October 19, 2004
Regular Session 8:10 PM
Ms. Tully, Mr. Edmundson, Mr. MacIver
Voted - to approve minutes of July 13, July 27, August 10 and August 24
State of the Town Forum
Ms. Tully asked everyone in town to join the Selectmen on Sunday to discuss possible solutions to the challenges facing the town, etc. This forum is a new initiative based on a program that is being done in Lincoln. It is hoped that this will provide a method to get input from everyone in town prior to town meeting. The program will start promptly at 1:00 PM and end promptly at 4:00 PM.
Veterans Memorial Update
Mr. Claypoole advised the Board that the dedication is scheduled for eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The project has been somewhat delayed because of the weather. The granite is partially installed. The earthwork will be finished and the irrigaton system will cover the entire front lawn. The area will then be sodded. The Committee is short about $20,000 to fulfill the project as planned. Mr. Claypoole distributed pictures of the partially completed globe and showed the Board the finish will be Verdi antique. There is room on the memorial for 10 bronze plaques. The only plaque on dedication day will be that which says the memorial was made possible by the generous contribution of many citizens of Hingham. The base will be inscribed Veterans Memorial. Mr. Claypoole thanked everyone in the community who has been supportive of the project. Ms. Tully noted that the scale is very well done and balanced. She thanked Mr. Claypoole and the committee for their efforts.
Transfer Facility
Mr. Stigliani explained that the new transfer facility includes a raised walkway and will allow consolidation of as much of the recycling as possible in one area. The glass will be collected in tip carts and the paper will also be collected in carts. These will allow those recyclables to be compacted which will reducing hauling costs and make collection more convenient for the residents. The sidewalk in front of the building and recycling area is handicapped accessible. The handicapped access parking spot is adjacent to the ramp. Concrete pads have been placed where each tip cart is located. The fork lift or front loader will be able to empty tip carts into containers without crossing traffic. There will be spaces on the opposite side for Red Cross, Goodwill, tvs, computers and the book trailer. There will be a crosswalk to the metal pile. Leaves and brush will continue to be collected in the same area. The Swap Area will be located just off the roadway on the road to the trash transfer area. Mr. Stigliani said he had hoped to be able to open the new layout on Thursday but due to weather delays it may be delayed a week.
Since September 13 the Department of Public Works has given out 4,000 stickers. Stickers are given out at the DPW and there will be another Saturday sometime soon. Mr. MacIver said that he and Mr. Stigliani had discussed some objectives relative to the transfer facility. We currently spend about $700,000 per year with SeMass and Bourne.
Mr. Stigliani said if the Town were able to reduce the waste stream by 10% it would result in a savings of $70,000. The Board is most anxious to have residents recycle. Mr. MacIver has been in touch with the Solid Waste Disposal Committee and they are anxious to help out. A major issue with many people is the inability of the town to accept bulky waste and demolition debris on weekends. There is a timing issue with the use of the trailers. The Town cannot use them for demolition debris and have the trailers available for household trash. It might be possible to have a private contractor come in on a weekend on a once a quarter basis. Mr. MacIver said he was not sure that the quarterly availability of a bulky waste collection would be worthwhile. The regulations on construction demolition are in the process of being rewritten and how we address that may have a bearing on what we do in the future. The town is generally been one of the better communities for recycling. The bottom line is that we hope this will make it easier for recycling. Mr. Edmundson said the transfer facility looks great and encouraged Mr. Stigliani to work at having the bottle and can drives at the transfer station. There has to be some renovations to the roof of the building; there are also ADA issues; and the final aspect is the capping of the landfill. Ms. Tully echoed Edmundson’s support for finding a way to work with the schools on bottle and can drives. There are handouts that go with new stickers. Copies will be available at this Sunday’s meeting for State of the Town Forum.
Presentation for Representative Garrett Bradley
On behalf of the towns of Cohasset, Hingham and Hull and the fire chiefs of Massachusetts would like to recognize Representative Bradley’s efforts on behalf of some landmark fire safety legislation, C. 304 House Bill 4550. Chief Johnson presented Representative Bradley with a plaque noting that Massachusetts is the home state of the NFPA and is finding ways to set the standards
Public Hearing on Request of Verizon for a Grant of Location
Verizon had requested a cabinet on Main Street they sent a letter withdrawing the request.
Voted - to accept the request of Verizon New England Inc. to withdraw their petition for a Grant of Location for a proposed new cabinet and conduit location in the vicinity of 451 Main Street.
Ms. Tully explained that for several years the Town has given Employee Recognition Awards for Customer Assistance and Efficiency Productivity Improvement. The suggestion has been made that the awards be called the Donna Mayberry Greenberg in recognition of Ms. Mayberry Greenberg’s service to the town.
Voted - to name the Employee Recognition Awards the Donna Mayberry Greenberg Awards.
Voted - to grant request for counsel as submitted by the Planning Board.
Voted - to close the Town Hall the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Correspondence
The HMPA fundraising drive this year will feature Dunkin Donuts coffee, not fruit. The group has received great support from Dunkin Donuts. Irena Sinclair has resigned from the School Committee. The Board expressed thanks for her service to the town and encouraged people to come forward and indicate their interest in the seat. Again this year the Town received a one hundred percent match of Community Preservation Funds amounting to $483,468. Mr. MacIver said he recently attended Community Preservation Committee meetings and the committee is preparing to receive and evaluate funding applications. A topic of discussion at these meetings is a way to streamline the process and make them more accessible to the public. Mr. MacIver recently attended two honor courts for Eagle Awards – one for Ben D’Addario and the other for Kyle Ryan These ceremonies have been both moving and funny. The Housing Partnership has recommended two contracts for consultants, Gale Associates and Michael Jacobs. Ms. Tully attended the opening of Linden Ponds opened last Thursday. There were over 600 people present,
Meeting adjourned 9:05 PM.
Betty Foley, Clerk