Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-08 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES SEPTEMBER 8, 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; Richard A. Nardella, Licensing Chairman;William F. Gordon; Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining. Vote approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the minutes as follows: August 3, 2009, Open Session. Vote approved 5-0. August 3, 2009, Executive Session. Vote approved 4-0-1. Daniel Lanen abstained. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition: Paramount Delivery Services, Inc. A certificate of recognition was presented to Paramount Delivery Services for locating their business in North Andover. Patriot Day 9/11 Memorial Ceremony Director of Veterans' Services Ed Mitchell is organizing the Town's participation in this national event by conducting a memorial service in front of Town Hall on September 11, 2009. The ceremony will begin at 8:00 a.m. followed by a breakfast at the Senior Center. National Night Out Recognition On August 4, 2009, the North Andover Police Department organized and conducted a National Night Out event. This event would not have been possible without the hard work of many Town employees, businesses and volunteers. The Board recognized all of them publically at their meeting. Appointments to Sustainability Committee The appointments subcommittee recommended Steve Sakakeeny and Steve Foster to be appointed to this committee. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the appointments of Steve Sakakeeny and Steve Foster to the Sustainability Committee. Vote approved 5-0. Green Community Assistance Grant Award The Town has been awarded this technical assistance grant to assist the Town in meeting the criteria to become a certified Green Community under the state's green community program. If we are successful in receiving this designation, then we become eligible for additional grants to promote energy conservation and to protect our environment. Community Development Director Curt Bellavance wrote and submitted the application. Friends of the Senior Center Fundraiser The Friends of the Senior Center are holding their 5th Annual "A Matter of Taste"fundraiser on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 from 6:30—9:00 PM at the Stevens Estate. North Andover Merchants Association Tracy Watson announced that the North Andover Merchants Association would be holding their first networking mixer at Rolf's Restaurant on October 14, 2009 from 5:00—7:00 PM. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 8, 2009 2 Communications Officers Ratification of Contract The Board announced that they voted in Executive Session to ratify a one-year agreement with the Communications Officers Union for FY09. This is consistent with other unions with a zero increase in wages and no other changes to the contract. CONSENT ITEMS: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Walkathon Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation request to use Drummond Park on, and to grant permit, for Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a fundraising walkathon. Vote approved 5-0. Acceptance of Donation from Leland Family to Fire Department Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept the donation from Edmund and Nancy Leland to the Fire Department to be used to acquire Fire Department Equipment and to direct the Town Manager to send a thank you letter. Vote approved 5-0. Fitness for You Spin-a-thon Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to grant Fitness for You an event permit from 9:00 Saturday, 9/12 to 9:00 a.m. Sunday, 9/13, 2009 for a fund raising spin-a-thon to benefit ALS known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Vote approved 5-0. Note: Daniel Lanen recused Acceptance of Police Grants Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept two grants from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; one in the amount of$6,500 to promote pedestrian, bicycle and moped safety and the other for 125 bicycle safety helmets. Vote approved 4-0. Note: Daniel Lanen returned Affordable Housing Unit,Waiver of Right of First Refusal Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, that the Town not exercise its right of first refusal to acquire an affordable housing unit for 190 Chickering Road, Unit 211 D at Kittredge Crossing. Vote approved 5-0. Merrimack Valley Military Family Support Group Event Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to grant an event permit to the Merrimack Valley Military Support Group on Sunday, September 27, 2009 (rain date October 11, 2009) from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Lawrence Municipal Airport to provide for ceremonial salute to Gold Star Mothers and fund raising for the National Gold Star Mothers Memorial to built in Washington D.C. Vote approved 5-0. Approval of Budget and Election Calendars Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the following calendars as presented by the Town Clerk. Vote approved 5-0. 1. FY11 Budget and 2010 Annual Town Meeting Calendar to be held on May 11, 2009 2. 2010 North Andover Election Calendar to be held on March 30, 2010 3. 2010 Campaign Finance Reporting Calendar for March 30, 2010 North Andover Town Election 4. Special State Election Calendar for U.S. Senate vacancy; primary to be held on December 8, 2009, state election to be held on January 19, 2010. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 8, 2009 3 LICENSING: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. One-Day Wine and Malt License: St. Gregory Church Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the one-day wine and malt license for St. Gregory Church fundraiser on September 13, 2009, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 PM and waived the fee. Vote approved 5-0. One-Day Wine and Malt License: Merrimack College Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to approve the one-day wine and malt license for Merrimack College Homecoming and Family Weekend. This event will be held outside in a tent on the baseball field between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Notice of Wine and Malt Sales: Merrimack College Merrimack College notified the Town of the fall semester 2009 events where alcohol would be served in the Sakowich Campus Center or the Blue Line Club at the Volpe Athletic Center. These events are covered by their general license. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Town Common Use/Display Policy The Town Manager has worked with a group of interested parties and Town departments to come up with a recommended policy for the use of the Town Common by North Andover non-profits and citizens. This policy does not apply to Town-sponsored events such as the Sheep Sheering of the July 4th events. The Town Manager requested that the Board of Selectmen accept and approve the "Regulations for the Use of the North Andover Town Common" as presented. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to accept and approve the "Regulations for the Use of the North Andover Town Common" as presented. Vote approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS: Change to Parking Regulations: Morkeski Meadows The Police Department recommended changes to parking on a portion of Green Street at Morkeski Meadows. They are recommending that the Board create a "pick-up and drop-off"zone on a portion of Green Street to address a safety concern raised by a resident in that neighborhood. This change in parking regulations is mutually acceptable to the involved parties. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to accept the recommended "pick-up and drop-off zone" on Green Street Morkeski Meadows. Vote approved 5-0. Change to Investment Policy The Town Manager and the Treasurer/Collector are recommending that deposits in state chartered savings banks that are insured by the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF) be added to the list of exemptions to the 10% diversification rule. The DIF is an industry insurance program that guarantees deposits in its member banks for the entire amount, not just the amounts insured by the FDIC. By allowing banks insured by DIF to exceed the 10% limit, the Town can maximize the return on investment, currently at 3.45% with a DIF insured bank, compared to less than one percent return currently offered by the MMDT, while still insuring 100 percent of the funds. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to approve the recommendation by the Town Manager and the Treasurer/Collector to add the DIF to the list of exemptions to the 10% diversification rule. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 8, 2009 4 Essex County Retirement System Investments The Town Manager recommended Selectmen send a letter to the Essex Regional Retirement Board (ERRB) recommending they move its assets which include North Andover's pension funds into the state's Pension Reserve Investment Trust, or PRIT. The ERRB has asked its members to send letters whether or not to move to the PRIT by September 18, 2009 in order that the ERRB may vote on the issue at their scheduled September 28, 2009 meeting. Town Manager Mark Rees said the recommendation comes largely due to the record of returns from the Regional fund. In 2008, the rate of return for the ERRS was the lowest of all retirement systems in Massachusetts with a negative 22.4 percent, compared to the rate of return for the state pension system, PRIT, which came in at negative 29.44 percent. Mark Rees listed the pros and cons of the move noting risk and benefits and what is best for the Town of North Andover at this time Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to write a letter to the ERRB recommending moving the Town of North Andover's pension funds into the state's PRIT fund. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: There are three separate Mass Highway projects planned for Rte. 125 in North Andover: signalization upgrades; various pavement improvements; and safety improvements to the intersection at Mass. Avenue and Rte. 125 With the help of a grant from the Clean Energy Choice and a matching grant from Commonwealth Solar, the Town of North Andover will be installing a Photo Voltaic (PV) system —solar panels tied into the building electrical system at the High School. The Board of Health has setup Flu Shot Clinics at various locations for the elderly and high risk residents. A total of 11 general contractor bids were received for the Police Station Renovation/Addition project. The bottom line is the Town has enough money to start the renovation project. The Town of North Andover has directed our attorney to do a demand letter to Verizon and our state legislators regarding removing the utility poles around the Town Common. The Board of Selectmen will be conducting a Workshop Meeting on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Stevens Estate starting at 9:00 a.m. followed by a dedication of the Steven Pond Pavilion at 11:30 a.m. The Town Manager will be attending the International City Management Association conference in Montreal from September 13 through September 16, 2009. ADJOURNMENT: Daniel Lanen made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 pm. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board