Back to Naming Policy Development Committee Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2010, Hingham Town Hall
Present:
James Costello, Philip Edmundson, Alexander Macmillan, Jane Malme, Edward Siegfried
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by Chairman Jim Costello.
Marisa Costello, Hingham League of Women Voters observer, was the only member of the public present.
A revised draft of a proposed bylaw was distributed by Alex Macmillan.
Members reviewed each section of the draft, and made modifications that included:
Section 1 Purpose. The word “locations” was inserted in the sentence “This bylaw is enacted to establish the process by which, in naming, renaming or otherwise designating public buildings and public lands, the Town seeks to recognize individuals, locations and/or events of significance in local history and local affairs.”
Section 2. Definitions,
Section 2. 3: “Public Lands” The definition was amended for clarification to insert “Private ways on public lands” and delete it, as no longer necessary, in Section 2.6 defining “Features”.
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Section 3. Procedure.
Section 3.3: The phrase “unless that person shall have donated said building or land to the Town of Hingham or a department or agency thereof” was deleted from this section which now reads “No public building or public lands shall be named for any living person”.
Section 3.4 : The first part was re-phrased for greater clarity to read, “The naming or designation of individual rooms, areas or subareas within a public building, or areas or subareas associated with any public lands, shall be by the department or agency having jurisdiction over the same, and paragraphs 1,2,3 shall not apply”. (This distinguishes the process for naming of “Public Lands” and “Public Buildings” from the process for naming rooms, areas or subareas which is set forth in this subsection).
Section 3.4 (b) was amended by deleting the phrase “unless the cost of such room, area or subarea shall have been donated by such person” so that this section requires that rooms, areas and subareas may not be named for living persons under any circumstances.
The Chairman invited any further discussion on the proposal. Several members expressed the view that the proposed bylaw reflected the need and desire for a conservative and consistent approach to naming public lands and buildings which preserved the history of the town and invited citizen participation in the process.
It was moved and seconded to approve the bylaw, as amended. The vote for approval was unanimous.
A copy of the approved bylaw was printed, and Phil Edmundson offered to deliver the copy to the Board of Selectman, who were also meeting in the Town Hall, for their consideration as an article in 2010 Annual Meeting warrant.
With no additional business to discuss, it was agreed to cancel the meeting scheduled for January 26th.
The Chairman expressed his appreciation to the committee, and adjourned the meeting at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Jane Malme, Clerk
ARTICLE ____Voted 1/14/10
Will the Town adopt the following general bylaw:
THE NAMING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC LANDS
SECTION 1. Purpose:
This bylaw is enacted to establish the process by which, in naming, renaming or otherwise designating public buildings and public lands, the Town seeks to recognize individuals, locations and/or events of significance in local history and local affairs.
SECTION 2. Definitions:
1. “Designate” - the act of calling by a distinctive title, term, or expression any public buildings or public lands as defined in this bylaw.
2. “Name” – a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of any public building or public lands as defined in this bylaw.
3. “Rename” – the act of redesignating any public buildings or public lands as defined in this bylaw.
4. “Public Building” – any structure, edifice or other facility owned or maintained by the Town of Hingham, or any department or agency thereof.
5. “Public Lands” – any real property owned or maintained by the Town of Hingham, or any department or agency thereof, including, but not limited to, playgrounds, parks, courts, athletic fields, intersections and medians, and private ways on public lands, but not including public ways regulated by Article 10 of the General Bylaws.
6. “Features” – benches, bricks, flagpoles, plaques, parking spaces, trees, scoreboards, and signs or other markers located on public lands or within public buildings.
SECTION 3. Procedure:
1. The naming, renaming or other designation of any public building or public lands shall be by majority vote at the Annual Town Meeting. Once a public building or public lands have been named, they shall not be renamed unless there are exceptional circumstances.
2. Any proposed name or designation of any public building or public lands shall be submitted to the Board of Selectmen for its review and recommendation as to the appropriateness thereof. Following a duly-advertised public hearing, and with the advice of the Hingham Historical Commission, the Board shall forward its recommendation to the Annual Town Meeting.
3. No public building or public lands shall be named for any living person.
4. The naming or designation of individual rooms, areas or subareas within a public building, or areas or subareas associated with any public lands, shall be by the department or agency having jurisdiction over the same, and paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this section shall not apply, provided that: (a) such rooms, areas, or subareas constitute less than 25% of the public building or public lands at which the same may be located; (b) the same shall not be named for any living person; (c) no such room, area or subarea shall bear the name of a commercial enterprise; and (d) a duly-advertised public hearing is held at which such naming, renaming or designation is considered and acted upon by said department or agency. Any person objecting to such naming, renaming or designation by the department or agency may, within 10 days thereafter, appeal the action in writing to the Board of Selectmen, which shall, after a duly advertised public hearing, approve or reject the action.
5. The installation and naming or designation of features shall be by the department or agency having jurisdiction over the same. The Board of Selectmen may, after a duly-advertised public hearing, establish standards and specifications for signs, plaques or markers to be erected on public property within the Town.
Or act on anything related thereto?