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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-9-1983BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1983 PRESENT: Chairman Dunn; Selectmen Wills, Levine, D'Onofrio, McNair; Town Manager. Meeting called to order at 8:06 P.M. Marguerite Fitzpatrick was present to ask the Board to remove the tempor- ary barriers placed at North Main and Old Colony Way, thus reinstating the parking spaces lost by the placement of the barriers. She maintains that it is confusing to shoppers and, therefore, harmful to the businesses in the area, because there are not enough places for parking. Jim Musto gave the Board a petition from local merchants, and customers, and a letter from Mary Ellen Cox of Greenware Gallary, all supporting the request to return the area to its former layout. Jim Musto spoke at some length on his stand; he has been in business on North Main Street for 23 years, feels the loss of parking spaces near the store prevents handicapped from getting to the store, suggested returning Church Street to two -way, does not feel the present arrangement, or a common, will prevent the groups gathering, etc. His position was substantiated by others, such as Bob Barrows, Ralph Tartaglia; Mr. Barrows suggested closing the parking lot in the area at night, by chain, signs. Those in support of the present temporary arrangement, Ray and Sharon Brown, Mary Frisoli, Terry and John Campbell, all residents of the area, said the traffic was moving slower, it was quieter. All commented on the fear of the groups that congregate, both business and residents, which it was felt is really a police problem. Ralph Seifert, Chairman of the Downtown Advisory Committee, was present and advised that he had surveyed the parking in the area at three different times of day for the past couple of days, and found there were always parking spaces available; he suggested parking in the rear of the stores, with the merchants making a rear entrance to their stores available and attractive. He said there was a public hearing about this matter in September 1983 and he feels that instead of coming to the Board tonight, the merchants should have come to the Downtown Advisory Committee first, as this is the committee the Board designated to handle such problems. The next meeting of the com- mittee is November 28th, which Mr. Musto said he cannot attend. Selectman Wills advised he had received a phone call from an elderly couple who reside in the area and feel the situation has been alleviated from their standpoint; Selectman Levine had also received a call favorable to the new arrangement. Selectman Wills then suggested to Mr. Musto that he and others opposing the present arrangement meet with the DPW Director and the DAC prior to the November 28th meeting, to discuss the various aspects and at- tempt to work out a compromise. Selectman D'Onofrio advised he felt that if the problem was that of limited parking spaces vs. public safety, public safety should be the first consideration. After approximately an hour of discussion, Chairman Dunn closed the matter. Marguerite Fitzpatrick was advised that the Board would make no decision tonight, but would await the report from the suggested meeting with the DPW Director and DAC. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1983 PAGE 2 3. Minutes of November 2, 1983 Selectman D'Onofrio felt that Item 7 -a should be more specific, and asked to have it read as follows: Selectman Wills asked about the status of Town Manager's performance evaluation document, and if all members had provided their response to the proposed revised document. In response, Chairman Dunn re- minded the Board of the need for all responses soon. Selectman Wills said that Item 9 -c should show a vote of 1 -4 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of November 2, 1983 as amended. Wills /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 4. Warrant * MOTION: To approve Warrant #24, dated November 8, 1983, in the amount of $784,849.95, broken down as follows: ( General Fund - $460,369.99 Special Revenue - 63,580.07 Recreation Revolving - 3,383.88 Sewer Enterprise - 1,773.78 Water Enterprise 34,683.27 Electric Enterprise - 221,058.96 D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 4 -1 Levine abstained 5. License Applications a} License for Sunday Entertainment, a juke box, was signed for Geno's Restaurant & Lounge. 5. Finance Committee Nominations Selectman Levine nominated Mel Schwartz; seconded by Selectman McNair. Selectman Levine nominated Jonathan Pierce; seconded by Selectman D'Onofrio. Discussion then followed as to whether a decision had been made to inter- view applicants, whether they would; Mel Schwartz was present. * MOTION: To interview Mel Schwartz on or before next Wednesday. D'Onofrio /Wills VOTED: 4 -0 Mr. Schwartz expressed a desire to become involved in Town matters and feels ( his expertise in the financial world would be helpful to the committee. He was questioned by each member of the Board, briefly; he feels he would be BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( NOVEMBER 9, 1983 PAGE 3 considered about in the middle on the conservative side. The Board will ask Jonathan Pierce to come in next week for an interview. 6. Correspondence a) Letter from Wynn & Wynn re: Litigation of Mr. & Mrs. Scarpellini. This matter is being handled by the insurance company. b) Letter from Attorney James L. McIntyre advising extension of time for the Wuth property. c) Copy of letter from Town Counsel to Allen L. Willis re: Agreements for Powell Aviation. d) Copy of letter from Planning Board to Police Chief re: Cedar Meadows. e) Notice of Public Hearing for MCI Telecommunications Corp. by Mass DPU. f) Notice of Public Hearing by Mass. DPU for New England Telephone Carrier Access Charges. g) Press release from Sen. David H. Locke re: 1984 Legislative Session. h) Copy of letter from Conservation Commission to Russell Christian re: his donation of property in West Mansfield. i) Notification from Dept. of Revenue to Board of Assessors re: Local assess- ment training sessions. j) Letter from Mass. Dept. of Public Works re: Speed zoning on Elm Street. Q Letter from DEQE advising approval of plans and specs for Contracts 3, 4 and 5 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. 1) Letter from Mass. Dept. of Public Works re: Bell signals at intersection of Route 140 and West Street. Selectman D'Onofrio expressed concern that the State's only concern was for traffic and not pedestrians. He would like a letter sent to Mr. Unger, with the Board's regrets that nothing constructive could be af- fected. m) Notification of meeting with Rep. Vernon on November 15th, in Town Hall, for towns of Mansfield, Norton and Easton, re: Southeast Expressway re- construction project. n) Letter from Attorney General's office re: Classification Hearing of Oct- ober 12th and 19th. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1983 PAGE 4 o) Notice from Corps of Engineers re: Monthly inspection of Wastewater Treatment Plant. p) Notification from Mass. DPW, District 6, approving the funding of the Hazard Elimination Project at Route 106 & North Main Street, subject to the Town's commitment to do the design work. q) Notification of Story Telling hours at the Mansfield Library. r) Copy of letter from Town Counsel to School Business Manager re: School Bus specs. s) MEMOs from Police Chief re: Radar Violations and Liquor Disturbances. t) Copy of letter from Town Counsel to Town Clerk re: Request of Allan Willis for return of money being held by Planning Board for Strawberry Meadows Subdivision. u) Letter from Theda M. Hornung, President of Mansfield Council on Aging, advising she will not seek reappointment to the COA Board and neither will Elinor Vernon; she therefore hopes the Board will publicly make known that there will be two seats vacant] as soon as possible. 7. Old Business - Town Manager a) At the Special Town Meeting November 8, 1983 the transfer of property with Graphic Laboratories was approved; a formal vote is needed in order for the Deeds to be signed. * MOTION: For the Board to formally vote to sign the deeds for transfer of property with Graphic Laboratories, with the exception of the Chairman, and to endorse the deed to Graphic Laboratories in accordance with the Town Meeting vote. D'Onofrio /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 b) Town Manager will meet with Mr. Hartnett, from the State, and Mr. Dalton, representative from Cabot Cabot & Forbes, November 17th to discuss the traffic flow problems on the new Route 140; the DPW Director will also attend the meeting. c) Citifence of Pawtucket, RI has been awarded the DPW contract for chain link fencing and gates for the Highway Garage, the lime feed system and entrance gates at the Landfill. Baker Fence, Inc., Framingham, MA was second. 8. Old Business - Selectmen a) Selectman Wills gave his written opinion for the contract operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and suggested that each Board member should do the same. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 1983 PAGE 5 b) Chairman Dunn advised that he would like to have all of the Selectmen's comments on the Town Manager's performance evaluation form by next week's meeting. c) Selectman Wills made a request that dates for meetings be selected a month ahead, and then every effort be made to hold to those dates. He then inquired about progress for the Water Quality Symposium and sug- gested that a date be selected now. January 23, 1984 was picked as the date, and Town Manager will send out a preliminary notice now, to be followed in about a month with details. In the interim he will contact the Conservation Commission again for their input and suggested agenda. 9. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn the meeting, 10:26 P.M. Wills /Levine VOTEDL 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: 4er /1 /3 6/13 Date signed