HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-06 Board of Selectmen Minutes 271
The Board of Selectmen held their regular meeting on this date with all
members present; Selectmen Thomas J. McEvoy, Charles A. Salisbury, Ralph
R. Joyce, R. Louis DiFruscio with Ch~rman John W. Graham pres~diag. The
minutes and warrant were approved as submitted.
AMBULANCE PROPOSAL:
A representative from Medicompts, Inc., Canton Mass. appeared before the
Selectmen to submit a proposal for paid ambulance service. The representa-
tive. is also the sole owner, founder and President of Medicompts, Inc.
Arty Gerald S. Foley, Jr. He stated that his three year's experience pro-
viding ambulance billing services for local municipalities proves beyond a
doubt that a third party ambulance billing system will dramatically increase
reimbursement for the Town's ambulance department. Medicompt's objective
has.always been to secure the highest legal reimbursement levels of payment
for emergency medical services provided by emergency room physicians and
ambulance companies. They will provide complete administrative services to
the Town. He advised that the town of Canton had Medicompts, Inc. perform
the newly instituted Ambulance Insurance Reimbursement System and in the
years 1979-80, Canton received $44,000 in cash receipts for ambulance runs.
In 1980-81, Canton expects to receive approximately $55,000 for ambulance
runs. The Board thanked Mr. Foley for his presentation, informed him that
an Article has been submitted for Town Meeting and, if accepted, they will
consider his proposal.
COMMUNITY CENTER-LAURENT:
A Certificate of Completion for the Laurent Construction Co. was submitted
to the Board for signing, together with a punch list of items that would be
completed by April I0, 1981. The Board voted to table its execution until
next week to ensure the list's completion.
NEW HOUSING PROJECT:
The Selectmen voted to send letter to the Board of Appeals stating that they
approved the plans, as submitted, by the Board of Appeals re the new housing
project proposed by the North Andover H~using Authority.
MIDDLESEX ST. VANDALISM:
Letter received from Chief Donnelly in reply to letter submitted by Mrs. Peg
Morrison and others re vandalism in their area of Middlesex Street. The
Board voted to accept the letter and refer copy of same to Mrs. Morrison.
GAYTON OSGOOD-OFFICE SPACE:
Gayton appeared before the Board to discuss proposed office space for the
Office of Community Development. He informed them that he had met with the
Library Director, Russ Reeve, and they had aglaed to move the books in the
Town Building storage room to a basement located at the Housing Authority
office, 16 Fountain Drive.A dehumidifier would be installed to keep the base.
ment dry. After further discussion, it was voted to assign the storage
space, now used by the library, to the Office of Community Development and
to have letter sent to the Trustees of the Library so advising them.
DRAIN PIPE EXTENSION:
Letter received from George W. Moekel, 36 Woodbury Lane, requesting permissi~
to extend drain pipe 25 feet. Request was voted to be referred to the High-
way Surveyor.
GLSD BUDGET:
The Board voted to receive the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District Budget for
Fiscal Year 1982.
TRAFFIC LTS.-HILLSIDER]].-RT.114:
Steve Erka, Btate Engineer, advised the Board that, due to lack of Federal
Funding, the installation of traffic lights at the above-named location was
impossible at this time. After a discussion, the Board voted to send letter
requesting that a temporary island be installed on Rt. 114, intersection of
Hillside Rd.
AHOP BONUS SECTION 8 HOUSING FUNDS-MVPC:
Letter received from ~he MeKrimgck Valley Plannio~.Commission re fu~.ds for
rental assistance for zow~ana.m,~era=e zn=ome ~am~zes . Referred to Gayton
Osgood and Susan St. Pierre.
~72 APRIL 6, 198]. (continued)
MAIN ST. INTERSECTIONS(WATER ST.& WAVERLY RD.)
received from the State DPW re thm above-named intersections and ad-
vised the Board of the following suggestions:
1. S~ate will design and Island at the Waverly Rd. intersection and erect
a stop sign there, if Board agrees.
2. Erect a stop sign and a stop line between the driveways at the Merrimack
National Bank at the Water Street intersection.
The Board voted to refer the suggestions to the Police and Fire Chiefs,
Town Planner and Highway Surveyor for their comments.
SAFETY SIGNS:
Selectman Joyce reported to the Selectmen that traffic is becoming increasing-
ly heavy on Bunkerhill, Concord and Lexinton Streets due to drivers taking
short cuts to Osgood Street because of Park and Pleasant Streets being one-
way. It was voted to send letter to Chief Donnelly for his recommendations.
DALE ST.-ONE~WAY:
Petition received from Harold Lynch and other residents requesting that
Dale Street (short section) be made one-way, running West to East, be-
ginning at the corner of Marbleridge Road and Dale Street and ending at
the corner of Dale and Appleton Streets. They also requested that this
section of Dale Street be posted, indicating speed limits. The Board'Voted
to send copies of the petition to the Police and Fire Chiefs, Highway
Surveyor and Fred Rex requesting their comments and recommendations of
the petition. They also voted to accept and support petition. '
STREET LIGHT COMPLAINTS:
A discussion of street lights was tabled until hext week.
BOXFORD STATE FOREST:
Letter received from the Dept. of Environmental Mangaement advising Board ~
that they are planning to establish an advisory committee to assist in the~'
management of the Bo~fo~d State Forest which is located in the Towns Of'
Boxford, North Andover and Middleton. They requested the appointment of
tw~ members to represent the Town of North Andover to serve on the advisory
committee. The Board requested to contact persons he thought ~ay be in-
tereste,! in this committee and tabled same until next week.
A~POINTMENTS-CONSERVATION COMMISSION:
Intervi%ws wi~h applicants to fill vacant positions on the Conservation
Commission were conducted as scheduled with one exception. ChairmanGrahaTM
read a letter submitted by an applicant, Mrs. Edith M. Nitzsche, which
stated she had learned that three, highly qualified gentlemen had made :
applications for the position who should be considered and that she was
withdrawing her application. The Selectmen thanked Mrs. Nitzsche, who was
present, for her fine letter and her interest in the welfare of the Town
and voted to keep her letter and application on file for future service on
other committees. They proceeded to interview Thomas W. Boshar, Atty. Philip
J. Doyle and Guillermo J. Vicens, Dr. separately. After the Selectmen's
meeting was concluded, At'ry. Philip Doyle was appointed for a term of 3 yrs',
(1983) and Guillermo J. Vicens, who received the most votes to a term expiring
in 1984) Conservation Commission and the appointees will be so notified..
GRAHAM-REMINDERS:
Chairman Graham reminded the Board that their decision was due on the
Solid Waste Disposal Site (NESWC) contract at the next meeting, April 13th.
He also asked if anyone was going to the meeting of the League of Women
¥oters, April 15th.
ADVISORY BOARD:
The Board of Selectmen and the Advisory Board went through the Articles
on the Town Meeting Warrant and the Advisory Board indicated on each
article whether they supported it or not. They said they had met with all
departments who have cooperated in cutting down overtime but haven't decreased
services. School increase in fees, police positions and fire department over-
time was discussed. On street lights, the Advisory Board wants the Selectmen
to make a committment to pull out 130 street lights. Advisory Board stated
that if Town does not go along with their guidelines, the vote on the Articles
will be repeated starting at Article I until their recommended tbtaL ~mount-.
is voted.
APRIL 6, 1981 (continued) 2?3
DOG OFFICER:
The Dog Officer appeared before the Board saying he could not function until
the end of this fiscal year without additional funds. He was told once again
that he had to 6~e~affe within his budget, to curtail services if he had to.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS:
Approved: 2-day beer license for V.F.W. for July 3-4 on the Old Common for
4th of July celebration.
Common Victualer license for the 4th of July Committee, July 3-4
for food served duving the 4thof~obse;~3~m~,es.
Alice M. Letarte, Secretary ************~Clerk/~ ' /~/ ~
APRIL 13 1981
The Board of Selectmen held their regular meeting on this date with all member~
present; Selectmen Thomas J. McEvoy, Charles A. Salisbury, Ralph R. Joyce, R.
Louis DiFruscio with Chairman John W. Graham presiding. The minutes and
warran~ were approved as submitted.
SENIOR CENTER:
Gay~on Osgood appeared before the Board to discuss the relocation of the Senio:
Citizens Center. He advised the Selectmen that, at a recent meeting, the
Council On Aging had voted they would like the Senion Citizens Center somewhere
on the Town property behind the Town building. They would like to be released
from the Community Center to relocat~ in a more central area. Gayton req
that he be authorized to start negotiations mow so important details would be
completed before the anticipated grant is received in September. Chairman
Graham stated that at this time, his one concern was the way the present admin-
istration in Washington is going. He would not like to start something and
then find the Senior Citizens left without anything because of lack of funding.
Gayton said he could not foresee not being funded. Letter from Town Planner
was referred to re downtowm parking behind the Town building. Gayton Stated
that. additional land would be available, owned by Dr. Lantini and Kenics who
would be willing to lease the land they owned. 125 parking spaces are antici-
pated and the construction of the Senior Center would only take up ~25 parking
spaces. Selectman Joyce stated that the elderly should be located downtown,
that Gayton should iron out the details. Gayton stated that though, at the
presentTtime, he had no money to spend but, if the Board would ~moe ~i~e
permission to go ahead, without signing anything, he could start preparations.
It wasT~uggested that he look into buying property on May Street. Gayton said
that 1) The elderly do not want to be located there and 2) They only have
$200~000 to build the elderly center and they can not use it to buy land as
they need all of it for construction. Upon motion of Selectmen Salisbury,
was voted unanimously to authorize Gayton to proceed with whatever neg(
are necessary to relocate the Senior Center from the Community Center to the
center'of Town.
DOWNTOWN PARKING:
A MemOrandum was received from the Downtown Advisory Committee re additional
downtown parking. The memorandum stated that, in the near future, the present
surplus 15 spaces in the business district will change to a net deficit of 114
spaces. The Town Planner, Susan St. Pierre, stated that the town is eligible
for a 70% grant for financing the construction of off-street parking facilitie~
but, due to the competitive program, application should be prepared at once
for this grant. The Board voted unanimously to accept the memorandum of the
Downtown Advisory Board and instructed the Town Planner to prepare the ~pplica-
tion for the grant.
REFUSE FUELS, INC:
Mr. Ricci of Refuse Fuels, Inc. gave a presentation of the'operation of his
landfill operation. Company privately owned, site owned by two people. He
said he was willing to sign town to a short term contract and build a transfer
station. Starting rate $13.00 per ton, subject to change. He thanked the
Board for allowing him to make the presentation.