HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-31 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES January 31, 2011
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Daniel Lanen called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Town Hall Meeting
Room.
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.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to approve the Open Session Minutes
of January 10, 2011 as Amended. Vote approved 5-0.
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to TABLE the Executive Minutes of
January 10, 2011. Vote approved 5-0.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT:
Appointment to Industrial Development Financing Authority
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to reappoint John Kalin to the
Industrial Development Financing Authority. Vote approved 5-0.
FY10 Audit Report
The Town's outside auditor Richard Sullivan from the firm of Powers and Sullivan gave the Board an
overview and analysis of the town's financial activities of FY10. The overall financial picture is good with
no serious internal problems; the auditors said they have an unqualified opinion meaning an accurate
report.
The Management Letter was short with a few comments and recommendations on Postemployment
Benefits Actuarial Valuation; Government Accounting Standards Board (GSSB) Statement#54; Audit of
Student Activity Funds; Conduct a Periodic Inventory of Fixed Assets; and Consider Online Payments for
Real Estate, Excise Tax, and Other Revenues.
The Town is working to complete and comply with these suggestions.
Standard & Poor's Rating
The Town of North Andover received an upgrade of`AA/Stable' long term rating to the town's series 2011
GO municipal purpose bonds
Greater Lawrence Sanitary District Capital Projects Report
Executive Director Rick Hogan and North Andover Representative Commissioner Lenard Degnan briefed
the Board about some Capital Projects in the works at the GLSD.
The first project has been completed which was an energy conservation project consisting of thirteen
energy efficient upgrades in motors, boilers, automated temperature controls, and the use of solar ray
panels. The GLSD received grants from the state and funding from National Grid and Bay State Gas for
these energy efficient upgrades.
The next project is either replacing or building an alternative main sewer pipeline that was built in 1977.
The life expectancy of the pipeline is fifty years and this is thirty-four years old. They are being pro-active
about this to prevent a major problem if the pipeline failed. There will be a Public Hearing held within the
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 31, 2011 2
next couple of months with abutters and Towns involved about the infrastructure. Because the GLSD is
in the Town of North Andover they wanted the town to be aware of their plans.
After the Public Hearing they will report back to the Town Manager with more information.
NPDES Storm Water Regulations Report
Director of Engineering Eugene Willis gave the Board an update on the federal mandate requiring
municipalities regarding the NPDES storm water regulations. The tasks identified in the next year are as
follows: Preparation of the Notice of Intent for the next five year permit; Preparation of the Illicit Discharge
Detection and Elimination Program; Storm Water Management Program; Public Education and Outreach;
Sampling and Analysis of Storm Water Outfalls—first year will sample 180 or the 905 outfalls twice—
once in wet weather and once in dry weather.
The Department of Public Works has issued a new line item for this process and has budgeted $45,000 in
FY 2012. The Water Treatment plant has requested a budget of$45,000 for the sampling and analysis in
FY2012 and Community Development has requested a budget of$7,000.
For the last 7 years North Andover has been in compliance with federally mandated NPDES requirements
and out of 15 communities in the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission's group, only 4 are in full
compliance; North Andover is one of those communities.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Acceptance of Donation to Police Department
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Richard Nardella, to accept the $250 donation from Mrs.
Elizabeth Armstrong to the police department to be used in support of North Andover residents in need
and to direct the Town Manager to send a letter thanking Mrs. Armstrong for her generous donation.
Vote approved 5-0.
Affordable Housing Unit Resale: 4 Harvest Drive, Unit 106 Oakridge Village
Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, that the Town not exercise its right of
first refusal for 4 Harvest Drive, Unit 106 at Oakridge Village and to authorize CHAPA to find a new owner
who will maintain the unit's affordability designation. Vote approved 5-0.
Approval to fill vacancy: Library Assistant
This item was TABLED
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS:
Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to move into Licensing.
Vote approved 5-0.
Change of Manager and Waiver of Fee Request—Stevens Estate
The Stevens Estate has applied for a Change of Manager from Laura Gifford to Erin Flannery. Since the
Stevens Estate is an entity within the Town of North Andover organization, it is requested the Licensing
Commissioners waive the $100 fee to be paid to the Town.
Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the change of manager of
the Stevens Estate to Erin Flannery and to waive the $100 fee. Vote approved 5-0.
Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move out of Licensing. Vote
approved 5-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 31, 2011 3
OLD BUSINESS:
Review of Articles for Annual Town Meeting
The Town Manager requested that the Board to review potential articles and the draft warrant for their
consideration. The Board will be requested to vote to place articles on the warrant at a future meeting in
February before the warrant closes on Friday, February 25, 2011.
After a discussion of the various articles and when the Board would meet to place the articles on the
Town Warrant they decided to change the scheduled date of Monday, February 28 to Tuesday, February
22, so that the articles will be placed on the warrant before the deadline of February 25, 2011.
The Town Manager requested that two selectmen sit on the Budget Communication Group. William
Gordon and Daniel Lanen offered to sit on the committee.
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT:
The Town Manager announced that Officer Robert Hillner will be presented as Police Officer of the Year
at the annual event held on February 17, 2011.
Richard Nardella announced that the Facility Master Planning Group met with the Cecil Group and toured
the town buildings.
Tracy Watson announced that the Facility Task Force met today and will have a report to the Board by
the end of the month.
ADJOURNMENT:
Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Vote approved 5-0.
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary
William Gordon, Clerk of the Board