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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-25 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN JANUARY 25, 2021 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: Laura Bates, Phil DeCologero, Rosemary Smedile, Richard Vaillancourt and Chairman Chris Nobile. Town Manager, Melissa Murphy Rodrigues 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 None. GOVERNMENT REPORTS FY21 second quarter financials update Ms. Savage presented the financials through 12/31/2020. Ms. Savage stated the following: - Property tax is 47.4%, comparable to last year, slight delay due to software conversion - Motor vehicle excise tax is at 15.4%, 1% over last year at this time - Meals tax is at 25%, considered on target due to the adjustment that the DOR required - Ambulance collections are at 54.75% where last year was at 45% at this time - Interest income is down substantially, other line items will make up the short fall - Snow account has 34% spent - Stevens Estate has struggled due to COVID with 17.3% collections where last year was at 36.9% at this time - $87.8 million in total for cash Mr. Vaillancourt asked Ms. Savage about property taxes if North Andover will be on track. Ms. Savage stated yes. Mr. DeCologero asked about interest income being down and how much 11% is in dollars. Ms. Savage stated a drop of about $200,000.00 in interest. Mr. Nobile asked Ms. Savage about the CARES Act. Ms. Rodrigues stated all the funds from the CARES Act were spent by 12/31/20 and additional expenditures were sent to FEMA. Ms. Rodrigues stated can go to the reserve account if needed for any COVID-19 deficits using free cash transfer at Town Meeting. Ms. Bates asked Ms. Savage what the deficit in dollars is for meals tax. Ms. Savage stated will not have a deficit with meals tax due to the DOR reducing the budget amount. Ms. Savage stated meals tax was budgeted at $602,000.00 and DOR adjusted to $482,000.00 in which $120,000.00 has been collected and should be collected each quarter going forward. Ms. Bates asked Ms. Savage if any money is coming through from the last stimulus. Ms. Savage stated no, not for local aid. Ms. Rodrigues added that Stevens Estate has furloughed one employee and reduced the hours of the other staff. COVID-19 Update Mr. LaGrasse gave an update on the latest COVID-19 numbers. Mr. LaGrasse stated the following: - Trending in the right direction and numbers have leveled off and have come down compared to pre-Thanksgiving numbers - 4.8% positive testing today, 143 active down from 260, 10-20 a day vs previous 30-40 per day positive cases - Completed First Responder clinic - Ordered more vaccines but have been delayed in receiving them, only 100 doses a day are being received. Staff is in place and ready to administer but not enough doses - Massachusetts needs about 1.5 million doses and have received about 748,000 so far - Middleton/Danvers Doubletree Hotel will be the site closest to North Andover for the vaccine clinic Mr. Vaillancourt asked Mr. LaGrasse how it will be scheduled to receive the vaccine. Mr. LaGrasse stated it will be scheduled by appointment. Mr. LaGrasse stated the High School field site has been dedicated in North Andover but have not received many doses but will continue to try. Ms. Rodrigues mentioned using Senior Center vans to transport seniors to the Danvers location. Mr. Vaillancourt asked Mr. LaGrasse how the information for the vaccine clinic will be shared. Mr. LaGrasse stated information will be shared when available. Ms. Rodrigues stated a robocall as well and will have staff available to help with people that do not have internet access. Ms. Rodrigues stated there are four part time RNs to help administer vaccines. Ms. Bates asked Mr. LaGrasse how many vaccines are CVS and other places receiving. Mr. LaGrasse stated he did not know the actual numbers and will reconnect with them. Ms. Rodrigues stated that other states have prioritized the distribution differently. - LICENSING: 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. Vote to amend Alcohol Beverages License Regulations Ms. Smedile explained the changes and amendments to the Alcohol Beverages License Regulations. Ms. Egan explained the two sections of the application process. Ms. Egan stated the two sections are combined into one section that lays out all the details for materials that need to be collected for the application, this change helps to streamline the process and allow for an appeal process by having the commission make the decision. Ms. Bates asked Ms. Egan to walk through the scenario of having two applicants at the same time. Ms. Egan explained the Commission is authorized to review each application on the date and time of submission, the completion and the basis on merits. Ms. Rodrigues added there is a current situation where there are several applicants for an open license. Ms. Bates asked if all of the applicants are compliant then who will receive the license. Ms. Egan stated whoever was first to submit the application. Mr. Vaillancourt referred to the applicants that Ms. Rodrigues mentioned if they are subject to the new regulations. Ms. Rodrigues asked Ms. Egan if they fall under the old policy. Ms. Egan stated it would still go to the Licensing Commission for eligibility. MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to accept the amended Town of North Andover Beverages Regulations 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 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. NEW BUSINESS Appointment of Charles Mathison to the Stevens Estate Advisory Committee MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to appoint Charles Mathison to the Stevens Estate Advisory Committee. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Open warrant for the May 18, 2021 Annual Town Meeting Ms. Rodrigues explained the new process for the Town Meeting warrant. Ms. Rodrigues stated the Board will vote to close the warrant on March 22, 2021 and must be time stamped by the Town Clerk’s office no later than 4:30PM on March 22, 2021. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to open the warrant for the May 18, 2021 Annual Town Meeting. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. Mr. Vaillancourt asked what the motion was. Ms. Rodrigues stated the warrant is now open and will stay open for two months making is a longer period until 3/22/21. CONSENT ITEMS Ms. Smedile thanked the Yee Family from China Blossom for their donations during COVID-19. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to accept all grants and donations presented. Mr. DeCologero seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 14, 2020 AND JANUARY 11, 2021 MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of December 14, 2020. Ms. Smedile seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of January 11, 2021. Ms. Bates seconded. Roll call vote: Bates-yes, DeCologero-yes; Smedile-yes; Vaillancourt-yes; Nobile-yes. Motion approved 5-0. OLD BUSINESS None TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Ms. Rodrigues reported the following: - Recognized Laurie Burzlaff for her work on the Aplin Playground - Recognized Dan Concessi for his retirement from the DPW - RFP for the Stevens Estate is out - Working on food and security program partnering with local restaurants - Recognized Andrew Shapiro for his impressive presentation at the MMA Conference - Working actively on the budget - Working on the agreement in principle with Amazon and will bring to the next meeting for authorization SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS Ms. Bates stated she met with the Sustainability Committee and explained the PACE program. Ms. Bates stated the Sustainability Committee is also working on Earth Day. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Mr. DeCologero to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 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: Financials Memorandum Volunteer Application Grant Donation Minutes