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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-5-1983BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 5, 1983 PRESENT: Chairman Dunn; Selectmen D'Onofrio and McNair; Town Manager The meeting was called to order at 7:12 P.M. 13 MOTION: To go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion with respect to collective bargaining and /or litigation. McNair /D'Onofrio VOTED: 3 -0 The meeting reconvened in open session at 8:25 P.M. Chairman Dunn spoke of the magnificent demonstration shown of concern for a public official serving in the capacity of Public Safety, following the funeral for Police_ Officer Walter Langley this day. He felt it was digni- fied and that the Town really pulled together; it was so impressive and the.concern of everyone touched him. Senator David Locke Senator David Locke appeared before the Board to review and discuss prob- lems with the Town. His first item was to present and read a Resolution adopted by the Senate October 4, 1983: "Resolutions on the Death of Mans- field Police Officer Walter P. Langley ", copy of which is attached. Chair- man Dunn accepted the Resolution and assured Senator Locke it would be given to the Langley family and, also, thanked the Senator for attending the funeral today. Senator Locke then told the Board he was aware of the problems over tax levy, etc. facing the Town, advising them he will do whatever he can to help in the situation. Selectman D'Onofrio advised him of the problems caused by the change in dollar amount as promised vs. that on the Cherry Sheet, requesting that he do what he can to stabilize this situation in the future. The Senator inquired as to progress on the railroad station problem and commended Selectman D'Onofrio on his efforts in that area. 4. Town Counsel, John Dwyer Town Counsel appeared before the Board to answer questions concerning the sewer application problem; he gave each Selectman copy of a letter from himself to Town Manager in answer to the September 30th letter from Town Manager. In essence and from discussion, the Board cannot deny connections as long as a basic capacity is left; applications submitted prior to a change in policy must be permitted; applications must be considered as first -come, first - serve. Subsequent discussion covered all aspects: def- inition as to one pipe capacity vs. system capacity; day -to -day capacity vs. specific (rain) time capacity; infiltration the main problem. The deci- sion was made to ask the Town Manager to secure a professional opinion as to whether the Town has reached capacity as soon as possible, to con- BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 5, 1983 PAGE 2 centrate on the West Street area, and if there is still capacity, how much? Town Counsel reiterated that the Board is required to permit connections until and unless a vote is taken to the contrary, which would then apply only to all subsequent applications. At this time Leon Grant, who is one of these with an application which was tabled last week, presented his case to the Board. He was advised that there was nothing further that could be done for him or others, until the professional opinion was received for the Board to consider. 5. Town Treasurer Town Treasurer, Joan Cutillo, appeared to further explain the problem with past -due ambulance bills, as discussed at last week's meeting of the Board. She advised that many of the names are now deceased, in nursing homes, can- not afford to pay; also that a large percentage of the outstanding amounts are the 20% not covered by insurance payments which the Town is required to absorb. Asked if she has gone over the list to categorize, she stated she simply does not have the staff or time for that. It was decided to wait until there is a full Board present to make a decision. 6. Town Accountant Barbara Hagg was present to explain the School Warrant #18. She had gone to the School Department this week and discovered the new contract had not yet been signed, yet she had been paying the higher rate. She had discussed this with both Dr. Gorman and Town Manager and was in hopes of having sig- natures by Thursday, Oct. 6th. She would not sign the warrant until this is resolved, but suggested that the Selectmen sign so that when she did it would be ready to go without having to call the Selectmen in for signa- tures. Chairman Dunn felt it would not be legally correct for them to sign until the Accountant's signature was there. 7. Chairman, Board of Assessors Al Turinese had asked to appear to bring the Board up -to -date on the assess- ment problem. He also advised the Board that certain businesses in the in- dustrial park were going to appeal their assessments. They have hired a tax abatement lawyer, Joseph Dalton of Saugus, to represent them in the first case going to court shortly. He then reviewed the 3 Articles they have pre- pared for the Special Town Meeting, and mentioned the proposed Bill to change the assessment date from January 1 to July 1; discussion followed concerning what that could mean to the Town budgeting. 8. Correspondence * MOTION: To make Richard D /Onofrio Clerk for tonight. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To take correspondence out of Agenda order. D /Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 3 -0 a) Letter from Mary Hourigan, 475 Chauncy Street, requesting light in front of 472 Chauncy be relit. Mrs. Hourigan was present to speak pertaining BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 5, 1983 PAGE 3 to her request. The decision was made to refer the matter to the Light Department for immediate evaluation and recommendation. b) Letter from Executive Office of Communities & Development re: Mass Small Cities Program funding. Mansfield was not selected. c) Letter from Senator Tsongas re: Legislation to repeal withholding of interest and dividend income. d) Letter from Commonwealth DPW re: Funds available to Mansfield for Chap- ter 90 work in the amount of $46,130. e) Notice from Mass. DPW of Mass. Bedrock Geologic Mapping Project Workshop October 18, 1983. f) Invitation from American Legion Post #198 to Joint Installation October 8, 1983, 7:30 P.M. at Legion Home. g) Letter from Mass. Dept. of Revenue re: Increase in filing fee for Notice of Release. h) Letter from Mass. Dept. of Revenue re: Increase in fee for issuing notice to a delinquent taxpayer that a warrant to collect has been issued. i) Notice of Annual Dinner of Attleboro Area Mental Health, Inc. October 20, 1983. j) Notice by Dept. of Environmental Quality Engineering of Groundwater Management Issues in Mass. Conference, Thursday, October 27, 1983. k) DPU Hearing October 27, 1983 re: Its own motion as to propriety of rates and charges set forth by New England Telephone. 1) Copy of Memo to Building Inspector from Planning Board re: Dr. Massand's site plan for an addition. m) Letter to Board of Selectmen from Chairman of Recreation Commission re: Open Space Plan. 9. Minutes of September 28, 1983 Item 7 -a Motion should show a vote of 4 -1. * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of September 28, 1983 as amended. D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 3 -0 10. Warrant #17 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #17, dated October 4, 1983, in the amount of $213,650.13, broken down as follows: BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 5, 1983 PAGE 4 General Fund - $141,747.43 Federal Revenue - 9,988.66 Special Revenue - 18,668.67 Recreation Revolving - 340.52 Sewer Enterprise - 3,492.26 Water Enterprise - 20,239.59 Electric Enterprise - 19,173.00 11. Warrant #18 This warrant was for the School Department. Upon advice of the Town Ac- countant who had apprised the Board that there was no signed contract for the new wage rate, it was determined not to sign the warrant and to await further word concerning a signed contract. 12. Old Business - Town Manager Town Manager reviewed the deficit problem, referring to an October 4th Memo sent to Department Heads, Boards and Committees requesting them to prepare a reduction of expenditures equivalent to 2.1% of their FY -84 ap- propriation. This is to be ready for a staff meeting October 17th. He recommends November 7, 1983 as the earliest date for the Special Town Meeting, and said he had received an Article from the School Department which includes the four as proposed by Town Manager. He recommended con- sideration of the issues both ways when the warrant is closed. 13. New Business Town Manager mentioned, at Selectman Levine's request, an invitation from Kevin Fallon to all to attend the opening of the new Children's Center, 1100 School Street, at Noon on Saturaday, October 15, 1983. Selectman McNair advised that he had received calls from neighbors of the American Paper Recycling plant, complaining about excessive noise in the night. Decision was to refer this to the Police Chief. 14. Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn, at 10:30 P.M. McNair /D'Onofrio VOTED: 3 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: /Clerk 7 Date signed THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY -THREE RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MANSFIELD POLICE OFFICER WALTER P. LANGLEY. WHEREAS, THE SENATE HAS LEARNED WITH DEEP SORROW OF THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MANSFIELD PATROLMAN WALTER P. LANGLEY; AND WHEREAS, WALTER P. LANGLEY, A POLICE OFFICER IN MANSFIELD SINCE NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY -FIVE, WAS DISTINGUISHED AS A PUBLIC SERVANT EVER CONSCIOUS OF HIS OBLIGATIONS TO THE PEOPLE HE SERVED IN THE TOWN OF MANSFIELD; AND WHEREAS, WALTER P. LANGLEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS ONE WHO WAS CONSISTENTLY LOYAL TO HIS FRIENDS AND THE CAUSES IN WHICH HE BELIEVED; AND WHEREAS, WALTER P. LANGLEY WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS ALWAYS FIRM IN HIS STAND AND COURAGEOUS IN HIS ACTIONS REGARDLESS OF SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE HEREBY EXTENDS TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE WALTER P. LANGLEY ITS DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES IN THEIR BEREAVEMENT; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE TRANSMITTED FORTHWITH BY THE CLERK OF THE SENATE TO THE FAMILY OF PATROLMAN WALTER P. LANGLEY. SENATE, ADOPTED, OCTOBER 4, 1983. PRESIDENT OF THE SENAT C 4. �� /� !! CLERK OF SENAT ', OFFERED BY: