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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 1-11-1989I BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 FEB 2 3 ISs9 PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen Levine, Tartufo; Town Manager Selectman Dunn arrived at 8:05 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M. and the Flag saluted. * MOTION: To appoint Selectman Tartufo Clerk for the evening. Levine /Harrington VOTED: 2 -0 2. Minutes of December 21, 1988 and January 4, 1989 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of December 21, 1988. Dunn /Levine VOTED: 4 -0 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of January 4, 1989. Dunn /Levine VOTED: 4 -0 3. Warrant #29 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #29 in the amount of $1,590,686.56, dated January 10, 1989, broken down as follows: General Fund - $ 537,089.65 Revenue Sharing - 28.91 School Lunch - 128.84 Special Revenue - 1,039.15 Capital Projects - 817.00 Sewer Enterprise - 7,020.17 Water Enterprise - 22,973.73 Electric Enterprise - 1,021,589.11 Dunn /Tartufo VOTED: 4 -0 4. Licenses & Permi a) Application for a Common Victuallers License by Waldo Cruickshank for "Wings" Restaurant at the Mansfield Ariport. * MOTION: To approve the Common Victuallers License. Tartufo /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 b) Application for an Automatic Amusement License, 2 video -type games, by Ken Larsen, Del Kel Corp. for Clean Machine, 242 Chauncy Street. * MOTION: To approve the Automatic Amusement License. Dunn /Tartufo VOTED: 4 -0 c) Constable application by Paul Boyden, 126 High Street, with a letter asking for a 3 -year appointment. * MOTION: To appoint Paul Boyden as Constable for a 3 -year term. Dunn /Tartufo VOTED: 4 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 2 5. Correspondence a) Copy of Memorandum to the Planning Board from the Town Manager re: Ap- pointment of Richard Lewis as Acting Planning Director. - The Town Manager addressed the Planning Board's concern over this as well as the combined budget with the Conservation Commission and Zon- ing Board of Appeals. He said his approach has been simply to provide the best staff support and assistance to those boards and committees in a comprehensive way. The Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals each affect the other, and he wanted to integrate their budgets for more flexibility. He then read Town Counsel's reply. Selectman Levine said she wants the Planning Director /Community Devel- opment Director title changed since the Charter does not list Community Development Director. She said the Charter may not limit the Town Mgr. outdoes require a Planning Director. Chairman Harrington reviewed the sequence of the change of titles several months ago because of the need for more and combined work and planning from both the Planning Director and the Conservation Agent. He said he was willing to ratify the job descriptions he voted for earlier this year. Selectman Tartufo said he supports the two original titles but that does not mean the positions cannot be given additional duties. Select- man Dunn suggested retaining Planning Director but also encompass the duties of the Community Development Director. * MOTION: That the titles be Planning Director and Conservation Agent with the same ;job descriptions. Levine /no 2nd The Chairman suggested Selectman Levine take the job description and revise it to keep it consistent with what the Town Manager proposes. It was then decided to table the issue until next week. b) Copy of Memorandum to the Conservation Commission from the Town Manager re: Staff Duties & Responsibilities. c) Copy of letter to the Town Manager from Chairman of the Planning Board re: Planning Director Applicants. d) Memorandum to Boards of Selectmen from Mass. Cemetery Association, Inc., re: Mass. Cemetery Association Winter Meeting. e) Letter to the Board from Amy Anthony, Executive Office of Communities & Development, Co -chair Mass. Housing Partnership, re: Redesignation of Mansfield as a Housing Partnership Community for a one -year period. f) Copy of TAXPAYER ALERT, distributed by Taxpayers Information Group. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING ( JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 3 g) Copy of letter to Commissioner Niles, Community Antenna Television Com- mission, from Cable Vision Assistant System Manager, re: Quarterly Com- plaint & Significant Service interruption forms for quarter ending Decem- ber 31, 1988. h) Letter of recommendation for Town Counsel applicant Karen Hurvitz, from the Executive Secretary of Town of Townsend, MA. i) Copy of letter from Mr. & Mrs. R. McKillop, 43 Lakeview Ave., re: North Attleboro Solid Waste Disposal Plant. j) Letter to the Board from ZBA Chairman re: Order of Articles for Town Meeting Warrant. Q Letter to the Board from Rep. Barney Frank re: Meeting with the Board. - February was suggested by Board members. 1) Invitation to the Tri -Town Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Dinner Dance Friday, February 3rd at the Sheraton Mansfield Hotel. m) Letter to the Board from Chairman Sohn of Mansfield Animal Welfare Com- mittee re: Continuation of the committee as an ad -hoc committee until a Charter amendment can be achieved. * MOTION: So moved. Tartufo /Levine VOTED: 4 -0 n) Letter to the Board from Acting Chief, Site Assessment Section of DEQE, re: Hazardous waste sites and locations in various communities. o) Notice of Dept. of Public Utilities Public Hearing January 27th on Bay State Gas Company Revolving Credit Agreement. p) Copy of letter to the Town Manager from Town Counsel re: Community Development Director position. q) Notice of Public Hearing by Planning Board February 1, 1989 regarding application of Karl D. Clemmey for subdivision of 3 lots entitled "Perkins Acres ". r) Two letters to the Board from Mass. Collectors & Treasurers Assoc. re: Joan Cutillo's renewed certifications for a period of five years. s) Proposed by -laws for Town Meeting by Animal Welfare Committee. 6. Michel LaCasse /Master Plan Hearings Update Mike and Doug Annino (Planning Board Chairman) were both present. Chairman Harrington opened by reviewing the date for the public hearings on the Master Plan and the date for closing the Town Meeting Warrant. Mike ex- plained that the Planning Board has had workshops once a month and found there was so much concern about zoning, etc., they should have a public BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 4 hearing for everyone to address their concerns; said hearing will be held March 8, 1989 at 7:30 P.M. in the High School auditorium. Peat Marwick /Auditors Report Review Lon Compton and Barbara Breen, from Peat Marwick, Town Treasurer /Collector, Joan Cutillo, and Town Accountant, Larry Gallagher, were all present. Lon Compton advised that he hoped everyone would view their comments as constructive and take them seriously. The Board members had been given copies of Peat Marwick's report and the Town's reply previously. Chairman Harrington briefly reviewed the Town's financial problems, due to the loss of and then lack of an Accountant for several months. Lon Compton said they just recently completed the 1987 audit and it was al- most unauditable, and said their concern was the overall lack of accounting going on in the town. He said water and sewer should be on a business type operations basis. He commented on the request for a Financial Advisor position and said Mansfield is a complicated town and he strongly urges the Board to go that route. Chairman Harrington addressed the need for the Town to focus on infrastrauc- ture and encouraged extra help to do this - proper staff and help "(manage - ment organization). The Town Manager commented that municipal government has become so complex and both Joan Cutillo and Larry Gallagher have been doing an excellent job. Joan Cutillo reported that tax bills go out to owners of record which often is not the present owner, so the bills come back; but they have sent a copy to the present owner when known (State law requires them to send the original bill to the owner of record). Tom was asked to see if Rep. Vernon could petition the legislature to change this law. The Town Manager thanked Peat Marwick for the extra effort put in on this difficult audit. Spaulding School Lease Mary Steele, purchaser of the school, was present. (Selectman Tartufo left the room for this discussion). The Town Manager reviewed the problem with completing the land transfer and advised a lease document will cover the Town until Town Meeting approval of the new agreement, which he then reviewed. A $1 million insurance policy to the Town; they accept responsibility of any damage; only asbestos removal with the prior written Town approval; the Town accepts responsibility for condition of the building as it now stands; their deposit plus accumulated interest is for any reason the sale does not go through; the Town agrees to reimburse the leasees for removal of asbes- tos and cost of insurance during this time if conveyance of the sale does not take place; two -year lease with option to renew. Tom said he is ask- BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 5 ing the Board to re- endorse the lease. * MOTION: To approve the lease. Dunn /Levine VOTED: 3 -0 The lease was signed. 9. Anderson - Nichols /Water Quality Treatment Report Review Paul Howard and Paul Sirois,_Engineer for Anderson - Nichols, were present, as was Jerry St. Hilaire, John Rhind, Bob Swanson. Paul Strois explained the processes and tests they performed, then reviewed their three priorities, recommendations, conclusions. 1) Older house connections should be removed and replaced; 2) An adjustment in the lime system is needed; 3) Treatment for manganese - Albertini Wells 2, 3 & 4, Witches Pond and Dustin Wells; Prescott Wells have shown intermittent problems Costs - 1) The Town could handle this; however manpower is a problem. The total amount is not know; services switched over to new mains are not having the black water problem. If the Town does it, it will take Spring to Summer, about 50 houses to be converted). Selectman Tartufo asked if both Town DPW and a contractor work together on this; this is being considered. 2) Jerry St. Hilaire said the lime system has been a nightmare pretty much all the time. The entire system will have to be changed in 1991 by DPA law for groundwater and surface water, so the best policy now is to just adjust the present system. 3) Treatment of the Albertini Wells and Witches Pond would take be- tween 9 -12 months at a cost of $1,250,000.00 (this is for removal of iron and manganese). Paul Howard said there are only two other possible water supplies left in town, so he feels it is wise to do whatever is possible to sources pres- ently being used. Possible Mill Street site will be expensive if acquired because it will require nitrate removal, which is expensive. He also rec- mends treatment of the Dustin Well at some point. Cost to replace mains in the affected areas (Essex and Main) would be $1.3 million, and he didn't recommend this right now. Discussion led to the filter system Anderson - Nichols was recommending (Hungerford & Terry Ferrosand Filters) and Paul Howard said he would be glad to supply a list of towns in the area which have this system in oper- ation and also to arrange a tour for anyone interested in going to see one in operation. There were a few questions asked by Sunsan Donovan and a neighbor of hers who were in the audience. Anderson - Nichols was thanked for coming. BOARD OF SEELCTMEN MINTUES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 6 10. Selectman Dunn advised that he and the Town Manager had attended the MMA Conference, and at a luncheon he accepted a plaque in recognition of Best Overall Performance Award from the MIIA (Mass. Interlocal Insurance Agency). The Town Manager said this is the result of the good work done by the Safety Committee over the past year. 11. Old Business a) The Town Manager had further information on the Treetops Subdivision lots which were not shown to be sewered. The Town Engineer explained they could not be tied into gravity sewers; this was a decision of the previous Town Engineer. He said each house will have its own pump which will pump out to a manhole. Discussion followed over what type sewer should be installed. It was stated that construction has already been started. * MOTION: Request the developer of Treetops Subdivision to rethink his sewer and try to make it an integral system with the Town's plan. Levine / Tartufo No vote * MOTION: To have the developer review and see if it can't be done on a sewer gravity system. Dunn /Levine VOTED: 3 -1 Harrington opposed b) Chairman Harrington asked Board members to put together their comments and questions on the Town Manager's budget. c) Chairman Harrington advised that Selectman Markt could not make it to- night, so he will cover the Town Accountant evaluation next week. Selectman Levine said she was unhappy with the evaluation process; she felt the Board should discuss it as a cohesive unit. Chairman Harring- ton said he did not want to discuss it any further tonight without Sel- ectman Markt present. d) The Torun Manager reported that the landfill grant applications were not funded. The earliest possibility now is Fall of '89. He suggested the Board think about putting the landfill closing as an override question on the March ballot. 12. New Business a) Selectman Tartufo announced that the Canoe River Advisory Council is proposing a Winter Canoe River Day at Wheaton College. He said he feels there is some real positive things happening within that group as shown by their planning activities. b) Selectman Dunn reported on the MMA Annual Conference, giving a brief overview. One meeting he attended discussed Proposition 212 and it came BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 11, 1989 PAGE 7 out that towns would like to be able to appropriate over 21 provided their tax rate is less than 2 %. c) Selectman Levine said James Coughlin, who is promoting a JFK Day, had contacted her about meeting with the Board again. The secretary was asked to set a date for him. * d) MOTION: To approve the Nick Harris agreement as discussed at the last Executive Session. Levine /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 (Selectman Tartufo out of room during this discussion) e) The Town Manager spoke to formulating goals and objectives, saying he feels it should not be done in a hurry, and he would like to see it done with an outside evaluator (he had addressed this in a Memo to Board members earlier). f) Selectman Levine offered congratulations to Selectman Tartufo who just attained his GRI. g) Selectman Levine also advised Board members that both Peter Fontanini and Ronald Langille had lost their mothers this past week. 13. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 12:03 A.M. MINUTES APPROVED: Cl'eF1C �� 7' Date signed