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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-2-1988I BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen D'Onofrio and Dunn; Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of February 17, 1988 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of February 17, 1988. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrants #37, #37 -A, #38 and * MOTION: To approve Warrant #37 in the amount of $345,401.19, dated Febru- ary 23, 1988, broken down as follows: General Fund - $277,006.29 Revenue Sharing - 298.70 Special Revenue - 1,916.85 Capital Projects - 42,730.29 Sewer Enterprise - 6,560.95 I-later Enterprise - 16,888.11 D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #37 -A in the amount of $865,218.15, dated Febru- ary 23, 1988 (Electric Enterprise ). D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #38 in the amount of $776,199.14, dated March 1, 1988, broken down as follows: General Fund - $725,071.02 School Lunch - 2,567.79 Special Revenue - 10,342.58 Capital Projects - 5,469.67 Sewer Enterprise - 7,996.61 Water Enterprise - 24,751.47 D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #38 -A in the amount of $30,775.59, dated March 1, 1988 (Electric Enterprise }, D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) Application for Automatic Amusement Machine for Carla Rae Vierkant d /b /a Carla Rae's, 267 N. Main Street, for three (3) Video -type machines. - This was held over from the last meeting to obtain more information regarding location and type of business, which was received. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 2 * MOTION: To approve the Automatic Amusement Machine application for three video -type. Dunn /D'Onofrio VOTED: 2 -1 Harrington opposed 5. Correspondence a) Letter to the Board from Self -Help Director, Mary Ellen Rochette, Commun- ity Outreach Program re: Reduction of government funding and results on towns and cities the Outreach program has served. b) Copy of letter from Texas Instruments to DEQE, Chief Bellavance and the Mansfield Emergency Response Committee re: A misidentified specific building location. c) Letter to All Governmental Units from Bristol County Retirement Board re: An Act Further Regulating Public Employee Retirement in the Commonwealth, and a scheduled meeting to discuss the subject, March 11th. d) Letter from the Executive Office of Energy Resources re: Federal Energy Grants For Schools and Hospitals. e) Letter to the Board from Division of Capital Planning & Operations re: Site Search for Housing for the Mentally I11. f) Memorandum to the Board from Planning Board Chairman re: Public Hearings for Street Acceptance. - Some discussion followed; Selectman Dunn said if the Planning Board holds a hearing, it would be redundant for the Selectmen to also. The Town Manager advised there is no indication for Selectmen to hold a hearing. g) Letter from Mass. Emergency Response Commission re: Development of a local Hazardous Material Response Plan. h) Letter from MMA re: Alert on County Takeovers. i) Letter from ICMA re: Compensation 88, A new way to look at local govern- ment compensation. j) Letter from Dept. of Revenue, together with the Cherry Sheet. k) Petition from residents in area of "Halletts Crossing II ", Fruit Street, re: "Construction debris pile ". 1) Copy of letter to Bruce Montgomery /Great Woods, Inc., from the Health Agent re: Steps being taken to avoid noise problems. - The Chairman said he had been advised by the Health Agent of the steps ( the Board of Health has in mind and that they would like to meet with the Great Woods sub - committee. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 3 m) Memorandum to the Water Commissioners from the Board of Health re: Study of impact on Town wells by development. - The Board would like the Planning Director to research the cost for such a study. n) Copy of three (3) Informational Guideline Releases from Division of Local Services: Use of A Single Property Tax Bill; Real Estate Tax Exemption For Organizations of Veterans of War; Mooring & Slip Fees: Valid Charges. o) Letter from DEQE re: Issuance of building permits to facilities that re- quire DEQE approval of their drinking water supply source. p) Copy of letter to the Town Manager from Town Counsel re: Special Elections. q) Copy of letter to the Town Manager from Town Counsel re: School Committee, Municipal and FinCom budget figures /recommendations, etc. r) Letter to the Board from Linda Sohn /Animal Welfare Committee re: Increas- ing certain of the dog licensing fees. * MOTION: To approve the increase in dog licensing fees. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 s) Letter to the Board from Linda Sohn /Animal Welfare Committee re: Request for waiver of permit fees for two signs. * MOTION: To waive the permit fees for two directional signs to the Dog Pound. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 t) Memorandum to the Board from the Town Clerk re: Appointment of additional election workers. * MOTION: To approve the additional election workers. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 u) Copy of Mass. Taxpayers Foundation publication "Is There a Future for County Governments in Mass ? ". v) Letter from DEQE to both the Board of Selectmen and Sewer Commissioners re: Change in the reimbursement process for annual costs of chemicals for operation & maintenance of water pollution control facilities. w) Memorandum to the Board from Chairman of the Planning Board re: Beaumont Pond Estates Preliminary Subdivision Plan. x) Copy of letter to Accu- Graphic from Gerry St. Hilaire, Operations Manager of the WWTP, re: February 24th information meeting on Industrial Pre- ( treatment Program. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 4 y) Newspaper clipping from the Brockton Enterprise re: State cuts school subsidies. z) Copies of Master Plan Advisory Council Minutes of 2/11/88 and 2/18/88. aa) Memorandum to the Board from the Town Manager re: Waiver of Highway Department Building Permit fee. * MOTION: To waive the Building Permit fee. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 bb) Letter to the Board from John Yelle, of Norton, re: Acknowledgment of his right to cross land owned by the Town of Mansfield (old RR bed). - Mr. Yelle was present, and after brief discussion it was the consensus of the Board that if Mr. Yelle is represented by Counsel he and his counsel should go to the Norton Board. Mr. Yelle advised that his deed to the land (in Norton) shows a right -of -way across the track bed. cc) Memorandum to the Board from Joan Cutillo, Treasurer, re: Correction of vote on Warrant #30, dated January 6, 1988. * MOTION: To rescind the Board of Selectmen vote of January 6, 1988, for Warrant #30 in the amount of $715,707.05 and approve only the Electric Department payroll in the amount of $10,537.16. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 dd) Letter to the Chairman of the Board from Town Counsel re: Town Account- ant position. * MOTION: To utilize Peat Marwick as an "outside consultant" as defined and recommended by Tom Counsel, on a temporary basis, with the Town Clerk signing the Warrants as well as the Selectmen. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 ee) Letter to the Board from the Department of Revenue certifying the amount of "free cash" as of July 1, 1987 in the amount of $588,059. ff) Copy of letter to the Town Clerk from Selectman Richard P. D'Onofrio re: Resignation from the Board of Selectmen effective March 22, 1988. 6. Mary Ellen Rochette /Self -Help, Inc. Mary Ellen Rochette was accompanied by Ulysses G. Shelton, Jr., Executive Director, who offered some background as to why they had asked to meet with the Board. The Federal government has cut funding for programs to hlep elderly people who need financial help. Self -Help spent $166,616 for ser- vices provided Mansfield residents last year; these included fuel assistance, weatherization, burner repair /replacement, food services, Head Start, hous- ing services, outreach and /or commodities distributions. With the Federal government cut they will not be able to continue out -reach services after BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 5 April 30th unless the Town can contribute $2,000.00 for the period July 1, 1988 through June 30, 1989. When the Town Manager was asked his recommendation he said he did not see how any additional funds could be added this year; however, the Board felt it would cause severe hardship to many if the program was dropped. MOTION: To amend the proposed budget for 1989 to include $2,000.00 for Senior citizens, subject to funding at Town Meeting. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 Review of Proposed By -laws Board of Health - The Health Agent and Chairman of the Board of Health were were present. Scott Leite, Health Agent, reviewed a Town of Rehoboth by -law on non - criminal violations. His main concern is junk cars; he said if the by -law were adopted, violations would be handled by the local court and all fines the court collects are returned to the Town. The initial fine would be $25 -$50, but can go up to $300. Consensus of the Board was to support it. The Board of Health's second by -law concerned hazardous waste pick -up. BFI, the Town's trash collector will not pick up such materials, so there is con- cern as to where people will dump it. The provisions of this by -law would im- pose stricter regulations on storage, transport, registration, inventory of such materials, plus aboveground and underground storage tanks, replacement, abandonment, etc. Conservation Commission - Stu Sweet, Chairman, Dick Lewis, Conservation Agent, and Jim Grady were present. They reviewed Articles 30 through 34. Article 30 proposes that outside consultant fees be paid by the applicant /developer. Article 31 covered hazardous materials. Jim Grady, a member of the Commission, addressed groundwater protection vs. underground storage tanks, etc. The Board of Health said they have some reservations; Scott Leite felt the pro- posed by -law should be two different by -laws; he said the Right -To -Know law covers alot of what Jim Grady's by -law proposes. Article 32 is a proposed Anti - litter by -law, the need for which is a result of closing of the landfill in large part. They will withdraw their Article 33, as the Planning Board has submitted a similar one. Article 34 pertains to the Clean Lakes /Sweet's Pond grant. They now need an additional $4500 to what was voted by last year's Town Meeting. Planning Board - The Planning Director, Michel LaCasse, reviewed the Planning Board Articles 21 through 27. Article 21 pertains to the amount of building land permitted under zoning from the standpoint of a soil survey and wet- lands protection. Article 22 covers not permitting piggeries in agricul- tural zoning. Article 23 asks for a 50 foot buffer between residential and industrial areas on the sides and back. Article 24 restricts off - street parking, drainage being the main issue. On this one Selectman D'Onofrio questioned not allowing any unless the developer can meet specified require- ments. Article 25 addresses "pork chop lots" where lot widths vary, taper BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 6 etc.; The by -law would set a required width for a required depth. Article 26 proposed changing the title Agricultural District to Agricultural /Rural Residential, noting that more than five acres is protected from local zoning. Selectman Dunn said he would like to see more division of various zoning categories. Article 27 proposes changes under the Special Permit Requirements section. The Town Manager advised the Board that the Warrant must be finalized for next Wednesday; Tom will work with the Board Chairman on appropriate order of the Articles, etc. It was established that the Article for repairs of the High School roof will be included. 8. Report /Budget Reductions and Financial Update Chairman Harrington had asked the Town Manager to prepare two scenarios in the event the Over -ride does not pass. The Chairman said he feels it is im- portant for the voters to know why the over -ride should be supported. The Town Manager then went through his suggested required cuts, department by de- partment - all based on assumed new revenues. The Town Manager also advised that there are some offsets to the "free cash" figure as given earlier; said offsets leave a new available of $340,000. Chairman Harrington said the School Committee was not willing to work up a similar scenario, but he hopes the Town Meeting will be willing to vote for cuts on both sides should the over -ride not pass. Selectman D'Onofrio said he felt the Town should have waited until it knew how much it really needed, which is not the 1.4 million asked for, in view of the "free cash" figure. The Town Manager advised that $80,000 was closed out in error which must come out of the "free cash" now. • u u _ 1 >i�R�Oss.�h @�$�t��ki�'k�d��i =1+ �BTItd -. Chairman Harrington said he would like the Board to develop a campaign to promote a public awareness program - in the newspapers, cable TV. Selectman D'Onofrio said he feels the people need to decide if they want the services, and they must understand that it means paying an additional.$250. in taxes. He feels the School Committee will cut their budget the same as they have in the past - the same percentage as - is appropriated. Chariman Harrington said he will recontact the School Com- mittee. 9. Old Business a) The Town Manager advised the Board that the Finance Committee asks that Town Meeting be postponed two weeks because of the over -ride questions; they would like more time after the election votes. * MOTION: To postpone Town Meeting two weeks. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 b) Selectman D'Onofrio reported that he had asked the Town Clerk if an ad- hoc committee for Charter Revision could have a table on Election Day. She suggested the November election as a better time. Selectman D'Onof- rio asked that the Board consider his participation in that group. BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 Page 7 c) Selectman Dunn raised the question of available funding for capping the landfill and suggested that it might be effective working through the regional Canoe River Aquifer Committee. The Town Manager said Camp Dresser & McKee expects to give a report to the Board in May on the status of the landfill, and they are looking into the grant; also, the DPW Director is working with them on this. d) Selectman Dunn referred to an on -going problem with meter readings, both water and electric. People are receiving varying bills, and he wondered if it is the reading done outside. The Town Manager advised that there is a follow -up problem in some cases, and he will speak to the DPW Direc- tor about correcting this. e) The Chairman had a report from the Board secretary on costs for the DePillo plaque; they range from $156 to $275, depending upon size and lettering. Cost for installation ranged from $100 to $300. Selectman D'Onofrio said he feels it should be done, even if the DePillos pay for it now and the Board reimburse them next year. It was decided to send copy of the report to the DePillos and, perhaps, some of the Veterans groups in town would be interested in contributing. f) The Chairman then brought up the need to establish a date for the Special Election for two Selectmen seats. He referred to Memorandums from both the Town Clerk and Town Counsel covering necessary procedures. Discussion followed with the suggestion that the timing be such that of the three running for the present seat the two who do not make it not be excluded from running again. At the same time, the Chairman reminded the Board that until such time as the Special Election there will still only be three members on the Board. MOTION: To call a Special Election for the first Tuesday closest to 57th day after tonight. D'Onofrio /no 2nd MOTION: To call a Special Election for May 10th. Dunn /D'Onofrio VOTED: 3 -0 Polling hours will be discussed at a later date. 10. New Business a) The Town Manager reported that a request had been received from the Town of Norton for a nursing home to connect to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. He advised that the Board consider not accepting any more outside connec- tions until plant expansion is considered. MOTION: To call a moratorium on sewer connections outside Mansfield. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 The Chairman asked the Town Manager to ask Jerry St. Hilaire to put to- gether a plan for expansion. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MARCH 2, 1988 PAGE 8 b) In a Memorandum previously distributed to the Selectmen, the Town Manager had updated information on Signalization at the West Street /Forbes Blvd. intersection. There were three Alternates suggested by the consulting engineers, R.A. Cataldo & Associates. He reported that both Town staff and the State DPW recommend Alternate 3. * MOTION: To proceed with Alternate #3 on for the Forbes Blvd. intersection. D'Onofrio /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 The intersection is to have a blinking light; the Town Manager explained that the State would not fund a working signal. Selectman Dunn said he does not feel the plan will do anything. c) The Town Manager advised that at certain times the West Mansfield Fire Station will not be open because of manpower shortage when equipment is out; this is because of lack of funds. d) Chairman Harrington advised that Kendall Company, in the Industrial Park, will have a ribbon cutting Saturday, March 5th at 1:30 P.M. and had con- tacted him to represent the Town; anyone else is welcome. 11. Executive Sessi * MOTION: To go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition, contract negotiations and security deployment at Great Woods, and to come out only to adjourn. D'Onofrio /Dunn POLLED: 3 -0 - EXECUTIVE MINUTES TYPED SEPARATELY - 12. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11:25 P.M. APPROVED: