Week in Review: Dog Trial Set for 2/27, Wendy's on Fire, Mansfield After the Snowstorm, and More

Photos: Downtown Mansfield After the Storm

With few cars on the road, the downtown area of Mansfield was quiet in the early moments after the statewide traffic ban was lifted. While the roads were rough but manageable, some businesses were already getting to work clearing the sidewalks in front of their stores and workers at the commuter rail stop were clearing off the platform as the MBTA works towards their goal of restoring service by Monday.

The article features a gallery of photos taken between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Feburary 9.

Mansfield Sees Minimal Power Loss From Storm

With the worst of the storm out of the way, Town Manager Bill Ross reported few problems and power outages related to the snowstorm sweeping though the northeast.

Noting that the town is in good shape, most of the outages occurring in Mansfield were quickly repaired during Friday afternoon and evening.

Diane Beatty has owned the Café on the Common in Mansfield for over 12 years now, she said she can’t be happier in the business.

“There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “It’s the love of food and people… My grandmother was Lebonese and I used to watch her cook and I just loved it.”

Beatty said that over the years in Mansfield, the comradery between her, her staff and the town is really what kept the shop going.

“My help doesn’t really leave unless they’re going on to bigger and better things,” she said. “One’s a cosmetologist, a firefighter, a cop… They all come back and work weekends though. It feels like your having a party every day you just don’t know who’s coming.”

Mansfield Fire Extinguish Small Fire at Wendy's

Monday night, Mansfield Fire extinguished a small fire in a light fixture near the roof of the Wendy's on Copeland Drive.

A little after 7:00 p.m., the department was notified that there was smoke coming from the top of the building and had the majority of the fire extinguished at about 7:20 p.m.

Town Council: Conservation Commission Regulations May Have Been Improperly Approved

Certain regulations passed between February 8, 2010 and September 24, 2012 by the Conservation Commission may not have been approved through the proper procedure according to a new report from Mansfield Town Council John Hucksam.

Talking to the Mansfield Board of Selectmen, Hucksam said he looked though the Conservation Commission’s agendas, notices, minutes, and regulations from the nearly 32 month period after it was discovered that the commission may have improperly implemented certain regulations and amendments.

Hucksam came to the conclusion that it was not clear if the commission provided the proper notice of their public hearings or adoptions of regulations or amendments, it was not clear if the commission had proper votes assuming they had the public hearing, and it was not clear if the commission had properly voted in terms of adopting or amending their regulations.

Public Hearing for Dog Attack Set for 2/27

The Mansfield Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 last night to have a public hearing and accept a report by animal control concerning a complaint filed about a vicious dog attack.

The public hearing will take place on February 27 as recommended by Town Manager William Ross to leave time to give notice and advertise the hearing.

Filed by the lawyer of Dawn Herbert-Miller, the complaint from January 3 stems from a dog attack on Herber-Miller’s six year old son.

The bites from the dog reportedly left the child in such sever damage that he needed over 400 stitches, surgery, and ongoing treatment.

Mansfield Firefighter Assault Case Sees Change of Venue

To avoid a possible conflict of interest, a judge ruled Wednesday to transfer a case involving a Mansfield firefighter from Attleboro to Taunton District Court according to the Sun Chronicle.

The change of venue was requested to avoid assistant district attorneys who work with the Mansfield PD.

Ryan R. Palmeiri, 36, of Mansfield, is on trial after being arrested last Thursday after his wife obtained a restraining order after alleging she was pushed and threatened.

Impact on Mansfield From Planridge Racecourse Expansion Likely to be Small

After meeting with representatives from Plainridge Racecourse of Plainville, Town Manager William Ross told the Mansfield Board of Selectmen Wednesday night that he does not expect the racecourse’s planned expansion into slot machines to have a major impact on Mansfield.

Unlike the previously proposed casino resort in Foxborough, Plainridge is competing for the lone slots license in the state that would limit the racecourse to slot machines and electronic games only. There would not be any table games if Plainridge were to win the license. It is expected there will be 1,250 slot machines if the racetrack were to get the slot license.

Mansfield is unlikely to see a major increase in traffic with 90-95% of vehicles expected to come from Route 495 with maybe a small amount coming from Route 95.  Daily traffic to the racecourse is projected to be 6,534 trips a day. The projection is lower than the number of daily trips made to the Plainville Target and Lowes.