May 8 2023 meeting

Chair Connell called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He announced that the meeting was being recorded for cable television and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Application for a common victualer license, Lynnfield Pizza of Mass., Inc., dba Lynnfield House of Pizza, 15 Post Office Square

The new owner of Lynnfield House of Pizza, Muhammad Ala, appeared before the Board. He said the restaurant will be operated in the same style as with the previous owners. Board members wished him well.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to approve the common victualer license application of Lynnfield Pizza of Mass., Inc., dba Lynnfield House of Pizza, 15 Post Office Square. Vote was unanimous.

Change of Officers/Directors application, 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC, dba Ninety-Nines restaurant, 317 Salem Street

The Board was notified by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission that it was handling the processing of a global application for a change of officers/directors. This will not change management of the local franchise. The Board must vote to approve the change.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to approve the Change of Officers/Directors application from 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC, dba Ninety-Nines restaurant, 317 Salem Street. Vote was unanimous.

Notice under Chapter 61B of intent to convert the use of recreational land to other use, Sagamore Spring Real Estate Trust, 1287 Main Street

The Board has received official notification from owners of the Sagamore golf course of their intent to convert a portion of their land to another use. Under state law, because the owners availed themselves of a tax reduction on the property because of its use for recreational purposes, the owners must offer the Town the right to purchase the land. As the Board has previously concluded negotiations with the land owners for certain concessions regarding the development of this land, and as town meeting has approved the rezoning of a portion of this land for these purposes, the Board has agreed not to exercise its rights under state law.

Richard Luff, of the Sagamore owners’ group, was on hand and offered to answer any questions the Board might have.

Mr. Connell said he is very happy this is happening, as many people had advocated for this land acquisition.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote not to exercise or assign its option to purchase the Land described as follows: Approximately 36 acres of land located at 1301 Main Street, Lynnfield, Massachusetts and shown as Lot 1 on a plan entitled “Plan of Land, Main Street, Lynnfield, Mass.” drawn by Hayes Engineering, Inc. dated October 25, 2021, recorded with the Essex Southern District Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 40797, Page 69, formerly subject to G.L. c. 61B (the “Land”), being a portion of the land conveyed to the Owner by Deed dated June 1, 1954, and recorded with the Essex Southern District Registry of Deeds at Book 4078, Page 442. Vote was unanimous.

Interview, LIFE, Inc. Board of Directors, Daniel Macintyre

Longtime resident Daniel Macintyre, well known to the Board as Executive Director of the Lynnfield Housing Authority, was on hand to interview for a vacant position on the LIFE, Inc. Board of Directors. He said he has spent four years in his present position and has lived in Town for six decades. He thanked all Town officials for the support given to the Housing Authority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board members thanked Mr. Macintyre for his work on behalf of the Town and said he would be a great addition to the Board.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to appoint Daniel Macintyre to the LIFE, Inc. Board of Directors. Vote was unanimous.

Interview, Thomas Bogart, Recycling Committee

Longtime resident Thomas Bogart, well known to the Board as former Fire Chief and a member of the War Memorial Committee, was on hand to interview for a vacant position on the Recycling Committee. He thanked the Board for the opportunity and said he has no expertise in this field but is an avid recycler. He said he has been involved in municipal government for 30 years and retired as Fire Chief 11 years ago.

Board members thanked him for his work on behalf of the Town.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board vote to appoint Thomas Bogart to the Recycling Committee. Vote was unanimous.

Request for price increase for units, LIFE, Inc.

The LIFE, Inc. Board is recommending that the Board approve increases is the prices for its housing units. The LIFE model allows Lynnfield residents and certain family members to purchase its housing units at a below-market rate; those units must be re-sold to LIFE, Inc. at the set price and the difference between the original purchase price and the sales price, if any, is divided between the unit owner and LIFE, Inc. according to a formula previously adopted by the Board.

Sal Yerardi of the LIFE Board of Directors said that the last price increase for LIFE units was in September of 2018. He said that unit sales is one of the three main sources of revenue for the replacement fund, along with the monthly charged to unit owners and the investment portfolio. He noted that LIFE splits the difference between the unit cost when the seller had purchased and the sales price with the selling owner.

The Board of Directors voted after lengthy review an increase of 9.50% to the units at Center and Essex Villages and 7.5% to units at Colonial Village with the following results:

•           Center Village 1 bedroom units from $168,800 to $184,800

•           Center Village 2 bedroom units from $211,200 to $231,300

•           Essex Village 2 bedroom units from $274,900 to $301,000

•           Colonial Village apartment end units from $413,900 to $444,900

•           Colonial Village apartment 2 bdrm. interior units from $347,000 to $373,000

•           Colonial Village apartment 1 bedroom unit from $277,500 to $298,300

•           Colonial Village Townhouse Bldg. 5 end units from $445,700 to $479,100

•           Colonial Village Townhouse Bldg. 5 middle unit from $429,800 to $462,000

•           Colonial V11lage Townhouse Bldgs. 1-4 end units from $435,100 to $467,700

•           Colonial Village Townhouse Bldg. 3 middle unit from $419,200 to $450,600

Mr. Crawford said these increases are much needed with the general increase in value of real estate during the past few years. Mr. Dalton agreed, saying unit prices at Partridge Island have gone up 40 percent over the same period. He said this proposal is a very modest increase given the marketplace.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board approve the price increases for units as proposed by the LIFE, Inc. Board of Directors. Vote was unanimous.

Liaisons for 2023-2024

The chair presented his liaison assignments for 2023-2024.

Use of Facilities requests

            a. Common, Library, July 31

            b. Banner, LHS PTO, May 29-June 5

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board approve the Use of Facilities applications subject to any conditions imposed by the Police Chief and Public Works Director. Vote was unanimous.

Request for executive session, G.L. c. 30A, § 21, section 2. To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel

Request for executive session, G.L. c. 30A, § 21, section 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.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board enter into executive session, under G.L. c. 30A, § 21, section 2. To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel.

Roll call: Dalton- yes, Connell- yes; Crawford – yes.

MOTION by Mr. Dalton, duly seconded by Mr. Connell: I move that the Board enter into executive session, under G.L. c. 30A, § 21, section G.L. c. 30A, § 21, section 3. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body.

Roll call: Dalton- yes, Connell- yes; Crawford – yes.

The chair announced that the Board does not plan to resume public session.

The Board entered executive session at 5:54 p.m.