August 30, 2021 meeting

Chair Dalton called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Vote to approve and sign an Equipment Lease/Purchase Agreement dated as of September 2, 2021 with Banc of America Public Capital Corp and all other incidental agreements and documents, including, but not limited to an Escrow and Account Control Agreement dated as of September 2, 2021

Chair Dalton said the funding mechanism for this program was authorized at the annual town meeting.

Town Accountant/Asst. Finance Director Julianne McCarthy explained this is the execution of the agreements relating to the energy efficiency program by which the Town will enter into an agreement by which the cost of these energy improvements will be paid for out of the savings that are realized through their implementation. She said Bank of America provides for the financing for the purchase and installation of equipment related to the energy efficient program. The 20-year financing is at 2.23 percent interest, with the first payment due in March of 2023. The costs will be paid for through the savings in energy costs.

Mr. Crawford said this is a great program for the Town. Mr. Connell thanked Ms. McCarthy for her hard work on this project.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to approve the resolution of the Select Board authorizing the execution and delivery of an Equipment Lease/Purchase agreement with respect to the acquisition, financing and leasing of certain equipment for the public benefit within the terms provided, authorizing the execution and delivery of documents required in connection therewith, and authorizing the taking of all other actions necessary to the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this resolution as presented. Vote was unanimous.

GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Chair Dalton explained that the Government Finance Officers Association has recognized the Town of Lynnfield with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. He said the Board had urged that the Town pursue this to ensure that it is engaging in the best financial practices. He said this is a prestigious award and that Ms. McCarthy has spearheaded the effort. He said he is quite proud the Town has someone like her leading these efforts. He said this is a significant accomplishment, and thanked her on behalf of the Board for all her efforts. Mr. Crawford and Mr. Connell also praised her and her staff and thanked them.

Vote to delegate care of the Meeting House to the Historical Commission

Town Counsel Thomas Mullen said in his August 26 letter to the Board he has laid out his concerns about entrusting Town-owned buildings to any private group, let alone the Lynnfield Historical Society, which lost its nonprofit status due to a failure to file tax returns and other documents, and is out of compliance with the state attorney general’s Public Charities Division.

He said he was surprised to learn that the society was allowed to authorize rentals of the Meeting House, collect the rents and apply proceeds as it chooses to the maintenance of Town buildings without periodic accounting. He said he has recommended that the Board vote to formally delegate the care of the Meeting House to the Historical Commission, a Town governmental body, as the 1960 vote at town meeting vote which resulted in the transferring of the day-to-day management of the Meeting House to the Historical Society does not comport with current-day procurement law. He said that if the Town were to pursue third-party operation of the Meeting House, it would need to structure a formal request-for-proposals process. He said the Historical Commission is a governmental entity, and it can manage the property without a contractual entanglement with a private entity.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that day-to-day management of the Old Meeting House, including the scheduling of rentals, and with the assistance of the Department of Public Works the collecting of rental payments and depositing of the same in the General Fund, and the cleaning of the building, be entrusted to the Lynnfield Historical Commission, including its members and volunteers, all such work to be done on a volunteer basis. Vote was unanimous.

Observance of 20th anniversary of 9/11 and First Responders Day

Chair Dalton announced that he Town is celebrating an observance of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack as well as its annual First Responders Day celebration on Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a barbecue for all those who participated.

Use of Facilities:

          a. Use of common, November 7-9, Lynnfield Art Guild

          b. Use of common, October 16, Friends of the Lynnfield Library

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell:  I move that the Board vote to approve the above listed Use of Facilities applications as received, subject to any restrictions that may be placed on them by the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Director of Public Works. Vote was unanimous.

MOTION by Mr. Crawford, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board adjourn. Vote was unanimous.

The Board adjourned at 6:15 p.m.