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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 3-5-1989BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 5, 1989 APR 2 6 1989 j PRESENT: Chairman Tartufo; Selectmen Dunn, Harrington, Sarro; Town Manager 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 2. Mintues of March 22, 1989 * MOTION: To approve the Minutes of March 22, 1989. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 3. Warrant #41 * MOTION: To approve Warrant #41 in the amount of $708,145.34, dated April 4, 1989, broken down as follows: General Fund - $330,004.29 School Lunch - 7,245.24 Special Revenue - 1,453.97 Capital Projects - 84,488.63 Sewer Enterprise - 102,053.18 Water Enterprise - 128,997.87 Electric Enterprise - 53,902.16 Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 4. Licenses & Permits a) D.A.S. Hotels d /b /a Sheraton Mansfield Hotel, application for their Sunday Entertainment License; a renewal. * MOTION: To approve the renewal application for Sunday Entertainment. Dunn /Harrington VOTED: 4 -0 b) Mansfield Housing Authority request to sign their grant contract. Consensus of the Board was for the Chairman to sign it. c) Transfer Request #5, Electrician fees for February in the amount of $922.03. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #5. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 Transfer Request #6, Plumbing & Gas Fees for February in the amount of $1,789.35. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #6. Dunn /Harrington VOTED: 4 -0 Transfer Request #7, Electrician fees for March in the amount of $1,446.64. * MOTION: To approve transfer Request #7. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 5, 1989 PAGE 2 Transfer Request #8, Plumbing & Gas fees for March in the amount of $827.13. * MOTION: To approve Transfer Request #8. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 NOTE: Approximate balance left in Reserve Fund $75,000.00 Selectman Harrington requested a running account as provided last year. d) Great Woods Entertainment License Rules and Regulations. The sub - committee, consisting of Selectmen Dunn and Markt, has worked to get something more definitive from departments heads and the Town Manager. Selectman Dunn reviewed it. He said public safety is an im- portant issue as is sound levels leaving the pavillion area. Bruce Montgomery, General Manager, was present during this discussion. He reported the Town has failed to bill for equipment in the past; a sched- ule of fees for equipment is to be added to the regulations this year. Bruce said Great Woods is willing to pay as soon as they receive a bill for past years. There was dissatisfaction with the #11 paragraph and a suggested phrase was approved for insertion. * MOTION: To approve the agreement as submitted by the sub - committee with the additional change as read by Selectman Dunn this evening. Harrington /Dunn Selectman Dunn explained all peripheral costs associated with the equipment used were taken into consideration and minimum levels identified relative to attendees for security purposes. VOTED: 4 -0 5. Correspondence a) Memorandum to the Board from Chairman of the Planning Board re: Copy of Dept. of Revenue response to the Planning Board letter regarding trans- fer of funds. b) Notice of Tri -Town Chamber of Commerce luncheon April 13th at the Sher- aton Mansfield re: Effective Public Relations. c) Letter to Board from Director, S.E. Regional School re: 8th Annual Open House. d) Letter to the Board from AFSCME Council 93 Business Representative, Joe Curran, re: Mansfield Clerks Association unanimous vote to affiliate with AFSCME Council #93. - The Town Manager said he did not wish to comment at this time; he is negotiating with the union. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING l APRIL 5, 1989 PAGE 3 e) Copy of letter to Leon C. Grant from DEQE re: EPA Site Inspection, Grant property at 440 Ware Street. f) Letter to the Board from Watertown Town Manager, Rodney Irwin, re: Invitation to a Workshop on User Fees and Charges April 29th at the Sheraton Sturbridge Inn. g) Notice from Bristol County Selectmen's Association re: Legislative Break- fast, April 14th, at White's of Westport. h) Notice of Dept. of Public Utilities Public Hearing re: Portable Cellular Communications, Inc. i) Letter to the Board from Mo Prasad, Chairman, Mansfield Cable Access re: Resignation of Thomas Bernard and need for repalcement appointment. * MOTION: To accept with regret and send him a letter. Harrington /Sarro VOTED: 4 -0 j) Letter to the Board from MMA re: Estimate of "some of the local aid (Mansfield) might receive were the House budget to be enacted ". k) Copy of letter from the Town Manager to District Highway Engineer, Joseph Cronin, re: Starting date for Copeland Drive improvement work. 6. Questions & Comments a) David Kane, of radio station WARA, addressed a problem the Council for Children is faced with; i.e., closing of the Attleboro office. He said that office serves children in Mansfield, Foxboro, Norton, Attleboro and North Attleboro. The office is being threatened with a potential closing because of budget cuts; this will affect children in Mansfield. The pro- posal is to group the Attleboro and Taunton offices in the Brockton office. Mr. Kane said he would like to see the Board send a letter to the Govor- nor and express displeasure. Chairman Tartufo said he would like to get a report from Mansfield's Rep- resentative. * MOTION: To have the Chairman contact Rep. Vernon and Senator Keating as to effect on Mansfield. LH /JD VOTED: 4 -0 b) F. Jay Barrows, 370 Pratt Street, advised the Board that he had submitted a petition for the Special Town Meeting for abandonment of a portion of Church Street (a paper street) and to give the parcel to the abutters. (Selectman Dunn left the room for this discussion). There was discus- sion as to wording - abandon vs. sell. Decision was the Board can amend it. Selectman Harrington said he supports insertion of the art- icle, and sell to abutters at market value. Chairman Tartufo suggested sending it to the Planning /for a possible public hearing. Board BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 5, 1989 PAGE 4 7. Old Business a) Status of the Budget - The Town Manager passed out various documents he had prepared. He reviewed them briefly and the Board members asked questions prompted by the handouts. The Chairman and Town Manager had met with the Chairman of the School Committee, the School Superintendent and the Finance Committee Chairman to go over some of the concerns about the budget and how to handle said concerns. Undoubtedly there will have to be another meeting, they re- ported; more very serious work is required by all three committees. The Town manager said the budget needs to be pretty well squared away by the end of next week in order to go to print in time for Town Meeting. The staff is putting together a list of potential reductions, which he hopes to have for next week's meeting. Chairman Tartufo advised that the Finance Committee wants the budget pared back to 2z. Selectman Sarro pointed out that the Town Manager's budget is an effort to maintain the services the town is presently provided. A status quo budget with a few modest increases as discussed is the Board's intent. Selectman Harrington said the School Committee needs new teachers in order to maintain services because of increased enrollment. Selectman Sarro said he want the voters informed about the level- funded budget and the override budget in order to obtain desired increases, services, etc. Selectman Dunn agreed. The Town Manager said he will try to have a final budget for next Wednesday's meeting, and possibly the Finance Committee Chairman will attend the meeting. b) (Selectman Dunn left the room for this topic). The Town Manager had the deed, as prepared by Town ance of the landfill property to John and Carol Du is a transfer of property appraised at 2,300, plus cost. It now requires the Selectmen's signatures. MOTION: To endorse and sign the deed. Counsel, for convey - in. He explained this $600 for the appraisal Harrington / Tartufo VOTED: 3 -0 c) Selectman Sarro asked if the Dept. of Public Works employee who left has been replaced. The Town Manager said not yet. MOTION: That the Board authorize the Town manager to hire a replace- ment for the vacancy in the DPW. Sarro /Harrington The Town Manager said he is concerned about a possible reduction of per- sonnel soon. Selectman Harrington said he feels the Town cannot oper- ate with less employees in the Highway Department. Discussion followed. The Town Manager listed unemployment liability if that person later has to be laid off. Selectman Harrington said he understands the Town Man- BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING APRIL 5, 1989 PAGE 5 ager's reason for not filling the position, but he thinks it should have been discussed with the Board. VOTED: 3 -1 Dunn opposed 8. New Business a) Selectman Dunn asked about the plan for capping the East Street landfill. The Town Manager said Camp Dresser & McKee should have it to him within a week or so. b) Special Town Meeting Warrant * MOTION: To open the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting within the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for May 1, 1989. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 * MOTION: To insert Articles 1 through 6 as they appear here, plus the petition submitted by Mr. Barrows. AMENDMENT: To insert Articles 1 through 6 as submitted. Harrington /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 * MOTION: To insert the petitioned article submitted by F. day Barrows. Harrington /Sarro VOTED: 3 -0 Dunn abstained * MOTION: To insert the Town Meeting Resolution as submitted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Harrington /Dunn Chairman Tartufo explained it concerns reduction in State local aid. VOTED: 4 -0 9. Executive Session The Board was polled to go into Executive Session to discuss non -union salaries and classification, and to come out only to adjourn. POLLED: 4 -0 10. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. MINUTES APP /ROVED: f Clerk r Date signed