The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-11-03 Select Board Minutes NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 2025 Call To Order: Chair Janice Phillips 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 Janice Phillips, Rosemary Smedile, Clerk Brian Roache Laura Bates, and David Kres were present Non-Board Members in Attendance: Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues, Assistant Town Manager Laurie Burzlaff and Assistant Town Manager Andrew Shapiro were present. PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Fraser from North Andover CAM mentioned that they installed hearing assistance devices in the Select Board Meeting room. LICENSING MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request from Catherine Keisling of the Purple Couch Bookshop for a one-day wine and malt liquor license on November 21, 2025 from 7:OOPM to 8:30PM Catherine Keisling was present. Ms. Keisling stated this is an event with a local author from Andover. Ms. Keisling stated there will be wine from Marble Ridge. Mr. Kres asked if they were selling the wine. Ms. Keisling stated no. Mr. Kres asked if she would be serving the wine. Ms. Keisling stated yes, she is TIPS certified. Ms. Keisling stated there will be one drink included with each ticket. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve the request from Catherine Keisling of the Purple Couch Bookshop for a one-day wine and malt liquor license on November 21, 2025 from 7:OOPM to 8:30PM. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request from Catherine Keisling of the Purple Couch Bookshop for a one-day wine and malt liquor license on December 1, 2025 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM Catherine Keisling was present. Ms. Keisling stated the event is called Cider Monday. Ms. Keisling stated it will be a ticketed event, and the ticket will include a glass of sparkling cider. Ms. Keisling stated it is an opportunity to celebrate local businesses. Ms. Keisling stated they will have catered food from Market Basket. Ms. Bates asked how much tickets were. Ms. Keisling stated$25 and it includes a 15% discount, a reusable bag, refreshments, and the glass of cider. Ms. Bates asked if it was limited tickets. Ms. Keisling stated yes. Ms. Bates asked if they could be bought online. Ms. Keisling stated yes. Mr. Roache asked if they had seen a bump from the new market basket. Ms. Keisling stated yes. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to approve the request from Catherine Keisling of the Purple Couch Bookshop for a one-day wine and malt liquor license on December 1, 2025 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 2025 NEW BUSINESS Vote on Winter Snow Emergency Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they are only closing the roads for parking during declared snow emergencies. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they will be doing enforcement this year. Mr. Roache asked if they address sidewalks in this. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated no. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to approve the Winter Snow Emergency as presented. Mr. Kres seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Vote on FY27 Budget Policy Statement Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they take all of the goals that are budget oriented and create a document based on those which then becomes the policy document to start the budget. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee will be meeting soon in order to start department head meetings. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated capital has also started. MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to adopt the FY2026 Budget Policy Statement. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request for Acceptance of Public Easement Expansion Jean Enright was present. Ms. Enright discussed the 2019 request to revisit the trail that exists at Rolling Ridge property. Ms. Enright stated they revisited the trail early this summer. Ms. Enright stated they have extended the trail further beyond what was called the public easement. Ms. Enright stated they cleared the new trail area with the exception of one section. Ms. Enright stated it connects to the existing trail and is safer and a more gradual slope. Ms. Enright stated the next step is signage. Ms. Bates asked how close does it get someone to 500 Great Pond. Mr. Roache stated other side. Mr. Kres asked how long the trail was. Ms. Enright stated about a half to three quarter miles. Ms. Enright stated the easement has been sent to Bill Callahan who will update the CPC at their next meeting. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to accept the public easement expansion as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request from the Fire Department to use ARPA funds for renovations to Fire Station 2 Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the renovations to Fire Station 2 and the possible need for a Fire Station 3. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they are trying to cobble together some money from different sources to offset the cost of those renovations. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they are requesting$200,000 from the ARPA interest income. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they have not received the design for what the renovations will look like or what the cost will be. Ms. Bates asked when they think they will get the plans. Ms. Burzlaff stated a couple of months. Mr. Roache asked if this is interest income or leftover ARPA funds. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated interest income. Mr. Roache asked if they had a ballpark estimate of what they think the total would cost. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they do not. Mr. Roache asked if this money cannot actually be spent until they have an actual budget. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the interest income is a bit separate and just want to make sure they are earmarking it. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the request from the Fire Department to use ARPA funds in the amount of$200,000 for renovations to Fire Station 2. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 2025 Request from the Town Manager to use ARPA funds for a food insecurity program Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated with SNAP benefits scheduled to be disrupted, they want to ensure they have programs in place for food insecurity. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the take and leave sites. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed the weekly food drive at the Senior Center. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues discussed a survey for those needing assistance. Mr. Roache stated furloughed federal employees receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Mr. Roache asked if it is the same for SNAP benefits. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated she does not know. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated they have their meals on wheels program, and Veterans should reach out to Joe. Mr. Roache asked if the take and leave sites were open 2417 for drop off. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues stated the police station site is. Ms. Phillips stated the Senior Center and the Historical Society's sites are outside so they are also 2417. MOTION: Mr. Roache motioned to approve the request from the Town Manager to use ARPA funds in the amount of$20,000 for a food insecurity program. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS 1. Accept donation in the amount of$150 from Smart Start, LLC to the Fire Department 2. Accept donations to the Holiday Decorating Committee for holiday wreaths in the amount of 3 100 3. Accept donations to Veterans Services from the Cormier Family in the amount of$1,000 MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve all consent items. Mr. Roache seconded. Motion approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF OCTOBER 20, 2025 MOTION: Mr. Kres motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of October 20, 2025 as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Motion approved 4-1 abstained. SELECT BOARD UPDATES Ms. Bates mentioned the Kittredge School Building Committee voted to extend their eligibility period. Mr. Kres mentioned the Historical Society events. Ms. Phillips thanked the NAPD for a safe Halloween. Mr. Roache mentioned the ribbon cutting at Fairways on High. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned Veteran's Day and the parade. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues recognized the Police Department for their work during the multiple funerals in town last week. Ms. Murphy-Rodrigues mentioned the Municipal Modernization Act. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Roache made a MOTION, seconded by Mr. Kres to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:36PM. Motion approved 5-0. NORTH ANDOVER SELECT BOARD MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 2025 Respectfully submitted, Nicole Civitarese Executive Assistant Brian Roache, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting Calendar Memorandums Donations Applications Minutes from 10/20/25