January 14, 2020 minutes

Chairman Crawford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Joint meeting with Board of Library Trustees to fill vacancy

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton: I move that the Board enter joint session with the Board of Library Trustees. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Crawford: I move that Phil Crawford be named chair of the joint meeting. Vote was unanimous.

Board of Library Trustees Chair Robert Calamari said that candidate Andrew Kenneally was the unanimous nominee to replace Dr. Janine Rodrigues-Saldanha, who resigned late last year. Mr. Kenneally was the lone applicant for the position and plans to run for the position in the annual town election. He said he has a wonderful skill set to bring to the board, especially in the area of communications. He is employed by the state Workers Compensation Board.

Mr. Kennealey thanked the boards for their consideration. He has resided here since 2016 and has two daughters, and his wife is on the board of the Lynnfield Moms Group. His family uses the library frequently, and said it is a treasure he would like to help thrive and grow.

Board members thanked Mr. Kennealey for coming forward.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded: I move that Andrew Kenneally be appointed to the Board of Library Trustees to serve until the April 2020 town election. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded: I move that the joint meeting be adjourned. Vote was unanimous.

Proposed police patrolman transfer

Police Chief David Breen and Town Administrator Rob Dolan recommended that one of two vacancies in the Lynnfield Police Department be filled by transfer. Marco DePalma is a Lynnfield resident and currently a patrolman in the City of Melrose.

Chief Breen said that he had posted a vacant patrolman position for transfer. Four very qualified candidates applied. After a review, he is recommending Mr. DePalma, a local resident.

Mr. DePalma said he has been an officer in Melrose for five years and he hand his family live in Lynnfield. Chairman Crawford praised his skill set. Selectman Barrett said that

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Selectman Dalton: I move that the Board vote to approve the appointment by transfer of Marco DePalma to the position of police patrolman effective February 15, 2020.

Interviews with Town Clerk candidates

Assistant Rockport Town Clerk Linda Emerson and Assistant Melrose City Clerk Melissa Ripley will be on hand for brief interviews for the position of Town Clerk Town Administrator Robert Dolan introduced both candidates and said they were both impressive and highly qualified.

In response to questions posed by the Board, Ms. Ripley said she has worked for the City of Melrose for over nine years, in the Health Department and the City Clerk’s office. She said she is detail-oriented and works to make improvements, in areas such as technology and in-office and online credit card billing. She also ran the flu clinics for the city. She said this would be a good opportunity for advancement.

Ms. Ripley discussed her recruitment efforts for flu clinic workers and her experience in the city clerk’s office. She said she does not have a lot of experience with town meeting as Melrose has a city form of government. She said organization is important. She prepares minutes for the city council and takes roll call votes. She processes public records requests and helps track response.

Ms., Ripley discussed the licensing, billing, payroll and licensing software she has utilized. She said she has created new documents for licensing.

Ms. Emerson said she has worked for a municipality for 28 years, in various offices. She has worked in the clerk’s office twice, and is a certified town clerk. She said she has been an assistant town clerk since 2011 and is looking forward to a new challenge. She said she wants to eb welcoming and kind to everyone. She said that she has assisted with town meetings in Rockport for many years. She takes the minutes, records the votes and assists with presentations.

Ms. Emerson said she is by the book when running elections, and works to make sure everyone eligible to vote can vote. She ran the election on the override, from creating the ballot to testing machines and overseeing operations. She has assisted boards in public records requests. She said receiving her town clerk certification and streamlining of online processes are among her greatest accomplishments.

Chairman Crawford said that both candidates were excellent and said that as this is a very bus time of year, it would be prudent to move forward tonight. He said one of the candidates has more experience with town meeting and town elections, and therefore he favors Ms. Emerson. Selectman Barrett said both candidates are excellent but he believes having a number of years of experience with town meeting is crucial.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Crawford: I move that Linda Emerson be appointed Town Clerk. Vote was 2-0, with Selectman Dalton not present.

Agreement with Lynnfield Center Water District

Mr. Dolan and LCWD Superintendent John Scenna discussed a proposed agreement between the Town and the Lynnfield Center Water District on water pricing and provision and shared services. He said he feels this agreement will help the Town and the water district work together more efficiently and collaboratively. He said this will allow the water district to tap into services and equipment that the Town has access to. Mr. Dolan said it provides the Town with a consistent rate ton allow for proper budgeting, and provision of water to the Huckleberry Hill School field to make it safer, and allow for sodding to make proper improvements. It also provides water service to the common, which will be essential to making planned improvements there.

Chairman Crawford said service to Huckleberry Hill is crucial, since attempts to provide water on site through wells have been fruitless. He said the cooperation on issues outlined will benefit both the Town and the water district. Selectman Barrett praised Mr. Scenna’s work as superintendent and said he is pleased to see the proposed solution to the issues at Huckleberry Hill School and the common.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Crawford: I move that the Board vote to approve the proposed agreement between the Town of Lynnfield and Lynnfield Center Water District as presented and instruct Town Counsel to prepare a document to be executed by the town administrator reflecting this agreement. Vote was 2-0, with Selectman Dalton not present.

FY21 Budget Presentation: Police

Police Chief David Breen was on hand to review his FY21 operating and capital budget requests. Chief Breen said that his operating budget proposal calls for a 1.8 percent increase over the current year budget. He said patrolman longevity is up due to officers reaching the 5- and 10-year marks at which stipend increase. The budget also provides additional funds to create equity Software maintenance increased by $500. Supplies are up by 25 percent, which restores funding to previous year levels. New computer funding is needed to upgrade from Windows 7, support for which is no longer offered.

The capital request includes the fifth year of a five-year radio site upgrade from cooper to fiber optic cable. The key scan system is ten years old and needs replacement. The phone system in the police and fire departments are over 20 years old and is failing. While this does not affect the 911 system, it is a problem. Both departments would pay $11,000 each. One new cruiser is sought; one will be decommissioned on advice of the mechanic. $39,897. Four new computers to handle the Windows upgrade and two mobile computers that will be compatible with upgraded software are being sought, as well as $2500 to replace a 10-year-old cruiser unit. Chief Breen said he listed the items by priority.

Healthy Lynnfield update

Peg Sallade announced the Town was approved for a five-year $125,000 Drug-Free Communities grant, which is renewable by approval for an additional five years. She discussed several upcoming events and invited the community to look at its website to see its priorities and events, including parent focus groups at the end of January, and authors presentations. Training for students, in cultural diversity and overdose prevention are planned. She thanked Chairman Crawford for his vision in bringing this partnership to Lynnfield.

Chairman Crawford said Ms. Sallade is an outstanding leader in this area as well as an outstanding grant writer. He thanked her for her work. She invited community members to get in touch with her and discuss many items of interest or concern. Selectman Barrett thanked Chairman Crawford for his leadership and noted that Selectman Dalton is being honored by the Lynnfield Area Chamber of Commerce for his family’s work through the Think of Michael organization. Ms. Sallade said that the community is fortunate to have these two organizations working together.

MOTION by Selectman Barrett, duly seconded by Chairman Crawford: I move that the Board adjourn.

The Board adjourned at 7:46 p.m.