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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-15 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES October 15, 2019 CALL TO ORDER: At 5:34 pm, Chairman Richard Vaillancourt called the meeting to order in Conference Room 2 in the Town Hall. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk Regina Kean, Chris Nobile, Phil DeCologero, Rosemary Smedile, Town Manager, Melissa Rodrigues and Deputy Town Manager, Denise Casey. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The conference room lacked an American flag, so the pledge was waived. STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues walked the Board through the document titled, Board of Selectmen Strategic Planning Topics 2019. Town Manager Rodrigues stated that the town will issue an RFP for Facilities Master Plan II. Selectman Nobile asked if the debt schedule shows projects that are coming off the schedule. Town Manager Rodrigues stated that is correct and there will be additional projects added. She stated the high school debt is scheduled to end in 4 - 5 years. Town Manager Rodrigues stated that there will be a downtown working group created working with Beta Group to review the downtown area. Chairman Vaillancourt asked if there were any plans to address the sign bylaw. Town Manager Rodrigues responded there would be a review of signage as part of the comprehensive review. Clerk Kean stated that there is a gap in cell coverage and she wants to see the Board be proactive in addressing cell phone coverage and “dead-areas”. Selectman DeCologero stated that the Board should receive periodic updates on the street repaving program, so that there is an abundance of information provided to residents. Selectman Smedile stated she would like a review of the tree program. Selectman DeCologero stated there may be programs (GroundWork Lawrence, Home Depot, Wheelabrator) to assist with providing trees. Chairman Vaillancourt suggested that the town collaborate with Merrimack College to have interns work on the Stevens Estate planning project. Selectman Nobile stated he would like there to be a conversation with Merrimack College regarding their short and long term goals and how those align with North Andover. He continued that the Town’s Master Plan should be reviewed with Merrimack staff to see if the two can complement each other. Selectman DeCologero stated he would like to see a comprehensive list of the assets in the Stevens Estate. Selectman Smedile stated that the main goal of the residents has always been to protect the Estate. Clerk Kean stated the rental price point really needs to be established by January 1, 2020. Town Manager Rodrigues stated that decisions have been made that impact the revenue stream for the Estate such as the expiration of the liquor license. She stated the long-range planning discussion will need to include raising fees or supplementing the operating budget with tax levy. She stated that the Department of Revenue will not certify the Town’s free-cash unless it can show the Stevens Estate is bringing in revenues. Selectman DeCologero asked if there was any movement on the outdoor temporary play area at the Atkinson school. Town Manager Rodrigues responded that Jim Mealey and Jim Stanford had met to discuss the temporary pavement project. Clerk Kean stated that the Town is not responsible for a lot of the outdoor fields maintenance and that the Fields Committee does a lot of work to maintain the fields. Town Manager Rodrigues responded that she would be learning more about fields maintenance as the Town goes through the budget process. Selectman Smedile stated that leasing the Senior Center space to the Post Office would be a good idea for that space. Town Manager Rodrigues responded that the Town would put out an RFP for the repurposing of the Senior Center space. Selectman Smedile and Kean both recommended that the roof at the Early Childhood Center be reviewed for aesthetic improvement. Town Manager Rodrigues stated the Town is working on emergency planning and will work with Jeff Coco and the existing emergency management team. Town Manager Rodrigues stated that the Town will be holding an Open Meeting and Conflict of Interest Law training with board and committees. She stated that KP Law will be assisting with the training. This training will be videotaped, so that all members can review and acknowledge that they have reviewed the information. Clerk Kean stated that she would like to see the department monthly reports tied to department and master plan goals and not just a report of calls for service or citizens served. Selectman Smedile asked that an organizational chart of the Town Manager’s Office, job descriptions and the corresponding salary scales be provided to the Board. She stated there have been changes in staff and roles and would like more clarity. Town Manager Rodrigues stated those will be provided to the Board. Selectman Smedile asked that a standard format be created for legal opinions from Town Counsel that reference case law. She continued that “special” counsel should be used when there is a specific type of law involved (i.e. environmental, labor). Chairman Vaillancourt asked that the Town to conduct a comprehensive salary review. He stated that, in his opinion, the town seems to be losing staff because of lower salaries in North Andover versus the market. Deputy Manager Casey responded that she will be discussing a classification and compensation study with the Town Manager during the budget process. Chairman Vaillancourt stated that he would like to keep IT initiatives and technology on the strategic planning list due to their importance with day-to-day operations. Selectman DeCologero asked if it is common for the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee to have joint meetings. Town Manager Rodrigues responded that these are usually around a goal or a master plan review. She stated she has experience with boards coming together to formulate joint goals. Selectman Regina Kean left the meeting at 7:45PM. Selectman Smedile stated that the Town will need to keep an eye on school projections given the number of housing developments underway. Town Manager Rodrigues state she has worked with the management team at Avalon before and will continue to discuss enrollment projections. She stated she has experience with capacity studies for school districts. Selectman Nobile asked if there was a possibility to move the lot line to create more parking at the new Senior Center location. Town Manager Rodrigues responded she would make a note to ask staff. ADJOURNMENT Selectman DeCologero made a MOTION, seconded by Selectman Nobile at 8:13 pm. Motion passed 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Denise Y. Casey Deputy Town Manager ______________________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Board of Selectmen Strategic planning Topics 2019