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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2022 Call To Order: Chair Janice Phillips called the open meeting to order at 7:00PM in the Select Board Meeting Room at Town Hall 120 Main St North Andover MA. Select Board in Attendance: Chair Janice Phillips, Laura Bates, Clerk Rosemary Smedile and Richard Vaillancourt were present. Non-Board Members in Attendance: Town Manager- Melissa Murphy Rodrigues Public Comment Stan Limpert of 43 Stonecleave St gave his best wishes to Deputy Town Manager Denise Casey to hope she gets well soon. Ms. Smedile mentioned the Town Manger’s heroic act when, while driving, she stopped to help out a lost dog in inclement weather. The dog was brought to the police station where the owner was then contacted. Recognition Luke Ralph was present at the meeting where the Select Board presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his donation of his handmade picnic tables to the North Andover Housing Authority. Town Counsel Interview- Christine O’Connor Ms. Rodrigues introduced Town Counsel candidate Christine O’Connor. Ms. O’Connor was present at the meeting. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. O’Connor if the Select Board or School Committee wanted to know her opinion on a certain legal matter, how would she present her thoughts? Ms. O’Connor stated there would be a legal opinion in writing and then followed up with a meeting. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. O’ Connor if you site with case law as to why your opinion is what is. Ms. O’Connor stated yes, each opinion has to be explained with all the elements that back up that opinion. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. O’Connor how disappointing or unfavorable news would be handled. Ms. O’Connor stated that the reasons would be given as to why and how the decision was reached. Ms. Phillips asked Ms. O’Connor to tell about an experience in which she analyzed information and evaluated results to choose the best course of action. Ms. O’Connor stated a previous work experience where the high school possibly needed to be rehabbed or moved to a new location. There was a conflict to who would decide on the site location. Ms. O’Connor stated her legal opinion was that it was the City Council’s determination and she explained how that was the best course of action. Mr. Vaillancourt asked Ms. O’Connor to share a time when her attention to detail and thoroughness had an impact on her current community. Ms. O’Connor stated a time that the city would go out for a tow contracts there would be disputes about how they were done. Ms. O’Connor mentioned that she was with the group that helped to come up with a competitive process to include the dollar amounts that the tow companies would bring back to the city. Ms. O’Connor mentioned a number of communities have now developed the same process. Ms. Bates asked Ms. O’Connor the position of Town Counsel is unique in that it also represents the School Department; does she feel that she would be a good fit to take on that role and why? Ms. O’Connor stated that early on in her position the School Committee was the area she spent most of her time. Ms. O’Connor assisted in policy issues and feels that working with the School will be a seamless transition. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. O’Connor that since this a highly visible position with the Town and interfaces regularly with the Select Board, Senior Leadership of the Town and Schools and other stakeholders. Can you describe your experience and comfort level in such a highly visible role? Ms. O’Connor stated she is very accustomed to this and that it is similar to her present position where she attends board meetings and is frequently called on during the meeting to speak. 1 NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2022 Ms. Phillips asked Ms. O’Connor how will she go about building relationships with employees and volunteers on both the Town side and the School Department? Ms. O’Connor mentioned, in the past, her experience with team building events helps to build relationships as well as the importance of communicating and listening to people. Mr. Vaillancourt asked Ms. O’Connor what is the work project that she is most proud of and why? Ms. O’Connor stated when she worked on the team helping to secure a contract for electricity supply service where they successfully negotiated the most competitive rate of any other end users. Ms. Bates asked Ms. O’Connor why does she feel that the Town of North Andover is a good fit her? Ms. O’Connor stated she has years of municipal experience from the small to the in-depth opportunities of experience. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to appoint Christine O’Connor as Town Counsel through June 30, 2023. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Approve ARPA funding in the amount of $64,201.47 for radio encryption MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the request from the Fire Department to use $64,201.47 in ARPA funding for radio encryption. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Request to extend Summer Fitness Series until October 21, 2022 Mr. Vaillancourt recused himself from the vote since the requester is a family member. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request of the Festival Committee to extend the summer fitness series for Thursday nights at the Common until October 21, 2022. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 3-0-1. Appoint School Committee representative to School Building Committee Community Development- 25% rail trail design MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to in accordance with 963 CMR 2.0, appoint Andrew McDevitt to the School Building Committee for Kittredge School. Ms. Smedile seconded. approved 4-0. Approve the charge and membership of the Steering Committee for 400 Great Pond Road 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee Charge: The 400 Great Pond Steering Committee shall be charged with recommending the reuse of the Town owned property at 400 Great Pond Road by March 4, 2023. The Town Manager shall place a warrant article on Town Meeting 2023 as a placeholder for any funding necessary to initiate such reuse as recommended by the Steering Committee and approved by the Select Board. The Town Manager may also apply for Community Preservation funds as applicable. The reuse committee shall use survey tools in order to best understand community needs and wants regarding the property's reuse. The Steering Committee shall expire at the conclusion of May 2023 Town Meeting, but may be reconstituted by vote of the Select Board as needed. Membership: Members of the 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee shall be appointed by the Select Board per the vote at the May 2022 Town Meeting, and shall be comprised of: Public Safety liaison Director of Public Works or designee Facilities Director 2 NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2022 Planning Director Harbor Master Planning Board chair or designee Historical commission chair or designee Select Board representative One At-Large member (with motion: changed to 3 At-Large members) Ms. Rodrigues stated there will be 10 members total with the addition of a second at large member. Ms. Bates suggested to have three total at large members to have additional resident input. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the charge and membership of the 400 Great Pond Road Steering Committee as presented with the addition of two additional at large members. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Select Board FY24 goals Ms. Rodrigues stated Ms. Smedile asked to add a Design Review Board who will advise the Planning Board to review the aesthetics. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if this is different from the TRC. Ms. Rodrigues stated the TRC meetings are internal but this would be an external volunteer board. Ms. Rodrigues stated a bylaw would need to be created and brought to Town Meeting. Ms. Rodrigues stated the FY24 goals will be revisited when the additional Select Board representative is elected. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the FY24 goals as presented and amended. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Select Board liaison assignments FY2023 Board Liaisons Richard Vaillancourt- Commission on Disabilities Conservation Commission Emergency Management Olde Center Historic District Poet Laureate Committee Zoning Board of Appeals Laura Bates- School Committee Youth and Recreation Council Sustainability Planning Finance Committee Board of Health Rosemary Smedile- Board of Assessors Festival Committee Historical Commission Stevens Estate Advisory Committees Middle School Fields Improvement Committee Neighborhood Conservation District Patriotic Observance Committee 3 NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2022 Janice Phillips- Affordable Housing Trust Council on Aging Community Preservation Committee Cable TV Advisory Committee Library Trustees MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned approve the Board liaisons as amended. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4- 0. Request of Eli Gallaudet of Eastern Mass Nordic to use Milk, Johnson, Rea and Chestnut Streets for a roller ski training race on October 23, 2022 from 9:00AM to 10:00AM MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request of Eli Gallaudet of Eastern Mass Nordic to use Milk, Johnson, Rea and Chestnut Streets for a roller ski training race on October 23, 2022 from 9:00AM to 10:00AM. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Appointment of poll workers MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to appoint Herman Benson, Mark Atwater, Matthew Kinell and Lynne Harwood as poll workers. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. CONSENT ITEMS Accept donation to the Youth Center in the amount of $12,050.00 from Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center, Inc. for scholarships MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to accept the donation Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center, Inc. in the amount of $12,050.00 for scholarships. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of September 12, 2022 with the amendment to remove Chris Nobile’s name from minutes. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Old Business None Town Manager’s Report th - Fire Department Open House is October 8 - Electrical aggregation rate will be lower than National Grid starting November 1, 2022 Select Board Report - Ms. Smedile mentioned it is North Andover wreath time. Wreaths will be $90.00 each - Ms. Smedile stated the past week was the last week of the Farmer’s Market and thanked all the vendors - Ms. Phillips thanked all the volunteers and residents for their help at the Farmer’s Market 4 NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 3, 2022 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Bates made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 8:27PM. Motion approved 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Memorandum Presentations Donation Letter Minutes 5