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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-29 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES November 29, 2010 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Daniel Lanen called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Daniel Lanen, Chairman; Richard Nardella, Vice Chairman; William F. Gordon, Clerk; Tracy Watson, Licensing Chairman; Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Mark Rees, Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the Open Session Minutes of November 17, 2010 as written. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Financial Reports, Lyne Savage Town Accountant/Budget Director Lyne Savage presented budget status reports for revenue and expenses ending November 29, 2010. All budget amounts are based on the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting. Revenues: Property Tax Revenue collections are at 42.9% which is slightly below last year's collections of 43.6%. Motor Vehicle is at 11.9% collected compare to the same time last year which was at 8.2%. There are concerns based on the total collections for fiscal year 2010 which reflect a continuing downward trend in collections. Ambulance collections are at 37.5% compared to last year's collections at 31.7%. Interest Income has continued on a downward trend and this line item has been reduced to meet the anticipated revenue for FY11. Water revenues collections are at 33.4% which expenditures running at 31% with Sewer revenues collected at 28.6% and expenditures at 27.5%. Stevens Estate collection is at 41.8% and is showing a small profit of$931.86. Selectman Richard Nardella requested that the Town Accountant work with the Board of Selectmen to review the Special Revenue Funds. Committee Liaison Reports Selectmen serve on various boards and commissions and gave reports of the activities of the boards. Rosemary Smedile serves on the Economic Development Council, Police Building Committee, and the Interviewing Committee. Tracy Watson serves on the Facilities Task Force and Housing Partnership Committee &the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Richard Nardella serves on the Facilities Master Planning Committee, Audit Committee and Rte. 125 Improvement. William Gordon serves on the Sustainability Committee and the Interviewing Committee. Daniel Lanen serves on the Festival Committee. Liaison to Historical Commission The Historical Commission is requesting that a member of the Board serve as a liaison to the commission. Rosemary Smedile volunteered to serves on this commission. New Bus Route, MVRTA Rte. 33A The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority will operate an afternoon shuttle service from the high school and middle school to the library, youth center and YMCA at no cost to the Town. This service is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2010. CONSENT ITEMS: Meeting Schedule, 1s' half of 2011 The Town Manager presented the Board's new schedule of meetings for 2011 January through June. The meetings are Jan. 10, 31, Feb. 7, 28, Mar. 7, 21, Apr. 4, 25, May 9, 10, 23, June 6, 20, 2011. All Open Sessions will begin at 7:30 p.m. Board of Selectmen Minutes November 29, 2010 2 Request to Use Town Common, Andy Beresford Mr. Andy Beresford of 37 Anne Road requested permission to place Christmas related banners at the Town Common from November 25, 2010 to January 7, 2011. His request conforms to the Board's policy on use of the Town Common. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the permit to place Christmas banners at the Town Common from November 25, 2010 to January 7, 2011. Vote approved 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. Change of Manager Request—Camelot The Camelot Building Association, Inc., d/b/a Camelot Sports Pub requested a change of manager. All departments gave favorable recommendations. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the change of manager for Camelot. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Tax Classification Hearing Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to open the Public Hearing for Tax Classification. Vote approved 5-0. Chief Assessor Garrett Boles provided the Board with spreadsheet information regarding various options to shifts in the residential and commercial industrial and personal (CIP) property tax rates. This information showed the impact on the average tax bills along with historical information of previous years. Rosemary Smedile asked Assessor Boles about the Circuit Breaker tax benefit and how the public can take advantage of this on their income tax. You must file for an appeal by February 1St each year. On behalf of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce Will Carpenter requested that the Board consider not raising the tax rate on businesses. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to keep the tax rate shift at 1.31 and adopt the residential factor of 95.1342. Vote approved 5-0. This would set the residential tax rate at 13.51 and the CIP tax rate at 18.60. Note: William Gordon recused Chestnut Green Parking Update Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli is seeking direction from the Board on how to proceed in moving forward with this project. The management company wants to purchase a small section of Hillside for expanding their parking lot. A meeting will be setup with the management company with a proposal and diagrams for abutters who may have questions or concerns. After this meeting a report will be brought back to the Board. Note: William Gordon returned Board of Selectmen Minutes November 29, 2010 3 NEW BUSINESS: Fire Department Mutual Aid Agreement The Board was asked to approve the Fire Department Mutual Aid Agreement for the Town. Town Counsel reviewed the agreement and approved it as to form. The Board was a little hesitant to sign this agreement since the city of Lawrence has not signed it. Even though this agreement has not been signed in previous years, the Town of North Andover has provided Mutual Aid to neighboring cities and towns when needed. This document was a formal agreement signed by most cities and towns in the area. Tracy Watson made a MOTION, signed by Rosemary Smedile, to authorize the Town Manager to sign the Mutual Aid Agreement. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: Police Chief Employment Police Chief Richard Stanley has informed the Town Manager that he has begun the process of transitioning away from his assistance to the Town of Wareham. He has already reduced his time commitment to Wareham from two days a week to one weekend day a week and an occasional night meeting. During this transition time, which is expected to end in March of next year, he will assist Wareham in their selection of a new police chief and moving them towards accreditation, a major accomplishment the North Andover Police Department achieved earlier this year. The Town Manager referred to the Board, a letter received today from Police Officer Daniel Crevier, President of the North Andover Police Union. In that letter, Officer Crevier states Chief Stanley has been an effective leader of the North Andover Police Department during the time he has assisted Wareham, he has achieved two significant milestones, moving into the new police station and the accreditation, and has always been available to respond to calls and situations regardless of the day or time. Finally, although it has been said numerous times in the past, it bears repeating again Chief Stanley did not enhance his pension from the state retirement system while working for Wareham. If, and when, Chief Stanley does retire from North Andover, his pension will be based only on income earned in North Andover. Consolidation The Town Manager gave another example of the School and Town working together, the Library Director and School Superintendent have agreed to share a current library director with the school department to service elementary school library through the end of the school year. Both the library and the school department will proportionally share the cost of this position. Teacher's Contract The Town Manager announced that the School Committee settled a new 5-year contract with the Teachers Association and the vote passed 4 in favor and 2 opposed. School Committee member Karin Rhotin and Mark Rees voted against the contract. Mark Rees voted against the contract for two reasons its affordability given financial projections showing potential deficits and its inequity to municipal contracts. Stan Limpert Chair of the School Committee said that they would pledge not to take funds from the Municipal budget to pay for their needs in the coming years and that the School would live within their budget and make cuts in programs and staff if needed. Comments Selectman Richard Nardella said that the Board of Selectmen need to consider doing something for the non- union staff who haven't had any raises in 3-1/2 years and that they needed to be taken care of too. ADJOURNMENT: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary William Gordon, Clerk of the Board