Aug. 22 Mansfield Selectmen Roundup: Town Manager Contract, Fincom and Electric Department

Mansfield Selectmen appointed John Scott Freeley and Jim Rapozza to the Finance Committee. These were the final empty positions available on the board.

Selectmen approved the new three-year contract for town manager William Ross. The contract increases Ross’ salary to $143,000, with an additional $10,000 stipend for the Mansfield Municipal Electric Company and $5,000 for gas mileage.

Patrick Smith of General Code presented a plan for Mansfield to codify its bylaws in conjunction with state ordinances and reorder for current redundancies in the bylaws. The system would also make bylaws available online.

Gary Babin discussed with the Mansfield Light Commission the current state of affairs with the MMED. He said the department was $2.6 million under budget for the year from June 2011 to July 2012.

Babin also said that the solar facility is going through, and just needs more work on the lease and the interconnect to the current network.

Ross said that the new parking machines for the MBTA lot on Winthrop Street are prepping for installation.

Selectmen discussed further safety measures on the Lincoln Place development, and the issues concerning its entrance to Branch Street crossing the bike path. Current plans include concrete bollards (cylinders) placed on the two sides of the bike path, a speed bump on Branch Street and an elevated portion on the bike path to help slow people down.

Ross said that the Massachusetts State Registry is currently refusing to license many vehicles (sidewalk snowplows, back loaders, etc.) in the Mansfield Department of Public Works, even without any new legislation. The vehicles would have to be transported to work sites on a truck bed. Ross said that he is currently talking with state representatives and the Massachusetts Municipal Association to remedy the issue.

Selectmen discussed complaints from residents on Maverick Drive concerning recent chip sealing. Residents said that gravel was an issue and was getting tracked into their houses. Ross said that the town of Mansfield would not use the contractor again.

 Ross said that the insurance agreement for the Comcast Center is moving forward and currently being looked at by the now designated insurance company.