HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-02 Board of Selectmen Minutes
BOARD OF SELECTMEN DECEMBER 2, 2020
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Nobile called the meeting to order at 5:02PM. 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, 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. Phil DeCologero was not 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.
NEW BUSINESS
John Hyland
Ms. Rodrigues introduced John Hyland as the new IT Director for North Andover starting on December 7, 2020.
MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned that the Board of Selectmen confirm the Town Manager's appointment of John Hyland
as Director of Information Technology. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-
yes. Motion approved 4-0.
Discussion of Steven’s Estate FY21 budget
Ms. Rodrigues explained the Department of Revenue is unable to certify the tax rate due to the deficit at Steven’s Estate. Ms.
Rodrigues gave the background if how the Estate collects deposits. Ms. Rodrigues explained that going forward the
Department of Revenue requires deposits to be put into a separate account until the event is complete.
Ms. Rodrigues stated the following:
- Wait until end of fiscal year to determine how much will be needed to be transferred
- Most likely there will be no retained earnings from Steven’s Estate this year
- The Estate may need to close from 1/10/21-4/1/21
Mr. Vaillancourt asked if option 3, from the Town Manager’s Letter, can be done and still have the Estate remain open. Ms.
Rodrigues stated that option 3 will be supported but keeping the Stevens Estate open fully may not make sense at this time.
Currently the last event is on 1/9/21 and the next event is scheduled for 4/1/21. Mr. Vaillancourt stated the Estate isn’t
closing but it does not have any events scheduled. Mr. Vaillancourt asked about keeping the Steven’s Estate Director on. Ms.
Rodrigues stated there could be a possibility for the director to have part time hours at the Estate and part time helping out at
Town Hall to avoid furlough. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if the fund needs to be paid back during this fiscal year. Ms. Rodrigues
replied yes. Ms. Smedile asked about the urgency to have this done this year. Ms. Rodrigues stated that retained earnings are
not allowed to be used to offset the budget this early in the year and the Department of Revenue offered no additional
flexibility other than the three options presented.
Ms. Bates asked if there are concerns going to Town Meeting refunding the Stability Fund. Ms. Rodrigues expressed
concern with creating next year’s budget. Ms. Bates asked the project time line for the RFP. Ms. Rodrigues stated within a
month. Ms. Rodrigues stated the need to have a meeting on December 7, 2020 to vote on the options for the Stevens Estate.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 PM. Roll call vote:
Bates-yes, Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jillian A. Brothers
Executive Assistant
_______________________________
Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk of the Board
Documents used at meeting:
Letter from Town Manager