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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-13 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES MARCH 13, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Chairman; James Xenakis; Donald B. Stewart; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Thomas Licciardello; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to move into Executive Session to discuss Negotiations with Non-union employees and Pending Litigation. Vote approved 5-0. The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Donald Stewart yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Thomas Licciardello, yes, and Rosemary Smedile yes. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the Minutes of February 27, 2006, Open Session minutes as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to J Jill for locating their business in North Andover. New Business Recognition Program Since 2004 thirty new businesses have been recognized for locating in North Andover. Over the last six years there have been 600 businesses that came to North Andover. Report on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Veterans Affairs Director Ed Mitchell and Dave Rand gave an updated report on their efforts to build a memorial for North Andover residents who died in the Vietnam War. The memorial will be placed at the North Andover High School Track& Field. The memorial is being fully financed by local donations from residents and businesses to commemorate six fallen heroes of North Andover. A dedication ceremony is planned for April 3, 2006. Certificate of Appreciation The Board presented Deborah Wilson, an employee in the Treasurer/Collector's Office with a Certificate of Appreciation for her hard work and imitative identifying potential revenue through the sale of foreclosed town property and collection of delinquent accounts. CONSENT ITEMS: Rolf's Restaurant Lesley Carlson White, owner of Rolf's Restaurant, requested permission to hang a banner on the building from March 14-18, 2006. Donald Stewart made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the request to hang a banner on the restaurant building from March 14-18, 2006. Vote approved 5-0. Youth Services Carnival Rick Gorman Director of Youth Services requested permission to hold the Annual Spring Carnival on the Middle School grounds from April 27 through April 30, 2006. Board of Selectmen Minutes March 13, 2006 2 James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to approve the request from Rick Gorman to hold the Annual Spring Carnival on the Middle School grounds from April 27-30, 2006. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: FY06 Budget Adjustments The Town Manager said that he would need approval and/or Town Meeting approval to transfer funds from Surplus accounts to fund the three potential line items in the FY06 budget. Community Development, Fire Department and Veteran Services need transfer adjustments to balance the FY06 budget. FY07 Level Service Budget The Town Manager provided a spreadsheet showing how much additional funds would be necessary to provide the same level of service currently provided by municipal departments beyond what is included in the Town Manager's recommended budget. FY07 Enterprise Funds The Town Manager asked the Board to vote on the recommended Enterprise Fund Budgets, with or without modification and send forward to the Finance Committee for review. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the Town Manager's recommended FY07 Enterprise Funds and send forward to the Finance Committee for review. Vote approved 5-0. Use of Town Common during construction activities Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli gave the Board recommended that the Board vote not to approve any requests to utilize the town common for all of calendar year 2006 due to the ongoing and anticipated construction projects and safety issues concerning users while in the area. Ray Santilli is working with all groups to find alternative sites throughout the year. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, not to approve any requests to utilize the town common for all of calendar year 2006. Vote approved 5-0. Speed Surveys on Waverly, Salem and Sutton Streets In response to resident concerns, Sergeant Soucy of the Police Department conducted speed surveys on Waverly Road, Salem Street and Sutton Street to see if any speed limit changes are appropriate for these locations. Sergeant Soucy recommended submitting a request to MA Highway to change the speed limit on Salem Street from 40 MPH to 35MPH. James Xenakis made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to authorize the Chairman to send the Salem Street speed limit request to MA Highway. Vote approved 5-0. Maple Avenue and Second Street Stop Signs A resident and the principal of St. Michael School have requested consideration for a four-way stop sign to be located at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Second Street. Sergeant Soucy recommended that new stop signs with a four-day stop placards is posted for each approach to the intersection. He also recommended that stop sign ahead signs be posted on Second Street approaching Maple Avenue in both directions. No parking from here to corner should be posted on each corner. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the recommended four-way stop signs on Second Street and Maple Avenue in both directions. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes March 13, 2006 3 Status Update on 40R Project at 1600 Osgood Street Selectmen Caggiano requested a status update on the proposed 40R project at 1600 Osgood Street. The Town Manager Mark Rees and Community Development Director Curt Bellavance met with owner of Ozzy Properties Orit Goldstein on February 7, 2006, to discuss the Town's point of view on two components: the design of the actual buildings and impact mitigation measures. The Town is still waiting for architectural drawings that can be memorialized in the 40R language or the development agreement before we can go before Town Meeting for approval. Ms. Goldstein suggested that the retail portion be separated from the residential portion and be developed at a future time. The Town has no immediate concerns moving forward with the residential development first, provided that a mutually agreeable design can be negotiated. Right now negotiations are at a stand still. Selectman Caggiano does not want to see this project go south because of a disagreement. This Town has so much to gain from this deal between state aid, building fees and taxes. Caggiano recommended that we have a point person and they have a point person meet together to hash out the differences and come to an agreement without attorneys present. Caggiano suggested having Curt Bellavance be the point person for the Town. Selectman Licciardello said that this is economically beneficial for the Town. Licciardello echoed Caggiano suggestion having Curt Bellavance work with Orit Goldstein. Make it a clear business deal and come together with a term sheet. The Town has done its homework and due diligence to generate $500,000 to $1 million in additional revenues. We are 98% there the last 2% will get us over the goal line. Selectman Xenakis said we could promote growth of the 40R project by using an aggressive approach. The only way to fix our budget deficits is to promote more growth. This is a win, win proposition for the developer and the Town. Selectmen agreed that Curt Bellavance would setup a meeting with Orit Goldstein and work out the term sheet and the time frame and come back to the Board with the results. NEW BUSINESS: Resolution for State Financial Assistance for Drinking Water Protection Projects As part of the funding mechanism to construct two new water tanks, the Board is asked to approve a resolution, which would authorize the Town Manager to file applications and execute agreements for grants and/or loan assistance. Thomas Licciardello made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to authorize the Town Manager to file applications and execute agreements for grants and/or loan assistance for Drinking Water Protection Projects. Vote approved 5-0. ISO Ratings Deputy Fire Chief William Martineau reported the findings of the ISO rating for North Andover. ISO ratings are used by the property insurance industry to determine the rates they charge businesses and home owners based on a community's relative strengths in the areas of building code enforcement, and fire suppression capabilities. North Andover is rated low in the area of building code enforcement due to the Commonwealth's failure to adopt the most recent code upgrades, above average for fire department operations and at the top of the rankings for water supply. Due to North Andover's growth in the out-country, the Town should plan for more for additional Fire Protection in the future. Review of Petition Articles for May 8, 2006 Annual Town Meeting The Town Clerk brought forward a number of resident petition articles that have been submitted before the deadline of March 3, 2006. The following is a list of articles: Board of Selectmen Minutes March 13, 2006 4 HH. Inter-municipal Agreement North Andover/Middletown Water and Sewer Tie-Ins, Frank Terranova LL. Petition the General Court-Health Insurance Benefits-North Andover Elected Officials, Keith Mitchell MM.Supplemental Revolving Funds, Paul Stewart NN. Change Community Preservation Act Surcharge, Edwin P. Tripp,111 00.Stabilization Fund, Diane Huster PP. Senior Citizen Recognition Day, Albert Movesian QQ.Town Meeting Requirements/Procedures for Initial Funding and Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreements, Robert Ercolini RR.Amend General Bylaws—Public Notice— Chapter, Robert Ercolini SS. Amend General Bylaws—New Chapter—Public Notice Information, Robert Ercolini TT. Amend General Bylaws Chapter 178— Wetlands Protection, Robert Ercolini UU. Roadway Acceptances— Willow St, Willow St(South) Extension, Bayfield Drive and Flagship Drive, Domenic Scalise VV. Roadway Acceptance— Chatham Circle and Nantucket Drive, Barbara Caruso WW Roadway Acceptance— Clenore Circle, Barbara Caruso XX. Roadway Acceptance—Berrington Place, Barbara Caruso WW. Maintain Current Zoning Classification— 651 Turnpike Street, George S. Haiia XX. Amend Zoning Map— 160 Pleasant Steet—Assessors Map 70—Parcel 18 from General Business (GB)to R4, Joseph G. Levisr TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Town Manager recently signed the enclosed agreement with Mass Highway for their portion of the traffic improvements in the Old Center. The agreement stipulates that State will pay $3.7 million in construction work plus up to 10% in any cost overruns. Anything beyond the 10% will have to be paid by town funds. In addition, the Department of Public Works has begun posting regular updates on Old Center construction activity on the Town's website. Per their generous offer, the Trust for Public Land has reimbursed the town in the amount of$3,175 for our costs associated with holding the March 2, 2006 Special Town Meeting. Per the enclosed memorandum from School Superintendent Harry K. Harutunian, the Selectmen are invited to a March 21St meeting of the School Committee where our state legislators will be present to discuss school funding. On March 15th, North Andover will be hosting the kick-off meeting of the Rt. 114 Corridor Study Advisory Committee at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's meeting room. Please see attached notice. Senator Baddour recently invited representatives from the Town to meet with the Mass. Highway Commissioner Luisa Pailwonsky and present our major road priorities that are included in the enclosed letter to the Senator. DPW Director Bill Hmurciak and Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli attended that March 10th meeting at Methuen City Hall. ADJOURNMENT: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary James M. Xenakis, Clerk of the Board