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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 10-12-1988* BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1988 PRESENT: Selectman Dunn, Markt, Tartufo; Town Manager Selectman Levine arrived at 8:17 P.M. Off 2 1. MOTION: To appoint Selectman Dunn Chairman for the evening. Markt /Tartufo VOTED: 2 -0 2. The meeting was called to order and the Flag saluted at 7:37 P.M. 3. Warrant #16 MOTION: To approve Warrant #16 in the amount of $995,751.42, dated October 11, 1988, broken dorm as follows: General Fund - $910,935.86 Revenue Sharing - 16.18 School Lunch - 10,332.04 Special Revenue - 22,875.56 Capital Projects - 2,303.67 Sewer Enterprise - 5,495.41 Water Enterprise - 31,590.43 Electric Enterprise - 12,202.27 Tartufo / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) Application for Parade Permit for Saturday, October 15th, Homecoming; Mansfield High School; route has been approved by Police Dept. * MOTION: To approve the Parade Permit. Tartufo / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 b) Application for two (2) One -day All Alcoholic Licenses, Tri- County Beagle Club, School Street, for October 22, 1988, 6:30 P.M. to Midnight; October 29, 1988, 6:30 P.M. to Midnight. * MOTION: To approve the two (2) One -day All Alcoholic Licenses. Tartufo / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence a) Letter of request from illegible signatures (2) concerning a home on Maple Street (address not given). b) Invitation to members of the Board to attend the Nineteenth Annual Police Association Ball, Friday, October 14th. c) Letter from Registry of Motor Vehicles re: Copy of the Registry of Motor Vehicles' first Annual Report for 1987 -1988. d) Notice from DEQE re: Mass. Contingency Plan, effective October 3, 1988. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1988 PAGE 2 e) Copy of MIFA ACTS, Summer 1988. f) Copy of "Zoning for Community Character ", 2nd Annual Leadership and Pres- ervation Planning Workshop for All Members of Local Historic & Historical Commissions, Saturday, November 5th. g} Memorandum to Boards of Selectmen from Mass. Cemetery Associaiton, Inc., re: Municipal Cemeteries - How To Avoid Proposition 21, Fall Dinner Meet- ing, October 20th. h) Letter to the Board from Mary Hale, President /MMA, re: Fair Wage Committee. i) Three (3) Informational Guideline Releases from Mass. Dept. of Revenue, Division of Local Services, re: Municipal Scholarship Fund, Property Tax Classification, and FY -89 Guidelines for Triennial Certification of Local Assessments and Classification and Taxation of Property According to Use. j) Copy of letter to Inspector of Buildings from residents of Court Street and Columbus Ave. re: Violations of the Zoning By -law, Violations of Zoning Board of Appeals Variance /Jackson Realty Trust. - Selectman Dunn asked that the Board receive a copy of the Building Inspector's reply. Q Letter from West Publishing Co. re guide of the Dept. of Revenue (all need). MASSTAX Guide 1988 Edition, official the tax information you're likely to 1) Copy of letter to Chairman of Plymouth County Commissioners from SRPEDD Chairman re: Proposed Plymouth County Charter. m) Memorandum to Local Boards of License Commissioners from Administrative Director, Board of License Commissioners, City of Newton re: Survey of License Fees. n) Notice of Mass. Dept. of Revenue, Division of Local Services, Workshop "Planning For Community Growth: Financial Impacts of Development ", October 29th. o) Notice of Adjudication, Notice of Public Hearing from Mass. Energy Facil- ities Siting Council re: Bay State Gas Co. - Selectman Tartufo voiced interest as to whether a line might go through towns served by MMWEC. p) Letter to Licensing Officials and Municipal Attorneys, from Mass. Asso- ciation of Local Licensing Officials (MALLO) re: 11988 Municipal Licens- ing Conference October 20, 21, 22. q) Two notices of Public Hearing by Dept. of Public Utilities re: Boston Communications Group, Inc.; and AT &T Megacom 800 Service. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1988 PAGE 3 H Letter from Executive Office of Communities & Development re: A third 1988 round of Community Development Action Grant (CDAG) funding. - The Town Manager explained that a grant depends upon 221% private factor participation and he is not aware of any project at this time; also be- cause the Town presently has two CDAG grants not completed, he feels an application for another would not be looked upon favorably. uestion & Answer Period a) Kevin McNatt asked to what extent the Board has restricted the right -of- way to Old Colony Way. The Town Manager advised that Town Counsel stated that only parking on the right -of -way does not do anything detrimental to the primary purpose - sanitary sewer line); otherwise it is at the dis- cretion of the Board. Selectman Dunn explained that it is an easement which gives people the right to do something on it as long as it does not impede the right -of -way. The Town Manager said there is a "lease type" agreement being developed, not an "easement" - conditions under which the property is to be used are to be incorporated in the agreement. The Acting Chairman asked that Tom secure a time frame on this by next week's meeting. Municipal Building Committee Interviews Two applicants were present and interviewed: Carl D. Webber Emil R. Giordano 22 Eddy Street 77 Morrow Street Each applicant gave a brief resume of their background and reason for being interested in serving on the committee, after which each Selectman asked a few questions. They were thanked for coming in and told the appointment would be later in the meeting. 8. Public Hearing /Reclassification Shirley MacPhee, Assessors Office Manager, and Al Turinese were present and gave each Selectman copies of a Classification: Percentage Impact FY -89 chart and two articles covering classification issues of interest. Chairman Dunn reviewed the situation causing the Board to go to "classifi- cation" in 1987, and stated that the Board wants to be very sensitive to its effect on all facets of the community. Al Turinese commented that the industrial people have really been "on the Board (Assessors) this year". Selectman Dunn said the re- evaluation is what caused the tax impact. He said he feels Mansfield has a good tax rate in comparison with surrounding towns. Paul O'Neill, from the audience, said he does not think industry is getting the short end of the stick, they can write off depreciation over the years, home owners cannot. He said he was speaking in favor of classification. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1988 PAGE 4 The hearing was closed. Both Shirley MacPhee and the Town Manager said that the sooner the Board makes a decision the sooner tax bills can go out. After brief discussion, the four members present tonight debated whether to wait for a full board; Selectman Tartufo favored classification at 113 now. Selectman Levine suggested setting next week as the date for setting the tax rate, full board or not. That was agreed. 9. Old Business a) The Town Manager asked for the Board's decision on purchase of a side- walk plow which had been discussed two weeks ago. He said there are two alternatives for clearing sidewalks of snow; a snow plow as the Town has done in the past; or a by -law by Town Meeting to require home owners to be responsible; this would take a year to put through. He went on to say there is money in the budget and plans to hire new personnel so that the new snow plow would be used. Top priority is sidewalks to schools and then downtown areas. The new plow will cost approximately $40,000; it is a track vehicle, rather than one with tires, so is more efficient. The old plow will be kept as a back -up and, possibly, both will be used sometimes. Tom said both he and the DPW Director recommend purchasing it. * MOTION: To endorse the Town Manager's recommendation for purchase of the sidewalk snow plow. Markt / Tartufo VOTED: 4 -0 b) Selectman Tartufo asked about progress on the train station parking situ- ation; Tom said he will check with GATRA since he has heard nothing from them. Selectman Tartufo also inquired about the Rt. 106 and North Main Street intersection status, and Camp Dresser & McKee's proposal concern- ing sewer lines. Tom will check into both matters. Selectman Tartufo asked about the grant for capping the Town landfill; Tom said the State's decision is expected this month, but he has received no answer yet. Selectman Tartufo referred to the meeting with downtown merchants and the Chamber of Commerce concerning downtown parking. He said it appears it is up to the downtown merchants, there is no easy answer. The Town Manager reported that the police are working on an on -going project to enforce parking regulations in the downtown area. c) The Selectman Markt reminded everyone of the election tomorrow for two override questions (new school and well site acquisition), and went on to say how well his committee consisting of members from various boards and committees worked together to promote tax payers support of the two override questions. d) Selectman Levine asked about progress on the two utility poles needing to be moved, which Ken Carlson of the phone company had been asked to investigate. The Selectmen secretary said he had stopped in to report BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING t OCTOBER 12, 1988 PAGE 5 he was working on them and on his way to check with John Larch, Elec- tric Department Director. The Town Manager was asked to also check with John Larch for an up -date. e) Selectman Levine inquired about the Fish & Game issue which goes back two or three years when they gave the Town some 30,000 square yards of gravel with no charge; in return the Tom was to assist in putting in a water and electric line for them. The Town manager said he has talked to the DPW Director concerning this. f) Selectman Levine asked if, since the Lions Club had expressed an inter- est in doing some work around the Fulton Pond area, would it be plaus- ible to utilize their efforts towards the State mandated work which is to be done. The Town Manager said the work required by the State will include heavy equipment, etc., and he feels it would be best to keep the two projects separate. g) Selectman Dunn asked about the situation where Crocker Street goes from one -way to two -way towards the railroad station; he feels some sign or marking is needed. The Town Manager expects to take care of this. 10. New Business a) The Tosco Manager read a Memorandum from the Town Clerk asking for poll- ing hours to be set for the Presidential Election November 8th; she rec- ommended 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. * MOTION: So moved. Levine /Tartufo VOTED: 4 -0 b) Selectman Tartufo commented on the gentleman out in front of Town Hall this day who was displaying a sign covering Question No. 2. He wanted townspeople to understand it was not the Town Special Election Question No. 2, but rather the November 8th election. * c) MOTION: To appoint Emil Giordano to the Municipal Building Committee. Markt /Tartufo Carl Webber was nominated by Selectman Levine VOTED: 3 -0 Levine abstained * d) MOTION: To appoint Deborah Graham to the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee. Tartufo / Markt Selectman Dunn spoke highly of her capacity to serve that committee, which was echoed by Selectman Tartufo. VOTED: 4 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1988 PAGE 6 e) Selectman Levine reported that she had met, this evening, with some of the principals of Great Woods to discuss various problems, plans, etc. She said they would like the Board to put together a letter to be sent to a Florida group /community as to Mansfield's experience with Great Woods Performing Arts Center. She also said Great Woods management will want a meeting with the Board regarding next year's plans and other as- pects of the park and performances. Selectman Dunn, as Acting Chairman, said he feels that an outside community should address the Town if they wish information, the request should not come from Great Woods, Inc. 11. Executive Session * MOTION: To go into Executive Session for the purpose of litigation discus- sion, and to come out only to adjourn. POLLED: 4 -0 EXECUTIVE MINUTES TYPED SEPARATELY * 12. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:35 P.M. MINUTES AP Date $fgned r' S