Mansfield Town Manager Says State Mandates Worsen Budget Problems

Mansfield town manager rallies against cuts in state and federal aid without cuts in unfunded mandates.

  With Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent announcement of budget cuts if the fiscal cliff falls and the consequences of the country going over the fiscal cliff looming over municipal governments like Mansfield, the town’s budget problems could get even worse. “Most economists say that if [Democrats and Republicans] don’t get past this fiscal cliff will result in a second recession,” Mansfield town manager William Ross said. Ross said that the cuts wouldn’t be that bad, [Gov. Patrick’s plan would’ve only taken $18,000] but he said it become more and more difficult to keep services on both the town and school side with increased in unfunded mandates. “The revenue streams and assistance are being cut and reduced and the mandates continue to flow,” …

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How Patrick's Half Billion in Cuts will Affect Mansfield and Other Communities in Mass.

Aide to Mansfield will go down, but requirements stay where they are.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced on Tuesday that the state government will have to cut half a billion dollars in the budget to make up for the coming fiscal cliff and slow economic growth in the Commonwealth. Mansfield will have to also shoulder the burden for these cuts, but it will not be too much of a problem, according to town and school administrators. Mansfield town manager William Ross said that while there is no one large cut to the town there are many smaller cuts that will drive some costs up for Mansfield residents. For instance, Ross said the one-percent across-the-board reduction to unrestricted local aid ($9 million in the state budget) will only take away from Mansfield about $19,000. “Now that doesn’t seem like a …

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Mansfield Phones in Dire Need of Repair

Mansfield school district and municipal phones are out of date and faulty, according to town and school officials.

The Mansfield municipal and school phone systems are out of date, according to both departments. Both school district and town officials have been saying for years now that the system was in need of replacement, but budget concerns and more necessary items in the capital budget have repeatedly pushed back the project. Schools face the hardest of the problems, as Mansfield High School principal Michael Connolly said that the phones can go down sometimes five times a day, causing headaches for administrators and parents alike. “It’s a daily routine,” he said. “If anyone remembers the dos type system, that’s what it looks like, it’s antiquated. We do the best we can, unfortunately sometimes you get a voicemail message late, sometimes you don’…

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Mansfield Selectmen Roundup: Downtown Parking, Comcast Insurance and Trash Pickup Fee Increase

The following is a summary of items discussed and voted on at the Mansfield Board of Selectmen Meeting for Sept. 5, 2012.

Mansfield Selectmen voted 4-0 (with Doug Annino absent) to approve a motion for a sign for the Animal Shelter and Friends adoption event in October, to be up from Sept. 7 to the event. Town manager William Ross and selectmen discussed the downtown-parking situation. Currently, the biggest problem is that many residents who live on North Main, Crocker Street and the Western part of Pratt Street cannot finding adequate parking. Also discussed were the implications of the new condo building currently being built on Old Colony Road. Michael Feck and Cheryl Collins interview for either a alternate position or the soon-to-be vacant planning board position to be left by Jim Ragazzo when he moves tot he Finance Committee. Selectman Jess Aptowitz …

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Mansfield Town Manager Contract Renewed, Finalized with $13,000 Raise

Mansfield town manager William Ross given a $13,000 raise.

The year after town manager William Ross was hired in Mansfield, he was offered a small raise, but he didn’t take it then. Now the Mansfield Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 to raise his salary from $130,000 to $143,000. With the yearly Mansfield Electric Stipend of $10,000 and a vehicle allowance of $5,000, Ross’s  gross pay went from $145,000 a year to $158,000 a year. This raise was independent of Ross, as it was awarded to him from the selectmen as an addition to his current contract (for the third and final year only, aka 2013) rather than a negotiated raise for a new contract. The contract was voted last Wednesday, but had been discussed and negotiated in June.

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

The following is from the Mansfield Selectmen's meeting from Aug. 22, 2012.

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 …

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New Hybrid Vehicle for Mansfield

Mansfield parking enforcement officer Steve Simons will be driving a new hybrid vehicle.

Mansfield Town Manager Wants to Stay; Selectmen Want Him to

Town manager Bill Ross wants another three years in office and Mansfield selectmen agree with him.

Mansfield town manager Bill Ross told selectmen at their last meeting he wants to stay on for another three-year term, and the four board members present responded with enthusiasm, voting to accept his letter of interest. "I welcome the opportunity to continue," Ross said, giving official notice in writing of his willingness to negotiate for another three years, as is required by his contract. Chairman Jess Aptowitz noted Ross is just finishing up his second year and said board members will be entering into a formal evaluation process soon. "We need to give him a feeling of where we need to go," Aptowitz said. Board members expressed appreciation and relief at the news. "I'm thrilled to see it," said selectman Olivier Kozlowski. "It's been…

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