Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-18 Board of Selectmen Minutes JOINT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES September 18, 2014 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk William Gordon, Tracy Watson, Rosemary Smedile, Donald Stewart, Town Manager, Andrew Maylor, Chairman of the School Committee, Andrew McDevitt, Stan Limpert, Brian Gross, Zora Warren, Superintendent Kevin Hutchinson, and Assistant Superintendents Gregg Gilligan and James Mealey. EXPLANATION OF PROCESS: Chairman Vaillancourt explained the evening will proceed as follows: Process statement will be read by the Clerk Move all candidates into consideration Public comment Candidates will have 5 minutes to speak on their behalf. 7 candidates were present. Vote for vacancy Board of Selectmen Clerk, William Gordon read the following Statement of Process: The process for filling the open school committee vacancy in North Andover is governed by MGL Chapter 41, Section 11 which requires that the School Committee give notice to the Board of Selectmen within 30 days of when a vacancy occurs. That notice, in the form of Laurie Burzlaffs formal letter of resignation was received on August 11, 2014. Within days, Andrew McDevitt, the chairman of the School Committee, and Dick Vaillancourt, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, had charged the Town Manager with drafting an advertisement for the position and placing that"ad"on the town and school websites, social media, and on community television. Additionally, both the School Committee and Board of Selectmen announced the vacancy at their respective meetings in August. The result was a robust pool of 8 candidates. Other than indicating that a roll call vote at a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee is required, neither the statute nor the town charter prescribe a process for filling the vacancy. Additionally, the state's Open Meeting Law strictly limits the level of discussion that can take place regarding the process to fill the position. Therefore, Mr. McDevitt, Chairman of the School Committee, and Dick Vaillancourt, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, worked together to schedule a date for a joint meeting of the School Committee and Board of Selectmen and agreed that the candidates would not be required to attend that meeting. After further discussions with Mr. McDevitt, we agreed to allow each candidate the opportunity to make a 3-5 minute statement at the joint meeting. The Town Manager released the names of the candidates to the public along with the letters of interest and/or resumes submitted by each candidate. This information was posted on the town's website and was also made available via social media. The process to date has exceeded the requirements of MGL Chapter 41 and has been in strict compliance with the Open Meeting Law which, as it relates to this specific matter, was intended to allow the selection process to unfold in the full light of the public eye. Stan Limpert made a motion seconded by Rosemary Smedile that the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee accept all candidates into consideration. Vote approved 9-0. PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE CANDIDATES STATEMENTS: Jeff Moon of 141 Berry Street made a statement. Eitan Goldberg of 265 Middlesex Street made a statement. Brad Howard of 24 Glenwood Street made a statement. William Kelly of 124 Peachtree Lane made a statement. Holly Vietzke-Lynch of 385 Raleigh Tavern Lane made a statement. Board of Selectmen September 18, 2014 2 Helen Pickard of Waverly Road was not present. A statement was read by Stan Limpert, Clerk of the School Committee. Mark Svendsen of 201 Hay Meadow Road made a statement. David Torrisi of 67 Settlers Ridge Road made a statement. BOARD OF SELECTMEN/SCHOOL COMMITTEE COMMENTS: Chairman Vaillancourt explained the agreed upon process for voting. The board members discussed alternative methods of voting. Chairman Vaillancourt asked the Town Manager, Andrew Maylor, if there were alternative methods of voting. Rosemary Smedile suggested, that regardless of the method, that a School Committee member be given the courtesy of making the initial motion regarding a candidate. Although no vote was taken, Chairman Vaillancourt agreed to recognize the Chairman of the School Committee to make the first motion. Stan Limpert made a motion, seconded by Brian Gross, to vote for two candidates, each by motion and then vote on the final candidate from those two candidates. Roll call vote: Rosemary Smedile- Yes Stan Limpert- Yes William Gordon-No Brian Gross- Yes Andrew McDevitt-No Tracy Watson-No Zora Warren- Yes Donald Stewart-Abstained Richard Vaillancourt-No Vote denied 4-4-1 Stan Limpert thanked the candidates and stated he is looking for a candidate with experience and commitment to the town. Donald Stewart thanked the candidates and stated he is looking for a candidate that can step in and do the job. He is considering Bill Kelly and David Torrisi. Zora Warren thanked the candidates and stated she is looking for a candidate with experience working with the schools. Tracy Watson thanked the candidates. Brian Gross questioned why the board cannot work with 4 members. Mr. Gross thanked the candidates and encouraged all candidates to pull papers for the March election. William Gordon thanked the candidates and stated he is looking to appoint someone that can hit the ground running, is up to speed with what is going on in town, and has the ability to work with other boards. Andrew McDevitt thanked the candidates and stated it is critical to get the right person and stated he is basing his decision on the candidate's ability to work with the town and get things done. Richard Vaillancourt thanked the candidates. Rosemary Smedile thanked the candidates. Zora Warren made a motion, seconded by Stan Limpert, to nominate Holly Vietzke-Lynch. Roll call vote: Rosemary Smedile-No Stan Limpert- Yes William Gordon-No Brian Gross- Yes Donald Stewart-No Zora Warren- Yes Tracy Watson-No Andrew McDevitt-No Richard Vaillancourt-No Vote denied 3-6 Board of Selectmen September 18, 2014 3 Andrew McDevitt made a motion, seconded by Tracy Watson, that the Board of Selectmen and School Committee appoint David Torrisi to fill the vacancy of the School Committee through the next town election. Roll call vote: Donald Stewart- Yes Zora Warren-No Tracy Watson- Yes Brian Gross-abstained William Gordon- Yes Stan Limpert-No Rosemary Smedile- Yes Andrew McDevitt- Yes Richard Vaillancourt- Yes Vote approved 6-2-1 Rosemary Smedile, made a motion, seconded by William Gordon, for unanimous vote. Roll call vote: Rosemary Smedile- Yes Stan Limpert- Yes William Gordon- Yes Brian Gross- Yes Andrew McDevitt- Yes Tracy Watson- Yes Zora Warren- Yes Donald Stewart- Yes Richard Vaillancourt- Yes Vote approved 9-0 ADJOURNMENT: William Gordon made a motion, seconded by Tracy Watson, to adjourn the meeting of the Board of Selectmen at 8:52pm. Vote approved 5-0. Laurie A. Burzlaff Executive Assistant William F. Gordon, Clerk of the Board