HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-16 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES October 16, 2000
CALL TO ORDER: James Xenakis called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: James M. Xenakis, Chairman; Keith Mitchell;
John R. Leeman, Jr.;William Duffy; Mark Rees, Town Manager. (Donald Stewart, was not present)
EXECUTIVE SESSION: John Leeman made a MOTION, seconded by William Duffy,to move
into Executive Session to discuss potential litigation of AT &T and Mesiti; vote approved 4-0.
The Board was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. (Donald Stewart
was not present).
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session.
Chairman Xenakis stated the Board would be returning to Open Session after the Executive Session.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Board of Selectmen Meeting. The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Monday,
October 23, 2000, at 7:00 PM at Stevens Memorial Library.
Regional Maritime Pipeline meeting will be Wednesday evening October 18, 2000, at the Danvers
Senior Center at 7:00 PM. Keith Mitchell will be the boards representative but mentioned it is open
to anyone in North Andover who would like to attend. Maritime has filed with FERC on Monday to
go ahead with the pipeline. The regional coalition is concerned with getting support from federal
legislatures, Congressman Tierney's office did try to set up a meeting with Keith Mitchell. The
members of the regional coalition have come up with a resolution to send to Senators and
Congressmen and would like the Board to adopt this resolution. The resolution is:
Resolution North Andover Board of Selectmen
Whereas Portland Natural Gas Transmission System and Maritimes & Northeast
Pipeline LLC has proposed to build a new spur of an interstate natural gas pipeline that will
run from Dracut-to-Salem, and through the Towns of Boxford, North Andover, Middleton,
Danvers, and the Cities of Peabody and Salem, Massachusetts (the "Communities");
Whereas The environmental and public safety impact, as well as the quality of life of
our residents, resulting from the proposed pipeline would be devastating upon the
Communities;
Whereas Recent catastrophic explosions highlight the constant threat natural gas
pipelines place upon the safety and well-being of our residents;
Whereas The proposed pipeline provides no demonstrated economic benefit to the
Communities while placing an unreasonable burden upon the Communities;
Therefore: Be it resolved that the North Andover Board of Selectmen do hereby vote to:
• Find that the proposed natural gas pipeline route is unacceptable and a threat to public
safety.
• Find that the best alternative route for the Communities would be an "all ocean"
underwater route.
• Urge our federal and state elected representatives to advocate on our behalf in
obtaining the best alternative route for the Communities.
Board of Selectmen Minutes October 16,2000 Page 2
Keith Mitchell made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman, to adopt this resolution; vote
approved 4 —0.
Item to be added to New Business: Town Manager Rees added the Acceptance of
Pumping stations relative to Foxwood subdivision.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Sweetheart/GFI Tax Increment Financing. Community Development Director William Scott told
the Board and the public that tax increment financing is a reduction on the incremental increase, not
on the existing property value. The purpose is to encourage more investment in the property that is
essentially dilapidated or having a difficult time producing or manufacturing. A spreadsheet and
offer has been sent to Sweetheart. The benefit with tax increment is to help choose your user and get
the revenue back sooner.
William Duffy stated his concerns not knowing Sweetheart Cup's manufacturing process and their
impact on the environment. William Scott said there is a Board of Health meeting on October 26,
2000,to discuss these matters and Sweetheart's environmental engineer will come to Town Meeting
and will also come to the Board of Selectmen meeting next week October 23, 2000.
Borrowing of Funds to Renovate Town Hall. William Scott, Director of Community Development,
updated the Board on a$250,000 grant he has applied for and to complete the renovation of Town
Hall and install an elevator to make Town Hall ADA(Americans with Disability Act) compliant,
the town will need to borrow$800,000. The primary purpose of this project is to deal with the
issues of disability and make modifications to the building to make office space.
James Lyons, Co-Chair North Andover Commission on Disability Issues, stated he thought it was
the most cost effective plan plus it will fix the dangerous treads on the stairs at Town Hall. The
elevator will also help as veterans come into Town Hall and the Veterans Office is on the second
floor.
Cheryl Vazza-Scott, Chair of the North Andover Commission on Disability Issues, stated she has
been a resident of North Andover and has not been able to independently access her business at
Town Hall for over 6 years and urges the Board of Selectmen to move forward with improvements
and getting the Town Hall ADA compliant.
William Duffy wonders if we are moving in the right direction. The town Community Development
and DPW are scattered throughout the town and it would be very favorable to have all departments
under one roof. We do not have a long term lease for Community Service.
William Scott stated cost estimates for Phase I is about 1.1 million dollars, do one side and get the
ADA going; and Phase II would build the other side when the fire station is available. Mr. Duffy is
concerned the town would be spending serious money on a facility that may or may not work in the
future as the fire station is not yet available.
John Leeman said if you consider the value of the asset, if the town sold this building it would have
to be brought up to code. John also stated that the town hall should be renovated, not only is it a
hazard and not accessible, its disgusting; but as a businessman he would not make his employees
work there. Keith Mitchell stated that the Board has worked on so many different plans and
scenarios for Town Hall and they always included two phases. The second phase the town has to get
the fire station off Main Street. This is an opportunity to get the first phase done, get some grant
money to renovate town hall and make it accessible and ADA compliant. Keith Mitchell said we
have studied these capital plans to death and this is the one capital project he is supporting this year.
Robert Nicetta,town Building Commissioner and ADA Coordinator stated the town signed a
commitment in 1994 with the federal government to make town hall accessible to everyone.
Board of Selectmen Minutes October 16,2000 Page 3
Mr. Nicetta said it is hard to do his job enforcing the law when the town buildings are not in
compliance.
Water Use Restriction By-la . The DPW has worked on a water conservation plan. The goal is to
plan the most efficient use of our most precious natural resource which is water from Lake
Cochichewick. This is in keeping with and in accordance with the 2000 Master Plan Goal that was
accepted at the May Town Meeting, which is to value North Andover's resources and treat them
accordingly. The objectives of the conservation plan are to attain a water management act permit
amendment for withdrawal from Lake Cochichewick and to plan and implement the comprehensive
water conservation management plan. The plan outline is:
1. Reduce unaccounted-for water use-by implementing water/sewer billing system, meter
replacement program, monthly billing and auditing procedures, and restructured water audit
procedures.
2. Public Education-Water saving facts by billing stuffers/brochures, Cable TV,Web site
www.northandoverwaterdept.com, homeowners packages, xeriscaping. Water saving
devices such as rain sensors and indoor conservation kits.
3. Leak detection and repair-leak detection survey— '/2 system annually.
4. Metering-meter replacement program, old meters, 10-year replacement plan and adding radio
read meters.
5. Pricing-Enterprise accounting/full cost pricing, water/sewer rate study and increasing block rate.
6. Demand Management and emergency planning- safe yield evaluation, drought management
plan, water use restriction bylaw and automatic lawn irrigation system bylaw.
A declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall include one or more of the following
restrictions, conditions, or requirements limiting the use of water as necessary to protect the water
supply. The conditions or requirements shall be included in the Public Notice required under
Section 1.6.
1. Outdoor Water Use Hours- Outdoor water use is permitted only during daily periods of
low demand, at night or early morning,to be specified in the declaration of a State of
Water Supply Conservation and public notice thereof.
2. Odd/Even Day Outdoor Water Use-Outdoor water use by water users with odd
numbered addresses is restricted to odd numbered days. Outdoor water use by water
users with even numbered addresses is restricted to even number days.
3. Automatic Lawn Irrigation Systems-The use and operation of automatic lawn irrigation
systems is prohibited.
4. Filling Swimming g Pools-Filling of swimming pools prohibited.
5. Outdoor Water Use Ban- Outdoor water use is prohibited .
Automatic Lawn Irrigation System By-law. The specific goal is to limit the use of lawn irrigation
system during and after rainstorms. Insure the protection of the water distribution system from
cross-connection. The Objectives:
1. Establish a database which registers all new and existing automatic lawn irrigation
systems.
2. Provide standard policy for the installation, retrofit and testing of backflow preventative
devices for lawn irrigation systems.
3. Require the installation of rain sensors on new automatic lawn irrigation systems and
promote the retrofit of sensors at existing systems.
4. Establish a method of enforcement for violations.
Board of Selectmen Minutes October 16,2000 Page 4
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
Northeast Mosquito Control District.
Acceptance of Pumping Station.
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT:
ADJOURNMENT: Keith Mitchell made a MOTION, seconded by John Leeman,to adjourn at
9:40 PM;vote approved 4— 0.
Kathleen O'Neill
Administrative Secretary Keith Mitchell, Clerk of the Board