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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-27-1988* * * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 27, 1988 FEB - 4 19 If PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen D'Onofrio, McNair, Mahana; Town Manager Selectman Dunn arrived at 7:55 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of January 13, 1988 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of January 13, 1988. D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 3. Warrants No. 33 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 33 in the amount of $481,100.28, dated Janu- ary 26, 1988, broken down as follows *: General Fund - $413,810.86 Revenue Sharing - 5,800.00 School Lunch - 12,781.50 Special Revenue - 2,068.17 Capital Projects - 29,340.00 Sewer Enterprise - 10,416.66 Water Enterprise - 6,883.09 D'Onofrio /Mahana VOTED: 4 -0 MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 33A in the amount of $24,020.83, dated January 26, 1988 (Electric Enterprise ) *. D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 *Both subject to Town Accountant signature or designated represent- ative as named by the Board of Selectmen. 4. Correspondence a) Letter to the Board from Commissioner, Dept. of Environmental Management, re: $500 million open space bond signed by Gov. Dukakis. b) Letter to Board from Chief, Property Tax Bureau, State Division of Local Services re: Modification of the Dept. of Revenue Bonding supervision policies. c) Invitation from Chairman Paula Gold and Board of Directors of the Thrift Institutions Fund for Economic Development to an Annual Reception Febru- ary 11th. d) Letter from Mass. Dept. of Public Works re: Signed copy of Agreement for reimbursement of approved projects /CHapter 90 in the amount of $53,447. e) Copy of January 14th meeting Minutes of the Master Plan Advisory Council. f) Copies of Division of Local Services Bulletin and Information Guideline Releases. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING { JANUARY 27, 1988 PAGE 2 g) Memorandum from School Business Manager re: Waiver of Building Permit fees for Robinson and Park Row Mobile buildings. * MOTION: To waive the appropriate fees. D'Onofrio /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 h) Notice of Mansfield Planning Board Public Hearing re: Dennis J. Morgan application for subdivision of land bounded on the southwest by the Town of Mansfield. i) Letter from Army Corps of Engineers re: Scheduled progress inspection February 4, 1988. j) Letter and booklet entitled "Program of Projects to be Advertised, Janu- ary 1988 through December 1989 ", from Commissioner, State Dept. of Public Works. Q Memorandum to the Board from Norton's Town Planner re: Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee meeting February 4th in Mansfield Town Hall. 1) Copy of letter to DPW Director, John Rhind, from the Town Manager re: Board's sympathy for his and his wife's recent illnesses. m) Letter to the Board from Rep. Philip Travis re: Next meeting of the Bristol County Solid Waste Management Task Force February 4th at Mans- field Town Hall. n) Letter from Jesse Perry, General Manager, Mass Cablevision Systems, re: Change in monthly service rates effective March 1, 1988; also a Memor- andum from Mo Prasad pertaining to the rate increase. o) Letter to the Board from Supt. Barbarisi re: Placement of a question on the March 21st ballot, plus request to meet with the Board and Fin - Com (to be scheduled for next Wednesday night's meeting). p) Memorandum to the Board from the Planning Board re: Streets ready for acceptance by Town Meeting. - This was to be referred to the Town Engineer for recommendations. q) Request for waiver of Building Permit fee for the Cable TV storage room. * MOTION: To approve waiver of the Building Permit fee. Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 r) Letter from DEQE re: Availability of grants for closing of municipal landfills under the Landfill Capping Grant Program. s) Copy of letter to Division of Capital Planning & Operations /Office of Real Property from the Planning Director re: Landlocked parcel at West Street & I -495. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 27, 1988 PAGE 3 t) Letter from Supt. O'Leary, S.E. Regional Vocational School re: Place- ment of an Article on the Town Meeting Warrant. u) Copy of letter to Mr. Bortolussi /Great Woods Chrysler Plymouth re: Late night deliveries /noise. v) Three Memos from the Conservation re: Proposed Articles for Town Meet- ing Warrant: 1) Revised Hazardous Waste Bylaw; 2) Clean Lakes Study; 3) Revised Amendment of Bylaw, Chap. 15, Section 1 -c. w) Memorandum to the Board from Selectman D'Onofrio re: Appointment of John Drew as a member of the Franklin Foundation by the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth. x) Letter to the Board from Citizens for New Schools asking that the Select- men take time to tour the town's three elementary schools during school hours to help them appreciate the need for the two proposed new schools, by February 3rd. The letter was written by Andrea Micheli and she and two or three other members of the group were present. 5. New Town Accountant Chairman Harrington advised the Board members that he had contacted one of the two applicants interviewed last week to learn if she was still inter- ested in the position. She said she was not interested unless the Town could offer her at least $39- $40,000; she had just been given a sizeable raise and Mansfield's fringe benefits fall short of what she now has. The second applicant said she had decided to go into business for herself. The Chairman said he and Selectman Mahana have interviewed several appli- cants for the job, last time and now; none of them have had municipal exper- ience. He then asked the Town Manager to share his concerns and views. Tom Dwyer said in order to manage the town effectively, we need to have re- ports on a timely basis and need someone who understands the system well. He feels a salary of $35- $40,000 is very relative. He said Peat Marwick's comments were that Terry Deule was overworked and overstressed and there is a need for more than two people in that office. There is, right now, a need for "free cash" to be certified and Schedule A to be completed so that the Town may receive its State Aid of $800,000, which requires balance sheets. Not having yet received the State Aid funds is costing the Town investment money and because the Schedule A is not ready and should have been, the Treasurer is having to borrow which costs the Town interest expense. Selectman Mahana said he would like to hire someone from a private agency to come in and perform what is needed regardless of the cost. Selectman Dunn said if the Board is willing to increase the salary for an Accountant, then the Board must readvertise. Consensus of the Board was to contact Peat Marwick to come in and get the work brought up to date; then readvertise at $35- $40,000. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 27, 1988 PAGE 4 Faye, Spofford & Thorndike A representative from the engineering firm, Faye, spofford & Thorndike, was present to answer any questions the Board might have concerning the Airport Commission's request for Board approval to install a security fence system for the entire perimeter of the Airport property. They are eligible for a Federal grant and the project is expected to cost $400,000. The need for the fencing is continued vandalism, particularly the runway lighting system, as well as aircraft; also for a safety aspect because kids, with dirt bikes, etc. come on the property. They expect to erect an 8 foot fence with barbed wire at the top. The Commission asked for Board approval to permit the fence line to extend off airport property onto the railroad right -of -way (approximately 6 feet). The airport boundary line conflicts with wetlands and to move the fence line as requested would prevent cutting a number of trees down. It was also men- tioned that there are known to be some archeological sites in that area. The Town Manager advised that he had talked with Al Willis, Chairman of the Airport Commission, about this (he had to be out of town tonight) and, al- though there is a Town sewer line in the right -of -way, he checked with the Town Engineer and there seems to be no problem. MOTION: To approve the request subject to review by legal counsel* McNair /Dunn VOTED: 3 -1 Mahana opposed, D'Onofrio abstained *Selectman Mahana said he would like to receive a letter from the Airport Commission stating that if the Town needs to remove or cross over where the fence is that will be acceptable. Workshop /FinCom /Budget Chairman Harrington said the first topic for discussion is current financial problems. He said there is a need to strategize on how to deal with what is believed is going to be a deficit. The Town Manager passed out papers showing FY'88 Expenditures /Appropriations, another showing Revenues Avail- able, and a third showing Supplemental FY 1988 Expenditure Requirements (projections). Tom summed it up by saying what it shows is $193,000 more needed than is budgeted for this fiscal year. He feels the Town needs a Comptroller in the Accounting office. Further discussion indicated the need for an assistant plus at least a part -time clerk. Joan Cutillo, Treasurer, was also present for this workshop. She said there may be some excess Federal Revenue Sharing money and, if there is, the Town can use it for anything; otherwise it would have to be refunded (maybe $50- $60,000). The Chairman summed up, stating that next Wednesday's meeting will be with The FinCom and School Committee covering the FY -89 Budget, and the Board will have to decide whether it will go forward and cut accounts or call a Special Town Meeting. Tom and Joan will study the situation further. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING t JANUARY 27, 1988 PAGE 5 Tom said he thinks if the Board calls for a Special Town Meeting now it will be like crying "wolf ". He recommended waiting at least two or three weeks and look for surplus funds. * MOTION: To meet next Monday night, February 1, 1988, to open and close the Town Meeting Warrant. Mahana /D'Onofrio VOTED: 4 -0 The Chairman advised breaking budgeted items into three categories: Those a department has to have, those really needed, and those it can do without. Selectman D'Onofrio then commended Tom Dwyer, Town Manager, for all he had done in just three weeks (since his arrival). - - - A 5- minute recess was called, and Selectman McNair left for the evening. - - - The second topic for discussion was the Town Manager's 1989 Budget. Joan Cutillo, Treasurer, reviewed Projected Revenues and Estimated Appropriations. The latter created a breakdown of the Capital Projects amount, most of which would cover highway equipment, public facilities improvements (Town Hall roof and heat); the Town Manager said he would also like to do a study on office space. The Town Manager said he hopes to develop a program so that equip- ment does not have to be continued on a lease /purchase plan. - - - At this point Selectman Mahana left the meeting - - - Chairman Harrington said the Board needs to look at the reality of funding the municipal operating budget within the limits of Prop. 21, and a decision must be finalized by February 15th, and this applies to the School Committee and Capital Improvements as well. Discussion followed as to whether the decision to "override" should be for "the people" to make at Town Meeting, as emphasized by Selectman D'Onofrio. Chairman Harrington then - suggested returning to discussion of the Town Manager's budget; Selectman--D'Onofrio said.-.he -fe.lt i.t-should not be continued without a full Board, so he was leaving. The Chairman stated there is no longer a quorum, the meeting is ended (at 10:40 P.M.). MINUTES APPROVED: Clerk t(c �_� Date signed