How Your Selectman Voted
on Fees
OCTOBER
15, 2007
Cable Fee
Mr.
Dempsey outlined the franchise fee as being a 5% fee added onto
the cable bill and that is similar to surrounding towns. For
residents with Expanded Basic Plan it would increase
approximately $2.75 for the first year and after one year, the
fee that Comcast is charging now would be removed and the cost
would be reduced to $1.75 per month. For residents with more
advanced services, the cost would be $2.70 once the franchise
fee is deducted. A motion was made by Selectman Vispoli,
seconded by Selectman Teichert to renew the Comcast license for
ten-years. The vote was 4-0 with Selectman Stabile abstaining.
November 19, 2007
Kennel
License Fee
Selectman
Vispoli motioned to approve the Kennel License Fee increase as
presented by Town Clerk Randy Hanson. The motion was voted 5-0-0
and approved.
JANUARY
28, 2008
Parking
Meter Rate Increase
Selectman
Teichert motioned to approve the request to raise the parking
meter rates by .50 cents as presented by Chief Pattullo. The
motion was seconded by Selectman Vispoli, voted 4-1 and
approved. Selectman Lyman was opposedSelectman Teichert motioned
to approve the request to for fee increases as presented by Fire
Rescue Chief Michael Mansfield. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Vispoli, voted 5-0 and approved.
JUNE 16,
2008
Water Rate
Increase – FY-09
Selectman
Vispoli motioned the Board of Selectmen, acting as Water
Commissioners,
vote to
increase the water rate from $2.52/100 cubic feet of water used
to $2.65/100 cubic feet effective with the Section 1 billing of
July, 2008 and from $3.02/100 cubic feet of water used to
$3.18/100 cubic feet for sales to outside communities effective
with billings after July 1, 2008. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Lyman, voted 3-0 and approved.
AUGUST 25,
2008
CRT
Collections Fee Increase
Selectman
Lyman motioned to accept the proposal to increase fees for CRT
collections to $10.00 with the fee increase to be revisited
after the first collection. The motion was seconded by Selectman
Major, voted 4-0 and approved.
FEBRUARY
9, 2009
Double the
permit fee
The Town
Manager informed the Board that Inspector of Buildings Kaija
Gilmore is
requesting
a fine of double the permit fee or $100.00, whichever is
greater, be assessed for work being performed without obtaining
a Building Permit.
A motion
was made by Selectman Lyman, seconded by Selectman Vispoli, to
assess the fine for work being performed without obtaining a
Building Permit as presented. The vote was unanimous.
MARCH 16,
2009
Trench
Fee Permit
The Town
Manager said at last year’s Town Meeting a Warrant Article was
approved to allow a trench permit fee as of January 1st which
has been extended to March 1, 2009. Permitting will be handled
through the Department of Public Works and the Board of Health.
They are requesting a Trench Fee Permit of $25.00. Selectman
Lyman motioned to approve the permit fee of $25.00 for Trench
Openings.The motion was seconded by Selectman Major, voted 4-0
and approved.
MAY
4, 2009
Street
Lights
DPW
Director Jack Petkus presented the list of street lights to be
recommended
for shut off. Safety Officer Edgerly has worked with the DPW on
the recommendations on the reduction of street lights. The next
steps will be to publish a list of streets and pole numbers,
schedule a public hearing and put the information on the town
website. Approximately 679 lights are being recommended to be
turned off. Selectman Stabile motioned to support moving forward
with the program to turn-off street lights. The motion was
seconded by Selectman Vispoli, and voted 5-0 to approve.
May 18,
2009
CD&P
Storm-water Management Permit
Selectman
Lyman motioned to approve the fee increase listed to cover
administrative costs. The motion was seconded by Selectman
Stabile, voted 4-1 and approved.
P&F
Field Use
Selectman
Stabile motioned to approve the fee increase for P&F field use
as listed on the fee schedule. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Major and voted 5-0 to approve.
Budget/Finance
Lien Certificate
Selectman
Major motioned to approve the fee increase for Lien Certificates
as listed on the fee schedule. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Vispoli and voted 5-0 to approve
DPW-CRT
& Household Waste Collection
Selectman
Lyman motioned to approve the fee schedule increase for CRT &
Household Waste Collection as listed with the reccomendation to
be revised to see the effect of the increase. The motion was
seconded by Selectman Major, and approved 5-0
DPW/Water
& Sewer - Irrigation Meter and Water Treatment Lab
Selectman
Lyman motioned to approve the fee increase for the Special
Reading Meters (final readings) as listed in the amount of
$50.00. The motion was seconded by Selectman Stabile, and voted
5-0 to approve.
DPW/Water
& Sewer - Irrigation Meter and Water Treatment Lab
Selectman
Major motioned to approve the irrigation meter fee increase as
listed. The motion was seconded by Selectman Vispoli, and
voted 5-0 to approve
Lab
Fee
Selectman
Major motioned to approve the lab fee as listed. The motion was
seconded by Selectman Vispoli, and voted 5-0 to approve.
June 8,
2009
Bald Hill
Compost Site Fee
Plant and
Facilities Director Joe Piantedosi presented the information for
a fee increase at the Bald Hill Compost Site and distributed
information relative to the permit fee, hours of operation and
personnel costs to man the site. The total cost is $5,960 plus
an additional 400 hours of tax voucher time. Mr. Piantedosi
explained the difficulty coordinating people to work on
Saturdays during the summer months. Selectman Lyman suggested
opening the Site on Sundays from 12-4 P.M. The Board discussed
effective dates of operation for summer and fall to consider.
Selectman
Stabile motioned to approve the current fee proposal with
reduced hours of operation for Sundays from 12:00 – 4:00 P.M.
for the Fall session and to approve a fiscal year permit
effective September through June 30th, 2010. Selectman Lyman
seconded the motion.
An
amendment to the motion to change the permit to an annual
12-month permit was brought forward.
Selectman
Stabile motioned to amend his motion to approve the current fee
proposal with reduced hours of operation for Sundays from 12:00
– 4:00 P.M. for the fall session and the permit for this year to
be effective September 1 through June 30,
2010
and thereafter to be a fiscal year permit. The amended motion
was seconded by Selectman Lyman, and voted 5-0 to approve.
June 22,
2009
CD&P
– Newsrack Storage
Selectman
Lyman motioned to approve the fee for CD & P Newsrack Storage in
the amount of $50 for pickup and $2 per day for storage. The
motion was seconded by
Selectman
Teichert and voted 5-0 to approve.
July 6,
2009
Parking
Fees
Selectman
Major motioned to approve the request by Police Chief Pattullo
to increase fees for parking violations as presented at the
previous meeting. The motion was seconded by Selectman Lyman,
and voted 4-0 to approve.
August 3,
2009
Street
Light Shut Off
DPW
Director Jack Petkus gave a brief presentation on the proposed
street light shut
offs
throughout the Town for a cost savings of approximately $48,000
for year one and $150,000 per year after year one. He
distributed a list of the 626 street lights to be turned off of
the approximately 1600 street lights in Town. Mr. Petkus stated
that Safety Officer Edgerly looked at every light in Town to
determine which lights could be turned off, left on, or if the
wattage could be reduced. The list of lights to be turned off is
also available on the Town’s website. Selectman Lyman asked that
the listing be available on the Memorial Hall Library website as
well as in the local newspapers. Chief Pattullo said the lights
at intersections will remain illuminated as well as those around
schools and areas considered safety hazards.
Local
Option Taxes
Selectman
Lyman motioned to open the Warrant and to insert Local Option 1
and Local Option 2 as listed:
Article 1:
Local Option Meals Excise Tax. To see if the Town will vote to
accept
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64L, Section 2 (a) to impose
a local meals excise tax, or take any other action related
thereto; and Article 2: Local Option Room
Occupancy
Excise Tax.
To see if
the Town will vote to amend its local room occupancy excise tax
under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64G, Section 3A to the
rate of six (6) percent, or take any other action related
thereto.
The motion
was seconded by Selectman Teichert, voted 4-1 and approved.
Selectman Lyman motioned to close the Warrant. The motion was
seconded by Selectman Stabile, voted 4-1 and approved. Selectman
Stabile motioned the Board execute the required signatures on
the Preliminary Board of Selectmen Positions on the FY10 Budget
Deficit communication dated July 31,
2009
to the School Committee and Finance Committee. Selectman Major
seconded the motion. The motion was voted 5-0 and approved.
SEPTEMBER
8, 2009
Leaf
Collections
Selectman
Lyman asked that DPW
Director Jack Petkus look at alternatives to keep leaf
collections. Possible considerations could be issuing stickers
for leaf pickup, shorter pickup schedules, use of outside
vendors or any other area where $42,000 could be saved. She also
requested Departments include information on alternative sources
for services being cut that residents could explore. Selectman
Teichert asked about the elimination of trash pick up at the
public housing areas in 2011 and if the Town could bill them for
trash pickup. He also asked about the change of past practices.
OCTOBER 5,
2009
Proposed
Water Rate Increase
Water
Department Budget Reduction and Proposed Water Rate Increase
The Town
Manager and Water Division staff discussed recommended budget
reductions and the proposed water rate increase for the Water
Department. Through a PowerPoint presentation, Public Works
Director Jack Petkus reviewed the previous year’s consumption
rates of water against the current year and said the water
reserve fund has been depleted necessitating a warrant article
to replenish it. The kilowatt costs to the Town for operating
the plant has almost doubled since 2002 and a large portion of
the Water Reserve Fund was aggressively used for capital
projects. He explained the FY-2010 Water Operating Budget
totaling $2,176,400 and gave an analysis of the direct and
indirect expenses of the plant. Mr. Petkus said the metering
project is ahead of schedule with completion anticipated within
the next 14-16 months which will be followed by a tiered billing
structure. Mr. Petkus noted that last year the water rate was
increased by $.13 cents and this year they are requesting twice
that amount or a $.26 cent increase, however, Andover is still
in line with what surrounding communities charge. The Board
discussed options to consider if the water rate increase does
not pass at the Town Meeting.
Selectman
Major motioned to recommend approval of Warrant Article 8 to
increase the water rates as written. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Stabile, and unanimously approved.
JANUARY
11, 2010
Cross
Connection Program Policy and Fees
Cross
Connection Program Policy and Fees – First Reading
The Town
Manager said the DPW
is responsible for the backflow and cross-connection control
program to protect the distribution system and to prevent
contamination of water. They are requesting to establish a fee
of $65.00 per cross-connection devise test for this program.
This fee is for industrial and commercial property only.
Previously, the cost was borne by the Water operating budget.
The $65 charge is in line with comparable communities. The
Selectmen will vote on this request at the next meeting on
January 25, 2010.
Large
Meter Testing Certification Program Policy – First Reading
The DPW is
requesting the Board approve a policy regarding a Large Meter
Testing/Certification Program. The policy will require the
company rather than the Town to absorb the cost of the physical
test. DPW Director Jack Petkus said the test is good standard
operating procedure because it certifies that
commercial/industrial water meters are working properly and
there is no loss of revenue for the Town. Selectman Stabile is
concerned with the cost to the business owner and inquired if a
rebate for the cost of the test could be included in their
overall bill. The Board will vote on the fee request at the next
meeting on January 25, 2010.
An update
on the Meter Replacement Program noted that of the 11,000
residential water meters in Town about 3,300 of them have been
replaced. The DPW anticipates having all retrofits and
replacements installed by September 2010, however, the DPW has
experienced problems getting some residents to respond to their
requests to schedule an appointment to change the meters. They
will be asking the Board as Water Commissioners to consider
adopting a policy to address this problem.
On a
motion by Selectman Stabile with a second by Selectman Major it
was voted 5-0 to adjourn as Water and Sewer Commissioners and
return to Regular Session.
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