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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-21 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2024 Call To Order: Chair Brian Roache called the open meeting to order at 7:02PM in the Select Board Room located at 120 Main Street North Andover. Select Board in Attendance: Chair Brian Roache, Janice Phillips, Laura Bates, Clerk Rosemary Smedile and David Kres were present. Non-Board Members in Attendance: Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues, Deputy Town Manager Denise Casey and Assistant Town Manager Laurie Burzlaff were present. Public Comment None. NEW BUSINESS Update from Town Clerk Town Clerk Dawne Warren was present. Ms. Warren stated she looks at this as four distinct elections. Ms. Warren stated it is the best way for her to keep all of the processes separate. Ms. Warren stated they have mailed 7,924 ballots as of today. Ms. Warren stated that on Friday they had 2,173 ballots returned. Ms. Warren stated as of today the total rose to 3,224 ballots. Ms. Warren stated that in one day, her office along with the election workers, who were sworn in, processed 1,054 ballots. Ms. Warren thanked all of the individuals who have helped accomplish this. Ms. Warren stated there has been an increase in staffing, which will continue over the next two weeks. Ms. Warren stated with the volume of ballots they are getting back, there is no way for them to efficiently, on Election Day, process the people walking through the door along with mail in ballots. Ms. Warren stated the earliest they can start advanced opening is next Monday. Ms. Warren stated the state regulates how long they can do that which will be a week, and they will be taking advantage of that. Ms. Warren stated advanced processing will be happening in the old Senior Center. Ms. Warren stated early voting has started. Ms. Warren stated they had 196 people come in on Saturday and 208 today. Ms. Warren stated they expect an 85% turnout in total which is approximately 20,000 voters. Ms. Warren stated 9,500 people will probably vote on Election Day. Ms. Warren stated that they have increased their staffing on Election Day. Ms. Warren stated they have doubled the staffing for Police, Fire, and EMS. Ms. Warren stated that they are going to put a traffic cam up through CAM. Ms. Warren stated there is an evacuation plan that was vetted through the Police and Fire. Mr. Kres asked if this was the first time they would have the traffic cam. Ms. Warren stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if 85% was typical for a presidential election. Ms. Warren stated yes. Mr. Roache asked at what point in turnout numbers would you consider two polling places. Ms. Smedile stated they used to have a polling station at every school. Ms. Warren stated 9 to 10, but it creates different challenges. Mr. Roache asked what she anticipated the number to be for the returned ballots. Ms Warren stated it will be close to about 95%. Ms. Warren stated there have been people, who requested mail in ballots, that have come in person. Ms. Warren stated she will post the numbers as soon as she has them. Sign election warrant MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to sign the warrant for the November 5, 2024 State election. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2024 Appointment of Election Workers MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to appoint all the Election Workers listed on the Town Clerk memo dated October 3, 2024. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Signed revised Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Haverhill Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated that this is for them to board our animals. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the City of Haverhill came back with some changes. MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to sign the revised Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Haverhill for the shared animal control shelter. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of Festival Committee to hold the annual Santa parade on November 30, 2024 from noon until 1:15PM MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve the request of the Festival Committee to use Main, Elm, and Water streets for the Santa parade on November 30, 2024 from 12:OOPM-1:15PM. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Appointments 1. Cheryl Raimondo-Youth & Recreation Council 2. Jacqueline Cronan - Neighborhood Conservation District Commission 3. Stephanie Godley- Cultural Council 4. Ed Lynch -Youth & Recreation Council 5. Melissa Rutherford -Associate member to the Zoning Board of Appeals 6. Kim Pass- Reappointment to Sustainability Committee 7. Maureen Crawford Hentz- Cultural Council MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to appoint Cheryl Raimondo to the Youth and Recreation Council through June 30, 2027, Jacqueline Cronan to the Neighborhood Conservation District Commission through June 30, 2027, Stephanie Godley to the Cultural Council through June 30, 2027, Edward Lynch to the Youth and Recreation Council through June 30, 2025, Melissa Rutherford as an associate member to the Zoning Board of Appeals through June 30, 2025, Kim Pass to the Sustainability Committee through June 30, 2025, and Maureen Crawford Hentz to the Cultural Council through June 30, 2027. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Consent Items A. Accept grant from MIIA in the amount of$15,722.50 for safety training B. Accept donations in the amount of$200 from Smart Start, LLC to the Fire Department MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve all consent items. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2024 Approval of Open Session Minutes of October 7, 2024 MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of October 7, 2024 as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Select Board Updates Ms. Bates provided an update on the Kittredge Elementary School. Town Manager's Report Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the recommended Trick or Treating hours for Halloween. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the Veteran's Day Parade on November 11, 2024. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned at the next meeting they will be discussing the school budget as well as Bradford St. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that they are currently working through the FY26 capital process. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that the design for the high school fields is currently active. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned Election Day and the flu clinic. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Kres made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:37PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Election Memo Election Warrant Appointment Letters Donations Grant Application Application for Parade Reappointment Letter Minutes from 10/7/24 Town Manager Report