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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS 11/07/2018Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Present: Mr. Michael Trowbridge, Chairman; Mr. Jess Aptowitz, Vice -Chairman; Mr. Steve Schoonveld, Clerk; Mr. Frank DelVecchio and Mr. Neil Rhein. Mr. Kevin Dumas Town Manager and Mr. John Stanbrook, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director were also present. OF r (CE 1. Call To Order Select Board Meeting - Pledge of Allegiance 2018 `MV 2'1 pp ryry'' ''� 77 Chairman Trowbridge called the meeting to order at 6:30PM. He reminded everyone that the`Wing was being broadcast live and taped for future broadcast on Mansfield Cable. He asked if there were anY;members of the audience recording, to which the Chairman acknowledged that Mansfield New' d: 2. Quilts of Valor Presentation Mr. Michael Raymond came forward and thanked the Police Department for the $3,000 that was raised for the sale of patches and will be used for Veteran's Gift Relief Fund. Mr. Raymond then invited Ms. Karen Ivas from the Artful Hands Quilt Guild to present Quilts of Valor to four Mansfield Veterans who are now current employees of the Police and Fire Departments. Ms. Ivas presented quilts to Gary Regan, Chris Pyrez, Josh Ellander and Gregg Kennedy. Mr. Raymond then reminded everyone about the Veteran's Day parade being held on Monday, November 12t" 3. Presentation of Regional and National Police Initiatives Impacting Mansfield by Chief Sellon Chief Sellon stated that he was here tonight to update the Board on the Police Department as well as initiatives that are affecting and impacting the community. Chief Sellon stated that he has taken a collaborative multi -tier approach in his department and they are working regionally on many issues that affect the community like human trafficking and the opioid crisis. The Board asked a few questions of the Chief and thanked him for his connections nationally and locally and the work that is being done to train staff in the Police Department. 4. Consideration of Special Events Application by Boy Scouts of American Troop 17 for use of Tree Lot on West Street and Electric Fee Waiver for Their Annual Christmas Tree Fundraising Event Mr. Nathan April provided an update on what the troop has accomplished in this past year and asked for permission to use the tree lot. The Board asked a few questions and thanked the scouts for their community service that they provide to Mansfield. Motion: To approve the Special Events application for Boy Scouts Troop 17 for use of the tree lot on West Street and to waive the electric fee for their annual Christmas tree fundraising event beginning on Saturday November 17, 2018. (Schoonveld/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 S. Consideration of Common Victualler License for Pushkart Cafe located at 219 N. Main Street Ms. Kateena Almeida, Ms. Gretchen Shaughnessy and Tauna Holland came forward. Ms. Almeida explained that all three of them currently work at the Looking Glass Cafe, but the location is being torn down and therefore they are relocating to 219 N. Main Street under the new name of Pushkart Cafe. The location will be open seven days a week from 6am to 2pm and they plan to be open in December. The Board asked a few questions and wished them success. Motion: To approve the Common Victualler License for Pushkart Cafe located at 219 North Main Street. (Schoonveld/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 6. PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED from October 24th In Accordance With Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40, Section 56, The Select Board Will Hold A Public Hearing For The Purpose To Adopt The Percentages Of The Local Tax Levy To Be Borne By Each Class Of Real And Personal Property For Fiscal Year 2019 Motion: To re -open the public hearing. (Schoonveld/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Page 1 Chairman Trowbridge stated that there was correspondence from the Finance Committee about creating a subcommittee to look at tax rates. He feels that there are too many established committees, but it is something that should be looked at and would like the Finance Committee to investigate trends and studies that show what impact the tax shift may have on businesses coming into town. Secondly, he would like them to investigate trends and valuations of residential and commercial/industrial properties. He stated they should work with the Board of Assessors on this project and ideally it would be completed by March, so the Board can use this information when working on the budget in the spring. Chairman Trowbridge also stated it would be helpful to know what impact it would have if the senior work off amount was increased. Mr. Schoonveld noted that it was important to find some relief for seniors. Chairman Trowbridge stated that the tax rate is set now based on the spending that was approved at Town Meeting. He stated he was not sure what the Board wanted to do, but a policy would be that the tax rate should be equitable and fair to residences and businesses. Mr. Schoonveld stated that the Board does have a default policy which is too smooth the impact on the businesses and residents and when the shift was moved it was in years due to assessments being higher in one category than the other. Mr. Schoonveld also noted that large businesses do not feel the burden that smaller businesses do, and he did not believe the tax rate was a driver for large businesses to move to a Town or not. Mr. Schoonveld thought the split was in a good place today. Mr. Stanbrook provided data on the difference for residential, commercial and industrial if the tax shift went to 1.25 instead of 1.27. Mr. DelVecchio stated that 1.25 of 1.27 are not going to dramatically affect anyone Chairman Trowbridge handed the gavel to Mr. Aptowitz. Motion: To make the split 1.25. (Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5:0 There were no comments from the public. Motion: To close the public hearing. (Aptowitz/Schoonveld) Passes 5:0 Motion: To move the split from 1.27 to 1.25. (Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5:0 7. Discussion of Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles and Potential Vote Mr. Stanbrook provided more details about Article 6 and the individual CIP Projects that would be presented at Special Town Meeting. It was confirmed by Mr. Feely that these items were voted unanimously by CIP. Mr. Aptowitz did comment that he was not supporting payroll being processed in house based on the history of it not working well last time it was done in house and that there should be more discussion on this. Motion: To support Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting Warrant. (Schoonveld/Aptowitz) Passes 5:0 8. Discussion and Consideration of Human Resources Consolidation Town Wide Mr. Dumas provided a description of the Human Resources Consolidation plan. He stated that the School Committee has already approved the plan. He then summarized the MOU between the municipal and school bodies and that the costs would be split fifty percent between the Town and School and explained how important this department was needed for the Town, which has not had a Human Resource Department. Mr. Rhein was concerned with increasing staffing levels and asked how the needs of an HR position were being handled currently. Mr. Aptowitz provided some history of the HR position noting that the school did hire a HR Director while the Town waited for a new Town Manager to make a decision, and that the position was still being funded. Mr. Dumas explained that currently HR needs on the Town side are spread out amongst certain individuals. Mr. Schoonveld stated that it is necessary to have a strong HR Department to avoid liabilities. Mr. Schoonveld askec if these would be union positions. Mr. Dumas answered that they could not be union positions due to contract negotiations and personnel. Mr. Schoonveld then asked if he saw this being a collaborative process each year. Mr. Schoonveld noted that it would be important for the staff to have the SHRM certification credentials. Mr. Aptowitz asked if it would be possible to hire just one additional staff member instead of two. Mr. DelVecchio stated that a Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Page 2 management study was done and the Human Resources Director was filled without a lot of research. Mr. DelVecchio noted that the consultant who was hired has now provided guidance on an HR Department that had not previously been done and therefore supports this plan despite the expense. Chairman Trowbridge agreed that this was needed. He also added that it was budgeted for a management level position previously, but now there will be two specialists with a Director which will minimize the amount being spent on salaries. Motion: To approve the consolidation plan for Town and School Human Resources function and the MOU between the municipal and school elected bodies. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 9. Discussion of North Main Street Fire Station and West Street Police Station Use Mr. Dumas stated that he received information back from the State on the West Street Police Station on the earmark and the Town will be receiving a standard contract package and then the RFC. process will begin. 10. SEMRECC Update from Town Manager There was no SEMRECC update yet. 11. Resident Questions and Comments Mr. Michael Mulcahy of 454 Maple Street stated that he wanted to initiate the process for making his street designated a "no through trucking" street in the area between Franklin and Oakland Streets. Chairman Trowbridge stated the Town is currently evaluating a street now and there are a lot of criteria that needs to be met to have a street with this designation through the State. Chairman Trowbridge asked that the Town Engineer look into this. Mr. Schoonveld stated that he would like an update on Walnut Street from Mr. Azinheira. Mr. Allen Bryer 187 Copeland Drive asked if the drain issues were caused because of a lack of maintenance or if there are things being put in the system that should not be there. Chairman Trowbridge answered that businesses previously were not required to have grease traps. Mr. Bryer was not a fan on accepting streets as public ways. Chairman Trowbridge answered that it is part of Massachusetts General Laws that subdivisions need to be and if Towns are not accepting them it could be done as part of a special permit process. 12. Review and Approve Consent Agenda All items on the Consent Agenda may be adopted with a single motion. Any member of the Select Board may request that an item be withdrawn from the Consent Agenda for separate consideration in which case that item will be voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda. All licenses have been routed through Town Hall Departments and any conditions have been noted below. a) Approval of Select Board Meeting Minutes for: • October 24, 2018 b) Vote To Approve Warrants: • Town Vendor Warrant No. 19018T in the amount of $75,408.80 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 19018E in the amount of $76,668.56 • School Vendor Warrant No. 190185 in the amount of $719,363.52 • Town Vendor Warrant No. 19019T in the amount of $525,831.87 • Electric Vendor Warrant No. 19019E in the amount of $22,916.28 c) Permits and License • Consideration of 2019 Lodging House License Renewal for Fulton Place located at 17 Fulton Place pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Common Victualler License Renewal for Cousins Pizza and Subs pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Common Victualler and Entertainment License Renewal for Dunkin Donuts at 45 Chauncy Street pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Common Victualler and Entertainment License Renewal for Dunkin Donuts at 321 School Street pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Page 3 • Consideration of 2019 Common Victualler and Entertainment License Renewal for Dunkin Donuts at 4 South Main Street pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Common Victualler and Entertainment License Renewal for Dunkin Donuts at 905 South Main Street pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Annual Wine and Malt Retail License for Vasudev Corporation dba Town News pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of 2019 Annual Wine and Malt Retail License for Kanku, Inc. dba The Store pending routing through Public Safety and Town Hall Departments • Consideration of Application from the Chabad Jewish Center of Mansfield for a Menorah to be placed on South Common from November 25, 2018 -December 17, 2018 d) Proclamations • Eagle Scout Sean Burke • Eagle Scout John Corboy • Eagle Scout Joshua Griffin • Eagle Scout Anthony Krouskos • Proclamation for Leaf Boutique Motion: To approve the consent agenda. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 13. Consideration and Approval of Town Payroll Warrants: • Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 19018PT in the amount of $394,194.58 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 19018PT in the amount of $394,194.58. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 4:0:1 (Aptowitz Abstained) • Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 19018TV in the amount of $119,547.02 Motion: To approve Deductions Vendor Payroll 19018TV in the amount of $119,547.02. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 4:0:1 (Aptowitz Abstained) • School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 19018PS in the amount of $1,695,416.77 Motion: To approve School Payroll/School Medicaid Payroll 19018PS in the amount of $1,695,416.77. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 • School Deductions Vendor Payroll 19018SV in the amount of $543,485.86 Motion: To approve School Deductions Vendor Payroll 19018SV in the amount of $543,485.86. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 • Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 19019PT in the amount of $368,779.20 Motion: To approve Town Payroll/Town Medicaid Payroll 19019PT in the amount of $368,779.20. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 4:0:1 (Aptowitz Abstained) • Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 19019TV in the amount of $110,765.28 Motion: To approve Town Deductions Vendor Payroll 19019TV in the amount of $110,765.28. (Schoonveld/DelVecchio) Passes 4:0:1 (Aptowitz Abstained) 14. Correspondence • Letter from Bristol County Agricultural High School of Tuition Payments • Letter from Southeastern Regional School District with Invitation to Annual Open House • Letter from BETA on Intersection and Signal Improvement • Letter from Mr. Michael Mulcahy Mr. Schoonveld read a summary of the above correspondence items. Mr. Schoonveld also summarized a letter from Mr. Michael Feck sent to the Board today that they accepted as part of correspondence at this meeting. 15. Town Manager's Report Mr. Dumas updated the Board on paving that has been delayed due to weather. Mr. Dumas stated that he has initiated discussions with the Health Department and DPW to be able to get businesses on a regular inspection cycle Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Page 4 as well as implementing the new regulations for fats, oils and greases that were adopted by the Board of Health. This will help avoid some of the problems in the collection system that have occurred. Mr. Dumas stated that he has recorded a piece at Mansfield Cable Access on the school security issues with the Superintendent and Fire Chief. Mr. Dumas stated that he was at the bio -incubator for their Anniversary event and they are fully occupied and looking to expand, which is exciting for the Town. Mr. Dumas stated that he sent a request to the MBTA to try and get back some of the parking spaces for the winter months that were originally taken for construction. 16. Select Board Member's Questions and Comments Mr. Rhein thanked Mr. Dumas for his involvement with the bio -incubator, noting that it was great for economic development. Mr. Rhein stated the community service awards nomination form was available on the Town's webpage and due by December 3, 2018. Mr. Rhein announced that the Veteran's Parade will be Monday at 10am and the Elks are hosting a party on Friday evening. He also said that the Special Town Meeting was Tuesday evening. Mr. Schoonveld asked how the update to the Town Charter was going from the ballot questions. Mr. Dumas answered that the Town Clerk is working on that process and everything should be completed by year end. Mr. Schoonveld asked how many resumes came in for the Town Accountant position and the status of the search. Mr. Stanbrook answered that eight resumes came in and he is in the process of reviewing them. Mr. Schoonveld then stated that the deadline for Board and Committees applications is November 21't and that he is happy to see construction at the Benny's location. Mr. Aptowitz stated that the Halloween parade was cancelled due to inclement weather, but the Police Department did a great job hosting a haunted house and commends the staff that helped with the event. Mr. Aptowitz then stated that he received a thank you letter from the Mayor of Tallahassee Florida for the Electric Department staff that came to Florida to help with hurricane repairs. Mr. Aptowitz then asked about the reimbursement from SMHG and Mr. Schoonveld answered that they are waiting for the audit to be completed. Lastly, Mr. Aptowitz asked if the Town was staying on top of outstanding detail invoices and Mr. Dumas confirmed that they are. Mr. DelVecchio stated that Boards and Committees applications are due and noted that even though preference may be given to those who are reapplying he encouraged everyone to apply. Mr. DelVecchio then commented that he was excited that the process of setting the tax rate and valuations will be looked at in depth collectively. Chairman Trowbridge asked if the Special Town Meeting post on the website could stand out more with a different color text. Mr. Dumas stated that he will look into that and with the new website these notifications will be pushed automatically from the system to those residents that select to get notifications. 17. Any items not anticipated by the Chairman 48 hours prior to this meeting There were no items. 18. Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the November 7, 2018 Select Board meeting at 9:28PM. (Aptowitz/DelVecchio) Passes 5:0 '44vzloal Signature Minutes prepared by Carrie Champagne it /7,f/7(;//J Date Select Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2018 Page 5