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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS MINUTES 12-17-14Board of Selectmen Minutes December 17, 2014 Present: George Dentino, Chair; Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chair; Doug Annino, Clerk; Olivier Kozlowski, Frank DelVecchio; William Ross, Town Manager Chairman Dentino called the meeting to order. The Chairman reminded everyone the meeting is being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast on Mansfield Cable. Present before the Board are David Hobaica, 12 Patriots Way, Carol Matthew, 108 Elyse Road and Matthew Rieth, 116 Union Street. Each are seeking appointment to the Conservation Commission which will have two vacancies as of January 1st. Mr. Hobaica noted he is a local swimming pool contractor with experience before numerous boards from surrounding communities and noted lie has a good working knowledge of the wetland by -laws. Mr. Hobaica would like to bring a reasoned approached to the Conservation Commission and how to deal with applicants. Mr. Kozlowski expressed his gratitude to all applicants for stepping up and their willingness to serve and particularly thanked Ms. Matthew for seeking re- appointment. Mr. Rieth has been a resident of Mansfield for the past 15 years and explained that now that his children are older he would like to give back to the community by volunteering his time to the Town. He noted there should be a balance between having economic development and ensuring that the Town conserve the wetlands as well as recreation areas. Mr. DelVecchio asked Mr. Rieth what he felt the role of the Conservation Commission to be. Mr. Rieth felt the role of the Commission is to ensure that the State laws are upheld and that any development near the wetlands (depending on the type of project) needs to follow the proper distance requirements. He also noted that the Commission needs to review best and proper land use. Mr. DelVecchio asked what drew Mr. Rieth to applying for the Conservation Commission to which he noted just wanting to give back to the Town and the importance of ensuring proper land use. Ms. Matthew noted she has been on the Conservation Commission for 16 years and liked to think that the Commission itself is protecting ground water and flood control. She felt the Commission has done a good job of this over the years. Ms. Matthew also found the protection of the wetlands fascinating as it is always changing. Mr. Annino thanked each of the applicants for volunteering and noted it is not often that the Town has more applicants than positions. I-Ie urged that if not appointed to please seek another position. Board Of Selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page I of 6 Mr. Aptowitz asked each of the applicants as to their level of being comfortable with saying no to an applicant. • Mr. Hobaica noted in his business he has had to say no a fair amount of times with both employees, vendors or customers. He has had to present before a number of municipal boards over the years and in his experience has seen applicants treated differently within each community and felt that to be of assistance to him. He felt comfortable with voting on what is right for the Town. • Mr. Rieth explained he has worked for the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and knows how to say no. Mr. Rieth explained that the job really is looking at the laws and ensuring that the applications meet the letter of the law. • Ms. Matthew noted that in her experience there has only been one occasion where the Commission had to say no. She felt the Coimmission does its best to work with the applicants. Mr. DelVecchio confessed he has little background knowledge of the Conservation Commission and asked Mr. Hobaica if he saw any conflict between his profession and serving on the Commission. Mr. Hobaica felt the only conflict to be if there were applicants looking to install swimming pools with other companies which he would be sure to abstain and recuse himself from. Mr. DelVecchio mentioned to Ms. Matthew that lie read about a controversy with the Conservation Commission involving the use of outside counsel which resulted in a few members not being reappointed and asked for her feel on the situation and if she learned from the situation. Ms. Matthew was uncomfortable answering the question as she felt her point of view differed from the Town's. Ms. Matthew asked Mr. DelVecchio to clarify his question to which he stated there was some controversy on the Conservation Commission a few years ago and asked if Ms. Matthew learned anything from that time. Ms. Matthew felt that the member was not reappointed because the Board wanted to go in a new direction. Ms. Matthew felt there hasn't been any type of "shake up" with the new members and it is a great working Commission that has to work with the regulations presented. She stated that she learned to go before Town Counsel for interpretation if needed. Motion: To nominate all three candidates as presented (AptowitzJKozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Chairman Dentino asked the Board to vote for two members by paper ballot. Chairman Dentino: Hobaica, Reith Vice Chairman Aptowitz: Hobaica Reith Selectman Annino: Hobaica, Reith Selectman DelVecchio: ABSTAINS ON BOTH Selectman Kozlowski: Hobaica, Reith Mr. Kozlowski noted lie is impressed that Mr. Hobaica and Mr. Rieth were willing to step up and volunteer their time. He welcomed new voices and opinions on the Commission. Mr. Aptowitz echoed Mr. Kozlowski's sentiments. Mr. Annino felt the Town of Mansfield to have the best Boards and Commissions in SE Massachusetts, as he goes before many Boards, and appreciated the value of the Town's. He asked the new members to keep an open mind, be courteous and treat everyone fairly. Mr. DelVecchio explained his decision to ABSTAIN was due to not having the Board Of selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page 2 of 6 full picture of the Conservation Commission and its background. Chairman Dentino stated that his vote was based on seeing a better fit for the Conservation Commission in terms of moving forward. Mr. Annino asked that a thank you letter be sent to Ms. Matthew as she served for the past 16 years. Motion: To send a thank you letter to Ms. Matthew for her years of service (Annino /Aptowitz) PASSES 5:0 Darlene Pruitt is present before the Board. Ms. Pruitt has been serving as an associate member to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the past year and would like to now be a full member occupying James Rathburn vacated seat. Ms. Pruitt felt she has learned a great deal over the past year that could elevate her to the member status. Mr. Annino asked what the biggest lesson Ms. Pruitt learned over her past year of service. Ms. Pruitt felt she had underestimated the passion of the residents when coming before the ZBA as some situations tended to be tense. She felt she learned to be more open minded while still being fair. Mr. Annino reminded to always weigh the well -being of the Town and how a variance could affect the Town as a whole. Mr. Aptowitz thanked Ms. Pruitt for her year of service and understood how difficult it can be to make the difficult decisions and to do what is best for Mansfield. Mr. Kozlowski remembered there is no better way to learn on the ZBA than to be an alternate member. Mr. Kozlowski reminded Ms. Pruitt to attend Town Meeting and asked who her current employer is. Ms. Pruitt has sinced changed jobs and now is employed by Patriot Technology (out of Mississippi) as a contractor. Mr. DelVecchio noted it is nice to see such a great fit and thanked Ms. Pruitt for her time. Chairman Dentin thanked Ms. Pruitt for coming back. Motion: To appoint Darlene Pruitt to a three year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals to expire January 1, 2018 (Annino /Aptowitz) PASSES 5:0 Mr. Ross asked that Ms. Pruitt submit a letter of resignation concerning her associate )pf Y n FIN oTn I?11JSY?n o; y t�l u_ e E Present before the Board is Glen Vuilleumier. Chairman Dentino asked Mr. Vuilleumier for a brief explanation as to the change. Mr. Vuilleumier noted he was previously located in the Brookline location for the past four years. Corporate decided to make a change and asked Mr. Vuilleumier to fill the position to which lie noted it was a better commute for him and it is a great property so decided to accept. Mr. Vuilleumier looks forward to improve the occupancy, profitability and continue to provide great service to the community. Board Of Selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page 3 of 6 Motion: To approve the Change of Manage application for Lincris Corporation dba Holiday Inn To Glen Vuilleumier (Aptowitz/Annino) PASSES 5:0 None. Mr. Ross asked that the Board remove the Common Victualler license for Main Street Juice as the establishment has not submitted any paperwork for its license renewal at time of the meeting. A. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 10, 2014 B. Approval of Warrants • Town Vendor Warrant No. 15025T $721,564.15 • Electric Department Vendor Warrant No. 15025E $368,587.65 • School Department Vendor Warrant No. 15025S $27,115.63 C. Vote To Approve 2015 License Renewal Applications • Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Aunt Aleda's Bakery and Country Kitchen • Common Victualler License for Chipotle Mexican Grill • Common Victualler License For Cold Stone Creamery • Common Victualler License For Cousin's Pizza • Common Victualler License For Cupcake Town • All alcohol Imrholder License, Early Sunday Alcohol Sales License, Common Victualler License And Entertainment License For Lincris Corporation dba Mansfield Holiday Inn • Common Victualler License For Main Street Juice D. Licenses And Permits • Consideration of Hackney Driver's License For Daniel Davis For Already Taxi • Consideration Of Transfer Of Hackney Carriage License For Veterans Taxi Subject To Satisfactory Inspection By Public Safety Traffic Officer o Transfer Vehicle #5 To New Vehicle #6 TA20341 o Transfer Vehicle #27 To New Vehicle 921 TA26119 E. Vote To ReAppoint The Following Individuals To Boards And Committees • Three Year Term To The Mansfield Affordable Housing Board: Lou Amoroso Motion: To approve the consent agenda with the removal of the Main Street Juice license (Antowitz/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Town Payroll Town Medicaid Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15025PT $298,932.13 Motion: To approve Town Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15025PT $298,932.13 (DelVecchio/Kozlowski) PASSES 3:1:1 Dentino NAY, Aptowitz ABSTAIN Check 442846 Town Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15025TV $93,833.88 Motion: To approve Town Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15025TV $93,833.88 (DelVecchio/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 School Payroll School Medicaid Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15025PS $1,521,658.22 Board Of Selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page 4 of 6 Motion: To approve School Payroll School Medicaid Payroll Vendor Warrant No. 15025PS $1,521,658.22 (DelVecchio/Kozlowski) PASSES 4:1 Annino NAY School Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15025SV $512,912.40 Motion: To approve School Vendor Deductions Warrant No. 15025SV $512,912.40 (DelVecchio/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 • Memo To Town Manager, William Ross From Town Engineer, Rick Alves Regarding Fee Waiver Request For Sewer I &I Rehabilitation Project Mr. Annino read the memo into the record. Motion: To waive the fee as requested (Aptowitz/Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 • Invitation From Michelle Loranger, Executive Director at Children's Advocacy To Attend 41" Annual Legislative Breakfast, January 23`d • Letter From Roxanne Donovan, Executive Director, Bristol County Retirement, Regarding Approval Of The Pension Appropriation For FY16 • Letter From The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission Regarding The Offer Of Keno To Game At Community Care Pharmacy • Letter From Donna Harrington, Leaf Raking Coordinator, Regarding Outpouring Of Volunteers For This Year's Project Mr. Ross noted he received an email late this afternoon that Cheryl Collins is submitting her resignation to the Planning Board. He felt this to be a great loss to that Board and the community. Mr. Ross reported that at the January 7t" BOS Meeting he will present the FY 16 first draft budget. Mr. Ross reminded that the MMA Conference is at the end of January and to please let the office know if you will be attending. Mr. Aptowitz, Mr. DelVecchio and Mr. Kozlowski are already registered. Chairman Dentin asked that he too be registered. Mr. Ross reported that the Capital Committee completed its initial work on the FY16 plant last evening. The Committee was able to prioritize and work together to get as many items included, based upon presentation and perception of high priority. He noted Mike Trowbridge, Chair of the School Committee, explained the needs of the School Department. Mr. Ross explained that the Committee left $150,000 unallocated and will review that amount in the spring to see how the Town stands after the winter season. If the money is not needed then it will utilized or set aside elsewhere. Mr. Ross noted that the Board as well as the Finance Committee will weigh in. Mr. Ross noted the Town will be sending letters to properly owners and businesses in the downtown informing them the Town is looking at resurfacing Main Street next year as it has reached a point that if the Town doesn't it will have to completely start over. Mr. Ross extended his Season's Greetings to the members of the Board. Mr. Kozlowski extended his Season's Greetings and is looking forward to 2015. Mr. Aptowitz wished Cheryl Collins all the best and thanked her for all her service. Mr. Aptowitz wished his fellow Board members, Mr. Ross and staff his Season's Greetings. Board Of selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page 5 of 6 Mr. Aptowitz asked if there has been any progress on towing cars at the train station to which Mr. Ross noted no. Mr. Aptowitz would like to have a scheduled discussion regarding this issue. Mr. Armin has enjoyed working with the Board, Mr. Ross and Ms. Whalen over the past year. He felt there to be great thinkers on the Board and a lot has been accomplished as it works effectively together. He extended his Season's Greetings to everyone. Mr. DelVecchio noted that in his research he found that half of the communities in the Commonwealth are green communities where Mansfield is not one of them. He suggested that a future agenda item be scheduled regarding becoming a green community as grant monies are available. He also mentioned those communities had green or environmental advisory committees and felt there to be a lot of residents in Town with expertise in this area. Mr. DelVecchio noted the train station is closed again and as the weather is colder it is disappointing and felt it to be a comfort as well as possible health issue. He understands that the Town is not responsible but asked if there was a way to get involved to get the building opened. Mr. Ross has been trying but noted he would contact Prank Gay from GATRA tomorrow to see what can be done. Mr. DelVecchio noted it has been a great learning experience over the last few months for him and hoped that his fellow Board members have learned from him. He wished everyone happy holidays and a healthy New Year. Chairman Dentine extended his Season's Greetings to the residents of Mansfield. He thanked Mr. Ross for his communication to the Board and felt it has been a pleasure. He expressed his gratitude to both the municipal and school employees as well. None. To adjourn Board of Signature of Clerk /tdw s Meeting at 7:56PM (DelVecchio /Kozlowski) PASSES 5:0 Board Of Selectmen's Meeting December 17, 2014 Page 6 of 6 0. o,1- Date of Approval