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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSELECTMENminutes08082007-20070911144354 Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 Present: Chairman Louis Amoruso, Vice Chairman Sandra Levine, Clerk Ann Baldwin, Selectman George Dentino, John D'Agostino, Town Manager The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order at 7:30pm, and then convened to Executive Session. The meeting resumed at 8:20pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Selectman Dentino suggested the Bas meeting should adjourn and resume at Light Commissioners as the statement to be read and case to be discussed is Electric Dept. business. Motion: To adjourn BaS meeting at 8:25pm (Levine/Baldwin) 4:0 passes Acting Vice Chairman Dentino opened Light Comm. meeting and stated that he wanted the Clerk to read the statement however he wanted to comment on the fact that he was very disturbed by the removal of questions and comments from the agenda thus denying the people a voice and reinstated it on the agenda. Selectman Baldwin stated that the Board has been advised by counsel not to comment on this case due to the pending final judgment. Motion: To adjourn Light Commissions meeting at 8:27pm (Amoruso/Levine) Dentino nay 3:0 passes Selectman Levine asked the audience to listen to the statement to be read by Chairman Amoruso as it will help the public to understand what is happening. Chairman Amoruso advised the audience that if they became unruly or disruptive they will be asked to leave the meeting. Bas statement about Electric Dept. court case read by Chairman Amoruso. Selectman Levine and Baldwin stated why questions and comments were removed from agenda (case is not over and litigation is still pending). Selectman Levine further stated that the Board will not comment at this time not because they don't want to but they have been advised not to discuss the case in order to protect the Town from further admonishment from the federal judge. The Board is truly looking after the best interests of the people of Mansfield. Whether or not you believe it; it is the truth. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 1 Selectman Dentino stated he does not believe for one minute that the Board is hamstrung from speaking about the case nor about the decision in denying the people a voice. There are important questions from the community and they are being purposely stifled. He is trying to represent the people of the town and believes that they are being silenced by not having Q&C. Chairman Amoruso and Selectman Levine stated that is not true and Selectman Dentino must not have attended the same meeting they did when counsel advised the Board not to discuss the case until after final judgment. Selectman Dentino stated that he was at the meeting but did not agree with counsels' advice. He further stated that the Board does not have to follow recommendation of counsel if they do not believe in it. Selectman Baldwin asked Attorney Mangiaratti to reiterate the advice the legal team gave to the Board for the audience's sake. Attorney Mangiaratti stated the reasons they believe the Board should not comment on the case at this time. · Bay State Gas piping and pavement issues in Back Bay area of town. The DPW is working on resolving the issues as soon possible. · CDBG Block Grant update. This grant was awarded to the Town in the amount of $799,200.00 in three different blocks. $220,500.00 for the Community Development Program that will assist 8-10 low income residential property owners. $204,000.00 to the group home building rehab on S. Main Street that is run by the Mansfield Housing Authority. Mr. D'Agostino stated although this building is owned by the State and not run by the Town they have been awarded funds as they were part of the grant application from the beginning. The people that live in this group home are Mansfield residents just like anyone else. Selectman Dentino believes that the mental health group home building is state owned so Mansfield shouldn't be spending money on it. $191,500.00 is dedicated to the downtown building fa<;ade part of the grant. 3-4 of the 10 eligible buildings should be able to be worked on this grant cycle. These buildings have been classified as poor and fair condition by the grant language and the buildings that are in the poorest shape will get priority. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 2 · Warrant No. 05 in the amount of $624,594.94 Motion: To approve warrant No. 05 in the amount of $624,594.94 (Levine/Baldwin) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) · Warrant No. 06 in the amount of $4,179,966.66 Motion: To approve warrant No. 06 in the amount of $4,179,966.66 (Levine/Baldwin) 3:0:1 passes (Dentino abstains) · Board of Selectmen Session meeting minutes of July 25, 2007 Motion: For discussion. (Baldwin/Dentino) Several amendments from Selectman Dentino on pages I, 2, 3. Minutes will be held for next meeting. · Application for Hackney license for Hugh MacDonald. Motion: Move to approve. (Dentino/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Fee waiver request from Town Engineer John Sullivan. Phase II & III School St. sewer extension. Phase II is 170 feet out to bottom of tracks and Phase III is underneath to Hampshire Street. Selectman Dentino inquired to why the Board is being asked to waive fees for a project that hasn't even gone out to bid yet. Mr. D'Agostino explained that this request is in anticipation of the bid going out in the near future. Motion: Move to approve as noted. (Dentino/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Request for block party permission from the residents of Bella Vista Ave on Sept. 8th. Event time from 3pm to 8pm. Motion: To approve request for block party. (Levine/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Letter from Edward Bancroft, S. Coast Motors President. They are applying to the State to be a Registered Motor Vehicle Repair Shop and are requesting that the Selectmen sign off on their recommendation for a state repair license. Motion: Move to sign letter of recommendation. (Levine/Baldwin) 3:0 passes · Memo from Betty Amicone regarding Mass Recycles paper campaign. The Selectmen need to adopt this resolution to be a part of the program. (DPW approves of this program) Motion: Get explanation of program from Betty on who target audience is and discuss at later meeting. Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 3 · Letter from Stephen Spilewski requesting stop sign at the intersection of River and Howe Streets. (Officer Lawson has been notified 8-6-07 of request) Motion: Put off for next week after info received from Lance. · Letter from Treasurer/Collector Roxanne Donovan regarding Bond anticipation note. (She has summarized in her letter as the loan docs will not be avail. until Wednesday.) Motion: To accept Bond anticipation note as presented (Levine/Baldwin) 4:0 passes · Letter of resignation from Stacy Howard of the Animal Welfare Committee. Motion: To accept resignation and send thank you letter. Post opening. (Levine/Dentino) 4:0 passes No Q& C this meeting · Old business from Chairman Amoruso: None · Old business from Selectman Dentino: Questions about Gourmet to Go. About a month ago Selectman Dentino expressed concerns about the setup of this business. Issues with a lack of grease trap and dishwasher. Mr. D'Agostino stated again that this was a state owned property but he has consulted with staff about the issues and has notified GA TRA and will follow up. Selectman Dentino is concerned with untreated water going into the sewer system. Mr. D'Agostino will get Selectman Dentino all the correspondence and information regarding this situation tomorrow morning. At the last meeting Selectman Dentino asked about employee vacation time. According to his records 50 municipal employees have six weeks vacation. He doesn't believe that union contracts should supersede town policy. The Town Manager shouldn't bargain outside of the policy. Employees are limited to 5 weeks of vacation per town policy. Mr. D'Agostino explained that the Town Personnel Policy covers benefits for non union personnel and the individual union contracts dictate benefits for their union membership. Selectman Dentino does not believe that is the case. Selectman Levine asks Selectman Dentino to talk to Mr. D'Agostino tomorrow about this issue and come back to the Board with a report so they can all have the information he has. Selectman Dentino would also like to know where the signed union contracts from July 2006 are. Fire contract in headed for arbitration. Mr. D'Agostino will give Selectman Dentino what he has without all the signatures. Mr. D'Agostino notes Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 4 that not all of the contracts have been totally executed by local union headquarters. They are however signed by him and the union representatives. There are 12 unions involved and most have just come to an agreement recently. · Old business from Selectman McCarter: None · Old business from Selectman Baldwin: None · Old business from Selectman Levine: None · New business from Selectman Levine: She wants a meeting or time each month to address resident concerns. Lou stated we will do that in September. · New business from Selectman Baldwin: CIP looking for priorities from BOS so they can get a jump on budget planning. · New business from Selectman Dentino: Staff meetings held on Friday and twice on Monday and George was disparaged by John during the meetings and publicly. He wants him to admit it publicly and apologize. He is very upset by these blatant lies. Mr. D'Agostino stated that he was not in the office on Friday and only held one staff meeting on Monday morning. He denies these accusations and stated that staff meetings are not public. · New business from Chairman Amoruso: None · New business from Selectman McCarter: None Motion: To adjourn at 9:40PM (Baldwin) 4-0 Passes ~~~~$a-Mvm Signature of Clerk au,~2L; 2~~? Date of Approval Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 8, 2007 5