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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-26 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Tracy Watson called the meeting to order at 7:OOPM at Town Hall Meeting Room. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Tracy Watson, Chairman; William F. Gordon, Clerk; Rosemary Smedile, Licensing Chairman; Donald Stewart, Daniel Lanen, James Purcell, Interim Town Manager; Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the Open Session Minutes of September 12, 2011, as written. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Daniel Lanen, to approve the Executive Session Minutes of September 12, 2011. Vote approved 5-0. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PUBLIC COMMENT: New Business Recognition The Board of Selectmen presented three Certificates of Appreciation to local businesses for locating in North Andover. Shadi's Restaurant and Lounge, 585 Chickering Road; LaBottega Wine and Beer, Stonewall Place, 1820 Turnpike Street; and Big Picture Framing, 550 Turnpike Street. Chairman Watson announced that the Board will schedule a meeting on Monday, October 3, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. The chairman of the Town Manager Search Committee will be bringing forth final participants. CONSENT ITEMS: St. Paul's Episcopal Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church requests to use the grounds of Veterans Memorial Park on October 2, 2011, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for"Blessing of the Animals". Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the St. Paul's Episcopal Church requests to use the grounds of Veterans Memorial Park on October 2, 2011, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for"Blessing of the Animals". Vote approved 5-0. North Andover Athletic Association Mike Coakley, President North Andover Athletic Association requests the use of Town roads for a road race fundraiser on October 22, 2011. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve Mike Coakley, President North Andover Athletic Association requests the use of Town roads for a road race fundraiser on October 22, 2011. Vote approved 5-0. Menorah Lighting December 19-28, 2011 Svetlana Seifer of Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center requests permission to use Town Common for Menorah lighting on December 19-28, 2011. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve Svetlana Seifer of Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center requests permission to use Town Common for Menorah lighting on December 19-28, 2011. Vote approved 5-0. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Carol Bradstreet requests to hold fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation "Walk to a Sure" and assemble at Drummond Park on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve Carol Bradstreet requests to hold fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation "Walk to a Sure" and assemble at Drummond Park on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 26, 2011 2 PUBLIC HEARING: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to open the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. National Grid Pole Petition Jeremey Gagne of National Grid submitted pole petition #10509381 Salem Street (166) and Lydia Lane. All abutters were notified and all town departments had no issues with the project. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to close the Public Hearing. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve pole petition #10509381 Salem Street (166) and Lydia Lane. Vote approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: FY2013 budget and 2012 Annual Town Meeting Calendar Draft Proposal Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw drafted a proposed calendar for the Board's approval for the Annual Town Meeting on June 12, 2012. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the FY2013 Budget and proposed draft calendar for an Annual Town Meeting date of June 12, 2012 subject to additional information and subject to change. Vote approved 5-0. Update of MVRTA Shuttle Service Community Development Director Curt Bellavance gave an update of the Afternoon Shuttle Service provided by the MVRTA. The shuttle service operates in the afternoon and will serve the high school, middle school, library, youth center and YMCA at no cost to the town. Student and Senior fares are $0.60for one way and $1.25 for a full fare. NEW BUSINESS: Elm Street roadway Improvement Project—Acceptance of Easements Community Development Director Curt Bellavance said that the Elm Street roadway project was underway and property owners signed an easement allowing the Town to place a sidewalk across a portion of their property and go around a large Elm tree instead to cutting it down. The neighbors agreed to endorse the easement at no cost to the Town and the Board is asked to accept and sign the easements so that this can be recorded at the Registry of Deeds. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the easements and signed the documents to be recorded at the Registry of Deeds. Vote approved 5-0. Disposal of Surplus Equipment and Vehicles Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli asked the Board to vote on three separate items for disposal of surplus equipment. 1. Trade-in the existing Catch Basin Cleaning Truck as part of the approved purchase of a new truck value of$5,500. 2. Surplus vehicles and surplus items to be sold at auction. 3. Surplus items to be thrown out as they no longer function and have no resale/salvage value. Selectman Gordon suggested auctioning the Catch Basin Cleaning Truck for not less than $5,600 instead of trading it in for$5,500. If it did not sell, then use it for a trade-in. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to add the Catch Basin Cleaning Truck to the surplus vehicle auction items with a starting price of not less than $5,600 and if it does not sell to then trade-in towards a new truck. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to approve the Surplus Vehicle and Equipment list to be sold at auction. Vote approved 5-0. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve the Surplus Items to be thrown out as they no longer function and have no resale/salvage value. Vote approved 5-0. Board of Selectmen Minutes September 26, 2011 3 School Department"Green Project Appropriation Request and request for Special Town Meeting School Superintendent Christopher Hottel and School Business Administrator James Mealey came before the Selectmen to request approval to the state's "Green Repair Program"for three school construction projects; the Atkinson Elementary Windows, the Sargent Elementary Roof, and the Middle School Roof. These projects were part of the CIP for fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Superintendent Hottel said that these projects are a necessity and a high priority for school repair. The 2011 Town Meeting approved $3.8 million for the projects in June, but the cost increased to a maximum of$4.5 million because of new architectural designs, inflation costs, and extra expenses for following state rules. These projects are eligible for the Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) Green Repair Program and needs approval from the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee for a Special Town Meeting approval of an additional $700,000. The School Department submitted the three projects and will meet with the MSBA on September 28, 2011, to receive final project approval, which would include the state funding 47% of the projects. Selectmen Watson, Smedile and Lanen were skeptical of the value of the increased environmental costs and argued that town residents are still losing in the deal because of promised state funding of 47%, the state mandates municipalities agree to prevailing wage laws and "green" building conditions to reduce a building's energy consumption. Mr. Lanen said the state's construction codes are part of a "broken system". Selectman Smedile said that these projects would cost less in the state of New Hampshire. Even though Selectmen did not like the state's mandates they supported the call for a Special Town Meeting and the support for the three projects. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to call for a Special Town Meeting contingent on approval from MSBA for the three North Andover school projects. Vote approved 5-0. William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to schedule a Special Town Meeting for November 15, 2011 to start at 7:00 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Halloween Trick or Treat Date &Time The Board had a discussion about changing the day for"Trick or Treat"from the traditional October 31 to the Saturday before Halloween. Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to celebrate "Trick or Treat" on Monday, October 31, 2011, for 2 hours from 5:00—7:00 p.m. William Gordon AMENDED the MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to change the Halloween "Trick or Treat"for 2 hours from 5:30—7:30 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT: The Town's outside Auditing Firm started today to do the FY11 audit of the Town's finances. There was a Comcast Cable TV public hearing last week. Now that the Board has approved the FY2013 Budget and 2012 Annual Town Meeting Calendar the Town Manager will request non-monetary articles for Town Meeting and completed Capital Improvement Plan requests. Police Chief Paul Gallagher announced that the Police Department is involved with "Cops for Kids with Cancer" and the recipient of$5,000 is Devan Donegan of North Andover. This is to help the family with medical expenses. ADJOURNMENT: William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Vote approved 5-0. Adele J. Johnson Administrative Secretary William Gordon, Clerk of the Board