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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