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Home My WebLink About2021-11-29 Board of Selectmen Minutes SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 29, 2021 Call To Order: Chairperson Laura Bates called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room. The open session meeting was recorded. Attendance: Chair Laura Bates, Janice Phillips, Clerk Rosemary Smedile, Richard Vaillancourt, Chris Nobile, Town Manager Melissa Murphy Rodrigues and Director of Administrative Services Laurie Burzlaff were present. Public Comment None. Merrimack Valley Planning Commission-Targeted Economic Development Strategy presentation Nate Robinson and Ian Burns were present at the meeting representing Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and to give a presentation on targeted economic development strategy. Mr. Vallencourt asked if the Commission has reached out to NAMA since they would benefit from the resources that were presented. Mr. Nobile suggested to grow the local procurement area. Ms. Bates asked if within the research were there any gaps that may be looked at to attract additional businesses to the Merrimack Valley area. Mr. Burns stated there are a few factors preventing some interest- 1) the workforce- if they want to be closer to Boston, 2) space wise for commercial space, 3) cost of housing for their future employees. Mr. Robinson mentioned business park occupancy which is at 98% but it presents a challenge to find additional space for future companies to come into Merrimack Valley area. Ms. Smedile mentioned the advantage of the interest rate being very good right now so purchasing can be a better option than renting. Update from Town Clerk-Updated precinct map and election calendar Town Clerk Dawne Warren was present at the meeting and gave a summary of the update of the prescient map. Mr. Nobile asked how many residents have been moved. Ms. Warren stated the following were moved. From precinct 3- 60, from precinct 4- 35, from precinct 5- 63, from precinct 6- 86 and precinct 7-72. Ms. Warren stated between precincts 7 and 8 to remain a 5% variable with other precincts. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if precincts 3, 5 and 7 would have different legislative ballots. Ms. Warren stated no; that within the precincts would receive the same ballot in precinct 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 but precincts 7 and 8 would have a different ballot. Ms. Bates asked if it keeps North Andover within the 4,000. Ms. Warren stated yes until the 2030 Census. Ms. Smedile stated that a call was received from a state elected official stating that they ndst would be taking part of North Andover. Ms. Warren explained North Andover is Senate 2 Essex and Middlesex and 1 Essex and Middlesex. Ms. Warren stated the town election dates for 2022. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve the revised precinct map as presented. Mr. Nobile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Update on COVID-19 Ms. Rodrigues gave an update on COVID-19: - 100-110 cases for the past few weeks, cases per day are decreasing - Majority of cases are household clusters and some from indoor sports - 1.3% that are fully vaccinated are contracting the virus, .04% are going to the hospital with symptoms and .01% are passing away from COVID-19. - Out of the 4 million vaccinated people, 564,000 are breakthrough cases in Massachusetts - 39% of 5-11 years old have received first shot 76% of 12-15 years old are fully vaccinated 64% of 16-19 years old are fully vaccinated - Lines are very long to get tested and up to over 2 hours wait time 1 SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 29, 2021 Ms. Phillips asked if the 16-19 year old group included Merrimack College students. Ms. Rodrigues stated only if they were vaccinated here they would be included. Ms. Bates asked about Lawrence General’s current capacity. Ms. Rodrigues stated all very busy but not turning anyone away. Request of The Exchange Club of Lawrence and The Andovers to use the Town Common from May 21, 2022 through June 12, 2022 for the annual Field of Honor MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned approve the request of The Exchange Club of Lawrence and The Andovers to use the Town Common from May 21, 2022 through June 12, 2022 for the annual Field of Honor. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of the Festival Committee to use the Town Common for the annual tree lighting celebration on December 4, 2021 from 11:00AM to 10:00PM Jeff Coco was present at the meeting and summarized the request of the use of the Town Common. MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to approve the request of the Festival Committee to use the Town Common for the annual tree lighting celebration on December 4, 2021 from 11:00AM to 10:00 PM. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Vote on negotiation subcommittee for contract negotiations with the Town Manager MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to appoint Rosemary Smedile, Laura Bates and Richard Vaillancourt to the negotiation subcommittee for contract negotiations with the Town Manager. Mr. Nobile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. LICENSING MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of Fireside Catering to waive or prorate license application fee Mr. Nobile summarized the letter that was sent to the Select Board from Fireside Catering requesting to prorate the application fee. Ms. Rodrigues stated they receive their license for one month and then need to pay it again in January. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request of Fireside Catering to prorate their 2021 license application fee and reduce the fee to $250. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of The Candy Dish to waive license application fee Ms. Burzlaff explained they received their license in late August so a suggestion to pro rate to the first full month the license was received. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request of The Candy Dish to prorate their 2021 license application fee and reduce the fee to $666.67 with the refund amount of $1,333.33 be applied to their 2022 license renewal fee. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Application from Tricia Dunphy of Smolak Farms for two one day wine and malt liquor licenses and waiver of police detail for holiday wine and wreath making in the Barn on December 1, 2021 and December 7, 2021 from 5:30PM to 7:00PM Ms. Rodrigues stated this should be the last application for one day license as Smolak Farms has received their caterer’s license. 2 SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 29, 2021 MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the application of Tricia Dunphy of Smolak Farms for two one day wine and malt liquor licenses and waive the police detail for the holiday wine and wreath making in the Barn on December 1, 2021 and December 7, 2021 from 5:30PM to 7:00PM. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Application from Brian Howard of The North Andover Historical Society for a one day wine and malt liquor license for a reception on December 10, 2021 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM Brian Howard was present at the meeting. Ms. Bates asked where the police department stood with the police detail. Ms. Rodrigues stated the police department requested a detail. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve the application from Brian Howard of The North Andover Historical Society for a one day wine and malt liquor license for a reception on December 10, 2021 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM with a police detail. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to close a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS A. Affordable unit resales- 8 Ciderpress Way and 1305 Basswood Circle B. Accept grant in the amount of $140,000 for Mills to Hills Trail C. Accept Housing Choice Community Grant in the amount of $75,000 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve and accept all consent items. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5- 0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 2021 MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of November 8, 2021. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Ms. Rodrigues gave the following report: th - Final school capacity forum will be on Wednesday November 10 at 7PM - Hosting a Mitten Tree at the Town Hall - Cyr Recycling Center will be open until 12/22 - Collecting submittal for North Andover Holiday Lights Map send to Sarah Brush - Cram-A-Cruiser event next three Saturdays - ARPA survey is out and links are working properly. Paper copies are available to anyone who needs them. - CPC applications are open - Fire Department has Toys for Tots Drive bins at the Fire Department SELECT BOARD COMMENTS - Ms. Phillips mentioned Merchants Bingo is going on - Ms. Smedile mentioned wreaths are still being put up th Ms. Bates mentioned the next meeting is December 13. It is a Tri-board meeting with the Finance Committee and the School Committee. 3 SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 29, 2021 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Nobile made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Phillips to adjourn the meeting at 8:19PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Presentation Application Memorandum Letter Donation Minutes 4