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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes04252007-20070503114452 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25. 2007 Present: Chairman David McCarter, Vice Chairman Louis Amoruso, Clerk George Dentino, Selectman Michael McCue, 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. Peter Detrolio, resident and owner of Rum Runner, he is opposed to having more package store all alcohol licenses. We should leave it to the Census to determine the Town's quota. Cable Access Board members present. Devine, President, David Russell Shurtleff & Nancielee Boyden. Jack O'Neil, Program Director is also present. The studio has been upgrading the cable equipment. Although the equipment has gone digital they can still utilize tapes. Other upgrades include remote cameras and wireless microphones. This enables the studio to produce higher quality cable shows. There is also discussion of web streaming town meetings and Board/Committee meetings. The cable van was missing at the last Town Meeting as it was broken. Coverage will be available at this coming meeting. The Cable Access studio is also quite undersized and they are looking for larger quarters. Setting up and dismantling sets has been a constant challenge. The issue of Verizon petitioning the State regarding bypassing local communities for cable access service contracts was discussed in depth. The Cable Access Board is against this proposed legislation and has been following developments. It was brought up that some municipal light depts. do operate their own cable access service. Selectman Baldwin asks the Board about pending issues regarding their current location. This issue is in litigation right now and nothing has been finalized. Selectman McCue does not have any additional questions but thanked the Board for there dedication. Selectman Dentino thanked the Board for their work. Selectman Amoruso asked about the cable access van and plans for the future. The van is quite old and needs to be replaced; however the Board is waiting until they move into new quarters that will hopefully include a garage for secure storage. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25,2007 1 The Cable Access Board is also looking at the possibility of getting a piece of town owned land to use for their new building. Mr. D'Agostino asked about their requirements, building size. President Devine stated that they are looking to build a 4,000 sq. ft building plus a garage of undermined size. The list of town owned land will be reviewed for any placement ideas. Selectman Amoruso asked why the financial statement is not done every year. President Devine stated that it has not been required but they will put in on the agenda for the follow year. Chairman McCarter and Selectman Amoruso would like to see the Cable Access Board meetings back on cable for the public to see. Jack will resume taping of the meetings. If space is a problem perhaps the Board could meet here at Town Hall. The camera on the second floor conference rm. here in Town Hall has been broken and hasn't been replaced. New cable also has to be pulled for the camera. Mr. D'Agostino will look into getting it back up and running. Mr. D'Agostino asked the Board about the last financial statement numbers. There was a change is the accounting method and questions about the contingencies section of the statement under Section G, President Devine will look into it and get back to Mr. D'Agostino. Charles Mulcahy was present to discuss article 43. Mr. Mulcahy's client is no longer interesting in pursuing an all alcohol restaurant license so he wants know if the Selectmen are still interested in pursuing this avenue. Selectman Baldwin asked how Mr. Mulcahy came up with asking for 5 licenses. This was an arbitrary number selected by Mr. Mulcahy. Selectman Amoruso asked Mr. D'Agostino how many additional licenses he felt the town might need. Selectman Amoruso would like to see the article withdrawn until a study is done determining what is actually needed. Selectman Dentino agrees with Selectman Amoruso that he would like to see a number that the Town actually needs. He also feels that the withdrawal of the article is prudent at this time. Mr. D'Agostino has spoken with the developer of Mansfield Crossings and there is one additional restaurant pad available. This restaurant mayor may not request an alcohol license. Article 43: Citizen Petition to enact legislation to grant the licensing authority permission to increase by five the number of liquor licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises. Mr. Mulcahy is withdrawing this article. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 2 Megan Clemmey was present to discuss article 44. Article 44: Citizen Petition to enact legislation to grant two additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises under Section 15 of Chapter 138. Mrs. Clemmey is withdrawing this article. The Board supports the withdrawal of these articles. Pinnacle Partners Representative William O'Brien and Attorney Edward Valanzola were present. The Mr. & Mrs. Goguen's lot of 1.8 acres is under consideration for retail development and sanitary disposal is needed on the property. They would like to hook into town sewer but have encountered questions and problems with different town requirements. The developer feels that they have a right under MA General Law for a sewer connection as their property touches the sewer line extension. John Sullivan, Town Engineer has recommended that the tie-in offer of $30,000 be denied. Attorney Valanzola respectfully disagrees with Mr. Sullivan and asks for the Boards consideration. Represenative O'Brien states that the developer has an alternative plan for a septic system to be placed but does not want to use that option unless necessary. Town Engineer Sullivan states that although the property line does touch the sewer connection area, the land does not have the frontage required by town regulations. Pinnacles Partners would like to pay the Town $30,000 for sewer connection. Mr. Sullivan does not feel this compensation is adequate and wants to extend the sewer past the property in question as noted in the Town's Master Plan. Mr. Sullivan has also asked Pinnacle Partners to pay significantly more for sewer betterment and/or upgrade fees. Selectman Dentino feels that this discussion is premature as the sewer line is not in yet and more information will be required to make a decision. Counsel should also be consulted on this as well. Mr. Sullivan states that in his opinion the sewer requirements of the Master Plan supersede the frontage requirements of the current regulations. Pinnacle Partners wants to buy the School St. property of Mr. & Mrs. Goguen. The Goguen's are entitled to a residential sewer connection under the law. The question is if the connection can be made with an eight inch pipe (commercial size) instead of the six inch pipe required for residential use. Selectman McCue feels for the residents affected by this development and the neighborhood disruption however; he concurs with the others Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 3 that more information is needed before this can move forward. The Board will ask Atty. Mangiaratti to work directly with Atty. Valanzola. Edward Tartufo, the Real Estate Agent for the project, stated that in his many years of involvement with the Town and its Boards that the Board of Health should playa role in this decision and the Master Plan does not supersede current town regulations. He believes that Atty. Mangiaratti will concur with him. Atty. Valanzola will forward questions for Atty. Mangiaratti. . Warrant No. 43 in the amount of $536,979.53 Motion: To approve warrant No. 43 in the amount of $536,979.53 (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0:1 Passes (Mr. McCarter abstaining from check #369341) . Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of April 18, 2007 Selectman Dentino states that the discuss of hiring/firing of personnel for FY08 is not in minutes and will be reviewed. Motion: To approve Board of Selectmen minutes of April 18, 2007 (Amoruso/Baldwin) 4:0:1 passes McCue abstains . Sign Special Town Meeting postings. Motion: To sign the Special Town Meeting postings (Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes . A-C Intermediate Co. commercial parking lot license application. Note from Chief O'Neil regarding payment of detail offices. Having the amount of details officers needed there is a drain on the towns budget. Both private commuter parking lots should contribute to the cost of details. The issue is that one lot owner knows of this funding issue and the other does not. Selectman Dentino does not feel that it is fair to impose this stipulation on the lot owners without prior notice. Chief O'Neil has been asking for this for three years. Motion: Move to approve license. Commercial commuter lot regulations will be changed to reflect changes for next year. (Amoruso/McCue) 5:0 passes . Hackney Carriage licenses for Mansfield Town Taxi. Motion: Move to approve vehicles 10,27,31,32. (Baldwin/ Amoruso) 5:0 passes . Hackney Carriage licenses for Foxfield Taxi. Motion: Move to approve vehicles 142, 138, 139, 140, 95. (Baldwin/ Amoruso) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 4 . Signature needed on Glee Gifts one day beer and wine license. Motion: To sign previously approved license. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes · Tweeter Center License. Changes to license were discussed. Section 7 H, delete "an" from the sentence "Licensee shall not host any such an event for which tickets are not required to gain admission to the premises." Will change and bring fresh copy next week for the Boards signatures. · Memo from John Sullivan, Town Engineer, regarding proposed offer from Pinnacle Partners for Sewer Connection at 321-339 School St. · Notice from DPW regarding temporary road closing of Ware St to Branch St. · Memo from GA TRA Chairman Charles Crowley regarding meeting of May 2, 2007. This meeting is to vote the FY08 budget. The designated person is required to bring a letter from the Chair of the Board stating they have the power to vote on our behalf. Motion: To appoint Selectman Baldwin as the member having voting power for the Board. (McCue/Amoruso) 5:0 passes · Letter from Tricia White of the Tri- Town Chamber of Commerce. They are conducting a Capital Campaign to offset expenses of their proposed new location. (I called them and suggested they look into applying for non profit gift funds.) . SE Regional School District FY08 approved budget of $18,897,149. (The entire budget booklet is in the reading folder.) · Letter from Katherine Craven of MA School Building Authority. This is in regards to the final audit results and grant payment for project #C19993649 at the High School. . Letter from Rich Kelly, Troop 17 Scoutmaster. Eagle Scout Alex Proal is being honored for his achievements on May 14, 2007 and he would appreciate a letter or certificate for this young man to acknowledge his hard work. Motion: To send a letter to Mr. Kelly asking where and what time event is so Board members can attend. (Amoruso/Baldwin) 5:0 passes . Email from Charlie Mulcahy regarding the Mansfield Lions Club Penny Sale on May 12th. The BOS has already approved a banner over Rt. 106 however; they would like to use an electric sign on the North Common instead. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 5 Motion: Support the Lions Club to use an electric sign in the absence of a banner. (McCue/Amoruso) 5:0 passes . The following emails are correspondence that Selectman Dentino requested be listed at the April 18th meeting. · Email from Daniel Pascucci, Riverwood Drive resident. Mr. PascucCi has problems with people speeding on Tremont St. Please see attached responses from Officer Lawson and Lee Azinheira. · Email from Keith Purrier, 81 Ware St. regarding Town Manager's policy. . Email from Stanley Gildea, Mansfield resident regarding use of town property next to hers. Selectman Dentino suggests that this would be a good Eagle project. Draft a letter to Mike Forbes for suggestions. . Email from Ron Bokleman, 861 West Street, regarding traffic, water discoloration. Please see responses from Chief O'Neil and Kurt Gaffney. . Annual senior citizen spaghetti dinner at QMS on May at 5:30pm . Without a stabilization transfer the budget is set at $20,336,971 . Discussion of various budget assessments for FY08 · Discussion of historical trends for FTE's (Full time equivalents) . Discussion of budgeted employees from various departments. . Budget reductions summary, public safety budget reduced but not staff. These reductions are in line with what the FinComm has asked the Town to get to. John is going to ask Fincomm not to support funding $300,000 to stabilization so deep budget/staff cuts are not as necessary. Selectman Amoruso asks if this affects any layoff or hirings on the school side. Mr. D'Agostino stated no, this only affects the municipal side. . FinComm Chairman Gazzolo stated that these measures are to balance the budget on the town side. The school side needs to cut significantly more to meet a balanced budget. These numbers are based on the Governors budget so they are not always accurate. Therefore, adjustments are often needed. According to Chairman Gazzolo there are two issues that the school side is not addressing. Roads bond, capital improvements funds, operational budget funds are still in play. Selectman Dentino asks about the use of operational budget funds. DPW Director Azinheira states that these funds are used for the every day maintenance of the roads and sidewalks. Selectman Dentino Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 6 asks why some of the DPW budget isn't going towards this maintenance leaving funds in the operational budget. There is some money left in the operational budget but not enough for what is needed. · Chapter 90 and CIP funds use addressed by Mr. Azinheira. A lot of the issues discussed will be covered at the FinComm meeting this coming Saturday. Mr. Azinheira will get a list of projects and funds for the Board. The Town's budget is 70 million dollars and the budget is set using the numbers provided by the Governor, House and Senate. · Selectman Dentino suggests that Mr. D'Agostino has over estimated revenue in order to balance the budget. Mr. Gazzolo and Chairman McCarter stated that they have never known the Town Manager to do this. · Town Manager's coffee hour at the COA will focus on the development of Mansfield Crossings in relation to the senior population. They will need a GATRA type of transportation needed in order to access the Town's developing retail centers. Obviously other residents would be able to utilize this service as well. . Town clean up day proposed by Mansfield resident. Residents interested in this activity please contact the Town Manager for a fall initiative. This would be administered primarily be residents and assisted by the DPW (staff, supplies perhaps). . Selectman Baldwin is concerned about a couple of issues that came up at last nights School Committee meeting. Superintendent Moretti stated that the Assessors Office did not know what they are doing and that they are costing the tax payers money. Mr. Moretti should go to the Assessors Office and discuss any misconceptions before he airs them at a public meeting. Also, the Superintendent misquoted the tax assessment rate as the rate hasn't even been set yet. Mr. Moretti owes the Assessors Office an apology for these inaccurate statements. . Selectman McCue has no additional items. · Selectman Amoruso asks about signs publicizing town elections. There are a couple of signs posted through out town and notices on cable access and the website. The election is May 8th. and town meeting is the 15th. · Selectman Dentino asks about the reductions/additions of certain FTE's. Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25,2007 7 · Motion: To extend the meeting five minutes. (Dentino) motion fails due to lack of second. Motion: To adjourn at 11:00pm (Dentino) 5-0 Passes feo~e- ~ 27~~ Signature of Clerk ;1?17~ 2tltl? Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of April 25, 2007 8