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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-15 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES June 15, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt called the meeting to order at 7:01PM. In accordance with Governor Baker’s Executive Order issued on March 12, 2020, suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, this meeting took place via conference call. All Board members and staff participated in this meeting remotely. ATTENDANCE: The following identified themselves as present on the call: Chairman Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk Rosemary Smedile, Licensing Chairman, Phil DeCologero, Chris Nobile, Laura Bates, Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, Deputy Town Manager, Denise Casey and Director of Administrative Services, Laurie Burzlaff. Chairman Vaillancourt read the following statement: Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Board of Selectmen is being conducted via remote participation. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the Order. A reminder that persons who would like to listen to this meeting while in progress may do so by tuning in to Comcast channel 8 or Verizon channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. If you have public comments, please email selectmen@northandoverma.gov APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chris Nobile made a MOTION, seconded by Phil DeCologero to approve the minutes for June 1, 2020, as amended. Roll call vote: Smedile-yes; DeCologero-yes; Nobile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Bates abstained. Motion approved 4-0-1. Chris Nobile made a MOTION, seconded by Laura Bates to approve the minutes for June 9, 2020, as presented. Roll call vote: Smedile-yes; DeCologero-yes; Bates-yes; Nobile-yes; Vaillancourt- yes. Motion approved 5-0. GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS Police training and policies Police Chief, Charles Gray, gave a presentation regarding police training and policies. Chief Gray stated the Police Department has been accredited since 2010 and has to renew every three years. Use of force training is done two times a year and they also do de-escalation training. With regard to the 8 can wait, North Andover police already do seven of them and the last one is being added as a policy. Town Manager Rodrigues reviewed the police budget and showed comparisons with other communities. Ms. Smedile stated that DPW and public safety have always had lean budgets. She also commended Lieutenant Foulds for voluntarily doing the FBI training as it is a great thing for North Andover to have someone that has done that. In response to a question from Mr. Vaillancourt, Chief Gray stated there are 40 hours of mandatory training but officers also do a lot of voluntary trainings. It becomes a difficult to send an officer to training when they are lean on personnel. Mr. DeCologero asked what checks and balances exist to make sure policies are being followed. Chief Gray indicated that a supervisor reviews every incident report and any use of force is also reviewed. Chief Gray stated when a call comes in, they evaluate and triage on scene to decide whether Deanna Lima, the Community Support Coordinator should be called in. In response to a question from Mr. Nobile, Chief Gray stated their biggest challenge is regaining community trust. Mr. Gray also stated residents can call and give medical information so it can be added to the RAVE system and project lifesaver. Update on COVID-19 rd Town Manager Rodrigues reported there were no new cases for 3 day in a row. The playgrounds will th open on June 16 but they will not be cleaning them. Camps will be reopening and curbside pickup at the library has started. Restrictions on gatherings are still in place. NEW BUSINESS Discussion regarding formation of Diversity Commission Included in the packet was a draft prepared by Town Manager Rodrigues regarding the formation of a diversity commission. Ms. Rodrigues explained she would like to start a conversation series to go along with this so everyone can become better educated. Mr. DeCologero was concerned about the proposed Board of Selectmen Minutes June 15, 2020 2 size of the committee. Mr. Vaillancourt stated they should cast a wide net to make sure all are represented. In response to a question from Ms. Bates, Ms. Rodrigues explained that the residents would be chosen the same way the Board chooses members for all their committees. The Town will post the information and accept applications for the appointment subcommittee to review. Vote to sell general obligation bonds of the Town Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Chris Nobile that the Board of Selectmen vote as follows: that the sale of the $2,475,000 General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2020 Bonds of the Town dated June 25, 2020 (the “Bonds”) to Fidelity Capital Markets at the price of $2,835,149.72 and accrued interest is hereby approved and confirmed. The Bonds shall be payable on June 15 of the years and in the principal amounts and bear interest at the respective rates, as follows: Interest Year Amount Rate 2021 $405,000 5.00% 2022 400,000 5.00 2023 400,000 5.00 2024 400,000 5.00 2025 400,000 5.00 2026 95,000 5.00 2027 95,000 5.00 2028 95,000 4.00 2029 95,000 3.00 2030 90,000 2.00 Further that in connection with the marketing and sale of the Bonds, the preparation and distribution of a Notice of Sale and Preliminary Official Statement dated June 4, 2020 and a final Official Statement dated June 11, 2020 (the “Official Statement”), each in such form as may be approved by the Town Treasurer, be and hereby are ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted. Further that the Bonds shall be subject to redemption, at the option of the Town, upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Official Statement. Further that the Town Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen be, and hereby are, authorized to execute and deliver a continuing disclosure undertaking in compliance with SEC Rule 15c2-12 in such form as may be approved by bond counsel to the Town, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference in the Bonds for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds from time to time. Further that we authorize and direct the Town Treasurer to establish post issuance federal tax compliance procedures and continuing disclosure procedures in such forms as the Town Treasurer and bond counsel deem sufficient, or if such procedures are currently in place, to review and update said procedures, in order to monitor and maintain the tax-exempt status of the Bonds and to comply with relevant securities laws. Further that each member of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer be and hereby are, authorized to take any and all such actions, and execute and deliver such certificates, receipts or other documents as may be determined by them, or any of them, to be necessary or convenient to carry into effect the provisions of the foregoing votes. Roll call vote: Smedile-yes; DeCologero-yes; Bates-yes; Nobile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes. Motion approved 5-0. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Update on Town Meeting Town Manager Rodrigues stated that the Finance Committee recommended favorable action on the budget articles. Ms. Rodrigues also stated that the TIF for Amazon will be more than $85 million dollars over 20 years. Board of Selectmen Minutes June 15, 2020 3 ADJOURNMENT Phil DeCologero made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile to adjourn the meeting at 8:45PM. Roll call vote: Nobile-yes; DeCologero-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Bates-yes; Smedile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Laurie A. Burzlaff Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Minutes of June 1 and June 9, 2020 Police training presentation Donation memorandum Diversity Commission information Vote for bonds