September 19, 2006
Regular Session 7:35 pm
Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley
Mr. Hersey asked about Recreation Commission issues and parking issues at the harbor and Old Salt. Both Mr. Hersey and Mr. Patch noted that there is a Boston Police boat down at the harbor parking lot. Permission was given by the harbormaster to leave the boat for a short time in order to facilitate repairs.
Public Hearing to rename a section of Fort Hill Street
Deputy Olsson explained that the section of Fort Hill Street that used to run south of Fresh River Avenue to the Weymouth line has been disconnected. Due to road changes brought about by the railroad there is no connection between the major part of Fort Hill Street and those houses at 239 and 242 Fort Hill Street. There could be difficulties in an emergency with emergency response people finding these homes. The residents noted that there are many financial implications such as changing the deed to the home, as well as postal address, checks, etc. The house at 239 is in a trust and an attorney would have to be consulted. Mr. Patch opined that the changing of the street name would not require any filing at the registry of deeds. The Board agreed with the Deputy Chief that because of safety issues it would be wise to change the street address. The residents at 239 Fort Hill Street mentioned that other houses were receiving mitigation money for noise from the railroad and asked if there were any funds available for their home. Mr. Cristello explained that only historic homes were eligible for the noise mitigation money.
Voted - to rename two portions of Fort Hill to:
1). Fresh River Avenue - that section of Fort Hill Street running northeasterly from the Hingham/Weymouth Town Line to the northeast side of the intersection of Fort Hill Street and Fresh River Avenue, a distance of approximately 320 linear feet.
2). French Street - that section of Fort Hill Street running southeasterly from the intersection of Fort Hill Street and French Street, a distance in two courses of approximately 630 linear feet.
Public Hearing/Grant of Location on Miles Road
Mr. Todjakian advised the Board there is a street light on Fearing Road that connects via a tree to a pole. Installation of this new pole will alleviate that situation.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to install one new pole on Miles Road, shown on plan marked Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, Plan No. 08-16-1, as follows:
Pole #52/5 approximately ninety five feet in the southwesterly direction towards Lincoln Street from existing pole #156 Fearing Road and eighty three feet in the northeasterly direction from existing pole #52/4.
Public Hearing/Grant of Location on Water Street
Mr. Todjakian advised the Board that it would be necessary to install a new pole on Water Street in order to prevent the existing pole from falling into the cemetery.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to locate one new guy pole on Water Street, as shown on plan marked Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, Plan No. 08-16-2, as follows:
Pole #9/1 approximately thirty feet in the easterly direction and across from Pole #9 Water Street.
Joint session with Planning Board on Beal Street Traffic Study
Ms. Murphy explained that at a prior joint session of the two boards it had been decided to commission a traffic study of the Beal Street Corridor in view of the development in that area. Mr. Dirk of Vanasse and Associates said they had looked at existing traffic characteristics as well as a ten-year build out. They also looked at safety, crash and speed numbers and the impacts on the neighborhoods and reviewed master plans for pedestrian and bicycle paths. The areas studied included the Fort Hill/French Street intersection, the Fort Hill Street/New Bridge Street intersection, the Fort Hill St/West Street intersection, the Beal Street West Street Intersection, the Beal Street/Fottler Road intersection and the Beal Street/William B. Terry Drive Intersection. The police department supplied the crash data on all of these intersections. The New Bridge/Fort Hill St and the Fottler Road/Beal St intersections had the highest crash data. The posted speed on both Beal Street and Fort Hill Street is 30 mph. Eighty-fifth percentile speed on both of those roads is well in excess of the posted speed. (Beal St - 48 mph; Fort Hill Street - 42 mph). The sidewalks and crosswalks were reviewed as was the access to public transportation. The ten-year build out projections included the shipyard, the west Hingham train station, the DPW facility and the various condominium and apartments currently projected for the area. The Fort Hill Street width is adequate with sidewalks and shoulders for bicycles. Recommendations have been made for crosswalks in the Fort Hill Street area. The geometry of the Fort Hill/New Bridge Street intersection is awkward and recommenda-tions have been made for short-term improvements. The South Street intersection will be realigned and a traffic signal installed. It is suggested that the exit/entrance of the MBTA parking lot be aligned opposite the Bare Cove Drive road. By aligning these intersections there will be room to create left hand turn lanes. Presently there is no sidewalk along the south side of Fort Hill Street from New Bridge Street to the parking lot. It is recommended that a sidewalk be located to allow pedestrian access to the station.
Mr. Dirk noted that Beal Street from Fottler Road to Route 3A is approximately 40 feet wide and encourages high travel speed. Speed is the major factor to be addressed with improvements on Beal Street. Many cars are using North Street for a cut through. It was suggested that a stop sign be placed at the North Street intersection. Mr. Dirk also suggested raised crosswalks or intersections to keep speed down. There is sufficient width in Terry Drive to allow bicycle access to shipyard and the commuter boat. Mr. Healey expressed concern regarding a queue lane on West Street. Ms. Corey asked if signalization at William B. Terry would be a good idea. Ms. Murphy questioned the suggested change at Bare Cove Drive and asked if anyone had approached the MBTA about moving the exit. Ms. Tully asked about raised crosswalks. Mr. Dirk explained that they are used quite extensively now but they have to be designed with input from DPW fire and police. The assumption as to how many cars may come out of the station at a time is based on a combination of how many spaces there are plus pick up and drop off. Mr. Cosgrove asked that North Street from West to Tedeschi's be looked at. Mr. Fournier suggested a three way stop at North West and Beal Streets. Mr. Cristello will liaise with MBTA. The Traffic Committee will become involved and follow up information will come in on the raised intersections/crosswalks, etc.
Energy Action Plan
Mr. Edmundson said that one of the Board's goals for this year was a comprehensive energy policy. Some of the things to be included in study are total energy consumption, electricity consumption, purchase of electricity from green energy sources, street lights, municipal building audits and a look at solar wind power, the truck fleet, recycling, bicycle usage and bicycle lanes. Some things will attract acclaim; some will be controversial. The Board has reached out to the Light Board and also feels that there should be representatives from Town Departments and the School Department. Mr. Tzimorangas advised that in 1980 Town Meeting established an Energy Conservation Committee that lasted for ten years before disbanding. Mr. Heisner explained that the reason for recommendations from the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee was that both demand and supply issues had to be looked at. There is an added effect of budget relief by investing in energy conservation we could save money through decreased consumption. Mr. Foskett advised that information on the subject matter it is on the Light Board website. Mr. Edmundson encouraged citizens interested in being on the energy policy committee to write a letter to the Board of Selectmen or send an email. He noted that often there are more people responding than there are slots for but anyone can participate and attend meetings. In the past two years the average consumption in a Hingham home it went from 500 to 660kw. Much of this increase is due to cooling (air conditioning). Representatives of the League of Women Voters, the AAUW and the Old Ship Meeting House members commended the Board's efforts and voiced support for the adoption of energy conservation guidelines.
Update from the Light Board
Mr. Foskett said the Light Board has adopted a formal proposal of action items that are an outgrowth of the recommendation of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee. The Board has authorized Mr. Tzimorangas to enter into an agreement for a contract with the Town of Braintree for a new generating plant that is estimated to be ready in 2009. This is for a 20 year agreement with two five year options. This is an opportunity to nail down supply for a period of time and it gives the HMLP a stake in the generating plant without any cost until the plant is turned on and in generating energy.
The distributed antenna system is an opportunity to do a lot of good things with this new type of system. The Hingham Municipal Light Plant has signed agreements with Verizon for control boxes and antenna and the control boxes would be in Hingham Light Space.
The substation expansion was started in October and finished a week ahead of schedule in June. There are now three transformers and the ability to add eight more transformers. The system held up very well this summer. There will be two dedicated lines for Erickson that will take them through full build out. Another circuit is going to Blue Cross by way of Main Street and a second down Cushing Street, across Derby St. This will be a redundant system with both be running at the same time. Once these circuits are completed there will need to be two more for the shipyard.
The general ledger and financials are on the new computer system. On the website customers can sign up for service, disconnect service, report a street light out, etc. The on line services are for those who are working during the day.
The collective bargaining agreement goes through June 2007 and the Light Board thinks they can negotiate the contract just based on a change of salary without any other changes. Labor relations have gone very smoothly and there have been no major issues or grievances, communication is at peak and any problems are nipped in the bud. Mr. Edmundson noted that it is a goal to synchronize personnel policies for people who work for the town. The Selectmen have worked to make sure that the treatment is consistent. If the Personnel Board working with the financial management of the Town feels that a certain percentage of increase is appropriate, the Board would encourage that everyone get the same equitable amount. Mr. Edmundson said the effort is made to cooperate so that some one who does essentially the same job gets paid approximately the same amount. Mr. Foskett noted that there is a particular pool of labor for the electric utility and it is necessary to meet the competitive conditions in that particular field. Mr. Edmundson explained that the schools face some of those same issues but the have been able to cooperate. He also noted a second change with the school department has been to get them to combine capital purchasing. There are some categories where there may be some opportunities for capital purchases such as vehicles, maintenance costs, etc.
Mr. Riley said it was his understanding that the shipyard was going to pay for the installation of underground conduit on Lincoln Street. The Shipyard is paying to move the poles from the North side to the South side. Mr. Riley said the Planning Board voted to keep the project as originally planned.
Voted - that the Board of Selectmen authorize the Central Fire Station Building Committee to spend up to $50,000 on relocation expenses for fire administration from Building Committee funds.
Voted - to grant Request for Counsel as submitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Voted - to close the Town Offices on Friday November 10 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
Voted - to close the Town Hall Offices on Friday, November 24 (the day after Thanksgiving).
Ms. Tully reported that the Rappaport Institute program was held at Hingham Town Hall and people were pleased wit the amount of information. The next seminar is October 10 on municipal finance and Michael Widmer and Ted Alexiades will be speaking. Mr.Riley made an effort to get to the Harbor Development Committee meeting to get an idea on the thoughts on the harbor. Mr. Cristello said he had attended the ICMA conference where much of the focus was on sustainability and good practical things that people are doing right now such as idling policies, biofuels, etc.
Meeting adjourned 10:35 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk