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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-07 Board of Selectmen Minutes SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 7, 2022 Call To Order: Chair Laura Bates called the meeting to order at 6:30PM 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, Director of Administrative Services- Laurie Burzlaff and Deputy Town Manger- Denise Casey were present. 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 5-0. Mr. Vaillancourt recused himself from the Executive Session. The Board returned to Open Session at 7:00PM. 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 Commerce Way MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to open the public hearing for the joint petition of National Grid and Verizon New England to install a pole located on Commerce Way. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Dave Boucher of National Grid was present at the meeting via remote. Mr. Boucher explained the need to bring overhead wires to the customer’s location on Commerce Way and adding a pole. Mr. Nobile asked when the project would be starting. Mr. Boucher stated in a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the customer. Ms. Bates asked if this will be a stub pole. Mr. Boucher stated yes. Ms. Smedile asked how long the pole will be in place. Mr. Boucher stated it will be permanent unless service is discontinued. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to close the public hearing for the joint petition of National Grid and Verizon New England to install a pole located on Commerce Way. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the joint petition of Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc. to install a pole on Commerce Way. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Ms. Smedile asked if Mr. Boucher could look into the stub pole on Main Street near Dunkin Donuts. Mr. Boucher stated he will have someone look into it and get back to the Select Board on it. LICENSING MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to open a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING & VOTE- Application for an all alcohol off premises package store license from Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a Liquor Junction, 1280 Osgood Street 1 SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 7, 2022 Attorney Michael Novaria of Rubin & Rudman, representing Liquor Junction, and Kajal Patel of Liquor Junction were present at the meeting. Mr. Nobile asked what the timeline is. Mr. Patel stated about four months, opening by summer. MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to open the public hearing for the application for an all alcohol off premises package store license from Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a Liquor Junction, 1280 Osgood Street. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Ms. Bates stated that 19 people voted to respond in a favorable manner. Ms. Bates reminded Mr. Patel that North Andover is a college town. Ms. Smedile stated that out of state licenses are not acceptable forms of ID and if accepted will be accepted at own risk. Bob Boland was present at the meeting. Mr. Boland is the landlord at 1280 Osgood St who spoke in favor of the applicant. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to close the public hearing for the application for an all alcohol off premises package store license from Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a Liquor Junction, 1280 Osgood Street. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to approve the application for an all alcohol off premises package store license from Kajal and Kevin LLC d/b/a Liquor Junction, 1280 Osgood Street. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. MOTION: Ms. Bates motioned to close a meeting of the North Andover Licensing Commission. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Vote to accept FY23-FY27 Capital Improvement Plan Ms. Bates stated in full disclosure that the company she works for will be involved with a couple of projects in the Capital Improvement Plan which are the door to Denise Casey’s office and the roof top unit being replaced at the police station. Ms. Rodrigues went over the Capital Improvement Plan and gave presentation. Ms. Rodrigues stated the Town is trying to maintain the debt capacity level to save for large projects moving forward. Mr. Nobile asked where the ratio will be with this passing. Ms. Rodrigues stated 4%. Mr. Nobile asked if there is anything that could shift this year that would impact the capital. Ms. Rodrigues stated no. Ms. Bates asked what comparable towns have in free cash. Ms. Rodrigues stated North Andover is high due to Colombia Gas fund, Amazon permit fee and Planning Board fees. Most towns have about $6 million and currently North Andover has $12 million. MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned accept the FY23-FY27 Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Town Manager’s Recommended FY23 Budget Ms. Rodrigues gave a presentation on the FY23 Budget. Ms. Rodrigues explained that the use of exact numbers are being used by looking at the permits pulled and the value of the construction on the permits. Ms. Rodrigues went over highlights and changes with the Police and Fire Departments. Ms. Phillips spoke about the concern of having just one firefighter on a ladder during a call. Ms. Smedile stated concern with the area that the police and fire have to cover and not having enough staff. Mr. Vaillancourt stated the time is right to increase staffing for the safety of the first responders and the public. Ms. Bates asked about the percentage of calls going to Royal Crest and Merrimack College. Ms. Rodrigues stated the police have responded 1,673 over the 10-year period, about 167 calls per year for police department. Chief Gray was present at the meeting and stated the plan is to increase the shift with an additional person. Ms. Smedile asked Ms. Rodrigues regarding the OPEB if the pace is being kept. Ms. Rodrigues stated by FY40 North Andover can start putting revenue toward OPEB. Ms. Bates asked what the Festival Committee’s budget will be put toward. Ms. Rodrigues stated it will be used to enhance the community events like the annual fireworks. Ms. Rodrigues stated there is a festival grant North Andover will be applying for. Ms. Bates asked if there is a long-term plan to fix the issue GLSD has with the overflows into the Merrimack River. Ms. Rodrigues stated the state funds have been appropriated under ARPA funding so will not fall under repairs within the budget. Ms. Bates asked if ARPA funding has been put into the budget. Ms. Rodrigues stated no. Stan Limpert of 43 Stonecleave Rd asked if the spending of free cash will have an impact on the bond rating. Ms. Rodrigues stated it should be replenished 2 SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 7, 2022 again this year, not to what it was this year but free cash is being moved to other stabilization accounts which is what is looked at as favorable with the bond rating. Appointments 1. Charlotte Lyons to the Cultural Council 2. Taylor Mace to the Poet Laureate Committee 3. Christa Lamb to the Poet Laureate Committee MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to appoint Charlotte Lyons to the Cultural Council for a term ending June 30, 2023, appoint Taylor Mace to the Poet Laureate Committee for a term ending June 30, 2024 and appoint Christa Lamb to the Poet Laureate Committee for a term ending June 30, 2024. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2022 MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of January 24, 2022. Mr. Nobile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Town Manager’s Report Ms. Rodrigues stated that 92 small businesses in the testing program were given 306 tests. Ms. Casey stated she was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Board. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Ms. Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Mr. Nobile to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 8:42PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Memorandum Letter Minutes Presentations 3