December 7, 2004
Regular Session 7:20 PM
Ms. Tully, Mr. MacIver
Public Hearing Application of Burtons Grille
Mr. Devin, representing the applicant, explained that the restaurant is an upscale casual restaurant that will be open for lunch and dinner. There will be in-house training in alcohol awareness. The owner has significant experience in the restaurant business and has worked for Victoria Station, the 99’s, Legal Seafood and Outback Steakhouses. Alcoholic beverages will be kept in locked storage behind the bar and in the storeroom. Staffing will consist of three partners and other management staff plus waitstaff for a total of about 75 staff members. The facility will contain a total of 180 seats, 13 of which will be bar seats and the rest are full restaurant seats.
Voted - to approve the application of Burtons Grill of Hingham, LLC, d/b/a Burtons Grill, Kevin P. Harron, Manager 96 Derby Street, for a Restaurant Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages License, subject to the approval of all Town Boards and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Ice Rink Development Committee
Ms. Ferrante and Mr. O’Meara explained that the Ice Rink Development Committee has been working for the past two years. The plan is for a single sheet of ice that would be run as an enterprise fund. The Committee investigated a number of sites in town. The two most desirable sites from the committee perspective were the original Bare Cove Park/School Depot site and the area by the South Shore Country Club. The country club site was considered to be an opportunity to make good use of the property. Committee members have met with the Country Club Management Committee and Ms. Shultz. Although concerns were raised about parking and the aesthetics of the building, Ms. Shultz did not see anything at first glance that raised any zoning issues. The three closest abutters on South Street were contacted about the project. Mr. Edmundson asked the reaction of the neighbors. The Committee only heard from one neighbor who had concerns about after hours in the parking lot. The location of the rink on the country club site would involve the loss of three tennis courts but there are twenty five other courts in town. Ms. Ferrante pointed out that there may be some synergy between the ice rink and other uses of the property, i.e., food service, bowling, etc.
The Ice Rink Development Committee explored this alternative site because of the phasing of the DPW fields project. The original recommendation of the School Depot site was based on the infrastructure being there because of the public works building project. The Country Club has parking, sewerage, utilities, roadway, etc. The site at the country club is basically the area of the tennis courts plus a little more. . Mr. O’Meara said that since there is apparently no impediment to locating the rink there, the Committee met with the BSC Group the designer of the driving range, etc. who advised that it looks somewhat possible. The Committee is requesting engineering monies for a study by the BSC Group.
Voted - to approve the contract from BSC Group dated December 6 regarding plans for proposed Hingham Ice Rink at South Shore Country Club at a cost of $6,600 which will be paid from the Selectmen’s engineering account.
Niles Conservation Restriction
Bruce Robertson, representing the Niles family of 85 Cushing Street, advised the Board that the Niles family is interested in offering a conservation restriction on their 9.6 acre property abutting Cushing Pond. This is a continuation of a series of gifts of property made to the Hingham Land Conservation Trust over the years. The property is primarily wooded and it has one single-family house located on it. Ms. Reardon thanked Ms. Niles for the wonderful gift that her family is considering making to the Land Trust. Mr. MacIver remarked that the Cushing Pond area in its natural state is a beautiful spot and this donation preserves an area that is also of historic significance to the town from its past use as a source of ice as well as of power for the old Wilder Bucket and Tower Toy Factories.
Voted - to approve a conservation restriction given by Mary L. Niles to the Hingham Land Conservation Trust on the property located at 85 Cushing Street.
Voted - to transfer $15,000 from the Conservation Commission Filing Fees Account to the Architectural and Engineering Account.
Development and Industrial Commission Update
Mr. Rabuffo explained that the committee was given $35,000 to create a more detailed analysis of proposed downtown improvements. The Cecil Group design is to coordinate with the MBTA improvements, etc. The plan calls for possible streetscape, lighting and sidewalk improvements from Elm street to the Waterfront. The intent is to provide narrow but drivable lanes and use other areas of the layout for wider sidewalks and parking if possible. The intersection from Route 3A at North Street should be necked down. The tunnel cap should be treated as an interesting well-lit alleyway. There will be a “cookbook” developed saying the curbs should be this high, of this material; the trees should be a particular type, etc. Mr. MacIver noted that Central Street is kind of a backdoor entrance to the downtown area and some consideration of this area would be helpful. The 3A/ North Street area should have distinct areas between waterfront and town center connected by a nice crosswalk. Mr. Edmundson asked if the next report would break this into phases or sections of the project since it is difficult to look at the amount of money that this would cost to do all at once. Mr. Cecil said that he would recommend that everything be considered a priority or the state may pick and choose. Ms. Tully remarked that the fall in revenues in 2002 was the largest ever. There is little likelihood that local aid will go up in the near future so the money has to come from somewhere else. Funding for local services will come more out of property taxes.
The following budgets were heard
Town Clerk
Elections
Assessors
Treasurer/Collector
Conservation Commission
Planning Board
Bare Cove Park
GAR Hall
Selectmen/Legal Town Meeting/ Town Hall/Hersey House
Engineering/Unclassified
Voted - to transfer $15,000 from the Conservation Commission Filing Fees Account to the Architectural and Engineering Account.
Voted - to request time extension for the Hingham GAR Hall Construction FY2003 CDF Grant #5522 to March 31, 2005.
Voted - to extend the contract with Breezeway Farm Consulting to administer the Small Cities Grant for the GAR Hall Project until March 31, 2005, contingent upon approval of a time extension from DHCD.
Voted - to appoint Eric Gauthier a member of the Housing Partnership for a term ending in 2005.
Ms. Tully discussed her proposed memo regarding a taskforce for town-issued RFPs that promote green building for new construction and renovation.
Voted - to renew the following Alcoholic Beverages Licenses:
COMMON VICTUALLER/ALL ALCOHOLIC -
Aloha Restaurant, Inc., 189 Whiting St.
AR.M. Inc. d/b/a South Shore Sports Center, 55 Recreation Park Dr.
BE&E Inc, d/b/a The Snug , 116 North St.
Bertucci’s Rest.Corp d/b/a Bertucci’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, 90 Derby St.
Black Rock Golf Club, LLC , 25 Clubhouse Drive
Brinker Massachusetts Corp d/b/a Chili’s Grille& Bar, 6 Whiting St.
ChopHouseAssoc LP d/b/a Black Fin Chop House & Raw Bar, 1217 St.
Curry, LLC d/b/a Muang Thai, 74 North Street
DSIA, d/b/a The Cove, 211 Lincoln Street
Eat Well, Inc., d/b/a Tosca , Manager, 14 North St.
Eat Well, Inc., d/b/a Caffé Tosca, 15 North St.
Hingham Bay ClubLLC d/b/a Hingham Bay Club, 349 Lincoln St
Kay’s Harbor Corp. d/b/a Stars on Hingham Harbor, 2-4 Otis St
KMC, LLC, d/b/a Rustic Kitchen, 94 Derby Street, Suite 217
Maxx, LLC d/b/a The Boston Golf Club, 31 Old County Road
Naked Fish, d/b/a RED SAUCE, 48 Whiting St.
Ninety Nine Restaurant of Boston, LLC, 428 Lincoln Street,
Nino’s Steak & Chop House, LLC, 415 Whiting Street
Ocean Kai, Inc., 300 Lincoln Street
Siam Enterprises, Inc, d/b/a Jack’s Cafe, 6 Crow Point Lane
South Shore Catering Group,Inc dba So.Shore Country Club 274 South St. South Shore Lodge #1850, Sons of Italy, 39 Kilby St.
Thompson’ Tavern, Inc., d/b/a Liberty Grille, Manager, 8 North St.
Three Squares A Day Café, Inc. d/b/a The Square Café, Mgr,150 North St.
WINES AND MALT BEVERAGES
Hingham Yacht Club, 211 Downer Avenue
Crow Point Pizzeria Inc., 191 Lincoln Street
RETAIL PACKAGE GOODS STORE/ALL ALCOHOLIC -
A.G.T. Inc., d/b/a Queen Ann Wine & Spirits, 1 Whiting St
Derby Street Wine & Spirits, 94 Derby, Suite 103
E&S Group Inc. d/b/a Hingham Liquors, 118 North St.
Packaging Center, Inc, d/b/a Stop & Shop, Mgr, 400 Lincoln St.
The Wine Company Ltd., 49 Whiting Street
RETAIL PACKAGE GOODS STORE/WINE AND MALT
Bare Cove Gourmet Wine Annex, Inc., 79 Water St.
Jacqueline Cimeno Smith d/b/a Main Street Market & Deli, 484 Main St.
Moira A. Sullivan, d/b/a Hingham Wine Merchant, 112 North Street
Patricia M. McDonald d/b/a The Cracker Barrel, 613 Main Street
Richard Abbadessa-Victoria Abbadessa Forman d/b/a Victoria’s Beer & Wine, 244 Hull St
Correspondence/Selectmen/Town Administrator’s Reports
Mr. MacIver advised that the Housing Partnership is proceeding with the RFP analysis process and will present to the Advisory Committee next week. Gale Associates working at a good clip putting together recommendations that will have to be considered in the RFP process. There needs to be discussion with the Public Works Building Committee and some property lines drawn around the projects. Mr. MacIver attended the Central Fire Station Building Committee meeting last night. Mr. Gentry tendered his resignation last night but said he will retain an advisory role on the committee for as long as necessary. Tappe Associates has redone some drawings, the Committee made some further recommendations to pare down costs and reach the roughly 13,300 sq. feet programmatic space recommended. Mr. MacIver noted that he had a meeting with an employee regarding housing and the difficulty of finding affordable housing in the community. Mr. Edmundson said the deadline for applications for Community Preservation Committee funding was yesterday. He also remarked that Christmas in the Square was quite a success. Ms. Tully attended School Committee meeting where the NASDEC projections were presented last night. She also attended the Whitney Wharf dedication. The ceremony was very nice and the wharf was beautiful. Mr. Cristello noted that CBB made a contribution to the downtown merchants in the amount of $7,000 to fund the marketing person they requested a couple of months ago.
Meeting adjourned 10:00 PM.
Betty Foley, Clerk