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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Chairman; Mark J.T. Caggiano Clerk; Richard A. Nardella, Licensing Chairman; Daniel P. Lanen; Tracy M. Watson; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to move into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the minutes of January 26, 2009, Open Session as written and Executive Session as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition Certificates of Appreciation were given to two new businesses for locating their businesses in Town. Anne Todd Orthodontics and Gourmet Grill Express Town Accountant 2nd Quarter Financial Report Town Accountant Lyne Savage gave a budget status report for FY09 for revenue and expenses for the 2nd quarter ending December 31, 2008. Tax Revenue collections are at 48%, which is in line with what is expected for this point in the fiscal year. Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes are running about 5% below this same time last year. Payment in Lieu of taxes is received primarily in the month of March from the Housing Authority. At this point, Town revenue collected is 46.2% running below the target percentage of 50%. Expenses are running either below or slightly above the 50% target percentage at this point in the fiscal year. The exceptions are the Snow and Ice Budget presently showing a deficit balance through Jan. 27, 2009 of($137,183.63) and the Fire Department salary account. Water Enterprise Fund revenue collection is at 48% with expenditures at 42.3%. Sewer Enterprise Fund revenue collection is at 45.6% with expenditures at 40.5%. The Stevens Estate Enterprise Fund is running an operations deficit. As of December 31, 2008, the Fund is showing an aggregate operating deficit of($39,687.66). The Town Manager and Trustees of the Stevens Estate continue to work on ways to resolve the financial issues at the Stevens Estate. CONSENT ITEMS: Permission to Tap Town Maple Trees Paul Boulanger and Kathy Gallagher requested permission to tap town owned maple trees for their maple syrup processing business. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella to grant permission to Paul Boulanger and Kathy Gallagher to tap and harvest maple sap from town owned maple trees for Turtle Lane Maple Farm. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes February 9, 2009 2 LICENSING: Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. Waiver/Pro-ration of Certain License Fees The Licensing Board was requested to waive the renewal license fee for four restaurants for calendar year 2009 at the January 26th meeting. The rationale for such request in the past was because the fee would be waived if the license were issued after September 30th in licensing years. The Board recommended changing the policy to allow pro-ration of license fees to the nearest month for both new licenses and returned licenses issued/return during the calendar license year. For example, a business issued a license on July 10th would pay 7/12 of the annual fee or a business that returned their license on August 23rd would be issued a refund check in the amount of 4/12th of the license fee. By pro-rating license fees issued or returned during the calendar year, the Board would be implementing a system that is both fair and readily understandable. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to change the policy to a Pro-ration License Fee. All license fees shall be paid at the time of filing of the application. Licensing fees shall not be refundable, except that license fees will be prorated for new licenses based upon the date of granting effective September 30, 2008. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to move out of licensing. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Utility Betterment Policy Public Works Director Bruce Thibodeau provided the Board with a copy of the Town's existing utility betterment policy dated November 14, 1995. Mr. Thibodeau is recommending using the current policy based on the unit method, as it is fairer than the frontage method because for example a property could have a relatively short frontage but have multiple units. Mr. Thibodeau suggested the Selectmen review this policy and make any suggestions including a possible change to the betterment fees for commercial verses residential uses. Mr. Thibodeau recommended that the Town move forward with seeking funding approval for Phase 1 of the CIP plan for sewers (the encapsulated areas) at the Annual Town Meeting. Many residents in these encapsulated areas inquire about when the Town is going to put in sewers because some of their septic systems are old with the possibility of failing and want to make a decision in the near future whether to replace them. Another reason for installing sewerage in the encapsulated areas would be the repairing of two major roads Salem and Johnson Street. The Board suggested that the commercial stretch of land along Route 125 for future development would be a preference for the sewers. The Town Manager suggested notifying the residents in the encapsulated areas about the possibility of future sewers in their area and holding a Public Hearing to get input from the residents regarding the need for sewers and the cost of betterment fees. NEW BUSINESS: Request for Proposal at Wireless Facility at Stevens Estate The discussion currently taking place regarding the location of a wireless facility at the Trinitarian Church has sparked a renewed interest in placing another wireless facility at the Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill. Town Planner Judy Tyman provided two maps showing the coverage areas the Wireless Company is seeking from the Church Steeple and second map shows the coverage from the Stevens Estate. The second proposal does not provide the same coverage as the church steeple site. The Town Manager recommended issuing an RFP for wireless facilities with options for improving the coverage area in town. Board of Selectmen Minutes February 9, 2009 3 Resident Liz Fennessy of 77 Elm Street voiced her opinion and spoke of the difference in coverage areas. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to request the Town Manager to move forward on an RFP Invitation to Bid for additional antennas to be sited at the Stevens Estate at Osgood Hill and to change the wording to provide the best and most practical coverage area with placement options. Vote approved 5-0. Town Manager's FY10 Recommended General Fund Budget The Town Manager presented his recommended FY10 General Operations Budget. After summarizing the Town's revenue and expenses, the amount of money available to fund the operating budgets of the school and municipal departments is $77.6 million. The amount of funds available for the School Department is a total of$36.5 million, and $17.2 million for the municipal departments. The remaining $23 million goes to non-departmental expenses. North Andover is expected to see state aid drop from $8.9 million to $7.9 million, a 9.1 percent decrease. The Town Manager has already taken steps in advance to prepare the Town for this difficult time and the impact of the slowdown in the economy. Mr. Rees established a $500,000 internal reserve fund in the municipal budget to address mid-year budget state reductions and the snow& ice deficit. The Town also negotiated zero percent salary increases in FY09 for four out of seven municipal unions (the remaining three being still in negotiations) and froze wages for municipal non-union employees. The Town is also working with the School Department to consolidate Purchasing, Information Technology and Payroll functions and conservatively managing the Heath Insurance Trust Fund to limit employee health insurance costs and build reserves. This recommendation is the beginning of discussion and deliberation by Town Officials and residents. Mark Rees gave special thanks to the members of the Revenue and Fixed Cost Committee, Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli and Town Accountant/Budget Director Lyne Savage for assisting him develop this budget. Consolidation of Recreation Commission and Youth Services The Board was asked to consider and approve a reorganization of combining the Youth Services Department and the Recreation Department into a new Youth & Recreation Services Department. As part of the reorganization process, Rick Gorman would be taking on additional duties. This position was ranked as a Grade 12 and would be now ranked as a Grade 14 with a salary range increase. An increase in salary is not being requested at this time; only a reclassification of the position as part of the reorganization is requested. It is also necessary to reorganize the Recreation Council and the Youth Services Board of Directors into a new Youth & Recreation Council. It is recommended that the new council consist of nine (9) members. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to approve the reorganization and consolidation of the Recreation Commission and Youth Services, to approve the new title for the Director of Youth Services and Recreation Services, and to consolidate two Boards into one consisting of nine members. Vote approved 4-1. Daniel Lanen opposed. GIS/Field Inspector Position The Conservation Field Inspector position has been vacant for some time. The Town is in the position of being able to hire an individual who is both skilled in GIS administration and as a field inspector for the Conservation Commission. There is a specific need for GIS skills in a variety of operations throughout municipal departments including Conservation, Planning, Inspectional Services, Assessor, Police, Fire and Public Works. In an effort to build and maintain a town wide GIS system, the Board is requested to consider and approve an upgrade of the Conservation Field Inspector position to Conservation Field Inspector/GIS Coordinator position. By reclassifying this position as a grade 9, the Town will have an employee whose job responsibility is to coordinate our GIS systems. The savings in removing duplicate or redundant license fees will probably more then offset the additional cost of the reclassification. Board of Selectmen Minutes February 9, 2009 4 Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to not consider this position upgrade at this time. Vote approved 5-0. Municipal Coalition for Affordable Housing Legislative proposals The Municipal Coalition for Affordable Housing (MCAH) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is development of better methods for the production of affordable housing in Massachusetts. MCAH is requesting a letter of support to draft legislation to provide options for municipalities with affordable housing and 40B developers. Senator Panagiotakos and Representative Brownsberger have agreed to sponsor the legislation in the Senate and House respectively and the MCAH is seeking co-sponsors. Mark Caggiano made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to direct the Town Manager to send a letter of support of MCAH Affordable Housing legislation. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Town's Insurance Company, MIIA, is working with the Fire Department to strengthen its already strong vehicle maintenance and driving training procedures. The Purchasing Director Joseph Lydick prepared a report of his activities in his first year. The Town has saved a considerable amount of money due to the consolidation of purchases between the school department and the municipal departments. ADJOURNMENT: Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Mark Caggiano, to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Mark Caggiano, Clerk of the Board