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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2022 Call To Order: Chair Laura Bates called the meeting to order at 7:00PM 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, Chris Nobile, 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 conduct contract negotiations with non- union personnel 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 conduct strategy with respect to conduct contract negotiations with non-union personnel. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. The Board returned to Open Session at 7:00PM. RECOGNITION 1) Fire Chief John Weir recognized Firefighter Dominic Golini as Firefighter of the Year 2) Fire Chief John Weir recognized Communications Officer Natasha Kellogg 3) Police Chief Charles Gray recognized Sergeant Jay Stoude as Police Officer of the Year PUBLIC COMMENT None GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS Sidewalk Connectivity Plan Jean Enright, John Borgesi and Dan Beckley (remote) gave presentation on Sidewalk Connectivity Plan. Ms. Smedile asked Mr. Borgesi if the asphalt cost potential pricing increase has been factored in. Mr. Borgesi stated asphalt has not increased since last construction season but it has been discussed and planned. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if the plan has single sided sidewalks or double sided. Mr. Borgesi stated it is single sided. Ms. Bates asked if it is for upgrades to the current sidewalks. Mr. Borgesi stated yes, they are working at filling the gaps. The $400,000 in the CIP will be for both as well as looking at existing sidewalks that are there and being proactive with the repairs needed. Complete Streets Prioritization Plan Elizabeth Oltman, Director of Transportation Planning of ITS services at TEC and Jean Enright were present and gave a presentation on the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan for North Andover. Ms. Bates asked if sidewalk projects and complete streets project funding will overlap. Ms. Oltman stated yes. Ms. Phillips asked how often the money becomes available. Ms. Oltman stated every four years there is eligibility. Ms. Bates asked if traffic studies and measures will be used. Ms. Oltman stated yes they will be used to narrow down as much as possible while maintaining transit or school bus access. Ms. Bates asked if abutters are notified. Ms. Oltman stated yes when it gets to that point. Update on ARPA Andrew Shapiro and Laurie Burzlaff presented the survey results from ARPA the survey sent to residents. Mr. Vaillancourt asked if there were any feedback about getting employees. Mr. Shapiro stated yes, 50% of shortage of skilled employees was the highest 1 SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2022 problematic issue. Mr. Shapiro mentioned coordinating with Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to coordinate and outreach to manufacturing types of businesses to organize an event to discuss how to hire and retain workforce. Ms. Rodrigues stated North Andover has been strategic in how much has been spent so far taking advantage of grants that state and federal have offered. Ms. Bates asked why there is no new counselor for the high school. Ms. Burzlaff stated they may be fully staffed; the report came from the Superintendent. Ms. Phillips asked what would happen if allocations presented are all fulfilled. Ms. Rodrigues stated will create a short-term appointment to address the issues. Mr. Vaillancourt asked about economic aid for both residences and businesses. Mr. Shapiro suggested that North Andover could seed a revolving loan fund to create sustainable programs. Ms. Burzlaff suggested looking into and coming up with incentive programs. Mr. Nobile mentioned businesses will take advantage of small loans at a cost- effective rate. Ms. Bates asked if POLCO mentioned the return rate of receiving the surveys back if it’s a good rate or not. Ms. Burzlaff stated POLCO responded that it was a usual response rate. Ms. Bates asked to send the survey through the schools to have the school children parents respond. Out of order: Request of North Andover Youth Baseball to use Water Street, Main Street, Waverley Road and Dana Street on April 30, 2022 from 8:15AM to 10:00AM for their annual opening day parade MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve the request of North Andover Youth Baseball to use Water Street, Main Street, Waverley Road and Dana Street on April 30, 2022 from 8:15AM to 10:00AM for their annual opening day parade. Ms. Smedile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Update on Royal Crest Ms. Rodriguez gave an update on Royal Crest. Ms. Rodrigues stated the changes as follows: 1 ) Setbacks on Route 114 were increased to 70 feet from property line. Exception of Signature Building at Town green. 2 ) Student housing building set back 146 feet from property line 163 feet from roadway 3 ) Existing mature trees on Route 114 will be remaining 4 ) Setbacks from property line around entire site are equal to a greater than last plan 5) Increase amount of open space 6 ) Building max of four stories 7 ) All building max of 70 feet 8 ) Reduce student housing by 176 beds, reduce townhouses by one and reduce office building by 15,500 square feet Facilities Master Plan II Report th Ms. Rodrigues stated on April 4 there will be a Town Hall meeting full presentation. Update on MassDOT Route 114 Improvements at Hillside Road Ms. Rodrigues explained the design change for Route 114 at Hillside Rd. The design being proposed will allow residents to access Hillside Rd. going south and drivers going to Route 114 would need to use bypass to get there, create a pedestrian access to Route 114, new signal at Route 114 and Hillside Rd. with crosswalks. Ms. Rodrigues stated Chestnut Green may consider closing their existing curb cuts on Route 114 to aid safety improvements. Mr. Vaillancourt asked what the problem is that they’re trying to solve. Ms. Rodrigues stated that vehicles are not supposed to be able to cut through one highway to another. Ms. Rodrigues stated the plans presented are for informational purpose and no vote needs to be taken. A resident spoke at the meeting stating his concerns about accessing the cut through to get to his home. The resident offered alternative plans. The resident asked to have a blinking left light put in on the Route 125 side. Mr. Shapiro stated looking at all plans the staff feels keeping the current plan in place is best but will consult with MassDOT. 2 SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2022 Discussion regarding Scholfield Mill Ms. Rodrigues gave an update regarding Schlofield Mill. Ms. Rodrigues stated Schlofield Mill project has been delayed due to cost to rehabilitate the building as well as COVID increases costs to renovate. Ms. Rodrigues stated estimates have been requested to move forward, search for an architect and contractor that work with historical buildings and stated prevailing wages need to be used which causes projects to become more extensive. Mr. Vaillancourt asked what source of damage was. Ms. Rodrigues stated Powderpost beetles caused the damage. Ms. Bates asked what the goal is, to make it sound or to make it usable. Ms. Rodrigues stated both. Stan Lambert, 43 Stonecleave Rd, suggested the Historical Society could possibly get involved with managing the mill when it is renovated. Mr Limpert spoke about looking at two options for the building, as a retail building or as a historical building. Ms. Rodrigues mentioned the upcoming study for the use of the current Senior Center and can include the Schofield Mill as well. Vote and sign the warrant for the March 29, 2022 annual election MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to approve and sign the warrant for the March 29, 2022 annual election. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Request of Nadine Levin of Pipe Dream Cupcakes for a Mobile Food Truck permit MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to approve the request of Nadine Levin of Pipe Dream Cupcakes for a Mobile Food Truck permit. Mr. Nobile seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Confirm Town Manager’s appointment of Sean Kevlahan to the Planning Board as an Associate Member MOTION: Mr. Vaillancourt motioned to confirm the Town Manager’s appointment of Sean Kevlahan to the Planning Board as an associate member for a term ending June 30, 2024. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Appointment of William R. Callahan to the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund Committee MOTION: Ms. Phillips motioned to appoint William R. Callahan to the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund Committee for a term ending June 30, 2023. Mr. Vaillancourt seconded. Motion approved 5-0. APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 7, 2022 MOTION: Mr. Nobile motioned to approve the Open Session minutes of February 7, 2022. Ms. Phillips seconded. Motion approved 5-0. Town Manager’s Report th Ms. Rodrigues stated that there are currently 20 COVID cases and the warrant closes on March 14 at 4:30PM. Select Board Report Ms. Smedile mentioned they are in the process of putting banners back up that were affected by the high winds. 3 SELECT BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 28, 2022 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Mr. Nobile made a MOTION, seconded by Ms. Phillips to adjourn the Select Board meeting at 9:17PM. Motion approved 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Jillian A. Brothers Executive Assistant _______________________________ Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Clerk of the Board Documents used at meeting: Memorandum Minutes Presentations Letters 4