HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-11-18 Board of Selectmen Minutes November lB, 1982. Community Development Dept. re: Senior Center. 4~,~
The Board of Selectmen held a special/meeting ch.:this date:to~discuss the Community Develop-
ment Office and the progress of the Senior Center project.: Chairman ~IcE.voy ~pened the
meeting with the comment that the Senior Center had been scheduled to be at least half-built
by this time and if you look out back nothing has been done on it. He went on to say that
they had Secretary Matthews in Town looking at the plans, the architect and Community
Development have put before us something they have called the "White Elephant" o~' Taj Mahal
because of the elaborate design for a Senior Center. He went on to say that we have now
been down the road about a year and a half with the Community Development which some of us
didn't even know we hsd until we were presented with memos mud Stationery of a Community
Development office. We had no problem with that and we accepted it. But we have had some
problems of late and they are very serious problems. We met on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday last weekend, we met Monday again this week. We also met with Secretary Matthews
at our annual convention over this problem and we are here tonight to find, out wnare we
stand and to discuss the Community Development Department and its ability to function under
"' the-direction of Mr. Osgood. He then asked for statements from the individual Selectmen.
No statements were forthcoming. Chairman McEvoy then stated that the basic problem as they
saw it is the Director, Mr. Osgood, his inability to bring the projects that are necessary to
meet the goals of the grants up to date and moving ahead. As he said before, we have a
Senior Center out back that hasn't got off the ground. The only project started was the
Library and that came out underbid and we had to straighten that out by getting more money
to put it back on track. We have had the Fidelity Center downtown on Main Street . .it cost
us $60,000 to fix that up and for that price we could'have h~g1~Snew house. But, anyhow,
he went on to say, this .seems to be the problem that Mr. Osgood doesn't seem to be able to
get the programs that this Board, or I should say some of the members of this Board feel
shoulU he in function now and should almost be done. He asked Mr. Osgood if had anything
say. Mr. Osgood said that it seemed to him that the Board should know why the Senior
Center isn't up, you people have been informed all along, it is not as if you don't know
what is go. lng on, that there are problems,you are aware of those. You act as if it is a
big 'sUrpmse that the Senior Center isn't built. You have been kept abrest of this situa-
tion all along, there have been a lot of things, first it was going to be built up on the
old'Community Center property and it took months, actually it took the Board a long time
to make up their mind where they wanted the Senior Center. It is not a simple process,
that we went through.~, put a lot of thought and a lot of time into it and, as far as other
projects go, all our other projects that I had control of are complete. The only other
project that that we haven't drawn money done on is public housing, improvements to the
Veterans housing and those projects are actually.~held up by the State. These projects are
un'der the control of the Housing Authority and the Housing Authority have been having
difficulty getting approval from the State for the plans. But it will be soon straightened
out::'as' it is out for bids. It seems that there is only one project he is having a problem
with,and that is the Senior Center. He knows that Byron Matthews talks about it as being a
Taj Mahal or whatever it is but believe me'there was a lot of thought put into that buildin
into the design of the building and I wasn't the only one that put their imput into that
process. It isn't something that I designed on my own, there were a lot of people who work
on that including many Senior Citizens.on jthe design of that building. We were in here with
the~design and model of the building and plans of the building a long time ago. The Board
had a lot of time to look at them and if you thought it was too much of a building, that
when you should have sa.id something, not now. Ch. McEvoy asked what the price was for the
building and Gayton replied that itwas in the vicinity of $350,000 to $400,000 and stated
the bid price was $525,00. McEvoy stated that what bothers him' more than anything else was
is. that we all want the Senior Center out in the hack and we all want them to have their
Senior Center but their are limits tomand the Board gave Gayton the figure of $340,000
we started out originally with $250,O00L~uP at the Community Center and we got up to $344,000
and everybgdy seems to feel that that figure we could build a Senior Center that everybody
would be proud of and now we are up to a figure of $525,000..m Gayton said you are aware of
what the problems are, you can't just sit there and throw off"'all on me as~if you didn't
know what was going on.
Sel~ctma6 Graham stated that he would like to review the sequence of events as he saw them.
Originally, we were awarded for this program a 2.4 million 3 year grant from Hud that was
set on a certain set of ground rules and a plan, certain projects to be done over a period
of 3 years. North Andover was awarded based on those projects; North Andover was awarded
the 2.4 million..$800,O00 a year. In the original first year of that plan was a sum of
money for a Senior Center, because at that time we were talking about a Senior Center up at
the old Cumminty Center, the original budgel-at that time was about $230,000. After that
time, however, we went through some thinking process with the Elderly,.-'etc. and it came out
that it would probably be better to have the Senior Center down town and with that the
adjustment in the figure went from $230,000 to $344,000. Now that was the time when appar-
ently the State contacted Osgood and was advised of the new figure and the State did not
have any problem with that. Now, recently I was reading in the Citizen a few months ago tha~
the Senior Center~ had gone up to $400,000. That disturbed me so I called up Gayton about
that and he told me that the cost was still $344,000 but at the next Monday's meeting he
found out that the price of the center was $525,000. That to me is a significant difference
There are a couple of things that are really disturbing here .... The fact is, how come the ·
~lumber went from $344,000 to $525,000 when $344,000. was the price in the first place.
Mow could the architect be off so much? I would l~ke to point out als? that that $525,000
cost is the cost based on what an architect considers a ~kt~ai~v, estimate so if you really
take into consideration that you might have change orders on that, the cost will be more.
~26 November 18, 1982 (continued) Page 2.
Graham went on to say there are a couple things disturbing him.. First of all~ this apparently
was not reviewed with the Commissioner in Boston, the $525,000 so when Gayton comes in
here with a $525,000 , he gets the: approval of the Selectmen and I will point out, I
don't know whether Carolyn is here or not, the Selectmen at that meeting were quite, dis-
turbed at the fact that it was at that high a price. It turns.out.that the State apparently
weren't aware of this $525,000 so after the Selectmen approve ~t/~es into Boston and
it gets bounced. So we have a couple go arounds with Matthews, and that is where we are
today. The problem is, however, in no way should a project like that or a change in the
numbers like that ever get to be brought before the Board of Selectmen before its at least
run through Boston to find'if it is acceptable or not. Now .',we are in the position here,
Ladies and Gentlemen, where we are 'probably going to have a lot of difficulty in getting
that Senior Center in the back here, we probably m.ght have to go through an architect again
and review the whole situation about the Senior Center because if we don't get started now
and we are not going to start until the Spring time costs money, materials go up, labor
goes up and instead of having a price of $344,000 we will have less. The bottom line here
is the following: we have about $600,000 left of the 1st year $800,000 grant. We have
1.6 million for the nex 2 years on those grants. In addition to that, there is a possibil-
ity that something may be done in the Davis & Furber area which will be some additional
money. That's not sure but it is a possibility and it exists. The plain fact of the matter
is that I, as a representative of you, this Town, realize that this may be the only shot
that we get at this money , we can't take any more chances, we've got to. make the maximum
use of the money we have and we've got to have people running these.programs.that w! have
faith in ,that are going to get the job done for the money . I thin, we have a credibility
problem in Boston right now, there is no question about that, and we must correct that.
The only thing we can do as far as I am concerned is to make a change in the Community'
Development Department, I think that is our only hope. I, personally, as one member of
this Board would feel negligent if I didn't say this, because there are dangers with the
money. If we do not utilize the money, and blow it, we've had it. We have been'gi'ven the
money and we've got to make the best use of it. A comment was made by a citizen that,
by the same token, if you switch now, you'll have to start all over, get a new architect,
etc. in mid stream, a new Director, go back to square I reviewing everything Gayton has
done. . Graham replied that it was his feeling at this time that there are capablepeople
that are possibly available that would make themselves available and useful for this purpose
if only for. an interim basis so we could get the thing straightened out. He was a~ked if
this person would be as familiar with the project as Gayton and Graham replied I thinkso.
Mr. Lambert, Vice Chairman of the Council On Aging, said that for the last 7 years they
had been trying to get this pcroject underway. We thought ~hat we h~d got the Selectmen's
attention at the .time when you proposed a grantor, accepted a grant for remodeling of the
Community Center for a Senior Center. Since then we have never really got aK, committment
from you particularly to the Council On Aging and we did think that contract would get
your attention and help. Your a~titude has not been very progressive . We have ~ad
several meetings with Gayton Osgood and~we have received critizims on the size and the
space available and he has always, been very comforting and we knew that we had a champion.
for our cause. He kept us informed on every situation it seems to me that the Board has
been informed accordingly. Of course prices are going up but it seems to me that you
would be very unfair to the Senior citizens to scrap the project at this time and base
your opinion that we might get the Davis & Furber at some future time. It seems to me
that.~you have.let us.down, and you have further letus down by getting rid of a person
that we know ~s working towards that. project, who knows a great deal about it. It
seems to me that the. remarks of Selectman Graham is very doubted and I don't think it is
going to be any k~nd of any accomplishment to get,rid of our Center and and our sponsor.
Mr. Breen than asked Selectman Graham if he had a ~erson in his mind that could fill in
for Gayton Osgood.. Graham replied, that, though he didn't know what his work load:~was,
but he named Louis Minicucci. Emily Murphy stated that she had been fighting for some
place for 15 years and you know how hard we have all worked and the money we have saved
the Town.. Wehave had programs with a lot less money than other Towns. Our Counsel is
the top Counsel in Merrimack Valley. We feel if you stop this project, we will have to
start all over again. Will you tell us how many thousands of dollars you are going to
throw away? Graham replied that every member of the Board including himself wants
the Senior Center, there are no two'ways about it, but I think the plain fact of the
matter is that the State is telling us that out of that Grant we can take out S344,000
and pay for a Senior Center but if it is anything, more, the Town will have to dig up
the extra expense themselves and it becomes very questionable whether the building is
viable for $344,000. If it is, fine, I'd li,ke to live With it If we can do it . We
are being told very effectively by Mr. Matthew that that is it, that we will give you
the $3~4,000 that you said the Center is going to cost, if it is any more than that,
the Town will have to pay the difference. That is the position we are in right now.
He reminded Mrs.,Murphy that the $525,000 was a bare estimate, that change orders could
boost 'the expense. He restated that the members of the Board were shocked when advised
of the cost of the building. The only reason he supported it at that tim~Sthat we were
so far down stream that if we delayed it any more, we might never get the center built'
and we hoped that Matthews would go along, with it. Another citizen remarked that it.
seems the biggest problem was a lack of communication between the Board and the Commbnity
Development Department. Graham ·reminded him that on a Thursday, he had called Gaybon
and was told the center would cost $344,000 and on the following Monday, was told that
the ce~er would cost $5253000.
November 18, 1982 (continued) Page 3. 427
Selectman Salisbury stated that he was concerned about the lack of communication between the
members of the Board of Selectmen, not between the Board and the Community Development Dept.
He said that they were all elected by the same people, that they were equal, no member was
any different than the others, yet he found at Monday night's meeting you were announcing
that tonight's meeting was going to take place to discuss the future of the Director of the
Community Development Department. Apparently, you felt that having discussed this with a
majority of the Board was suffi.cient that in fact you told me then that you had.~ not dis-
cuss it with me but would discuss it at tonight's meeting, I think we are here prematurely.
I think this Board has the responsibility to decide the things that affect the Town's future
and not the , I. We have a problem. Our problem
does not resolve itself by saying, ~Off with his head" to whoever is the bearer of bad news.
We have to deal with it responsibly. I have raised the question before this Board in the
past as to how we oversee as proper Selectmen the Community Development mission because in
fact it is a mission for which Gayton Osgood is daily responsible which ultimatly lies right
here with us. We sign the contracts, we are responsible to see that they are executed
ly, and in order to do that, ! think weshould meet on a regular basis to lay out some goals
for the Director to meet, to come up with some dead lines and see if has met them and if he
has not then it is time to talk about replacing the Director. I don't think we do it by
· saying on a whim that we just don't feel comfortable because things haven't gone well and
haven't gone well because it is just as much our fault as it is his . I'm trying to figure
out why it's Mr:' Osgood's fault because the bids went from $344,000 to $525,00. I think that
the estimates that were given out without the bid were from an architect that was selected
by Mr. Graham along with some others as being the best architect available. I would like
to get to the problem, I would like to get away from the politics. I don't like coming to a
meeting that feels more like Methuen than North Andover and I would like to wrestle with
problems other than personalities.
Chairm McEvoy said that's very nice, Mr. Salisbury, you have attended about l0 meetings this
year and i"m sorry I couldn't get to you sooner. But that's beside the point. Mr..Salisbur~
stated that he had not missed a meeting since June 1st. McEvoy said you. mean to say you
didn't hear about this meeting? Mr. Salisbury said this was the first he heard about it.
Bud Cyr stated that he has been in close contact with the members of the Community Developmen
Department and he would l!ke to give his vote of confidence to Gayton, that they have
hard on this proj.ect. It ~sn't unusual to exceed anticipated costs, that when they were
planning the Town Garage the costs went up to $750,00 and when Town Meeting said to cut down
on the plans, a choice they gave us, we did so by cutting out different plans. He said the
m~mbers of the Board are very much aware of costs and he doesn't think they. should come up
at this late date to come up with the fact that things are out of whack. He gave Gayton a
vote of confidence saying that he has done a very good job. Reginald Landry stated that he
had worked.with Gayton for ten or fifteen years with the Historical Society and he has an
excellent reputation, he is a very honest man. Charles Foster, Building Inspector, stated
he would like reiterate what the others had said about Gayton. G ayton has worked under
extreme difficulty on pressure problems on all sides. Any time you try to make changes.in
the Town you encounter resistance, and Gayton has worked very well with all the groups ~n-
volved. He has had to deal with what the elderly want, he has had to stay along the lines
of the plan. He has had to deal with all the committees and Boards'involved. That is one
reason it has taken so long. He said we may be off the bea?.n path a bit, but you can'.t
blame one person for this. W here we are today is over costs, over estimates and that isn't
unusal at all. I think the people involved in the development of these plans have done an
excellent job. What they are trying to achieve is to build a ce','er that will last and this
takes money. If you cheapen tile building, you shorten its life, and you run into mainten-
ance problems that you will not run 'into with the plans, as they are now. The present bid
is not an estimate at all, it is the genuine cost. The only change orders that will come
will be the changes people want ~o make. If you don't want any changes, the present bid is
the price. Mr. Foster went on. to say that in his opinion, Gayton Osgood was the best person
they could have to work on this project in the Town because he knows the Town, knows the
people and works well with people and he is a very honest, conscientious person.
Ch. McEvoy told Bud Cyr that we did try to trim down the costs but when some of our members
went into Boston to talk to Sec. Matthews they were told to go back to the drawing Board
and it was misunderstood by one member , and another member took it another way so they didn'
get the clear picture. He went on to say theyi'wasted a whole weekend arguing. . about what th(
'n
were.go~ g to do, what they would be able to cut without hurting the building. He went on
to say that the .thing was. that Gayton was giv. en $344,000 along with the architect for his
budget and all Gayton had to say to him {the architect} that that amount is what we have to
build this project on. Whether he did or didn't but it doesn't look like he did because the
architect came up with the $525,000 figure. Jean Willis, contractor for the Library, stated
that Gayton was real helpful with all the paper work I was deluged with and his staff was
always there to help him. The other point he wanted to make was Gayton's concientiousness.
He thinks Gayton is in trouble here because if you look at this building , he is building
more than a Senior Citizen Center, he is making a whole focal point of the Town Building
.which is a big improvement. McEvoy said he had talked to Matthews who said if the Center
was ooino to be out front where everyone could see it, he might be able to buy the add. ed
exoe~se.~ ~/citizen said that Gayton is not only looking after his dep. artment, but he. is....
lo~king after the whole Town. Gayton was the only guy that came to h~m when ne was ou~o~ng
or renovating a building over on Ashland Street and asked if the Town could have an easemeni
through'l~'~ land so it saved the Town about $10,000 of piping for Bud Cyr. Ne was'the onl
guyto have the foresight to see something like that.
m~ November 18, 1982 (continued) Page 4.
He said he couldn't understand why Gayton was on the chopping block, that Gayton was
working for the good of the Town every day.
Selectman Graham replied to make the point Matthews says, "You people won that grant
because you people had a program that distri~buted the funds of the projects in a manner
that was attractive and acceptable to HUD" First, it was $200,000 and they accepted it
when it went up to $344,000 . Now he's saying it's up to $525,000 and you've changed the
whole convex of the distribution of firstyear's funds. He's saying are we being fair to
other Town's that we through out in selecting you. Danny Long said now wait a minute.
Wasn't this HUD grant awarded through the Federal government first? Now, its through
Mr. Matthews, the State big wheel, and we!~re not backing Gayton? Graham said he can't
back him and when Long said why can't you back him Graham replied because what Matthews
says is right. Dan Long says I'm sorry, I disagree with that. A comment from the floor
asked if the Selectmen all got behind Gayton and pushed hard, the Town would get the money,
instead of being split. Long agreed.
Selectman Joyce said you have heard Mr. Graham's points in respect to the:devel:opment of
this grant and his points are very well taken. But I identify the problems that we have
much along the same lines. Gayton and I on a Management-Labor basis have discussed the
failure of the Community Development Grant to break ground. That's his job, he knows that
it is his job. We have also discussed his failure to draw down funds. And those are the'
two problems that have been given to me by the Economic Development and Opportunity Dept.
They are serious problems that they have and we have discussed them with Gayton. I don't
however, think this constitutes a shambles of theCommunity Development Department and I
think the point is well-taken that we either get behind him and work with him to resolve.
this problem or we get off him and that's what this Board's coming down to, tonight.
Now I think there is another problem here, Gentlemen. ! think there is a serious lack of
conviction on the part of this Board during Monday's meeting is to take a position as to
whether we are going to fight for the project as we designed it to this point, getting
behind the project and work for the project or pursue the course of action that Mr. Matthews
suggested to redesign the project staying within the confines of the existing budget.
I think that until we answer that problem from our prospective and take a course of action
and drive at it the problems over here are not going to be worked out. Now, you guys are
leaning towards a request for a resignation or dismissal or whatever. Let me offer you
an alternative course of action here. With respect to the credibility or confidence
problems with the Director of the Community Development Department, I suggest that we retain
a consultant firm and have him analysed . One offered by the Mass. Municipal Association
of which the Town is a member, 2nd, New England Municipal Association of Durham, N.H. and
3rd, Stockard Ingrew Consultants out of Cambridge. Sue Lang,~ PlanQing DirectOr of HUD
office , said one week of consulting would cost $2500. to help us ~denti.fy what, if any,
problems we have. And from the posture of having expert consultants feed into us, we
can make better and more rational decisions , and if Gayton isn't doing his job properly,
than he moves out of there. We will have some place to hang our hat. It also serves the
purpose to reassure us that 2.4 million dollars is going in the right direction and I think
that $2B00 is well spent to be sure the 2.4 million is going in the right area. With respect
to the contract offer, I/ve heard a lot of numbers tossed around and I've heardca.qot of
Byron Matthews statements, but I would refer this Board back to thing that we actually
executed between the State, the signature of Byron Matthews is on this contract and it is
also signed by the Chairman of this Board, Thomas McEvoy, and it states that in any year
in which there is'less than 10% budget change we can do it as a matter of right wi.thout so
much as consulting Byron Matthews. Dur only obligation is to file it in the nextquarterly
return. I have heardthe numbers, $344,000 and if you look at the budget items of the
first and second year of this grant you will find that they have already approved a total
of $374,000taking a line item from the side lot granted from other areas. That is how
much presently approved. We also have means where we can award a bidder as soon as'he can
get the project down to $450,000, by making cuts such as reinforced concrete vs. wood frame.
The advice I got from the architects that the cuts do not sacrifice the quality ofthat
building yet does things like putting vinal instead of tile in the bathrooms, eliminating
the brass seal of the Town that was going to hang over the door. $75,000 will be cut out
of the bid expense. If we go with the 10% margin error which is quaranteed in his contract,
we pick up another $80,000, and we have $454,000 to build the Center. What I think this
Board should do, Byron Matthews comes around on Sept. l, 1982, according to this contract.
We started on this thing on Sept. 1981 , before that a pre-application form Tom Cantone
on the Council for two years working his head off. Twenty-four months down the line,
Byron Matthews comes along and says I don't like th plans that you've drawn , I think
this Board has to do one of two things... Take his suggestion and go back to the drawing
Board or square off with him and tell him that we think we know what's best for North Andover.
I was disgusted with the lack of committment that came out of Thursday's meeting, and my
vote tonight is to hire some expertise to help Gayton in areas where he has problems and
to turn around and square off at Byron Matthews.
Selectman DiFruscio stated that he doesn't think that there is any question in any~member's
mind that we are committed to a Senior Center. He would like to pose a couple problems.
The 1980 rehab grant wa~ $294,000. He asked Gayton what the balance was. Gayton replied
a little less than $60,000. He said we were awarded a grant to rehab to make units for
people to live in. How much money should be~alloted the people who own the property?
The people that want to make these apartments for people to live in. We have spent
$229,000. How much do you think the people h~ve actually got The people have got~ date
$130,000 . $94,000 was spent in architect's plans, etc. In DiFruscio's mind, that's not
comect, that is not the way I want North Andover ran.
November 18, 1982 (continued) Page 5.
429
DiFruscio continued and said if the people had spent $35,000 or $50,000, it would have been
more than ample. W hen asked if he had a breakdown of that, he said No. Dan Long said if
you are going to give us figures, i the breakdown with it. DiFruscio said the figures
g ve us
he had were obtained from the Town Accountant and the people who received the moneys. I'm
not saying the money the people got is wrong but in nly mind, I don't think the people got a
fair shake. DiFruscio said that he was not making a charge, that he was posing a question
to you. This is the way I see i't from here. A lady attending the meeting stated that the
architect has been paid out of this money and no more will have to be spent on plans and
specifications. She went on to speak for the merchants of the Town. The merchants feel that
Gayton has done more to help the merchants of the Town in the last 3 or 4 years than anyone
has done in the last 20 years. He not only worked very diligently with Cynthia Howard, as
far as residential, but he also worked very hard with the merchants for the revitalization
of downtown Main Street, plus Ashland Street and he got Sweeney to sell his building and
land which was the biggest eyesore in the Town of North Andover. The money part of it, the
Board should realize that an architect must be paid for the designs and you have to pay
persons to do the overall thing but once that is done, the money goes out to the people from
here on in it shall all have a purpose and a place to be spent along the guidelines of the
planners, architects, etc. DiFruscio said he could understand that yet it cost. us $100,000
to spend $200,000. To me I can't buy that. Mr. Turner stated that he was a recipient of
some of this money, that he bought a house down on Saunders Street a year and a half ago and
wentato Gayton with his problem. The place was falling down literally. Gayton brought
the architect down there and she advised him what he had to do. Italked to others on the
street and I told them the money was available and only three people took advantage of it,
including myself. You don't blame Gayton for the moneys that were spent here , people just
donLt~take~advantageof it. DiFrus6~.6 .stated his other problem was the Senior Center.
He said, "Put yourselves, anyone of yous, as a Director . and an architect is working for yo~
You show him the budget. We have $344,D00. Your working day to day with this man. You tel
him try to bring it in to $344,000. You have to rely on your architect. Now, if the
architect sees it going out of hand, he should tell you and vice versa. In the case of the
Senior Center, it didn't happen. When it went out to bid, the original low bidder was un-
affordable..
In construction, a listener said, an architect is only a picture maker, has no conception of
a dollar. DiFruscio;said that the architect has to be directed. Gayton said it is not all
the architect's fault, some of it is my fault. I'm not laying this off on an architect.
I tried to build a building that met the needs of the Senior Citizens, and you people
approved the size of the building, you people have approvals all along, and the fact of the
matter is that my department brought in $600,000 additional dollars into this Town in the
past year alone., to cover some of the costs of these other community projects. I've dealt
with HUD the past three years and we never had any problem with them providing we met our
program objectives. Now if we ran into problems from another source via our street im-
provements we could shift money into our Senior Center. The problem we have is a philosphi-
cal one in that Byron Matthews doesn't give a dam about Senior Citizens. He didn't say that
but he comes in that all that is needed is a little shell of a building for the Senior
Citizens where they can all meet. That is not what we started out todesign and build. We
have a philosphical difference at least between me and Byron and the Board isn't backing me
with the exception of two members. The philosphy of that building was to build a building
that it would be the best darn building that the Town could have so we wouldn't have long
term maintenance pro blems and it was designed that way. Now this business about the
We have 2.4 million plus we have another $600,000 which is close to 3 million dollars.
Now if you can't squeeze an extra $100,000 out or that kind of money. DiFruscio said
I don't think that is the point. EVery single member of this Board is committed to a new
Senior Center . When questioned by DiFruscio, Gayton stated that he had never tried to mis-
lead this Board in any way whatsoever. I have a lot of trouble with communications with
this Board. I understand that you are a part-time Board, that you have other jobs, that
you only meet every other Monday...it is a difficult position that I'm in working for a
Board like this because the Board isn't here. Brian is here, I'm here, the Planner is here,
but the Board isn't here but for a couple of hours every other week. Now, we have had some
occasional meetings, we are supposed to meet once a month, that never happened. You know
you try to lay the whole thing off on me and I don't think it's fair to tell you the truth.
I have busted my hump for this Town for the past three years. I have been in this building
for the past two years and I know who works in this building.and who doesn't. Most of the
people do. I come inthe building at 8:30 in the morning until 4:30 and take home work many
weekends , it is a difficult position and part of my difficulty, I don't have the Board's
backing. Now, I try to sort out in my own mind why am I having all these problems. Other
Community Development departments have problems. If its not a building, its something else
So I called up the HUD area department where they oversee thousands of departments like mine.
I asked them to give me the names of other or examples of other Towns that have similar
grants to what we have and what kind of a staff do they have. They are going to furnish a
written report on this. But of~ the top of their head they came up with Methuen as an
example and a community in Connecticut as another. Methuen, who has the same grant as we
have, have l0 people on their staff. The community in Connecticut have 9 people on their
staff. Now there is Lisa, myself and Ann Gauthier as Secretary in our department. No
wonder I have to bust nly hump, there aren't enough.people there to support this program and
that's part of the problem. When it was suggested to hire a consulting firm to come in here
and look at the situation, I fully support that, I would welcome that for we do have p
and I admit we have problems. I don't think the problems are all mine.
November 18, 1982 (continued) Page 6.
I think that the joint problems that the Board and I have , I would like to 'support the
Board. Nothing is going to get done if we just sit here and fight. Nothing. And it
doesn't matter if it's me or somebody else. There is always going to be problems when we
are dealing with complex programs that we deal with. DiFruscio's statement on the re-
habilition program, his numbers aren't quite right, but nevertheless, that is the type of
problem that we should sit down and discuss as a Board and a department..not bring it out
into a public meeting and say oh, this is terrible. DiFruscio said he didn't say it was
terrible. Tom Cantone said it reflects on Gayton what he did say. Cantone went on to
say that we have had here hundreds and hundres of Seniors looking at these plans and lay
out and it has given them all pride and dignity that you want to destroy~ DiFrus6io said
he was not trying to destroy the Senior Cent?. Cantone stated that Ga~ton;;had~.oiven:them
more respect than anyone in 20 years with his Senior Center. Dan Breen statedthat the
last time he attended a Selectmen's meeting was long ago and the purpose of that attendance
was to tell and thank that Board for' the time and good service the Board had giVen the Town.
Tonight, he was attending the meeting to commend GaytonOsgood for the time and diligence
he has devoted to Town affairs. Even before Selectman Joyce spoke and before you mentioned
Secretary Matthews.. indicated that it wa~ a nice Town and he might go for the Senior Center
if it could be seen, I conclude that if you people had devoted as much time that you have
tonight and prior to tonight on this issue in gettingSecretary Matthews back and ~nsisting
to him that he go along with this Senior Center the additional amount and he would see your
pointthat we have something special going on here and that we really have a special
Community Director.
Ch. McEvoy said wehhave heard both sides and I thank y¢..~ for coming. I am sure Gayton
appreciates it. Do I hear a motion to ask Gayton Osgood for his resignation or to keep
him. Selectman Graham made a motion with 2 points. 1. To dismiss Gayton Dsgood as the
Director of the Community Development :Department. 2. Authorize the Chairman to procede
to contact to ask Louis lnlcuccl, if he is available, to fill in as Acting Director of
the Community Development Department. ~. Selec~man. DiFruscio seconded the motion
It was brought up from the attendance :nat Louis D1Fruscio may be in Conflict of'Interest.
Chairman McEvoy asked if there was any discussion.
Selectman Joyce strongly urged the Board to reconsider what they are doing. If you look
over the contract we have the money in hand to build the Center as we have designed it~
We don't have to blow over Byron Matthews and we don,t have to take out Gayton Osgood in
doing it. The majority of the Board thinks this is the best wayyto approach this situa-
tion is to work apart from Gayton, I can't refute that but I feel sorry for the action if
that is what is to be taken. I think a better approach would be to work with the man on
the problems, to work with him and go back to Byron Matthews and tell him, as Mr. Breen
stated, that we know what is best for North Andover. We've been on this project'for 24
months and he.lc6mesialong~nt,~the~)aSt two months and he blows over and we are back to
Square I with the project. We have at han~ now the money to do this thing and it will
be an absolute travesty if we vote this motion. Ch. McEvoy then asked the Board to vote
on the motion "to ask for Mr. Osgood's resignation',. Vote was 3-2. McEvoy, DiFruscio
and Grahamfor and Joyce, Salisbury against.
Alice M. Letarte, Secretary *******************
November 22, 1982 lerk
~men held a work session on this date with all meml~rs ~resent.
The Chairman announced that the purpose of the work sess~n was to meet w~h the Public
Works Study Comm~tee and hear their ~report on the reorganization of the Public Works
Departments and to meet with the Police Chief to review current activities and future plans
of the Police Department, and that no act~n or votes would be taken.
Brian F. Sullivan, Ex. Sec. ~C1erk