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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-02-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES FEBRUARY 3, 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. The chairman announced that an item of the agenda will be taken out of order. WILLIAM V. DOLAN, FIRE CHIEF- REQUESTS THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN ACCEPT LEPC TAG FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Chief Dolan discussed a grant which has been awarded to the Regional Local Emergency Planning Committee in the amount of$ 10,000. The regional committee consists of the following municipalities: North Andover, Andover, Methuen, Lawrence, Haverhill and Middleton. The Town of North Andover will be administering this grant on behalf of the committee. Maureen Hart of the committee explained the grant application and the purposes of the funding for hazardous materials concentration. William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to accept the LEPC funding as described by the Fire Chief and Ms. Hart; vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Town Manager- Discussion of Quote in Newspaper-Mr. Halpin announced that due to a headline and quote in the newspaper over the weekend that he has sent a letter of apology to the Police Chief and Police Department employees, which will be distributed to all Police Department employees. The letter apologizes for a comment in the newspaper; Mr. Halpin stated that the comment was a very poor choice of words and was taken out of context; and he hopes that the town will continue to move forward with the efforts being made at the Police Department. Mr. Leeman reiterated Mr. Halpin's comment and stated that the town is working to straighten out the situation and the process will come to a conclusion. Policies, Procedures and Code of Conduct for Board Members -Mr. Foley discussed a situation which arose during the previous week which he stated questioned the conduct of a member of the Board. Mr. Foley, on behalf of the Town, apologized to anyone who may have been upset or offended by the action or any rumors. He stated that a position of the town which is implicated in the rumor is not vacant presently and if it becomes vacant, will be properly posted. Mr. Foley reminded all town officials that they must be very sensitive to anything said or done in order to move forward. As a result of this action, Mr. Foley will be preparing a set of Policies, Procedures and Code of Conduct for Board members. The following is a record of Mr. Foley's statement: Mr. Foley stated that following the Board of Selectmen's meeting of the previous week, he learned of an incident involving the inappropriate conduct of one of the Board of Selectmen. The incident involved a town employee and two town appointed officials who happen to share the same name. Mr. Foley stated, as Chairman, he felt responsible for addressing the issue since it involved a member of the Board of Selectmen, and it upset a great number of people in the town. Mr. Foley said that the Selectman involved admitted to being responsible for the incident but that it was meant to be a"joke". Mr. Foley said during their conversation he explained to the member of the Board that his conduct was below the level acceptable for a public official and that it was inappropriate to make jokes about town employees. Mr. Foley said that the member seemed to understand but continued to spread unsubstantiated rumors and boast that he was responsible for the joke. Mr. Foley said he found the conduct so egregious that it warrants a public apology; since no apology had yet been offered, Mr. Foley Board of Selectmen Minutes February 3, 1997 Page 2 apologized on behalf of the town to George Perna,to Joe Lynch of Conservation Commission and Joe Lynch of the Youth Center Committee and their families for any embarrassment this incident has caused them. Mr. Foley said that this incident has called into question the integrity of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager's decision making ability and that Mr. Foley had great faith of the ability of the Board and the Town Manager to act in the best interests of the Town. Mr. Foley stated that many town employees and citizens had been upset by this incident and that they deserve an apology. Mr. Foley further stated that he believed that Town employees and citizens and elected officials should be treated with dignity and respect and unfortunately that did not occur in this instance,therefore, Mr. Foley apologized on behalf of the town. Mr. Foley stated that in an effort to avoid future incidences like this, orientating new Board of Selectmen members, clarify roles of Board of Selectmen, and their interactions with citizens and employees and improve the communications and performance of town government, he will bring forward a set of policies, procedures and code of conduct for board members. People for the Environment Petition Re: GLSD Representation-Ramsey Bahrawy of the People for the Environment presented the Board with a petition requesting the town vote to petition the state legislature to approve the addition of a North Andover representative to the Board of Directors of the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District. The Board discussed the need to review this request with Town Counsel. William Duffy made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to refer this request to the Town Manager and the Town Manager will report back to the Board of Selectmen; vote approved 5-0. Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Legislative Caucus -February 7, 1997 -Mr. Foley reminded the Board that the next Chamber Legislative Caucus is Friday morning, at the Stevens Estate @ Osgood Hill. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: William Duffy made a motion, seconded by John Leeman, for the Board of Selectmen to move into Licensing; vote approved 5-0. Evy Gillette, Manager, Stevens Estate n, Osgood Hill, Request For A Full Liquor License For A Blues Night On February 7, 1997 From 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM -John Leeman made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to grant this license; vote approved 5-0. John Leeman made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to move out of licensing; vote approved 5-0. DISCUSSION OF APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Joseph Lynch, Chairman, Conservation Commission, discussed with the Board the upcoming appointment of members to the Conservation Commission. Mr. Lynch invited members of the Board to be involved in the interview process to fill these vacancies; Mr. Lynch also offered a sincere appreciation to George Reich, who recently resigned from the Commission. William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to appoint a two-member subcommittee of the Board of Selectmen to review Conservation Commission applicants and to interview applicants for this Commission; vote approved 5-0. John Leeman and David Torrisi will be on this subcommittee. FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS: The following department heads discussed the impacts to the Town Manager's budget scenario, as presented on January 21, 1997. The budget presented included cuts which will impact the delivery of services The following discussed the impacts of these cuts: William Scott, Director, Division of Community Services and Development, Robert Halpin, Division of Public Works (this presentation included the Town Manager's proposed strategic plan for Public Works), Kevin F. Mahoney, Director of Finance and Administration, and Mr. Halpin also presented General Government. Budget discussions will continue. Board of Selectmen Minutes February 3, 1997 Page 3 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, John Leeman made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to adjourn this meeting at 9:50 PM; vote approved 5-0. Melissa A. Powers, Administrative Secretary David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board