| Justin Paré, President John Simmons, Vice President John Costello Daniel Donovan Mark Gould, Jr. | Darius Gregory Andrew Shanahan Andrea Slobogan Patricia St. Pierre |
Town of North Attleborough PUBLIC MEETING MAY 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM TOWN HALL LOWER-LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM 43 South Washington Street |
I.
II.
Approval of Minutes
a.
Approval of Town Council Minutes of April 22, 2024
III.
Town Councilor Community Announcements
IV.
V.
Resident and Community Comment
VI.
Confirmations
a.
Measure 2024-111-Confirmation of Bryan Flynn to the Conservation Commission
b.
Measure 2024-110- Confirmation of Appointment of Andrew Dubois as Animal Control Officer
c.
Measure 2024-112-Confirmation of Cheryl Butts as the Human Resources Director
VII.
PUBLIC HEARING
a.
FY2025 Town Annual Budget
VIII.
Sub-Committee Reports
a.
Finance
i.
Measure 2024-088- Rescind Borrowing Authorization for DPW 6-Wheel Dump Truck in the amount of $350,000
ii.
Measure 2024-089- Authorization for the Procurement of a DPW 6-Wheel Dump Truck in the amount of $350,000 to be funded by FY24 Free Cash
b.
Economic Growth & Sustainability
c.
By-Law
i.
Report on the creation of a permanent Town Auditor Committee
ii.
Measure 2024-084- Authorization to adopt New General Bylaw: Congregate Living Properties- Boarding/Lodging/Rooming Homes/ Group Homes, Sober Homes, and Halfway/Recovery Houses
d.
Rules
e.
School Committee Representative
f.
Communication, Public Participation & Engagement
g.
Local Emergency Planning
h.
RFP Town Auditor Ad Hoc Committee
IX.
Old Business
a.
None at this time.
X.
New Business
a.
Discussion of proposed agenda topics/motions/actions by the Town Council
| Agenda Item | Action: (discuss as agenda item; option for motion to next agenda; Already happened; Planned for X Date; Indefinitely Postpone) |
1. I spoke with Town Manager and would like to place Snow and Ice budget funding on the agenda. | Option for motion to next agenda |
2. Also, we should discuss employing a pilot phase of SMART Boxes to safely and humanely assist with the rats as has been successfully done in other towns. | Option for Motion to next agenda |
3. To authorize Town Manager to petition the General Court for a special act in the form set forth below; provided, however, that the General Court may make clerical or editorial changes of form to the bill. Amend the Charter of the Town of North Attleboro as follows: Amend SECTION 2-1(c) by striking the section in its entirety and inserting the words: Term of Office. There will be annual elections for one-third of the Councilors. The term of office for all Councilors shall be 3 years, beginning in July 1 in the year following their election and until their successors have been elected and qualified. Initially, in the election following ratification of this Section, in order to facilitate staggered terms, there will be three one-year terms, three two-year terms, and three three-year terms, and each year thereafter the expiring three terms will be filled by election. Initially, the Councilors who receive the most votes shall receive the initial three-year terms, then the two-year terms, then the one-year terms, in that order. In the event that multiple Councilors receive the same number of votes, the Councilor senior in years of service on the council shall receive the said term. If two or more Councilors are equally senior in years of service on the Council, the Councilor senior both in years of service on the municipal council and age shall receive the said term. No person shall be elected to more than four consecutive three-year terms as a Councilor. Amend SECTION 2-3(a) by deleting the following sentence: “The Councilor receiving the highest number of votes shall serve as the Council President” and replacing with the following: Election and Term. Following each election and as soon as practicable after the councilors-elect have been qualified as provided in section 2-1, the members of the council shall elect by majority vote from among its members a president who shall serve for 1 year. The council member senior in years of service on the council shall preside during this election. If 2 or more members are equally senior in years of service on the council, the member senior both in years of service and age shall preside. The president shall be sworn by the town clerk or, in the absence of the town clerk, by any person qualified to administer oaths or affirmations. In the event that ten successive votes result in a tie, the candidate most junior in years of service shall be eliminated from consideration, and the process shall continue as aforesaid until one candidate is elected. In the event that multiple candidates are equally junior in years of service, the candidate most junior in years of service and age shall be eliminated from consideration. Amend SECTION 2-3(b) to replace the sentence “The Councilor receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve as the Vice President.” With “The Vice President shall be elected in the same manner as the president.” Amend SECTION 2-3(c) by striking the Section in its entirety and inserting the words: Filling Vacancy in Position of Council President or Council Vice President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Council President, it shall be filled by the Council Vice President. The ensuing vacancy in the position of Council Vice President shall be filled in the same manner as the Council Vice President was elected” Add SECTION 6-5(d) The Town Council may add appropriations in accordance with and subject to the conditions described in G.L. c. 44, §33. Procedure: These proposed charter changes would be approved by a simple majority vote of the Council, transmitted to the state legislature, then placed on the April 2025 ballot as three separate amendments (Section 2-1, 2-3, and 6-5) to be voted on by the voters of North Attleboro. | Option for motion to next agenda |
4. To place a Council Proclamation for National Public Works Week May 19-25 2024 Advancing the Quality of Life for All, on the agenda for the Council Meeting immediately preceding said date. | On agenda 13 MAY 24 |
5. To place an Executive Session on the Council agenda to receive the same security briefing the Finance Committee received on March 6, 2024. | Option for motion to next agenda (or already scheduled) |
6. Webster Mill potential uses and next steps including Brownfields grants. | On agenda previously |
7. A bylaw that requires all future town hires to be residents of North Attleboro and exempts all current town employees and allows department head level positions 6 months after hire date to establish residency within the Town. | Option for motion to next agenda |
8. Stretch code/energy code repeal/study | Scheduled for 29 MAY 24 |
9. Executive session litigation update - including without limitation the pirate ship case and 21 East lawsuit. | On agenda 13 MAY 24 |
10. Executive session re personnel matters including without limitation the animal control officer and human resources director | On agenda 13 MAY 24 |
11. Merit raises for department heads based in performance review by TM, management level. Pool of $100,000 to TM. also negotiate it into the CBA that first opportunity for all employees | Option for Motion to next agenda |
12. Department Head Review: discuss generally how department heads are managed by the town manager and how we view the effectiveness of department heads generally and how the council may best support department’s needs | Option for motion to next agenda |
13. Establishment of a public property committee/capital improvements plan | Option for motion to next agenda |
14. establishment of a standing audit Committee | In Bylaw Subcommittee |
15. new rule that councilor’s requests be placed on agenda | Option for motion to next agenda |
16. Amend the rules of the NA Council as follows: Amend SECTION 1(e)(iii)(2) as follows: by striking the section in its entirety and inserting the words: The Council President shall place the requested item on the Agenda within the next three (3) Council meetings unless the requesting Councilor withdraws the Councilor’s request or consents to a further delay. | Option for motion to next agenda |
17. one-time arpa funded stipend $500 or $1,000 to all teachers, police, firefighters, and city hall workers. | Option for motion to next agenda |
18. bylaw/rule for council proclamations, resolutions, citations | Option for motion to next agenda |
19. amend zoning bylaws - referral to planning/zoning/bylaw | Option for motion to next agenda |
20. arpa money back to taxpayers | Option for motion to next agenda |
b.
Measure 2024-116-Proclamation for National Public Works Week
c.
Measure 2024-113- Appropriation request for use of FY24 retained earnings from Comcast PEG Access in the amount of $34,499.28 for North TV Production Van refurbishment
d.
Measure 2024-114- Authorization to Repurpose Funds for Metasource for Town Clerk in the amount of $3,500
e.
Measure 2024-115- Approval to Repurpose Funds in the amount of $30,000 to purchase Town Council Chambers furnishings including a desk, table, podium, glass whiteboard, and other décor.AMENDED
XI.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a.
M.G.L. c.30A, Sec. 21(a), Sec.3 To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.
XII.