cod berm built on Eddy St. when they repave the road, because of rain problems and one of the catch basins is too high. Selectman Avery noted that a John Sloan, 29 Newton St. claims he has a diseased elm tree which has been marked for removal but is still standing. Selectman Avery also is concerned that we may be paying for people dumping from the Town of Norton into the MDC facility in Walpole and that we are paying for it. Selectman Avery asked that the Town Manager notify the MDC facility and the people dumping from Mansfield that they have to get a permit. The Town Manager noted that the police are holding their bicycle auction on Saturday, June 9 at 10:00 a /.m. . A motion was made by Selectman Caponigro * to ask Doug Titus to be the Auctioneer, seconded by Selectman DeLong. Voted 5 -0 The Town Manager noted that the Mass. League of Cities and Towns has notifed him that they are going to have a meeting on June 27 at the Sheraton Motor Inn in Lexington to change the name of the association to the Mass. Municipal Asso- ciation and use the by -laws of the Mass. Leage of Cities and Towns. It is not necessary to attend the meeting our vote can be sent by proxy. Selectman DeLong moved that we submit our proxy vote infavor of the change. Seconded by Selectman * Mahana. Voted 5 -0. The Board moved to go into Executive Session to discuss labor negotiations. The Board was polled, DeLong, yes; Colella, yes; Avery, yes; Mahana, yes; and Caponigro, yes. The Board will not be back in open session, and the time was noted to be 10:10 p.m. Executive Minutes prepared separately.