August 15, 2005
Special Session 7:35 PM
Mr. MacIver, Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully
Voted - to accept the minutes of May 17, 2005
Fire Chief Mark Duff explained that two serious weather events occurred over the weekend. The Dispatch Center received 25 calls on Saturday and almost 50 calls on Sunday. The majority of the damage was on High Street, Friend Street, Howland Lane, etc. Several houses were struck by lightning. The most serious fire was at Maryknoll Drive. One of the neighbors to the Congregational Church recognized that the church had been hit. Mutual aid was received from Hanorver, Hull Marshfield, Rockland and Pembroke. Hull Fire Department got a line into the steeple but the ladder could not go up. The thermal energy unit allowed the fire department to localize the fire exactly. Power was out throughout the Town. There are six circuits in town; 90% of the fifth circuit was on by 10:00 last night. The majority of those out were on within a few hours the last 200-300 homes were back in service at 4 this afternoon. The blinking traffic lights need to be reset by Mass Highway. Two people were hit by lightning - one an individual who works for the Light Plant and the second at Linden Ponds. The DPW Police and Dispatch did a great job. The Fire Department implemented the special needs list and everyone on that list received a phone call. Chief Duff recommended that everyone should be prepared to be self-sustaining for three days.
Zoning Administrator Interviews
Andrea Young, currently the administrator for the Historic Districts Commission and Historical Commission, previously worked at New England Financial in the corporate training department. At one point Ms. Young taught school but the family moved frequently because of her husband's career. She said she has found Town Hall a wonderful environment - people are cooperative and there is a lot of collaboration. She would enjoy learning something new and would like to contribute in a broader way.
The field of knowledge and expertise is broader than in her current position. Some of the challenges she faces now she would face in the new job, but in a broader sense. Ms. Young said this is more of a big picture job and will require a good deal of time researching, looking at precedent, etc. Although she has no formal education or background in planning, Ms. Young said she brings the relationships she has built here. There is a lot of knowledge for the asking. Ms. Young said she is used to researching and has the ability to interview and get information from people. Some of the most difficult issues are ones where there are some gray areas and you have to evaluate on a case by case basis or when someone asks you for something and you know you don't have the time to do it. Ms. Young said her biggest professional weakness is dealing with all the paperwork - there are stacks on the desk. As a department head Ms. Young was always included in zoning decisions that required historic input and in plenty of time. The weekly permitting board meeting is always very helpful. She said she would like to find a way to make the process a little more transparent to the public.
Sue Letizia Eddy, had worked with Verizon for a number of years prior to taking early retirement package in 1994. She has been in the Zoning Aide position for 11 years during which time it has grown from 12 hours per week to 24 hours. Ms. Letizia-Eddy said she has learned to deal with the public, meet statutory deadlines, and work with the database. She said she has also been the guinea pig for the GIS system for the past year. Ms. Letizia-Eddy advised that her method of dealing with conflict is to let people get things off their chest and then get to the root of what is really bothering them and allowing them to have some input in the process. She would like to see the Board of Appeals database available to the public via the website and the office open five days a week rather than four. This could be accomplished through staggered hours once people are comfortable with the jobs. The relationship of the Administrator with the members of the Board of Appeals is key. The site visits etc. can save help the members and the Board appreciates whatever information you can give them. The job has many pieces to it - technical, mediation and management. The Massachusetts Federation of Planning and Zoning Boards has workshops regularly, which are excellent for keeping technical skills current. Ms. Letizia-Eddy also noted that there are many information sources on-line and many seminars offered locally, etc.
Voted - to sign an application for a Special Permit for the playing fields on Beal Street.
Voted - to appoint Samuel Chapin, Kenneth Soltys and Chris Semlies
Members of the Conservation Commission for terms expiring in 2008. These appointments are effective August 16, 2005.
Voted - to appoint Bernard O'Neill and Kevin Taylor members of the South Shore Country Club Task Force.
Voted - to grant House of Prayer Lutheran Church a one day liquor license to serve wine & beer on September 24 and September 25, 2005 for their annual Oktoberfest.
Voted - to grant Sergio Pugnitore, a one day liquor license for September 4 with a rain date of September 5, 2005, for the Holy Mary of the Light Festival annual picnic, held at Barbuto's Grove, Oak Street.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Betty Foley, Clerk
.