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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-24-1976BOARD OF SELECTMEN A G E N D A March 24, 1976 (MEETING POSTED FOR 7 P.M.) • 7:00 p.m. - Call to order, Treasurer's Warrant, Minutes • 7:05 p.m. - Finance Committee • 8:00 p.m. - Hearing - Mansfield Liquor Mart (for transfer of location) • 8 :15 p.m. - Howard Fiske re Borderland State Park e 8:30 p.m. - Jeff Roche - to present Board with commemorative Bicentennial gift • 8:40 p.m. - Clerk's Folder Class II License - M.C. Wardner Correspondence • 9 :00 P.M. - Discussion on Water Rate Revision Proposal 0 Town Manager's Report 0 Board Reports 0 Adjournment Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 24, 1976 Present: Selectmen DeLong, Colella, Caponigro, Levine, and Titus. Town Manager not present because of illness. Meeting posted for 7 p.m. The Chairman explained that the FinCom would not be able to meet with the Board that night. The Treasurer's Warrant was approved in the amount of $479,969.48 on the motion of Selectman Levine, seconded by Selectman DeLong, and voted 3 -0 (Selectmen Colella and Titus not yet present). Selectman DeLong moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved. Seconded by Selectman Levine, and voted 3 -0 (Selectmen Colella and Titus not yet present). Letter received from George Young regarding the adoption of Chapter 47- Section 69B (for water rates). Invitation from the League of Women Voters for a panel discussion to be held on April 22 at 8 p.m. about the Bottle Bill. This discussion will be held at the Town Hall.. Notice of a S.R.P.E.D.D. meeting to be held on March 26 regarding the Route 495 extension. Letter received from Town Counsel regarding the interpretation of the present zoning bylaws regarding kennels. Jeff Roche presented the Board with four color photographs of the Bicen- tennial parade, for use in the Town Hall. At 8 p.m. there was a public hearing on the application of Mansfield Liquor Mart, Inc., to transfer their business from 525 North Main Street to 250 North Main Street. Selectman Levine read the application for the transfer. Two of the three principals of the corporation met to speak in favor of the transfer. The applicants answered questions from the Selectmen, and said that they had a letter from Father Higgins that the church waived their right to protest the fact that a business with an alcoholic beverage license was within so many feet of the church. No opposition to the license trans- fer was recorded. Selectman DeLong moved that the license be granted subject to the receipt of a copy of the letter from Father Higgins stating that he had no objection to the transfer. Seconded by Selectman Colella, voted 4 -0, with Selectman Titus abstaining from the vote. The Class II license for M.C. Wardner was discussed. Selectman DeLong moved that the license be granted, with the stipulation that five (5) parking spaces be reserved on the lot for the employees or tenants of the building., Seconded by Selectman Colella. Voted 3 -2, with Selectmen Titus and Levine opposed. Howard Fiske met with the Board to discuss the Borderland State Park, to which he is Mansfield's representative. He said that on April 4 there would be an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mansion in the Park, and invited the Board members to attend. The Board, as Light Commissioners, reviewed the report to be submitted to the -1- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 24, 1976 Page 2 Department of Public Utilities for the calendar year 1975 for the Mansfield Municipal Electric Department with Light Director James Hall and Office Manager Geraldine Lemiuex. After the review and discussion, Selectman Titus moved that the report be accepted, signed „ and forwarded to the DPU. Seconded by Selectman Levine, voted 5 -0. The revision of the water Rates as recently proposed by the Town Manager was discussed. Selectman Titus moved that the water rate revision pro- posal be put off for three years. Seconded by Selectman Colella. Select- man DeLong said that he would be in favor of a 10% across - the -board in- crease. After further discussion, Selectman Titus changed the motion to read "for an indefinite period of time" rather than 3 years, and that this would be brought up again at a more opportune (economically) time. Select- man Colella seconded this motion, and it was voted 3 -2, with Selectmen DeLong and Levine opposed. Selectman Levine read the traffic regulation change to ban parking on Pratt Street on the southerly side between Chilson Avenue and Newton Street. After discussion, Selectman Titus moved that this resolution be adopted and enforced. Seconded by Selectman Levine, and voted 3 -2 with Selectmen Caponigro and DeLong opposed. Town Treasurer Joan Cutillo and Assessor Alfred Turinese met with the Board ( to discuss the Cherry Sheet conference they had attended during the day. Mrs. Cutillo reported that the Town would receive $1.85 million, but the net effect would only be $1.5 million, as $315,000 would have to be offset by the Town for Chapter 766 for the School Department. Mr. Turinese also discussed revaluation with the Board. He recommended that the Board not speak against it at Town meeting, but give the Town Meeting the option of complying with the law in this regard. Selectman Colella said that the Jaycees would be meeting next Tuesday night to discuss the clean up day. He also asked that the Town Manager look into putting up directional arrows on East Street (near Gonsalves) and on the curve coming from the Chocolate Factory on Oakland Street. The Board agreed with this. The Board continued its review of budget proposals. Selectman DeLong moved that all salaries and fees for every department in town (municipal govern- ment) be left at the current level (the total amount budgeted for each de- partment), and that it be left to the Department Head and the Town Manager to decide how to allocate that amount within the department. This was seconded by Selectman Titus. Selectman Colella discussed whether the Police and Fire Departments should be included in this also. After further discus- sion, the motion was voted unanimously. The Town Manager will be notified of the Board's recommendation. Selectman DeLong also discussed the Recreation Program. He questioned if the programs could be run without a director, with only the part -time staff to (, be run under the Recreation Commission itself. The Recreation Commission will be asked to meet with the Board at the meeting scheduled for Sunday morning. On the Council on Aging Programs, Selectman DeLong questioned if the recreation room at the new Housing for the Elderly at Bicentennial Court could not be used -2- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 March 24, 1976 rather than the present Drop -In Center on North Main Street, and that the Director's hours be cut back or eliminated with the possibility of using some of the time of the Housing Authority Director. This will be posed to the Housing Authority by the Chairman. The Selectmen's budget meeting for Thursday night was cancelled. Street lighting budget was discussed. Out -of -State Travel - Selectman Levine proposed that the amount be cut to $200 and that it be for all departments, to be dispensed by the Town Manager. After discussion, Selectman Titus moved that the amount be cut to $1. Se- conded by Selectman Colella, and voted 3 -2 with Selectmen Levine and DeLong opposed. Selectman DeLong moved that the Selectmen's Expenses be cut by 10 %, in Line Item 151 -2, Travel & Dues. Seconded by Selectman Titus, so voted. This line item will be recommended at $1035 rather than $1435. Selectman Levine moved that the line item for mileage be cut out. No action taken on this. Selectman Titus moved that the Travel & Dues be cut to $200. Seconded by Selectman Colella. Motion defeated 3 -2, with Selectmen DeLong, Levine, and Caponigro opposed. Selectman Colella moved that Town Hall Office Expenses, All Departments, be cut to $1,500. No action taken on this motion. Selectman DeLong discussed the policy of the fire alarm installation and maintenance program, and whether the Town should continue installations. He said that he thought it might not be necessary to install new alarms other than for commercial buildings or apartments, since almost everyone has a telephone now. The Fire Chief will be invited to meet with the Board on Sunday. Also discussed was shortening the hours at the landfill site. After discussion of the Capital Improvement Program, the Board agreed to cut the $33,000 recommended to the DPW highway division truck. Selectman Titus said that for this year only, he would cut the Tree Replace- ment and Beautification items to $l. Other Board members agreed with this. Selectman Colella moved that Line Item 501 -12, Street Sign Materials, be cut $1,000. Seconded by Selectman Titus, voted 5 -0. Also discussed was the Home Health Program under the Board of Health. The Chairman will speak to the chairman of the Board of Health on how much use the Town.lis getting from this program. -3- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting March 24, 1976 Page 4 Street Lighting expenses were again discussed. No action taken. Selectman Levine discussed the possibility of printing a less expensive annual town report next year. Selectman Titus moved that the meeting be adjourned at 11:10 p. M. Seconded by Selectman DeLong, so voted.