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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-10 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Call To Order: Chair Brian Roache called the open meeting to order at 7:OOPM 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 on Senior Center strategic plan Kathy Shelp is present. Ms. Shelp presented an update on the Senior Center strategic plan. Ms. Shelp provided background to the strategic plan. Ms. Shelps discussed the differences from FY23 to FY24. Ms. Shelps stated they were up 43% in the number of people served and up 58% in the number of times they were served. Ms. Shelps stated those numbers were important as they started to look at their strategic plan. Ms. Shelps discussed the highlights of programs provided by the Senior Center. Ms. Shelps discussed the data used to support the strategic plan. Ms. Shelps stated they conducted a SWOT analysis, which was facilitated by a certified strategic planner alongside the Council on Aging and staff. Ms. Shelps stated they used attendance data and program outcomes and surveys. Ms. Shelps stated they used the UMASS Boston Needs Assessment that was funded through the ARPA. Ms. Shelps stated they also used budget reports as part of their data. Ms. Shelps discussed the purpose of the strategic plan and what they want to do. Ms. Shelps stated they want the stakeholders to understand their priorities and where they are going. Ms. Shelps stated they want to create a directional document to guide opportunities and provide a mechanism for community support. Ms. Shelps stated it is a rolling strategic model and a three-year plan to provide an opportunity to be flexible and responsive to the dynamic environment. Ms. Shelps discussed the Senior Center's expectations today. Ms. Shelps discussed the four goals of their strategic plan. Ms. Shelps discussed the first goal: ensure that all funding avenues and funding outreach efforts are maximized to fulfill the Center's mission and vision. Ms. Shelps discussed how they are going to accomplish this. Ms. Shelps discussed the second goal: expand wider community awareness of the Center's role in addressing the community's need for support services. Ms. Shelps stated this goal was created due to the needs assessment. Ms. Shelps discussed the third goal: provide programs and services to prevent and eliminate loneliness and isolation in North Andover adults. Ms. Shelps discussed the fourth goal: advocate and educate for issues concerning older adults on the local and state levels through awareness. The Board commended Ms. Shelp and her team for the work they do. Ms. Bates asked if everyone was enjoying the new building. Ms. Shelps stated yes. Town Manager's FY26 recommended budget Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the recommended budget has been submitted, and books will be provided at the Tri-Board meeting. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated a fuller presentation will be done with a discussion on how to move forward at the Tri-Board meeting. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Request from NA Youth Baseball to use Water Street, Main Street, Waverly Road and Dana Street for the Opening Day Parade on May 3, 2025 starting at 8:15AM Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated this is in order with no comments from any of the Departments. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve the request from NA Youth Baseball to use Water Street, Main Street, Waverly Road and Dana Street for the Opening Day Parade on May 3, 2025 starting at 8:15AM. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Reappointment of Colleen Martin to the Board of Registrars MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to reappoint Colleen Martin to the Board of Registrars. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request to increase EV charging station user rates Ms. Burzlaff stated back in August when the stations were installed, they went to the Board and asked for them to set a rate to cover the electricity cost. Ms. Burzlaff stated the first year of the cloud service and the first five years of maintenance is included in the initial payment when the stations were installed. Ms. Burzlaff stated at the time the Board agreed on a $0.25/kWh hour fee. Ms. Burzlaff stated they have received eight months of data and with the renewals for every station coming online in August for the cloud plan, they need to increase the rate. Ms. Burzlaff stated this is based on approximate numbers, but in order to cover everything they will need to charge a $0.54/kWH hour fee. Ms. Burzlaff stated if they wanted to use some of the funds already in there, they could lower the rate to $0.41/kWh, but it is not recommended as they will need to start getting some money in reserve to cover the maintenance plans when they expire in five years. Ms. Burzlaff stated every port is $365 for the yearly subscription. Ms. Burzlaff stated they can also charge an overage fee;some cities and towns do this so there is turnover and people move their vehicles. Ms. Phillips asked how much are they actually used and are there some that are more popular than others. Ms. Burzlaff stated the same people go to the same charging station. Ms. Burzlaff stated the Senior Center stations and the Police Station ones are popular. Ms. Bates asked if the $0.54/kWh allows them to put money into the reserve so that the maintenance is covered. Ms. Burzlaff stated it is hard to predict because they will not know how much they are going to use it. Mr. Roache asked if usage drops substantially because of the increased rate are they running the risk of losing money needed in that reserve. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they will have to keep watching it and report back in three months. Mr. Roache stated he does like the idea of charging overage. Ms. Bates asked if other towns were getting grants. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they may have more facilities than North Andover. Ms. Burzlaff stated in the future they could think about having them sponsored. Mr. Roache asked if it makes sense to plan to come back in six months with data. Ms. Burzlaff stated yes. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to increase EV charging station fees to $0.54/kWh. Mr. Kres 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. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Request from North Andover Historical Society for an entertainment license at 800 Mass Ave. Mr. Kres recused himself. Joanna Kerr is present. Ms. Kerr explained the request stated in the application. Ms. Kerr stated the entertainment license is for the Historical Society Steven Center building on Mass Ave. Ms Bates asked if Ms. Kerr could explain the programming that they have. Ms. Kerr stated they have a lot of exciting things for 2025. Ms. Kerr stated they are in the middle of setting up five exhibits for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Ms. Kerr stated they are also planning a community tour of old buildings that were in town in 1775. Ms. Kerr stated they are planning programs for the next several months in the Worden Theater. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve the application from the North Andover Historical Society for an annual entertainment license at 800 Massachusetts Avenue as presented. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0-1 recused. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0-1 recused. Mr. Kres returned. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 23, 2025 and January 28, 2025 MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of January 23, 2025 and January 28, 2025 as presented. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. SELECT BOARD UPDATES Ms. Phillips thanked the DPW for their work during the snowstorms. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the budget, and a new email where questions can be sent ( _ r ). Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that they are answering those questions and updating them in the FAQ. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned that the Tri-Board meeting will be facilitated by Mark DiSalvo. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Kres made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Bates to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:33PM. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025 Respectfully submitted, Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Presentations Letter Reappointment Memorandum Application Minutes from 1/23/25 & 1/28/25 Town Manager Report