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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes05022007-20070511115618 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 Present: Chairman David McCarter, 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 7:00pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mass Highway Representative Skip McCourt. Representatives Barrows and Poirier, Tim O'Neil from Senator Timilty's office were also present. Rep. Poirier and Rep. Barrows gave a brief synopsis of the history of attempting to obtain a right hand turn into Mansfield Crossings from Rt. 140 over the past few years. Mr. McCourt spoke about the timeline of handling this issue. Goals of Mass Highway have been to meet the needs of local traffic as well interchange traffic from Rt. 495 & Rt. 95. Having a curb cut so close to the highway interchange would be too hazardous for the traffic flow that is anticipated in that area. After significant study it was determined that there were too many safety and operational issues in this confined area of Rt. 140 to continue with the process of obtaining the necessary permits for constructing a right hand turn into Mansfield Crossings from Rt. 140. There have been several meetings between Mass Highway and Federal Highway to attempt to come up with alternative solutions to this problem. They were unfortunately unsuccessful in their attempts to reconfigure any designs that would be feasible. Mr. D'Agostino gave a brief overview of the town's negotiations with Mass Highway over the past few years. Town Officials have been under the impression over the years that a right hand turn into the shopping plaza would be constructed, it just hadn't been determined how. The Town has not had contact with Federal Highway regarding this problem and he wishes that the Town knew two years age that Federal Highway was not going to grant a right hand turn from Rt. 140 in the plaza. Mr. McCourt stated that a traffic monitoring program will be installed at the mall for the next five years and that if significant safety issues are present on School Street an entrance from Rt. 140 will be revisited. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 Mr. Massiello from W/S Development spoke about problems that have been encountered over the past years. His firm will pay for a right hand turn into the mall if it happens in the future. Selectman Dentino stated that he read all the contracts and documents and hasn't seen a written promise from Mass Highway for this curb cut. Selectman McCue stated that he was also at the meeting Mr. D'Agostino referenced and he too was also under the impression that a right hand turn was going to be constructed. The Special Permit that was issued to the Developer was largely predicated on obtaining the right hand turn off Rt. 140 into the mall. Without this additional entrance traffic will back up for miles. Selectman Baldwin thanked the Highway Dept. representatives for coming in and bringing people that were not around up to speed. She asked if the Town will have to wait 5 years for another look at the situation if it is evident sooner that there is a problem. Mr. McCourt stated that they would not necessarily have to wait the full five years if problems were immediately apparent. Mr. D'Agostino asked Mr. McCourt about traffic use of double u-turns on School St. School Street is not designed for this however it will happen and cause problems. Some of this traffic congestion will be alleviated with the addition of another ramp by the Tweeter Center down the Highway a bit but this will not be for quite a few years. Chairman McCarter thanked the Mass Highway representatives for coming and explaining the full scope of the issue. The Board will be in contact with them for further discussion. Citation read and presented from Representatives Barrows and Poirier congratulating him on all his years of service. The reps. thanked Mike for his six years of community service and they appreciate his contribution to the community. Chairman McCarter also presented Selectman McCue with a plaque commemorating his years of service. He expressed his gratitude for all his years of service to the Town. He then told a short story about how he met Mike and how he has enjoyed serving with him through the years. Selectman McCue thanked Mr. McCarter for his kind words and expressed his happiness in serving the Town. He will miss the Board and Mr. D'Agostino and has learned a great deal from them all. However, due to family concerns he cannot run for the Board again at this time. Selectman McCue also recognized former Selectman Dolan for his contributions to the Board and himself. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 2 Superintendent Moretti stated that the Finance Committee has greatly helped them in reducing their budget numbers. However, their educational needs are still outstripping their resources. They will be meeting again next week and hope to be able to come back to the Board with a balanced budget but they do not believe they will be able to do that with a 1.1 million gap in their budget. Chairman McCarter asked the Superintendent and Chairman Gazzolo if they believe this is a one year flux or will this be a reoccurring problem with finances. They both believe that this is unfortunately an ongoing problem that will not be fixed in one year. Selectman McCue asked Superintendent Moretti if he feels that the State is under funding the Town through the changing educational funding formulas. He does not; the Town is just growing and needs additional revenue. Superintendent Moretti suggested a few ideas for enhancing revenue, the use of override funds and drawing on stabilization funds. Selectman McCue would be in support of some mixture of use of override and stabilization funds. However, any funds used should also support the municipal side as well as the schools. This is not necessarily the solution but just a piece of a possible solution. Chairman Gazzolo states that the problem as he sees it is that revenues are up/stable but costs are also way up. The State and Federal Government have passed down unfunded mandates for years now and towns can't keep up with the services required of them. There needs to be a change in the formulas or in funding from the State/Federal Government for these mandates. Selectman Dentino states that he does not believe in using stabilization funds for operational expenditures. Selectman McCue stated again that he also does not support using solely stabilization funds. He believes in using a mixture funds to get the Town over hard times. Chairman McCarter stated that he would like to see two school committee budgets presented to the Board. One with an override and one without. Chairman McCarter has not been in favor of an override in the past and will not most likely this year either. However; if Town Meeting approves an override he will not stand in the way of putting the question of the ballot. Superintendent Moretti thanked the Board & the FinComm for their time and hard work. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 3 · Warrant No. 44 in the amount of $2,885,003.51 Motion: To approve warrant No. 44 in the amount of $$2,885,003.51 (Baldwin/McCue) 4:0 Passes (Mr. McCarter abstaining from check #369488) (Selectman Baldwin abstaining from school dept payroll) · Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of April 25,2007 Motion: To approve Board of Selectmen minutes of April 25,2007 (Baldwin/McCue) 3:0:1 passes · Approved Wine and Malt License for BOAH LLC dba Courtside Pub received from ABCC. Motion: To sign approved license. (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Approved wine and malt package store license for D'Arpino's Quality Foods received from ABCC. Motion: To sign approved license. (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Memo from Kurt Gaffney, Water Operations Manager. The DEP's Drinking Water Program recently named the Town of Mansfield, Water Division as the winner of a Public Water System Award for Excellence for the calendar year 2006. · Update from Non Profit Gift Fund Committee. Outline of suggested fund uses. Motion: To authorize $20,000 to the ambulance fund. (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 Passes Motion: Vote to approve recommendations from the committee to distribute funds. Government requests granted in the amount of $35,699 (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Motion: Vote to approve recommendations from the committee to distribute funds. School requests granted in the amount of $25,831 (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Motion: Vote to approve recommendations from the committee to distribute funds. Misc. other requests granted in the amount of $21,750 (McCue/Baldwin) 4:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 4 · Have committee draft up letters to all recipients and give to BOS Secretary for Correspondence to the Board. (for signatures) · Letter from Michael Rodrigues, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. Letter outlines legislative language that must be used when petitioning the State for more licenses. · Memo from Town Engineer John Sullivan regarding the fourth annual Report of Storm water NPDES Permits. · Letter from Police Chief Arthur O'Neill regarding April 24th traffic back up and closure of Rt. 140 and School St. · Donation of $150 raffle funds towards Relay for Life event from Town hall employee function. · Review of cuts in Fire Dept. FY08 budget. However the dept. has been able to avoid a reduction in staff. · Budget talk: Governors budget, house budge and mid point. See handout for # The Town Manager and School Superintendent have met frequently to seek a balanced budget. · Review of Budget Reductions Summary sheet. · Discussion of Stabilization/Free Cash numbers from 2002-March 2007. There is currently $1,559,049.32 in Stabilization. · Discussion of union contract negotiations. The contracts are going to be finalized and signed soon. · Selectman Dentino suggests that the union negotiations for school and municipal groups be done collaboratively. The process needs to be streamlined so budgets are not going down to the wire before town meeting. · Chairman McCarter stated that this issue comes up every year and every year we are crunching budget numbers a week before Town Meeting. Mr. D'Agostino would like to move up the beginning of the budget process to allow for more time, however; the state does not release their budget until later in the year so it is still a best guestimate come to Town Meeting time. · Selectman McCue stated that it has been a great six years on the Board. · Selectman Baldwin stated that she was at CIP last night and the Fire Dept. exhaust system is and would definitely be used. Fumes from the garage have Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 5 been a problem for years and Selectman Baldwin does not want to see the staff have their health endangered for yet another year. Selectman McCue stated that he is aware of grant resources that might provide funding for an updated exhaust system. He will speak with Chief Bellavance to see if they are pursuing this avenue. · Chairman McCarter stated that on May 14th there is a meeting with the Bristol County Sheriff to discuss past, present and future of the Sheriff's Dept. Motion: To adjourn at 1O:07pm (McCue) 5-0 Passes feo~e- ~ Z7~fflt, Signature of Clerk ~7~ 2tJtJ? Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 2, 2007 6