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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 11-19-14Board of Selectmen Minutes November 19, 2014 Present: George Dentine, Chair; Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chair; Olivier Kozlowski, Clerk; Doug Annino, Frank DelVecchio; William Ross, Town Manager Chairman Dentino called the meeting to order and reminded everyone the meeting is being broadcast live and taped for firture broadcast. 2rsc>s On Uf Zo�vn's Tm►ce Po >afes Wititnance Ca mrtteeT —_ Steve Schoonveld, Chair; Walter Wilk, Vice Chair, Yogen Chemburkar; John Stanbrook, Finance Director Mr. Schoonveld said the town has been working on financial policies intended to highlight the town's financial priorities; the drafts have been submitted to the Board of Selectmen and School Committee for review. Mr. Wilk said they have received comments back from Mr. DelVecchio and asked if other members would provide comments in advance of the December meeting. Mr. DelVecchio said he appreciates the effort that went into putting these policies together. He said the policies are very important and if they had been in place a few years ago, the town may have avoided some recent financial problems. He said his comments go along with the Finance Committee's efforts to work collegially with other boards on the budget. Mr. DelVecchio said he has a philosophical disagreement with the section requiring the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen and School Committee to agree. Mr. DelVecchio said there should be a policy about Stabilization, but it should require all three boards to agree in writing. Mr. Wilk said Finance Committee's intention is to have the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee agree on the idea of the policy. Mr. DelVecchio suggested the definition of Stabilization should be more of a "rainy day fund" with a range of amounts; he noted changes to it would still require a supermajority of Town Meeting. Mr. DelVecchio said he doesn't understand why capital stabilization would be funded before stabilization; Mr. Schoonveld said currently, capital stabilization only has $50,000. Mr. DelVecchio said the reserve fund should be well- fimded; Mr. Ross said that fund should be for real emergencies, like last year's town hall boiler breakdown. Mr. DelVecchio suggested including the Capital Improvements Committee in the policy. Mr. Kozlowksi said lie understands Mr. DelVecchio's concern about who votes on what, but said Town Meeting ultimately decides what is funded. Mr. Aptowitz thanked the Finance Committee for working on these policies. I-Ie said lie is concerned about the Finance Committee deciding what is "extraordinary or unforeseen." He said while it is the Finance Committee's reserve, the Town Manager should be able to make the decision in an emergency. Mr. Wilk said the Finance Committee's intent is to try to create a road map for future boards to follow. Mr. DelVecchio suggested language for staff to address extraordinary circumstances, but leaving the final decision with the Finance Committee. Board Of Selectmen's Meeting November 19, 2014 Page I of 5 Mr. Dentine said the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting should define an extraordinary or unforeseen expenditure that comes out of the reserve fund. Mr. DelVecchio said under state law, the Finance Committee has sole discretion of the reserve Rind. Mr. Dentin said it is difficult to fund one reserve fund without creating additional accounts. Mr. Stanbrook said a reserve Rind is created for a specific year, while stabilization fiords are established by Town Meeting. Mr. Wilk said if a reserve Rind is not used, it goes back to the general fund. Mr. Ross said fiends can only be moved into or taken out of a reserve fund by Town Meeting; that money cannot otherwise be spent. Mr. Dentin asked if stabilization can be 10% of the prior year's budget without going to Town Meeting; Mr. Wilk said it would have to be approved by Town Meeting. Mr. Wilk said the intention of the policies is not to bind any one board's hands, but to establish policies, which lie said bonding companies look for. Mr. Dentino said stabilization can be funded by other accounts, like the overlay account. Mr. Ross said the Assessor's would have to vote to release overlay account funds. Mr. Dentino said the draft policy indicates the treasurer will be custodian of the fiends and can invest those funds; he said there should be more checks and balances on that. Mr. Schoonveld said they would tone down the "veto" aspect of the policy and said they would like to have a joint Board of Selectmen/School Committee /Finance Committee meeting to discuss the policy. Mr. Dentine, said the Finance Committee's goals include addressing challenges to Mansfield's financial strength. Mr. Schoonveld said the Finance Committee is concerned about communication issues and is hoping the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and other boards can help. He said one of the goals was to increase the town's financial rigor and he thinks the appointment of financial director will help with that. Mr. Schoonveld said the Finance Committee is looking for the Board of Selectmen's feedback, support and enhancement. Mr. Dentino suggested members review the document and continent. Mr. Aptowitz thanked the Finance Committee for working on these goals. IIe said he agrees with the goal of increasing attendance at Town Meeting and said that should be a goal for everyone. Mr. Schoonveld said if there were more people at Town Meeting last year, the DPW building may have been funded. He said the Finance Committee would like to set up a Communications Committee. He said less than 2% of the town's population attends Town Meeting, so the town should work on ways to encourage participation. Mr. Dentino said lie likes the idea of surveying residents to determine what would encourage participation. Mr. Schoonveld said one of the Finance Committee's goals is hosting Q &A sessions to educate voters prior to Town Meeting. He said a lot of education about Town Meeting happens during Town Meeting, which takes a lot of time. Mr. Kozlowski said each warrant article has multiple possible outcomes; Mr. Schoonveld said the sessions wouldn't attempt to address each article, just the major ones. Mr. Wilk said the sessions would be to educate voters about the issues, rather than for the Finance Committee to take a position. He said he thinks one reason people do not attend Town Meeting is because it is such a long process, so if the education fi action can be done ahead of time, Town Meeting could be more Board Of Selectmen's Meeting November 19, 2014 Page 2 of 5 efficient. Mr. Kozlowski said it is important that people know about the issues and care enough to attend Town Meeting. A. Minutes November 12, 2014 B. Approval of Warrants • Town Vendor Warrant No. 15021T $150,444.92 • Electric Department Vendor Warrant No. 15021E $556,276.28 C. Vote to approve 2015 License Renewal Applications • Wine And Malt Restaurant License And Common Victualler License For Caf6 On The Common Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Olsen Restaurant Group dba Capriotti's Sandwich Shop • Wine And Malt Restaurant License, Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Classic Pizza Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Class II Auto Dealer License For Clemmey, Inc. [see votes beloBI • Class III Auto Dealer License For Clemmey, Inc. [see motes below] • Common Victualler License And Fee Waiver Request For Council On Aging • All Alcohol Restaurant License, Common Victualler License, Automatic Amusement License and Entertainment License For Spiezio Enterprises dba Geno's Restaurant And Lounge Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Class II Auto Dealer License For Mansfield Gas & Service Inc. [see votes below) • Wine And Malt Restaurant License, Common Victualler License, Automatic Amusement License and Entertainment License For BCL Premier Sports dba Mansfield Sports flex Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Lodging House License For Matthew McLaughlin and Michael McLaughlin Located At 271 -273 North Main Street, Mansfield • Common Victualler License For Papa Gino's • All Alcohol Restaurant License, Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Sake Steakhouse Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Common Victualler License For CSS Subs, Inc. dba Subway • All Alcohol Restaurant License, Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Tahana Restaurant Subject To Satisfactory Inspection From Building And Fire Departments • Class II Auto Dealer License For Webb Auto [see votes below] D. Vote To Approve Proclamation For Boy Scouts Of America Troop 51's Newest Eagle Scout Eric Ray Sun Motion: To approve the consent agenda (Aptowitz- Kozlowski) Mr. Dentino asked if the single vote was intended to approve all of the above items. Mr. Ross said it is, but said if there is an item a member wants to consider separately, it could be voted on its own. Mr. Dentino asked how items that require something like a recommendation from the Building Board Of Selectmen's Meeting November 19, 2014 Page 3 of 5 Inspector would be handled; Mr. Ross said those items are noted in the list. Mr. Dentine, said the Class II Auto Dealer license application does not include a place for the name of the dealer's repair shop, which state law requires. Mr. Kozlowksi said anything requiring additional information could be removed from the consent agenda. Motion: To amend the above motion: To approve the consent agenda except for the Class II licenses (Aptowitz - Kozlowski) All in favor. PASSES Motion: To approve the Class II license applications pending verification of the dealers' repair shops (Aptowitz - Kozlowski) All in favor. PASSES Town Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15021PT $543,046.10 Motion: To approve Town Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15021PT $543,046.10 (Kozlowski - Aptowitz) Four in favor. Dentin opposed. 0 abstentions. PASSES Town Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15021TV $198,931.25 Motion: To approve Town Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15021TV $198,931.25 ( Kozlowksi- Aptowitz) All in favor. PASSES School Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15021PS $1,537,870.00 Motion: To approve School Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15021PS $1,537,870.00 (Kozlowski- Aptowitz) Four in favor. Annino opposed. 0 abstentions. PASSES School Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15021 S $523,931.45 Motion: To approve School Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15021 SV $523,931.45 (Kozlowski - Aptowitz) All in favor. PASSES Letter from Parks & Recreation Director Sherri Gurnon Regarding Improvements of Hutchason Field Shed Report on Airport Administration Building Permit Fees Mr. Ross distributed a memo from Mr. Riccio regarding an estimate of the building department fees for the new airport administration building. FIe noted it is an estimate because plans have not been filed at this time. Mr. Ross said he spoke with a representative from MassDOT, who said while the building fees are a reimbursable expense, the state is requesting towns consider waiving them because the budgets are tight. Mr. Stanbrook said the board has not waived fees for enterprise fund projects in the past, but has waived fees for town - funded projects. Mr. Ross said he has spoken with the chair of the Airport Commission about this. He said he had one call from a resident who is adamant the town collect the fees. Progress of Financial Operations Study Mr. Ross said about three years ago, the town employed a firm to study its financial operations. Based on that study, the town put together a timeline of various tasks and has made good progress in many areas of the report's recommendations, including working with the Finance Committee Board Of Selectmen's Meeting November 19, 2014 Pagc 4 of 5 and reconciling all accounts monthly. He said one of items for next year is considering employing a purchasing agent. Mr. Ross said the governor has announced a state budget deficit and plans to reduce certain budget items, including regional school transportation, special education reimbursement, Chapter 90, vocational and charter school reimbursements, kindergarten expansion aid and library aid. He has also proposed a 2.7% cut in unrestricted general government aid, which the legislature would have to act on. That cut would be about $40,000 for Mansfield. He said he thinks part of problem has been caused by problems at the state level, like the need to repair the state's healthcare website, which are now being paid for locally. He said he has contacted Senator Timilty to ask him to vote against cuts in local aid, and he would like to send letters to the town's other representatives. Mr. Kozlowski asked if the incoming governor could undo the current governor's cuts. Mr. Ross said the last time this kind of cut was planned, the state later found there actually was no deficit. Mr. Ross said Town Hall will close for Thanksgiving at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, November 26 and be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28. He said liquor license renewal applications are due in the Town Manager's office by 4:00 p.m, on November 26 and anyone who has not submitted their application may not get their license until after January 1. Mr. Ross said his staff will not be chasing business owners to file their licenses. Motion: To extend the meeting to 11:10 p.m. (Aptowitz - Annino) All in favor. PASSES Mr. Aptowitz said Mansfield veterans can contact Veterans' Agent Heath Hobson for Thanksgiving turkeys, as well as for tickets to the Thanksgiving Day football game. Mr. Aptowitz asked if there has been any follow -up on his question about towing cars; Mr. Ross said there has not been. Mr. Aptowitz said he would like to see a centralized list of all municipal employees and their salaries; Mr. Ross said he is putting that together. Mr. Aptowitz asked about the status of the mural on Route 106; Mr. Ross said he has met with the mural committee and is researching whether or not to terminate the contract and finish it with someone else. He said the mural is about 90% complete, but has not had a final coat. Mr. DelVecchio said the Finance Conunittee is doing a great job and said he enjoyed tonight's discussion. Mr. Dentin said the Eagle Scout ceremony he attended for Troop 51 was very well done. 1�,�Tfems o Anf>cri ated�B- `The- �hairm�n 48- Hou�s�rio7 2'0� its '_ � ,o urn at 11:05 pm (Kozlowski- Annino) All in favor. PASSES l � (V -Ik of Clerk Date of Approval Board Of Selectmen's Meeting November 19, 2014 Page 5 of 5