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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-09 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES March 9, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt called the meeting to order at 6:50PM in Meeting Room at Town Hall. ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk Rosemary Smedile, Licensing Chairman, Regina Kean, Chris Nobile, Phil DeCologero, Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, Deputy Town Manager, Denise Casey, and Director of Administrative Services, Laurie Burzlaff. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to enter into executive session pursuant to the Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(6) to consider the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property if the Chair declares that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body (1 & 3 Surrey Drive) Chairman Vaillancourt requested a motion to enter into Executive Session and declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the Board’s litigating position. Phil DeCologero made a MOTION, seconded by Chris Nobile that the Board of Selectmen enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(6) to consider purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property and to return to Open Session at the conclusion of Executive Session. Roll call vote: DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Nobile-yes; Kean- yes; Vaillancourt-yes. Motion approve 5-0. The Board returned to Open Session at 7:05PM PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC COMMENT Laura Bates of 26 Woodbridge Road, stated she supports the change to Selectboard. Alissa Koenig of 20 Methuen Avenue stated she supports the change to Selectboard. CONSENT ITEMS Waiver right of first refusal for affordable unit-210 Chickering Road, Unit 304A Request of the North Andover Little League for permission to use Water Street, Main Street, Waverly Road and Dana Street on May 2, 2020 starting at 8:15AM for the Little League Opening Day Parade Marc Cooperstein from the North Andover Little League was present to answer any questions about the parade. Regina Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile that the Board of Selectmen approve both consent items. Motion approved 5-0. GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS Update on coronavirus community readiness Health Director, Brian LaGrasse, and Public Health Nurse, Caroline Ibbitson provided information on the coronavirus and steps the town is taking to help residents. The Board asked about notifications to health facilities and what will happen with the schools. They are in the process of contacting all the health facilities and are taking it day by day depending on the information that comes in. Town Moderator, Mark DiSalvo, stated that there is a possibility that Town Meeting may need to be postponed due to the coronavirus. Chairman Vaillancourt indicated that it is important to start the conversation and make people aware of the potential risks but no votes are being taken at this time to change Town Meeting. st Town Clerk, Trudy Reid, stated that there will be extra cleanings for the March 31 election. Update on Youth & Recreation Committee activities Regina Kean, the Youth and Recreation Committee liaison updated the Board on the latest Youth and Recreation Committee activities. Board of Selectmen Minutes March 9, 2020 2 Update on Senior Center Town Manager Rodrigues informed the Board that the construction estimates came in and the project is short $3,000,000 due to outdated estimates and increase in the price of steel. Total cost is $9,445,993 and the Town previously budgeted $6,445,994. The capital plan for this year had a $2,500,000 placeholder so the Town Manager will be amending that amount to $3,000,000. Update on Amazon Project Town Manager Rodrigues provided the Board with the proposal from Amazon. Amazon has agreed to several items. North Andover is the first in the country to negotiate a development agreement. The project cost is $750 million. The community partnership will give the town over $8.5 million. Chris Nobile noted that the agreement is front loaded and asked what happens if they are not around in 7 years. Ms. Rodrigues indicated it is a 15 year lease and the value of the building still exists even if Amazon is not there. Mr. DeCologero asked about contributions to certain things in town. Ms. Rodrigues stated that Amazon has a specific list of causes they will contribute to and those are included in the Community Partnership Agreement. Ms. Rodrigues asked if the Board would like to make a counteroffer. The Board asked to think about it and schedule a meeting for the following week. Update on Columbia Gas Town Manager Rodrigues stated that Columbia Gas is being sold to Eversource. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regina Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile to approve the Open Session Minutes of February 24, 2020. Motion approved 5-0. NEW BUSINESS Appointment of BCK Law as Special Counsel for energy issues The Town has been notified by the Department of Public Utilities that there is an issue with approving the relocation of the solar panels installed at Osgood Landing. Some panels were installed on an adjacent parcel, violating the Single Parcel Rule thus putting the Town’s net metering credits in jeopardy. The Town Manager is recommending the Board appoint special counsel to deal with the issue. Regina Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile that the Board of Selectmen appoint BCK Law as Special Counsel through December 31, 2020. Motion approved 5-0. Discussion of Town Meeting warrant articles and authorize the Town Manager to submit articles on behalf of the Board of Selectmen if necessary Included in the packet were the warrant articles received thus far for Town Meeting. Additional articles that need to be added are the TIF for Amazon and purchase of the Senior Center parcel. Regina Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile that the Board of Selectmen authorize Town Manager Rodrigues to submit Town Meeting Warrant articles on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, if necessary. Motion approved 5-0. Discussion of potential article regarding changing name of Board of Selectmen to reflect gender neutral language Regina Kean requested the Board discuss whether they want to submit a warrant article to change the name of the Board of Selectmen to reflect gender neutral language. Ms. Kean indicated that it’s a small change to bring equality. Rosemary Smedile stated she never felt offended by the term but would respect what Town Meeting chooses. Regina Kean made a MOTION, seconded by Chris Nobile to include a warrant article from the Board of Selection to change the name of the Board of Selectmen to Select Board. Motion approved 4-1. Ms. Smedile opposed. LICENSING COMMISSION None OLD BUSINESS None TOWN MANAGERS REPORT Board of Selectmen Minutes March 9, 2020 3 The Board was provided with the job posting/vacancy log. SELECTMEN’S UPDATES/COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT Chris Nobile made a MOTION, seconded by Regina Kean to adjourn the meeting at 9:00PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Laurie A. Burzlaff Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Minutes of February 24, 2020 Amazon proposal Affordable Housing Unit memorandum Little league request Town Meeting warrant articles Job posting/vacancy log