HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-11-03 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES NOVEMBER 3, 1997
CALL TO ORDER: John Leeman, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: John Leeman, Chairman; Kevin Foley; Donald Stewart;
David Torrisi; and Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager(William Duffy not present).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 22, 1997, October 6, 1997, October 8, 1997, and
October 20, 1997 -Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to approve the minutes of
September 22, October 6, October 8, and October 20, with the changes as requested in the minutes of
September 22; vote approved 4-0 (Kevin Foley abstained from the minutes of October 6, 1997).
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND PUBLIC COMMENT: The Town Manager
announced a reminder of the Veterans' Day Parade and Memorial Service to be held on November 11.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - POLE PETITION: New England Telephone &Telegraph Company Plan
4838 - Chestnut Street-The petitioner will resubmit this petition and request a new public hearing. The
plan submitted had an error.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Donald Stewart made a motion, seconded by Kevin Foley,to move
into Licensing; vote approved 4-0.
Common Victualler's License -Anastasios Haraktsis, DAG Food Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Pizza Factory,
535 Chickerin_g Road-Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to grant this license; vote
approved 4-0.
Fuel Storage License (Gaseous Hydrogen) - Christopher Hemme, Film Microelectronics, Inc.,
530 Turnpike Street-Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to approve this above
ground license request in the amount of 24,000 cubic feet; vote approved 4-0.
David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by Kevin Foley,to move out of licensing; vote approved 4-0.
DESIGNATION OF LEPC EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATOR: Kevin Foley made a
motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to designate William V. Dolan, Fire Chief, as the Local Emergency
Planning Committee Emergency Response Coordinator for the Town of North Andover; vote approved 4-0.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT - REVIEW OF TOWN CHARTER: At the
request of Kevin Foley,the Board of Selectmen discussed the Strategic Planning Committee report and the
enactment of the recommendations. The report contained five recommendations, of which four have been
weighed by the Board of Selectmen. The remaining recommendation, Review of The Town Charter was
discussed at this meeting. John Dolan, Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee discussed this
recommendation.
The recommendation to review the charter is to assist the Town Manager to perform his job while being
held accountable, as well as to increase legislative representation to the town government. Town Meeting
participation is low compared to the population and,therefore, legislative representation has also been
considered low. Another charter area for review is appointments and discharge power of the Town
Board of Selectmen Minutes -November 3, 1997Page 2.
Manager. This area of the charter needs updating to assist the Town Manager with the problem of
fragmented power and organizational dissidence. The timeline needed for a charter review is a minimum of
six months and a maximum of 20 months.
The Board of Selectmen discussed the charter review and decided to appoint a subcommittee to investigate
the establishment of a town charter review. David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to
appoint Kevin Foley and William Duffy to review the recommendations of the Strategic Planning
Committee as it relates to the review of the Town Charter and to report back to the Board of Selectmen;
vote approved 4-0.
FY 99 BUDGET MESSAGE (BUDGET POLICY STATEMENT): The Town Manager presented his
second draft of the FY 99 budget message which has been reviewed and discussed by the subcommittee
with Mr. Halpin. Kevin Foley of the subcommittee stated that he is pleased with the detail and direction of
the message and requested that if anyone has any comments or questions,to direct them to the Town
Manager prior to the next meeting. The Finance Committee will continue to review the message. This will
be discussed at the next Selectmen's meeting.
SUPPORT OF EXPANSION OF RIDGEWOOD CEMETERY: Town Counsel has provided an
opinion which indicates that since the Ridgewood Cemetery is non-secular, and open to anyone in the
community,that the town may provide capital improvement funding to be expended on the expansion of the
cemetery. Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to place capital support for the
expansion of the Ridgewood Cemetery in the FY 99 budget; vote approved 4-0.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by
David Torrisi,to adjourn this meeting at 8:40 PM; vote approved 4-0.
Melissa A. Powers, Administrative Secretary David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board