HomeMy WebLinkAboutFin Comm Minutes 11/22/2005Town of Mansfield
Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting held Thursday, November 22.2005
Finance Committee Members Present:
Andy Gazzola (presiding)
James Lazarra
Jack Goldberg
Jess Aptowitz
Charlene Lavin
Greg Arnold
Also in attendance for a portion of the meeting:
Lou Andrews and Howard Fiske, on behalf of the Airport Commission
John D'Agostino, Town Manager
Bernie Dolan, Selectman
These minutes were prepared by Greg Arnold. The Meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m.
Matters Discussed and/or Voted On
The Meeting began with a presentation by Messrs. Andrews and Fiske concerning the proposed
Warrant Articles sponsored by the Airport Commission relating to the request for permission to
enter into a 60 -year lease with an entity committed to building airplane hangers on a portion of
land adjacent to the airport currently owned by the Town. While the Town will continue to own
the land, the proposal allows a private entity to build approximately 20 airplane hangars (18 "T"
style and 2 corporate hangers), which it can then sell to individuals. The mechanism for doing so
entails creating a `condominium association' made up of the airplane hangars (not residential
condominiums), which is typical of how other airports handle this. The benefit to the town is
that taxes would be collected on the `condominiums" (whereas now, there is no tax collected for
the land). However, Massachusetts statute requires condominium associations to have at least a
60 -year lease. Thus, the Airport Commission seeks permission to enter into a 60 -year lease with
the entity that will be investing approximately $1.2 million in the hangars. The Finance
Committee noted that it would be taking formal votes on all warrant articles at a subsequent
meeting, but that there did not appear to be any problems inherent in this proposal.
Chairman Gazzolla arrived at the Meeting at approximately 7:25, as the discussion on the
Airport Commission warrants was concluding.
Mr. D'Agostino then reported on the SBAB meeting he recently attended with School
Superintendent John Moretti and others. Apparently, the process by which the State will provide
reimbursement for school construction projects is being changed dramatically. While the final
regulations will not be finalized until sometime in the Summer of 2006, it appears that the
process will be run more by the State than in years past. For example, it will be the State, not the
municipalities, that will perform the initial Needs Assessment. This Survey is expected to be
completed by the State in March of 2006. One thing that appears likely is that development costs
(i.e., plans and drawings) will not be reimburseable. In light of this SBAB meeting, it was not
clear if the School Committee would proceed with its proposed Warrant Article seeking
$178,500 for use in developing preliminary plans for a possible School expansion project.
A discussion was then had with John D'Agostino concerning the proposed warrant articles
seeking additional funds for the Town. The Finance Committee requested that more information
be provided concerning many of these items, including why 3 new police cruisers were needed,
whether it could obtain a list of all current police vehicles (including year of vehicle, mileage and
expected life span) and why the $25,000 requested for communications equipment could not wait
until the Spring. It was expected that additional information would be provided with respect to
these items.
During a discussion concerning the proposal for funds related to the building of a pistol range,
Selectman Dolan noted that the issue of security and lighting at the Town Hall were also matters
that would need to be addressed in the very near future.
A discussion was had concerning the proposals for the Samsonite STA and pehrics TIF. After
this discussion, Mr. D'Agostino and Mr. Dolan departed.
The Finance Committee then had a general discussion of recent activity and summarized the
discussions from recent meetings when Chairman Gazzola was traveling abroad.
The Meeting closed at approximately 8:50 p.m.
Gregoryq. Arnold, Secretary