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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 4-13-1988* * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 13, 1988 PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen Dunn, Markt; Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of April 6, 1988 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of April 6, 1988. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant #44 MOTION: To approve Warrant #44 in the amount of $3,273,892.28, dated April 12, 1988, broken down as follows: General Fund - $ 922,011.41 Revenue Sharing - 3,956.92 School Lunch - 5,657.84 Special Revenue - 1,188,070.14 Capital Projects - 11.88 Sewer Enterprise - 9,184.60 Water Enterprise - 6,447.70 Electric Enterprise - 1,138,551.79 Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) Renewal Application for Junk Dealer License, J. DiRienzo & Son, 328 School Street. * MOTION: To approve the Junk Dealer License renewal. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 b) Parade Permit Application, Mansfield Veterans Council, for May 30, 1988, with proposed route attached and approved by the Police Chief. * MOTION: To approve the Parade Permit. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence a) Letter to the Board from Mass. Housing Partnership re: Congratulations on SHARP funding for the Mansfield Depot II development. b) Memorandum from Department of Environmental Management re: Lowhead Dam Project. c) Letter to Chairman of the Board from Rep. Vernon re: Funding for summer camp for Special Needs Children. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING r' APRIL 13, 1988 PAGE 2 d) Two notices of Dept. of Public Utilities hearings re: Elcotel LD *OS, Inc., and Central Corporation. e) Letter to the Board from Mass. Municipal Assoc. re: Comprehensive Health -Care bill. f) Letter from DEQE Division of Hazardous Waste re: Updates on lists pub- lished January 15, 1988. g) Two letters to the Board from Chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee re: Accomplishments to date; Law effective July 1, 1988 requiring mandatory sterilization of all dogs adopted from an animal shelter. h) Copy of Master Plan Advisory Council Minutes. 6. Public Hearing /New England Telephone There was no representative present for NET. The Clerk read Petition No. 88 -1 for conduit and manhole locations on West Street, noting the abutters had been notified and Return Receipts received. * MOTION: To approve Petition No. 88 -1. Dunn /Markt VOTED: 3 -0 7. Plaque Presentations Chairman Harrington said tonight the Board had the pleasure of awarding plaques to honor town residents who have given up many hours and nights in service on boards and committees. He presented Robert Saquet, Edward Tartufo and John Riccio with a plaque, after which each expressed a few words of appreciation and received a well deserved applause. 8. Old Business - Town Manager a) The Town Manager reported that he had received word from Al Query, act- ing as Town Counsel, concerning sale of the Spaulding School, and his opinion indicates that the "term 'public auction' is sufficiently broad to encompass a sale by sealed bid ". Also that "the language of the Article and vote authorizes the Board of Selectmen to conduct said sale and does not restrict their authority in making said transfer. There- fore, the Board may impose deed restrictions which they consider to be in the best interests of the town ". Tom also advised the appraiser can have an updated appraisal within two weeks and it will be based on recent market activities. Chairman Harrington asked why a sealed bid as opposed to public auction. Tom feels it is a more orderly or professional process. Discussion fol- lowed. It was noted that there is always the option to reject all bids. Tom indicated he would turn his suggested deed restrictions over to Town Counsel for appropriate wording and said the appraiser felt the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 13, 1988 PAGE 3 deed restrictions might very well enhance the value of the property and, possibly, even the abutters properties. The consensus of the Board was to go forward. b) Each Board member had previously received information on three suggested articles for the Special within the Annual Town meeting, which the Town Manager reviewed briefly. MOTION: To insert Articles 1, 2 and 3, as submitted. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 MOTION: To close the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 c) Chairman Harrington asked about both the Fire Chief position and the Water Operations Manager vacancy. Tom said he received no responses from the Civil Service list as required by April 6th. He said he has written to the names on the list offering more information about Mans- field and the Fire Department and extended the effective date to April 22nd. Chairman Harrington asked what happens if there is no response again. Tom said he would have to talk to Civil Service again. As for the Water Operations Manager position, Tom said there has not been much response to the ad and he would like to wait until John Rhind is back. Old Business - Selectmen a) The Chairman reported that he, the Town Manager and Town Treasurer, as well as Selectman Markt for part of the time, interviewed five appli- cants for the Town Accountant position the previous Saturday. The Chair- man said three of them have municipal experience, two have non - profit experience. They were all asked to provide references, after which he hopes to select two applicants to come back for an interview with the Board. b) Chairman Harrington reported that the Solid Waste Committee report is completed and Marilyn Ouellette will probably make a presentation at the next Board meeting. c) The Chairman then announced that the Town Report and Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting is out. He reviewed the Board of Selectmen report and said the various situations covered have developed a very divisive split in the town and the problems need to continue to be addressed. He urged public hearings to educate the townspeople, saying the Board of Selectmen needs people behind it to address the problems and to find answers for water resources, roads, drainage, etc. Selectman Markt echoed the need for input, hearings on issues. Selectman Dunn said he feels justification is needed. He went on to say that the probable 67% reimbursement from the State for the new schools is for now, and could be less next year, plus there is an escalation in cost of building the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING j' APRIL 13, 1988 PAGE 4 schools each year. In connection with water resources, the cost of land goes up each year; each year it will be harder on everyone's pocketbook. Chairman suggested dividing the Board into committees of one for pursuit of different problems; i.e., water, landfill, roads, etc. The Town Man- ager stated he preferred the Board as a policy- making body and he would keep the Board updated. Selectman Dunn mentioned certain categories: financial, human services and safety, planning and development, facilities and network, utilities and resources. 10. New Business - Town Manager a) In a previous Memorandum to the Board the Town Manager had addressed a suggestion from the Planning Director regarding the $10,000 gift from Keith Development for a traffic improvements study; said study was to analyze the condition of Oakland Street and accompanying concerns. In the interim the Planning Director learned that Keith Development hired a firm (LEA) to perform a study of Oakland Street and provided the Town with cost estimates for reconstruction /repavement of it. The Planning Director reported that his office now has sufficient material to file for a CDAG grant and does not believe any more studies are necessary for that area. He then proposed other uses for the $10,000 which the Town Manager recommended the Board approve. Selectman Dunn raised a question concern- ing an impact statement for consideration before appointing allocation of the gift money. The Town Manager said two CDAG grants totaling $850,000 would address road, water and drainage issues. MOTION: To support the Town Manager recommendation to distribute the gift fund. Dunn / Markt Chairman Harrington said he had a problem with the third recommendation of the Town Manager; i.e., the the balance go towards Memorial Park im- provements. He said he would rather see it put into the Land Acquisition account. AMMENDMENT: That the third item go to land acquisition /water develop- ment account. VOTED: 3 -0 b) The Town Manager had received a request for waiver of the annual inspec- tion fees, as required by law, which the School Committee must pay; they total $600.00. * MOTION: To waive the school building inspection fees. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 c) The Town Manager had forwarded to each Selectman information on the North Main Street construction project and asked the Board to approve execu- tion of the contract with R.A. Cataldo & Associates, Inc. He mentioned BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 13, 1988 PAGE 5 two matters yet to be addressed; i.e., decorative lighting and underground utility lines. The second issue was discussed briefly, then the Town Manager was authorized to try to convince the telephone company to comply with the Town's plans. Chairman Harrington mentioned restrictions on opening of roads after reconstruction, saying he would like to see new restrictions put into effect. * MOTION: To execute the contract with R.A. Cataldo & Associates, Inc. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 11. New Business - Selectmen a) The Chairman reminded Board members there is a meeting with the Finance Committee, School Committee and Selectmen tomorrow night; the Town Man- ager advised the Assessors Office Manager would also attend. b) Chairman Harrington congratulated the citizens who raised over $10,000 for a new playground in back of Park Rose School, saying it was a show of tremendous community spirit and hard work. 12. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn (at 9:25 P.M.). Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: Clerk Date signed