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Home My WebLink About1980-12-22 Board of Selectmen Minutes Z34 DECEMBER 22, 1980. The Board of Selectmen held their regular meeting on this date with all members p~esent; Selectmen Charles A. Salisbury, Ralph R. Joyce, John W. Graham, R. Louis DiFruscio with Chairman Thomas J. McEvoy presiding. The minutes and warrant were approved as submitted. STEVEN BREEN: Letter received from Attorney Reginald Marden containing a notice of claim against the Conservation Commission and the Board of Selectmen from Steven Breen. The Board accepted the letter for filing. CONSERVATION COMMISSION: James Lafond and other members of the Conservation Commission appeared before the Board protesting the refusal of the Court to serve an injunction on Steve Breen to cease building on alleged wetlands. Breen was told to file a Notice o f Intent as everyone else does, but refused to do so. As a result, the Conservation Commission served him a cease and desist order to stop building until the matter was resolved, an order that he ignored. The Conservation Commission then went to court to have an injunction served on Breen to cease and desist, but the court refused. Lafond and others of the Commission wanted to know if they had the full support of the Selectmen to authorize themto appeal the Judge's decision, who, obviously, did not digest the law. John Splendore stated that he was honored to serve on the Conservation Commission even though he was a busy man, but asked the question, "Are we going to protect the Wetlands Act or not and do the Selectmen want to support the Conservation Commission or not?" If not, his time spent on the Conservation Commission would be wasted. Selectman Salisbury answered,"Yas, the Conservation Commis- sion should be supported fully; the Conservation COmmission is charged to uphold the Wetlands Law. Jim Lafond said that all the C.C. wants is an in- junction to Breen tO stop work until he files a "Notice of Intent." Chairman McEvoy and Selectmen Graham stated that the. Conservation Commission ha~ the full support of the Board. Selectman Joyce explained the Judge's action, he acted only on the preliminary injunction, not the Wetlands Act action. DEPT. OF REVENUE-REVALUATION: Ted Phelan, Rep. Joe Hermann and George Barker, Board of Assessors, appeared before the Board to discuss the letter from the Dept. of Revenue which stated that the Board of Assessors assessed values of Town property did. not represent a full and fair cash value in accordance with the Commissioner's certification standards. The Assessors stated that the Commission was not qualified udge Town's assessments and requested the Selectmen ask for a review of the conditions in the letter with a complete explanation of how they arrived at the results stated in the letter. Selectman Graham stated that he was con- cerned about the dates in the letter...what happens if we do not meet date? The Assessors said they will send a registered letter tomorrow, December 23, to the Commissioners of Taxation requesting a certification of facts and an. extension of time. DOG OFFICER: Gene Northam, DoE 0 ~ficer, appeared before the Board and they climbed aboard the same Merry - Go - Round to discuss the Dog Officer'over spending his bud§ets. In 5 1/2 months, he has spent the year's appropriation for Bulger Animal Hospital. Selectman Graham stated that when they approved a?tranRfer last year for him, they expected him to keep within his budget. Discussion ensued as to how he could cut down expenses and concluded with Selectman Salisbury advising Northam to live within his budget and, if necessary, cut down on his dog catching. HIGH STREET: Letter received from Police Chief in response to a signed petition of High Street residents to have the speeding controlled on the' street. Chief Donnelly advised and strongly urged that High Street close down one side for parking. He stated that the street was very narrow and parking on both sides makes the street narrower. He also stated that his officers have Been ticketing anyone speeding on the street. Leonard Windle, High Street resident, stated that the petition he signed was for speed control only...that having the cars parked on both sides of street slowed the passing vehicles down, that they couldn't speed because of the narrow roadway caused by the parking ears. The parked cars also protected pedestrians on the small sidewalks; the side- walks were very narrow with no curbing. Selectmen voted to refer discussion to the Police Chief who will be aske6 to confer with the residents. DECEMBER 22, 1980 (continued) STREET LIGHTING: 23~ Street lighting was discussed and survey Brian presented. Frank Papa, a resident of Sharpner's Pond Road was present to request a street light or str~t, %ight~ih the vicini~M .off. the three..homes~on.the .road. ,He..:,stated that it ~'S' ~itch bla~'~n~ that h~'66ul'~n'~t aiYo~'hi~' '~hi~d~en to' go to the other homes at night because of the ].ack of light. He stated that the lights would ~ discou=age the prevailing vandalism, littering and parking. Selectman Salis- bury asked him if he would consider installing a post light as he and many others do in front of their houses where there are no street lights. Papa stated that he keeps a floodlight on. Also brought up by Selectman DiFruscio was the possibility of the residents paying for a street light to be installed on a co-op basis. Brian stated that it would cost approximately $50. per year. Selectmen voted to have Brian zheck with Mass. Electric re private rates of street lights. They also voted unanimously to eliminate street lights as per the survey...to install a larger lumen light at the intersection of Rt. 114 and Sharpener's Pond Road and to install a 4000 mvp street light at the intersection of Forest Street and Sharpener's Pond Road on pole 298. TAX RELIEF ACTION COMMITTEE: The Board discussed the need for members with expertise on the above-named committee and appointed Richard Hart Harrington, a CPA, as a member of the com~nittee. Selectman Joyce brought up the fact that the Town could generate new revenue through user fees i.e. water and sewer rates. Board stated that would be a duty of the committee to research this possible revenue. They voted to request the Board of Public Works to attend their meeting next week with a list of water and sewer rates. COMMUNITY CENTER: A change order was.approved by the Board for the repair of the Community Cente~ roof and renovation of the kitchen. PROCLAMAT]DN: The Board voted to proclaim the week of January 11 Cerebral Palsy Week.. through the 18th as United Word was received that a Community Developmen Block Grant representing $455,100.'00 for. direct.improvements to the Town's public housing had been awarded to the Town of North Andover. The Selectmen expressed their apprecia~ tion and congratulations to Louis Minicucci, Gayton Osgood, Susan St. Pierre and Brian Sullivan who worked long hours on the application for this grant. USER FEES: Selectman Joyce stated that the Town should look into ~mcreas~ng user fees to generate new revenue i.e. water and sewer rates. It was voted to,quest the B csrd of Public Works to meet.lwith the Selectmen to go over their list of rates. LICENSING COMMISSIONERS: A?PROVED: Renewal of Common Victualer licenses to Burger King and Cumberland Farms. One-day liquor license, January 20, 1981, for Class of '82 at Last Class Pub, Merrimack College. ~/ ~ Alice.~. Letarte, Secretary ~*****************~,.~- .--~. ~ -~.-f~ Clerk