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Home My WebLink About2011-03-21 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES March 21, 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; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session Minutes of February 7, 2011, as written. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session Minutes of February 22, 2011, as written. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session Minutes of March 8, 2011, as written. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session Minutes of March 11, 2011, as written. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to TABLE the vote on Executive Session Minutes of February 7, 2011. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: Town Election Reminder that the Town Election will be on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, New Business Recognition TABLED Proclamation: National Child Abuse Prevention Month The Family Support Center of the GLCAC, Inc. requested the board to adopt the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to proclaim the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Vote approved 5-0. CONSENT ITEMS: Request for"Reeling in a Dream" Fundraisers on June 4, and Tim/Rockin for Roberts on August 6, 2011 Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to grant the Timothy Roberts Advisory Committee two event permits: the first event being the "Reeling in a Dream" Fishing Derby to be held on June 4, 2011, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Lake Cochichewick and the second being the "Tourney for Tim/Rockin for Roberts" event to be held on Saturday,August 6, 2011, on the grounds of the North Andover Middle School, both permits subject to applicable laws, bylaws, rules and regulations. Vote approved 5-0. Request to Waive Building Inspection Fees for Stevens Estate Gate House Project Assistant Town Manager respectively requested the Board to waive all building and inspection permit fees for the Stevens Estate Gate House which is a Town financed project. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to waive all building and inspection fees for the Stevens Estate Gate House project. Vote approved 5-0. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move into Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes March 21, 2011 2 St Michael School requests a one-day wine and malt license for their Annual Spring Auction on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to grant a one-day wine and malt license to St. Michael School, 80 Maple Avenue for Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. subject to all applicable laws, bylaws, rules and regulations and further to waive any and all fees related to this permit. Vote approved 5-0. Merrimack College requests a change of manager on their wine and malt license and to consolidate the locations where it is sold. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the change of manager application of Merrimack College from Sean DeVeau to Christine Alexa Abowitz and to further revise the locations where the license applies so that "Shrine Lounge" and "Fireplace Lounge" are replaced with "Merrimack Club", all other locations remaining the same. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to move out of Licensing. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: Preparation for Annual Town Meeting Continuing on with the Board's review of the FY12 budget, the Town Manager requested that department directors be present to discuss the present cuts to their proposed budgets. Library Director Mary Rose Quinn, Youth and Recreation Director Rick Gorman and Director of Elder Services Irene O'Brien were present to discuss their department's requested budget and the cuts recommended by the Town Manager because of the projected revenue shortfall in the fiscal year 2012. Each department head provided the Board with information and requested that the Board reconsider the suggested cuts to current employees that are needed to run these departments. Town Manager's Recommended FY12 Budget To be in compliance with the charter, the Board should vote to accept the Town Manger's Recommended FY12 Budget subject to changes based on additional information that may be forthcoming. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept the Town Manger's Recommended FY12 Budget subject to changes based on additional information that may be forthcoming. Vote approved 5-0. 2011 Ambulance Rates The Board was requested to raise the Ambulance collection rate between 100%-200% above the Medicare rate. This would generate an additional $124,000 per year at 100% or an additional $385,000 per year at 200%. The Board asked the Chief to workout rates in 10% increments from 100%to 200% and brings the information back to the Board for a final decision. Review/Vote on Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to accept the Town Manager's Recommended Budget for the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund Budgets subject to changes based on additional information that may be forthcoming. Vote approved 5-0. Review/Vote on Stevens Estate Budget The Town Manager asked the Board to review this budget at this time for information only. There is still more work to be done with the new Director and Board of Directors before he gives his recommendations Requests to Reopen the Warrant and Consideration of Calling a Special Town Meeting on May 10, 2011 Four requests for articles came forward after the closing of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting on May 10, 2011. The Town Charter states that "by unanimous vote, the Board of Selectmen may reopen the warrant in cases of emergency." An alternative method could be calling a Special Town Meeting to coincide with the Annual Town Meeting. The procedure necessary to use this method was explained by Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw. Board of Selectmen Minutes March 21, 2011 3 A request from HDM Mansur, Inc. owner of the Davis& Furber Mill complex located on High Street to the Town for a possible Tax Increment Financing Plan for improvements to the property estimated to be in the 8 to 12 million dollars in the near future. This would enhance the property and keep commercial development in the town. This building is home to Schneider Electric and Converse. There were also three articles by citizen petitioners, the first is a petitioner article submitted by Robert Ercolini requesting a $12 million prop 2'h Override and the seconded to petition the General Court submitted by Sean C. Lewis—age exemption for Sean C. Lewis, Sr. firefighter, the third article submitted by Charles Foster to Amend a Zoning bylaw for one and two family dwellings. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to open the Warrant. Roll Call Vote: William Gordon yes, Rosemary Smedile yes, Tracy Watson yes, Richard Nardella yes, Daniel Lanen yes. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to place an Article for a proposed TIF "Tax Increment Financing Plan"for 4 W High Street, Mansur Investments on the Warrant. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to place an Article for a proposed Amendment to Chapter 69 of the General Bylaws— Fire Alarms, Section E-692 alarm installation and permit requirements—delete July 1, 2012 and replace with July 1, 2014. Vote approved 5-0. The citizen petition articles would automatically be placed on the Warrant at this time submitted by Robert Ercolini requesting a $12 million prop 2'h Override and the seconded to petition the General Court submitted by Sean C. Lewis—age exemption for Sean C. Lewis, Sr. firefighter, the third article submitted by Charles Foster to Amend a Zoning bylaw for one and two family dwellings. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to close the Warrant. Vote approved 5-0. Permission to fill vacancy at the Stevens Library The Stevens Library is seeking to fill two part time positions this is to replace minimum staffing levels. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the hiring of two part time positions at the Stevens Library. Vote approved 5-0. State Aid Resolution The MMA Massachusetts Municipal Association is requesting member communities to contact legislators to advocate for a local aid resolution earlier rather than later. The Board was requested to support this and request that the state would maintain state aid levels equal to FY11 amounts with no reductions. Richard Nardella made a MOTION, seconded by Tracy Watson, to authorize the Town Manager to contact our legislators to advocate for a local aid resolution earlier requesting the state would maintain state aid levels equal to FY11 amounts with no reductions. Vote approved 5-0. ADJOURNMENT: Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary William Gordon, Clerk of the Board