HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-14 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES APRIL 14, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at the Steven's Memorial Library.
Selectmen Smedile recognized the presence of State Representatives Barbara L'Italien, David Torrisi,
Superintendent of Schools William Allen and members of the School Committee.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart;
Mark J.T. Caggiano; Wendy Wakeman; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager.
OLD BUSINESS:
Request to Open Warrant: Foster Farm School Funding.
A subcommittee including School Committee members Alfred M. Perry and Charles C. Ormsby and School
Building Committee Members Paddy Duncan and Sam Ameen Sr. authored a proposal, which was presented to
the Board by Daniel Murphy, chairman, Perry and Ormsby. Murphy, School Committee chairman requested the
Board of Selectmen open the warrant for a new warrant article for Foster Farm School funding.
The goal of the warrant article is to secure $16-$18 million in state reimbursement. The total cost of the school is
estimated at $35 million. They emphasized that approval of the plan only secures the project's slot on the SBA
list and does not lock the Town into building the school. The Town must get voter approval construed as Town
Meeting approval for the project by June 30, 2003 and present complete architectural designs by August 29, 2003
to land a spot on the funding list.
Members of a subcommittee are exploring options to offset some of the Town's share of the cost. The Kittredge
and Bradstreet Schools could be sold. The sales are estimated to bring in revenue of about $4 million and adding
about $75,000 in property taxes.
The warrant article calls for paying for the school building out of the regular town budget, this funding scheme
allows leaders more flexibility to explore other funding sources including whether to ask voters for an override
later, when the Town has more financial information and concrete plans.
Town Manager, Mark Rees warned that paying off the debt through the operating budget could strain the Town's
ability to provide other services.
State Rep. David Torrisi warned that the SBA list may not open again for five to ten years given the state's
financial hardships, and even then the reimbursement rate may be significantly reduced.
Ted Tripp, president of the North Andover Taxpayers Association, said his organization supports the quick move
to secure a spot on the SBA list, but suggested giving voters a voice on the project through a nonbonding ballot
question before the school is built.
The School Committee answered many questions and concerns from Selectmen. After discussion, James
Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to reopen the warrant. Vote approved 5-0.
James Xenakis AMENDED the MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano to reopen the warrant due to the
emergency nature of the imminent closure of the SBA list.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to appoint Selectman James Xenakis to a joint
subcommittee together with the School Committee to develop the final warrant language on Warrant Article. Vote
approved 5-0.
The Town Manager asked the Board to make a decision on where to place the new Article on the Warrant.
New North Andover Elementary School — Foster Farm Site — Boxford Street. To see if the Town will vote
to raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000,000 for constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new
Board of Selectmen Minutes April 14, 2003 2
elementary school, including any necessary additional architectural services, construction management services,
demolition and site improvements, such school to be built at the Foster Farm site on Boxford Street.
And whether to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized
to borrow $35,000,000 under Chapter 44 of the General Laws and under Chapter 70B of the General Laws, as
amended:
That this appropriation be expended under the jurisdiction of the School Building Committee, which shall be
authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out this project;
Provided, however, that no expenditure shall be made and no debt may be incurred under this vote until the State
Board of Education approves a school facilities or other similar grant at a reimbursement rate equal to at least
54.00 percent of the eligible costs of the project;
Provided, however, that no expenditure shall be made and no debt incurred under this vote until the actual
enrollment for grade 1 through 5 totals at least 1,925 students as submitted in the School Department's official
enrollment report to the State;
And that the Board of Selectmen is authorized to petition the General Court for an act to authorize the
capitalization of interest during construction of the school project; or take any other action relative thereto.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano to add the New Article for Foster Farm School on
the Warrant for the May 12, Annual Town Meeting. Vote approved 5-0.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano to close the Warrant. Vote approved 5-0.
NOTE: There was a five minutes recess.
Selectmen's Recommendations on Warrant Articles.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0
Article 1. Reports of Receipts, Expenditures and Special Committees.
Article 2 Authorization of the Town Manager or Superintendent of Schools Regarding Contracts in
Excess of Three Years.
Article 3. Authorization to Accept Grants and Easements.
Article 4. Authorization to Grant Easements.
Article 5. Compensation of Elected Officials.
Article 6. Reauthorization of Revolving Fund— Board of Health.
Article 7. Authorization of Revolving Escrow Account for Septic Services— Board of Health.
Article 8 Authorization of Revolving Escrow Account for Restaurant Inspections— Board of Health.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to make recommendation at be made at
TownMeeting. Vote approved 5-0
Article 9. Amend General Fund Appropriation —Fiscal Year 2003—To be made at Town Meeting
Article 10. Amend Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill Enterprise Fund Appropriation-Fiscal Year 2003
Article 11. Prior Year Unpaid Bills.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0
Article 12. General Fund Appropriation Fiscal Year 2004.
Article 13. Capital Improvement Plan Appropriation.
Article 14. Water Enterprise Fund Appropriation—Fiscal Year 2004.
Article 15. Sewer Enterprise Fund Appropriation—Fiscal Year 2004.
Article 16. Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill Enterprise Fund Appropriation —Fiscal Year 2004.
Article 17. Funding Phase 11 Stormwater Regulations.
Board of Selectmen Minutes April 14, 2003 3
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 18. Accept Provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59 Section 5K.
Article 19. Accept Provisions of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 32B, Section 91 —Employees
On Military Leave of Absence for Active Service.
Article 20. Petition the General Court—Change Date of Annual Town Election.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to take NO action on the following: Vote
approved 5-0.
Article 21. Report of the Community Preservation Committee.
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 22. Appropriations—Community Preservation Fund.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 23. Land Transfer—922 Dale Street— McCarthy Property.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the following
To be made at Town Meeting. Vote approved 5-0
Article 24. Amend Zoning Map ReZone Portion of Turnpike Street—642 Turnpike Street—From
Residential Three (R3)to Village Commercial (VC).
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart to recommend favorable action on the following:
Vote approved 5-0.
Article 25. Amend Zoning Map— Portion of Route 114—Turnpike Street Across from Eagle Tribune
Property—Assessor's Map 24 Parcel 16, Assessor's Map 24 Parcel 17 and Assessor's Map
27 Parcel 22 Residential 4 (R4)to General Business (GB).
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 26. Amend Zoning Map— Portion of Route 114 Turnpike Street Adjacent to United Methodist
Church —Assessor's Map 24 Parcel 81 from Business Four(B4)to General Business (GB).
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to recommend NO action on the following: Vote
approved 5-0.
Article 27. Creation of Residential Re-Use Overlay District.
Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 28. Amend Zoning Map—Assessor Map 35 Lot 50— 1003 Osgood Street from Residential One
(R-1)to Business Two (B2).
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to recommend NO action on the following: Vote
approved 5-0.
Article 29. Inclusion in Residential Re-Use Overlay District—Assessor's Map 35, Lot 50— 1003
Osgood Street.
Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano to recommend favorable action on the following:
Vote approved 5-0.
Article 30. Amend Zoning Map—Sharpners Pond Road —Off Route 114—Future Ice Rink Facility.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to recommend favorable action on the
following: Vote approved 5-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes April 14, 2003 4
Article 31. Authorization to See Land for Ice Rink Facility Located on Sharpners Pond Road.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano to recommend favorable action to be made at
Town Meeting on the following: Vote approved 5-0.
Article 32. Amend Zoning Bylaw Section 8.7—Growth Management.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to make recommendation at Town Meeting.
Vote approved 5-0.
Article 33. Authorization to Lease Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill.
Article 34. Authorization Massachusetts Electric Utility Easement—Foster Street.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart to make recommendation at Town Meeting.
Vote approved 5-0.
Article 35. Establishment of Postal Stamp for Samuel Osgood.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman to make recommendation at Town Meeting.
Vote approved 5-0.
Article 36. Report of the Special Committee on Beaver Issues.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to recommend favorable action on the new article
for Foster Farm School and be placed between numbers 13 & 14. The new article will be numbered 14.
Vote approved 4-1, Wendy Wakeman opposed.
New North Andover Elementary School —Foster Farm Site— Boxford Street.
ADJOURNMENT:
Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM. Vote
approved 5-0.
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary
James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board