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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-27 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JANUARY 27, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Kevin Foley, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Kevin Foley, Chairman;William B. Duffy, Jr.; John Leeman; Donald Stewart; David Torrisi; and Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 6 and January 13, 1997 -David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the minutes of January 6 and January 13, 1997 as presented in the packages; vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Personnel -Director of Public Works -Administrative Leave -The Town Manager announced that this morning, he notified, George Perna, Director, Division of Public Works, of the Town Manager's intention to terminate Mr. Perna's employment with the Town. Mr. Perna has been placed on paid, administrative leave pending the completion of the termination hearings. Conservation Commission-Resignation of George Reich- John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to accept George Reich's resignation from the Conservation Commission with regret and to request that a letter of thanks for his service be sent; vote approved 5-0. Mr. Reich's resignation is as of March 14, 1997. Airport Incident-David Torrisi discussed his concerns of public safety and security measures at the Airport, as a result of the most recent incident in which individuals were arrested in a drug sting. Mr. Torrisi thanked the North Andover Police Department and the state and federal departments involved in the sting. David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to request that the Airport Manager, Mr. MacKinen, come before the Board of Selectmen to discuss public safety and security measures at the Lawrence Municipal Airport; vote approved 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to move into licensing; vote approved 5-0. STAR PIZZA- COMMON VICTUALLER'S LICENSE APPLICATION-11 - 15 FIRST STREET: The Commission discussed the applicant's request to expand his business from 15 First Street to include 11 First Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance for this site for off site parking for the expansion capacity from 18 to 28 total seats. John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Kevin Foley,to approve the license and that the license not be issued until the Building Inspector approves the release of the License and that a sign be placed inside the store to indicate "Please Do Not Park Vehicles in the Star Market Parking Lot"; vote approved 5-0. Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to move out of licensing; vote approved 5-0. FISCAL YEAR 1996 AUDIT: Scott McIntyre, Melanson&Heath, presented the fiscal year 1996 audit report to the Board of Selectmen. The audit indicated many improvements over the last report and these improvements are believed to have been looked upon favorably during the credit review. William Duffy made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to express appreciation to the Finance Director and the Town Manager in recognition of the financial statement improvements; vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 27, 1997 Page 2. DISCUSSION OF TOWN CREDIT RATING: The fiscal year 1996 audit was available for the credit rating review by Moody's as well as Standard and Poore. The Town's credit rating improved from Baal to A3 by Moody's and A-to A by Standard and Poor. Mr. Mahoney stated that his goal for credit improvement is for the town to be rated at Aa. The present rating is the highest it has been since June 1989. FISCAL YEAR 1998 WATER AND SEWER RATES: Mr. Mahoney presented an analysis for the Board's review for the setting of the Fiscal Year 1998 water and sewer rates. This analysis included the 1997 current rates,the current rates including depreciation indicating the percent of change,the fiscal year 1998 rates including fifty percent of the depreciation and the fiscal year 1998 including zero depreciation. The recommended rate for the water and sewer was to include 50%of the depreciation which set the water rate at$ 2.49 per 100 cubic feet(-17.28%change) and$ 2.55 per 100 cubic feet(11.35%change). William Duffy made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the recommended water rate at $ 2.49 per 100 cubic feet and sewer at$ 2.55 per 100 cubic feet; vote approved 5-0. SEWER RATE RELIEF FUND ACCEPTANCE: William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to accept$ 48,8965 from the state of the sewer rate relief fund to offset the debt service on sewer projects; vote approved 5-0. FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS: The following department heads discussed their reactions to the Town Manager's budget scenario, as presented on January 21, 1997. The Town Manager's presentation on the 21St included many budget cuts which would impact the delivery of services from all departments. The following department heads discussed the impacts of these cuts: Richard Gorman,Youth Services Director, Kathleen Gorman, Council on Aging Director, Sue Ellen Holmes, Director of the Stevens Memorial Library, and Richard M. Stanley, Chief of Police. The next selectmen's meeting will include the remaining departments discussing their service impact. MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE - INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT POLICY: The Master Plan Committee has requested discussions of policy and administrative directive to be employed in reviewing large infrastructure projects. The consulting engineers will be available to discuss the town's current status of the sewer infrastructure at a later meeting. UPDATE - EXTENSION OF ECONOMIC TARGET AREA: William Scott, Director, Division of Community Services and Development, discussed the application the Town of North Andover will file with the City of Lawrence to extend the Economic Target Area from Lawrence into North Andover. The Town of North Andover needs to be in agreement with Lawrence prior to the application filing. UPDATE - LAWRENCE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: The Board discussed the Lawrence Municipal Airport Development Project agreement with the Town of North Andover. John Leeman suggested changes to item 42 which would ensure the Town's representation in each vote and no one community could control any vote. John Leeman made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to approve the agreement with the changes to Item 42, as suggested; vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes January 27, 1997 Page 3. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROCEDURES - TOWN MANAGER: John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to appoint Kevin Foley and David Torrisi to a subcommittee to evaluate the Town Manager's performance; vote approved 5-0. RECOMMENDED TRUCK ROUTES -WHEELABRATOR FACILITY ON HOLT ROAD: Discussion of this item has been deferred until the next meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION: John Leeman made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi, for the Board of Selectmen to move into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the following items. The Board was individually polled and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session; vote approved 5-0. • Discuss value of easement for sewer purposes. (Charles A. & Susan S. Papalia- 99 Coachman's Lane.) • Discussion of negotiations between the Town of North Andover and Wheelabrator Environmental System with the Executive Director of the Northeast Solid Waste Committee. Melissa A. Powers, Administrative Secretary David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board.