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Home My WebLink About2009-12-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES DECEMBER 8, 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: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: The Town Manager announced that the Department of Public Works would be conducting a Public Hearing pursuant to MGL Chapter 87, on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the DPW offices to hear comments regarding National Grid's application to remove and/or prune public shade trees in the public way. Ninety-one (91)trees along Foster Street, Salem Street, Marbleridge Road and Johnson Street would be impacted under this plan. Tracy Watson announced that the North Andover Merchants Association will have their next meeting at the Rose & Dove on Wednesday, December 16th between 5:30—7:00 p.m. Richard Nardella announced that the Audit Committee met on Monday, December 7th and will have a report completed by the end of the month. CONSENT ITEMS: Acceptance of Student Awareness Fire (S.A.F.E.) Grant Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to accept approval of the S.A.F.E. Grant of$2,392 received by the Fire Department from the state to provide education to North Andover school children on fire safety. Vote approved 5-0. Authorization to Borrow Funds The Board was requested to approve $10,276,222 in borrowing; $6,446,222 to fund previously approved Capital Improvement projects and $3,830,000 to refund previously issued Sewer Enterprise Funds. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the authorization to borrow$10,276,222; $6,446,222 to fund previously approved Capital Improvement projects and $3,830,000 to refund previously issued Sewer Enterprise Funds. Vote approved 5-0. The Board was requested to approve $545,000 in borrowing to fund previously approved Modular Classrooms. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the authorization to borrow$545,000 to fund previously approved Modular Classrooms. Vote approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS Tax Classification Hearing Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to open the Public Hearing for Tax Classification. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 8, 2009 2 Chief Assessor Garrett Boles and a member of the Board of Assessors David Minicucci were present. Mr. Boles provided spreadsheet information regarding various options to shift tax burdens between residential property and commercial industrial and personal (CIP) property. This information showed the impact on average tax bills along with historical information of previous years. Public Comment James Xenakis of 687 Salem Street said that North Andover was one of a few towns that had classification shifts. Last year's decision to change the shift from 1.18 to 1.35 put an extra burden on businesses and their tax bills jumped considerably. He asked the Board to give consider the economy and give business owners a break this year. Donald Stewart of 62 Prospect Street said that back in the early 1990's tax rates were about even with the homeowner and business owner. Then residential real estate started to increase in value. The Town was growing and to entice the residents for overrides for better schools the Town initiated the classification shift. Also North Andover had a very large commercial base with the Lucent Manufacturing plant paying a bulk of taxes. Stewart said you can't go back you just have to keep a balance. In this economy taxes is a burden all must share and somehow it should be as fair as possible for both residents and businesses. Will Carpenter on behalf of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce request the Board to consider lowering the tax rate for North Andover business owners. There are many businesses going out of business because of the economy. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adopt the 1.32 factor which would set the residential tax rate at$12.75 per 1,000 and the commercial tax rate at $17.69; the selected Residential Factor is 0.950923. Vote approved 5-0. Proposed Changes to Personnel Policy Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to open a Public Hearing for proposed changes to the Personnel Policy. Vote approved 5-0. It is proposed that Article VI — Leaves of Absence, Section A—Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), be amended in accordance with the changes made to the legislation earlier this calendar year regarding military family leave. A vote of approval from the Board would bring the Town in compliance with the change. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to amend the Personnel Policy regarding military leave in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to bring the Town in compliance. Vote approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: Update on Grants and ARRA Funding Director of Community Development Curt Bellavance gave the Board an update on the various grant programs currently under consideration by the Town. The following grant opportunities are available: 1. Clean Energy Choice Funds—Applied for$16,500 t install a 2 Kw solar array at High School. 2. Collins Grant Writing Assistance to Municipalities— In process and working with Collins Center. Board of Selectmen Minutes December 8, 2009 3 3. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Grants up to $150,000 -Applying for grant in order to expand the solar array at high school. If grant is awarded, size of solar array could be increased from 2Kw to 20Kw. Owners Agent Technical Assistance - $825,000— Program established in order to create third party power agreements. Approval of third party power agreement would need Town Meeting approval which cannot be completed by grant deadline of December 7, 2009. Building Inspector Training for Stretch Code and Energy Code - $175,000 - State and/or Regional Agency will hold training courses on a regional level. Energy Information Reporting System - $700,000—The Town Sustainability Committee is working with Peregrine Energy Group to develop a system; funding provided through Clean Energy Choice. Recovery Zone Bond (thru ARRA)— Economic Development Bonds ($23,084,000 for Essex County The Community Development Office and Public Works identified the Osgood Street/Route 125 sewer project as the most likely candidate to receive grant funding. The grant is a rolling grant which is now available. Project should create jobs and be "shovel ready". The Bond must be awarded by January 1, 2011, which makes the project time sensitive and dependent on Town Meeting approval. Recovery Zone Facility Bonds ($34,625,000—The Community Development Office has already begun to speak about the program and its benefits with several potential business owners interested in expanding. Our office will continue to promote the Facility Bonds program to North Andover businesses via phone calls, e-mails, meetings, etc. The Selectmen may be called upon to show support of a particular project in the future; Town support would be critical. Board of Selectmen Meeting Schedule for 1St Half of 2010 The Town Manager presented a proposed meeting schedule from January 2010 through June 2010 for the Board of Selectmen. The Board was asked to review the schedule and then vote to approve the following dates: January 11, 25; February 8, 22; March 8, 22; April 12, 26; May 10, 11, 24; June 7, 21, 2010. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to approve the proposed calendar of scheduled meeting dates as requested with subject to change. Vote approved 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 9:36 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board