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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-24 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES May 24, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Keith Mitchell called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Keith A. Mitchell, Chairman; Donald B. Stewart;William B. Duffy, Jr., James M. Xenakis, Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager. Not present was John R. Leeman, Jr. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to approve the Open Session Minutes of May 3 and May 10, 1999, and the Executive Session Minutes of May 10, 1999. Vote approved 4— 0. The Open Session Minutes of May 4, 1999,were tabled until the next Selectmen's meeting on June 2, 1999. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Keith Mitchell recognized Fire Chief William Dolan for his appointment as a Knight Bachelor in the Order of Life Safety Servants. Chief Dolan will be sent a Certificate of Appreciation by the Board. Keith Mitchell reminded the audience and other members of the Board that the Master Plan Committee is holding its public hearing on Thursday, May 27, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. at Osgood Hill. On Tuesday, June 1, 1999, at Middlesex Community College in Lowell,there will be a public hearing on the Education Reform formula issue. A delegation from North Andover consisting of members of the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen and some citizens including Mr.Nam will be attending. Due to the holiday,the next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2, 1999, at Stevens Memorial Library. The Executive Session will begin at 7:00 p.m., and the Open Session at 7:30 p.m. The Police Officer Reserve List interviews will be held on Saturday, June 5, 1999, at the Town Hall Library Conference Room beginning at 8:00 a.m. Approximately 15 officers will be interviewed and seven will be appointed. Henry Martin, a public citizen, requested that water be let out of the lake to fill up Stevens Pond. This would make it better for the children to swim in, and there is no fear of the lake drying up. Mr. Martin also requested that a tree on Elm Street, which is hanging over onto town property, needs to be cut. The Town Manager committed to contacting Mr. Martin by the end of the week regarding these issues. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to move into Licensing. Vote approved 4— 0. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve the following one-day liquor licenses. Vote approved 4— 0. 1. Ahern/Diamantopoulos Wedding June 5, 1999 3:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. All Alcohol 2. O'Mara/Boys &Girls Club June 9, 1999 5:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m. Beer& Wine Conference/Outing 3. Friedberg/Newcomers Clambake June 12, 1999 1:00 P.M. — 8:00 P.M. Beer&Wine 4. Styles, Gill, Steil Associates June 20, 1999 6:00 p.m. — 12:00 a.m. Beer& Wine Dinner Party Board of Selectmen Minutes May 24, 1999 Page 2 5. Meyer/Idzin Rehearsal Dinner June 25, 1999 6:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m. Beer& Wine 6. Meyer/Idzin Wedding June 26, 1999 5:00 p.m. — 10:00 p.m. All Alcohol William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 4— 0. CONSENT ITEMS Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to approve the request from Mr. & Mrs. Donald A. Marinelli and Mr. &Mrs. V. James McAloon to replace the benches on Main Street with two new benches dedicated to Mr. Joseph F. Walsh. Vote approved 4— 0. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to approve the request from Mr. Scott Massey to purchase and dedicate a park bench in the Old Center Common to Mr. &Mrs. Landers. The Town Manager commented that the park bench should be of a style and historical prototype that would be acceptable to the Historical District Commission. William Duffy recommended that the Improvement Society approve the benches. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to AMEND the motion to forward the request first to the Improvement Society and then to the Historical District Commission for their approval. Vote approved 4— 0. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to approve the request from the Rev. Timothy B. Cogan of Brooks School to hold a picnic and picture taking session in the Old Town Center Common on Friday, May 28, 1999, from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. Vote approved 4— 0. OLD BUSINESS: Revenue and Expenditure Report The Town Manager requested that the review discussion be put off for a week in order to update the information to the end of May. Keith Mitchell agreed to table for a week. Airport Terminal/State Transportation Bond Bill The Town Manager discussed the response from Kevin Sullivan, Secretary of Transportation and Construction, regarding a letter that we had sent about the state's transportation bond bill which proposed financing a new terminal bond for Lawrence Municipal Airport. Secretary Sullivan's letter implied that the state is either unwilling or unable to get into a discussion with the city regarding a provision that the city reimburse the town for its loss of tax revenue and that any state assistance to build this terminal should require the city to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes arrangement with the Town. The Town Manager suggested that our response to Mr. Sullivan's letter should be that if we write the provision into the Transportation Bond Bill,the state could certainly play that role if they wanted to. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart,to respond to a letter from Kevin Sullivan in response to our letter concerning issues of the Lawrence Airport Commission. Vote approved 4— 0. Policy Statement to Govern the Development of Roadway Acceptance Procedures The Town Manager discussed the need for a basic goal policy statement as a document that would lead the departments through the process of working with town counsel and others to put together a set Board of Selectmen Minutes May 24, 1999 Page 3 of policies and procedures for roads that have been submitted by petition, but not ready to be accepted by the Town. He also explained how the Subdivision Control Law process works and suggested that the Planning Board put a mechanism in place whereby the new homeowners are made aware of the intended final status of the roadway. Planning Director, Bill Scott, gave feedback to Mr. Halpin. Charter Review Mike Curran informed the Board of the three options that can be used to revise the Town Charter: 1) 15%of voters can petition for a Charter Commission at Town Meeting. A 9-member board would be elected, and a final report submitted within 18 months with a vote within two years. 2)The Legislative branch can propose amendments to an existing Charter at Town Meeting. A 2/3 vote is required and is put on the ballot at the next Town election. 3)The Community can create a committee to review the Charter and make changes and amendments as needed. Town Meeting vote is needed to petition the Legislature to enact this as a special charter, and put on the ballot at the next election. Discussion of Status Athletic Fields Allocation Policy The Town Manager informed the Board that at an appearance in court on Wednesday, May 19, 1999, he briefed the Judge on the Town's efforts to develop a policy governing how town-owned recreation facilities are allocated to organized youth athletic organizations. He said that a draft is being worked on to coordinate a committee under the Town Manager. This committee would include a representative from each of the major youth athletic organizations and would be responsible for recommending to the Town Manager a fair and neutral allocation of the facilities. The draft also consists of five operating principles to follow, and there is an appeal process to the Town Manager in the event of a conflict with the decision. He added that under this policy,the Town Manager would be held accountable for the fair and neutral allocation of the fields. NEW BUSINESS: Joseph Hermann Youth Center-Land Transfer and Status Report Bill Scott handed out the schedule for the Youth Center construction and reviewed the bid specifications and the contract documents. He also reviewed the agreement between the Community Centers of North Andover and the Town, highlighting the restrictions, conditions, and requirements. Remaining issues are transferring the property,the asbestos project, completing demolition arrangements, establishing a grant agreement for donated funds, and hiring a project manager. Chapter 90 Road Construction Funding/Resolution regarding Governor's Budget The Town Manager discussed the Governor's Chapter 90 Gas Tax Distribution Program for FY2000, and voiced his concern that under the Governor's FY2000 Budget,there would be a$200,000 reduction from the $640,000 that North Andover typically receives from this program. He added that there is a sense of urgency to make it known to our legislators and the governor that this will have serious impacts because this is the only money that No. Andover has for road maintenance. William Duffy made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis,to adopt the resolution on gas tax revenue sharing for local road projects as presented. Vote approved 4— 0. ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by William Duffy,to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. Vote approved 4— 0. Board of Selectmen Minutes May 24, 1999 Page 4 John R. Leeman, Jr., Clerk of the Board Carol Ritchie, Sr. Confidential Clerk