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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 5-4-1988* * BOARD OF SELECTMEN MAY 19 x°88 MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988, d PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen Dunn, htarkt; Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Minutes of April 26. 1988 MOTION: To approve the Minutes of April 26, 1988. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant No. MOTION: To approve Warrant No. 47 in the amount of $294,779.18, dated May 3, 1988, broken down as follows: General Fund - $219,977.20 Special Revenue - 4,517.07 Sewer Enterprise - 6,562.62 Water Enterprise - 17,047.93 Electric Enterprise - 46,674.36 Dunn /htarkt VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) Constable Application, Peter Wilson Hume, 161 Rumford Ave., Mansfield, approved by the Chief of Police. * MOTION: To approve the Constable Application. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 b) Application of Presidential Limousines, Inc. d /b /a MASS LIMOUSINES CO. for a Street License pursuant to Mass. General Laws. Said license is for the town streets over which the service will be operating. * MOTION: To approve the Street License. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence a) Announcement of 18th Annual BioCycle National Conference in Philadel- phia, PA May 18,19,20. b) Letter from Briggs Associates, Inc. re: Underground Tank Testing. c) Letter to Licensing Board from Chairman, ABCC re: Information sheet for all new license applicants. d) Letter from Mansfield Veterans Council re: Selectman participation in the Council's annual Memorial Day parade and observance. - The Chairman will attend BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988 PAGE 2 e) Bulletins from Mass. Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services re: - New course for accountants /auditors - 1987 Legislation affecting Municipal finance, local tax assessment, administration and collection - Expenditure of subdivision construction deposits f) Memorandum from Self Help, Inc. re: Allocation of funding for Self Help, Inc. Outreach Program. g) Copy of letter to Rep. Vernon from Director of Parks & Recreation and Chairman of the Recreation Commission. h) Memorandum from Dept. of Revenue Division of Local Services re: Muni- cipal Bond Reports. i) Letter from Executive Office of Communities & Development re: A second 1988 round of CDAG funding applications. j) Letter to the Board from David Kelly, 183 Central Street re: Increase in dog license fees. k) Letter from Supt. O'Leary, S.E. Regional Vocational School re: Petition to place names of candidates for School Committee on the Nov. 8th gen- eral election ballot. 1) Memorandum from Taunton Mayor Johnson re: Bristol County Advisory Board meeting May 25th. m) Solid Waste Update from DEQE. n) Two (2) letters from DEQE re: Approval of Change Order No. 1 & No. 3. o) Notice of Public Hearing from Dept. of Public Utilities re: Teleport Communications- Boston. p) Copy of Mass. Cable Television Commission "Cable Bulletin" re: Commis- sion Actions. q) Letter from Chairman, SRPEDD Commission re: Appointment of a represent- ative. r)Letter of resignation from James T. Grady /Conservation Commission. s) Letter of appreciation to the Board from President Walter Crickard, Mansfield Police Association, re: Support of their Town Meeting Article for a revolving fund. t) Copy of Master Plan Advisory Council April 14th Minutes. BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988 PAGE 3 6. Town Accountant Interviews Two applicants had been asked to come in for the Board to meet and inter- view; they were: Laurence S. Gallagher, Jr. Gerard A. Heroux Holliston, MA Harrisville, RI The Town Manager had put together information on both applicants, includ- ing summaries of their references. Each applicant was interviewed separ- ately. Mr. Gallagher said he was finding it difficult to get along with the non- professional officials of the town he was working for; he enjoys municipal accounting work and has learned alot about computers in the last 4 -5 years. He presently holds the position of Auditor /Accountant for the Town of Hollis- ton, a position he has held since 1977. Mr. Heroux is Business Manager for Northern Rhode Island Community Mental Health Center, Inc., and has been there since 1984. This is a non - profit type business, but he has had no municipal experience. He said he is a "hands on" person and feels he is qualified to handle the position. Each Selectman asked a few questions, the applicants were thanked for tak- ing the time to come back for this second interview and advised that the Board would most likely make a decision before adjourning. 7. Ouestion & Answer Period There were none. 8. Old Business a) Chairman Harrington advised that the open meetings as he had proposed them at last week's meeting, had been rescheduled in order to accommo- date various people he wished to have present for the discussions. He then reviewed the new scheduling which he and the Town Manager had set. b) The Town Manager said he is attempting to install signs at various loca- tions in the town for display of dates and times of Town events. c) The Town Manager reported that the Spaulding School appraisal has been completed, but he has not received it yet. d) The Chairman asked the Clerk to read the letter from Self Help in which the Executive Director informs the Town that he will recommend to his Board of Directors to not distribute surplus commodities to the Town of Mansfield during the June 1988 distribution. This is due to the fact that Mansfield did not include $2000 in its annual budget for the Out - reach Program. He did advise, however, that the Town may distribute the surplus commodities itself after obtaining and mailing an appropri- ate application. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988 PAGE 4 The Chairman said that Mary Ellen Rochette, of Self Help, was at Mans- field's Town Meeting, but since the budget was passed without discus- sion she did not have the opportunity to address the situation. The Town Manager indicated that there appears to be a decline for handling of funds today and, perhaps, the Council on Aging could handle the fuel assistance as it used to. He said he had asked the COA Director to check into it, but her report is not complete yet. 9. New Business - Town Manager a) Tom addressed a Memorandum he had received from the Town Clerk concern- ing a need for a vote of authorization by the Board of Selectmen in order for her to change the method of voting in the Town; this based on the Town Meeting's approval for an appropriation of $7,000.00 for electronic voting equipment. The authorization vote must be sent to the Secretary of State prior to May 18, 1988 in order for permission to use the new system for the September State Primary. * MOTION: To support the request of the Town Clerk for the Optech III P Voting System to be put in use for the September State Primary. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 b) Tom had also received a Memorandum from the Town Clerk requesting an in- crease in pay from $3.65/hr. to $5.00 /hr. for Town Meeting workers. She indicated they work very hard and the total impact on her budget per year would be less than $200. * MOTION: To approve the request. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 c) Tom reported that the Planning Director, Mike LaCasse, has been working with other planning directors in the area on an application for a Stra- tegic Planning Grant for the Wading River aquifer area. This is very similar to the Canoe River Aquifer group; the towns involved are Plain- ville, Mansfield, Attleboro and North Attleboro. * MOTION: To support the application to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a regional strategic planning grant in the amount of $50,000 for a water protection study encompassing the West Mansfield (Wading River aquifer) area in conjunction with the Towns of Plainville, Attleborough and North Attleborough. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 d) Last, Tom reported that the heating /air conditioning unit for the front end of Town Hall had caught on fire two weeks ago and must now be re- placed. He said probably for a period of a couple of months it is going to be tough. Although the Capital Budget was passed by Town Meeting, it will take some time, for specs, etc. Chairman Harrington asked if there was any money available to start this process; Tom said yes. The Chairman then asked if it would be possible BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988 PAGE 5 for any local people to help in this problem. the Building Inspector has indicated that the down because of the ventilation problem. The the condition of the roof is also a problem in of the heating /A /C unit. Selectman Dunn asked for transfer of funds; Tom said no, but he had instituted the process. He also advised that had estimated $80,000 to replace all the units 10. New Business - Selectmen He went on to say he knew front area could be closed Town Manager advised that connection with replacement if the Town could apply asked for an estimate and the DPW Director, John Rhind in Town Hall. a) The Chairman mentioned the Canoe River Awareness Day which is to be held this Saturday. Ed Tartufo, a member of the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee, was present and briefly outlined some of the activities which will take place. b) Chairman Harrington raised a question concerning inside vs. outside water meters. Tom said he has no experience with such a situation, but knows there is a problem in town and that is why meters are now being replaced. He said the Town's water system has been underfunded for a long time. Chairman Harrington asked Tom to check with either the Assessors or the Electric Department to ascertain those houses which do not have meters, and to also get an update on how many meters have been replaced. c) The Chairman reminded everyone of Town Hall summer hours which custom- arily commence May 31st and run through Labor Day, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. He then suggested the possibility of staying open one evening for those who cannot transact Town Hall business during regular hours, and then closing early one afternoon; this would not require anyone working more than their regular hours. MOTION: To approve summer hours 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., May 31st through September 2nd. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 The Town Manager said he believes the management personnel are always willing to adapt for particular citizen-problems and hours, etc. d) Next item was the summer schedule for Board meetings, which usually is every other week, starting with a meeting June 1st. * MOTION: So moved. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 e) Chairman Harrington if0 advised that he will be out of town next week; however, there is an election next Tuesday when two new Selectmen will be chosen, so there would be a 4- member Board for next week's meeting. Selectman Markt said he feels there should be a full Board to appoint the Chairman and Clerk, so suggested cancelling next week's meeting. It was the consensus of the Board to cancel the May 11th meeting. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING MAY 4, 1988 PAGE 6 11. Town Accountant Appointment The Chairman asked for the members choice; Laurence S. Gallagher was unanimous. The Chairman said he would begin negotiations with Mr. Galla- gher in the morning. 12. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn (at 8:50 P.M.). Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: �f� f p r- Clerk Date 6igp;ed