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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 2-3-1988BOARD OF SELECTMEN FEB I II988 MINUTES OF MEETING „e� FEBRUARY 3, 1988 n �L /VETO r 6" PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen Dunn, Mahana; Town Manager; McNair arrived at 8:20 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of January 20, 27 and February 1, 1988 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of January 20, 1988. Dunn /Mahana VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of January 27, 1988. The Chairman asked for clarification in the last paragraph to show that it was when he asked to return to discussion of the Town Man- ager's budget that Selectman D'Onofrio left the meeting because he felt there should be a full board for the discussion. VOTED: 3 -0 (as amended) * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of February 1, 1988. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrants No. 34 and 34A * MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 34 in the amount of $931,486.40, dated February 2, 1988 and broken down as follows: General Fund - $741,273.62 Revenue Sharing - 1,005.00 School Lunch - 11,857.88 Special Revenue - 55,847.42 Capital Projects - 1,201.64 Sewer Enterprise - 115,518.91 Water Enterprise - 4,731.93 Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 34A for the Electric Enterprise in the amount of $13,397.02, dated February 2, 1988. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 Chairman Harrington explained that Selectman D'Onofrio was out of town on business this week, and Selectman McNair was out on Town business but would be joining the meeting later. 4. Licenses & Permits a) Sewer Connection Permit Application, by Alan Brown, for a Residential Multiple at Wessel Street. ( * MOTION: To approve the Sewer Connection Permit. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 1988 PAGE 2 b) Application for a Hackney License by Foxfield Taxi, a 1984 Ford LTD, Vehicle P. * MOTION: To approve subject to proof of bonding and Police inspection of the vehicle. Mahana /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence a) Notice of two (2) Public Utilities hearings for: International Telecharge, Inc.; and GTE Mobilnet, Inc. b) Letter from Director of Executive Office of Environmental Affairs re: Solid Waste Act and development of a master plan. c) Letter from Nicholas Scobbo, Jr., Counsel for MMWEC re: Posting request. d) Copy of Minutes of January 7th meeting of Mansfield Alliance for Drug Education. e) Copy of letter to Chairman of the Mansfield Airport Commission from the Commonwealth Aeronautics Commission re: Meeting to discuss "self- fueling ( of aircraft with automotive gasoline ". f) Letter from Deputy Director of DEQE re: Short and long -range Solid Waste Management Plan for the Commonwealth. g) Letter to the Board from Supt. Barbarisi re: Architects for new elementary schools presentation. h) Letter to the Board from the Municipal Building Committee re: Use of property and parking for Hope Street address. i) Letter to the Board from the MBC re: Reorganization. - At this point the Chairman reported a letter which had been received from the State Ethics Commission concerning the MBC secretary situa- tion which, in essence, indicated that Town Counsel's November 17, 1987 opinion concerning it was correct. The Ethics Commission had enclosed an Advisory on Nepotism which they advised the Board to refer to Town Counsel. Consensus was to so do. j) Memorandum to the Board from Commissioner of Public Employee Retirement Administration of Commonwealth re: Chapter 697 An Act Further Regulating Public Employee Retirement in the Commonwealth. k) Letter from Town Counsel Query re: Public Property /Airport Commission fencing request; and copy of Board's letter to the Airport Commission. 1) Copy of letter to the Town Planner from Phil Corbett, Keith Development Corp. re: Gift of Traffic Study and Memorial Park Improvements. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 1988 PAGE 3 m) Memorandum to the Board from Town Clerk re: Presidential Primary and Town Election polling hours. - The.Chairman suggested ..the Town Clerk's suggestions be included in the Town Charter revision. n) Letter to the Board from Dept. of Environmental Management re: Invitation to submit written petitions for renovations and improvements to coastal and inland waterways. o) Letter to the Board from Supt. Barbarisi re: Change in wording of Town Meeting Warrant Article for the two new elementary schools. 6. Chairman Presentation Chairman Harrington had prepared charts for clarification of the Town's pre- sent and future financial situation. He said the new growth figure for this fiscal year was estimated at $700,000. The mandated landfill closing plus the new trash contract took care of that money; there was also a large in- crease in insurance coverage. The projected new growth figure for FY -89 is $450,000, additional State aid $460,000; with 21% tax increase equalling $240,000 and increased water and sewer revenues the total increased revenues will be $1,410,000. Health insurance is going up $400,000, of which the Town pays 80 %, and the trash contract increases $100,000. The net additional rev- enue for FY'89 is just under $700,000 which is divided: schools 55 %, muni- cipal 45 %. The schools are looking for a 10 -12% increase. With the allocated increases of 55% and 45 %, this will allow budgets to increase 3.7% over last year. On the municipal side there is equipment replacement, 6% salary in- creases, required repair to a fire truck and the Town Hall and mandated by law revaluation, all of which would total $590,000. These points were elab- orated somewhat, after which the Chairman said this much couldn't even be attained without an over -ride. He went on to list major increases in the municipal budget bringing the total to $860,000. He feels the municipal government cannot operate in FY'89 without cutting back in services unless it goes for an over -ride of Prop. 2i. He said those members of the Board who have been serving for five and six years say it is due to lack of plan- ning but, this did not happen overnight. 7. School Committee /Finance Committee The meeting was turned over to Steve Calvin, Chairman of the School Commit- tee. Steve said at present they have a small surplus in the Salary Account of approximately $30,000, but cautioned that they have no Reserve Fund to draw from; however, the School Committee is willing to try to help the mun- icipal government if possible, but do not feel it is possible at present. At present the School Committee has no opinion on the over -ride question. Steve Calvin then turned the meeting over to the Chairman of the Municipal Building Committee for an introduction to the status of the two new elemen- tary schools. Steve MacCaffrie said $136,000 was voted at last year's Annual Town Meeting for preliminary planning for the two schools. His com- BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 1988 PAGE 4 committee had considered viable alternatives, but the Park Row School and the Roland Green School have outlived their use as schools and the Robinson School is overcrowded. The architects, HMFH Associates were then asked to explain their proposal and they had preliminary drawings of a proposed plan for the two schools, to be located at the corner of East and Ware Streets; the two schools will have a shared core; the State would reimburse 67% of the cost for this type of plan. The schools are being planned with allowance for additional expansion; initially each will accommodate 460 students. Select- man Dunn asked about the style roof for the buildings; he was told it would be a sloped roof. Expansion would allow for 1,200 students. Superintendent Barbarisi was present as well as members of the School Commit- tee and residents. Supt. Barbarisi offered information on both the Park Row School and the Roland Green School. He had reports indicating that since 1958 studies have indicated phasing out the Park Row School, and phasing out the Roland Green School since 1967; and by the time the Robinson School was built, the older schoolswere still needed. Now all three schools are over crowded and the facilities of the three schools vary greatly. They presently have 1,200 students. If the two new schools are built, they will cut the Robinson School attendance back to 600 students. The architects were thanked for their time tonight. The meeting then returned to the School and Finance Committees and budgets. Selectman Dunn said he feels revenue projection is a small point at this time; the figure may change, but not enough and he believes the 212 over -ride should go on the ballot. He said Chairman Harrington had made an excellent presentation and revenue is a moot point. The Capital Improvement Committee projects equal 28.5 million and they are considering the ballot question. Kevin Sullivan, Chairman of the FinCom, said they have taken no stand on any project yet. Selectman Mahana asked the Town Manager to ask the Treasurer for the inside and outside limits on bonds. Linc Holske, a member of the School Committee, said he feels the over -ride question should be on the bal- lot in March so that the money will be there if there is the need. Later, if it isn't there, you may not even draw a quorum for a Fall Special Town Meeting. Jim Grady cautioned the Board to not use too large a number for the over -ride question (for too many "wish list" items) or it will surely draw a "No ".. Following that discussion the Chairman announced that effective March 1st there will be a 10% rate increase in electric bills, with another 10% in- crease June 1st, and 40% of each electric bill as of June 1st will be for Seabrook. He said this is the result of Governor Dukakis' resistence to Seabrook. The Chairman went on to say he requested that all future electric bills show this information - that it is to pay for the additional debt on Seabrook. Selectman Mahana said the town will be paying for Seabrook for the next thirty years. Discussion followed covering Prop. 2z rate vs. Town figures over the past years, etc. (Selectman Mahana left the room here) BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 1988 PAGE 5 8. Old Business a) The Town Manager reviewed the information contained in a Memorandum he had given each Board member in which he requests reconsideration of the Dennis Nielsen complaint concerning his water bill. He pointed out that the Board's decision to install a new meter and monitor it for six months conflicts with the Water Commissioners regulations approved January 5, 1983. He also advised that the Water Department is receiving numerous calls and complaints since this matter came up, and he asked the Board to follow the adopted policy. The Board agreed. b) The Town Manager then reviewed his Memorandum on the CDAG Grant which he had also given each Board member. Three items were of prime importance to be included; i.e., Reconstruction and /or overlay of a portion of Oak- land Street; signalization and traffic improvements for the neighborhood; and change of two water valves at Maple and Oakland Streets. Seven other proposed improvements were suggested; the Board of Selectmen designated three: Memorial Park improvements ($5,000), Downtown Revitalization/Off- street Parking Improvements Study ($35,000), and Office Space Study (a consultant technical issue study $40,000). c) The Capital Improvement Committee has asked that the Board put a hold on sale of the Spaulding School and consider that property as additional park- ing for merchants particularly. Chairman Harrington pointed out that it had been voted at Town Meeting to sell the school and use the money for the Library /COA facility. To change this vote would require it to go back to a Town Meeting for a vote for another use. Selectman McNair said alot of merchants are receiving parking tickets lately because the school lot has not been plowed, so those spaces are not available. (Selectman Mahana returned) d) Chairman Harrington reported that 19 applications have been received al- ready for the Town Accountant position and if anyone would like to help him review them, he will be screening them this weekend. There were no volunteers. e) Chairman Harrington also pointed out that it is time to review renewal of the Great Woods Performing Arts Center Entertainment License. - This was to be put on next week's agenda 9. New Business a) Selectman McNair requested that a "Curve" sign, or some similar demarca- tion be installed on what he said is called "Fatality Curve" (Park and East Streets going toward center of town). It needs reflectors or a curve sign, or both, he feels. - The Town Manager will look into it BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 1988 PAGE 6 10. Adjournment The Chairman reminded everyone of the posted meeting for this Saturday, February 6th at 9:00 A.M. * MOTION: To adjourn (at 10:15 P.M.) Mahana /McNair VOTED: 4 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: CYerk Date si ed t