HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-04 Board of Selectmen Executive Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN EXECUTIVE MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2009
EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Executive Session convened at 4:30 P.M.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Chairman Tracy M. Watson; Clerk Rosemary Connelly Smedile;
William F. Gordon; Richard Nardella; Daniel Laren, Town Manager Mark Rees;Assistant Town Manager Ray
Santilli. Town Counsel Thomas Urbelis was present.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Vote
approved 5-0.
Litigation Strategy
The Board of Selectmen agreed to vote to change the Town Common policy that limited displays from one
day during a specific time of the year. The change is as follows:
_Under the Town Common Rules&Regulations Policy Section 9: Public Displays
(a) Except for holiday displays, public displays of art, banners, signs, symbols, etc.; shall be limited to one
day only with an allowance of an allowance of one-half day in advance to set up the display and one-half day
afterwards to remove the display.
(b) Holiday displays shall be allowed from Thanksgiving Day until the following January 7. It is the policy of
the Board of Selectmen to reasonably allow, in their sole discretion, holiday displays that combine a variety of
symbols in such a way that the approval of the display is not an endorsement of any particular religion. The
Board of Selectmen shall allow holiday displays, so long as no particular display gives the impression (by
size, location or otherwise)that the Board of Selectmen endorses any particular religion.
( c) No display shall present a threat to the public safety and the display shall be removed immediately by
order of the Building Commissioner if the Commissioner determines the display is a threat to public safety.
The Town Manager suggested sending a letter to the editors on getting the message out to the media.
Selectmen Lanen and Nardella said they would be making a statement during Open Session about Rabbi
Bronstein's draft copy of a lawsuit sent to the Town of North Andover. They wanted the public and the press
to know why the Selectmen reacted the way they did and what the lawsuit stated.
ADJOURMENT:
Daniel Laren made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to move out of Executive Session. Vote
approved 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Adele J. Johnson, Administrative Secretary