HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JANUARY 9, 2012
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Tracy Watson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Meeting
Room.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Tracy Watson, Chairman; William F. Gordon, Clerk;
Rosemary Smedile, Licensing Chairman; Donald Stewart, Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager; and
Andrew Maylor, Town Manager.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session
Minutes of December 12, 2011, as written. Vote approved 4-0.
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Open Session
Minutes of December 22, 2011, as written. Vote approved 4-0.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Acceptance of donation to Fire Department from Converse Inc.
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the donation from
Converse Inc. in the amount of$1,000 and to direct the Town Manager to send a letter thanking them for
their generosity. Vote approved 4-0.
Acceptance of donation to Police Department from Converse Inc.
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the donation from
Converse Inc. in the amount of$1,000 and to direct the Town Manager to send a letter thanking them for
their generosity. Vote approved 4-0.
Acceptance of donation to Fire Department from Schneider Automation.
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the donation from
Schneider Automation in the amount of$1,000 and to direct the Town Manager to send a letter thanking
them for their generosity. Vote approved 4-0.
Acceptance of donation to Police Department from Schneider Automation
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the donation from
Schneider Automation in the amount of$500 and to direct the Town Manager to send a letter thanking
them for their generosity. Vote approved 4-0.
Acceptance of donation to Police Department from Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to accept the donation from Mr. &
Mrs. Armstrong in the amount of$250 made to the North Andover Police Department and to direct the
Town Manager to send a letter to the Armstrong's thanking them for their generosity. Vote approved 4-0.
Permission to Display Recognition at Town Common
In recognition of CPL Sean Powers and CPL Kristofer Jenkins returning home from the War in
Afghanistan the Patriotic Observance and Marching Committee requests permission to decorate the
Town Common with yellow ribbons, flags, bunting and welcome home banners from January 12 to
January 26, 2012.
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to approve decorating the Town
Common with yellow ribbons, flags, bunting and welcome home banners from January 12 to January 26,
2012 to welcome home Servicemen CPL Sean Powers and CPL Kristofer Jenkins. Vote approved 4-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 9, 2012 2
Board of Selectmen Appointments:
Cultural Council —Michael A. Etchu
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to appoint Michael Etchu to the
Cultural Council. Vote approved 4-0.
Festival Committee—Jenn McLean
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to appoint Jenn McLean to the
Festival Committee. Vote approved 4-0.
Zoning Board of Appeals, Associate Member—Tyler Speck
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to appoint Tyler Speck as an
Associate Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Vote approved 4-0.
Town Manager Appointments:
Planning Board, Associate Member—David Kellogg
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to approve the Town Manager's
appointment of David Kellogg as an Associate Member to the Planning Board. Vote approved 4-0.
Filling of Vacancies:
The Town Manager Andrew Maylor had a discussion with the Board about removing the practice of
having the selectmen vote the filling of vacancies of all compensated position in advance of the hiring
process. The Charter provides for the Selectmen to approve the appointments of division and
department heads and provides the Selectmen with the authority to "disapprove", within fourteen days,
any appointments made by the Town Manager for positions other than department/division heads.
The Manager would always consider the Town's financial condition before proceeding with filling a
vacancy. The Board would be informed about this and be able to discuss this and still follow the Town
Charter.
The Town Manager informed the Board that the following positions will be filled due to vacancies and this
is a proactive streamlined approach to filling vacancies as soon as possible.
Administrative Secretary— Public Works/Water Treatment Plant
Lab Director Position —Water Treatment Plant
Working Foreman Position— Public Works Department
Heavy Equipment Operator— Public Works Department
Truck Driver— Public Works Department
Statewide Mutual Aid Agreements:
Massachusetts has adopted an opt-in format for its statewide mutual aid law. Police Chief Gallagher and
Fire Chief Melnikas support opting in. The Board was requested to take a vote.
MGL c40 sec. 4J, - Statewide Public Safety Mutual Aid Agreement
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, that the Town join the so-called
"statewide mutual aid agreement" established under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 40, section 4J
to create a framework for the provision of mutual aid assistance among the parties to the agreement in
the case of a public safety incident. The assistance to be provided under the agreement shall include, but
not limited to, fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical services, transportation,
communications, public works, engineering, building inspection, planning and information assistance,
resource support, public health, health and medical services, search and rescue assistance and any other
resource, equipment or personnel that a party to the agreement may request or provide in anticipation of,
or in response to, a public safety incident. Vote approved 4-0.
MGL c40, sec. 4K—Statewide Public Works Municipal Mutual Aid Agreement
Massachusetts Public Works Mutual Aid Agreement: Public Works Director Bruce Thibodeau support
opting in. The Board was requested to take a vote.
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, that the Town join the so-called
"statewide public works municipal mutual aid agreement"to facilitate the provision of public works
resources across jurisdictional lines in the case of a public works incident that requires mutual aid
Board of Selectmen Minutes January 9, 2012 3
assistance from one or more municipalities. The mutual aid assistance to be provided under the
agreement shall include, but not be limited to, services related to public works, personnel, equipment,
supplies and facilities to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from public works
incidents. Vote approved 4-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Fire Union Vice President Timothy McGuire addressed the Board said he wanted to come before the
Board about under staffing in the department.
McGuire said that Fire Chief Melnikas had to adjust the department's staffing policy due the cuts in the
overtime budget. The department's previous policy staffed 13 firefighters per shift. If two firefighters were
absent, then a man would be called in to replace him with overtime. Under the new rule, three firefighters
have to be absent before calling in another man. This change in staffing impacts the community's public
safety. McGuire said that this leaves just one man driving a ladder truck and is unsafe. At a recent fire
on Ashland Street they were shorthanded and had to have assistance from Andover.
Andrew Maylor said he supported Chief Melnikas decision to cut a man off the ladder truck. There are
multiple firefighters staffing the other two engine trucks and two ambulances.
Chairman Tracy Watson thanked the firefighters for attending and for the open dialogue and their concern
for the department, but said nothing would be solved this evening.
TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT:
Municipal Health Insurance Reform Act— Plan of Action
Mr. Maylor said that he will be meeting with the Town's Insurance Representatives on Tuesday to discuss
the recent changes in municipal health insurance. He will report back to the Board at a future meeting.
North Andover Municipal Facilities Plan - Status
Mr. Maylor said he met with the Chairman of the Facilities Master Planning Committee and the committee
will submit their recommendations in a report in February. The Board will be given the report about 2
weeks prior to their meeting for review.
Challenge Grant—Customer Service Software
Mr. Maylor said that this Grant will provide the Town with a better use of services that can be shared with
other communities and track the number of calls that come in from residents. This will provide better
customer service.
Local Business Roundtable - Suggestions
Mr. Maylor said that the Town would like to reach out to local businesses on suggestions on how the
Town can work with them.
FY2013 Capital Improvement Plan - Status
Mr. Maylor will be working with Budget Director Lyne Savage and Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli to
put together the FY13 CIP this week. He will be presenting his recommendations at the Board's next
meeting.
MVRTA
Mr. Maylor thanked the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority for leasing a van to the Town of
North Andover through a grant program for use at the Senior Center.
ADJOURNMENT:
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Vote approved 4-0.
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary
William Gordon, Clerk of the Board