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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 2-28-1973AGENDA 1. Treasurer's Warrant 2. Minutes of previous meeting February 28, 1973 3. 8:15 P.M. hearing on petitions of the Telephone Company to lay and maintain underground conduit on the following streets: Stearns Avenue, Pratt, Hope:and East Streets. 4. Mrs. Jellinek in re to selling of land to the New England Power Company. 5. Joseph Devlin and Robert Shaw re redistricting of town. 6. Joseph Gonsalves regarding =approval;by:Health Dept. for camp site. 7. L. Ferrier, Supt, of Light Department in executive session. Reminder: Public Health Hearing in the office of the Division of Environmental Health, Room 320, 600 Washington Street Boston on Friday, March 2, 1973 at 10;30 A.M. re application for the approval of acquisition of land or rights in landin North Attleboro for water supply purposes. February 28, 1973 Meeting called at 7:30 P.M. All members present, and the Town Manager. A'.motion was made by Selectman Secher, seconded by Selectman Levine to approve the Treasurer's warrant in the amount of 9162,479,83, and it was so voted. A motion was made by Selectman Secher, seconded by Selectman Caponigro to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as submitted, and it was so voted. Letter read from Francis J. Pickett of Pine Needle Park,for the residents, urgently requesting that the Board review the Building Codes of the town. They felt that the present codes are not protective enough especially in the inspection of insu- lation of all electric homes. Requested that the Board check into the Standard Recommendations of most Electric Companies. f.or,11e building of electrically heated houses. The Board agreed to send a copy of this letter to the Building Inspector and the Building Code Committee. Letter to be sent to the residents of Pine Needle Park letting them know that action is being taken. Letter received from SRPEDD advising that on January 30, 1973 thht_�h technicalistud­ ics,:&ant totalling 9124,993. was made to the SRPEDD by the Urban Mass Transporta- tion Administration. Letter thanked the Board for its local in -kind commitment which the town has made for services in the amount of 9815. The Board was advised by the Department of Corporations and Taxation that the amount of available funds or "free cash" as of January 1, 1973 is 9226,496. for the town. Letter read from David E. Grant, Clerk of Mansfield Planning Board advising that the Planning Board voted on February 20, 1973 to accept the resignation of Robert 1-1. Mendes, effective March 2, 1973- In order to fill the vacancy in conformance with the requirements of the Charter, a joint meeting between the Planning Board and the Selectmen will have to be held, and the Planning Board would like to meet with the Selectmen in the near future to discuss this matter. The Board to meet next week at 8:00 P.M. regarding this appointment,if convenient for the Planning Board. Letter read from Richard wise, Plant Manager at Merekens Chocolate Company advising of the daily flows during week days, Monday through Friday, which will average under 50,000 gallons per day, and the flows for Saturday and Sunday will be less than half of this amount. This should be of material assistance -in the operation of the sewage treatment plant. Also in regard to the B.O.D. as a result of limited tests taken to date, the contribution to the treatment plant appears to be- :averaging under 1000 pounds of B.O.D. per day even on the five days of normal plant operation. Will continue their efforts to reduce their contribution even further. Communication received from the Mansfield High School advising that they are doing a project on political science, and would like to have a Selectman go to the 04SSe$ and talk to them regarding the duties of a Selectman. Should contact Mr. Day. - 2 - Letter received from the Water Resources Commission regarding the application for a sewer extension on Maple Street for an industry.Letter advised that because of the operational problems at the town wastewater treatment plant caused in part by erratic organic loads and excessive infiltration, the Commission will not issue a permit for the above extension at this time. The application was returned. The Chairman advised that another industry is interested in settling in the Ryan Elliott park. They are very interested and progress is well along but there are",a: few: Obstacles regarding permission from the state for a hookup to the sewer plant. Discussion regarding increasing the amount from $30,000. to $50,000. for infiltration work to be done, put out bids in anticipation for the amount of money needed for this work to be done. Town Manager to call Capital Improvement Committee. A motion was made by Selectman Secher to nominate Elwood B. Shepard, Jr.,:Iri- spector of Animals for the coming year, which was seconded by Selectman Colella, and so voted. Mrs. Jellinek spoke regarding selling land to the New England Power Company, all of the rights of the access to the Gilbert Street substation. Explained why it would be more profitable for the Light Plant to bring their own transmission line to the substation from Attleboro to the new substation. If New England Power brings in their transmission lines from Attleboro to the substation they charip a certain per cent for every kilowatt ooming out of the station to pay for the construction'ofdthe lines and the cost of the land, the town will have to pay this charge indefinitely. All you need is an easement and an access road. Discussion took place. ( Mr. Ferrier present at the meeting advised it is proposed to sell the New England Poorer what they need for the switch gear. They will have an access road to the switch gear, a 99 year lease. Superintendent Ferrier advised that the first erroneous assumption is the fact that we are going to be charged for this line. Not charged for the in- stallation or rental, get a fixed rate for the power which we will receive. Think the error came from the fact that some of the municipals are committed to buy power from large plants, their rate setup is different from ours. We will be paying for our power on a fixed rate - R6 rate. The discussion at this point was tabled for further discussion because of the telephone company hearings. At 8:15 hearing was held on the petition of the New England Telephone Company for the installation of underground conduit and manholes on portions of Hope Street, Stearns Avenue, Pratt Street and East Street. Joseph I+Ielpignano was present from the Telephone Company to answer any questions. After a discussion regarding the installations on Stearns Avenue a motion was made by Selectman Secher, seconded by Selectman Colella to approve the three on Stearns Avenue, and it was so voted. The installations on Hope, Pratt and East Streets were discussed. On one section of Pratt Street the plan indicated going into the new roadway..Leo Costanza objected un- less the plan is changed. Town Manager brought up about crossing Franklin Street, and Mr. Melpignano advised that whatever utilities are there they are marked for the Company Mrs. Marie Connor" spoke about the road on East Street in front of the store regarding the macadam not being replaced on the shoulder'of the road when the new road was put in I,ir. Melpignano advised that he would be willing to bring it up to the sidewalk. Dis- cussion regarding berm between Franklin Street to Lawnsdale Road. Discussion regard- ing checking who owns the bank at the corner of East and Franklin Streets adjacent to the Catholic Cemetery; if this could be out down would eliminate hazard coming out of - 4 - Selectman Secher reported on several matters, and one in particular was the Route 106 underpass suggesting that the Board should appeal to the State again to have the State take it over. After a discussion, a motion was made by Selectman Secher to iequest the State to take over the 106 underpass and its problems, which was seconded by Selectman Colella and so voted.'':: The Town Manager reported that the A.A. Will permit expires on March 1. He has a. bond which is extended until the Board of Appeals' agreement that all the work that has been oom pleted on the site has been complied with. Selectman Levine brought up about setting a, policy to find out what property is not taxed and follow it up, and notify the proper persons. Selectman Caponigro advised that this is not this Board's responsibility, the Assessors should see that every piece of property is taxed, and whoever is responsible should do it. A motion was made by Selectman Levine . to direct the Board of Assessors to have a public auction of untaxed lands, and to tax every parcel of land, and if owners are unknown take the land by eminent domain or tax title, which was seconded by Selectman Caponigro and so voted. The Town Manager advised that the Town Treasurer is now preparing a list and map of the unpaid properties, and will send a memo to the Assessors, Recreation Commission and Con- servation Commission and the Board, and plans will be made to hold a joint meeting to go over the list. Selectman Colella made a motion that the Board appoint Harold Collins an Associate member of the Board of Appeals to fill an unexpired term, whioh was seconded by Selectman Caponigro and so voted. 2 - 0 Selectmen Secher and Levine present but not voting. Discussion with Town Counsel regarding the Board of Health giving a waiver of the present Board of Health Regulations, and license for the camp site requested by 11r. Gonsalves. The Town Counsel advised the Board does not have the right to waive the Regulations. A camp site license should be issued which would require a public hearing. Advised Mr.' Gonsalves to come before the Board of Health with his Attorney next week. To check into the permit requesting the license. Members of the Traffic Study Committee met with the Board regarding the Board's request for a recommendation regarding the parking ban in front of the Dyer Martin Driving School. They advised that they had checked the measurements of the road in that area, and it is the opinion of the Traffic Study Committee that parking be prohibited on the east side of North Main Street from the driveway south of the point at which the roadway changes near the Dyer Martin Driving School to the entrance to the Old Colony 41ay park- ing lot. After a discussion a motion was made by Selectman Secher to direct the Town Manager to insert the proposal of the Traffic Study Committee in the proposal to the State, which was seconded by Selectman Levine. Selectman Caponigro objected to voting at this time ;;Selectman Colella advised that before the Board makes a final decision they should wait a few days, and the Chairman agreed4' The motion was defeated 3 - 2.. Further discussion regarding the New England Power with regard to the new substation. Tom Counsel advised they feel they are putting their equipment in there and want to be able to get in there to maintain equipment. They feel more secure in owning it than having an easement. Because of the problem in getting in there they have petitioned the D.P.U. for eminent domain backing. There will be a hearing March 30, 1973 at 10:00 A.M at the City Hall in Attleboro. - 5 - Mr. Ferrier spoke again as Department head for the week. Things are going fairly well with the personnel at the plant. The big project is the substation, the switch gear is on order for delivery around September, and we still have a target date of December 1973• The switch gear was less expensive than anticipated, and also transformers. McGraw Edison got both jobs. Land clearing is almost accomplished, 60/10 completed. The construction contract will come up about June or July. Will proceed with Article 18 as originally planned. A motion was made by Selectman Caponigro, seconded by Selectman Colella to give Dennis A. Hannon a three year term of office.as Town`- Manager't effective 12;01 A.M.:Marah,l, 1973 and it was so 'voted unanimously. i A motion was made by Selectman Caponigro, seconded by Selectman Levine to go into execu- tive session with Mr. Ferrier, and was so voted. The regular meeting adjourned at 11:10 P.M.