October 18, 2005
Regular Session 7:35 pm
Mr. MacIver, Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully
Public Hearing/Grant of Location re: Poles on Gardner Street
Mr. Todjakian explained that Hingham Municipal Light Plant is upgrading its system and will need two additional poles to provide guy wires to the pole line for a power upgrade on Gardner Street. The Light Plant will be putting new bundles on each pole and will remove the existing guying from the poles to nearby trees and be replacing it instead with a guy wire to another pole. No one spoke in opposition to the Light Plant's petition.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to Verizon New England Inc and Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to locate two new poles on Gardner Street. (Vicinity of 36 Gardner Street). The new poles #17/7-1 and #17/8-1 and will be located approximately 35 feet northerly of existing Pole 17-7 and Pole 17-8 as shown on Plan marked Verizon Plan Petition 09/05-18, dated 9/22/2005.
Voted - to approve minutes of August 15, September 6, 14 and 20, 2005.
The four way stop at Ship and Cottage Streets which has been in effect on a trial basis for the past year has proved to be very effective at controlling accidents at that intersection. The Board agreed that this should be made a permanent arrangement.
Voted - to amend the Traffic Rules and Orders of the Town of Hingham, adopted by the Board of Selectmen on May 31, 1939 and subsequent amendments thereto, are hereby amended as follows:
STOP SIGNS - PERMANENT 4 Way Stop
STREET STOPPED AT INTERSECTION OF IN DIRECTION OF
Ship Street Ship & Cottage Streets Northerly
Ship Street Cottage & Ship Streets Southerly
The above mentioned 4 way stop has been in effect for a trial basis.
Voted - to grant the Hingham Community Center a temporary liquor license for their Annual Cabaret Show to be held at the Hingham Armory, 96 Central Street, on January 26, 27, and 28, 2006, from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Traffic Lights at High, Free & Main Streets
Mr. MacIver reported that the way Coler & Colantonio presented the budget for traffic signals began at a design phase which would create bid documents, etc. The design phase was to cost $20,000. The Town has two engineering budgets - one under the Board of Selectmen and one under the Department of Public Works. He suggested that the Board could vote to authorize the expenditure of $20,000 from the road building schedule for the design of the traffic signals. Ms. Tully noted that the design could be started now and the Board would have the time to pursue other funding sources for the remainder of the money. Voting the $20,000 now would allow the Town to draw up an agreement with the traffic engineers and get into bid documents which would be sent to a list of bidders. It is still the plan to approach some of the local businesses in town for funding. The expenditure of $20,000 enhances the prospect of getting someone to help with the remainder of the project.
Voted - to expend up to $20,000 from the road building schedule for the design of traffic lights for High Free and Main Streets.
The Development Agreement deadline is coming along very soon. The Bare Cove Park Committee and the Planning Board have been meeting with the Selectmen. The core matter of who pays for the clean up on the site remains with the developer.
Voted - to extend the deadline set forth in Section 2(d) of the Development Agreement with Hastings LLC through November 2, 2005.
Mr. Edmundson said that the Board had a discussion several meetings back regarding the fees for various licenses. It seems that these licenses have such value that he was looking for the way to recapture some of that for the Town. For that reason he had asked if a larger amount of money could be charged when a new license is issued. The answer is no. The amount is capped, and there is to be a relation that covers a reasonable estimate of our costs - administrative and investigative costs as well as on-going surveillance of the establishment. Mr. Edmundson noted that these fees were last reviewed in 1990. The proposal is to bring these license fees up to date based on a survey of fees charged by surrounding communities.
Voted - to set the following Liquor License Fees as follows effective Jan 1, 2006:
Restaurant Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages - $2,000
Retail Package Goods Store All Alcoholic Beverages - $1,700
Retail Package Goods Store Wines & Malt Beverages - $1,000
Club Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages - $2,000
Club Common Victualler Wines & Malt Beverages - $800
One Day Liquor License - $50
Voted - to set the following Restaurant Common Victualler Licenses w/o alcoholic beverages licenses at $100.00
Voted - to grant Request for Counsel as submitted by the Conservation Commission.
Voted - to grant Request for Counsel as submitted by the Fire Department.
Correspondence
Mr. Edmundson noted that the CPA fund match for this year is $530,396, which is good news. Mr. MacIver remarked that the MPO is offering a suburban mobility program to finance projects to reduce single person vehicle occupancy. Don Kidston and Peter Colkeit will assist Mr. MacIver in framing this issue in town. Ms. Tully advised that Mike Cunningham requested setting up a Veterans' Council. She would like to advise him to go ahead. Mr. Skinner wrote the Board regarding additional changes being suggested at Donna Powers Park at Center Field. Ms. Foley will make sure any proposed changes to the park come through the Selectmen's Office.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Mr. Edmundson met with members of the Long Range Planning Committee for the Country Club and recommended that they think openly of the future of the club as a recreational resource ignoring any turf issues. Mr. Edmundson also noted that a lot of town employees have worked very hard to respond to the problems associated with the heavy rains last week. Ms. Tully reported that sidewalk and roadway reconstruction on North Street has begun and it should take a week to a week and half. The section of Main Street between North and South Streets has been closed. The plan is to make the tunnel cap park-like to encourage people to use it as a sitting area, etc. The T was to provide gravel for this area the plan is to ask for topsoil instead and make something pretty of it. Mr. MacIver said he had attended two meetings recently; at the first Chief Duff spoke to the Hingham Congregational Church Men's Group on the subject of Emergency Management planning in the wake of Katrina. Mr. MacIver also attended the Community Preservation Committee meeting where the Housing Partnership discussed plans for the coming year. The Partnership is focused on the Selectmen's parcel on Beal Street and a proposal for a housing trust fund as a repository for community housing funds. The CPC would like to see some proposal this year if only a housing maintenance fund. The Cushing Pond area residents sent out a fundraising letter for dredging Cushing
Pond to prevent the overgrowth of the pond. The group had approached someone with some connection to the CPC and was discouraged. The Board noted that this type of project has been funded in other communities and should be at least considered here.
The quarterly meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Bob Olsson, had a good discussion of planning for a flu pandemic. There will be a one-page summary of good public health practices, perhaps in the tax bill mailer. Mr. MacIver also attended the Firefighters Ball on Saturday night. The Board received word today that Kate Boland has resigned from the Fourth of July Parade Committee. Mr. Cristello attended a statewide economic forum hosted by MMA which was very interesting. Mayor Menino kicked off the meeting and John Hamill chaired one of the task forces. What the state did to improve education funding just kept track with economy. In fact, some types of school aid have actually fallen over the past few years.
Voted - by roll call vote, to adjourn to executive session, not to return to open session, for purpose of discussion of real estate and pending litigation.
Ms. Tully - yes
Mr. Edmundson - yes
Mr. MacIver - yes
Open session adjourned 8:35 p.m.
Betty Foley, Clerk