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Home My WebLink AboutBOS MINUTES 1-25-1989BOARD OF SELECTMEN FEB 2 3 19359 MINUTES OF MEETING �S ! JANUARY 25, 1989 PRESENT: Chairman Harrington; Selectmen Markt, Tartufo; Town Manager Selectman Levine arrived at 7:36 P.M., Selectman Dunn at 8:05 P.M. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. and the Flag saluted. Chairman Harrington announced that the new flag would be raised on the North Common January 30th at 10:00 A.M. 2. Minutes of January 18, 1989 * MOTION: To approve the Mintues of January 18, 1989. Tartufo / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 3. Warrant #31 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #31 in the amount of $479,759.45, dated Janu- ary 24, 1989, broken down as follows: General Fund - $231,709.78 Revenue Sharing - 283.52 Special Revenue - 8,412.69 Capital Projects - 14,905.50 Sewer Enterprise - 29,727.09 Water Enterprise - 6,215.70 Electric Enterprise - 188,505.17 Markt /Tartufo VOTED: 3 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) Application for a Lodging License by Peter Fontanini at 22 Thomas Street. * MOTION: To approve the Lodging License. Tartufo / Markt VOTED: 3 -0 * b) MOTION: To accept the Quit Claim Deed (for property recently sold on East Street to Robert Currivan & James McIntyre. Markt /Tartufo VOTED: 3 -0 5. Correspondence a) Letter to the Board from Stephen Smith, Executive Director, SRPEDD, re: Annual Progress Report of the Overall Economic Development Program for 1988. - The Town Manager explained what is behind this and the request for a letter of endorsement. An economic development program must be in force for Federal grant monies. b) Notice of discussion on implementation of the Health Care for All Legis- lation by Commissioner James Hooley from Division of Medical Security, January 20th. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 25, 1989 PAGE 2 c) Letter to the Board from Paul Sirois /Anderson - Nichols re: Further infor- mation on Hungerford & Terry Ferrosand Filter Systems. d) Dept. of Revenue, Division of Local Services Bulletin re: "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Proposition 2z" workshop February 21st and March 2nd. e) Letter from MMA Executive Director re: Capital spending in FY -89. f) Follow -up letters from three Town Counsel interviewees: - Thomas J. Urbelis - Karen D. Hurvitz - Joseph P. Hannon It was suggested that each Board member list their top three choices and then the entire Board can discuss why they have made such selections next week. g) Copy of letter to U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development from the Town Manager re: Board of Selectmen's support of Mansfield Housing Auth- ority application for Housing voucher Program. ( h) Three (3) Notices of Public Hearing by Dept. of Public Utilities for: - MFS- McCourt, Inc. - Conquest Operator Services Corp. - New England Telephone Co. i) Memorandum from Mass Local Election Districts Review Commission re: 5 Percent Population Deviation Standard. j) Notice to Communities of Bristol County from North Attleboro Adminis- trative Assistant and Board of Selectmen re: North Attleboro Insurance Advisory Committee hosting a meeting with Insurance Cost Control, Inc. of Worcester, February 9th. - The Town Manager advised he is discussing this with various people and North Attleboro. k) Annual Report for Mansfield from Bristol County Mosquito Control Project. 1) Copy of Memorandum to the Town Treasurer from the Planning Board re: Expenditure of Funds. - This led to a discussion of the entire Planning Board dissatisfaciton with what Tom has done concerning the Planning Director /Acting Plan- ning Director, etc. Chairman Harrington said he will meet with both the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission to try to under- stand the problem and then report back to the Board. 6. Budget Workshop i The Town Manager mentioned revenue and policy issues relative to revenue. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINTUES OF MEETING JANUARY 25, 1989 PAGE 3 He said at present the Town is unable to do any long -term financial plan- ning; the Town's Stabilization Fund is very low and the Town has no reserve. He feels in recent years the Town has been reacting to changes rather than guiding them and he would like to see the Town take charge of things. The Board must adopt a policy as to how much taxes vs user fees to support vari- ous things it wants to adopt. He would like to see a study of comparisons with other towns; Mansfield is an expensive town now. He emphasized that the Board must decide about the proposed fees soon or the budget, as pro- posed, will be off. He said Mansfield may receive $328,000.00 State aid according to the Governor's recent prediction, but it can't be counted on. Selectman Levine said she does not like the new budget format because it does not break things down. Selectman Markt said he had attended the Finance Committee meeting last Saturday and that committee wants the Board of Sel- ectmen to decide whether the format of the budget is to be like it used to be or this new format. Chairman Harrington suggested a meeting with the Finance Committee next Monday evening, January 30th, which was agreed. The Town Manager asked the Board, does it want to support a depreciation fund to build up a fund rather than continue to lease - purchase equipment. He said the Finance Committee recommends setting up such a fund as an art- icle which could then be continued. He explained that with a depreciation fund the Town could be putting away a small amount of money each year towards replacement /purchase of new equipment as the old wears out. Selectman Levine pointed out that she saw no mention of a Stabilization Fund in the budget. The Town Manager said there is no money. The Chair- man stated the Town Manager and department heads had put a great deal of time into this budget and the Capital Improvements budget. The Town Manager then reviewed his Capital Improvements budget, which he proposes to cover the next six years. With planning as to what needs to be done at what time the Town can better control expenditures and avoid sudden spending which is what the Town has experienced the past few years. Both a Depreciation Fund and a Capital Improvements budget also improve the Town's ability to receive bonding and grants from the State and Federal gov- ernment, he pointed out. In ending the discussion, Selectman Tartufo said he does not think the new positions can be put into effect, based on a Department of Revenue corres- pondence which indicates they must be put on a ballot for taxpayers to vote on. 7. Old Business a) Selectman Tartufo mentioned some trenches at north end of Oakland Street which need paving. The Town Manager will look into it. b) Selectman Tartufo expressed concern for the Rt. 106 /Rt. 140 intersec- tion; he said it will only get worse, and he feels some arrows and more radar checks are needed. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING JANUARY 25, 1989 PAGE 4 c) The Town Manager reported that he met with the Call Firefighters last week and they went over a draft policy. They will meet again two or three more times, he said. d) Selectman Levine said she disagrees with the Town Manager thoughts about who and when goals and objectives should be set; she feels they should not be set by new Board members who are inexperienced. She asked the Board to move forward on goals and objectives for the Town Manager. Selectman Dunn seemed to feel the opposite, but felt goals and objectives need to start at the top - those for the town, then those for the Town Manager, then the Board and its boards and committees. 8. New Business a) The Town Manager mentioned development of a problem over the boundary lines in the vicinity of the Paine School; the question has come up due to plans for Carla Foley's proposed restaurant next door. (Selectman Dunn left the room for this disucssion). Tom said he would like someone representing the Board and Carla to meet to review this. The Town Engineer has worked with it and will have a map for the February 8th meeting. 9. Adjournment * MOTION: To adjourn (at 11:00 P.M.). Tartufo /Markt VOTED: 5 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: Clerk Date signed