Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-12-22 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES DECEMBER 22, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Wendy D. Wakeman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at the Steven's Memorial Library. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Wendy Wakeman, Chairman; Rosemary Smedile; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the minutes of December 8, 2003, Open Session as written and Executive Session as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Commendation to Lieutenant William Iminski. The Board of Selectmen and Fire Chief William Dolan gave William Iminski a letter of commendation for his actions on November 9, 2003; while off duty, he assisted residents and the Fire Department during a house fire. Certificate of Appreciation. The Board of Selectmen presented certificates of appreciation to the North Andover Festival Committee and the North Andover Police Association for their time, effort and continued support for the Holiday Parade. APPOINTMENTS: The Board's appointments subcommittee Smedile and Xenakis recommended the following appointments for approval by the full board: Zoning Task Force. John Simons, Planning Board; Scott Masse, Conservation Commission; Joe Edward Smith, Zoning Board of Appeals; John D. Lennhoff and Leo L. Chabot. This leaves two vacancies on this committee and the appointments subcommittee is suggesting that a member of the Board of Selectmen fill one of the positions. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the appointments. Vote 5-0. Cable T.V. Access Board of Directors. Pursuant to the By-laws of this non-profit organization, the Board of Directors is to initially consist of five members, three appointed by the Board of Selectmen, one by the Cable Advisory Committee and one by the School Superintendent. The School Superintendent has appointed Nancy Albert, the Cable Advisory Committee has appointed David Greer, and the appointments subcommittee recommended William McEvoy, John Graham, and Ramsey A. Bahrawy. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Cable TV Board of Directors appointments. Vote 5-0. Police Building Committee. Jack Watkins recently resigned from the Police Station Building Committee and the following two residents have stepped forward to serve on the committee, Thomas P. Coppa and Peter Shaheen. The appointments subcommittee is of the opinion that since this is an ad-hoc advisory committee that both applicants, given their qualifications and interests, should serve on the committee. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Police Building Committee appointments. Vote 5-0. Selectman Smedile requested that the Town Manager draft an RFP for the Stevens Estate and form a committee which would consist of two members from the Board of Directors at the Stevens Estate and a member from the Board of Selectmen and bring this back to a future meeting. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 22, 2003 2 Selectmen Smedile said that the Board had discussed in the past adding two more members to the Board of Health. This should be addressed in the near future before Town Meeting. Selectman Smedile also requested that the Board look at changing some antiquated zoning laws pertaining to single homes being turned into condominiums. Smedile requested that Heidi Griffin draft an article for Town Meeting. David Rand of 280 Dale Street requested that the Board of Selectmen set up a committee for Beaver Issues. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to reconstitute the committee with the existing membership and ask them to continue on with their efforts. Vote 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move into licensing. Vote approved 5-0. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the following one-day license and to waive the fee. Vote approved 5-0. Donna Restino of St. Michael's Parish, 196 Main Street requested the following one-day license. New Year's Eve Gala— December 31, 2003—6:30 PM— 1:00 AM —Full Bar License. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the following one-day license at the Stevens Estate. Vote approved 5-0. Laurie Fennelly, Stevens Estate at 723 Osgood Street requested the following one-day licenses. Theresa Ceci, Odyssey Systems Holiday Party, Sat. Jan. 10, 2004, 6:30 PM— 11:00 PM, Full Bar License. Chris Guard, 70th Birthday Party, Sun. Jan. 11, 2004, 2:00 PM —6:00 PM, Full Bar License. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move out of licensing. Vote approved 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS: Susan Rochwarg requested permission to have a public lighting of the Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah at Town Common on Thursday, December 25, 2003 at 6:30 PM. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the lighting of the Menorah. Vote approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Tax Classification Hearing (Continued). James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to continue the Public Hearing to January 5, 2004, due to a delay of Department of Revenue not certifying the Town's valuations. Vote approved 5-0. Mr. Robert Ercolini of 195 Bridle Path Road presented a packet of information to demonstrate his point that since 1998 taxes for North Andover homeowners have increased by 32 percent. During the same period, taxes for businesses have decreased by 15 percent. He suggested that selectmen tax businesses and homeowners at the same rate. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 22, 2003 3 OLD BUSINESS: Smolak Farms Realty, Right of First Refusal. The Town Manager said that he received responses from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee indicating that acquisition of this land is not in the Town's best interest at this time. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to authorize the Town Manager to send a letter to Mr. Michael Smolak stating that the Town will not exercise its right of first refusal to buy the certain parcel of land at Smolak Farms. Vote approved 5-0. FY05-09 Recommended Capital Improvement Plan. The Town Manager presented his recommended Capital Improvement Plan for FY05-09. The Town Manager suggested that the Board of Selectmen conduct a workshop session on January 5, 2004 to review the requests with division and department heads. The Board of Selectmen then must vote on the plan by January 12, 2004 and submit it to the Finance Committee. The Board of Selectmen agreed to have the workshop session on January 5, 2004. NEW BUSINESS: Annual Town Election Date, March 30, 2004. Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw requested that the Board of Selectmen vote to set the date for the Annual Town Election for March 30, 2004. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to set March 30, 2004 as the date for the Annual Town Election. Vote approved 5-0. Affordable Housing Committee. The Town Manager presented a draft charge for A Housing Partnership Committee being established within the Town. The committee will consist of seven members appointed by the Board of Selectmen of which at least one member should also be a member from the following town committees: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Housing Authority, Housing Authority Director, three citizens, and as ex officio members the Town's Director of Community Development and Services and the Town Planner. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve and amend the charge to add to work with the Community Preservation Committee to utilize the CPA funds to advance the affordable housing in the Town of North Andover. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Police Chief has informed me that his department is a recipient of$117,088 community policing grant. The enclosed memorandum describes the proposed uses for these grant funds. The Police Chief has invited the Board of Selectmen to the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) Demonstration Day to be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA Money Magazine has honored North Andover as one the most "desirable places to live in America". Our town was ranked 5th in the Eastern third of the county for communities under 100,000 in population. This is the second recognition the town has received from a major magazine this past year. In the April 2003 edition of Boston Magazine, North Andover was ranked in the top 25% (36 out of 147) of towns in eastern Massachusetts for being one of the "Healthiest Towns" in the region. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 22, 2003 4 Per the enclosed memorandum, February 12, 2004 has been established as the date for submission of articles for consideration by the Board of Selectmen for inclusion in the warrant at the May 2004 annual town meeting. Should any board members wish to include articles in the warrant, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can begin drafting them for your consideration. The Fire Chief has informed me that he has appointed Lt. William Martineau to the position of Acting Deputy Fire Chief. On December 10th I was an invited speaker at Edgewood Retirement Center where I spoke before approximately 60 residents regarding town issues and activities. The Eaglewood retail project is moving forward with local permitting procedures. The Planning Board closed its site plan review hearing this past week with anticipated final issuance of permits by mid January. Best Wishes to you and your families for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ADJOURNMENT: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board