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Home My WebLink About2006-08-14 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES AUGUST 14, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Thomas Licciardello called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Thomas Licciardello, Chairman; Rosemary Connelly Smedile, James Xenakis; Daniel P. Lanen; 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 Pending Litigation, Collective Bargaining and Injured Firefighter David Ford. Vote approved 5-0. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Daniel P. Lanen, yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Rosemary Smedile, yes, and Thomas Licciardello yes. Vote approved 5-0. Note: Selectman Daniel Lanen recused himself from the Executive Session. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the Minutes of July 24, 2006, Executive Session as written and Open Session as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Swearing-In Ceremony Firefighter Brian Cannella who was appointed on August 15, 2005 completed his one-year probationary period and was sworn in as a permanent firefighter. Board of Selectmen Appointments The Board's subcommittee on appointments (Selectmen Licciardello and Smedile) recommended to the full Board the (re) appointments of the individuals listed below: Conservation Comm. Deborah Feltovic 3 years until 6/30/09 Conservation Comm. Sean F. McDonough 3 years until 6/30/09 Council on Aging Peter Aziz 2 years until 6/30/08 Stevens Estate—Board of Trustees Eric Demers 3 years until 6/30/09 Stevens Estate—Board of Trustees George A. Peters, Jr. 3 years until 6/30/09 Zoning Board of Appeals Richard J. Byers 3 years until 6/30/09 Zoning Board of Appeals Albert P. Manzi, III 3 years until 6/30/09 Zoning Board of Appeals—Associate Richard M. Vaillancourt 3 years until 6/30/09 James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the recommended appointments. Vote approved 5-0. Town Clerk's Update Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw gave an update on the upcoming primary election scheduled for September 16, 2006. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM —8:00 PM. The last date to register to vote is August 30, 2006. North Andover is also a Passport Agency and if US citizens are traveling by air or sea to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean they are urged to apply for passports early due to longer waiting periods. All US citizens need passports by January 2007. Update Communication with School Committee Chairman Licciardello informed the public that the Board of Selectmen has had active communication meetings with members of the School Committee, Finance Committee and Interim Superintendent Dr. Board of Selectmen Minutes August 14, 2006 2 O'Connor. The Town is on the way to correcting the School budgeting process. The Board has been contacting experts in the field of Finance to help the town in restoring a transparent budget that everyone can understand. Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel O'Connor said that there is no shortage of communication in this town. He said this will be a difficult year ahead and is working very diligently with all the boards and is confident that the budget would be fixed by the end of this year. Kimberly Dawley, 95 Hickory Hill Road, asked questions regarding the School Committee decisions. The Board of Selectmen answered that they cannot make decisions for the School Department and they do not oversee the School Committee. Selectmen suggested that she approach the Finance Committee, who are the watchdogs of the town these questions. Judy Goodwin, 10 Campbell Road, asked questions on how Town government was run. Who manages who and how it is managed. What steps the town is taking to make residents pay back taxes, and how the town is handling excise tax offenders with New Hampshire license plates. The Town Manager answered that the Town Charter regulates how the Town is run and who reports to who. The town has aggressively taken steps to collect back taxes and has collected a substantial amount to date. The Police Department has been actively enforcing residents with out-of-state license plates to comply with the town. Frank Ragonese, 1939 Great Pond Road, made a formal complaint against Butcher Boy Plaza owner, Mr. Yameen. Two freestanding refrigeration units that are behind the store are causing a noise nuisance for Mr. Ragonese. Town Manager Mark Rees said that he has met with Mr. Ragonese and Mr. Yameen many time over the last year and this has been referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building Inspector. Mr. Ragonese has the right to bring his appeal to Superior Court or Land Court for a decision. OLD BUSINESS: Merrimac Condominium Comprehensive Permit The Board of Selectmen is taking proactive steps with recommendations and suggestions to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding the Merrimac Condominium Comprehensive Permit. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to send the Zoning Board of Appeals a letter prepared by Community Development Director Curt Bellavance with their recommendations for the Comprehensive Permit for the Merrimac Condominiums. Vote approved 5-0. Orchard Village Comprehensive Permit Selectman Caggiano coordinated with Community Development Director Curt Bellavance the drafting of a formal response from the Board of Selectmen to the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. The Board is asked to approve the drafted letter. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve and send the letter to the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. Vote approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: Designer Selection Procedures In September 2002, the Board adopted written designer selection procedures in accordance with MGL c7, s38'h-O. The procedures must be used when contracting for design services for building projects estimated to exceed $100,000. Design services include the preparation of master plans, feasibility and other studies, surveys, soil tests, cost estimates and programs; preparation of drawings, plans and specifications, including schematic drawings and preliminary plans and specifications; supervision or administration of a construction contract; and construction management and scheduling. Board of Selectmen Minutes August 14, 2006 3 Due to some pending CPA funded public construction projects (Stevens Library window replacement and roof repairs, Fire Station 1 brick exterior and roof repairs, Stevens Estate Gate House, Stevens Estate Plant House, and Stevens Pond Bath House), the Board is requested to approve the revised Designer Selection Procedures for the Town of North Andover. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve Amended Designer Selection Procedures with a deletion of the word "entire" on paragraph #2. Vote approved 5-0. Affordable Housing Units at Kittredge Crossing CHAPA has notified the town that units 204 and 180 at Kittredge Crossing are up for sale; both are affordable units. The Board of Selectmen has to determine if they want to exercise their right of first refusal. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to exercise their right of first refusal on the affordable units 204 and 180 at Kittredge Crossing. Vote approved 5-0. Request to fill Position Vacancy Superintendent of the Water Department Dennis Bedrosian is requesting to fill the vacancy of Senior Water Analyst that is vital to the Water Treatment Plant operations. This position is fully funded by the Water Enterprise FY07 budget. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the request to fill vacancy of Senior Water Analyst for the WTP. Vote approved 5-0. Quarterly Newsletter Chairman Licciardello would like to begin preliminary discussions of a Board of Selectmen quarterly newsletter. Licciardello is asking input from Town Manager and Department Head Managers. The newsletter would be sent out with quarterly tax bills. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Two (2) parcels of land were sold at public auction on August 3rd. One parcel on Glenwood Street sold for$1,500 and one parcel on Turnpike Street sold for$1,700. The Police Department was awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety in the amount of$3,900 to purchase child passenger safety equipment. As part of the Recreation Department summer band concert series, the band "Four Guys in Tuxes" performed on Sunday, July 30th. At the end of their performance after receiving the agreed upon payment, The band's manager donated their check back to the town's Recreation Department in honor of Bill McEvoy's memory and efforts over the years. Several other donations have also been received in past weeks in Bill's memory. The Board is asked to accept this donation. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to accept the donation of$500 to the Recreation Department. Vote approved 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adjourn the meeting at 9"55 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board