The Select Board – November 12th

The Select Board discusses Tax Classification, Water Abatement Policy, DPW Snow & Ice, and more!

The Select Board met Tuesday, November 12th, 2024. Attendance included Chairman Patrick Holland, Eric Ryder, James Mackey, Mark Kratman, and Town Manager Richard Montuori. Absent from the meeting was Select Board Member, Jayne Wellman.

R.V. Lecci LLC d/b/a The Pizza Bar: 1699 Shawsheen Street – Change of Manager’s Name Only

The first item on the agenda was regarding The Pizza Bar. The manager requested a change of name on the liquor license, from Voula Tsiantikos Leci to Eva Tsiantikos. No one was present before the board, but the request was passed unanimously.

Broadway Village Foods Inc. d/b/a Village Inn Steakhouse – One Day Liquor License

Kratman noted that the Friends of the Elderly are hosting their annual Christmas party. Broadway Village Foods requested a Wine & Malt One-Day License for the event. This was passed unanimously.

New Business

Chairman Patrick Holland moved on to discuss ‘New Business’ before the scheduled discussion of the ‘Route 133 Cannabis Retail Marijuana License’ and ‘Tax Classification Hearing’.

DPW Snow & Ice

Kevin Hardiman, Public Works Director, came before the board for the annual ‘DPW Snow and Ice Presentation’. He highlighted the DPW maintains approximately 320 lane miles of roadway in town, 29 acres of parking lots, and 23 miles of sidewalks.

They have installed two frost-sensing weather devices to monitor pavement conditions: one at the intersection of North Street and Andover Street, and the other at the intersection of South Street and Salem Road.

It was noted there will be an overnight parking ban, which is currently posted on the website via the Town Clerk. No parking is allowed from midnight until 6 a.m. during the winter season, from November 1st through April 1st. Fines will be imposed for violations, with the potential for towing.

Hardiman continued, clarifying that their goal is to have sidewalks clear forty-eight hours after the end of a storm. It was also noted the DPW does assist with snow removal operations at the school.

The Assistant Director is the point person for snow and ice operations. There are Coordinators under him, who act as Foreman and Highway and Forestry. Five zones have been established: North, South, East, West, and Center. Each zone has a Route Supervisor assigned to it, and both contractors and town staff are assigned to various plow routes within those zones.

There are, on average, forty to sixty pieces of equipment contracted through Tewksbury’s annual plow contract. Amongst the five zones, the town has thirteen total salting routes. Hardiman noted, “We’ve worked every year to properly calibrate our equipment, and since we started doing that, we [have seen] about a 64% reduction in our salt usage.” This also supports the chloride reduction plan that DPW has overseen for the EPA stormwater management permit. In addition, the schools and facilities are also calibrated to reduce salt costs even further.

The DPW has introduced a new bonus structure to attract and retain hourly contractors, helping to mitigate seasonal plowing insurance costs. The structure includes a $350 sign-on bonus for submitting paperwork by the second week of December, a $350 bonus to subsidize equipment insurance costs, and a $400 attendance bonus. This totals a maximum bonus of $750.

Hardiman highlighted that residents should ensure trash and recycling containers do not impede snow and ice operations and asked residents to clear snow from fire hydrants.

Holland inquired as to whether a contract with a landscaper could be extended into snow season. It was confirmed that snow plow operations are completely separate from any landscaping contracts.

Kratman added that the Town should reach out to businesses to ensure contractors hired by individual businesses follow the same guidelines.

Mackey inquired about the success of last year’s policy changes. Kevin confirmed, “Having those maps and having those routes well-defined made it easier when there are changes in contractor staffing.”

Ryder also clarified that contractors will be called upon when there is more than four inches of snow.

Water Abatement Policy

Kevin Hardiman continued to address the board about a potential water abatement policy.

Kratman explained the abatement policy was prompted by the fact that during major water incidents and breaks, residents had to run their water for an extended period to clear out groundwater, and the fairness of that was a concern.

He also clarified that the town will not address abatement requests from the last major incident in August. This new policy would provide a fresh start for any future issues.

Ryder and Mackey expressed concerns about the number of abatements per property and the definition of a leak abatement.

Holland and Kratman expressed their desire to change the verbiage of residents receiving abatement once every ten years.

Two abatements were outlined: a leak abatement when someone had faulty plumbing in their home and they’re looking for an abatement for that water usage, and an extreme event where something happened in the town system that required them to flush and use extra water.

Kevin noted, “I would like to amend the language that the extreme event abatements would be for every event eligible, but that there should be a limit on the leak abatements.”

Holland suggested adding a disclaimer to the letters sent to residents to reassure them about the safety of their water.

Appropriate changes will be made and be brought back to the board for approval on November 26th.

Lead Water Service Letters to Residents

Kevin Harvick discussed the EPA’s mandate to notify residents with galvanized or potentially lead-containing service lines.

The town identified 133 galvanized and 8,350 unidentified service lines.

A QR code will be included in the letters to direct residents to additional information on the town’s website. The letters will clarify that the water is safe to drink and that the notification is mandated by the state.

…

Route 133 Cannabis, LLC – 1625 Andover Street: Retail Marijuana License

Dean Graffeo and Caitlin Woodward presented their application for a retail marijuana license.

They addressed concerns raised during the previous meeting, including traffic management and community engagement.

The applicants highlighted their plan to hire local residents and contribute to community service initiatives. Woodward outlined the operational plan, including security measures, marketing strategies, and staffing.

Ryder questioned the traffic flow and suggested a right-in, right-out exit to reduce congestion. Woodward acknowledged the concern and was open to discussing traffic mitigation measures.

The applicants also emphasized the security measures in place, including cameras, panic buttons, and secure access. They plan to work with the town and neighbors to address any issues that arise during the soft opening.

Mackey inquired about the ownership structure and financial stability of the applicants. Woodward clarified her role and the financial backing from Gold Standard Consulting. The applicants also provided detailed information on their budget, funding, and operational plan.

The board members expressed concerns about the location and the potential impact on the community.

Tax Classification Hearing

Joanne Foley, Town Chief Assessor, came before the board. Foley outlined the purpose of the hearing, including allocating the local property tax levy, selecting a minimum residential factor, and discussing residential and small commercial exemptions.

Foley explained the residential exemption, which shifts the tax burden from lower-valued properties to higher-valued ones and non-residents. She mentioned that eighteen communities, including Boston and Cambridge, use this exemption, with Tewksbury historically voting no.

Foley discussed the small business exemption, which lowers taxes on small businesses and shifts the burden to other commercial and industrial taxpayers. She noted that fourteen communities, including Braintree and Seekonk, use this exemption, with Tewksbury also voting historically no.

She explained the open space discount, which allows a 25% discount for property classified as open space, shifting the tax burden to the residential class. She mentioned that Tewksbury has no land classified as open space and that the board has historically not granted a discount for such properties.

Foley continued, describing the tax shift, which moves the tax burden between residential, open space, commercial, industrial, and personal property classes. She outlined the classification of property and the process of setting the tax rate, starting with sales analysis and market adjustments.

She detailed the sales analysis process, including identifying arm’s length sales and reviewing data from MLS and aerial photography. She presented the fiscal year 2024 data, showing average values and tax bills for single-family homes, residential condos, commercial properties, and industrial properties. Foley highlighted the robust market for 2024, with significant increases in residential single-family home and condominium values.

The fiscal year 2025 levy limit, new growth, and debt exclusion were also reviewed, leading to a maximum allowable levy of $114 million.

Foley explained the recommended tax rate of $15.05 and the excess levy of $41,726. She presented different shift choices, including the CIP shift of 1.66, which would result in specific average tax bills for residential, residential condos, commercial, and industrial properties.

Foley and Montuori discussed the recommended 1.66 shift, which would slightly benefit the commercial and industrial classes.

She provided a comparison of total valuation with different shift choices, showing the impact on residential and commercial/industrial portions of the tax burden.

Kratman emphasized the need for more commercial businesses in the town to reduce the tax burden on residents. Mackey added, “I too would love more industrial commercial property. [The] problem is there’s not a lot of place in town to put that. I think that’s the challenge we’re going to have in the coming years.”

Ryder echoed the need for commercial and industrial properties to reduce the residential tax burden and thanked the presenters for their work.

Holland inquired about the outlook for property valuations in the next year, and Foley explained the continuing growth in residential values and the impact of interest rates.

Patrick Holland called for a motion to close the public hearing, which was seconded and approved unanimously.

The board voted to allocate the local property tax levy among the five property classes for fiscal year 2025 and selected a minimum residential factor of 0.8788. The board voted unanimously to deny all exemptions, including residential, small commercial, and open space discounts.

…

New Business Continued

Trahan Property Reuse Discussion

Patricia Muse, a long-time resident, expressed her opposition to the proposed reuse of the Trahan property, emphasizing the community’s desire for a park and green space. She highlighted survey results and a special town meeting that favored a park over other uses. Muse criticized the current proposals as overreaching the original town meeting article and called for a park to be built.

Approval of Sidewalk Easement and Donation to Senior Center

Alex Lowder explained the sidewalk easement for 1563 Andover Street, which allows the town to repair and maintain the sidewalk.

The board approved the easement with a condition to confirm the bus stop details.

Richard Montuori announced a $5,000 donation to the Senior Center, and the board voted to accept the donation with a contingent thank-you letter.

Pure Tewksbury: 1695 Shawsheen Street – Host Community Agreement

Richard Montuori presented the host agreement for 1695 Shawshank Street, which meets the Cannabis Control Commission’s model template. The board approved the host agreement and authorized Montuori to sign it.

Kratman expressed frustration with the Cannabis Control Commission’s lack of responsiveness to questions.

Trahan Property Reuse Discussion Continued

Kratman emphasized the need for senior housing and expressed concerns about the mixed-use proposal.

Mackey supported the bungalow-style housing for both senior and family units but wanted to reduce the number of units.

Ryder agreed with the need for senior and affordable housing but highlighted the financial benefits of the MCO proposal.

Holland suggested further discussions with both proposals to address board members’ concerns and questions.

State Hospital Letter to the Governor and Town Manager Report

The board voted to send a letter to the governor expressing concerns about the Tewksbury State Hospital and the need for additional resources.

Town Council Invoice

Richard Montuori presented a revised town council invoice for $3,697.50, which the board approved.

Minutes Approval

Eric Ryder made motion to approve the minutes of both September, 24 2024 and October, 22 2024.

Board Member Reports

James Mackey thanked everyone for coming out to the Veterans Day ceremony. He thanked the police department, fire department, and the VFW/American Legion.

Mackey’s fellow board members, in turn, thanked him for representing the Select Board at the ceremony.

Kratman highlighted the LRTA meeting held last month which revealed funding from the state to allow free ridership. This will be a pilot program that starts in December until October of next year. He expressed appreciation for how “wonderful” this will be for Tewksbury’s seniors and people with fixed incomes.

Kratman noted his absence from that week’s Economic Development Plan Meeting, as he attended the 70th Anniversary of the Lions Club, instead.

He also highlighted the ‘Tewksbury Restaurant Week’ starting at the end of this month!

Next Select Board meeting is November 26th.