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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes03072007-20070315125359 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 Present: Chairman David McCarter, Vice Chairman Louis Amoruso, Clerk George Dentino 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. Chris McGowan, 22 King Arthur Way: Questions about Folk Festival parking at Robinson School. There is a youth sports event at the school the same weekend as the festival. He wants to make sure that some parking is reserved for the baseball game participants. Mr. McGowan also commented on a SRPEDD news update on development of train station area. Mr. D'Agostino talked about the density requirements of the area and traffic flow studies to be done. The Master Plan is also to be updated to include the changes to the train station area. Questions about the delay in planning for the 495S exit near the Tweeter Center were also briefly discussed. Mr. William Flannery, Mansfield representative to the SE Regional School and Mr. Louis Lopes, SE Regional Superintendent were present. There has been a reduction in the assessment that the Town must pay to the school system this year. Mansfield is also up to 53 students going to the school this year. Selectman Baldwin has no questions for Mr. Flannery and Superintendent Lopes. Selectman Amoruso also has no questions. Selectman Dentino reiterates his welcome to the Superintendent. Chairman McCarter asks about the school funding formula as it has gone up and down so erratically in the past years. Mr. Flannery states that there has been a new funding formula phased in this year so the assessments should be more even through the years from now on. Kevin McNatt, Chairman; Nancy Wall Co-Chairman; Chuck Boehm; Lorilee Fish, Secretary; Rose Bryant were present. The committee has questions about the use of the funds for "funding a fund". Chairman McCarter states that he feels that as long as the group is worthy and is a non profit; the fact that the group supports/or is a fund shouldn't matter. Applications should be based upon priorities of group and/or fund needs. Selectman Amoruso feels that funds shouldn't necessarily be funded but that he sees when it might be applicable. It should be decided upon a case by case basis. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 1 Committee Chairman McNatt asked about the use of grant money for augmenting /replacement of capital improvement needs. (Such as a case where a group needs a new boiler for their building that they lease from the Town). Mr. D'Agostino asked about the lease agreement the group has with the Town. Are they responsible for building maintenance? Secretary Lorilee Fish will look into. Mr. D'Agostino and Selectman Dentino stated that they didn't think the funds should be used for Capital Improvements but again, every application should be judged on a case by case basis. Secretary Lorilee Fish wanted to clarify that the BOS would grant the money to the applicants on the recommendation of the committee. Chairman McCarter answered yes, that would be the case. Superintendent John Moretti and Chairman Emil Giordano, Vice-Chairman Frank Delvechio and Steve Greenberg of the school committee were present. Superintendent Moretti asked for the Boards consideration to sponsor a warrant article for school transportation contract for a period of three years, with two one-year options to renew said contract at the sole discretion of the Mansfield Public Schools, for a total contract not to exceed five years, per MA General Laws Chapter 30B. Consideration of BOS to sponsor a warrant article for a property lease agreement for a five year period, with an option to buy said property at lease end, at the sole discretion of the Mansfield Public Schools, per MA General Laws Chapter 30B. Current school programs have outgrown the Roland Green School however; the town needs to maintain the school building for future use. Consideration of BOS to sponsor a warrant article to raise and appropriate or transfer from other financial resources the sum of $874,000 to defray the various Capital Improvement expenses of the Mansfield School Department. The High School synthetic turf will need to be resurfaced in the coming years. Other maintenance and upgrades are also requested. Selectman Baldwin stated that the school committee should re-draft the language in their over ride article to incorporate budget numbers without an over ride. She also asked if the over ride did not occur would teachers be laid off? Superintendent Moretti does not know how many but yes, teachers would be laid off in the case of an over ride failure. Additional Special Education teachers are needed for state mandated program so other teachers must be laid off in order to pay for the additional Special Ed's needed ,if the budget can't accommodate them. Selectman Amoruso asked about the large increase in funding requests. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 2 Some grants are coming to an end and other revenue streams are drying up. Selectman Dentino also suggests that people are moving to Mansfield just for what the school system offers in the Special Education programs. Selectman Amoruso also asked Superintendent Moretti about the discrepancy in the budget numbers provided by the school dept. The numbers from the Accounting office don't match the numbers from the Superintendent's office. Lincoln Lynch will meet with Bea Kearney to go over the budget numbers and figure out any differences that have occurred. Selectman Amoruso may not support the over ride however; the school committee is welcome to place the article on the warrant. Selectman Dentino asked how long the school committee will have to wait until figures are more concrete. Superintendent Moretti stated that it all depends on the budget numbers provided from the legislature. Chairman McCarter asked the school committee if all they want right now is to reserve a place for an over ride question on the warrant? Yes, that is all the school committee is looking for at this moment. · Warrant No. 36 in the amount of $1,752,107.10 Motion: To approve warrant no. 36 in the amount of $1,752,107.10 (Amoruso/Baldwin) 3:0:1 (Mr. McCarter abstaining from check #367513) Passes . Minutes of January 17th 2007 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve Minutes of January 17, 2007. (Baldwin/Dentino) 3:0:1 Amoruso abstains Passes · Minutes of February 28, 2007 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve Minutes of February 28, 2007. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0 Passes · Tweeter Center license discussion. Chief O'Neill would like a new transport wagon. Mr. D'Agostino would also like to discuss putting a number on the time overages for the season instead of fining for each time an overage violation occurs. Get further clarification from Chief O'Neill about memo request. Let the BOS know when Mr. D'Agostino meets with Chief O'Neill and other staff members for a fee schedule discussion. · D'Arpino's Quality Foods wine and malt license application. Zoning questions from last week's hearing were discussed. Nick Riccio, Building and Zoning Officer wrote letter stating there were no zoning issues with issuing this license. As did Scott Leite, Health Agent for issues with the dumpster location. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 3 Motion: To reaffirm the approval of a wine and malt license for D'Arpino's Quality Food. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0 passes New England Folk Festival license app: Weekend entertainment license too little, seven day may be too much. General entertainment license can be created or date restrictions can be put on the seven day license. Parking issues need to be addressed with schools. There is a parade and youth sports events that weekend as well. Parking plan is still needed from NEFA. Bus stop approval is also needed from the BaS. Invite the parking rep back to meet with the Board. · Resignation letter from Frank Holmes, Planning Board member. Motion: To accept resignation from Frank Holmes. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 3:0:1 Dentino abstains. Passes · Check to make sure thank you letters have been sent to expired board and committee members. · Selectman Dentino commented that he doesn't see all the board and committee applications on a timely basis. Selectman Baldwin suggested perhaps making a special applications folder within the reading folder. Dated copies of all applications will go into the special reading folder when they come in. · Application from Stan Feck, Planning Board Alternate Member for full member position. Other applicants for Planning Board will be invited back to March 21st. meeting. · Letter from John Shipe of Fairfield Development regarding proposed sewer line under Route 495 for Fairfield Green at Mansfield. Request for reconsideration of $52,000 offer for the use of one of the two abandoned water lines. Selectman Dentino contacted the Fairfield Development people about taking a reduced amount of money for the use of the sewer line. On Selectman McCarter & Selectman Dentino's recommendation the BaS had previously asked $75,000 for the use of the line and that amount still stands as a Board decision. · Letter from Andrew Gala, Jr., Town of Foxboro Town Manager, inviting the BaS and the Town Manager to meet with Foxboro officials in order to jointly perambulate Town boundaries. Motion: To meet with Town of Foxboro officials in order to jointly perambulate Town boundaries. Mr. D'Agostino and John Sullivan to attend if they are available. (Baldwin/Amoruso) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 4 · Correspondence from Kevin Doyle, Chairman of the Mansfield Democratic Town Committee, inviting the BOS to attend the annual breakfast with featured speaker Representative Barney Frank. Saturday morning, March 10th at the Elks Hall. Contact Kevin at 339-9520 if interested in attending. · Letter from Joy Conway, MassDevelopment Senior VP, regarding the availability of grant funding for asbestos and lead paint abatements in an Economically Distressed Area or Economic Target Area. The deadline for application is March 30, 2007. Motion: To permit the staff to apply as time warrants. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0 passes The Town Manager reported the fol/owing: · April 28th budget meeting with dept. heads · FinComm is set to attend next weeks BOS meeting · Salary survey reports are important however; every town has different needs and responsibilities within their depts. · Selectman Baldwin: The Live Wire newsletter stated that daylight savings is in two weeks but it is this coming Saturday. · Selectman Amoruso: Question about RFP with Train Station hours, GA TRA and MBT A. The RFP application has been with the MBT A for months and we are awaiting a response. We have vendors that are interested in using train station during extended hours. That is a benefit to commuters and residents. Motion: To nominate John D'Agostino to the IMA negotiating group. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Selectman Dentino: Questions about legal representation of Town. Will a different legal firm take over cases when the Town Counsel changes firms? The existing lawyers will continue on cases and other resources will be utilized as needed. Questions about parking on West Cottage St. Ask Chief O'Neill to come into meeting about this issue. In addition, have DPW take parking signs down immediately. Additional questions about small business exemption at tax classification hearings. Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 5 · Chairman McCarter: Nothing at this time. Motion: To adjourn at 1O:52pm (Amoruso) 4-0 Passes feo~e- ~ Z7~~ Signature of Clerk '7?1~d /f 21/1/7 Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of March 7, 2007 6