Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-30 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN November 30, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Nobile called the meeting to order at 7:01PM. In accordance with Governor Baker’s Executive Order issued on March 12, 2020, suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, this meeting took place via conference call. All Board members and staff participated in this meeting remotely. 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. 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. UPDATE ON COVID-19 Ms. Rodrigues gave update stating North Andover has been yellow coded for over three weeks. There are 144 active cases over the two week period, about 34 per day average, this is higher than previous reporting. Ms. Rodrigues stated there was 11,000 tests done with 167 positive cases in that period. The test count is high due to Merrimack College. Ms. Rodrigues stated the total throughout the pandemic is 978 with 95 current cases and 11 of those at Merrimack College. Merrimack College will be closed until the first week of February 2021. Phase 3 Part 2 is now stating since North Andover has been in the yellow for three weeks. Ms. Smedile asked about going to New Hampshire and coming back to Massachusetts with the governor’s recent orders. Ms. Rodrigues stated there is allowance for going to the grocery store and church without having to get tested. Mr. DeCologero asked Ms. Rodrigues for the breakdown of Merrimack College testing compared to the general community. Ms. Rodrigues stated Merrimack College has had 4600 tests completed. Mr. Nobile asked Ms. Rodrigues if she has heard anything about a surge. Ms. Rodrigues replied that she had not as of yet, there is talk of planning for it. Ms. Rodrigues stated her concern about the CARES funds running out by 12/31/20 and what will happen with unemployment. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned the Board of Selectmen move to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Application from Anthony and Kimberly Freccero for Common Victualler and Entertainment Licenses for Jet Nutrition, LLC at 125 Main Street Anthony and Kimbery Freccero were present on the call. Mr. Nobile asked about delivery. Ms. Freccero stated they will th offer curbside at this time. Ms. Freccero stated they will have a December 15 opening. MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned the Board of approve the request of Anthony and Kimberly Freccero for a Common Victualler and an Entertainment license at 125 Main Street. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero- yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Discussion and vote regarding requirement to pay Town taxes for license renewals Ms. Rodrigues gave a summary of the Town bylaw for license renewals for outstanding tax payments. Ms. Rodrigues stated there are about 20 businesses that are not current. Mr. Vaillancourt asked what “PP” stood for on the report. Ms. Rodrigues explained that in the past North Andover did not require personal property to be paid before issuing the license but it will be required going forward. Ms. Smedile stated this is not a waiver of taxes but rather to accommodate during this difficult time. Ms. Rodrigues stated there is a fee of 16% that compounds daily associated with the non-payment. Ms. Bates asked Ms. Rodrigues if there is concern with cash flow. Ms. Rodrigues stated no, it will recoup but it will be later. Ms. Rodrigues stated attorneys were hired prior to COVID-19 to help collect and will start again when things settle. MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned the Board of Selectmen allow license holders to submit their renewal applications with outstanding taxes due to the Town. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned the Board of Selectmen move to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Mr. Nobile seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 16, 2020 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned the Board of Selectmen approve the Open Session minutes of November 16, 2020 as written. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS Designer Selection Procedure Ms. Rodrigues gave a summary of the procedure. Ms. Rodrigues stated there was a question as to why women and minority owned businesses were not included in the description. Ms. Rodrigues explained that at this time the procedure will follow the Designer Selection Procedures for municipalities as drafted by the Office of the Inspector General. Ms. Bates asked about the guidelines for qualifications. Ms. Rodrigues stated there is no stringent criteria at this time. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to adopt the Designer Selection Procedures as presented. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion passed 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS None OLD BUSINESS None TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Ms. Rodrigues gave the following report: - Holiday lights map currently has 30 homes on it - Downtown Revitalization meeting will be held on Wednesday 12/2 at 6PM - Cram-A-Cruiser event will be held on Saturday 12/5 from 9am-12pm - Toys for Tots collection is happening at the fire station - Select Board meeting on Wednesday 12/2 to confirm the Town Manager’s appointment of the new IT Director John Hyland Ms. Rodrigues stated that the Department of Revenue is holding up setting the tax rate due to the Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund. Department of Revenue will not allow the use of retained earnings and will not allow the use of deposits of events happening in the next fiscal year. North Andover was presented with three solutions from the Department of Revenue: 1) Call a Town Meeting to change appropriation 2) Raise on the recap- tax payers would be paying for the Stevens Estate 3) Make a Stabilization Fund transfer. The Board of Selectmen can make a transfer with a 2/3 vote. The motion would be for $300,000 transferred from the Stabilization Fund to the Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund as a revenue source. Funds would be held until May 2021 to find out how much will be needed. The unused remaining portion will be transferred back into the Stabilization Fund Mr. DeCologero asked if the funds from the Stabilization Fund will be recouped. Ms. Rodrigues stated between the retained earnings and capital accounts will help to offset the Stabilization Fund in May. Ms. Rodrigues stated the Department of Revenue is concerned that there is an indication that there will not be enough funds and there are concerns with wedding venues and returning deposits. Ms. Rodrigues asked the Board if they are available to meet on Monday 12/7 to further discuss. SELECTMEN’S UPDATE Ms. Smedile stated the holiday wreaths have been put up in the town and she thanked the DPW for all of their help. Ms. Smedile stated there will be checks being returned to those who donated but did not make it into the program. Ms. Bates stated Merchants Association started bingo this week and the School Committee put together their Master Plan 2 Committee and they are currently seeking members to be on the committee. Mr. DeCologero stated he met with town employees and local business owners to discuss and follow up on support to local businesses. Mr. DeCologero stated he will not seek reelection upon the expiration of his term. th Mr. Nobile stated the upcoming meeting on December 14 is a tri-board meeting of the Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. DeCologero made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 PM. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: License application Open session minutes Designer selection procedures Licenses & permits- Town Bylaws