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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-16 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 Call To Order: Chair Brian Roache called the open meeting to order at 6:00pm in the North Andover Senior Center located at 481 Sutton 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. TRI-BOARD MEETING between Select Board, Finance Committee and School Committee FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues gave a presentation on the FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan. Ms. Murphy- Rodrigues discussed the Field Master Plan Implementation. Ms. Bates asked if they were also including upper field lights for the high school field implementation. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Mr. Roache asked if it would be an artificial infield. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if baseball and softball will be able to play at the same time. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Ms. Bates asked what the construction timeline will be. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated it will take approximately six months. Mr. Roache asked if there was any change to parking. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated no. Ms. Kean asked if the previous drainage issues would be fixed. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated there will be fully re-designed drainage. Ms. Kean asked if the gravel lot would be staying the same. Ms. Burzlaff stated there is no plan to change any of the parking or parking lots. Ms. Bates asked what is Conservation’s concern with a gravel parking lot. Ms. Burzlaff stated that the parking lot is not supposed to be there due to being too close to the wetlands. Ms. Kean asked if $3.2 million was the full cost. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes excluding the tennis court project. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed building projects. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed equipment projects. Mr. Roache asked what the upgrades would be at the high school auditorium and if that was the dump truck a deposit was put on last year at Town Meeting. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes this is the second part of the dump truck. Ms. Lathrop stated it would be for the replacement of the sound system in the auditorium. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the Facilities Master Plan II. Ms. Lathrop discussed the status of the Kittredge School project. Mr. Roache asked if the MSBA Share changed due to multiple items in this. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated no, shares change all of the time as they reanalyze them every year. Ms. Allen asked how the new building that will accommodate more students related to the current enrollment. Ms. Lathrop stated the enrollment is trending down. Ms. Allen asked if they feel overcrowded in the elementary schools. Ms. Lathrop stated no. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the sewer and water enterprises. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the FY26 Funding Plan. Mr. O’Connell asked if they could see the impact on taxpayers. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Mr. Roache asked if both the design and construction for Kittredge is in 2027. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Mr. Roache asked if having an override impedes the ability to do debt exclusions. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated there is a limit. Five year Financial Forecast Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues gave a presentation on the Five-Year Financial Forecast. Mr. Roache asked if they had overprojected expenses or underprojected revenue before. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated what they are doing now is projecting revenues and how much they will have available to spend per unit; before they were NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 trying to guess what the expenditures would be. Mr. Brown asked if projected revenues can vary. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed medicaid as a revenue source for the town. Ms. Kean asked why the numbers vary so much unless the student population varies. Ms. Murphy- Rodrigues stated sometimes the student population does vary due to students graduating or no longer being on medicaid. Ms. Lathrop stated it also depends on who is working with the student; only some of the staff members are allowed to bill for medicaid. Ms. Kean asked if they were only getting reimbursed for the cost of the staff that is working with the student covered by medicaid. Ms. Lathrop stated yes. Ms. Lathrop stated they are looking at other staff members that could be eligible to bill for medicaid. Ms. Cormier asked how far away they are at maximizing medicaid. Ms Lathrop stated they are pretty close. Mr. O’Connell asked if the opt-out program for health insurance continues to be successful. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated it is a substantial savings for the town. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the salary reserve for Middle School teachers and asked the board/committees for guidance on what should be done with the $700,000. Mr. Hicks discussed the impact a lower budget for FY26 would have on the school system as well as its students. Mr. Roache mentioned that it is not a cut in funding but a cut in spending. Ms. Kean asked, regarding the $4 million deficit, if they have done the analysis on staff levels or staff raises. Ms. Lathrop stated it is a combination of both. Ms. Lathrop stated they are projected to go over the budget this year and are projecting to go over the FY26 budget. Mr. Lathrop stated they have trimmed down by not filling positions, cutting positions, and being conservative with their spending, but the deficit will be larger than anticipated. Mr. Brown stated the salary reserve should be used in the most beneficial way by the Administration. Ms. Sarro stated that they should not be hiring people just to fill a space. Ms. Corimer asked Ms. Lathrop how she wants to handle the salary reserve. Ms Lathrop stated she would like it to be put back into the school budget. Ms. Bates asked if the overcrowding in the Middle School classrooms had been addressed. Ms. Lathrop stated yes, it has been alleviated. Mr. Roache asked if the $700,000 was put back in the general fund would they be looking for the money to cover something else down the line. Ms. Murphy- Rodrigues stated no, and what is important now is to address the needs. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the levy capacity and amazon TIF. Ms. Phillips asked how they get this message out. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the PowerPoint will be put on the website and something can be created to send to the residents. Ms. Sarro asked if they knew of any ancillary benefits from Amazon. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they are seeing more people in the area and seeing a lot of positive benefits. ADJOURNMENT - School Committee MOTION: Mr. Hicks made a MOTION, seconded by Ms Cormier to adjourn the School Committee meeting at 7:31pm. Motion approved 4-0 ADJOURNMENT - Finance Committee MOTION: Ms. Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Allen to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting at 7:31pm. Motion approved 5-0 NEW BUSINESS Appointments 1. Brenten Andersen- Festival Committee 2. John Geraci- Commission on Ability Assistance 3. Anne Marie Guggenberger- Patriotic Observance Committee 4. Joyce Pinkham- Affordable Housing Trust MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to appoint Brenten Andersen to the Festival Committee through June 30, 2025, John Geraci to the Commission on Ability Assistance through June 30, 2026, Anne Marie Guggenberger to NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 the Patriotic Observance Committee through June 30, 2026, and Joyce Pinkham to the Affordable Housing Trust through June 30, 2025. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. LICENSING MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to open the public hearing to hear comments on the application from McCracken’s Liquors and Wines, LLC dba McAloon’s Liquores for an alteration of premises at 531 Chickering Road. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING-Application from McCracken’s Liquors and Wines, LLC dba McAloon’s Liquores for an alteration of premises at 531 Chickering Road Chris Buco and Bill Buco are present. Mr. Chris Buco stated that Quic Pic has a beer and wine license and McAloon’s has a full liquor license. Mr. Chris Buco explained that the application is to cease the beer and wine license at Quic Pic and McAloon’s would take over the entire premises as a full liquor license. Mr. Bill Buco stated that it was difficult to manage both stores with a wall dividing them. Mr. Bill Buco stated that they have taken the wall down to control both areas. Mr. Chris Buco stated that there will be a separation of convenient store items on one side and beer, wine, and liquor on the other side. Ms. Bates asked when the renovations will be complete. Mr. Chris Buco stated the hope is by early next year. MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to close the public hearing to hear comments on the application from McCracken’s Liquors and Wines, LLC dba McAloon’s Liquores for an alteration of premises at 531 Chickering Road. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Vote on application from McCracken’s Liquors and Wines, LLC dba McAloon’s Liquores for an alteration of premises at 531 Chickering Road MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to approve the application from McCracken’s Liquors and Wines, LLC dba McAloon’s Liquores for an alteration of premises at 531 Chickering Road. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to open the public hearing to hear comments on the application from Boston Hill Farm, LLC for a transfer of an off premises liquor license from Quic Pic LLC and change of manager to Cheryl Farnum. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING-Application from Boston Hill Farm, LLC for a transfer of an off premises liquor license from Quic Pic LLC and change of manager to Cheryl Farnum Bryan Vaughan, Cheryl Farnum, and Ben Farnum were present. Mr. Vaughan explained the application. Mr. Vaughan stated it was a transfer of the Quic Pic license and to add beer and wine sales to their existing business. Mr. Vaughan stated it would be more of a craft beer and wine selection. Mr. Farnum stated they are just looking to broaden out their sales and offer a little more to their customers. Mr. Kres asked how long they had been operating at their location. Mr. Farnum stated they have been in operation since 2007. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to close the public hearing to hear comments on the application from Boston Hill Farm, LLC for a transfer of an off premises liquor license from Quic Pic LLC and change of manager to Cheryl Farnum. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Vote on Application from Boston Hill Farm, LLC for a transfer of an off premises liquor license from Quic Pic LLC and change of manager to Cheryl Farnum MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve the application from Boston Hill Farm, LLC for a transfer of an off premises liquor license from Quic Pic LLC and change of manager to Cheryl Farnum. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Application from Giovania Lima of House of Bagels, Corp. for a common victualler license at 490 Main Street Giovania Lima was present. Ms. Lima explained the application. Ms. Lima stated they are open 6am-4pm Monday-Friday, and 6am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Ms. Lima stated they have thirty different types of bagels available. Ms. Lima stated it is a family business. Ms. Lima stated they have been open about a week. Mr. Kres asked if this was their second store. Ms. Lima stated yes. Mr. Roache asked how long they had been open and running. Ms. Lima stated three and half years. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to approve the application from Giovania Lima of House of Bagels, Corp. for a common victualler license at 490 Main Street. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. License renewals Renewals with complete applications MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve all the license renewal applications on the list provided by the Town Clerk’s office. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Renewals with incomplete applications Ms. Burzlaff stated, with regard to Rolf’s, the application was due on November 15th, several follow up calls and emails were sent to the owner yet she did not submit the application. Ms. Burzlaff stated that a meeting on a later date should be scheduled to follow up. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve and renew all the licenses for Chipotle Mexican Grill of Colorado, LLC, It’s all Good in the Kitchen, Goldenseal Apothecary, Edifer Pizzeria, Joe Fish, The Loft, Mad Maggies, Heavenly Donuts, Supreme House of Pizza and Hyde Park Burgers, LLC subject to receipt of Certificates of Inspection no later than December 30, 2024, and/or Certificates of Good Standing by January 6, 2025. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Consent Items A. Accept donation of Black History Month banners NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated that under the town’s new banner policy if the town is going to be putting banners up, they must take ownership of those banners. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues has been meeting with the Black History Month group to discuss the official transition of ownership. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated that by taking these, the town agrees to put them up every February; the Board can also make a determination not to put up the banners. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the town would store the banners but the group would like to come in after February and inspect/clean the banners so it is not left for DPW to do. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they would allow other non profits and organizations to borrow the banners. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they are not gifting us the artwork, the group still owns the artwork. Ms. Murphy- Rodrigues stated if they were going to do any fundraising it would be put out through the town; for example if the town wanted to do additional banners they would work on that with the Black History Month group. Mr. Kres asked if they have a memorandum of understanding with the donors. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated it would be documented in the minutes for historical information. Ms. Smedile asked where the banners would be hung. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated last year, they were hung around the common, but they would also like to have one in some of the town buildings. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to accept the donation of Black History Month banners. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Approval of Open Session Minutes of December 2, 2024 MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of December 2, 2024 as presented. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Select Board Updates Ms. Smedile mentioned Wreaths Across America. Ms. Phillips thanked the Festival Committee for the Santa Breakfast. Ms. Smedile thanked Jeff Coco and the Festival Committee. Mr. Roache mentioned the menorah lighting on New Year’s Day. Town Manager’s Report Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the wreath contest. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that Town Hall will be closing for an hour on Monday for an employee event. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that non- essential town buildings will close at noon on December 24th. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that trash is delayed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that the Cyr Center is closing on Saturday. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the mitten tree in the Town Hall lobby. Ms. Burzlaff discussed the redesign of the stage on the common. Ms. Burzlaff stated she went in front of the Old Center Historical District last month to present the stage plans. Ms. Burzlaff stated there will be a handicap ramp in the back of the stage. Ms. Burzlaff stated the path comes from Andover Street to the handicap ramp. Ms. Burzlaff stated the Old Center Historical District is requesting the path comes from where the parking is all the way to the stage. Ms. Burzlaff stated there were public comments from neighbors stating the path would be better to begin from where the cars park. Ms. Burzlaff stated the Old Center Historical District does have concerns about the size of the stage. Ms. Bates asked how the stage was being constructed. Ms. Burzlaff stated with concrete, and it will either be painted or stained. Ms. Burzlaff stated the path is crushed stone. Ms. Burzlaff stated the Old Center Historical District does need to approve it. Mr. Kres asked if they have spoken to the coalition of ability assistance for accessibility. Ms. Burzlaff stated that she can. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2024 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Kres made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 8:14pm. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant __________________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting Capital Improvement Plan Financial Forecast Appointments License Applications Donation Minutes from 12/2/24 Town Manager’s Report