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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN October 26, 2020 Call To Order: Chairman Chris Nobile called the meeting to order at 6:30PM in the Board of Selectmen meeting room. Attendance: Laura Bates, Phil DeCologero, Rosemary Smedile, Richard Vaillancourt and Chairman Chris Nobile. Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, Deputy Town Manager, Denise Casey and Director of Administrative Services, Laurie Burzlaff were all present. Executive Session Chairman Nobile stated the Board will enter Executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation for Recreation Complex and declared an open meeting will have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the Board. MOTION: Richard Vaillancourt motioned the Board of Selectmen move into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to the Recreation Complex litigation. Phil DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates- yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes, Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. The Board returned to Open Session at 7:05PM. Chairman Nobile read the following statement: Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Board of Selectmen will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town’s website, at www.northandoverma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. Public Comment No public comment. National Grid/Verizon New England joint petition to relocate Pole #873 on Prescott Street MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to open the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid/Verizon New England joint petition to relocate Pole #873 on Prescott Street. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Paul Pellegrini represented National Grid via conference call. Mr. Pellegrini stated it is required due to new condo complex at 80 High St. (Avalon Bay). Quarter-mile surrounding area needed to be upgraded. Mr. Pellegrini stated it addressed a resident complaint that the pole was in middle of their driveway so it was moved to a better location. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid/Verizon New England joint petition to relocate Pole #873 on Prescott Street. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Motion passed 5-0. National Grid petition to relocate Pole # 834 on Prescott Street MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to open the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid petition to relocate Pole #834 on Prescott Street. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Mr. Pellegrini stated pole is on the island at Prescott Street and island is right in the middle of the traffic island. Could be dangerous at present location. Proposed to move to side 10 feet. No public comment. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if old polls will be removed and patched. Mr. Pellegrini stated yes. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid petition to relocate Pole #834 on Prescott Street. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Government reports Update on COVID-19 and Merrimack College Andrew Maylor and Jeff Doggett represented Merrimack College. Dr. Doggett stated it is difficult to make predictions, goal was to get lowest possible numbers. Monican students directly had COVID-19 and then transferred it. Monican has three wings of the building all contact tracing done does not indicate that one incident/event caused it. Mr. Maylor stated that the fact it had not spread to other dorms shows that procedures are working. Mr. DeCologero is concerned students are leaving the campus, contracting it independently and coming back to join others in dorm. Dr. Doggett stated that he does not feel it was a single event that caused it, rather a few that got Covid outside of college and brought it back in. Ms. Rodrigues stated there is no evidence that there is community spread due to the cluster at Merrimack College. Ms. Smedile stated that North Andover was a low green community and the Monican cluster changed North Andover to red. Ms. Smedile asked Merrimack when they are going to change how they count and charge the numbers to the correct community from which it came from. Mr. Maylor stated DPH instructed Merrimack College to charge all cases to their address of the college which is 315 Turnpike St. North Andover. Ms. Rodrigues stated that she will meet with Andrew Flannigan, the Town Manager of Andover, on Wednesday to figure out how to move forward. Ms. Smedile asked how the students are being quarantined. Mr. Maylor stated they go through steps and that it is not lock down, it requires personal responsibility. Mr. Maylor stated Merrimack College contacts them throughout the quarantine to give them guidance. Mr. Maylor stated if students are within 200 miles they will return home or they are put on campus housing. Mr. DeCologero asked where the positive students are placed when they cannot be sent home. Ms. Smedile asked if Royal Crest is where some of the students are. Mr. Maylor stated yes. Ms. Smedile stated families and the elderly also live in that complex. Mr. Doggett stated freshman could only have a car if they had a job or family member that needed to attend to at home. 53 freshmen have cars out of 1100. Mr. Vaillancourt asked how they are notified of fines. Mr. Doggett stated NAPD notifies Merrimack College right away or they are notified right after the incident and students will lose room and board fee for the semester if they violate. Ms. Rodrigues stated without Merrimack College, North Andover would be yellow. Ms. Smedile asked if other dorms on campus have had students test positive. Mr. Mailer stated yes. COVID-19 Ms. Rodrigues gave update of 46 active cases to which 13 are at Merrimack College. An alert was sent out by the state of Massachusetts since North Andover is a high risk community. Thursday’s map showed North Andover was red with an asterisk which is more than 10 cases and more than 30% were from higher education. Six of the 13 were from Andover. Hockey has been shut down for the next two weeks. North Andover High School is remote until November 6. Ms. Rodrigues presented a chart showing Merrimack cases and North Andover cases. North Andover High School has five confirmed cases as of 10/25. FY21 First Budget Update Ms. Rodrigues gave update: property tax is the same as last year same period, everything is on track. Meals tax is down. Inspections are down 5%, not doing as many during COVID-19. Expenses are running approximately 27.14%. Water/sewer is slightly down. Stevens Estate is at 12.4%, significantly down from last year, they are currently trying new events. Revenue and Fix Cost Committee Ms. Rodrigues gave an update, she met with the committee last week. The Committee voted to move forward with new initiatives. Mr. Nobile asked if everything will stay on schedule. Ms. Rodrigues stated CARES money expires 12/31 and have been continuing to file to receive maximum funds from the program. Royal Crest Update Mr. Vaillancourt met to discuss current zoning and look to at what other overlay districts have done. Andrew Shapiro gave an update looking into zoning overlays and will present to zoning subcommittee this week to refine it. Jean Enright stated they have a good framework for zoning options and mentioned a hybrid approach. Ms. Rodrigues stated the developer started the fiscal analysis. Mr. Vaillancourt mentioned timing issue with trying to get something on the warrant for Town Meeting. Ms. Enright stated 7 to 10 year build out plan; does not have phase out yet. Vote on transfer of 2nd burial ground from North Parish Church to Ridgewood Cemetery (out of order) Adam Hamel, former chair of Board of Trustees for North Parish Church, was present and gave the background information of the 2nd burial ground. Mr. Hamel suggested the transfer of ownership of the 2nd burial ground to Ridgewood Cemetery. Jim Lafond represented Ridgewood Cemetery. Ms. Rodrigues stated no vote needed to be taken, this is for informational purposes only. Vote to accept and sign Right of Way Easement from RCG West Mill NA, LLC (out of order) Attorney Brian Vaughn for RCG West Mill was present. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to accept and sign the right of way easement from RCG West Mill NA, as presented. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Vote on National Grid/Verizon New England joint pool petition pole # 873 MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to approve National Grid/Verizon New England joint petition #29226392-P873 to relocate Pole #873 on Prescott Street, as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Vote on National Grid petition pole #834 MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to approve National Grid petition #29226392-P834 to relocate Pole #834 on Prescott Street, as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Request to amend the Commission for Inclusion, Equity and Diversity name and mission statement Denise Casey explained the request to change the acronym from I.E.D. since it has a negative connotation. Ms. Casey also suggested to change the word tolerance to the word acceptance in the mission statement. MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to amend the name and mission statement of the Commission for Inclusion, Equity and Diversity as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Vote to sign access and maintenance easement for Lot 72B Wood Lane MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to accept and sign the easement as presented for Lot 72B Wood Lane. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Appointment of Jennifer Bauer to Commission for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to appoint Jennifer Bauer to the Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for a term ending June 30, 2021. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of the Exchange Club to use the Town Common from May 22, 2021 to June 13, 2021 for the Field of Honor Ms. Burzlaff stated they are requesting the flags to be displayed for three weeks this year instead of two weeks. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the request of the Exchange Club to use the Town Common for the Field of Honor from May 22, 2021 through June 13, 2021. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Approval of Open Session Minutes of October 5, 2020 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned the Board of Selectmen approve the Open Session minutes of October 5, 2020 as written. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Consent Items -Sign warrant for November 3, 2020 election -Accept donations from to the library from Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lafond in the amount of $500 and Miss Brenda Murphy in the amount of $100 -Waiver of right of refusal for sale of affordable unit at 35 Empire Dr. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve and accept all consent items. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Old Business Ms. Rodrigues thanked Emergency Management team and the Public Health Nurse Caroline Ibbitson for their involvement with the flu clinic. Ms. Rodrigues mentioned there had has been a transition to Eversource from Columbia Gas and a representative will be joining next meeting. Ms. Smedile asked about Halloween. Ms. Rodrigues mentioned guidance will be going out this week and Halloween hours have been set for 5-7 PM. Selectmen‘s Update Ms. Smedile stated she cannot accommodate all requests for the Holiday Wreaths and those not fulfilled will be receiving their checks back. Ms. Bates mentioned a successful town wide cleanup and the CPC appointed a new chairman, Brian Roche. Mr. Vaillancourt mentioned the Stevens Estate has their Halloween dinners being held this upcoming weekend. Adjournment MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt made a MOTION, seconded by Mr. DeCologero to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: st FY21 1 Quarter Budget Report Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee Report National Grid correspondence Volunteer Form Commission for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mission Statement Donations for Library Waiver Request form