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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-06 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES NOVEMBER 6, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Thomas Licciardello called the meeting to order at 7:00 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. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining. 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Minutes of October 24, 2006, Open Session. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Appointment to Merrimac Valley Planning Commission The Town holds two seats on the regional planning commission and one seat is vacant. With the pending retirement of the current Executive Director of the MVPC, the Commission will be voting in November a replacement. The Town Manager recommended appointing himself on a temporary basis, subject to the confirmation by the Board, to participate in the selection of the next director and will recruit a permanent replacement for the North Andover representative after the appointment process is completed. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to confirm the temporary appointment of Mark Rees to the Merrimac Valley Planning Commission. Vote approved 5-0. Appointment of Veteran's Graves Officer Due to the resignation of the current Graves Officer, Director of Veterans Affairs Ed Mitchell requested that the Board appoint Phillip Brooks to the position. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to appoint Phillip Brooks as Graves Officer. Vote approved 5-0. Election Update Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw reminded all votes that the voting would take place at the high school and the polls would be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Newspaper Racks Donald Stewart, 52 Prospect Street said that the newspaper racks in front of Dunkin Donuts and the Post Office on Main Street need to be secured to avoid another accident. Selectmen agreed that these racks should be secured within a required time period and if not, be removed. Donations for"Adopt a Wreath" Selectman Rosemary Smedile is asking for donations of$60 from residents for the "Adopt a Wreath" program to dress up the downtown with Holiday Wreaths. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 6, 2006 2 CONSENT ITEMS: Holiday Parade November 25, 2006 The Festival Committee and the NA Police Association request approval to use Main Street and Sutton Street on November 25, 2006 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM for the annual Christmas/Holiday parade. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the request for the Christmas Holiday Parade on November 25, 2006, Vote approved 5-0. Winter Parking Ban Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the Winter Parking Ban recommended by the Police Department to go into effect December 1, 2006, at 12:01 AM. Vote approved 5-0. Request to fill Vacancy: Stevens Estate Stevens Estate Director Cynthia Rostiac has verbally tendered her resignation effective November 25, 2006. Ray Santilli is requesting approval to fill this vacancy on an interim basis for a 90-day period with a current staff member in order to successfully wrap up all of the booking scheduled for the holiday season. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the request to fill this vacancy on an interim basis for 90 days. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Prescott Street Parking Prescott Street, located at the far end of the High School, has been the subject of parking and traffic concerns since the new High School has been opened. A committee with representatives from Planning, Police, Fire, DPW, and the School Department met with residents and provided their recommendations to the Board for review and consideration. Mr. Steven Adiconis of 190 Prescott Street addressed the Board regarding his concerns and strongly disagreed with the recommendations of the committee. He added parked cars have damaged his lawn and his driveway is constantly being used as a turn-around for cars dropping off students for school and athletic events. On the weekends, people park to use the fields and some people park all night. Adiconis suggested No Parking signs with Tow Zone on both sides of the street and curbing put in. The recommendations calls for putting "No Parking signs on Adiconis' side of the road, but taking down the "No Parking" signs on the high school side of the road. Also on the high school side, the committee recommends putting in a sidewalk, creating a drop-off zone for students and allowing parking on the rest of the street. Selectmen said that they are faced with a decision that is fair and try to come to a compromise and try to alleviate the problem with the drop-off zone and add No Parking signs from dusk to dawn. Selectmen approved the recommendation with the addition of"No overnight parking" signs and asked to see a final design on how the street will look. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to endorse the concept and present a final plan for approval with modifications. Vote approved 5-0. FY08 Budget Policy Statement The Town Manager said the Town Charter mandates that the Board of Selectmen approve the FY08 Budget Policy Statement by November 1, 2006. The Town Manager recommended approving the statement as written subject to revisions as additional information comes forward. Selectman Xenakis noticed a typo on page 5 is asked to change 4-6% of net revenue to 3-5% of net revenue. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 6, 2006 3 Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to approve the FY08 Budget Policy Statement as amended on page 5. Vote approved 5-0. Yard Waste Recycling Request for Proposal Two companies that recycle yard waste have contacted the Town. The North Andover Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommended taking these proposals to the next level of investigation in order to fully understand the benefits and costs of each. A scope of work will be outlined and a Request for Proposals would be drafted to open the process to other potential vendors who may be interested in submitting proposals for yard waste activities for the town. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to move forward and start the process for a Request for Proposals for Yard Waste Recycling. Vote approved 5-0. Osgood Landing 40B/40R project Community Development Director Curt Bellavance gave the Board an update on Osgood Landing. The sub-committee forwarded a 40R-zoning bylaw to the Department of Housing & Community Development for review. The next step is meeting with the property owner and their design team to discuss details of the zoning design guidelines, land uses, and dimensional requirements. All comments from the land-use boards, DHCD and the property owner would be incorporated into a document that would be presented at the Board of Selectmen meeting in late November or early December. A final 40R-zoning bylaw would be presented at the Board of Selectmen Public Hearing designated for the 40R application. After the application is submitted to DHCD the 40R zoning would follow the typical zoning article town meeting process. NEW BUSINESS: Downtown Improvement Grant Award Community Development Director Curt Bellavance announced that with the assistance from the Planning Department, received a $28,400 Smart Growth Technical Assistance Grant from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs to review the zoning and land-use patterns of the downtown area. As part of the grant approval the Town has to match 15% of the project cost. The grant funding expires on June 30, 2007. It is expected that this project would be completed at that time. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to accept a $28,400 Smart Growth Technical Assistance Grant Award from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: • On Thursday October 26, 2006, the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) held their annual dinner where Emergency Management Director Jeff Coco was honored for his work in coordinating the town's response to the devastating Mother's Day floods this past spring. • On Saturday, October 28, 2006, the North Andover Rotary Club sponsored an event called Ghoul School at the High School. Representatives from the Police Department, Fire Department and Youth Services participated in this multifaceted celebration of Halloween. • Selectmen Smedile and Lanen met with Veterans Services Director Ed Mitchell, Fire Chief Bill Dolan and Town Manager on November 2, 2006 to discuss proper flag protocol on town property. From that meeting came a process to standardize procedures and address lighting of the American Flags. • The Board of Selectmen has been invited to participate in a focus group concerning the selection of the new school superintendent. Please check your calendars regarding availability for the dates. • Gene Willis, Town Engineer, was recently awarded a Master Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. • Veterans Day Parade will be on Saturday, November 11, 2006. ADJOURNMENT: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 6, 2006 4 Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board