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Call to Order and Public Comment (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:08:00)
Chair Erin Noonan called the Marblehead Select Board meeting to order at 7:01 PM on Wednesday, January 22nd. She opened the floor for public comment, inviting anyone in the audience or online to speak.
Town Administrator Updates (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:08:00)
Town Administrator Thatcher Keezer provided several updates regarding improvements and developments within the town. He began with updates on the Mary Alley building improvements, noting that these would be the first significant enhancements for employees since the building’s establishment 30 years ago. Keezer mentioned previous incidents, including a break-in and flooding, which had led to insurance claims that would help fund the renovations. The renovations include replacing damaged rugs and improving the overall working environment for employees. Keezer explained that the project would utilize American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to extend the rug replacement throughout the upper-level working area. The contract for the vendor responsible for this work was on the agenda for approval later in the meeting. In addition to the rug replacement, Keezer highlighted the creation of a larger office space for the building inspections department, which would consolidate all inspectors into one area. He also mentioned the establishment of a new break room for employees, as previous smaller break rooms had been removed during office reconfigurations. Keezer further discussed the implementation of a new key card security system for the building, which would enhance security by allowing employees to access the building at designated times. This system would also include the printing of employee IDs on access cards for identification purposes. Lastly, Keezer announced the hiring of Brendan Callahan as the new Community Development Planning Director, set to start on February 10th. Callahan, a Marblehead resident, brings over 19 years of experience in public sector planning and development.
Town Meeting Preparations (Link: 00:08:00 – 00:12:00)
Chair Noonan shifted the discussion towards preparations for the upcoming town meeting. She noted that the deadline for citizen petitions was approaching, with a deadline set for the upcoming Friday. Staff and committee submissions were due the following week. Keezer provided an overview of the articles included in the meeting packets, which consisted of standard articles such as liability acceptance and property leases. He highlighted specific articles, including collective bargaining agreements, a multifamily overlay district, and the HVAC system replacement for the Mary Alley building. Additionally, Keezer discussed a request from Police Chief King to lift the age limit for hiring police officers, which would be addressed in a town meeting article. This change aims to expand the pool of candidates for police positions, as the current list of applicants has significantly decreased in recent years.
Article Discussions and Future Planning (Link: 00:12:00 – 00:21:00)
Keezer continued by outlining the process for transferring the ownership of the Elm Street playground from the Select Board to the Recreation and Park Department. He emphasized the importance of this transfer for better management of the playground. The discussion then moved to the articles for the upcoming town meeting. Keezer mentioned that the Select Board would request to include the Charter Committee report in the articles. He explained that the Coffin School reuse would also be addressed, as the school committee had voted to release the building from educational purposes, allowing for future planning regarding its use. Keezer elaborated on the need for a community engagement process to determine the future use of the Coffin School property, which may include municipal uses or potential redevelopment for housing. The meeting also touched on the town’s efforts to provide tax exemptions for seniors and veterans, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on these groups. Keezer noted that the Finance Committee, led by Aleesha Benjamin, was actively working on these initiatives. Keezer mentioned three items that would be presented to the Planning Board: updates to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw, adjustments to the floodplain map, and MBTA zoning requirements. He clarified that these updates were necessary to align local regulations with state laws and to ensure proper insurance coverage for residents.
Inspection Services Fees and Bylaw Requests (Link: 00:21:00 – 00:25:00)
Town Administrator Thatcher Keezer discussed the proposed changes to the inspection services fees. He explained that currently, all inspectional fees are set through town meeting, and the goal is to transfer the authority to update these fees to the Select Board, which would allow for more flexibility and efficiency in the process. Keezer emphasized the complexity of comparing fees across different communities due to varying terminologies and categories. He outlined a two-part request: the first part seeks authorization from town meeting to allow the Select Board to set fees with a public hearing, similar to the process for setting water and sewer rates. The second part involves making adjustments to the existing fees and introducing a new fee category for home battery installations, which have become increasingly common. Keezer noted that this change aims to simplify and modernize the fee structure.
Clarification on the Marblehead High School HVAC Project (Link: 00:25:00 – 00:27:00)
Keezer clarified the terminology surrounding the Marblehead High School HVAC project, which had previously been referred to as the roof project. He explained that while the cost estimates for the roof replacement remain unchanged, the scope of work has expanded to include the replacement of the HVAC systems on the roof. This decision was made to avoid future complications, such as damaging a new roof when replacing the HVAC systems. Keezer reassured that the funding for the roof project has already been approved and that the project is being executed in the correct sequence to protect warranties and the integrity of the new roof.
Consent Agenda Items (Link: 00:27:00 – 00:31:00)
Chair Noonan moved the meeting forward to the consent agenda items, which included the approval of minutes from previous meetings and the surplus equipment regarding a wooden desk. The board voted unanimously to accept these items. Noonan then requested a motion to appoint Logan Casey, the Sustainability Coordinator, as Marblehead’s representative on the MBTA Advisory Board’s Climate and Clean Energy Committee. The board approved this appointment, recognizing Casey’s relevant experience. The board also reviewed several consent agenda contracts, including an increase in the contract amount for Raphael Construction related to the Elm Street improvement project and the carpet project for the Mary Alley offices. Keezer confirmed that the additional costs would be covered by ARPA funding and insurance proceeds.
Grant Applications and Proclamations (Link: 00:31:00 – 00:37:00)
The board discussed a request from the grant writer to support applications to the Metropolitan Planning Organization for proposed improvements to the Village Street Bridge and additional bike racks in Marblehead. The board voted in favor of sending letters of support for these grant applications. Additionally, a request from Pat Franklin of the Historical Commission to submit a survey and planning grant for the Marblehead historical properties inventory was approved. The board also moved to proclaim March 23rd through April 30th, 2025, as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period, aiming to increase awareness and reduce accidents. Finally, the board acknowledged letters of interest from Joanna Rose for the Disabilities Commission and Gene Record for the Conservation Commission. They decided to set a deadline for applications by February 7th, with plans to conduct interviews on February 12th. The meeting then transitioned to announcements, where member Moses Grader noted the passing of community members Libby Moore and Ed Bell, suggesting that the board send letters of condolence to their families. The board agreed to this proposal. Grader also provided an update on the Gary School Elm Street project, informing the community about the progress and anticipated completion timeline.
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