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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-22 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES NOVEMBER 22, 2004 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at the Stevens Memorial Library. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman; Wendy Wakeman; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move into Executive Session to discuss Negotiations with Union Employees, Non Union Employees and Real Estate Matters. Vote approved 5-0. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Wendy Wakeman yes, and Rosemary Smedile yes. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the minutes of October 4, 2004, Open Session as written; October 12, 2004, Executive Session and Open Session as written; October 14, 2004, Executive Session as written; and November 1, 2004, Executive and Open Session as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Rosemary Smedile announced that the Santa Parade would be held on Saturday, November 27, 2004, starting at 1:00 PM. Dr. Thomas Trowbridge, member of the Board of Health, gave an update on flu vaccine availability and the possibility of receiving more vaccine in a couple of weeks. CONSENT ITEMS: Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve use of the Town Common to the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center of Merrimack Valley for the evening of December 7, 2004 from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Vote approved 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move into licensing. Vote approved 5-0. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the following one-day licenses. Vote approved 5-0. Laurie Fennelly, Stevens Estate, 723 Osgood Street, request the following one-day licenses. 1. Andover Ear, Nose and Throat Holiday Party, Fri. Dec. 3, 2004, 7:00 PM — 11:00 PM, Full Bar License. 2. Lahey Clinic Holiday Party, Sat. Dec. 4, 2004, 7:00 PM — 11:00 PM, Full Bar License. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move out of licensing. Vote approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to open the Tax Classification Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Residents and Business owners voiced their opinions against raising the tax rate. Selectmen discussed simplifying the process of the tax classification. Selectman Xenakis said that classification was meant for large cities such as Boston to shift the tax burden on businesses instead of residential, not towns like North Andover. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 22, 2004 2 Selectman Wakeman said she had been reluctant to change the rate in previous years, but this is a year the impact on the average homeowner would be small. Selectman Smedile pointed out that commercial and residential property is assessed in different ways. The value of a home is determined by the real estate market whereas the value of commercial property is based on how much income it will generate. Smedile and Caggiano wanted to keep the tax factor at 1.18. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to set a 1.00 tax factor. Vote failed 2-3. Rosemary Smedile, Mark Caggiano and Donald Stewart opposed. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to set a 1.08 tax factor. Vote approved 3-2. Rosemary Smedile and Mark Caggiano opposed. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, and selected the residential factor at 0.988491 relating to a 1.08 tax factor. Vote approved 3-2. Rosemary Smedile and Mark Caggiano opposed. OLD BUSINESS: Grogan Playground Joyce Smith gave a report of the progress on the Grogan Playground Project. At this time a total of$8,330 has been raised through raffles and donations. Once the initial $10,000 is raised the Community Preservation Committee will award $25,000 as approved at Town Meeting in May 2004. Game Time, a Massachusetts contractor, was chosen for the playground equipment. Ms. Grogan submitted a proposal from Game Time, and the price has significantly decreased because of installation. The installation would be a community effort with volunteers and a supervisor from Game Time. One other major change was to plant trees for shade, which would add approximately $5,000 to the price of the project. Joyce Smith asked the Board's approval for her committee's plans for the improvements to Grogan Playground. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman, to accept and approve the report on Grogan Playground. Vote approved 5-0. Lawrence Municipal Airport Enterprise Commission The Town Manager reported that the Commission has been meeting on a regular basis to move this economic development project forward. Mr. Rees explained that the FAA has to approve to release the land to allow the construction of the industrial park. The FAA release process requires the submission of detailed documentation that necessarily has to be prepared by an engineering firm qualified to do this work. The cost of this work is approximately $10,000 and should be equally shared between the City of Lawrence and the Town of North Andover. A Memorandum of Understanding has been drafted and would be forwarded to Town Counsel for review once the Board is in agreement with the concept with the MOU. Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and to forward draft to Town Counsel for review. Vote approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: Police Department Staffing Levels Chief Richard Stanley presented current staffing levels and is asking to fill an open position by a lateral transfer from other cities or towns. This would alleviate the cost of training at$2,747 per officer. Chief Stanley would seek interested parties through advertising in the NEMLEC web site, viewed by 44 agencies. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to authorize lateral transfer for police officer recruitment. Vote approved 4-1. Donald Stewart opposed. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 22, 2004 3 FY2005 Community Policing Grant Chief Stanley reported that the North Andover Police Department was awarded a Community Policing grant in the amount of$117,088 from the Executive Office of Public Safety. Chief Stanley presented the Board with a budget summary for use of these funds and its many programs that would benefit from the grant. Lease for North Andover Federal Credit Union Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli issued an RFP to lease office space at Town Hall for purposes of a credit union. The North Andover Municipal Federal Credit Union was the only proposal received to lease the office space. The proposal was to lease the office space at a fee of$235 per month. This translates to a cost of$10.11 per square foot. The lease is for a three-year period beginning December 1, 2004. Town Counsel has the lease document for final review and signature. Town Counsel recommended that the Board vote to approve the lease to the North Andover Municipal Federal Credit Union and authorize the Town Manager to sign the lease on the Town's behalf. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Wakeman, to approve the lease and to authorize the Town Manager to sign on behalf of the Town. Vote approved 5-0. Town Manager Evaluation Process Selectmen Wakeman and Smedile, members of the Town Manager's Evaluation subcommittee, have recommended using an evaluation tool used by the Town of Grafton (modified for North Andover)to be implemented for this current evaluation process. Any additions of deletions to the form should be submitted to the subcommittee by Friday, November 26, 2004. Town Manager Mark Rees submitted a self evaluation on progress made on objectives established by the Board in September of last year, as well as other achievements during the year. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The state mandates water departments annually test backflow devices. In the past this testing has mainly occurred in commercial buildings, but the state is now requiring the testing for residential homes as well. In reviewing past records it is unclear if the Board approved the $55 fee to cover the expense of the test. As such, it is recommended that the Board do so. Selectman Wakeman objects. The Town recently received notice from Mass Highway, that the State has been its Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review of Reconstruction of the Old Center/Common Area of North Andover. Comments on the project can be submitted by Monday, December 13, 2004. The Chairman and I met with Jack Graham, Chair of the Council of Aging, to discuss elected officials and candidates access to the Senior Center. One idea that was discussed was allowing incumbent elected officials use one of the conference rooms in town hall for office hours to provide constituent services and then suspend that use one or two months prior to any election. Before moving forward with drafting a policy on the matter, we are seeking some preliminary feed back from the Board. ADJOURNMENT: Wendy Wakeman made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Wendy D. Wakeman, Clerk of the Board