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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-2-1983LNOV a 4198 3 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PRESENT: Chairman Dunn; Selectmen Levine, Wills, D'Onofrio, McNair; Town Manager 1. 7:34 P.M. Meeting called to order. 2. Minutes of October 26, 1983 Meeting 3 G! MOTION: To approve Minutes of October 26, 1983 Meeting. McNair /Wills VOTED: 3 -0 Wills and Levine abstained Warman+ MOTION: To approve Warrant #23 in the amount of $419,286.97, dated November 1, 1983, broken down as follows: General Fund - School Cafeteria - Special Revenue - Sewer Enterprise - Water Enterprise - Electric Enterprise - D'Onofrio /McNair License Application $370,297.17 5,035.78 9,053.16 2,627.63 14,038.43 18,234.80 VOTED: 4 -0 Levine abstained a) Application by Veterans of Foreign Wars for a Veterans Day Parade. MOTION: To approve application for Veterans Day Parade, November 11, 1983. McNair /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 b) The Dog Haus Common Victuallers License was signed. c) Wayne Larkin, 530 Maple Street, was present to have his Application for Notary Public signed. Chairman Dunn signed it. 5. Correspondence a) MEMO from Health Agent re: Investigation of Reichold's Lagoon. b) MEMO from Police Chief re: Liquor disturbances and radar violations. c) Copy of letter from M.H. Wells to DPW Director re: Drainage problem on West Street; DPW Director will follow up. d) Letter to Chairman from Library Trustees re: Meeting with the Trustees. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PAGE 2 e) Copy of letter to Town Counsel from Conservation Commission re: Town Counsel review of Wetlands By -law. f) Copy of MEMO from Town Manager to Building Inspector, Police Chief and Health Agent re: American Paper Co.; two responses received todate, which are attached. g) Copy of MEMO to Electric Department from Town Manager re: Streets in unaccepted subdivisions. h) Letter from John Bender, of Ware Street, re: Condition of properties off Ware Street; matter referred to Board of Health. i) Letter from Cablevi'sion Industries re: Reduction in service. j) MEMO from County Commissioners re: Advisory Board meeting Nov. 3rd. Q Copy of letter from Dept. of Revenue to Board of Assessors re: Certifi- cation. 1) Letter from Mass. Technology Park Corp. re: Massachusetts Microelectronics Center; referred to Industrial Development Commission. m) Letter from Dept. of Revenue requesting information re: Specific licenses; list will be prepared and forwarded to Dept. of Revenue. n) Copy of letter from SRPEDD to North Attleboro Board of Selectmen re: truck movement study. o) Letter from MBTA to Selectman D'Onofrio re: Exchange of the property be- tween MBTA and Clemmey Corp., Inc. P) Letter from Representative Vernon to Chairman Dunn re: House Bill H -6688 and Senate Bill S -2161. q) MEMO from DEQE re: Grant programs for sewage collection; matter referred to DPW Director. r) Copy of letter from North Attleboro Selectmen to Executive Office of Trans- portation & Construction re: Carpool areas for the Southeast Expressway. s) Letter to Board of Selectmen from DPW Office of the Commissioner re: Bridge Improvement Program; referred to DPW Director. t) MEMO from Conservation Commission re: Balance in Conservation Land Acquisi- tion accounts. ( u) Letter from Senator David Locke re: The Board's support of Senate Bill 2161 which has received a favorable vote in the Senate. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING f NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PAGE 3 v) Certificate of Appreciation from the Knights of Columbus in recognition of the Board's declaration of "Tootsie Roll Week ". 6. Old Business - Town Manager a) A contract operation for the wastewater treatment plant was the first item covered. The DPW Director and Town Manager have visited two plants now in operation and have received information on how their contracts work. Town Manager said he is not sure whether contract operation is the way to go; however, since the plant is new, as is its operation, the Town knows little about many aspects of it; it is a difficult decision to make. Discussion followed, covering how to determine an efficient and re- liable company, what points to look for and require in a contract; Select- man D'Onofrio felt cost must be put in perspective and suggested taking out ads in national publications, or consider holding a Bidders Confer- ence when bidders could look at the facility. Town Manager advised that two companies are presently interested in bidding and one has visited the plant. Present plans are to put out to bid in mid - December. b) Town Manager went over the Special Town Meeting Warrant, covering each Article and with discussion as needed: Article 1 - Conservation Land Acquisition Accounts; this will prob- ably be indefinitely postponed. Article 2 - Appropriation from the Capital Improvement Account of $33,000 for three police cruisers. Article 3 - Major Reductions for municipal appropriation. An ad- justment has been made to the original reduction of $84,000 to $91,000; this reflects a change in the Fire Department. Article 4 - Planning Board maps will be covered by $3,000 from the Conservation Acquisition fund. Article 5 - School Committee use. Article 6 - Not necessary; indefinitely postponed. Article 7 - Sewer Division Article 8 - Graphic Labs transfer of land. Selectman D'Onofrio will present this. Article 9 - Guidelines for budget for Town Meeting. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PAGE 4 Articles 10 through 12 - Board of Assessors Article 13 - School Committee; should be indefinitely postponed. Article 9 received considerable discussion. Selectman Wills felt that the budget presented to the 1984 Town Meeting should be in two definitive sec- tions - Operative and Capital Improvements. Chairman Dunn would like to see a guideline allotment, or breakdown, as a percentage for municipal to try to reach and percentage for education to try to reach. Selectman D'Onof- rio expressed concern over a good relationship which has been just recently established with the School Committee, through meeting together, and if they do not know about this Article, it could create animosity. He feels both groups need to look at and determine what is acceptable. Selectman Levine voiced concern for asking the townspople to vote on something they really cannot be knowledgeable about. MOTION: To table Article 9. McNair /Levine VOTED: 4 -1 Wills opposed. MOTION: To approve Tom Manager's proposed motions for Articles 1 through 13, with the exception of Article 9, which are supported by Table A. Wills /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 Town Manager explained that prior to introduction of the Articles, he will give a fiscal overview of where the Town is and how it got there. c) Review of the setter policy situation was summarized by Town Manager as a matter of waiting until the DPW Director receives notification on the inter- ceptor grant application, and also has time to receive results from some of the steps to check infiltration, misuse, etc. Old Business - Selectmen a) Selectman Wills asked about the Town Manager's performance evaluation docu- ment, and if all members had provided their response to the proposed revised document. In response, Chairman Dunn reminded the Board of the need for all responses soon. b) Selectman D'Onofrio reported he has heard from some residents of North Main Street regarding the cut in parking spaces, due to the temporary barriers recently placed; they are very unhappy with the change. The feeling was that they should meet with the DPW Director concerning this. 8. New Business - Town Manager a) Reports indicate that the street light at the new Route 140 and School Street is now off. Explanation shows that the State feels the Town is re- sponsible for paying for the lights along Route 140; the Town's understand- ing was responsibility for maintaining them, which does not mean paying for the electricity to light them. This has to be further looked into. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PAGE 5 New Business - Selectmen a) Selectman D'Onofrio spoke of a New England Telephone ad he had seen in a newspaper recently suggesting the alternatives for long distance ser- vice when the company breaks up. He expressed his continued concern for the lack of response from the telephone company to our request for updat- ing the Town's service and suggested another letter to DPU emphasizing the Tom's antiquated service which prevents its being able to pursue alterna- tives, etc. b) Selectman Wills informed the Board that he will attend a County Advisory Board meeting Thursday evening, Nov. 3rd., when they will consider three items: 1) Appropriation of $30,000 to purchase a computer; 2) to hire a Purchasing Agent; 3) to transfer $25,000 from the Reserve Fund to build additional courtroom facilities to the Attleboro building. Discussion in- dicated approval to build the additional courtroom facilities, but not for the other two items. c) MOTION: To seek proposals for a new and better Town Counsel. Wills /Levine Selectman Wills stated he felt that when the Town retains professionals on an hourly basis, research is done on an hourly basis, which is expen- sive. Discussion followed; a comparative study was suggested. Chairman Dunn then suggested establishing a time for "review ". Selectman D'Onofrio feels that an indefinite appointment, such as Town Counsel has, indicates constant evaluation. MOTION: To make a comparative analysis of what other lawyers with a specialty in municipal law might offer the Town of Mansfield as Town Counsel, and to do this study soon. Wills /Levine VOTED: 2 -3 Dunn, D'Onofrio, McNair opposed Further discussion followed. Selectman D'Onofrio queried "What are the parameters on which you make the comparison? What do you compare ?" He also felt this was "an obtuse attempt to notify Town Counsel to pack his bags and go out shopping ". Chairman Dunn expressed interest in going after some criteria on this subject. Selectman McNair pointed out that to date Town Counsel has served the Town well, with no real problems re- sulting from research and advice from Town Counsel. d) Chairman initiated some discussion prompted by a talk he had with the Rec- reation Commission Chairman about the budget, feeling it might be helpful to meet with Chairmen of the Boards and Committees to help them better understand how to establish their budget program. Town Manager advised that he does this when he meets to discuss the individual budget with each Department Head, Board, etc. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( NOVEMBER 2, 1983 PAGE 6 10. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn at 10:30 P.M MINUTES APPROVED: Levine /McNair VOTED: 5 -0