Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-01 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JUNE 1, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Rosemary Connelly Smedile called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Chairman; Tracy M. Watson, Clerk; William F. Gordon; Daniel P. Lanen; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. Note: Richard A. Nardella was absent. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining with Union Employees and Bargaining with a non-union employee. Vote approved 4-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the following minutes: April 27, 2009, Open Session as written; May 4, 2009, Open Session as written; May 4, 2009, Executive Session as written, May 12, 2009, Open Session as written. Vote approved 4-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Recognition of Lyne Savage Lyne Savage, Budget Director/Town Accountant was recognized by the Massachusetts Municipal Auditors and Accountants'Association for completing the necessary course work and passing the required tests to be a Certified Governmental Accountant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This is a very prestigious honor and indicative of Ms. Savage's excellent knowledge of all facets of governmental accounting. Certificate of Appreciation —Orit Goldstein, Ozzy Properties The Board presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Orit Goldstein, President of Ozzy Properties for allowing the Youth and Recreation Services to locate the annual fundraiser carnival on the grounds of 1600 Osgood Street at no cost to the Town. The location was ideal with ample parking and the carnival was extremely successful. Economic Development Brochure Community Development offices recently completed a new community brochure/guide. The brochure was completed at no cost to the Town of North Andover. The funding for the brochure was generously donated by Watts Water Technologies, MINCO Corporation, National Grid and Mr.William Barrett. Special thanks for Millie Matasso, who donated many photographs and the ad-hoc committee members Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Harold Dushame, and Bernadette Curran. The Brochure is available in a glossy hardcopy and on the Town's website at www.townofnorthandover.com Report on Affordable Housing transfers Community Development Director Curt Bellavance reported that the Town currently has 707 affordable units listed on the Department of Housing & Community Development Subsidized Housing Inventory list. During the past four years a total of fourteen (14) units were resold. Two units became market rate units and lost the affordable designation; of the two one was sold and one went into foreclosure. Preparation for 4th of July Celebration Philip Spitalere from the VFW Post 2104 addressed the board with a summary of details for the Beer&Wine tent to be located at the Town Common during the 4th of July celebration. The Town Manager suggested having a meeting with staff within the next week to review the liquor license �a details and set forth security measures for the dates of July 3 4tn &5tn Board of Selectmen Minutes June 1, 2009 2 CONSENT ITEMS: North Andover Lions Club—Permission to Hold Annual Circus Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to approve the permit for the Lions Club request to hold their annual circus on July 1 &2, 2009 at the Middle School grounds for two shows daily at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Kathie Golan, Mobile Hot Dog Vendor—Permission to Use Town Property Kathie Golan requests to use town property to allow for the primary sale of hot dogs, sausages and cold drinks from a mobile vendor cart on Monday through Sunday, hours of operation 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during April through November. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request by Kathie Golan to sell hot dogs on public sidewalks and parking lots and conditions as follows: 1. On public sidewalks and parking lots in the vicinity of the North Andover Youth Center, the Old Center Common, including public parking and sidewalks between the Youth Center and the Old Center Common. 2. The Parking lot at Stevens Pond. 3. Other locations as approved in advance by the Chair of the Licensing Commissioners. Conditions: 1. Maintain valid State Hawker& Peddlers License and appropriate Board of Health Permits. 2. Cannot obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic. 3. Have an appropriate fire extinguisher contained in the cart. 4. Provide adequate containers for disposal of trash and recyclables. Pick up trash &debris. The Board voted approval 4-0. Thomson Elementary School Annual Fun Run Ms. Holly Breen Chairperson of the Thomson School PTO requested to hold their Annual Fun Road Race on Friday, June 12, 2009 starting at 5:00 p.m. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request for the Annual Fun Road Race on Friday, June 12, 2009 starting at 5:00 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Waiver of Fees for School Building Project Bill Kelly Chairman of the North Andover School Building Committee requested the Board to consider waiving all municipal fees that could apply to the new Pre-K building currently under construction at the Atkinson School site. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request for waiving all municipal fees that could apply to the new Pre-K building currently under construction at the Atkinson School site. Vote approved 4-0. Festival Committee Request Joan Heafy of the Festival Committee requested permission to designate three parking spaces on Osgood Street side of the Town Common for handicap parking all day from July 3 through July 5, 2009, and to close Massachusetts Avenue from Osgood Street to Andover Street on Saturday, July 4, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the request for three parking spaces on Osgood Street side of the Town Common for handicap parking all day from July 3 through July 5, 2009, and to close Massachusetts Avenue from Osgood Street to Andover Street on Saturday, July 4, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes June 1, 2009 3 4th of July Road Race Permit Event Manager Michael Giallongo of the North Andover 4th of July Road Race requests permission to conduct the 27th annual race on Town roads and seeking assistance from police, public works and fire departments. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the request for permission to conduct the 27th annual race on Town roads and seeking assistance from police, public works and fire departments. Vote approved 4-0. Museum of Printing requests Street Closing on June 21, 2009 The Museum of Printing will be holding their Annual Printing Arts Fair on Sunday, June 21, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on their grounds. They have requested that Massachusetts Avenue be closed so that they may print using a steam roller during that time. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request for the closing of Massachusetts Avenue on June 21, 2009 from 10:00—4:00. Vote approved 4-0. Acceptance of Donations Friends of the Senior Center Donations Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept donations raised by the Friends of the Senior Center to support projects and programs during the year 2008. Vote approved 4-0. Friends of the Stevens Memorial Library Donations Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept donations raised by the Friends of the Stevens Memorial Library to support projects and programs during the year 2008. Vote approved 4-0. Acceptance of Grant- Elm Research Institute Community Development has received a grant for a free 14'-19'American Liberty Elm tree, estimated value of the grant package is $500. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept the grant for a free 14'-19'American Liberty Elm tree, estimated value of the grant package is $500. Vote approved 4-0. Note: Daniel Lanen recused Acceptance of Grant—911 Communications Center The Police Department received a grant from the State 911 Department in the amount of$49,334.34 for the purchase of communications consoles for the new police station. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept the grant from the State 911 Department in the amount of$49,334.34 for the purchase of communications consoles for the new police station. Vote approved 3-0. Note: Daniel Lanen returned PUBLIC HEARING Pole Petition, National Grid Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to open the Public Hearing. Vote approved 4-0. National Grid requests permission to locate poles, wires and fixtures, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, along and across the following public way. Salem Street install Pole 1392-84 plan 4402856. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 4-0. Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request by National Grid to locate poles, wires and fixtures, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, along and across the following public way. Salem Street install Pole 1392-84 plan 4402856 and to make sure there are no double poles. Vote approved 4-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes June 1, 2009 4 NEW BUSINESS: Authorization to Borrow Funds for Capital Improvements The Board is requested to authorize the borrowing of approximately $8 million to finance previously approved capital improvement projects. David Eisenthal Vice President and Senior Fiscal Advisor of Unibank explained the borrowing, plus provided a report from the rating agency Standard and Poor's maintaining the Town's current rating of AA—stable. Clerk Tracy Watson read the Bond Obligation. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, voted, certified and signed each of the $8,072,134 General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2009 Bonds dated June 1, 2009. Vote approved 4-0. Creation of Economic Development Council Community Development Director Curt Bellavance presented an outline of creating and establishing an Economic Development Council. The Town Manager and Board of Selectmen would appoint 5 to 7 members to the council consisting of existing various board members, business owners, merchants, and residents. The council would work on developing goals and establishing priorities for North Andover's economic future. The Board suggested advertizing the establishment of the Economic Development Council and asks for volunteers to submit their interests to the Town Manager's office. Bradstreet School Parking The public works department has drawn up schematics for allowing public parking on the grounds of the former Bradstreet School. One option has the entrance from Main Street and the other option is for access from Saunders Street. The Board suggested meeting with the Public Works Director and Engineer at the site of the Bradstreet School to see what potential parking could be used without major cost and construction. A time would be set in the next few weeks to view the project. Harold Parker Forest, Berry Pond Swimming Due to a recent newspaper article stating that due to budget cutbacks, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation will not be staffing Berry Pond in the Harold Parker State Forest with life guards this summer. The Police Chief and Fire Chief have serious concerns about the lack of life guards at this facility especially given the recent drowning that took place at that location. The Board asked the Town Manager to send a letter to our legislators asking them to staff a life guard at Berry Pond in the Harold Parker State Forest. Selectmen's Meeting Schedule, July-December 2009 The Town Manager drafted a tentative schedule for their future meetings June through December 2009 as follows: Monday, July 13, Monday, August 10, Monday, September 14, Tuesday, September 29, Tuesday, October 13, Monday, October 26, Monday, November 9, Monday, November 23, Monday, December 7, and Monday, December 21, 2009. The Board was asked to check their schedules to see if any changes needed to be implemented and to vote on the dates at their next meeting on June 15, 2009. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Town Manager approved a grant application to be submitted by the Fire Department to the federal government for a replacement ladder truck. If successful in the grant, it will require a 10% match. The Town would not have to identify where the money would come from until notification has been received that the Town is eligible for the grant. The Town Manager approved a grant application to be submitted by the Police Department to the State 911 Department for Phase II funding in the amount of$60,778 for the communications center at the new police station. Board of Selectmen Minutes June 1, 2009 5 On Wednesday, May 20, the Town Manager attended a meeting of the North Andover clergy to discuss ways that all parties can work cooperatively to serve the community. On Wednesday, May 20, the Town Manager was a keynote speaker at the Merrimack Valley YMCA Youth and Government dinner. ADJOURNMENT: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Tracy M. Watson, Clerk of the Board