HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-14-1970January 14, 1970
Meeting called at 7:32 P.M.
Al.l, members present, and the Town Manager.,
Representative Walter O'Brien before the Board regarding the Chauncy Street
underpass, He advised the Board that he had filed a bill last year on behalf
of the Town of Mansfield regarding the reoai_r and maintenance of the under-
pass by the State D.P.W. Before the bill was called he was approached by a
gentlemen that represented the Commissioner by the name of Mr, Sheridan, There
was an agreement that the Board of Selectmen and the Department of Puhl.cWorks
would get together and solve this without legislation, Unfortunately, Mr.,
Sheridan passed away, and Warren Turner was apnoi.nted to his position, and he
had not contacted the Town, The D,P,l4, dial intend to si-t down with this Board,
and hearing nothing the matter was not continued, Mr. O'Brien advised that he
had filed the b.i.11 over again, and then met with three Comm i.ss ion er.s, Mr, Bisbee,
Chairman Ribbs, Chief Rngi.neer Kogan, and Charlie Whitcomb, Told them of the
costs and hardships to the tovm. Very anxious to do something about it, and re-
quested that the bill be held up until. January 30, 1970, and meeting will. be
called with the Board of Selectmen for January 30, 1970, A D,n,W, engineer is
here in town making a study now.
After the grade crossing abol.iti.on program was comnl.eted in 1954 there was an
agreement made, the State taking care of the 140 underpass, the town the Chauncy'
Street and North Main Street underpasses, The State did repair the 140 under-
pass to heln eliminate the. water problem, and should have been responsible for
the Chauncy Street one as well, Mr.. O'Brien stated that he needed the help
of the Board, and suggested that the Board have an engineer make a survey for
the town, It gas agreed with the Commissioners that be would hold the bill up
until. the D.P.W. can meet with the Board. The condition should be corrected,
and , hearing has been set for Tuesday, January 20, 1.970 at 10:30 A.M. Room 423
in the State House, Mr., O'Brien stated that figures on the cost of maintaining
the 106 underpass, and accident renor.ts in this area would be helpful.
Mrs, Margot ,Jell -i.nek presented a letter to the Chairman to be read in open meet-
ing, but the Chairman after. _reading the letter suggested that it should be di.s_
cussed in executive session, and the Board agreed,
The Chairman read the amount of the December 31, 1969 Warrant in the amount of
$225,855,49. Selectman 7echer questioned Voucher #4025 for .John O, Mitchell &
Sons for painting done on the School Street oderpass, He advised that he had
checkedand that only a small portion of the :job had been completed, The Town
Manager advised that the check will be held no until the final work is done,
and that lie had discussed this with Rr.i.c Redfern of District #6 D.P.W. and had
been told this procedure has been followed, Selectman Zecher advised that he.
would not sign the warrant with that voucher_ on it, The Chairman removed the
voucher from the others, and anon a motion by Selectman Saunders, seconded by
Selectman Zecher it was voted to anorove the Warrant minus voucher #4025 in
the amount of $1,350. this amount to be deducted from the amount of the Warrant,
making the total $224,505,49.
Upon a motion by Selectman lecher_, seconded by Selectman Conroy it was voted
to approve the .January 11, 1970 Warrant in the amount of $195,971.,93,
At 8:00 P.M. a hearing was held on the acceptance of Cobb Street., joint: meeting
with a member of the Planning Board, Howard Amidon of 140 South Main Street
spoke about: the curving on the corner which would necessitate taking out a maple
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tree on his property, and changing a hydrant across the street, The Town
Manager advised the plans were from a previous map and the curves on the
street showed up on the relocation of South Main Street, and it was not any
one's .intention to change the curves, but it was the only way to lay out
a proper- street, If this street is ever extended to the railroad at some
future date, this plan would be necessary, Ben Latham,Clerk of the Planning
Board advised that this is just: a layout of a street, for future use, but
not until the street is accepted way through. There were three couples
oresent and after a discussion all agreed they were entirely against the
acceptance of the streets, The hearing closed at 8:2.4 P,M,
Upon a motion by Selectman lecher, seconded by Selectman Saunders it was voted
to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 24 for the acceptance of Cobb
Street when it comes un at Town Meeting,
Copy of
letter received from Fay, Spofford & Thornd.i.ke, Inc, addressed to the Planning
Board was read advising the town of the services the firm could offer to the
town regarding land development in the future,, improvement in traffic control
and many other phases which might be, helpful to the town.
Letter received from Mrs, Nancy Coffee, Secretary of the Mansfield Youth Center,
Inc, requesting that the Youth Center Inc, group be allowed to use the former
Fast Mansfield Community Club Building on Mill Street, Joseph Corliss advised
that the entire Board of Directors has looked the bui.l.di.ng over and they feel
that with the proper safeguards for the town, and with the same agreement
used by the Community Club suggested that the Building Inspector check the
building, and after further discussion, upon a motion by Selectman Saunders,
seconded by Selectman Conroy it was voted to table the matter for further d.i.s
cussi.on after the buil.ding is .inspected by the Bui.l.di.ng Inspector., and the
former agreement looked into for making it avai.l.able for the Youth'Group,
The Clerk read a letter addressed to Chief Bellavance from Richard P. Carey,
Chairman of the Finance Committee requesting a meeting to review the 1970
budget for the Fire Department on Friday evening, January 16, 1970 at 9:00 P.M.
Wage complaint received from the Department of Tabor. and Tndustr.es, Division
of Industrial Safety with copies of nonpayment of Fire Department wages re-
questing that the Department receive an answer within seven days or court
action will ensue, 'Cho Board agreed the reply to the State Labor Board should
be turned overt/othe Town Counsel for advice,
Upon a motion by Selectman Saunders, seconded by Selectman Clemmey it was voted
to accent the resignation of Stephen J. Conroy as Chairman and member of the
Airport Advisory Committee, and to send him the usual letter of commendation
for hi.s services.
Letter received from Francis A, Gasson, Secretary of the Airport Advisory
Board recommending the aopointment; of Edward Carlson to fi.l.l. the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Stephen J. Conroy, After a discussion, upon a
motion by Selectman Conroy, seconded by Selectman Saunders it was voted to
aopoi.nt Edward Carlson as a member of the Airport Advisory Commi.t-te -e.
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The Clerk read a letter. from Arthur MacKinnon, Director of Accounts, and a
copy of a letter sent to Mr, MacKinnon by Selectman Zecher, The Chairman advised
that he had talked with Mr, MacKinnon regarding the, special audit requested
and that the Board would like to meet with him, at least Selectman Zecher and any
other members that wahtito, but he did not ask for an appointment, at this time.
Unon appointment of a Town Counsel he would have him come in with any members
of the Board that wish to meet with Mr., MacKinnon,
The Board invited by the Planning Board to attend its meeting on January 26, 1.970
at 7:30 P.M., Miss R. Michele Di.sar.io, Assistant Planner from the Department
of Community Affairs wi.l.l be there to discuss the Mansfield Reconnaissance Renort
and a future nlanning nrogram for Mansfield,
Unon a motion by Selectman Saunders, seconded by Selectman Conroy it was voted to
aonrove the application for a. Class T Garage license for Sid..Forna Ford, Inc.
195 Rumford Avenue., the matter of the fee to be determined by the Town Counsel.,
Selectman Zecher_ requested that the minutes of last weekts minutes be amended to
include a copy of John G, Walsh Contracting Company, Inc, Is Letter regarding
bids, and time of opening bids, for the sewer installation on Creeden Street,
another instance of improper advertising, and accepting the contract for the sewer
job from a ner.son not submitting a sealed bid. This was done after the Town
Manager was told to readvertise, had bid two weeks before the bids were opened.
He opposed these two instances of improper handling of awarding bids.
Upon a motion by Selectman Saunders, seconded by Selectman Clemmey it was voted
to accept the low bid of Standard Transformer Company in the amount of $3,492,00
for 3 single phase transformers required for the Graphic Tnstrument, Inc,
Selectman Zecher spoke regarding contracts the town makes, advising that a copy
should go to the Town Clerk in accordance with Chapter. 3 of the Town By,Laws,
Town Clerk not getting the information she should, the Town Manager should know
this. He further advised that it was illegal to accept DtOnforots bid which was
not even a sealed bi.d. Cannot run the town like a private business. We have
Town By-Laws and the Town Manager should abide by them, or the Selectmen should
take a vote. At this point, Selectman Clemmey made a motion that any further
discussion should be done in executive session which was seconded by Selectman
Conroy, and so voted,
The Tovm Manager discussed with the Board the question of chlorine for the sewer
plant and whether or not it should be by purchase or contract. He advised that
we have been buv Field's the chlorine from the Feld's Point Mfg, Company and the
total amount would exceed $1,000, He mentioned two other firms who sold this
tyne of chlorine, After a discussion it was agreed to advertise for bids for
the chlorine,
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Selectman Zecher spoke regarding the - P +lnnning Board Meeting held Monday night
j with Robert Marini_ from Camp, Dresser and McKee and a representative from the
Water Pollution Control Division present to discuss the server study made with
regard to the solids from the Chocolate Company, i.nfilt,rati.on, catch basins
and sump pumps, Selectman Zecher advised that on November 3, 1969 it was voted
to arrange an immediate meeting with the Chocolate Company to do something about
the problem existing from the plant. Advised that the town can not put one
single extension to our sewer system, If we had acted then we would not he in
this emergency positi.6n we are now. After further discussion regarding the
Engineers who designed the plant it was agreed to arrange a meeting with Hal.ey
and Ward and Mr. Wise from the Chocolate
,January 24, 1970 at 1.0:00 A,M, Company and the Selectmen for Saturday,
The Board approved the minutes of last Saturdays Meeting _ January lo, 1970,
Leon Dean, the Boards representative to the Southeastern Regional Planning and
Economic Commission; repotted on the last meeting held. It was suggested that
a regional sewer plant for Mansfield, Norton and Foxboro., 'be bu.ilvin Nor,tonfby
1972. . *He'adv -ised the Board of a meeting of the SERPFA -C on ,January P,8, 1970
Representatives from SVashingtoflHIJP,Engi.neers with the Army Coro of Engineers
and other peopJ.e who are working on this will give reports to the people,
Upon a motion by Selectman Zecher, seconded by Selectman Saunders it was voted
to gi"ethe $5,000, put on deposit by Mr.. Proteau for the Creeden Street sewer
job tiacktobiatt until the project is started.
Anpli.cati_on for a Federal interest free loan of $20,0Oo, for a comprehensive
study of the water., sewer and drainage systems in the tou-m was signed by the
Chairman of the Board and countersigned by the Town Manager, An appropriation
Of $10,000, to be requested and voted on at Town Meeting,
Upon a motion by Selectman Conroy, seconded by Selectman Saunders i.t was voted
to go into executive session at 9:45 P.M.
In executive session the Board interviewed two candidates for the position of
Town Counsel, Attorney Coogan and Grady. Unon a motion by Selectman Saunders,
seconded by Selectman Conroy it was voted unanimously to aor)oi,nt .James T. Grady
as Tokm Counsel at a fee of $6,000 per year.
A di.scussi.on was held on salary raises for the Town Manager and the Superintendent
of the Light Donart:ment, and after. a discussion A'$2,oOO a year increase for
each eras agreed upon with Selectman Zecher opposed,