HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-07 Master Plan Advisory Committee Minutes Approved 9/7/2017
North Andover Master Plan Committee
Meeting Minutes — August 24, 2017
Present: Norma Lochmann, Christina Minicucci, Diane O'Connor, Gary Sidell,
Erin Stevens, David Stroh, John Watters, Tom Zahoruiko
Absent: Scott Hammond
Staff: Jean Enright, Eric Kfoury
• The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
• There was a short discussion on how to deal with inquiries from the media and
outside groups. The Committee determined that it was better to keep structure
more informal and that individual committee members might be the go-between
for the specific areas of the Master Plan that each will be tasked to lead.
• The Committee accepted the offer of a public attendee, Stan Limpert, to prepare
draft meeting minutes for the Committee to review and approve.
Agenda Items
1. Meeting Minutes: The minutes for the August 10, 2017 were unanimously approved.
Motion by C. Minicucci, Seconded by J. Watters
2. Public Engaaement Strategy and Community Outreach
• Zoe Mathews, North Andover reporter for the Eagle-Tribune, was contacted by
Town Staff about possible articles on the master plan activity, the first of which
would introduce the Committee members and the process of soliciting community
input. A second article would promote the first general public meeting to be held
on November 2, 2017.
• Brian Fraser from North Andover CAM was also contacted by Town Staff about a
show on the master planning activity. Possible format for a show was discussed.
B. Fraser indicated he would like to attend a subsequent meeting to get to know
the group.
• E. Stevens presented a draft press release for discussion, which included an
introduction of the committee, information about the meetings, as well as the
process. The draft release will be reworked to include some quotes from
NAMPC Minutes 2 of 3 August 24, 2017
Committee members on what they see and what they're excited about and
recirculated for review.
• The Committee determined that press release should be issued soon with the
intent that this occur at the beginning of the following week (August 28-30th). The
press release should also be posted on the web site.
• The Committee discussed alternative approaches to solicit public input, and how
to deal with the results. This included whether it was best for the Committee to
take whatever information the community wanted to provide, and organize and
deal with it afterwards, as well as whether the Committee should offer some data
that might be helpful for the public, so the information provided would be more
focused. It was suggested that the information could be processed later, and
summaries could be presented at subsequent meetings. Members thought it
might also be helpful to explain why some ideas received were not incorporated.
• The consultant team will be giving a presentation on November 2nd, and
collecting and summarizing the information from the meeting. All ideas from the
public expressed during the meeting should be passed on. The Committee can
then decide how to deal with the results. The individual follow-up meetings could
begin with the summary of inputs from the November 2nd meeting and facts
gathered by the consultant.
• Some points that deserve to be mentioned are that the last master plan was
done almost twenty years ago and that the make-up of the current Committee
itself seemed unique as none of its members serve on other town
committees/boards, which is often the case. There was unanimous agreement
that this might have new groups within the community feel motivated to attend
the meeting.
• N. Lochmann presented a revised MP community engagement and
communications plan. Some ideas that were emphasized or added included:
a. posting information on social media, including FaceBook, SnapChat, and
InstaGram, especially with existing groups such as North Andover Moms;
b. obtaining cost quotes for a banner and "lawn signs" announcing the
November 2nd meeting;
c. contacting as many of the town religious organizations as possible;
d. notifying facilities for seniors, including the Senior Center, Ashland Farms,
Brightview, Edgewood, and Meetinghouse Commons
e. providing flyers and/or a table for information at the Farmers Market
and/or the Fall Festival;
f. contacting Cub, Boy, and Girl Scout groups;
g. meeting with PTO presidents and attend all PTO meetings; and
h. posting information at the Stevens Library.
NAMPC Minutes 3 of 3 August 24, 2017
• It was suggested that the chairs of all the standing town boards and committees
— Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Planning, Conservation, Zoning, etc.
— should be contacted and given a statement, such as one of the press
releases, to read at their meetings to inform that group, and their audience, of the
public event.
• Town Staff has closed the on-line Housing Survey. Over 350 responses from a
diverse sample of North Andover residents responded. The results have been
forwarded to both the consultant team and the Merrimack Valley Planning
Commission for analysis. This information will be part of the existing conditions
report that the consultant team will present at the September 21St meeting of the
Committee, as well as the November 2nd public meeting.
• It was reiterated that the consultant team will come to the next Committee
meeting on September 7th with a media kit and a description of the format and
materials to be used at the public meeting. The Committee expressed the desire
to get help from the consultant to approach Merrimack College, Brooks School,
and North Andover High School.
• In response to the Committee's request to understand the November 2nd meeting
logistics, a site visit at the High School cafeteria (where the meeting will take
place) will occur with the consultant team prior to the September 7th Committee
meeting.
3. Public Comment: The floor was opened for public comment– no comments were
offered.
C. Minicucci made a motion to adjourn meeting; G. Sidell seconded. Motion passed
unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Next meeting: September 7, 2017
Meeting handouts:
• Draft press release
• Revised community engagement/communications plan