HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-08-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes AUGUST 27, 1979 (continued)
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COURT STREET (continued)
It wasaalso voted to send letters to Police, Fire, Town Garage departments no-
tifying them of the vote taken by the Board. A letter will also be sent to
S herman Eidleman, District Highway Engineer.
SPECIAL COUNSEL - VILLAGE GREEN WEST:
The matter of appointing a Special Yown Counsel to represent the town vs. ~
Village Green West re the collection of trash for the oondiminiums was discussed.
Selectman Ralph Joyce stated the outcome of this case could affect many other
towns and citiFs whore condimtnums exist and lawyers like Attys. Daniels and
O'Brtan of Andover who have the expertise should be seriously considered. Sel-
ectman Guthrie stated that North Andover had capable attorneys and although
there was no question that Selectman Joycels suggestion was in order he was
convinced that Atty. William B. Duffy, Jr. has the where-with-all to conduct
the case. He made a motion to appoint Duffy which was seconded by Selectman
SalisBury. Selectman Graham said that Duffy's response seemed adequate.
ChairmanMcEvoy agreed with.Joyce that this case would be tmportant;to all other
communities besides North Andover and stated that he thought Atty. Thomas
Burns had the necessary expertise. Selectman Salisbury stated that he agreed
Atty. Burns was well respected as a lawyer but he questioned his rates and
thought Atty. Duff~ was well qualifed for the appointment. Selectman Graham
stated that it was a matter of dollars and cents. The Board voted to appoint
Atty. William B. Duffy, Jr. as Special Town Counsel for the Village Green case.
He will be so notified.
HUD GRANT APPROVAL:
· Official notice of approval of the town's fiscal year 1979 HUD Grant for the
constuction of sidewalks and extension of the fire alarm system was received.
The grant is for~$85,000. It was voted unanimously to authorized the Chairman
to execute the standard grant agreement.
FIRE CHIEF EXAM POSTPONEMENT:
The Selectmen received notice of the postponement of the Fire Chief exam be-
cause of lack of applicants; four lieutenants were requimed to apply.
Selectman Guthrie stated that the Board should take a look at what Civil
Service has done for North Andover...was Civil Service necessary to appoint
a Fire Chief..He made a motion to consider pros & cons whether or not the
Board should recommend removing the appointment of the Fire and Police Chiefs
from Civil Service prior to holding of exam. The Selectmen voted to discuss
Guthrie's motion the last week in September. Mr. Guthrie withdrew the motion.
FIRE CHIEF RESIGNATION: -
A letter of resignation as Acting Fire Chief received from Chief Fitzgerald.
Ne stated in his letter that he was resigning because of personat,lreaaons; He
also. stated that he would decline any offer of appointment to Chief of the
North Andover Fire Department. The Board accepted his resignation with regret
and authorized a letter be sent to him expressing their appreciation and thanks
for a job well done during the year and a half he was Intering Fire Chief.
Chairman McEvoy stated that the start immediately interviewing candidates to
replace Chief Fitzgerald so a smooth transition can be made, and tha~ 'a call
for candidates should begin. It was voted, on Guthrte's motion, to open the
)osition to all members of the Fire Department who intends to take the exam
when it is rescheduled. Interviews will take place on September 10th..if an
applicant is on duty on that date, arrangements will be made to interview him
at the station. Notices will be placed in both firestations. Appointment
will take place on September 17, 1979.
~
DOG OFFICER:
Once again, Gene Northam, Dog Officer, met with the Selectmen to explain why
his expenses triple those of the former Dog Officer, although former Dog
Officer put in 60 hours a week. Selectm an Guthrie stated history of job 6'f
past Dog Officers had half the expenses Northam was incurring. Activities
should decrease, not increase. Cruising 5 or 600 miles per month was not
normal...it was 2 and one-half times more than in the past .... that he should
live within his budget. Chairman McEvoy stated that Northam's figures were
way out of proportion, each Selectman echoed that statement that he should
live within ~his budget. Selectmen requested Northam, upon motion of Graham,
which was seconded and an unanimous vote, to report back in two weeks; work
out a chhedule that would enable him to work within his budget or the balance
of his budget because no transfers were forthcoming to make up the defieit.~
AUGUST 27, 1979 (continued) '.. ~" ~ .1~:~
CONSERVATION CO~ISSION:
Letter received from George Stern, member of the Conservation Commission, stat-
ing that a member of the Commission, while in the performance of his dutied,
was threatened with physical harm. Chairman McEvoy said that he was very upset
by this incident. Selectman Joyce said that Chief Donnelly should be instructe¢
to investigate the matter. As the developer's name was not revealed, Board
Should know the whole story. Seletman Graham made motion to request report
from Chief Donnelly on the incident. Seconded and vote unanimous.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE LAWS:
Letter from State Ethics Commission receive~ containing proposed regulations
for financial disclosure laws for municipal officials. Selectman Guthrie hoped
it isn't necessary to make public, private financial disclosures and was sorry
to see it come to this~ The Selectmen voted to discuss this matter further at
their September 24th meeting.
IDFA BONDING - BAY STATE~NESTHESIA, INC.:
The Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the project of the Bay State
Anesthesia, Inc. company to acquire a parcel of land off Willow Street and Zt.
114 in the Town of North Andover and cors truction of a concrete building to
contain approximately 11,000 square feet of space for office space and facili~
for the distribution of medical products, together with appropriate landscaping
and other site improvements..to approve the estimated cost and the financing by
the issuance of Bonds under and pursuant to the Act in a principal amount not
to exceed $300,000. The Bonds shall not cOnstitute a debt or pledge of the
faith and credit of the Town of North Andover but shall be payable'soley from
income or revenues received in connection with the Project or otherwise derived
as authorized under Section 17 of the Act. (Motion by Selectmen Joyce to grant
bond issue as recommended, by the Industrial Development Fiuancin§ Authority,
seconded by Selectman Graham, vote was unanimous.)
AIRPORT - CONTROL TOWER.
Letter received from Th6mas J. Davies, Jr., Airport Msnager, regarding the
addltionof the control tower.~ and an instrument landing system at the airport.
He stated that it would result in increased safety and control, that there woul¢
not be an exodus of Jet Aircraft out of Logan using the Lawrence Airport.Prank
Trombly, ltason officer to the Airport for North Andover, was present and
that the control tower would make North Andover a lot safer place to live in.
Guthrie inquired if the Airport would be enlarged and Trombly replied, "No."
Trombly advised the Board that he had attended a study of noise hearing and
three people were present. The Selectmen requested that Trombly submit a re'
on that hearing.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - NEW REGULATIONS:
Notices from the Dept. of Environmental Management re new regulations received
and referred to the Conservation Commission for perusal.
BIKE-A-THON:
Letter received from the March of Dimes committee requesting use of oertain
streets in North Andover, September 30th. Board voted to authorize use of the
streets subject to POlice Chief's approval.
CETA FY FUNDING 1980:
Executive Secretary, Brian Sullivan, advised the Board on his A.I.M that at a
meetin§ of Ceta area officials, it was revealed that cuts of over 50% have bben
made to CETA funding. He was advised that the Town could use some of FY 1980
money to continue our present CETA employees until their full eligibility ex-
pires. As our present employees are:scheduled to terminate on Sept. 30th,
stronly recommended the Selectmen extend the time period of the present employee
as the applicant pool at CETA for the positions was nil due to the lowere&.~age
limit. It was unanimously voted tohave the Chairman and Brian use the FY 1980
funds to continue the present CE'fA employees until the expiration date.
POLICE CAR BIDS:
Selectman Guthrie stated that air conditioning was never included in the specs
for police cars and stated that the Advisory Board must agree to that item.
It was voted unanimously that car d~alers be requested to submit bids includ~qg
air conditioning and bids without azr conditioning. Also the Advisory Boar~ 1s
to be asked whether they concur with air conditioning in the police cars or not