Minutes November 16, 2017 6:00 Pm Town Hall Lower Level Conference Room
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Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C. Rhyno North Attleborough MA 02760 Patrick Reynolds 508-699-0100 NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES NOVEMBER 16, 2017 6:00 PM TOWN HALL LOWER LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Lennox called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. and invited the assembly to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Chairman Michael Lennox Vice-Chairman Keith Lapointe Selectman Paul J. Belham, Sr. Selectman John Rhyno Selectman Patrick Reynolds Members Absent: Documents Reviewed: Executive Session Minutes April 6, 2017 Executive Session Minutes April 20, 2017 Executive Session Minutes June 8, 2017 Executive Session Minutes June 22, 2017 Executive Session Minutes July 27, 2017 Executive Session Minutes August 31, 2017 Executive Session Minutes October 5, 2017 Payroll Warrant Number 19 Expense Warrant Number 171117 Application for change of manager Newell Blaise Post Common Victualler/All- Alcohol License Memo from Board of Assessors regarding information for FY2018 Classification Hearing Statutory Exemption Information Sample Value and Tax Fiscal 2014-2018 Town of North Attleborough Historical Information – Fiscal 2018 Summary and warrant articles – Special Town Meeting – January 22, 2018 Application/Permit for Use of Town Highways from Downtown Associates of North Attleborough for their Annual Christmas Parade Page 1 of 9 Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C. Rhyno North Attleborough MA 02760 Patrick Reynolds 508-699-0100 II. MINUTES a. Approve the Minutes of November 9, 2017 Town Administrator Gallagher stated that the minutes from November 9, 2017 have not been completed and will be completed by the next meeting to be voted on. b. Release Executive Session Minutes Vice-Chairman Lapointe made a motion to release the Executive Session Minutes for the following meetings: i. April 6, 2017 ii. April 20, 2017 iii. June 8, 2017 iv. June 22, 2017 v. July 27, 2017 vi. August 31, 2017 vii. October 5, 2017 Selectman Belham seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS a. Payroll Warrant Vice-Chairman Lapointe made a motion to approve the payroll warrant number 19, dated 11/17/2017, in the amount of $1,078,571.68. Selectman Belham seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. b. Expense Warrant Vice-Chairman Lapointe made a motion to approve the accounts payable warrant number 171117, dated 11/17/2017, in the amount of $1,396,488.25. Selectman Belham seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Page 2 of 9 Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C. Rhyno North Attleborough MA 02760 Patrick Reynolds 508-699-0100 Chairman Lennox asked the Town Administrator the status of the Board of Assessors for their public hearing. The Town Administrator asked the Chairman to move on to the next item on the agenda and he would check on the status of the Board of Assessors. Chairman Lennox asked to take the agenda out of order and move to departmental meeting with the Cable TV & Advisory Committee. IV. DEPARTMENTAL AND OTHER MEETING a. Cable TV & Advisory Committee Derek Castello, President of the Cable TV & Advisory Committee was present to give an update on the committee to the board. He stated that the board has updated their website with contact phone numbers for each member. He encouraged residents to use these phone numbers to contact the board with concerns they may have regarding cable TV issues. He stated at the committee’s last meeting on October 24, 2017 the new Comcast contract was discussed. There were no residents in attendance at this meeting, but Mr. Castello said that if any resident has questions or concerns on this matter the board is happy to hear them. He stated that the board would like craft a short summary of this contract for the Board of Selectmen to review. Once this is approved by the board the commission would like to post it on their website for residents to view. Chairman Lennox stated that he thought that would be helpful for residents. He asked if this summary could compare the old contract versus the new one. The Chairman also asked Mr. Castello if there are any challenges that the Cable Advisory Committee is facing. Mr. Castello replied that were none, but hopes now with their contact information on their website that residents will reach out with any questions or concerns they have on the cable TV services in the future. Chairman Lennox thanked the committee for their work for our residents. Selectman Belham asked Mr. Castello when the summary would be ready to be reviewed by the board. Mr. Castello said that the summary should be ready to be reviewed some time in February. Page 3 of 9 Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C. Rhyno North Attleborough MA 02760 Patrick Reynolds 508-699-0100 Selectman Rhyno asked Chairman Lennox to take the meeting out of order so the board may vote on the Change of Manager for the VFW Post before the public hearing begins with the Board of Assessors. Chairman Lennox asked to move the agenda out of order and move to Permits & Licenses. V. PERMITS AND LICENSES a. Change of Manager for the CV/All Alcohol Club License for Newell Blais Post 443 VFW of US Inc. d/b/a Newell Blais 443 VFW Vice-Chairman Lapointe made a motion to approve the change of manager for the Common Victualler/All Alcohol Club License for the Newell Blais Post 443 VFW of US, Inc. d/b/a Newell Blais 443 VFW. The new manager on the license will be Michael Gedgaudas. Selectman Belham seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Chairman Lennox asked to move the agenda out of order and move to Public Hearing. VI. PUBLIC HEARING a. Tax Classification Hearing Vice-Chairman Lapointe made a motion to open the Tax Classification Public Hearing. Vice-Chairman Lapointe read the advertisement into the record. Selectman Belham seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Chairman Lennox announced that the public hearing is now open and asked the Board of Assessors to make their presentation. John Bellissimo, Chairman of the Board of Assessors introduced members of the board Paul Pinsonnault and John Kraskouskas and Sheila Scaduto, Assistant Assessor. Mr. Bellussimo stated that Proposition 2 ½ requires a tax classification hearing be held by the ruling body of the town to determine how the tax rates will be set. The date for this hearing was determined so that advertising dates would be met and that dates would be Page 4 of 9 Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C. Rhyno North Attleborough MA 02760 Patrick Reynolds 508-699-0100 met for the tax bills to be mailed out. Unfortunately this year there has been a slowdown in getting information needed to make these decisions from the Department of Revenue (DOR). He stated that some of the informational reports will be supplied tonight and other reports showing the shifts and levy amounts still need to be completed. He stated that the Board of Assessors is requesting a continuance of the public hearing, so that the rest of the reports can be completed and given to the Board of Selectmen for review before the hearing. Vice-Chairman Lapointe asked for Chairman Bellissimo to walk through the Tax Relief Programs available for residents. Mr. Bellissimo stated that there are the Senior Tax Work-Off Program, Small Business Exemption Program, and Tax Deferral Program. Selectman Belham asked how many people took advantage of the Small Business Exemption Program. Chairman Bellissimo stated that the Board of Assessors will be providing that information to the board, but this program is very restrictive and most small businesses do not qualify for this program. Another issue that is faced is the tax exemption goes to the owner of the property and unless the business is owner occupied, the small business may not get the advantage of this program. He stated that there were maybe twenty businesses last year, but you will be provided the exact number with the reports. Chairman Lennox asked about exemptions for Veterans. Chairman Bellissimo stated that exemptions for Veterans, the elderly, and people with disabilities are done automatically (annual forms are sent out to residents). If residents feel they are eligible for exemptions and are not receiving these benefits, please contact the Assessor’s office and they can assist with the process of seeing if these persons are eligible for this benefit. Chairman Bellissimo also stated that taxes can be deferred. This will put a lien against the property and must be paid with interest when the property is sold. Vice-Chairman Lapointe asked if there are any hardship programs that may be applied for. Chairman Bellissimo stated the Clause 18 may be applied for, which is a hardship benefit that is under the discretion of the Board of Assessors. Again if residents feel they are eligible for exemptions and are not receiving these benefits, please contact the Assessor’s Page 5 of 9 Michael Lennox, Chairman TOWN OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH Keith Lapointe, Vice-Chairman BOARD OF SELECTMEN Paul J. Belham, Sr. 43 South Washington Street John C.