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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES APRIL 20, 2004 CALL TO ORDER: Wendy D.Wakeman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Stevens 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. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to move into Executive Session to discuss Negotiations with non-union employees. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; James Xenakis yes; Rosemary Smedile yes; Mark Caggiano yes; and Wendy Wakeman yes. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the minutes of March 8, 2004, and March 22, 2004 Open Session as written and Executive Session as written and March 31, 2004 Open Session as written. Vote approved 4-1. Mark Caggiano abstained. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Chairman Wakeman announced that the next meeting of the Board of Selectmen would be held at the Senior Center on May 3, 2004 due to the book fair at the library. Selectman Smedile announced that May 3, 2004 is National Prayer Day. Chairman Wakeman announced that there has been a 40B housing filing from the developers of Waverly Oaks for all interested parties. Chairman Wakeman announced that Town Counsel Thomas Urbelis advised Town Officials that e-mail communications which are shared by a quorum of the governmental body, or by a quorum of the relevant subcommittee, may not include any comment on any matter, which requires a quorum to decide. This is subject to the Open Meeting Law requirement that such deliberation be confined to posted meetings and is open to the public. Albert F. Movsesian of 369 Great Pond Road gave a brief summary of a Warrant Article 33, which he submitted for approval at Town Meeting. CONSENT ITEMS: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the request by the Festival Committee to close a portion of Johnson Street on Sunday, May 23, 2004 from 10:00 AM to 4PM for CHIPS Program and other safety demonstrations by the Police Department and Fire Department. Vote approved 5-0. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the request by Wendy Currier of 12 Briarwood Court to hold Wedding Nuptials at Town Common on Saturday, June 19, 2004 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the request by Dean Quirk of Brooks School to hold the Brooks School Senior Class picnic at Town Common on Thursday, May 27, 2004 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Playing Fields Use and Maintenance Policy. Rick Gorman Director of Youth Services gave a summary of a Field Use Policy submitted by the Fields Committee. Rick gave a brief outline of history, town fields, accomplishments and recommendations on new fields policy and procedures. The new policy would implement a field permit, proof of insurance, sponsorship of fields by North Andover Youth Groups, user fees, a field use priority list and long range planning. Chairman Wakeman thanked the members of the Fields Committee, the Drummond Lights Committee, and the Department of Public Works for all the time and work spent on upkeep of North Andover fields. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve implementing the committee's recommendations on a one-year trial basis. Vote approved 4-1. Donald Stewart abstained. Board of Selectmen Minutes April 20, 2004 2 Preparation for May 10, 2004 Annual Town Meeting. The Board made recommendations of the following warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to recommend Favorable Action. Vote approved 5-0. Article 12. Water Enterprise Fund Appropriation Fiscal Year 2005. Article 13. Sewer Enterprise Fund Appropriation Fiscal Year 2005. Article 14. Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund Appropriation Fiscal Year 2005. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to recommend Unfavorable Action. Vote approved 3-2; James Xenakis and Mark Caggiano opposed. Article 21. Proposed Trash Transfer Facility Agreement. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to recommend Favorable Action. Vote approved 5-0. Article 49. Roadway Acquisition—Coachmans Lane., Concord Street., Easy Street., Highland View Avenue., Morningside Lane., and Russett Lane. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to recommend Favorable Action. Vote approved 5-0. Article 50. Roadway Acceptance—Foxwood Drive and Weyland Circle Update on FY05 Budget bV Town Manager. The Town Manager said that a member of the Finance Committee Steven Dawe and Finance Director Joyce Hanlon found an accounting error in the amount of debt service that is excluded from Proposition 2'/2 limitations. From FY01 to FY04 and in the budget for FY05, debt service related to the borrowing for planning/design purposes for the Sargent School was incorrectly lumped together with debt service related to the Middle School, debt, which was excluded from Proposition 2'/2. The result is that the average single house tax bill was overstated by approximately$20 each year. The Town Manager said that the finance director, finance committee, town manager, state DOR and independent auditors review the budget annually. The Town Manager has set up a meeting with officials at the Department of Revenue as soon as possible and would report back to the Board with options of how to pay back the taxpayers. PUBLIC HEARINGS: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to open the public hearing for roadway acceptance. Vote approved 5-0. The Town Manager said that two roadways Weyland Circle and Foxwood Drive are being recommended to be laid out by the Board of Selectmen at this meeting. The DPW and the Planning Board offers favorable recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for acceptance. Jack Sullivan, Director of Engineering, said that the DPW has completed improvements to these roadways with bond monies obtained through a negotiated settlement with the developer. These improvements included installation of streetlights, drainage improvements, street tree plantings, and intersection improvements. Both roadways have been improved to meet Town standards and all the legal paperwork has been prepared. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, and voted Favorable Action to accept laying out of Weyland Circle and Foxwood Drive. Vote approved 5-0. Residents Jean Colachico of 27 Weyland Circle and Lisa McClosky of 15 Weyland Circle voiced their opinions regarding a loud noise from a generator at the pump station behind their property. Jack Sullivan said that he would meet with Dennis Bedrosian of the Water Department and discuss the noise issues at the pump station. Resident Linda Todd of 33 Stonewedge Circle said that there was a big pile of contaminated bad soil in front of her house. She was concerned because this was near wetlands and could do further damage. Jack Sullivan said that she had a legitimate cause to be concerned and that this would be taken care of. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to end this session and continue the public hearing until the next meeting on Monday, May 3, 2004. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes April 20, 2004 3 NEW BUSINESS: Consolidation of Polling locations. Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw recommended with concurrence of the School Department that all four voting locations be consolidated in the Field House at the New High School. Reasons for the consolidation include less disruption for the School Department and greater efficiency and administration of the election process. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 54 Section 24, it is the responsibility of the Board of Selectmen to designate, maintain and give notice of change when polling locations are moved. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to consolidate voting locations to the New High School Field House for the State Primary Election on September 14, 2004 and Presidential Election on November 2, 2004. Vote approved 5-0. North Shore HOME Consortium Membership Renewal. Heidi Griffin, Director of Community Development and Services requested that the Board renew the Town's membership in the North Shore HOME Consortium. Membership in this organization provides access to Federal Housing funds and technical assistance. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to renew the Town's membership in the North Shore HOME Consortium. The Board signed the documents for renewal. Vote approved 5-0. Approval of North Andover Housing Plan. In December 2003 the Board of Selectmen voted to approve the charge of the Housing Partnership Committee to be established and to draft a strategy plan. The Housing Partnership Committee presented a plan and is asking approval at this time. This approval must be submitted for the Town's Executive Order 418 Housing Certification. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the Housing Partnership Committee Plan for certification. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Town Manager said that Rick Hogan, Manager of the GLSD has informed the town that the Riverside Pump Station odor control project has reached substantial completion on April 2, 2004. The project consisted of converting the wet well area of the pump station and adding odor control on all air vented from below these covers using activated carbon absorption. Laurie Fennelly has been appointed the Director of the Stevens Estate. ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board