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Home My WebLink About2006-01-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JANUARY 9, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Chairman; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Thomas Licciardello; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the Open Session Minutes and Executive Session Minutes as written for December 19, 2005. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Emergency Supply and Equipment Demonstration Recently, the Town was awarded a $14,000 grant from the Northeast Regional Security Advisory Council in the event of a Homeland Security emergency. Emergency Management Director Jeff Coco was present to explain and demonstrate the emergency supplies received. Main Street Clock Repair Status Fire Chief William Dolan discussed alternative methods to restore the clock on Main Street and asked the Board of Selectmen for direction. Certificate of Appreciation for Jason Wedge Jason Wedge is a Reserve Officer in the Town and a full-time Patrol Officer for Merrimack College. Officer Wedge along with Sergeant Doyle Bird, Mark Pierre and Robert Cote were recognized for their heroic actions in saving a life of a Merrimack College student who was choking. Gerald Brecher, Wetlands Protection By-Law Review Committee The Board's appointment sub-committee (Selectmen Smedile and Licciardello) recommended the appointment of Mr. Brecher to this committee. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the appointment of Gerald Brecher to the Wetlands Protection By-Law Review Committee. Vote approved 5-0. New Business Recognition The Board presented Georgetown Savings Bank a certificate of appreciation for locating a business in town. Sean Fountain, President of the Firefighters Union asked the Board if they had made any decision regarding changes to Health Insurance for Retirees. Chairman Smedile said that the Board did discuss various options and ways to reduce the cost of rising Health Insurance to the Town. There is a lot more research and work to be done before a final decision can be made. The Board did not vote on this subject at this time. The Board would release a spreadsheet comparing other towns' contributions towards Retirees health insurance costs. EXECUTIVE SESSION: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to move into Executive Session to discuss Bargaining with Union employees. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 9, 2006 2 The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Thomas Licciardello, yes, and Rosemary Smedile yes. Vote approved 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move into licensing. Vote approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING Note: James Xenakis recused himself from the meeting. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to open the Public Hearing. Vote approved 4-0. Andover Flower Farm &Country Store, 2370 Turnpike Street Steven M. Fiore, Manager of Andover Flower Farm & Country Store applied for a Wine & Malt Beverage License, Package Store License and Common Victualler License. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the Wine & Malt Beverage License, Package Store License and Common Victualler License to Steven M. Fiore. Vote approved 4-0. The Pie Guy, 67 Main Street Assigns, Inc. Michael Withrow, President applied for a Common Victualler License. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the Common Victualler License but that the License not be released until all aspects of the Federal and State food codes are met; including proper application, fee payment, plan approval and inspections by the Board of Health. Vote approved 4-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 4-0. Note: James Xenakis returned to the meeting. Merrimack College, Turnpike Street Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve requests by Kathleen Makiver for the following One-Day Licenses: Vote approved 5-0. Athletics Reverse Raffle at the Blue Line Club in the Volpe Complex on February 4, 2006, from 7:00- 11:00 PM, Beer and Wine License. Senior Success Conference at Cascia Hall on February 26, 2006, from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM, Beer and Wine License. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move out of Licensing. Vote Approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Assignment of Right of First Refusal —Cullen Property Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to open the Public Hearing for the purpose of considering the assignment of the Town's Right of First Refusal option of the Cullen Property. Vote approved 5-0. The Town Manager explained that the purpose to purchase the land located at 605 Osgood Street was to preserve a major portion of the property be continued to be used as forest land. John Simons provided a project summary handout for this project. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 9, 2006 3 Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to assign to the Trust for Public Land, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, with its New England office at 33 Union Street, Boston, Massachusetts, the Town's rights under M.G.L. Chapter 61, Section 8, to purchase land owned by Albert F. Cullen, Jr., and Maeve M. Cullen, located at 605 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA pursuant to the terms of a Purchase and Sales Agreement between Albert F. Cullen, Jr., and Maeve M. Cullen and Aidan Realty Development, LLC, dated September 13, 2005,which the condition that the major portion of the Property be continued to be used as forest land. Vote approved 5-0. The Board of Selectmen signed the Assignment and a letter to the Cullens notifying them of the Town's intention. OLD BUSINESS: Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee Report Mark Nichols, chairman of the Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee, presented an overview of his committee's report. Nichols covered Total Revenue and Fixed Cost and Semi-Fixed Costs. The report pointed out Potential areas of change: 1. New Growth, Lottery, Chapter 70 reform, and Health Care Reform. Key suggestions were: 1. Make sure an annual review of local receipts is conducted to ensure that revenue equals costs of providing the service. 2. Work with owners of tax-exempt property to seek mutually beneficial "Payment-in-lieu-of-taxes"to compensate for the use of town services. Senators Tarr and Baddour have already offered to help with this. 3. Prepare and maintain a list of capital needs to be presented annually to our state senators and reps. The list should include the connection to the state Rtes. 495 and 114 and Harold Parker State Forest. 4. Investigate whether other towns have found ways to manage health insurance. Selectmen thanked the committee for all the work put into this report and for their recommendations. NEW BUSINESS: Capital Budget Information The Town Manager presented additional information on the General Fund Capital Budget and asked the Board to vote to send to the Finance Committee. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to accept the Town Manager's General Fund Capital Budget and to forward to the Finance Committee with the right to make modifications if needed. Vote approved 5-0. Criminal Offender Records Information (CORI) Draft The Criminal Offender Records Board recommended that the Town adopt a CORI policy before doing checks on license applicants. CHSB provided the Town Clerk's office with a recommended model policy. Due to the fact that the Town Clerk's office is required to conduct CORI checks on license applicants immediately, it is recommended that the Board adopt this policy. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adopt the CORI policy and submit amendments to this CORI policy at a future date. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: • Recently a new emergency entrance/exit way was constructed at the new High School onto Rte. 125 to address public safety and traffic concerns at the High School. Selectman Smedile was instrumental early on in identifying problems associated with traffic and parking at the High School and working towards solutions to address those problems. • Increasing health insurance costs is one of the Town's largest budget problems. Town staff assisted by Selectmen Licciardello, have been working on ways to reduce these costs Board of Selectmen Minutes January 9, 2006 4 through more accurate projections and exploring alternative plans such as Health Savings Accounts (HAS) • Dennis Bedrosian, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, recently completed the Public Contracting Overview Certification Seminar in the Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) program • The Board of Selectmen has been invited again to participate in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Lawrence on March 12, 2006 ADJOURNMENT: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board