July 26, 2005
Regular Session7:30 PM
Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully
Rename the Center Field
Mr. Edmundson said input has been received from neighbors and other residents regarding the renaming of Center Field. Ms. Skinner said that the abutters had attended the ad hoc committee meetings and had an agreement at the end of the meeting. It is their hope that it will move in the direction decided by that committee. Ms. Powers asked why every other field in town is named after somebody and this is the only one that is problematic. Mr. Cullings explained that from the late 18th century Center Field was the site of at least four schools, the last of which was demolished in the early 60s. It is the interest of the neighbors that things are done in an appropriate manner.
Ms. Tully noted that there are good points on either side of the issue. Although there were important buildings on the site they are no longer there and this is an opportunity to honor someone who did a lot for the town. She would recommend naming the field Powers Field. Mr. Edmundson said this is clearly a place that has an important historical role in the town but his is an opportunity to honor a woman who gave a lot to the town. It is his hope to find a way to include both names in the title of the park area.
Voted - to rename Center Field to Donna M. Powers Field which is the baseball diamond at Center Park
Mr. Potter asked about signage. The Board is not considering signs at this time if someone were to approach the Board about signs it would be discussed at that time.
Public Hearing/Grant of Location for Sewer Connection on Summer Street@ Rt 3A
Mr. Litwood of 235 Summer St. explained that the Sewer Commission has granted permission to tie in his home and two additional lots and then continue to Kilby Street to connect another home at 4 Kilby Street. The roadwork should take 3 to 4 days. There were no objections to the request.
Voted - to approve the grant of location of the Hingham Sewer Commission to provide and install a 2" high density polyethylene low pressure force main beginning at a manhole to be installed in front of #225 Summer Street and continuing in an easterly direction for approximately 650 feet, more or less, in the midpoint of the travel way connecting to a manhole in Kilby Street, and then continuing in a southerly direction for approximately 360 feet, more or less, to completion at a manhole in front of #4 Kilby Street. The sewer main will pass through a four inch sleeve at every point it crosses over a water main.
Grant of Location - Keyspan Energy on Carleton Road
Mr. O'Leary explained that 12 Carleton Road would like to connect to the gas main which currently ends at #16 Carleton Road. The work is expected to take about three days and a police officer will be on duty. Access will be available to the driveways on Carleton Road.
Voted - to approve the request of Keyspan Energy Delivery to install and maintain approximately 250 feet, more or less, of 2 inch gas main in Carleton Road, from the existing 2 inch main in Carleton Road at house #16 and continuing to completion on the Carleton Road side of #217 High Street.
Polling Hours for Town Elections
Ms. McCracken requested the Board to consider changing the closing time for the polls during town elections from 8:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This would save approximately $1,000 between the meal provided for the election workers and the extra two hours pay. Several area towns have shortened hours within the past couple of years. Mr. Edmundson suggested postponing any decision until the public had a chance to comment and Mr. MacIver returned.
Appointments
Mr. Edmundson reported that he had interviewed some candidates for the Long Range Planning Committee for the South Shore Country Club and would like to propose five members to appoint this week and he will propose the remaining two members at the next meeting.
Voted - to appoint the following members of the Long Range Planning Committee for the South Shore Country Club:
Kate Mahony
Mary O'Donnell
David Ramsdell
Tom Campbell
Jim Welch
And to appoint David Ramsdell to be the chairman of said committee.
Town Ball Fields Proposals
Mr. Cristello reported that the baseball and football field constituencies have been consulted and the baseball diamonds have been reconfigured to avoid any possible conflicts. The football fields have been moved as far over as possible. There is still work to be done on the field house. The preferable design is more expensive but the field users are working with the developers to bring down the cost. Ms. Tully and Mr. Edmundson said they had reviewed the plans which include a new up to date parking lot and built up field areas.
Voted - to grant preliminary approval to the Town Ball Fields Plans and Specifications on a plan titled Town Ball Fields Work Plan dated June 29, 2004 and most recently revised July 26, 2005 by Coler and Colantonio. Field lighting, irrigation and final grading and drainage design to be provided prior to any submissions to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Board requests that the developer continue to work with the sports user groups on a cooperative effort to build the Al Keaney design for the field house.
Light Plant Task Force
Mr. Alexiades, Mr. Reardon, Ms. Burns and Mr. Cristello attended the last meeting of the task force and encouraged them to look more closely at combining forces and working more closely with general government. The committee expressed interest in pursuing this. The School Department has used the same computer system as that used by general government for over fifteen years and it has proved beneficial to both parties. Mr. Edmundson spoke to Walter Foskett and emphasized interest in efficiencies and increased productivity for all of the town noting that independent boards such as the school and sewer have found it helpful to have a spirit of cooperation. Mr. Edmundson said that make sense to coordinate and make similar the process for things like capital equipment expenses and labor contracts. The employees are all town employees of varying sorts so it would be wise to consider harmonizing wage scales and increases with what the town is doing. Things could be coordinated such as computer software etc. Ms. Tully noted that the school department's cooperation has worked to its benefit and that all elected boards work to serve the same constituency.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Mr. Cristello expressed concern over the slow pace of the Greenbush work downtown. He has asked to meet with Jim Eng and Jamey Doyle to talk about this next week. The work cannot be continuing in the middle of downtown during the Christmas season. The excavation was supposed to have been done by the middle of the summer and it isn't even close. The telephone cable lift was ahead of schedule. Supports are being put in that area, once those are in excavation will continue. The problem is that they have not figured the way to keep groundwater out of the trench.
Ms. Tully reported that the members of the Historic Districts Commission came on Saturday morning to tour the Central Fire Station. The Central Fire Station Building Committee will be going to the Districts meeting on Thursday.
Meeting adjourned 8:30 PM.
Betty Foley, Clerk