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Home My WebLink About2017-05-15 Finance Committee Minutes TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date May 15th, 2017 Meeting Location: North Andover Town Hall, Board of Selectmen Meeting Room, 120 Main Street Bill Callahan, BC, Chairman X Sasha Weinreich, SW X Jennifer Goldman, JG, Vice Chair X Divya Bhatnagar, DB Karin Blake, KB X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Thomas Ringler, TR X Timothy Tschirhart, TT X Liz Gerron, LG X 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. Non Finance Committee Members in attendance John Simons (Simons), Chairman of the Planning Department Peter Boynton (Boynton), Member of the Planning Board Call to order 6:45 BC: Good evening everyone. We are here tonight to revisit the decisions I thought we made back in May to stay silent on the Warrant Articles. At the last meeting we decided to vote on Article 10 and nothing else. We never weighted in on Zoning Articles in the past but some of the members thought these articles and issues were important and different then ones in the past. SW: Stated that she was under the impression that the Finance Committee was not going to vote on Zoning Articles. SW: Continued to say if this has changed then she will have a different frame of mind going into this meeting/presentation/discussion. JG: Responded to SW if that changes we will need to amend the vote, to change our last meetings decision. KB: Yes, we can choose to vote to “Break the Rule”. TR: Commented that KB wanted to have more information on Articles 9 and 11. That is how I understood it, and that is why we have Simons coming to the meeting, and we will see how it goes from there. KB: Commented on Host agreements in other towns and spoke of what they did. KB: Stated that the Town needs to act now in order to catch the wave. 1 May 15th, 2017 BC: Stated we should wait till tomorrow (Town Meeting) to see what Town Council has to say. TR: Spoke of the lengthy permitting and licensing process even if it does get approved, it can take years. JG: Stated that the question is, should the Finance Committee submit a recommendation on Article # 9. Some believe “No” it is up to Zoning to make that recommendation. On Article 10 we all agreed yes, there are financial numbers in it, and we should give a recommendation. But the real question is should the Finance Committee give a recommendation on Article 9 and 11. KB: We need to recognize it has financial impact on the Town. We should recommend something. LG: But most Zoning Articles have a financial impact. The Board continued to speak on whether the Finance Committee should or should not make a recommendation. Presentation of Planning Board Opinion on Articles 9 and 11 by John Simons and Peter Boynton Discussion starts on or about 7:06 pm/00:21 on video time The Finance Committee introduced themselves to Boynton and Simons. BC: Some sort of decision will be made tomorrow on these Articles. BC: Spoke of Articles 9, 10 and 11 and the financial implications that go along with the whole project, and that they are wrestling with what their rights, duties, and obligations on these articles (9 and 11) as a Finance Committee. Simons: First of all anytime there is a new major “Use” of an activity that is allowed in the state (cell towers, medical marijuana, and wind farms) the Town has to put together bylaws related to those things. We use a model bylaw recommended by the state used by other towns There are two main characteristics for our Bylaws; 1. Allows use of medical marijuana but limits size and scope. The Max size in North Andover is 20,000 square feet (that is important going forward). 2. Assigns area where it is allowed, in this case it was put on Holt Road (where this use is allowed). Simons: You can’t say you don’t allow for the use, you just make restrictions. Simons: What happened was that very late in the year the applicant submitted a zoning article. They did two things, one was size (they went from 20,000 square feet to a million square feet), the other thing they added was another location (other than Holt Road) at 1600 Osgood Street. KB: You seen the changes, Are you happy with it? Simon: Responded we voted against it 4-0. We have seen the changes, but not officially as a Board. KB: We all feel rushed with these articles. Simons: That is the point, with something this large some of the concerns are things such as water that they totally misrepresented the water situation, based on what we know, Simon spoke of the possible 2 May 15th, 2017 impact with smells and odors. Simons: One million square feet would make this facility of growing marijuana the largest in the world. We don’t know what the impact will be. Simons: this is not an ideal space for this. Boynton: Commented that this is an older building and the high heat, very bright lights and humidity used on the marijuana plants will have an impact on the building. Simons: You can’t say you don’t want it, you just restrict it to an area Simons: Stated the Town has leverage in only two areas. 1. Approval at Town Meeting 2. Selectmen’s letter of opposition or non opposition. Simons: Stated that the ability to say “No” is limited. Simmons: Once you approve a million square feet, you can’t change it back. TT: Does not want to feel pressured to approve this in order to catch the wave. So much needs to be researched and looked at. Boynton: Spoke of the lack of time that they have had to do any research on this. There has been no time to access the risks and spoke of the water consumption that will be used. Boynton: If these articles are approved for medical marijuana they cannot prohibit recreational marijuana. BC: We appreciate you coming out the Day before Town Meeting, maybe the Finance Committee Members can ask questions to both of you tonight (Simons and Boynton) if they have any. Some of the members asked questions. Simon responded back to all the questions asked. TR: Just wanted to make a comment, here is an industry that just started and certainly in other countries this industry has proven to be a great benefit to mankind. Also, here is something that will give us ( the town) money. I am afraid of the alternatives that could possibly come in. BC and the Finance Committee members thanked Boynton and Simon Discussion of Article 9 and 11 (Also Motion to break the rule) Discussion starts on or about 8:08 pm/083:00 on video time BC: Asked the Board should we discuss 9 and 11 anymore KB: Made a motion to break the rule TT: Second the motion 2-Approved 4-Opposed (Failed to break the rule) Discussion of Article 10 Discussion starts on or about 8:20 pm/095:00 on video time 3 May 15th, 2017 BC Stated that Andrew Maylor at an earlier Selectmen’s meeting stated the following (for the record) regarding Article 10. JG: Read the following; FOR THE RECORD FROM ANDREW MAYLOR The town of Burlington has closed the loop with my office regarding your Host Community questions. You should know that the Host Community Agreement Article on our Warrant is not required since the selectmen and I can negotiate those terms without approval from Town Meeting or the Finance Committee. Directly to your last question to Burlington, the board of selectmen approved their agreement (which was only for a dispensary) without their Town Meeting authorizing them to do so. The bottom line, Article 10 in our warrant is not required and some have even referred to it as "window dressing" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After a long discussion the Finance Committee went back and forth on how they should vote on Article 10. KB: Stated that she wanted to, Move that the Committee vote to take favorable action on this Article 10 TT: Second Failed vote for favorable action BC: Stated that at the Town Meeting he will state that the Finance Committee Members voted against taking (recommended) favorable action on Article 10 Adjournment Adjourn: 8:55 TT: Made a motion to adjourn JG: second the motion All in favor Document Table * 1. Town Meeting Warrant Articles 9, 10 & 11 (amend)-from Suzanne P. Egan May 5, 2017 * 2. Budget Worksheet Amendments FY17 * 3. Updated language for the Warrant Articles (9, 10 & 11) --------------------------------------------------------------- * Hard copy 4 May 15th, 2017