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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-10 Board of Selectmen Minutes SELECT BOARD MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2022 Call To Order: Chairperson Laura Bates called the meeting to order at 6:00PM in the Town Hall Select Board Meeting Room. The open session meeting was recorded. Attendance: Chair Laura Bates, Janice Phillips, Clerk Rosemary Smedile, Richard Vaillancourt, Town Manager- Melissa Murphy Rodrigues, and Deputy Town Manger- Denise Casey (remote) were present. Not Present: Chris Nobile EXECUTIVE SESSION Chair Bates stated the Board will enter Executive session to conduct strategy with respect to litigation, to discuss strategy with respect to consider purchase of real estate, approve executive session minutes and declared that an open meeting will have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the Board. MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned the Select Board enter into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(6) to consider purchase of real estate and to review and approve Executive Session minutes. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Mr. Vaillancourt recused himself from the Executive Session. The Board returned to Open Session at 7:03PM. PUBLIC COMMENT None PUBLIC HEARING & VOTE- Joint Petition of Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England to install a pole on Sutton Street MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to open the public hearing for the joint petition of National Grid and Verizon New England to install a pole located on Sutton Street. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Dave Boucher of National Grid was present at the meeting via remote. Mr. Boucher explained the need to put in heavier lines and to put in a stub pole across the street to support the heavy wires for the new North Andover Senior Center. Mr. Vaillancourt asked how high a stub pole is. Mr. Boucher explained about 35-40’ for a stub pole, pole location will be about 12’ off the road and the FAA gave approval of the work in their space. Ms. Bates asked how many wires will be crossing the street. Mr. Boucher stated one. MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to close the public hearing for the joint petition of National Grid and Verizon New England to install a pole located on Sutton Street. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 4-0. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the petition of National Grid and Verizon New England-#29988790 subject to the conditions contained in the proposed order as presented. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. LICENSING MOTION: Ms. Smedile motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Ms. Bates acted as Licensing Commission in Mr. Nobile’s absence. PUBLIC HEARING & VOTE- Application of Sunj, Inc. d/b/a Town Mart, 260 Winthrop Avenue for change of officers/directors/LLC, change of stock interest and change of manager 1 SELECT BOARD MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2022 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to open the public hearing for the application of Sunj, Inc. d/b/a Town Mart, 260 Winthrop Avenue for change of officers/directors/LLC, change of stock interest and change of manager. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Attorney Jill Mann and Patesh Patel were present via remote. Attorney Mann explained the changes. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to close the public hearing for the application of Sunj, Inc. d/b/a Town Mart, 260 Winthrop Avenue for change of officers/directors/LLC, change of stock interest and change of manager. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 4-0. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the application for change of officers/directors/LLC, change of stock interest and change of manager from Sunj, In. d/b/a Town Mart at 260 Winthrop Avenue. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. NEW BUSINESS Appoint Jim Fazio to the Festival Committee MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to appoint Jim Fazio to the Festival Committee through June 30, 2022. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 4-0. COVID-19 UPDATE Ms. Rodrigues gave an update of COVID-19: -322 cases most are from the 30-49 age bracket. -25% are household cluster -1 additional death- 94 total -Numbers are based over 5-day isolation changed from the 10-day data that was previously used -Cases average 55 a day -Cases seem to be the Omicron virus which is a less severe virus Ms. Rodrigues stated that Town building are in skeleton crew, buildings are open and that school data is different from Town data since they have different dates they go by and their staff may be residing in a different town. Ms. Smedile asked if they know which strand of virus, Delta or Omicron, each have. Ms. Rodrigues stated that pooled testing is still being conducted so cannot tell which one it is. Ms. Phillips asked if there is a way to create a form for residents to report having COVID now that home tests are being accepted. Ms. Rodrigues stated she would look into it. Ms. Bates asked about the upcoming vaccine clinics. Ms. Rodrigues stated the YWCA clinic is coming up, Fenway Park has a site open and North Andover is looking to conduct one as well in February. Ms. Bates asked if any more testing sites will be opening. Ms. Rodrigues stated she has not heard of any additional sites opening. CONSENT ITEMS A. Accept donations to the library and fire department B. Accept Municipal Americans with Disabilities grant in the amount of $52,000 for a self-evaluation and transition plan C. Surplus DPW equipment and vehicles MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve and accept all consent items. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 4- 0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF DECEMBER 13, 2021 2 SELECT BOARD MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2022 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of December 13, 2021 with note in Executive Session stating Mr. Vaillancourt recused himself from the Executive Session. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 4-0. Town Manager’s Report Ms. Rodrigues gave the following report: -Employees of the Year for 2021: Toni Wolfenden and John Wood th -Lyne Savage received the FY21 Distinguished Budget Excellence Award for the 12 year -FMP II meeting coming up on 1/13 -Planning Board requested a water demand report. Report is finalized and is posted on website -Recent survey has been completed. Data is being complied and will be received soon Select Board’s Report -Ms. Phillips thanked the DPW for the plowing in the recent storm -Ms. Bates spoke about the upcoming extremely cold weather -Ms. Smedile spoke about checking in on elderly neighbors in the frigid weather -Mr. Vaillancourt asked to add information about the digital vaccine cards to the Town website Ms. Smedile asked if other boards are going completely remote. Ms, Rodrigues stated some have gone back to remote meetings, the decision is left up to the chair. Ms. Rodrigues stated under Open Meeting Law, the extension is through April 2022. Mr. Vaillancourt asked about the Mayors and Managers Breakfast. Ms. Rodrigues stated she may not attend. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Phillips to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 7:40 PM. Motion approved 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Memorandum Letter Donation Minutes Presentations 3