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Home My WebLink AboutFCMeetingMinutes_03.31.16 tee, TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date March 31,2016 Meeting Location: Police Station Community Meeting Room Bill Callahan, BC Chairman X Susan Almono, SA X Donald Elliot, DE Vice Chair Timothy Tschirhart, TT X Karin Blake, KB X Liz Gerron, LG X Thomas Ringler, TR X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Chris Nobile, CN X Jennifer Goldman, JG X John Simons(Simons), Community Preservation Chair Vanessa K.Johnson(Johnson),Assistant Director of Green Belt Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table,herein. Discussion starts on or about 6:51 pm/0:01:10 on video time TT: Made a motion to accept JG: Second the Motion All in favor BC: Pointed out that there was a typo(spelling)on the page that included the Vote on FYI Financial Budget Warrant Article# 14. LG: Made a motion to approve as amended(correct typo) KB: Second the motion All in favor. 1 March 31,2016 i Discussion starts on or about 6:55 PMI 0:04:10 on video time BC: Delighted to have you back(to Simons) Simons: Thank you we are excited about our projects. We received an unprecedented number of proposals this year,more than we have had in the past. The total dollar value came to 10 million dollars. But we decided to pass on several large land projects for this year for a variety of reason. Simons: stated our approach in terms of the money is to carry a balance in the funds and spend it down within a range but we never want to bring it down to zero. This year we are taking in a little over 2 million dollars in new funds, but we are actually going to spend more than that, but we are still going to have a reasonable balance left in the funds,just in case a big project comes up in the future. Simons: Stated that we have been working with the Town Manager and we decided to get a little formal this year in terms of some of our projects where we issue Grant letters (laying out terms and conditions of projects). Discussion starts on or about 6:58 PMI 0:07:10 on video time Simon: Commented that one of the proposed fundings is a contribution for$100, 000 for the Affordable Housing Trust. We also contributed last year to the Affordable Housing Trust. Simon: Went on to say that we Fund in three areas, (projects)Affordable Housing, Historical Preservation, and Open Spaces. We have to put 10% of the funds in those areas. Discussion starts on or about 7:04 PM 10:13:00 on video time Simon: One of the other projects is to work on a number of Housing Authority properties. The 3 properties identified to have repairs done include,Bingham Way, Foulds Terrace and O'Connor Heights. This has a direct bearing on the quality of life for those living on these properties. Discussion starts on or about 7:08 PMI 0:17:12 on video time Simon: The next project on the list is the library roof repair. Simon spoke of the replacement of the rubber roof(flat roof) which is the cause of the most leakage. The tiles on the roof were also discussed. They will defer funding on the tile roof restoration based on the engineer's study. Discussion starts on or about 7:11 PMI 0:19:44 on video time Simon: This was the next project on the list. Back a few years ago the CTP asked the Historical Society to do see what Historic structures on their list needed work. The renovations to The Parson Barn House will enable it to be used for various events and will be able to hold about 40-50 people. 2 March 31,2016 Simon: stated that they found some incredibly old fire equipment that is over 100 years old in the bam. They plan on displaying this equipment, while the Barn is being renovated. Discussion starts on or about 7:13 PMI 0:22:03 on video time Simon: This is the next Project on the list. If you did not know,the Ridgewood Cemetery received a designation of Historical places. Simon: went on to say that all communities are required to provide cemetery facilities. Ridgewood is a non-profit and does that for our Community. The last phase is to work and refurbish the Veterans Cemetery area. Discussion starts on or about 7:16 PMI 0:24:40 on video time Simon: This is the 3rd year that we have been funding playgrounds, replacement of equipment and addition of new play structures will be done. It is important to maintain this equipment. Discussion starts on or about 7:18 PMI 0:26:10 on video time Simon: spoke of the Leonhard Farm and that Vanessa Johnson from the Essex County Green Belt helped out with this project. This project is about 120 acres near the edge of town on Dale Street. Fifty-two acres are in North Andover and Sixty-two are in Boxford acres. The value of this land is almost$500,000 Green Belt is funding $50,000 and is asking North Andover to contribute $325,000. Johnson: Spoke of trails that the town will get and that the town and Greenbelt will be co-holders of the conservation restrictions. The trail will be managed by Greenbelt. The conservation restriction goes with the land. This development can only happen on the North Andover side. Johnson: stated that this would not happen at all without the Leonhard Brothers. They are very conservation minded. Discussion starts on or about 7:33 PMI 0:41:54 on video time Simon: stated that this is another land project,but it is a bit more complicated. It is located near the Youth Center, and it is about a 4 acre parcel. Simon: The tricky thing is that there is a house on the property and there are wetlands too. Simon: The big problem we need an appraisal to support it, and the land owner has to be willing to sell it at the appraised price. Simon: stated that this is the largest unprotected open space parcel in the Old Center. Simon: Stated that they have had some discussions with the landowner,but nothing is definitive, so it is not sure that this project will get to the Town Meeting. BC: Thank you John and Vanessa See attached on the Voting for the Community Preservation Committee-Appropriation from the Community Preservation Fund. Discussion starts on or about 8:00 PMI 0:1:09 on video time 3 March 31,2016 Article Article Title sponsors initial AMON 2nd y n a notes FAVORABLE Number Motion UNFAVORABLE 26 Report of the Community Preservation Committee-Appropriation from the Community Community Preservation Fund Preservation Committee KB FAVORABLE CN ALL(F) Discussion starts on or about 8:02 PMI 01:11:17 on video time For the remainder of the meeting the Finance Committee Members continued to work on the editing and writing of the Finance Committee Report. TT: Made a motion to adjourn JG: Second the motion All in favor SUBJECT FROM TO ** 1. Finance Committee Minutes(2 sets)March 28,2016 AC Fincom * 2. Draft 2016 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Maylor Fincom. *** 3. Summary of May 2016 Town Meeting Recommendations Simons Fincom *** 4. Community Preservation Project Summary Simons Fincom *** 5. Community Preservation Committee Long Range Plan Simons Fincom ****6. Atwood Properly(MIMAP) Simons Fincom ****6. Leonhard Eldred Farm Conservation Restriction(aerial view} Simons Fincom * located in the DropBox ** All minutes located in the Town's website under Finance Committee Website,under Minutes with the appropriate date *** Sent from J. Simons in E-mail to AC (forwarded to Fincom from AC) **** Handout from I Simons at March 3 0t`Meeting Note all videos of meetings can be reviewed on the Home igage of the North Andover Website Directions: 1. Click on"NA CAM Cable Access Live Streaming" 2. Click on Check Schedule 3. Click on the appropriate date of meeting on the calendar 4. Click on Finance Committee(in middle under calendar) 5. Click on Streaming Video(on right) 6. Video should appear 4 March 31,2016