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Home My WebLink AboutSELECTMENminutes05092007-20070531122442 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9, 2007 Present: Louis Amoruso Chairman, Vice Chairman Sandra Levine, Clerk Ann Baldwin Selectman George Dentino, Selectman David McCarter John D'Agostino, Town Manager The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:30pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion: To nominate Louis Amoruso Chairman. (McCarter/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Motion: To nominate Sandra Levine Vice-Chairman (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:1 passes (Dentino nay) Motion: To nominate Ann Baldwin Clerk (Levine/McCarter) 5:0 passes Motion: To nominate David McCarter Electric Commissioners Chairman (Baldwin/Levine) 5:0 passes Motion: To nominate George Dentino Electric Commissioners Vice Chairman (McCarter/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Motion: To nominate Ann Baldwin Electric Commissioners Clerk (McCarter/Levine) 5:0 passes Suggestion from Selectman Levine to reorganize the agenda bringing the Town Managers up on the agenda with weekly business. Chairman Amoruso agrees that this would be a good idea. Congratulations from Selectman Dentino to Sandy and Ann for getting elected. Chairman Amoruso also thanked the candidates that ran and did not get elected at this time. Peter Detrolio, congratulations to Sandy and Ann on their election to the Board. Dan Donovan, questions about tax abatements for active military service. This issue will be looked into with the appropriate people. Superintend Moretti and School Committee present. Jim Lazarra, Finance Committee member spoke regarding carrying cost of $100,000 extra in the school for extra school dept. expenses regarding the 3.4 net increase of school staff. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 1 Selectman Dentino and Levine asked about the possibility of an operational override in the Fall. Superintendent Moretti stated that their current budget is $36,530,000 and the FinComm would like them to be at $35,480,000. They have just reduced $780,000 from their budget this evening and don't anticipate they will be able to make any further cuts. Superintendent Moretti stated that the Town Manager, FinComm and School Committee should meet in Sept/Oct 2007 and come up with revenue plans on how to handle future growth in population and costs. An override may be avoided this year but most likely not next or perhaps the follow year. The teachers union should be commended as they have given up a lot in this contract cycle to help the Town through this tough budget year. The Superintendent suggests the Board meet with the School Committee/Superintendent in Executive Session to discuss strategy in union negotiations. Motion: To convene to Executive Session. (McCarter/Levine). Motion withdrawn. Selectman Levine asks Superintendent Moretti about how School Committee budgets are appropriated and spent. The public can have a difficult time understanding the school budget as it is not broken down like the municipal side. Superintendent Moretti stated it is a 33 million dollar budget and the public has every good reason not to understand it at first look. Complete budgets are available at the school dept. and the public is invited to all school committee meetings. The public also elects towns' people to the School Committee for oversight of all budget proceedings. Superintendent Moretti will meet with the Town Manager tomorrow instead. The Superintendent, Town Manager and FinComm will be working right up until town meeting to balance the budget. The gap closes with every meeting as numbers are crunched and firmed up. Trelleborg, Emerson, Cuming Inc. Manager Lew Reed present. Motion: To open public hearing. (McCarter/Amoruso) 5:0 passes Question from Selectman Dentino if this is a renewal. No, the company just moved to Mansfield in March. Chairman Amoruso stated the restrictions of the Flammables License that were imposed by the Fire Dept. The applicant is aware of the license restrictions. Selectman Levine asked if the Spanish speaking employees read fluent English so they are able to properly handle and store flammables. Mr. Reed stated they do and signage is also written in Spanish as well as English. Motion: To close hearing. (Levine/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Motion: To approve license with restrictions noted from Fire Dept. (McCarter/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9.2007 2 Ken Gay, Chair, CIP, present Article 21: Support of $60,000 for the School Science Labs. Bond Counsel advised the remaining $200,000 will be brought up at the Fall Town meeting due to an error in the warrant article. Article 22: Support of various Capital Improvements for the Engineering Dept. in the amount of $114,000. Article 23: Support of various Capital Improvements for the DPW. Withdrawn Article 24: Support of construction of Phase 1 upgrade of the WPCF. Article 25: Support of $30,000 for rehab of highway dump trucks. Article 26: Funds for design and bidding of DPW and MEMA facilities. Withdrawn Article 27: Support of sewer repairs at N. Main St Fire Station in the amount of $65,000 Article 28: Support of Animal Control truck in the amount of $25.000 Article 29: Support of MIS Dept $19,500 for MUNIS software. This software will enable the town and school bills payable to combine. Article 30: Support of Recreation Dept. Plymouth St. fields $35,000. The Board thanks Mike Trowbridge for volunteering engineering services. Selectman Dentino brought up issue of poor drainage in the area. This field will need a lot of site work and then a well, not the other way around as presented. The Recreation Dept. has asked for a well/shed and work will also be done on the site as funds are available. Article 31: Support of kitchen improvements at Plymouth St. Fire Station Article 34: School Street Sewer project needs to be bid again in the fall due to high estimates. Motion: To reconsider article. (Baldwin/McCarter) 5:0 passes Motion: To withdraw article. (Levine/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 3 Lee Azinheira DPW Director, Kurt Gaffney Water Operations Manager and Ken Hackett of Wastewater were present. Mr. Azinheira gave a brief overview of water rates for FY08. Recommendation that water rates be increased by 4 'Yo for FY08. The average increase statewide is over 10%. The water dept. has been a number of large projects over the past couple of years and the water quality is now exceptional. Selectman Baldwin has no further questions, Selectman McCarter asked about water conservation measures, Selectman Levine asks about publication of water uses, conservation, rates for different levels of consumption. There is a publication sent out every year to residents and the dept. also sponsors a low flow toilet replacement rebate program. Selectman Dentino asks about line item 5140 & 5141 budget numbers in 2007. There were also questions on how internal service charges are arrived at. These calculations are determined by the Dept. Managers and Town Account. Mr. Azinheira and Mr. D'Agostino state there are always adjustments right up until the last minute of the budget process. Motion: To approve 4'Yo in FY08 water rates. (Baldwin/Levine) 5:0 passes Mr. Azinheira gave a brief overview of the proposed FY08 sewer rates. He is recommending a 20'Yo sewer rate increase for FY08 as previously presented last spring at the May 2006 Annual Town Meeting. Sewer increases have greatly fluctuated over the past years throughout the Commonwealth. Mansfield sewer increases are still lO'Yo under the statewide average. Motion: To approve 20'Yo in FY08 sewer rates. ((Baldwin/Levine) 4:1 passes (McCarter nay) . Town Meeting warrant articles discussion Article 1: Town budget of $35,148,120.10 Motion: To approve town budget (Dentino/Baldwin) 4:0:1 passes (Levine abstain) Article 2: Budget, school side, no action Article 3: School override proposal, no action Article 5: To see if the Town will vote to raise from water enterprise revenue or transfer from avail. funds the sum of $3,847,323.01 to defray the expenses of the Water Enterprise, for FY07. Motion: Move to support. (McCarter/Baldwin) 5:0 passes Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 4 Article 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise from water enterprise revenue or transfer from avail. funds the sum of $3,338,632.72 to defray the expenses of the wastewater Enterprise account, for FY07. Motion: (Baldwin/McCarter) 4:0:1 Levine abstains Article 7: Wastewater Depreciation Trust Fund phase I improvements. Motion: Withdrawn Article 9: Parking enterprise revenue in the sum of $370,000. Motion: Move to support (Baldwin/McCarter) 4:0:1 Levine abstains Article 12: Building Inspector's Department. To authorize a revolving inspection account with expenditures of up to $200,000. Motion: Move to support. (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0:1 Levine abstains Article 14: Actuarial study to comply with GASB Statement 45. Motion: Move to support (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0:1 Levine abstains Article 18: Schools Pupil Transportation contract, No action Article 19: Schools property lease agreement, No action Article 20: Free cash into stabilization. Withdrawn Articles 21 - 31: Capital Improvements committee. No action taken on these articles Article 32: Extension of the School Street Sewer Interceptor in the sum of $400,000 Motion: withdrawn Article 33: Extension of a gravity line within the Cabot Business Park in the sum of $55,000. No action. Motion: withdrawn Article 35: Flooding problems with Hodges Brook at School Street in the sum of $45,000. Motion: withdrawn Article 36: Easements and land takings for Rt. 106 underpass reconstruction. Motion: withdrawn Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 5 Article 39: Zoning By-Law change. No action Article 40: Zoning By-Law change. No action Article 41: Zoning By-Law change. Motion: withdrawn Article 42: Zoning By-Law change. No action Article 45: Zoning By-Law change. Motion: withdrawn · Warrant No. 45 in the amount of $2,270,093.19 Motion: To approve warrant No. 45 in the amount of $2,270,093.19 (Baldwin/Levine) 4:0:1 Passes (Mr. McCarter abstaining from check #369853) · Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of May 2, 2007 Motion: To approve Board of Selectmen minutes of May 2, 2007 (Baldwin/Dentino) 3:0:2 passes (Levine/Amoruso abstain) · Approved Wine & Malt License for BOAH LLC dba Courtside Pub received from ABCC. Motion: to resign license (Amoruso/Baldwin) Levine abstain 4:0:1 passes · Seven Day Entertainment license for Tweeter Center. Contract was signed last week. Motion: Move to approve (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0:1 (Levine abstain) · Commercial parking facility license for Tweeter Center. The parking lot capacity of 611 vehicles is the same as last year. Motion: Move to approve (McCarter/Baldwin) 4:0:1 (Levine abstain) · Flammables license for Trelleborg Emerson Cuming Inc. Approved at hearing. · Citation for Eagle Scout Alex Proal. This young man will be honored on May 14th 7p.m at the Congregational Church. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 6 · Letter from Roxanne Donovan, Treasurer/Collector regarding Final Judgment from Land Court on 100 & 104 Elyse Rd. The mortgage holder would like to redeem the properties and pay all back taxes. Motion: To accept redemption of properties. (Dentino/McCarter) 5:0 passes · Memo from John Sullivan, Town Engineer regarding Town of Mansfield Boundary Markers. As required by the MGL the Selectmen need to document the boundary check by signing the letter. Motion: To sign boundary check. (McCarter/Levine) 5:0 passes · Resignation letter from Marilyn Lewis of the Fair Housing/Local Housing Partnership Committee. Ms. Lewis intends to stay on as Director of the Mansfield Housing Corporation. Motion: To accept resignation and send thank you letter. (McCarter/Levine) 5:0 passes · Letter from SRPEDD Comprehensive Planner, Sandy Conaty. In August 2006 the State Legislature passed "An Act Relative to Streamlining and Expediting the Permitting Process in the Commonwealth." A municipality that opts to participate in Chapter 43D Streamlined Permitting has a wide number of options available to them. · Letter from Ian Bowles, Commonwealth of MA Secretary regarding DCS FY08 grant funds for Self-Help Programs and for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program. · Notice about 20th annual Canoe River Awareness Day. This event will be held on Saturday, May 12th from 8:30am to Noon at the Easton Water Division on Red Mill Road. · Thank you letter from Robert Jon Golder, President of NEFFA for welcoming organization to Town for their 63rd New England Folk Festival. The event was a huge success and they look forward to coming to Mansfield again next year · Letter from Attorney Edward Valanzola regarding Pinnacle Partners sewer tie in issues on School Street. This letter has been forwarded to Town Counsel for review. Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 7 · Special town meeting, article 1 budget # changes. Motion: To accept changes as provided. (Levine/Baldwin) 5:0 passes · The total town budget as it stands today is $32,808,732.45 · Town Manager COA coffee hour is well attended and Mr. D'Agostino encourages the Selectmen to participate when they can. · June 11, 2007 at 7:30pm for the next Light Commissioners Meeting. · Selectman Dentino stated that people really seemed to enjoy the Folk Festival. He also may not be able to attend town meeting as there was a death in the family and he may not be in state. · The Chairman and Town Manager congratulate the ladies of the Board in their election. They look forward to working with them. All articles voted except article 16 Motion: To adjourn at 1O:50PM (McCarter) 5-0 Passes ~ ~~~$~~m Signature of Clerk ~7~ 2tltl? Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of May 9,2007 8