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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-05 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Tracy M. Watson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Tracy M. Watson, Chairman; Daniel P. Lanen, Vice Chairman; Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk; Richard A. Nardella, Licensing Chairman;William F. Gordon; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to move into Executive Session to discuss "Strategy with Respect to Litigation" and Collective Bargaining. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to TABLE the approval of minutes of September 21, 2009. Vote approved 5-0 COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition The Board presented Certificates of Appreciation for locating in North Andover to two new businesses Rose and Dove Gourmet and Orchard Material Technology. Trick or Treat Hours on Halloween Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Halloween Trick or Treat hours on Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. MMA Legislative Breakfast, October 23, 2009 North Andover will be hosting a regional breakfast meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) at the Stevens Estate from 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. on October 23, 2009. The discussion will feature state finances and its impact on local aid and legislative initiatives that could help reduce municipal costs. Fly for Freedom & Salute to Gold Star Mothers This event has been rescheduled for October 11, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. —4:00 p.m. at Lawrence Airport. A family fun filled day of festivities, food and entertainment; a flight for just .20 cents per pound of your body weight. Fox News 25 Friday High School Football Games Vote for North Andover to be the next Fox News 25 High School Football Game to be televised. Go to myfoxboston.com and vote for North Andover. Appointments The Selectmen's subcommittee recommended the appointment of Anna Choi to the Poet Laureate Committee. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to approve the appointment of Anna Choi to the Poet Laureate Committee. Vote approved 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS: Request to waive building inspection fees for new police station A formal "Notice of Award"was issued to EMJ Corporation as the general contractor for the North Andover Police Station Renovation/Construction project in the amount of$2,917,000. This amount may change once the re-bidding process is completed. The Board was requested to waive all building and inspection permit fees for this Town financed project. Board of Selectmen Minutes October 5, 2009 2 Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to waive payment on any and all required fees or charges for building inspection permits relating to the construction of the new police station at the former Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union building on Osgood Street. Vote approved 5-0. Annual Cambridge Sports Union Rollerski Race James Doucette of the Cambridge Sports Union requested permission to use Town roads for the annual Rollerski Race on Sunday November 1, 2009. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to grant an event permit and allow the use of town roads to Cambridge Sports Union to conduct a Rollerski Race on Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Vote approved 5-0. Public Comment Donald Stewart of 52 Prospect Street reported that there was a problem with a bump in the floor in the Senior Center and needs to be fixed. Ray Santilli answered that he is meeting with the contractor about the floor to address the problems. As a member of the Commission on Disabilities there is an issue with the utility poles on the walkways around the Old Center Common. Why aren't these being removed and wires put underground as promised? Mark Rees answered that the Town is working on this issue in every way they can and also would request the assistance of the Commission on Disabilities to address this issue. Richard Nardella said that he would start discussions with the Town Accountant regarding payroll issues. OLD BUSINESS: Town Manager Evaluation The Board of Selectmen has evaluated the Town Manager's performance over the last year. Each selectman was asked to rate and comment on specific areas of the Town Manager's performance and also rated him in achieving goals previously established by the Board. The individual comments were then compiled by the Chair of the Board and rated with overall comments regarding strengths and areas of improvement. The Board recognized the Town Manager's budgeting and financial skills were his best strengths. The Board said that the town of North Andover was not subject to a major layoff or cutbacks because of the Town Manager's budgetary fiscal skills and members agreed that the Town Manager is a valuable asset to the Town. NEW BUSINESS: Draft FY11 Budget Policy Statement The Town Manager drafted a fiscal year 2011 budget policy statement for the Board's consideration. The Board is requested to review, edit or modify the document and approve a final version of this document at their next meeting on October 19, 2009 to meet the November 1 st submission date required by the Town Charter. Proposed Non-monetary articles for May 2010 Annual Town Meeting The FY11 Budget and Town Meeting Calendar provides that by September 28, 2009, "notice of interest" to submit non-monetary articles for consideration at the May 2010 annual town meeting were to be submitted to the Town Manager. Four potential articles were submitted by the Director of Community Development and one was submitted by the Fire Department. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Brook Street Over the past few months Brook Street has been closed to through traffic due to flooding from a beaver dam on Ben Farnum's land downstream of the culvert on Brook Street. The Town is working with its attorneys to resolve use and easements/rights of the public over the road. The DPW wants to get the Board of Selectmen Minutes October 5, 2009 3 water lowered to both protect the water pipe and the road. A consultant reviewed the situation in the field and will recommend a solution for the beavers. Essex Regional Retirement System The pension board voted 3 to 2 to table the discussion on moving the pension funds to PRIT. Some of the members requested additional information related to liquidation costs. Stevens Estate Cell Tower Lease The Town Manager and Community Development Director Curt Bellavance scheduled a meeting on October 7, 2009 with representatives of Metro PCS to discuss the possible options that would benefit both parties to build another cell tower at that site. Summary of Activities Community Development Director Curt Bellavance gave a Summary of Activities for permits in the Building Department for the months of July, August and September 2009. The Building Department issued 298 permits during this period. Staff Training A total of six 2-hour training sessions have been scheduled for the majority of municipal employees. The training topics are sexual harassment, workplace harassment, customer service, computer use and review of other municipal policies. Stevens Estate Management RFP Sodexo Corporation requested two filing extensions in order to complete an assessment of the Stevens Estate operations. The extensions have expired, so the Town is going to repost the RFP for the Stevens Estate. Sodexo is still very interested in submitting a bid and has begun putting together their bid package. If no bids are received by the deadline, the Town will not be offering any further extensions. MMA Action Alert State Revenues Plummet The MMA has notified cities and towns to take action and to write to state legislators to rally for municipal relief items. The State revenues fell far below the monthly benchmark needed to keep the state budget in balance. The Governor has until October 15, 2009 to revise the fiscal 2010 revenue projections and then develop a plan to close the shortfall. This will be reflected in reducing executive branch spending, state layoffs and program reductions. Local aid is on the table because it is unavoidable. The Board of Selectmen directed the Town Manager to draft a letter to our legislators in support of North Andover. ADJOURNMENT: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board