Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-14 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES AUGUST 14, 2023 Call To Order: Chair Janice Phillips called the open meeting to order at 5:00PM in the Select Board Room. Select Board in Attendance: Chair Janice Phillips, Laura Bates, Clerk Rosemary Smedile, Brian Roache and Richard Vaillancourt (remote) were present. Non-Board Members in Attendance: Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues and Assistant Town Manager- Laurie Burzlaff were present. Discussion and vote on declaring a state of emergency for storm on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 Ms. Rodrigues asked the Select Board to ratify the declaration of the state of emergency declared on Tuesday, August 8 at 2:03 PM. Ms. Bates asked what deficit spending will be. Ms. Rodrigues explained that by ratifying the declaration of state of emergency allows the town to spend into the red and give options at the end of the year to decide how to handle the deficit. Mr. Roache asked about RCG losses versus tenants. Ms. Rodrigues explained RCG is responsible for building structure. Ms. Smedile asked about the residents that are away from the summer. Ms. Rodrigues stated residents will continue to reach out. Fire Chief Weir was present at the meeting reminding residents to call dispatch center if help is needed. Ms. Bates asked if how residents are supposed to get estimates. Ms. Rodrigues stated some are estimates and some are ball parks. They are also sending in invoices. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to vote that as of August 8, 2023 a State of Emergency is declared to exist in North Andover and authorizes and directs, under the direction and management of the Town Manager, all Town personnel and agents to take action appropriate to respond to this situation and ratifies, confirms and adopts any related action taken prior to the formal adoption of this Declaration and that this Declaration of Emergency in the Town of North Andover shall remain in effect until notice is given by the Board of Selectmen that such State of Emergency no longer exists. Ms. Smedile seconded. Roll Call vote: Bates- yes; Vaillancourt- yes; Smedile- yes; Roache- yes; Phillips- yes. Motion approved 5-0. Approve disbursement of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust in the amount of $378,000 for a loan of $128,000 and grant of $250,000 to Bread & Roses Housing to build 2 new affordable units at 20 Brown Court Ms. Smedile recused herself from this agenda item. Mr. Vaillancourt explained the disbursements of funds. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to authorize Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, to execute a Grant Agreement between the North Andover Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Bread & Roses Housing, Inc., and approve disbursement of funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the amount of $378,000.00 for the acquisition of property located at 20 Brown Court, North Andover, MA. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll Call vote: Bates- yes; Vaillancourt- yes; Smedile- recused; Roache- yes; Phillips- yes. Motion approved 4-0-1. Discussion and possible vote to use a certain sum of money from the Columbia Gas funds held by ECCF for flood relief Ms. Rodrigues explained that funding could possibly be available for major appliances that have not been covered by insurance and would cap the amount at $2500 per resident and capping the total amount at $250,000. Ms. Smedile asked about ARPA funds use. Ms. Rodrigues stated possibly at another time to use ARPA funds. Mr. Roache asked about how there is a surplus in the Columbia Gas fund. Ms. Rodrigues stated not all funds have been used yet. Jeff Coco was present at the meeting and explained the need to phrase the way that supplemental money is disbursed. Mr. Roache asked how quickly money can be disbursed to the residents. Ms. Rodrigues stated should be fairly quickly as paperwork is being submitted. Mr. Roache mentioned waving permit fees. Ms. Rodrigues stated she will speak with Paul Hutchinson. Paul Hutchinson was present at the meeting and explained permits will be around $110 a permit. Ms. Rodrigues stated the permit fees discussion will be placed on the next agenda. Jeff Coco mentioned if there has been any homes that have had over 18 inches of water in the primary living area, Red Cross may have additional funds to take care of the situation. MOTION: Mr. Roache made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to approve the use of $250,000 from the Columbia Gas discretionary fund to be used for a grant program for flood impacted residents and businesses. Roll Call vote: Bates- yes; Vaillancourt- yes; Smedile- yes; Roache- yes; Phillips- yes. Motion approved 5-0. 1 NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES AUGUST 14, 2023 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Roache made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Bates to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 5:28PM. Roll Call vote: Bates- yes; Vaillancourt- yes; Smedile- yes; Roache- yes; Phillips- yes. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Letter from Affordable Housing Trust 2