HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-15 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES DECEMBER 15, 1997
CALL TO ORDER: John Leeman, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: John Leeman, Chairman;William B. Duffy, Jr.;
Kevin Foley; Donald Stewart; David Torrisi; and Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 24, 1997 and December 1, 1997 -David Torrisi made a
motion, seconded by Kevin Foley to approve these minutes; vote approved 5-0.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS & PUBLIC COMMENT: North Andover Town Hall
will be closed on December 26, 1997. The town received a notification of a grant award from the
Massachusetts Historical Commission for the Stevens Estate. There will be a rededication of the Memorial
Park on June 14, 1998.
CONSENT ITEMS: 1998 Board of Selectmen Meeting Schedule -Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded
by Donald Stewart,to change the public hearing schedule to the last Monday of each month; vote
approved 5-0.
Sheep Shearing Festival - Sunday, May 24, 1998 - Old Center Common-Kevin Foley made a motion,
seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve this request provided that the organizers of the event comply with
staff recommendations; vote approved 5-0.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to move
into licensing; vote approved 5-0.
Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to approve the issuance of the following licenses;
vote approved 5-0.
Evy Gillette, Manager, Stevens Estate @ Osgood Hill, requests the following one day liquor licenses.
1. Full Liquor License December 18 7:00 PM- 11:00 PM Minco Christmas Party
2. Wine&Malt License December 19 7:00 PM-12:00 AM Irene Brigham Christmas Party
3. Full Liquor License December 20 8:00 PM- 1:00 AM Phillips Christmas Party
4. Wine&Malt License December 27 7:00 PM-12:00 AM Coiannapoulas Shower
5. Wine&Malt License December 28 2:00 PM-6:00 PM "Surprise Party"
1998 Annual License Renewals -Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to move the
approval of the license renewals as presented in the packages with the following exceptions; vote
approved 5-0.
1. Marilyn Motors conditional on fixing title V problem as per Sandra Starr's memorandum.
2. McCracken Liquors License to be reviewed pending the outcome of two acting criminal investigations
as per Officer Richard Card's memo; and
3. All license holders with delinquent property taxes must be paid before renewal is granted; vote
approved 5-0.
David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by Kevin Foley,to move out of licensing; vote approved 5-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes -December 15, 1997 Page 2.
LONG TERM DEBT REFUNDING ANALYSIS: LONG-TERM DEBT REFUNDING
ANALYSIS: Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by William Duffy,that in order to reduce interest
costs,the Treasurer is authorized to provide for the sale and issuance of bonds under G.L. c. 44 Section
21A in an aggregate amount not to exceed$4,000,000 to refund all or any portion of the remaining
principal of and redemption premium and interest on the Town's Municipal Purpose Loan of 1992 Bonds
dated November 1, 1992 and that for this purpose the Treasurer is authorized to provide for the preparation
and distribution of a Preliminary Official Statement; provided, however,that no bonds shall be issued
under this vote unless and until the final interest rates and other terms of the refunding bonds are approved
by the Board; vote approved 5-0.
FISCAL YEAR 1999 BUDGET ISSUES: William Duffy led discussion about the importance of
maintaining a free cash balance as well as a sizable stabilization account. The Town should not be using
those funds for operating expenses since free cash is a non-recurring revenue source. All town departments
must be budgeting prudently and should not be counting on using the stabilization account or free cash to
subsidize their budgets. William Duffy also presented a draft of a letter to the editor that he would like the
Board of Selectmen to send to the local weekly newspaper. The letter was in response to a letter from a
concerned North Andover resident about the apparent lack of per pupil spending from the town.
William Duffy's letter indicated that the Town was not the culprit, but rather it was a decrease in state
support that had allowed North Andover to slip below the state average on per pupil spending.
Kevin Foley concurred with William Duffy stating that we should be measuring results, not spending.
William Duffy made a motion, seconded by Kevin Foley to send a letter to the editor; vote approved
5-0.
ADJOURNMENT: Kevin Foley made a motion, seconded by David Torrisi,to adjourn this meeting;
vote approved 5-0.
David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board