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Home My WebLink About2017-09-27 Finance Committee Minutes TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date September 27,2017 Meeting Location: School Administration Building, 566 Main Street Timothy Tschirhart, TT, Chairman X Ed MacMillian EM X Jennifer Goldman, JG, Vice Chair X Divya Bhatnagar, DB X Karin Blake, KB X Charles Trafton CT X Thomas Ringler, TR Angela Ciofolo, AC X Liz Gerron, LG X Sasha Weinreich, SW X Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table,herein. Non-Finance Committee Members in attendance: John Simons (JS): Chairman of the Planning Board Call ao waw" TT: On today's agenda we will be discussing Massachusetts Innovation Works (MIW). We will have a presentation from John Simons, Chairman of the Planning Board. He will be here about 7:30 to discuss this and answer any of our questions. We will try and take care of other business that is on the agenda before John Simons arrives. TT: Went on to say that JS will give us an update on where the Planning Board is on their thoughts, and also the revamp, and revised plan to rezone at the old Lucent Plant to cultivate marijuana. This proposed project is now called Massachusetts Innovation Works (MIW). TT: Stated it has changed since the original plans from before Town Meeting. It is now 25% medical cultivation and 75%recreational cultivation. TT: There is information on this proposed project on the Town's website. 1 September 27,2017 C`, 1T51 JG: Commented that we should keep the Policy& Procedures as is. EM: Made a motion to keep the Policies and Procedures as is CT: Second the motion All were in favor to keep the Policies and Procedures as is. rs■til �' r v d, sy3'(okwn. w k E`M" t R ^ '✓YP."�,. }� }`:.adz f br r z� TT: Stated that there is a lot of reading material on this subject from the State regarding OPEB CT: Commented to the Committee Members that he is interested on volunteering to be on the OPEB Committee because of his experience. The Committee Members spoke of the concerns, issues and problems regarding OPEB. CT: Informed the Committee Members that we are not alone in this situation,thousands of towns, counties and states face these challenges. TT: Stated that he appreciates CT volunteering to be on this OPEB Committee. Also, he will let Chris Nobile know that CT will be the volunteer to be on this OPEB Committee. !T 17+♦+�k/ 'L�� kms, .# r�d -5 1 .� > �] j ��.t�`y��'_'�.i � ^;. t i� �W 1,d�+t�g? � `�,fi�5i>s F x�,i � s`�� ! � \'ln�a d4 �� :��•��Fl�iaea TT: Stated that these Revenue Fixed Cost Meetings will start about the middle of October and will consist of 2-3 meeting commitments, and last about 1 hour and half(no more). We need two Finance Committee Members to join this Committee TT: Went on to say that he is looking for a new person or relatively new person to join this Committee. TT: Spoke of all the topics that are discussed and are part of this Committee TT: Stated to DB that he would like to see her as a member of this Committee. DB: Commented that the morning times would work better into her schedule, in order for her to be able to attend the meeting. TT: Stated to DB, I will put you down as a tentative yes. TT: Asked to have another volunteer for this Committee EM: You can put me in as a tentative, but I need to know my work schedule first, before I can commit. LG: If EM cannot do it, I can be a backup. I don't mind doing it again. SW: Said she could do it, if needed. 2 September 27,2017 The Committee got into a discussion on the Master Plan. TT: I will get some dates from Lyne Savage on the Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee, and will get back to all of you. TT: Thanked those that showed interest in volunteering for this Committee. TT: Stated that he carved out the last Finance Committee Letter and will send it out to all of you (speaking to the committee members of FinCom). TT: Commented that he broke it down into sections and assigned topics. Last year we had 3 weeks to work on this letter- This will give us more time, we will not feel as rushed if we assign these topics now. This will allows us more time to research and work on our assigned topics. TT: assigned the following sections; School Department (JG and SW) Capital Improvement Project (CT) Reserve Funds (LG) Enterprise Funds, Water Department, Sewer Department, Stevens Library, Stevens Estate (EM) Staffing and Compensation(DB and KB) Introduction(TT) TT: I will send out last year's letter and convert it from pff W. W, NMI 01W J 641. iii VIE mn- TT: Introduced JS and asked him to give us all an oversight and inform us on what significant changes have occurred since the Town Meeting, regarding the proposed Medical Marijuana project over at the old Lucent Building. JS: Stated that their role primarily as a Planning Board is focused on Zoning and Land Use and less on Financial Matter. If you all remember that the Planning Boards issues were (before Town Meeting)that they wanted to understand the scope of this proposed project, and to have a chance to do a more sufficient review, we basically needed more time. We all needed to take a more thorough look. JS: This time we asked the applicants of this proposed project to answer many of our questions and concerns. 3 September 27,2017 JS: Went on to say,that the two things we are looking for is a comprehensive look at zoning and also for the applicant to explain in more detail a better business model, such as what are they trying to do. JS: The applicant has come in front of the Planning Board in the past several months and has presented and explained to us in more detail their proposed project. JS: The Planning Board also did a tour of the facility (on Osgood Street) with the applicant's team, and now we have a better understanding of what they are trying to do,then what we did before. JS: The process has worked well. But, we are not done yet. JS: Also spoke that this understanding will help us when crafting a bylaw. JS: Commented on the possibilities of a"Special Town Meeting". We are working as fast as we can to understand, so that we feel comfortable with this project. JS: Spoke of different"Uses" and stated that cultivating is different than manufacturing. JS: Explained and described"Uses", regarding what you are going to allow, where we would allow, limitations, dimensional sizing, constraint requirements,the process requirements for issuing permits, etc_ JS: Spoke of the differences between"Use" allowed by"Special Permit" and"Site Plan Review". The Committee asked a variety of questions to JS with regards to a"Special Town Meeting" as well as the Massachusetts Innovation Works (MIW)proposed project. DB: Expressed her concerns of the amount of water usage regarding this proposed project. TT: Wants to have the developer come to a meeting, and would like to have them focus on timeline expectations regarding revenue. The Committee even asked question with regards to the possibility of Amazon occupying the spot on Osgood Street. TT: JS thank you,we do appreciate you coming down. JS: It was my pleasure. The Committee expressed an interest in touring the Lucent Building c .9n� ,�T ', �;_ TFE % i L"�,`t a R �_-- t:, adv �t �J*��t 7. i `y�f t m }�� u✓,�de„�F fir `v Not sure if we are prepared enough to talk about Our Finance Committee Meeting Calendar, since we just got the FY19 Budget Calendar. JG: Spoke of the CIP vote, also expressing her concerns with the milestones and date time frames (on the FY19 Budget Calendar), and how will the Finance Committee have an opportunity to vote on this, and have their input as a Committee (before the selectmen vote on it). LG: Commented on the Preamble of the Policies and Procedures stating that the Finance Committee is responsible for financial articles in the warrant. 4 September 27,2017 TT: Felt that we should be able to have the opportunity to comment on the CIP. TT: spoke of the scheduling of the next two meetings both will be on Tuesdays, October 17, and November 14th. JG: Made a motion to approve Minutes as written DB: Second the motion (Corrected DY to DB on the September 12th Minutes) All in favor Ad°1�)urxuh.ent��.� SW: made a motion to adjourn CT: Second the motion All in favor to adjourn Docu��rit�Talr�l *Cannabis-Planning Board—Osgood Street Wicked Local 9/13/2017 *OPER—Wicked Local 8/29/2017 *Commonwealth of Massachusetts Study Healthcare/Benefts Jan 11, 2013 x Agenda September 271 2017 * Minutes for September 12th FY18 Finance Committee Report and Recommendations Finance Committee Policies and Procedures *FY19 Budget Calendar -------------------------------------------------------------- *Google Doe and Hard Copy --------------------------------------------------------------- S September 27,2017