HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES January 7, 2008
CALL TO ORDER: James Xenakis called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: James Xenakis, Chairman; Thomas Licciardello; Rosemary
Connelly Smedile; Daniel P. Lanen; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Mark Rees, Town Manager.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to move into Executive Session to
discuss Collective Bargaining Police Union. Vote approved 5-0.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Daniel
P. Lanen, yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Rosemary Smedile, yes, and Thomas Licciardello yes; James
Xenakis yes. Vote approved 5-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Daniel Lanen made a correction to Open Session Minutes of December 3, 2007 on page 3, change vote
on Wireless Communication Facilities to 4-1. Under New Business Comments on Chapter 40B
Comprehensive Permit: The Greenery, add that Daniel Lanen recused and change vote to 4-0.
Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen to approve Amended Minutes of Open
Session December 3, 2007, and Open Session as written November 26, 2007, Open Session as written
December 10, 2007, Executive Session as written December 3, 2007, Vote approved 5-0. Executive
Session as written December 10, 2007. Vote approved 4-0-1. Daniel Lanen abstained.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT:
Poetry Project
The Town Poet Laureate Mike Souza presented the Board with a collage to display in the Town Hall and
gave an update on the North Andover Poetry Passion Project.
Appointment of Purchasing Director
The Town Manager requested the Board to approve the appointment of Joseph Lydick as the Town's first
Purchasing Director. This appointment represents the town's first component of our municipal/school
consolidation efforts.
James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, approving the Town Manager's
appointment of Joseph Lydick as the Town Purchasing Director. Vote approved 5-0.
Appointment of Public Works Director
The Town Manager requested the Board to approve the appointment of Bruce Thibodeau as the Town's
next Public Works Director as a result of the retirement of William Hmurciak.
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, approving the Town Manager's
appointment of Bruce Thibodeau as Public Works Director. Vote approved 5-0.
New Business Recognition: Crusader Paper
The Board of Selectmen presented Crusader Paper a certificate of recognition for their recent expansion
of their business in North Andover.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 7, 2008 2
Note: Daniel Lanen and Rosemary Smedile recused.
Appointment of Police Officer
Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to give a conditional offer of
employment to Eric Sewade as a Police Officer contingent of the successful completion of medical exam
and the required physical abilities test. Vote approved 3-0
Note: Daniel Lanen and Rosemary Smedile returned.
New ATV Vehicles
Police Chief Richard Stanley with Officer Hillner and Officer Whittaker introduced the departments new
ATV Vehicles and trailer. These vehicles are assets to the department and will be used during bad
weather, and very helpful for searches for missing persons in the Harold Parker State Forest, Wire Hill
and the Reservoir area. Police will be able to get to an injured person much quicker with these vehicles.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Request to fill vacancies: Fire Department, Conservation Associate, Youth Services
The Fire Department, Conservation Department and Youth Services are requesting the Board's
permission to fill positions due to resignations.
Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve filling the department
positions. Vote approved 5-0.
Affordable Housing Unit at Kittredge Crossing
The Board was requested not to exercise the Town's right of first refusal thus allowing CHAPA to sell
property to another income qualified purchaser.
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, not to exercise the Town's right of
first refusal thus allowing CHAPA to sell property to another income qualified purchaser. Vote approved
5-0.
Permission to hold Youth Services Carnival
Director of Youth Services Rick Gorman requested permission to hold the Annual Youth Services
Carnival on the Middle School grounds on April 30—May 4, 2008.
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the request to hold the
Annual Youth Services Carnival on the Middle School grounds on April 30—May 4, 2008. Vote approved
5-0.
Presidential Primary Warrant
Joyce Bradshaw Town Clerk requested that the Board sign the Presidential Primary Warrant for Primary
Election Day February 5, 2008. Town Clerk also reminded voters that the Registration deadline was
January 16, 2008.
Note: Daniel Lanen recused
Acceptance of Donations: Schneider Electric
The Board was asked to accept donations from Schneider Electric$500 to the Police Department and
$500 to the Fire Department.
Acceptance of Donations: Converse Inc.
The Board was asked to accept donations from Converse Inc. $500 to the Police Department and $500 to
the Fire Department.
Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to accept donations from Schneider
Electric and Converse Inc. Vote approved 4-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 7, 2008 3
Note: Daniel Lanen returned.
OLD BUSINESS:
Winter Parking Ban Revisions
Several residents asked the Board to allow on street parking in certain neighborhoods. Chief Richard
Stanley and Lt. John Carney recommended the following:
1. Parking on the odd side of Marblehead St. from Union St. to Middlesex St.
2. The even side of Union Street from Beverly St. to Marblehead St.
3. The even side of Norman Road.
Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the changes made to the 2008
Winter Parking Ban. Vote approved 5-0.
Parking Restrictions on High Street
The owners RCG North Andover Mills LLC is requesting the Board to modify certain parking restrictions
along High Street approved by the Board in October 2007. RCG is requesting that a 1-hour parking
restriction be assigned along the east side of High Street between Water and Prescott Streets instead of
a 2-hour parking restriction.
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the requested 1-hour
parking restriction. Vote approved 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
House Docket#4651: Additional Local Aid
The state lottery aid was capped from 2003-2005, forcing cities and towns to deplete their stabilization
funds by $450 million. Now, the state Rainy Day Fund is worth more than $2 billion. A group of state
legislators have filed a bill designated as House Docket#4651 to take $450 million in funds from the
state's reserve accounts and distribute to municipalities as a one-time local aid payment. Under the
distribution formula contained in the bill, North Andover would receive $1.1 million if the bill were to
become law. Right now, the bill is in the Rules Committee, and unless pressure is brought to bear on
leadership to release the bill to the full House for action, it most likely never will get the consideration it
deserves.
City and Town Officials are being asked to support this additional funding for local services to help get the
House Docket#4651 passed into law. Please send letters of support to House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi
and Angelo Scaccia, Chairman of the House Rules Committee. You are also encouraged to work with
the Massachusetts Municipal Association and other elected officials.
Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to send letters of support of House
Docket#4651 to House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and Angelo Scaccia, Chairman of the House Rules
Committee. Vote approved 5-0.
Warrant Articles for Spring Annual Town Meeting
The Town Manager presented to the Board various articles for consideration to be included on the Annual
Town Warrant. The various articles were as follows:
1. Establishment of an Excavation and Trench Safety Board
2. Removal of certain development restrictions on Town Farm land located on Dale Street
3. Petition for a special act to exempt North Andover from the Prevailing Wage Statute
4. Adoption of storm water Management Bylaw
5. Mandatory Indemnification of Municipal Employees, Requires Ballot Question
6. Resubmission of Machine Shop Village Neighborhood Conservation District By-Law
7. Various Senior Citizen Tax Relief Options
The Board was asked to review the articles and would be brought up at a future meeting.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 7, 2008 4
State Funded Transportation Projects
Senator Steven Baddour Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation requested the Town to send
him a prioritize list of transportation projects. William Hmurciak DPW Director and Curt Bellavance
Community Development Director proposed the following list to be included in the Merrimack Valley
Regional Transportation Bond Bill.
1. Machine Shop Village Streetscape improvements
2. Massachusetts Avenue reconstruction
3. Access from 1-495 to Sutton Street (MHD) project)
4. Roadway widening of Route 114, Andover By-pass to Chestnut Street (MHD Project)
5. Route 125 resurfacing. (Osgood St. to Route 114 not completed) MHD Project
6. Construct Industrial access road along B&M RR, Sutton Street to Clark Street
7. Sutton Street (resurfaced in 2005)
8. Bike path on abandoned RR Row. Sutton Street to Middleton town line. (Project has numerous
Private ROW issues)
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Thomas Licciardello, to approve the prioritized list of
transportation projects. Vote approved 5-0.
Town Manager's Recommended FY09-13 Capital Improvement Plan
Town Manager Mark Rees presented a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for the Board's consideration.
This plan addresses critical infrastructure and equipment needs; a phased approach to major building
needs; most projects will not require a Proposition 2'h debt exclusion to fund; focus on re-use or
replacement of existing assets rather than new projects. Division Directors requested various
replacement vehicles, roadway and sidewalk improvements, equipment upgrades and building
maintenance improvements.
The Town Manager recommended the following:
1. Phase 11 of the Police Station relocation to the Bradstreet School, a recommended $8.37 million
estimated construction cost would come from a variety of sources including prior year authorizations
($207,000), Community Preservation Funds ($2.4 million), sale of the land where the current police
station currently exists ($1 million) and borrowing of$4,763,000. The debt service on this note would be
partially offset by the allocation of Payment in Lieu of Tax funds received from the Greater Lawrence
Sanitary District.
2. A recommended $4 million be authorized to build an eight classroom building for a Pre-School Facility
with funding coming from prior year authorization to build a school at Forster Farms ($1.33 million), a
state grant related to the Smart Growth/4-R project at Osgood Land ($600,000) and general fund
borrowing ($2,070,000).
3. Planning and Design Money to Move Central Fire Station recommended for$400,000 to plan and
design a relocated central fire station with construction funding in FY10. This will allow in future years in
the CIP for the old fire station to be renovated into office space for the School Department Administration
for which they are currently in rented space.
The Board was asked to review the recommended CIP and make recommendations to the Town
Manager.
Mark Rees thanked Division Directors, School Superintendent, Ray Santilli and Lyne Savage for their
work in putting this plan together.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 7, 2008 5
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT:
• Fire Chief William Martineau and Emergency Management Director Jeff Coco are exploring the
possibility of applying for a federal grant to assist homeowners whose houses were damaged in
both the spring floods in the last two years. As part of the process, the enclosed survey was
distributed to the affected residents.
• Ms. Mary Rose Quinn, our new library director was recently appointed by Governor Deval Patrick
to the State Board of Library Commissioners. The first local librarian ever appointed to this
board.
• The Community Development Department has received notice that the town has been awarded a
$100,000 grant under the so-called 43D Expedited Permitting Process. Please see enclosed
memorandum describing how the grant will be used.
• The Public Works Division was awarded grant equipment to retrofit diesel engines on one of our
front end loaders to reduce harmful emissions from the this type of engine.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM.
Vote approved 5-0.
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary
Thomas Licciardello, Clerk of the Board