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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-13 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JULY 13, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Tracy M. Watson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Tracy M. Watson, Chairman; Daniel P. Lanen, Vice Chairman; Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk; William F. Gordon; Mark Rees, Town Manager. Note: Richard Nardella and Ray Santilli were absent. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining and non-union bargaining. Vote approved 4-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition The Board presented a Certificate of Appreciation to "Jane of a Budget"for locating a new business in Town. North Andover Sustainability Committee Tina Klein, Chair of the Committee and Bruce Thibodeau, DPW Director came before the Board to discuss their proposed reorganization and expansion of mission of the Committee. Last month the committee officially changed their name from Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)to North Andover Sustainability Committee (NASC). The subcommittee is focused on making operations more environmentally sustainable through reducing energy consumption in existing buildings, introducing green design elements into new building projects and renovations, and reducing solid waste generation by recycling. It not only saves the environment but saves money. The Board was asked to approve the following: 1. Official Name change to North Andover Sustainability Committee (NASC). 2. That the committee be structured as follows with Ex-Officio members added where desired. As the work expands, there will be a need to add 3 coordinating subcommittee members; 7 residential subcommittee members; 7 municipal subcommittee members; and 5 commercial subcommittee members. 3. That the following reassignments and appointments are made, and positions be recruited for. Tina Klein Coordinating reassign Susan Almono-Sequist Coordinating reassign Open 1 Recruit Steve Daly Residential reassign Norm Bagley Residential reassign Martha Mittelstaedt Residential reassign Tim Moulton Residential appoint Open 1 Recruit Open 2 Recruit Open 3 Recruit Judy Walker Residential assoc. member Pete Murley Residential assoc. member Karen Klein Residential transition to assoc. member Board of Selectmen Minutes July 13, 2009 2 Steve Sakakeeny Municipal appoint Steve Foster Municipal appoint Keith Alter Municipal reassign Lisa Conti Municipal reassign Open 1 recruit Open 2 recruit Open 3 recruit Steve Parkes Municipal assoc. member Philip DeCologero Municipal assoc. member William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the change of name to North Andover Sustainability Committee. Vote approved 4-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to appoint new members Leonard Hafetz and Ken Connolly. Vote approved 4-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to re-appoint Martha Mittelstaedt, Keith Alter and Lisa Conti. Vote approved 4-0. National Police Night Out On August 4, 2009, the North Andover Police Department, along with neighborhood crime watch members, will be hosting this event at Hayes Stadium at the Middle School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All residents and businesses are invited to attend and participate. CONSENT ITEMS: Permission to Fill Vacancies There are two departments requesting the Board's permission to fill vacancies. Field Inspector The Conservation Commission is requesting authorization to fill the vacant position of field inspector. This position is needed and necessary and is funded by the conservation filing fee account. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve filling of the position of field inspector for the Conservation Commission. Vote approved 4-0. Zoning Board of Appeals Department Assistant Due to a transfer within the Town, the ZBA department assistant position is now vacant. This is a needed position and is already budgeted. The Board was asked to approve filling this vacant position. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve filling the position of ZBA department assistant. Vote approved 4-0. Right of First Refusal Community Development Director Curt Bellavance recommended that the Board not exercise its right of first refusal on an affordable housing unit at 4 Harvest Drive, Unit 323 at Oakridge Village and authorize the Town's monitoring agent, CHAPA, to find a new buyer who will allow the unit to continue to be designated affordable. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to not exercise its right of first refusal to acquire affordable housing unit at 4 Harvest Drive, Unit 323 and to authorize CHAPA to find a new buyer who will allow the unit to continue to be designated affordable. Vote approved 4-0. Request from St. Michael Parish St. Michael Parish requests permission to hold its annual picnic on Sunday, September 13, 2009 and to close a portion of Main Street from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Board of Selectmen Minutes July 13, 2009 3 Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the request for St. Michael Parish on September, 13, 2009 and to close a portion of Main Street between 1:00—5:00 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. OLD BUSINESS: FY10 Water and Sewer Rates The Board was requested to approve the recommended FY10 Water and Sewer Rates at this meeting. The Board attended a workshop on July 9th to discuss the rate setting, the major factor contributing to the increase in rates is the decline in usage of water due to the wet spring and summer we have been having. Because of the decline in revenue, the Town took steps to reduce operating expenses wherever possible. A possibility of restructuring our water and sewer debt service is another way to reduce the operating expenses. The Town is exploring marketing our award winning water to companies that sell water on the retail market and considering doing away with the two tiered rate structure. The Town Manager's recommended rate increase is 15% with the average homeowner's quarterly combined water and sewer bill will rise from $227.15 to about $261.45 which is about $137 for the entire year. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION to raise the rate at a 10% increase. Vote failed for lack of a second. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to raise the rate as recommended by the Town Manager and the DPW Director to 15%. Vote approved 3-1. Rosemary Smedile opposed. Town Common/Use/Display Policy At the Board's last meeting the "Friends of the Common" submitted edits and specific changes to the draft proposal of the Town Common Use Display Policy. The Board requested that the Town Manager setup a workshop meeting for all interested parties and abutters of the Town Common to discuss and ask Town Counsel to look at any legal issues. The Town Manager asked that the Board approve a request from Anne Wanke to use the Town Common and to setup a small open tent pavilion for her wedding ceremony on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. All departments gave their recommendations. Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the request from Anne Wanke to use the Town Common and to setup a small open tent pavilion for her wedding ceremony on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Bradstreet School Parking As a result of the site visit conducted by the Board a few weeks ago the DPW has developed a smaller scale plan to accommodate limited restricted parking to nearby business owners and their employees. Only minor work is anticipated to be done to facilitate the parking on the existing paved areas. Vehicles will only access the site from the existing gate on Saunders Street and only pedestrian traffic will use the gate on Main Street. A budget estimate for the work will be $5,000 and currently there is no funding available for the work. The work could be accomplished in approximately a month depending on budget, contractor availability, and weather conditions. The Board suggested informing abutters on Saunders Street and put together a permitting policy. The Board will review this again at their September meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Wireless Facility Bylaw The Town's existing wireless facility bylaw has become controversial and the subject of numerous lawsuits. Efforts by two committees to develop revisions to the bylaw have failed. Town Counsel Thomas Urbelis is suggesting that consideration be given to a different way to look at the wireless facility citing decisions, one that focuses on directing wireless companies to predetermined locations in the town rather than one that relies on set back distances. If the Board is amendable to this approach, then Town Board of Selectmen Minutes July 13, 2009 4 Counsel should be directed to work with the Town's land use boards and their staff in developing such a bylaw for consideration at a future town meeting. It is a step in the right direction and an affirmative way to the carrier and helps the town also against law suits. The Board agreed that we should explore this approach and exhaust all avenues and even look at a regional approach with several neighboring towns. Solid Waste Collection Contract The Town Manager wanted the Board to be aware that he intends to execute a contract extension for the town's solid waste collection company, North Side Carting, for two more years through FY12, at the same rate as is currently in place. Compared to nearby communities the cost for North Andover is among the lowest for this service. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Assistant Town Manager prepared a memo presenting the advantages of payment discounts and participating in our insurance carrier's risk management program, the Town of North Andover was able to save $40,000 in our property and liability insurance premium or 12% of the gross bill of$320,000. On July 8, 2009, the Town Manager attended a meeting with other Town Managers/Administrators whose communities are members of the Essex Regional Retirement Board. The focused discussion was on possible ways to provide greater participation by member groups in the oversight of the retirement board and the merits of moving the investments to the state manager PRIT fund which, has a 10 year average return of 4.65% compared to Essex Regional's return of 2.19%. On July 23,State Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Brad Hill are scheduled to meet to see what legislative actions could be taken to address our concerns. ADJOURNMENT: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Vote approved 4-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board