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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-07-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JULY 25, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Smedile, Chairman; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Thomas Licciardello; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 4-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the following One-Day Licenses for the Stevens Estate. Vote approved 4-0. Cynthia Rostaic, Stevens Estate, 723 Osgood Street, requests the following One-Day Licenses. A. Fisichella Wedding, Sat. Aug. 6, 2005, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Full Liquor Bar B. lannuzzo Wedding, Sun. Aug. 7, 2005, 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Full Liquor Bar C. Doherty Wedding, Sat. Aug. 13, 2005, 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Full Liquor Bar D. Ann Koenig Rehearsal, Fri. Aug. 19, 2005, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Beer&Wine Bar E. Degenove Wedding, Sat. Aug. 20, 2005, 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Full Liquor Bar F. Triton High School Reunion, Sat. Aug. 27, 2005, 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, Full Liquor Bar G. Henderson Wedding, Sun. Aug. 28, 2005, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Full Liquor Bar Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 4-0. CONSENT ITEMS: Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the requests by the Knights of Columbus to conduct annual Tootsie Roll Drive weekend of September 23rd 24th and 25th, 2005. Vote approved 4-0. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move back to Communications, Announcements and Public Comment. Vote approved 4-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Certificates of Appreciation Four members of the Police Department Sergeant Diane Heffernan, Inspector Eugene Salois, Inspector Daniel Cronin and Officer Jay Staude were recently honored by the New England United States Attorneys with their Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Award for their work in dismantling a large distribution drug organization selling "Ecstasy". The four officers were presented with certificates of appreciation from the Board of Selectmen for their work in making North Andover and the region a safer place from dangerous drugs. Dr. Thomas Trowbridge, Chairman of the Board of Health announced the Board of Health would resume Public Hearings on the TBI, Inc. Trash Plant application starting next week. All hearing would be held at the High School auditorium and be televised on local cable. The dates are August 1, 3, 8 and 10 from 7:00 PM-10:00 PM. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to move into Executive Session to discuss bargaining with non-union employees. Vote approved 4-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes July 25, 2005 2 The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Thomas Licciardello, yes, and Rosemary Smedile yes. Vote approved 4-0. NEW BUSINESS: Master Plan for 1600 Osgood Street Representatives from Ozzy Properties, John Smolak and Christian Huntress presented a preliminary master plan outlining their long-term development plans for the former Lucent facility. The plan would turn the industrial site into a bustling new community that would include 650 condominiums and apartments, restaurants, a commuter rail stop and a sports complex as well as commercial space for offices and manufacturing. Owners of Ozzy Properties would like the Town to be an active and equal partner in the process. The Town must take advantage of the state's Chapter 40R "smart growth "zoning regulations, which would grant the town up to $2.55 million in cash payments as early as this time next year if town officials and voters go along with the developer's plans. Town Manager Mark Rees said that the state released money earlier this month for a $48,000 feasibility study for a new train station. Ozzy Properties has also agreed to provide the town with $20,000 for the same purpose. The money from both sources will be spent on hiring legal, economic and engineering consultants to review the submissions of Ozzy Properties and to make recommendations to the town to insure our interests are protected and the community is enhanced as a result of the project. Selectman Caggiano and Licciardello were very much in favor of this proposed development saying it was a win, win situation for the Town and Ozzy Properties. Selectman Stewart expressed skepticism. He was still upset with tactics employed by Ozzy Properties during negotiations of a deal to swap tax breaks for rent-free town office space at the site. Stewart predicted that many town residents would vote against the plan at the Special Town Meeting in order to avoid the influx of new residents. Planning Board Chairman Richard Nardella and John Simons said if the town does not approve the 650 housing units at this site, they'll show up somewhere else in town under the 40B "anti-snob" zoning law, which allows developers to skirt many growth control bylaws in towns that don't meet the ten percent standard. Not only will the project provide financial benefit to the Town, but it will put North Andover in control of how affordable housing is provided, protecting other areas of Town from unwanted MGL Ch. 40B development proposals. Chairman Smedile said that in the past the Town hit a few bumps in the road dealing with Ozzy Properties in the beginning stages, but have come a long way and the Town will get prime office space with zero rent and minimal utility expenses. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded Mark Caggiano, to authorize the Town Manager to sign and go forward with the Priority Development Fund Planning Assistance for Housing Production Grant Application for$46,800 and to authorize the Town Manager to sign the MOA with Ozzy Properties to provide the Town with the sum of$20,000 Twenty Thousand Dollars to engage the services of Attorney Mark Bobrowski to conduct a legal review of the proposed district and to make written recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. Vote approved 3-0-1. Donald Stewart abstained. Fall Town Meeting Schedule The Board was requested to consider scheduling a Fall Town Meeting for October 24, 2005 to address budget issues, zoning changes and adopting bylaws. Board of Selectmen Minutes July 25, 2005 3 Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to set the date for October 24, 2005 for a Special Town Meeting and the closing date of the warrant to be September 19, 2005. Vote approved 3-1. Donald Stewart opposed. Water System Audit Director of Public Works William Hmurciak provided the Board with a memo explaining how the Town operates its water system within industry standards for unaccounted water. The town has an active program of leak detections and repairs and are continuously replacing water meters and conducting inspections. The Town is in the process of contacting other utility companies to determine what programs they have in place to protect the integrity of their water systems and will report back to the board as to the results of that survey. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: As part of the town's participation in the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) property and liability insurance program, the town receives credits for taking proactive steps to limit our exposure. These actions include attending training seminars, participating in prevention programs and making improvements to buildings. As a result of North Andover's participation in this loss prevention program, we received a $7,126 credit on insurance premium in FY05. The Town Manager requested the Board appoint a member to sit on the Water Abatement Board for a hearing. This Water Abatement Board is made up of three people, the Finance Director, a member of the Board of Selectmen and a resident. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to appoint James Xenakis to sit on the Water Abatement Board. Vote approved 4-0. The Licensing Commissioner has sent out letters to all owners of Liquor Licenses regarding the Town's policy on licensing. ADJOURNMENT: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 PM. Vote approved 4-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board