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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-10-1976BOARD OF.-SELECTMEN A G E N D A November 10L, 1976 • 7:30 p.m. Call to Order Treasurer's Warrant Minutes of the Meeting Correspondence Clerk's Folder - Common Victualler's License - John Gambale, d /b /a/ Pasta Town, 311 North Main St. Set Hearing date for Mansfield Liquor Mart change of address Application for Class II license for Larry's Garage, 4 Samoset Avenue • 8:00 p.m. Council on Aging re use of Fairfield buildings • Town Manager's Report • Board Reports • Adjournment Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting November 10, 1976 Present: Selectmen DeLong, Caponigro, Colella, Clemmey, and Titus; Town Manager Dennis Hannon Meeting opened at 7:35 p.m. Selectman Caponigro moved to approve the Treasurer's Warrant in the amount of $435,224.56. Seconded by Selectman Clemmey, voted 5 -0. Selectman Caponigro moved to approve the minutes of November 3 as submitted. Seconded by Selectman Clemmey, voted 5 -0. Correspondence: From Self -Help, Inc., notice of job opening for an assistant teacher at the Child Development Center. From the Mansfield United Methodist Church, invitation to Centennial Cele- bration on December 19, 1976. From Kenyon Nail Company, letter regarding their offer to store the 1918 Seagraves Fire Engine. J.S. Kenyon, Jr., company president, pointed out that his offer was to store the truck only, with the title and complete control to remain with the town. He wrote that if he were to restore the vehicle at some future time, he would want the title to it. He asked for suggestions in this regard. The Town Manager will contact Town Counsel. Letter from Margot Jellinek, 1551 West Street, regarding the Selectmen's vote of October 20 regarding Union Street Extension. Request for Allan Brown, 121 West Street, Attleboro, to extend water ser- vices from Elm Street in Mansfield to Richardson Avenue, Norton, for ap- proximately 350 feet. This was discussed by the Board and Town Manager, and the Norton FTater Commissioners will be contacted. Mr. Hannon also discussed the possibility of looping the Mansfield water system at this Point. Virginia Shaw of the Democratic Town Committee met with the Board regard- ing the notice sent out about the Pre - Budget Hearing. Mrs. Shaw said that she was not given enough time in being notified. She asked how people are appointed to the various boards and committees. Chairman Colella told Mrs. Shaw that the person applying first had to fill out an application, be a registered voter, and that the Board looked for qualifications for the various positions being filled. Selectman Caponigro stated that in his opinion, that there was no set standard, that each vote was the personal opinion of the Board members. It was pointed out that the Town Clerk main - tains a list of the applicants for various Boards and Committees and that this list is updated annually, as the Charter requires. Mrs. Shaw also asked the Board about zero -based budgeting. Selectman Caponi- gro said that is when you "start from scratch" in preparing the budget. The (* - Motions passed) -1- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting November 10, 1976 Page 2 Town Manager said that he has some materials on the zero -based budgeting. Selectman DeLong commented that the "zero -based budget" seemed to be propaganda, and was not needed in a small -town budget process because the budget in this size tom is carefully scrutinized each year. He said that no personnel have to be "justified ", because the Board of Select- men knows exactly what is going in each department, and nothing is hidden. Mrs. Shaw asked if there were anything in the Town Charter regarding the members of boards and committees missing a certain number of meetings. Selectman Caponigro answered no, but the Board of Selectmen sets a policy that if a committee member misses four consecutive meetings without sick- ness or another valid reason, that he be asked to resign. It was noted that this applies only to appointed committees. Mrs. Shaw asked about money that the School Department turns back to the town. The Board advised her that this money goes into the General Fund. Also questioned by Mrs. Shaw was the upkeep of the "welcome to Mansfield" signs. The Town Manager pointed out that Rotary and town Industrial De- velopment Commission re- painted the signs and the town highway division put up any signs that were knocked down. ( Mrs. Shaw asked the Board of Selectmen why the Board of Appeals disagrees with the Planning Board. Selectman Clemmey answered that the members of each board has their own opinions. She also asked why there was a Plan- ning Board, Planning Director, and a Town Engineer. Selectman Caponigro answered that the Planning Board, as required by State Law, reviewed the various plans and set planning policy, the Planning Director was a town staff member who carried out the planning policy and worked on other town projects, and the town highway division engineer provided engineering as- sistance on various town projects, saving the town the consultant fee. Bradford Johnson, 15 Spring Street, representing the Council on Aging, met with the Board to discuss the possible use of the Fairfield Optical Build- ing for a center for the Council. He said that the present facility was too small for all the planned activities, and that the lease would run out in June. He also told the Board that the Council would like to have the Hot Lunch program, presently held at another facility in town, at the Center, and also have a "craft co -op" and elderly clothing exchange there, and that there just is not enough room. Selectman DeLong questioned using Bicentennial Court for such activities. Mr. Johnson said that he has approached them on this, and their concern was about who would pay for anything broken, for the maintenance, etc. He said that there was a problem of coordination between the Council and the Bicentennial Court people. ( Mr. Johnson told the board of a federal funding program, set up through the Department of Elder Affairs (Fall River office) whereby the town might be able to obtain funds on a 75 % -25% matching basis. There was discussion of using such funds to remodel the building at the Fairfield property on East Street. The Council will look into getting funds through this program. -9- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting November 10, 1976 Page 3 Selectman Clemmey asked Mr. Johnson if there would be a limit on the funds. Mr. Johnson said that the average grant has been between $15,000 and $20,000 but that he had been advised that a larger amount might be available if there were a viable project. In this same regard, a letter from the Municipal Building Committee was read, recommending that the small wooden frame garage be taken down, that the large building has significant potential (complete renovation would be approximately $60- 80,000) and that the wood frame portion of the large building (partial masonary) comes close to the property line and should be removed. The Town Manager discussed rewiring the building and heating costs. There was further discussion, and it was suggested that the Council on Aging meet with the Municipal Building Committee. Mr. Hannon said that letters were sent to various departments and boards asking their suggested uses for the buildings, and that this could be discussed at their November 24 meeting. Correspondence: Letter from Richard Sherman, 99 Williams Street, regarding problem at Camelot causing water problem on his property. After discussion, the Selectmen decided to write a letter to the Board of Health to see what was holding up the developer from correcting this problem and ask if the Board of Selectmen might be of help. Letter from Congresswoman Margaret Heckler regarding the extension of the Revenue Sharing program, giving Mansfield's share. Letter from the Recreation Commission turning the Hartwell School back over to the Selectmen, as they will not include any money in their budget for this next year. Selectman Clemmey pointed out that the Jaycees have been looking for a place, and this might be of use to them. Chairman Colella said that he talked to Dick Veren of the Jaycees, and that he should look at this. Notice of S.R.P.E.D.D. meetings. Letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office for Children, regarding licensing for Day Care centers. This will be referred to the Board of Health. Letter from the Mansfield Postmaster regarding parking on North Main Street and Villa Street. Mr. Morse asked that parking be limited to about i hour so that the trucks can get in and out of the post office. Selectman Caponigro moved to put a temporary restriction on parking in these areas during the duration of the UPS strike. The Town Manager suggested that an evaluation be done first. He will check the traffic regulations and have a report for next week. Letter from the Recreation Commission regarding the storage at the Fairfield -3- Board of Selectmen ( Minutes of the Meeting November 10, 1976 Page 4 property of recreation supplies and equipment. It was noted that the new tractor does not yet have a storage area. Letter from the Massachusetts Historical Commission regarding the town's application under the Public Works bill for the East Mansfield water loop. Letter from New England Security Agency complimented the Board of Select- men for the appearance of the town this past summer. Notice from Clerk of Courts James Sullivan that there will be a review of the Plonowski petition on November 17 at 2 p.m. The Town Dog Officer will attend and also some of the Board members will attend. Copy of a letter from John Gross to the State Building Code Commission regarding the appointment of the Building Code Board of Appeals. Letter from the Laymen's National Bible Committee regarding the proclama- tion for National Bible 41eek November 21 - 28. Notice from HUD regarding Non - metropolitan Discretionary Grant Program. Clerk's Folder: Application for a Class 2 license for Larry's Garage at 4 Samoset Avenue. The applicant, Lawrence Chamberlain, from North Attleboro, told the Board that he would be doing only repairs to electrical systems and general repairs, and that no vehicles would be sold after repair. The Board told him that he did not require a permit for this type of work. The Town Manager said that he thought this was in the Business B zone, and that the Building Inspector should check this through. He will be back from vacation on Monday. Application from John E. Gambale, d /b /a/ Pasta Town, 311 North Main Street, for a Common Victualler's license. It was noted that this is the old loca- tion of the Mansfield Arcade, which is no longer there. Selectman Caponigro * moved to grant this license, seconded by Selectman DeLong, voted 5 -0. Selectman Colella left the room, and Selectman Clemmey was made the acting chairman. Application from the Mansfield Liquor Mart, Frank Colella, Manager, to transfer from 525 North Main Street to 365 North Main Street (Fuller Hardware Bldg.). The hearing date for this was set for December 1,. 1976, at 8 p.m. Selectman Colella returned to the room. Town Manager's Report Budget work: Mr. Hannon reported that he has gone through most of the big ( accounts now, on the operating budget only. Fire Insurance Rating Study: The Water Superintendent will be conducting flow tests in this regard next week. Notice was given in the newspapers so that residents in the East Mansfield area would be aware. -4- Board of Selectmen Minutes of the Meeting November 10, 1976 Page 5 Dustin Well: Mr. Hannon noted that Dustin Well was now on the line and pumping water into the system. He said that the well was performing very well, and that it has to be rated yet (how many gallons per minute). This wiLl be done next week. Surge Control: The Town Manager reported that the surge control was now installed at Cate Spring. W.H. Riley: Mr. Hannon reported that there had been a meeting between the Town and W.H. Riley representatives, and that the problem should be resolved within a week or so. Capital Improvement Program: The Committee has concluded most of the review, and was waiting for information on certain land purchases. Selectman Caponigro reported that on November 17 officials from Civil De- fense will inspect the Mansfield Emergency Preparedness Center. This is the final step towards the $16,000 reimbursement due the Town. Selectman Colella discussed the permit for the Lucinda Avalone Scholarship. He noted that the permit should be changed to the Friends of Lucinda Avalone. Selectman Clemmey discussed receiving the initial proposal from the Fire Department regarding negotiations for the employment contract. A meeting will be set up. There being no further business, Selectman Titus moved to adjourn at 9:20 * p.m. Seconded by Selectman Caponigro, voted 5 -0. -5-