July 25, 2006
Regular Session 7:38 pm
Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley
Mr. Falvey requested the Board to update the status of the light at High, Free and Main Streets as well as the Hersey House project. Mr. Edmundson replied that the bids had been received for the traffic signal and the Board would be voting on the award of that bid later this evening. He also reported that Mr. Hastings would be attending the meeting of August 1st to present his plan for Hersey House.
Grant of Location Request of Keyspan Energy - Bel Air Road
Mr. O'Leary explained that Keyspan Energy would like to extend the existing gas line in front of 45 Bel Air Road for a distance of 130 feet to provide service to a new house at 47 Bel Air Road. No one objected to the request. Mr. O'Leary noted that the petition was for 130 feet, more or less, and asked if it would be possible to extend the line to another house further down the street. The Board said that "more or less" would not include the distance Mr. O'Leary was suggesting.
Voted - to approve the Grant of Location request of Keyspan Energy Delivery to install and maintain approximately 130 feet, more or less, of 2-inch gas main in Bel Air Road. This is an extension of the existing main in front of #45 Bel Air Road and continues in a southerly direction to completion in front of #47 Bel Air Road. This approval is subject to the stipulations of the Department of Public Works listed in their letter of July 5, 2006.
Grant of Location Request of Hingham Municipal Light - French Street
Mr. Todkajian explained that the proposed conduit installation is a continuation of the conduit system installed in Ward and French Streets during the past year to provide service to the Erickson Retirement. This new conduit will provide service to the Shipyard. The grant of location will allow installation of the conduit before the paving of the street and the train track installation. At this point the plan is to install two new poles to pick up the service from the underground conduit. The power would then travel from the two new poles above ground on beefier poles from that point to the shipyard. The new poles will be roughly 15 inch in diameter and about 39 feet above ground. The contractors have been asked to install conduits under the railroad tracks at West/ South/ Fort Hill intersection.
Voted - to approve the petition of the Hingham Municipal Light Plant for a Grant of Location to install a Conduit and Manhole System in French Street, according to Plan No. 2006-20A, dated 7/20/06. It will begin at the corner of French and Hobart Streets to a point on the abandoned section of French Street approximately 60 feet northerly of the Greenbush train tracks. The length of the system is approximately 1400 feet.
Three bids were received for the traffic signal at High, Free and Main Streets. Capone Brothers, Inc. was the low bidder. Mr. Stigliani's memo recommended the Board sign a contract in the amount of $172,301.25 with Capone Brothers. This amount is within the amount appropriated by Town Meeting for the project.
Voted - to award the bid for the traffic signal at High, Free and Main Streets to
Capone Brothers, Inc. in the amount of $172,301.25
Mr. Riley's memo to the Board regarding the Shipyard Memorandum of Agreement recommended that the Planning Board staff could manage the inspection account as a typical subdivision account. The memo also questioned whether the MOA should be amended to reflect how the funding is actually working. Mr. Cristello said that there is a funding change. Although the PWED grant specifies Shipyard Drive this is a U-shape with intersections at either end. These intersections of the Shipyard Drive with Route 3A will cost more than a million dollars.
Voted - That the Planning Board and its staff be designated to act as the contact person on behalf of the town as called for in section 4. c iii of the Memorandum of Agreement Relative to the Planning, Construction, Financing and Use of Shipyard Drive. Further that the Planning Board and its staff shall be designated to contract with and manage the consultant as per section 4 d iv and administer the surety as per section 4 d iii. The Planning Board and its staff shall closely coordinate these activities with Joseph Stigliani, Superintendent of Public Works and report periodically to the Board of Selectmen on this matter.
Voted - to waive the building permit and inspection fees for the Central Fire Station building project.
Voted - to send a letter in support of the FY 2007-2010 Transportation Improvement Program to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Voted - to grant the Hingham Downtown Association permission to place roadblocks at the intersection of Central and South Streets and on Main Street in front of Whitney Gordon Jewelers for the Summerfest celebration from 9 am to 5 pm on July 29, 2006.
Voted - to grant Starbucks Coffee Company, 1 Derby Street, Joel Needel, Manager, a Common Victualler License.
Voted - to grant John Tolman a one-day liquor license for the MDA Tolman Labor Day Telethon to be held at the Community Center on September 3rd and 4th, 2006.
Voted - to reappoint E. Brooks Robbins to the Bare Cove Park Committee for a three-year term expiring in 2009.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Ms. Tully said she had reviewed the traffic accident report for the period ending June 30. Summer Street at the rotary had nine accidents by the end of June. The neighbors had met to discuss options. At one point there was a recommendation that the road be narrowed down to one lane coming down the hill toward the rotary but it was felt this would likely create significant back ups. Ms. Tully suggested that rumble strips could be installed on Summer Street coming down the hill entering the rotary. Because this is a state road Mass Highway would have to be contacted to consider this option. It was also noted that the No Left Turn sign has been removed from the Sunoco station exit causing more difficulties on Summer Street. Mr. Riley and Mr. Cristello met with representatives of Coler & Colantonio regarding a roundabout at South Pleasant Street. They felt it would be possible to take the longer roundabout and reduce it to an elongated rotary and will prepare drawings for review. Mr. Edmundson said he had been in conversation with Corinne Young of Congressman Delahunt's office regarding the monies the Town has received for parking at the shipyard. The closing for Project Turnabout is getting close. This Saturday is the 325th anniversary of Old Ship Church. Mr. Edmundson will attend and present a proclamation form the Board.
Goals Update
The Board reviewed progress to date on the FY2007 objectives.
Ms. Tully reported that the assessment of current sidewalks by the Department of Public Works and the Board of Selectmen should be completed by October, a budget line for sidewalks will be created in November and a master plan for sidewalk repair and funding of new sidewalks will be ready by the April Town Meeting.
Mr. Riley addressed the goal to support historic preservation. He hopes to have replies from residents to a questionnaire that would prioritize the top ten issues by mid-October. Ms. Tully suggested 10 questions in the tax bill January newsletter that would create a historic awareness. The answers could be posted on the website.
Ms. Tully presented a schedule for further benchmarking to be done in conjunction with the Advisory Committee. She suggested starting with the Police Department. The plan is to create criteria for comparison, gather information during October and November and include this information in a presentation with the January budget presentation.
Mr. Riley said the first step toward an overall harbor plan will be an invitation to the Harbor Development Committee for a September meeting,
Mr. Riley also visited with Mr. Morgan to discuss the concept of a zoning enforcement officer. With all the building going on and the shipyard coming on stream he asked what he thought of making a full time position or one of the part time positions responsible for zoning enforcement. Recommendations will be forthcoming in September.
Mr. Cristello reported that downtown work progressing. Next week all the pavement will be torn up and the street re-graded. That will be the worst week then the downtown will start going back together. Many of the downtown business people were at the last meeting. Mr. Fernandes is sending a weekly email to Judy Sneath for distribution to the members. Yesterday Chief Duff ran an extensive emergency planning exercise for a category 3 hurricane. Mr. Cristello noted that this type of exercise makes us better prepared for what we are more likely to experience. The next exercise will be focused on pandemic planning. At the tabletop exercise Chief Duff stressed that people must be prepared to take care of themselves for a period of time.
Meeting adjourned 8:40 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk