HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 11/20/2006
Town of Mansfield
Board of Selectmen
Minutes of November 20, 2006
Present:
Chairman David McCarter, Vice Chairman Louis Amoruso, Clerk George
Dentino, Selectman Michael McCue and Selectman Ann Baldwin
John D'Agostino, Town Manager
The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:30pm, followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance.
None
Motion: To open public hearing: (Amoruso/McCue) 5:0 passes
Selectmen Dentino read the public hearing notice into record.
Greg Matoian, Chairman of the Board of Assessors spoke about tax package that was
given to Selectmen. He recommends staying with one rate for this year's tax assessment.
Chairman McCarter asks for historical overview of tax rates. Assistant Assessor Nancy
Hinote explained the tax and sales rates. Commercial rates stayed the same, industrial
rates have gone down. Single family residence is the largest class and went up very
minimally. (1.1 'Yo) Selectman Amoruso stated that the $11.46 single tax rate is being
recommended by the Assessors. Currently 78'70 of the tax rate is from residential, 12'70
industrial,5 'Yo commercial and 3'Yo personal property. Proposed split rates are detailed in
packet. Selectman Dentino stated information should be available at Town Clerks office
prior to public hearing. Mr. D'Agostino and Ms. Hinote stated that unfortunately some of
the information was not available until today because town meeting was just last week.
Selectman Dentino felt assessed residential values are too high and commercial too low.
Ms. Hinote states that they analyze the rates with a predetermined formula.
Assessments from 2005 are being used so the numbers do look off but aren't.
The values being used are certified. Current market conditions can't be utilized due to
reporting procedures. Mr. McCue and Mr. D'Agostino talked about staying at low side of
range of value. Yearly tax rate adjustments are necessary but they are usually not wide.
Mr. McCue asks about arms length analyzes and yes, DOR does require sales figures.
Chairman McCarter asked for clarification about 2005 medium sales history that is
included in presentation packet.
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Bob Ferguson, Lakeview Ave resident, had questions about single rate/split rate fairness.
Resident wants town to go to split rate. Feels independent review and audit should be
done to determine fairness of single vs. split rate. Commercial/industrial business's
generate revenue and pays less on a single rate. He states that No. Attleboro has split
rate, while Mansfield, Foxboro and Norton are still using single rates.
Mr. Amoruso states business also pay taxes on revenues. Assessed values do not take into
consideration the revenues of the business. Resident feels per square foot commercial
and industrial properties should be assessed higher than residential. Resident has done
his own analysis of cost sharing and commercial/industrial businesses are not pulling their
own weight. Ms. Hinote explains how the assessments are done and the procedures used
for such. Costs vs. income analysis are done by Assessors office differently than
residential assessments. State Regulations restrict how assessments are done. Large
amount of money are spent by commercial properties on improvements and upgrades while
TIF agreements also attribute tax breaks. (The breaks only apply to the improvements)
DOR does verify and review all rate information submitted by town.
Bill Clemmey, Deer Path Circle. Believes in split rate system to take tax burden off of the
residents. He suggests that perhaps with the new commercial development coming to town
we should consider going to a split rate.
Motion: To close public hearing (McCue/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
Motion: To approve a split rate. (Classified rate)
(Amoruso/Dentino) 4:0 passes (McCue nay)
Discussion: 106'Yo split. $11.28 per thousand for residential $12.15 per thousand for
commercial. Commercial properties used to pay more and then the town went to a single
rate and residential portion went up with higher home sales prices. The residential rate
payers use more town services. Mr. Amoruso feels a hike is warranted in the
commercial/industrial rates, but not a big increase. Mr. McCarter would support a hike in
commercial/industrial rates of 105 'Yo. Mr. Dentino agrees with 106 'Yo. Small business
exception would not be applicable for most businesses in town. Mr. Dentino is in support
of third split rate in favor of the small businesses with the rest of the industrial rate
payers picking up the rest. Mr. McCarter and Mr. D'Agostino reiterate that the majority
of the small businesses down town would not qualify for the small business commercial
exception. Ms. Hinote concurred. Chairman McCarter doesn't believe the split should be
as high as 106, he would be in support of 105 but will support the Board in their vote.
Motion: To shift 6'Yo of the tax burden to commercial/industrial property. (106 split)
(Amoruso/Baldwin) 3:2 passes (McCarter/McCue nay)
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Presentation by Mayhew Seavey of PLM regarding Principles of Cost of Service and Rate
Design for Municipal Electric Utilities.
Warrant No. 20 in the amount of $3,669,417.00 (signed last week) - Chairman McCarter
abstains from check # 359990
Motion: To approve warrant # 20 in the amount of $3,669,417.00 (Amoruso/Baldwin)
5:0 passes (Baldwin abstains from school dept. payroll vote)
Motion: To approve minutes of November 8, 2006 Selectmen's meeting.
(Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
. Drainlayer's License Application for P.J Hayes Inc., 435 West St, Walpole.
(Town Engineer recommending approval) (Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
. Restricted Water Installers License for C.J.P & Sons Construction, 1420 Main St,
Millis. (memo from Water Operations Manager clarifying request and recommending
approval) (Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
. Water Installers License for Stephen Fodor, of J.E. Case, 1320 S. Washington St., N.
Attleboro. (Water Operations Manager recommending approval) (Amoruso/Baldwin)
5:0 passes
o Letter from the Town Manager regarding follow-up on OCD grant.
Out of 50 thousand dollar grant, 18 thousand dollars is left. Possibility of study of
traffic around train station.
o Letter from Comcast Cable regarding changes to digital cable programming packages.
Selectman Dentino read letter into record.
o Resident email regarding RT 106 construction issues.
Selectman Dentino read letter into record. A copy of the email will be forwarded to
DPWand Engineering to follow up with resident.
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o Letter from Millhaus at Mansfield Condominium Trust regarding par:'king signs.
Selectman Dentino read letter into record. Mr. D'Agostino states the association
wants parking to change to 15 minutes parking. Tabled and ask for written
recommendation from Lance.
o Memo John Sullivan, Town Engineer regarding release of sewer deed on 600
S. Main Street. Mr. D'Agostino stated this was voted at town meeting.
Motion: To sign and release sewer deed. (Amoruso/Dentino) 5:0 passes
· Memo from Ptlm. Lawson and Chief O'Neil regarding expanded MBT A parking.
Foundry parking situation will be heard at the Dec 6th meeting.
. Memo fro Lee Azinheira, DPW Director regarding draft TPlan-Commuter Rail.
. Letter regarding flag retirement ceremony on evening of the 7th of December, Pearl
Harbor Remembrance Day from Connor Litchman. He is a Life Scout in Boy Scout
Troop 55. This ceremony is the last step to getting his Eagle Badge and invites the
Selectmen to attend the ceremony.
· Town Manager requests the Board to vote and approve A2 Schedule of Accounts
from town meeting for the Water and Waste Water Departments.
Motion: To approve A2 Schedule of Accounts for Water Department.
(Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
Motion: To approve A2 Schedule of Accounts for Waste Water Department.
(Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes
· Karen Martin, CEO of Gourmet to Go, interested in establishing business at Train
Station building. The idea is to link downtown businesses to this type of business at
the train station to target the commuter traffic the station generates. Frank Gay,
GA TRA, would be involved in this plan. Selling (off peak hours) train tickets would
also be an option.
Selectmen McCue stated that this would be a good way to fully utilize the train
station building. Selectman Dentino however has issues with a restaurant/retail
space being run by the town. Will the town need to fund any expansion or
remodeling of train station building? Will the town lease space from GA TRA or to
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tenants? Mr. D'Agostino stated that there is a possibility of a town lease with
GA TRA or the town managing the train station building.
· Selectman McCue asked if the plaque on the train station clock has been installed
yet? Mr. D'Agostino will follow up and find out.
· Selectman Baldwin has no items.
· Chairman McCarter wants to discuss road side memorial by-laws soon for the spring
07 town meeting. The plaques for Bernie Dolan's family will be presented at the
December 20th meeting. Mr. D'Agostino was asked to conduct a salary review of
similar sized towns for the next meeting.
· Selectman Amoruso has no items.
. Selectman Dentino has no additional items.
Motion: To adjourn at W:35pm (McCue/Amoruso) 5:0 passes
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.
Signature of Clerk
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Date of Approval
Board of Selectmen Minutes of November 8, 2006
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