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Home My WebLink AboutBOS MINUTES 11-27-1989BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 27, 1989 PRESENT: Chairman Tartufo; Selectmen Dunn, Sarro, Markt; Town Manager The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. and the Flag saluted. 1. Minutes of November 13, 1989 MOTI=. To approve the Mintues of November 13, 1989. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 2. Warrant #23• Payroll Warrant #24 MOTION: To approve Warrant #23 in the amount of $1,489,837.68, dated November 22, 1989, broken down as follows: General Fund - $1,170,597.83 Revenue Sharing - 35,000.00 School Lunch - 6,174.12 Special Revenue - 103,091.70 Capital Projects - 2,408.75 Sewer Enterprise - 13,402.86 Water Enterprise - 9,646.57 Electric Enterprise - 149,515.85 Markt /Dunn VOTED: 4 -0 Markt abstained on police items MOTION: To approve Payroll Warrant #24. Dunn / Markt VOTED: 4 -0 Markt abstained on police items 3. Licenses & Permits a) Application for a Class I and Class II Car Dealer license by RFM Management Corp., d /b /a McDonough Chrysler Plymouth, 515 S. Main Street. (Selectman Sarro left the room for this) MOTION: To approve the Class I and Class II licenses. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 4. Correspondence a) Letter of resignation from Recreation Commission by Charlotte Scozzafava. b) Invitation from Bristol County Development Council, Inc. to 1989 Holi- day Happening, December 13th, 6 -10 P.M. c) Notice of Dept. of Public Utilities public hearing re: IMR Telecom. 5. Questions & Comments a) Sherman Cox, petitioner for the land at Shawmut & Rock- Streets, asked how the Board arrived at the price of $5,000. Selectman Dunn said the BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINTUES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 27, 1989 PAGE 2 Town should maximize the amount of money it can get from the piece of land in relation to the surrounding properties. The assessed value was $17,500; Sherman Cox claimed it is $1100. He said no one has paid taxes since 1976, and it is not useful to anyone else. There are 2,205 square feet, and he is willing to pay $1100 plus the cost of unpaid taxes since 1976, and legal fees. He is negotiating to buy the adjoining property and combine it with this piece for a home of his own. Chairman Tartufo said he would like to know how much the back taxes are. Selectman Dunn said he is willing to reconsider. There was no motion made, but the Board will look into it. 6. Joint Board & Committee Meetings WWII Scholarship Committee - Joe Corliss, Chairman, said they give $2,000 scholarships; between 80 and 100 apply. They have $68,000 in the trust fund; contributions can be accepted. They need two more members on the committee. Airport Commission - Chairman Allen Willis reported that the airport has been fenced in; in order to acquire this fence they had to deplete the land taking account plus put up a good portion of the State's share. As a result, any maintenance at the airport will require the Town to come up with a por- tion. Because of this, there is not enough money to continue the Master Plan. Selectman Dunn commended the Commission in being able to keep the project alive and put it through. Al Willis said it took some political pressure. Board of Assessors - Al Turinese represented the Board. He said land values had to come up some $20,000 to $30,000 becuase they were low. The evalua- tion process was discussed briefly. Library Trustees - Colin Cauldwell, Chairman, and Nancy Breef -Pilz were present to represent the Trustees. Colin reported circulation has in- creased, and they will be hiring a Reference Librarian within the next couple of months. Selectman Dunn said he feels the library is a tremendous asset to the town. Chairman Tartufo commented about donations; Alex Salacchi is handling funding. Council on Aging - Joe Corliss also represented the COA. He reported there will be a few additional expenses which will be shown in the new budget. He said they are going to need the Assistant Director position elevated to a full time one; the present Assistant will be retiring in the near future. Bills for heat and electricity will be slightly higher. They can now offer more services than they could while located on North Main Street; the move to Hope Street is the best thing they could ever hope for. They are always working on new programs. Joe said repairs on the GATRA bus are increasing and they hope to receive a new one soon; the present one is five years old. BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 27, 1989 PAGE 3 Selectman Dunn said the Council on Aging is a tremendous resource to the community, providing support for the elderly - medical, legal, etc. Old Business a) The Town Manager reported that they will be paving Oakland Street tomor- row. b) Selectman Dunn advised that he and the Town Manager will be meeting soon concerning goal setting and objectives. c) Selectman Sarro said he would like to see the original budget submitted by department heads, before the Town Manager makes cuts. Discussion fol- lowed as to form of budget presentation last year vs. former years. The Town Manager voiced his concern that department heads know the needs of their department better than the Board. Selectman Markt suggested that Board members go to the Finance Committee meetings when they meet with the various department heads. There was short discussion concerning re- placing needed turn -out gear in lieu of money set aside for a brush truck. Selectmen Dunn and Sarro stated the number one priority should be safety for all Town employees as the Board's policy. d) Selectman Sarro said he felt the snow plowing for the Thanksgiving snow was deplorable; they got out too late, and why were subdivisions not ap- proved plowed? The Town Manager advised that sanding was started when the Police Depart- ment requested it. He said procedures are now being reviewed. He said he directed the DPW to plow subdivision roads because of liability. He felt once the Town allows people to occupy a home, they should have basic services; i.e., be able to get in and out of their homes. Bill Madan, Chairman of the Planning Board was present and said if the Town goes in and plows those private roads, then it becomes a public way which the Town cannot then require reimbursement for. Selectman Dunn said he feels the Town Manager did the right thing and should again, until he gets an answer from Town Counsel, for public safety reasons; then try to collect for the work. e) The Town Manager reported that the parking fee on MBTA lots has been re- duced from $2.00 to $1.00, and where the MBTA has total maintenance the fee will start soon. Otherwise, as in Mansfield's case, they will sit down with the Town to make arrangements. Chairman Tartufo said he is afraid when fees are initiated at other lots, people will drive to Mans- field to park free. New Business a) The Town Manager advised receipt of a $3,869.20 Highway Safety Bureau Grant (Work Zone Protection). BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OF MEETING NOVEMBER 27, 1969 PAGE 4 MOTION: To accept the grant. Markt /Sarro VOTED: 4 -0 b) The Town Manager reported that Global Realty Trust (Nich Harris) is re- quired to provide assurity and insurance for working on Town property in the agreement, and he has failed to do this. The Town Manager suggested instructing him to immediately remove his equipment from the Town prop- erty and cease work, and to also advise the Planning Board. MOTION: To support the Town Manager recommendation. Markt /Dunn VOTED: 3 -0 ( Tartufo out of room for this) c) The Chairman asked Board members whether they wished to interview all applicants for board and committee vacancies, or just new applicants. His recommendation was to leave re- applicants the choice of whether to come or not; the Board agreed. d) Chairman Tartufo reported they had a good crowd for the pep rally last week, and mentioned that Ed Jameson had put together a bon fire with Police Department and Fire Department assistance, plus the Recreation Department and School Department. Mansfield won the game and will be playing in the Super Bowl at Sullivan Stadium. He mentioned that the Midget 'C' team was also undefeated. e) Everyone was reminded of the Tree Lighting Ceremony Sunday at 4:00 P.M. on the South Common. 9. Executive Session /Litigation The Board was polled to go into Executive Session and to come out only to adjourn: 4 -0 MINUTES APPROVED: r' Clerk Date signed