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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-02 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN NOVEMBER 2, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chris Nobile called the meeting to order at 7:00PM. 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: Laura Bates, Phil DeCologero, Rosemary Smedile, Richard Vaillancourt and Chris Nobile. Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, Deputy Town Manager, Denise Casey and Director of Administrative Services, Laurie Burzlaff were all present. Chairman Nobile 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 limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Board of Selectmen will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town’s website, at www.northandoverma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. 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 in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. Public Comment One public comment from Jennifer Goldman was received. Ms. Rodrigues read the comment. Ms. Rodrigues called Ms. Goldman to see if there was anything additional. Ms. Goldman stated there were no additional comments other than her letter. National Grid petition to construct underground conduits on High Street MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to open the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid petition to construct underground conduits on High Street. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero- yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Paul Pellegrini gave an update about the underground conduits on High Street. Mr. Vaillancourt asked when the work will be completed. Mr. Pellegrini answered by February or March 2021. Mr. Vaillancourt asked how it will be done. Mr. Pellegrini stated a trench will be made and restored to the Town’s specifications. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if directional drilling was an option so that the street did not have to be opened. Mr. Pellegrini stated he would look into it. Ms. Rodrigues stated the preference would be not to open up streets and will allow the work but must have trench restoration up to one year. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to close the public hearing to receive comments regarding the National Grid petition to construct underground conduits on High Street. Ms. Smedile seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero- yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Update on COVID-19 Brian LaGrasse gave an update on COVID-19. Mr. LaGrasse stated there are 57 active cases to which 7 are from Merrimack College. 90% of the numbers are families and close contacts. There is a shift to younger population 18-40 years old. The testing rate has gone up and the positive percentage rate is up as well. New executive order issued by the Governor will go th into place Friday November 6. Ms. Rodrigues stated Town Manager Andrew Flanagan agreed to start a new map where Andover will be taking into count the students that are at Merrimack College and on their Town property. North Andover will assist Andover with contact th tracing, this will start on Saturday November 7. Licensing Commissioners (out of order) MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Application for Common Victualler and Entertainment license from Elis Khoury d/b/a Pita Thyme- 550 Turnpike Street Elis Khoury, owner of Pita Thyme, was present on the call. Mr. Vaillancourt asked about the name of the restaurant and a concern of a similar name to a current restaurant in Town called Thyme. Mr. Khoury stated he has a trademark for the name and is willing to speak with the owners of Thyme. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the request of Elis Khoury d/b/a Pita Thyme for a common victualler license and entertainment license at 550 Turnpike Street, as presented. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates- yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to close the meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Vote on National Grid petition to construct underground conduits on High Street MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve National Grid petition #28274420 to construct underground conduits on High Street, with conditions that National Grid adheres to North Andover guidelines. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 FY22 Budget Policy Statement (out of order) Ms. Rodrigues stated the FY22 budget season will be unique to anticipate challenges. Ms. Rodrigues stated if a transfer needs to be made from the Stabilization Fund it may not make sense to put into fund as well. The statement shall establish the outer limits of possible budget growth for the Town. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to accept the Budget Policy Statement as presented. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Vote on letter to Health Department No action. Approval of Open Session Minutes of October 26, 2020 (out of order) MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned the Board of Selectmen approve the Open Session minutes of October 26, 2020 as written. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Appointments 1. Joe Nahil- Council on Aging 2. George Hadigannis- Sustainability 3. William DiAdamo- Cable TV Advisory 4. Tim True- Neighborhood Conservation District 5. Thomas Dugan - Festival Committee MOTION: Mr. DeCologero motioned to appoint Joe Nahil to the Council on Aging for a term ending June 30, 2022, George Hadigannis to the Sustainability Committee for a term ending June 30, 2023, William DiAdamo to the Cable TV Advisory Committee for a term ending June 30, 2022, Tim True to the Neighborhood Conservation District Commission for a term ending June 20, 2022 and Thomas Dugan to the Festival Committee for a term ending June 30, 2021. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Update from Eversource William Akley, President of Gas Operations at Eversource gave update and stated that as of October 9, 2020 Eversource has taken over Columbia Gas. Kelly Merritt, Community Relations Specialist at Eversource, stated he will be the primary point of contact for North Andover. Also present on the call were John Hoey, Executive Director of Communications at Eversource and Seth Krueger, Engineer at Eversource. Mr. Vaillancourt asked Mr. Akley about the scope of the assessment of the infrastructure that will be completed by September 2021. Mr. Akley stated that all work that has already been done will be taken out and that everything will be risk ranked and made public. Ms. Bates asked how Eversource will differ from Columbia Gas. Mr. Akley stated they are more experienced with both the electric and gas background. Mr. Akley added the risk rank assessment will help to determine how to manage effectively. Old Business None Town Manager’s Report Ms. Rodrigues gave the following updates: - Taylor Andrews has joined the Conservation Department - Two part time Nurses and a part time Health Inspector have been hired for a one year period to assist with COVID-19. - Part time Plumbing and Gas Inspectors have been hired - Four promotions to Lieutenant at the Fire Department - Two Public Works Engineering Interns are working on special projects - Veterans Day this year will be virtual - Three winners of the North Andover Halloween Spooky Town are Kelly W., Jessica S. and the Cormier Family Mr. Vaillancourt asked Ms. Rodrigues about the open position for IT Director. Ms. Rodrigues stated there have been 60 applicants and there is currently a consultant from ePlus on call. Ms. Rodrigues stated East Water Street neighborhood paving for sidewalks and roadwork completed by Thanksgiving and working on designing Project 2. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. Rodrigues about the annual holiday parade and tree lighting. Ms. Rodrigues stated most likely will not be hosting any types of social gatherings events. Ms. Smedile stated she spoke with Jeff Coco, Chair of the Festival Committee, and he agreed with no social gathering events. Select Board Comments Ms. Smedile commented on how well Halloween went. Ms. Smedile spoke about the Holiday Wreath orders that they usually have about 90 wreaths but have received over 300 orders this year. She stated that they will try to accommodate as many orders as possible. Ms. Smedile commented that Lya Morse from Elder Services was nominated to be a part of Massachusetts Latinx Trailblazer and Trendsetter Group. Mr. DeCologero asked when wreaths are put up are the banners stored at DPW. Ms. Rodrigues stated yes. Adjournment MOTION: Ms. Bates made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Smedile to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 PM. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0 Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Richard Vaillancourt, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Public Comment form FY22 Budget Policy Statement Application National Grid correspondence Volunteer Forms Minutes