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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-20 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 20, 2025 Call To Order: Chair Janice Phillips called the open meeting to order at 7:05PM in the Select Board Room located at 120 Main Street North Andover. Select Board in Attendance: Chair Janice Phillips, Rosemary Smedile, Laura Bates, and David Kres were present Select Board Not in Attendance: Clerk Brian Roache Non-Board Members in Attendance: Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues and Assistant Town Manager Andrew Shapiro were present. PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Coppola of 36 Main Street provided a written letter and expressed his concern that the winter months are approaching and the crosswalk issue has not been resolved. Mr. Coppola expressed the difficulty he has hearing others speak in the meetings and asked for assistive listening devices. Joanna Kerr of the North Andover Historical Society expressed her support for a half closure of Massachusetts Avenue with a departing lane for the vendors that will be at the Historical Society during the Town tree lighting. NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARING—Petition from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid to install underground conduits under and across Boxford Street and Candlestick Road MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to open the public hearing for the petition from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid to install underground conduits under and across Boxford Street and Candlestick Road. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Bryan Sathler from National Grid was present. Mr. Sathler stated the work request involves Boxford Street and Candlestick Drive. Mr. Sathler stated National Grid is to install underground facilities beginning at a point approximately 30 feet southwest of the center line of the intersection of Candlestick Drive and Boxford Street. Mr. Sathler stated it will continue approximately 1900ft in a southeast direction. Mr. Sathler stated this is to improve system reliability. Mr. Sathler stated they will also be installing six pole boxes. Mr. Sathler stated they will be using directional drilling and installing conduit and PVC pipes in that vicinity. Mr. Kres asked why underground conduit for that area. Mr. Sathler discussed the direct buried wire in that area, and the danger it imposes. Mr. Sathler stated to remove that danger, they would rather remove it and run new conduit through there. Ms. Phillips asked if they know where there are others similar to that. Mr. Sathler stated they are scattered around other residential areas. Ms. Phillips asked if National Grid was systemically changing that. Mr. Sathler stated yes. Ms. Phillips asked how long this project would take. Mr. Sathler stated it depends on the weather and how things go. Ms. Phillips asked if the street would need to be closed. Mr. Sathler stated it would depend on how busy the area would be. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues how long they would need to call to get a police detail. Ms. Murphy-Rodriges stated they can request it the day before. Ms. Bates asked if they were drilling on people's private property. Mr. Sathler stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if they anticipate major disruption to people's front yards. Mr. Sathler stated they don't anticipate it, but things always happen. Ms. Bates asked if they think they will need to go down the road or will everything be on the grass. Mr. Sathler stated most of it should be on the grass. Ms. Bates asked if they patch curb to curb. Mr. Sathler stated they patch the holes that they create. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 20, 2025 No public comment. MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to close the public hearing for the petition from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid to install underground conduits under and across Boxford Street and Candlestick Road. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Vote on petition from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid to install underground conduits under and across Boxford Street and Candlestick Road MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve the petition from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid to install underground conduits under and across Boxford Street and Candlestick Road. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Request of Veterans Services to use Main Street for annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2025 at 10:OOAM Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they will now be ending at North Andover Middle School to do the dedication for the new sign. Ms. Smedile asked if there will be a sign ceremony. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues states yes. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request from Veterans Services to use Main Street for the annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2025 at 10:00AM. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Vote to waive right of first refusal for the sale of 3 Harvest Drive, Unit 303 MOTION: Ms. Kres motioned to waive the right of first refusal for the sale of 3 Harvest Drive, Unit 303. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Request of Pierce Leary to install a temporary gn at Patriots Park Pierce Leary from North Andover Troop 87 was present. Mr. Leary stated he would like to install a temporary sign at Patriots Memorial Park for his Eagle Project. Mr. Leary stated Jeff Clark from VFW Post 2104 and Leslie Frazier from the North Andover Improvement Society are his sponsors. Mr. Leary stated the sign is a way to describe the new Global War on Terror monument and the history of the existing monuments. Mr. Leary stated he designed this sign based on interviews. Mr. Leary stated the sign will be approximately 16in by 24in and digitally printed. Mr. Leary described how the sign will be mounted. Mr. Leary stated the sign will be displayed from the time it is created until the Global War on Terror monument is installed. Mr. Leary described where in the park the sign will be located. Mr. Leary stated other portions of his project will include relocating some of the shrubs and preparing the site for the monument. Mr. Kres asked how he came up with the idea. Mr. Leary stated by hearing others talk about the monument. Mr. Leary stated he wanted to do something that could help. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the temporary sign at Patriots Park as presented. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Request of Festival Committee for Mass Avenue to remain open during the tree lighting event Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they would like to keep the road closed. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they will post a police officer at the crosswalk near the exit of the Historical Society. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated she NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 20, 2025 has spoken with the Festival Committee. Mr. Kres asked if we can accomplish this with one detail. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if they were going to block off people entering from the rotary. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the whole street will be closed on both sides. NO ACTION TAKEN. Care Solace update Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the Town will be partnering with the schools on this program through the opioid funding. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated it is for mental health services and social service coordination. Appointments A. Christopher Konareski - Festival Committee B. Brianna Rizzari - Festival Committee C. Lauren Logan - Festival Committee D. Ryan Hinchdiffe- Emergency Management Mr. Kres provided background information on the individuals being appointed. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to appoint Christopher Konareski, Brianna Rizzari, and Lauren Logan to the Festival Committee as ex officio members. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 4-0. MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to appoint Ryan Hinchcliffe to Emergency Management through June 30, 2026. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. LICENSING MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. PUBLIC HEARING—Application from Merrimack Condominium Trust for a temporary license to store flammables, combustibles or explosives at 4-100 Compass Point MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to open the public hearing for the application from Merrimack Condominium Trust for a temporary license to store flammables, combustibles or explosives at 4-100 Compass Point. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Jim Martin from Palmer Gas and Oil. Mr. Martin stated they have taken on Compass Point as one of their accounts. Mr. Kres asked if the reason for storing the combustible is because they are replacing something. Mr. Martin stated yes. Mr. Martin stated they previously had another company's propane tanks there, and that company removed their tanks. Mr. Martin stated they will be putting their tanks there. Mr. Kres asked what is the temporary nature of it. Mr. Martin explained their challenges with access and why they needed temporary tanks. Mr. Kres asked if the old tanks were buried. Mr. Martin stated yes. Mr. Kres asked if the tanks will be accessible moving forward. Mr. Martin stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if this is just for the temporary tanks. Mr. Martin stated the temporary tanks will be removed, and they will have permanent tanks installed. Ms. Bates asked if they would come back for a permanent license. Mr. Martin stated he is unsure of the process, but they do apply for all the appropriate permits. Mr. Kres asked how many total gallons of propane would there be. Mr. Martin between 4,000 and 6,000 gallons depending on clearances. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 20, 2025 No public comment. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to close the public hearing for the application from Merrimack Condominium Trust for a temporary license to store flammables, combustibles or explosives at 4-100 Compass Point. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Vote on application from Merrimack Condominium Trust for a temporary license to store flammables combustibles or explosives at 4-100 Compass Point MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve the application from Merrimack Condominium Trust for a temporary license to store an additional 3,000 gallons of propane at 4-100 Compass Point until November 30, 2025. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Notice from Mass State Lottery regarding KENO license at Fairways on High Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they received this from the state advising that a KENO license has been applied for. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues explained the process if the Board had objections. Mr. Kres asked when was the last time they had a KENO license. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated she only remembers one since she has started, and they took no action on it. Mr. Kres asked if they will have video monitoring. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they did not receive any other information regarding it, but she would assume yes. Ms. Bates asked when they were opening. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated October 30th. NO ACTION TAKEN. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF OCTOBER 6, 2025 MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of October 6, 2025 as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-0. SELECT BOARD UPDATES Mr. Kres mentioned the events at the Historical Society. Ms. Bates mentioned Halloween and trick or treating hours. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the road work beginning on Great Pond Road and on Gray Street. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the financial update from the schools superintendent. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues recognized Officer Messina, Officer Sewade, Officer Furman, Officer Houston, and Sergeant James for receiving the medal of valor. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the 2025 employee recognitions. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the pumpkin contest at Town Hall. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues welcomed the new comfort dog, Annie. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES OCTOBER 20, 2025 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Kres made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:45PM. Motion approved 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant Brian Roache, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting Appointments Schedule Letters Memorandum Applications Petition Minutes from 10/6/25 Town Manager Report