HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-15 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES MAY 15, 2007
CALL TO ORDER: Thomas Licciardello called the meeting to continue at 6:00 PM at North Andover
High School Lecture Hall Meeting Room.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Thomas Licciardello, Chairman; Rosemary Connelly
Smedile, Daniel P. Lanen; Mark J.T. Caggiano; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town
Manager.
Note: James Xenakis was absent.
OLD BUSINESS:
Proposition 2'h Ballot Question
The Town Manager informed the Board of the requirements and procedures for establishing a ballot
question for the override question. He explained that the Board took a contingency vote to adopt a
balanced budget and then appropriate additional amounts to supplement that budget expressly
contingent on the subsequent approval of an override or exclusion question. After Town Meeting
approval, the Board votes on the ballot question and it must be substantially the same purpose as the
contingent appropriation. This means the question need not be worded in exactly the same way as the
appropriation. However, it must describe the purpose in a sufficiently similar manner that the voters can
identity the particular appropriation the question is intended to fund. The Town Manager gave two
options for the ballot question and asked the Board their preference.
The deadline for obtaining voter approval of override question made at an annual town meeting is
September 15, 2007.
Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adopt Option 2, for the override election
which states: (Shall the Town of North Andover be allowed to assess an additional $1,650,000 in real
estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding the following departmental expenses:
Public Safety ($72,547), School Department ($1,111,120), Public Works ($42,000), Health and Human
Services ($77,618), Culture and Recreation ($45,335, Employee Benefits ($301,380) for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2007.) Vote approved 4-0.
Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw stated that the election could be set 35 days from the day of override vote
approval. The earliest day for an election would be Tuesday, June 19, 2007, or anytime up to September
15, 2007.
The School Committee Chairman William Kelly suggested doing the election on June 19, 2007, this would
give the School Department proper time to make decisions for the next school year whether the override
should or should not pass.
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to set the election date for Tuesday, June
19, 2007, poll hours from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the last day to register would be May 30, 2007. Vote
approved 4-0.
Note: James Xenakis arrived at 6:25 p.m.
School Committee member Charles Ormsby suggested adding an underride question of a nominal
amount of$100 on the ballot to gather voter information. This gives the percentage of voters that don't
attend town meeting a voice about wanting an override.
Selectmen and Finance Committee members said that adding this question on the ballot would only
confuse the voter. Mr. Ormsby should have brought this option up at last night's town meeting to be
discussed in an open forum with voters.
Board of Selectmen Minutes May 15, 2007 2
Chairman Licciardello suggested that this question should be asked at a benign time at another election
in March 2008, where there would be no perception of impact on the voter.
Chairman Licciardello asked if the Board would make a MOTION to add this question on the ballot.
No MOTION was made.
Superintendent Dr. Daniel O'Connor thanked all the Boards for the way all the boards worked together
and came together to meet the needs of the residents of this town.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to move into Executive Session to
discuss Land Acquisition. Vote approved 5-0.
Chairman Licciardello invited the Moderator and the Finance Committee to join them in Executive
Session.
The Board of Selectmen was individually polled and each voted to move into Executive Session. Daniel
P. Lanen, yes; James Xenakis yes; Mark Caggiano yes; Rosemary Smedile, yes, and Thomas
Licciardello yes. Vote approved 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by James Xenakis, to recess the meeting and reconvene at
7:00 PM. at Town Meeting. Vote approved 5-0.
Respectfully submitted
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary