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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-28-1984BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 28, 1984 PRESENT: Chairman Dunn; Selectmen Wills, D'Onofrio, McNair; Town Manager; Selectman Levine arrived at 7:35 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:31 P.M., and the flag was saluted. 2. Board Reorganization Chairman Dunn expressed his appreciation for the honor and experience he has enjoyed as Chairman of the Board this past year. He said it has been an enjoyable experience and he has gained alot from it and the association with everyone. He then opened nominations for the new Chairman of the Board. Sandra Levine nominated Jim Wills; seconded by Dick D'Onofrio. Single ballot approval was unanimous. Jim Wills then took over the Chairman's seat, saying he had learned alot while John Dunn was Chairman;. .he then opened nominations for Clerk. John McNair nominated Dick D'Onofrio as Clerk, seconded by Sandra Levine. Single ballot approval was unanimous. Chairman Wills then recommended to the Board that correspondence be posponed until the end of the meeting so that John Dunn could be included for dis- cussion of the budget, in the event he was not able to remain until the end of the meeting; as it turned out, this was not necessary. 3. Minutes of March 21, 1984 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of March 21, 1984 4. Licenses D'Onofrio /McNair Selectman D'Onofrio asked for two minor corrections; the first was a change of the name at the beginning of the second paragraph of Item 10, from Mr. Lantern to Mr. Ledger. The second was under the same Item 10, in the Motion on Page 5, which should read "... for proper form ". VOTED to approve the Minutes as amended: 4 -1 Dunn abstained MOTION: To approve the Application for a One -day Common Victualler License for the Mansfield Little League, at Memorial Park on April 28, 1984 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., and to waive the fee. McNair /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 2 5. Warrant #45 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #45 in the amount of $150,956.59, dated March 27, 1984, broken down as follows: General Fund - $92,817.54 Special Revenue - 944.00 Motor Pool - 8.25 Sewer Enterprise - 2,040.56 Water Enterprise - 2,810.74 Electric Enterprise - 52,335.50 McNair /Dunn VOTED: 4 -1 Levine abstained 6. Correspondence a) Letter from Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sawyer, 30 Thornton Road, re: Ambulance service. b) Letter from SRPEDD re: Change in the term of commission delegates to run from June 1 - May 31. c) Copy of letter from SRPEDD to Chairman of Mass. Technology Park Corp. re: Southeastern Mass. towns endorsing Taunton as the site for the new micro- electronics center. d) Notification from Army Corps of Engineers relative to inspection of the Wastewater Treatment Plant April 3rd. e) Copy of letter to Conservation Commission from Doris Webb re: Resigna- tion from the Commission. * MOTION: To accept the resignation with deepest regret and appreciation for her years of service to the Town. Levine /McNair VOTED: 5 -0 f) Letter from District Highway Engineer re: State aid for highways. g) Letter from Sheila M. Cleary of Ware Street re: Street light request. h) DPU notification re: Metrofone Service hearing May 9th. i) Notification from ABCC re: Payment of a fine. j) Copy of letter from Norton Health Agent to Hope Building Co. re: Health violations at the Wastewater Treatment Plant site. k) Memos from Police Chief re: Radar violations and liquor disturbances March 7th through March 21, 1984. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 3 1) Letter from Council on Aging requesting replacement of the Bus Stop signs in front of the Senior Center. MOTION: To have the Town Manager set a date for the required public hearing as soon as possible. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 m) Notice of Third Annual Open House at the Southeastern Regional School April 8th Budget Review The Town Manager summarized the purpose of the meeting tonight, which was supposed to be with the Finance Committee; however, Roger Dotson was the only member present and did not feel he could speak for the entire committee. The Town Manager had presented each member of the Board and Committee with a Memorandum which was referred to in his summarization. He stated that since the submission of the Budget on December 21, 1983, the Finance Committee had met with all department heads, boards and commissions, with the exception of the Veterans Agent and Council on Aging, and the Board of Selectmen had met with the Fire Chief, Police Chief and the Public Works Director. The bottom line for the budget is $4,285,352 for municipal expenditures and $1,095,255 for public utilities. An item of "Budget Reserve" has been included which will be for the amount required for the reserve fund and the pending salary negotiations. As a result of the meetings with the various department heads the Finance Committee and Selectmen, and a review of numbers presented, the Town Manager has made adjustments which place the total recommended request $152,300 lower than presented in December. These adjustments are primarily due to insurance and debt decreases. Revenue projections are estimated, as are the appropriation requirements. The Town Manager advised the Board that in order to hold the Annual Town Meet- ing on April 30th, the Warrant and Finance Committee Report have to be made available to the public by April 23rd. In order to meet that deadline, final decisions have to be made by April 8th in order the have the Warrant ready for submission to the printer in adequate time. Also, the Board was reminded that the Town presently has 3 collective bargaining units that are under negotiation and every effort is being made to conclude these negotiations prior to the Annual Town Meeting; however, the Fire Department and the Town have not yet settled their collective bargaining agreement for FY -84. No recommendations for new personnel were included in the bottom line of the municipal budget; therefore, any increase in funding for such personnel will have to result in a decrease in funding for other programs within the budget. The $12,000 for mosquito control, as voted by the Board of Selectmen,is not included in the budget either. In reviewing the requests for additional personnel, by the Town Clerk, Com- munity Development, the Fire Department and Police Department, and Public BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 4 Works, the Town Manager said he felt they were all justified but that the limits on funding preclude any additions in this year's budget. The Town Manager's Memo contained a summary of each department's need for the addi- tional personnel and he offered his recommendation as to priority, were fund- ing available: Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works, Town Clerk, Community Development. There was considerable discussion, particularly on the Fire Department's needs. MOTION: To ask our State Representative whether it is feasible to be allowed to do the Municipal and State Census together. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 MOTION: That we approve the $21,924 to support the additional help in the Fire Department. Dunn /Levine Discussion indicated that this $21,924 included the requested full - time clerical person, but not the fringe benefits; the Board was not willing to support the clerical person. Selectman D'Onofrio then brought up his deep concern for the Board's lack of willingness to assume responsibility for the new lieutenant positions, but re- stating his support for the Chief's efforts of reorganization in the department. The Town Manager said he felt the Chief is doing a good job handling the sick leave problem. Selectman Dunn felt that the proper staffing was necessary before you can start to deal with the managerial issue, and he feels the Chief does not have adequate personnel; he did not, however, know where the money would come from for additional personnel. FAILED: 2 -3 McNair, D'Onofrio, Wills opposed * MOTION: To have the Finance Committee look into where -this money might come from, with a full financial impact picture. McNair /Levine VOTED: 5 -0 Discussion then centered on agreeing that the Town needs to im- prove the Fire Department shift coverage at Central Station. Chair- man Wills said he believes this can be accomplished without the addition of personnel, by changing the West Mansfield Fire Station from a branch to a volunteer fire district. He believes it would be possible to maintain the same initial response time at the West Mansfield station; a mutual aid agreement could be established with the Town of Mansfield Fire Department; the Town would donate the building and a vehicle to the new district. This was covered in a Memo of March 16, 1984. By transferring the West Mansfield Fire- fighters to the Central Station this would add a full man to each shift. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 5 * MOTION: To investigate the establishment of a West Mansfield Volunteer District through the necessary legal process. Wills /Dunn Selectman D'Onofrio voiced concern that such a change in fire pro- tection coverage might have an impact on home insurance rates; Chairman Wills thought not. He did say he thought such a change would probably have to be taken to a Town Meeting. VOTED: 5 -0 The Town Manager then advised the Board that he had not added funding for the three Lieutenant positions to the Budget adjustments, and that it now has to go to the Town Meeting for funding. * MOTION: To increase the Fire Department Salaries budget by $3,108.00 and create the separate line item for Lieutenants; this does not change the total strength of the department, and is with the understand- ing that the basis of this motion is authorization for 1 Chief, 1 Deputy Chief, 4 Lieutenants and 13 Firefighters. Dunn /Levine VOTED: 4 -1 McNair opposed * MOTION: That we increase the Fire Department budget account $6,000 for a part -time secretary. Wills /no second * MOTION: To follow the request of the Police Chief to upgrade 1 Patrolman to Sergeant and provide overtime for the walking Patrolman down- town in the total of $7,128. This is with the understanding that the basis of this motion is authorization for 1 Chief, 5 Sergeants and 14 Patrolmen. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 5 -0 Chairman Wills then asked if any member of the Board wished to make a motion regarding any other item. There being none, he offered the following: * MOTION: To add in the $12,000 for mosquito control. Wills /Levine VOTED: 3 -2 McNair and D'Onofrio opposed Selectman Dunn then asked for time to review his March 14th Memo.which, it appeared no one had received; he touched briefly on some of the items. One being a concern for charging back the cost of administrative services to Enterprise accounts. He feels this issue chould be discussed fully at some time and should include comparing equitable taxation vs. a user's fee. He would like to see the Enterprise accounts audited at some time. Another concern is the sanitary landfill; another the Master Plan. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 6 The Board was then advised that the Capital Improvement Committee will be meeting Tuesday, April 3rd to work on the budget, and one item to be con- sidered is the municipal computer. The Town Manager also said the Board must be prepared to take a psotiion on the entire budget on April 4th. * MOTION: To approve the Town Manager's Budget Message, with revisions as presented tonight, which do not include salaries. Dunn /no second 8. Old Business a) Selectman Dunn asked about progress on the Norton /Wastewater Treatment Plant agreement. The Town Manager said the DPW Director is still work- ing with them. b) Chairman Wills read the letter from Diane Mangiaratti of the Hazardous Waste Advisory Committee, as requested by the Board last week; discus- sion followed. * MOTION: To ask Diane the reason for her resignation and to find out what the State law is concerning continuation of the Hazardous Waste Advisory Committee. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 Levine out of the room c) Selectman Dunn then brought up a concern for three vacancies on the Con- servation Commission, saying he felt they should be filled as soon as possible, since the Commission must have 4 members present to take any action, which means everyone at this time. * MOTION: That we appoint David Benjamin to fill the position that is open for the longest term on the Conservation Commission. Dunn /Wills VOTED: 3 -1 D'Onofrio opposed; McNair abstained Levine had returned for the above vote. * MOTION: That we appoint Calleen Cheney - Precourt to fill the second long- est term on the Conservation Commission. D'Onofrio /Levine VOTED: 4 -0 McNair abstained d) Selectman McNair asked whose responsibility it is to repair a mailbox knocked down by a snow plow; the Town Manager said the Town's. McNair gave the address of the resident who had spoken to him about this. e) Selectman McNair wanted the Board to know that Helen Glenn had been help- ing the Town in distribution of the flyers concerning parking lot restric- tions. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ' MARCH 28, 1984 PAGE 7 * MOTION: To send a letter of appreciation to Helen Glenn. McNair /D'Onofrio VOTED: 5 -0 f) Selectman Dunn voiced concern for traffic on N. Main Street, asking why Oakland Street is one -way. Selectman D'Onofrio, a member of the Downtown Advisory Committee said that entire area is still under consideration, and the study for deadending Crocker Street has not been dropped. 9. New Business a) Chairman Wills reported to the Board that he had viewed the video tape Of the March 14th Board meeting. He felt the most obvious needed change was the arrangement of tables and seating, and offered an alternative plan for Board members to consider. b) Chairman Wills suggested that Board members think about alternating Board meetings so that once every two weeks they handle routine business and the inbetween weeks consist of workshops related to long -term plan- ning. 10. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn at 11:25 P.M. Levine /McNair VOTED: 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: C erk- Date signed