February 13, 2007
Regular Session 7:33 pm
Mr. Edmundson, Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley
Ms. Gray presented the Board with a check in the amount of $4,750 for the Fourth of July Parade from the Hingham Hull Rotary Club.
Voted - to accept the minutes of January 2, 9, 16 and February 6, 2007.
Voted - to accept the minutes of January 23, 2007 (Mr. Riley and Mr. Edmundson)
Ms. Montgomery presented the warrant article regarding an increase in the fees for certain municipal lien certificates. The research for some municipal lien certificates requires more effort than the simple residential municipal lien certificate so this would provide for a more equitable charge. This article that was suggested by Ms. Montgomery, if passed, would mean increased revenue of approximately $8,000 annually.
Voted - to support the article regarding municipal lien certificates.
Public Hearing - Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License at South Shore Country Club
Ms. Berard explained that the previous operator of the Country Club restaurant surrendered the alcoholic beverages license in December. The Town acting through the Country Club Management Committee will take over the license in order to keep it site specific. The committee presently has an RFP out for restaurateurs and the responses are due next week.
Voted - to approve the application of the Town of Hingham, acting through the Country Club Management Committee, for a Restaurant Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages License, 274 South Street, Nora Berard, Manager, subject to the approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission
Voted - to sign a lease with All Points Public Funding LLC for equipment for the South Shore Country Club in the amount of $767,370.
Mr. Walsh reviewed the history of the South Shore Country Club noting that the club has returned $5.6 million over the period of the town ownership. In recent years golf revenues have failed to grow, course conditions have not improved and the restaurant services have not met expectations. The committee is undertaking initiatives to increase revenues and decrease expenses. There is also a marketing effort underway. The plan is to increase the number of permit holders to 600 and create a demand for the future. The course maintenance has been brought in house and the catering bids are being solicited. The Long Range Planning Committee pointed out the need for major repairs to the facilities. Given the needs of the facility the CCMC advised the Board that the $400,000 annual contribution is not something that can be continued.
Ms. Tully commented that the decision to bring the golf maintenance in house was a good one. There are many decisions to be made to keep golf as the primary source of revenue. When there is truly a club there are certain membership fees and a minimum amount to be spent at the restaurant. This is a time of transition and the FY 08 budget will be a difficult one but the decisions made will get things on the right track. Ms. Berard commented that once people see how the course conditions improve they would be anxious to join. In FY 08 there is no recommended change in fees because of the recent condition of the course. The quality of the turf will be greatly improved over the next season. The tees and greens will be improved first and then drainage issues will be addressed.
Mr. Walsh explained that the $400,000 annual contribution is not sustainable particularly in view of diminishing reserve. The Selectmen said there are two schools of thought on the $400,000 - one being that this is too much to expect from the country club; the other, that this is defraying a portion of the debt that the town has paid for the South Shore Country Club. Mr. Welch and Mr. Havens stressed that $400,000 needs to be addressed before the next budget is formulated. Mr. Gamache asked that the Board approach the MBTA regarding a change in the name of the train station to the South Shore Country Club station because he felt this would go a long way toward promoting the business. The Committee also commented that they had hoped that there would be more feedback from the Long Range Planning Committee but absent that they would like to see a questionnaire on what services residents would like to have at the country club and public meetings on that topic. Ms. Tully suggested a story on the country club in the next Selectmen's Newsletter directing people to the website to fill out a questionnaire.
Capital Outlay Committee
Mr. Mooradian said the committee had received requests for $4,661,798 in capital items; the recommended capital plan is $2,572,374. Several items appeared new this year - particularly in the School Department. Many of these items had been in the operating budget in prior years. Of the recommended $2,572,374, $900,000 would be funded through the tax levy, $707,885 by Surplus Revenue, $75,000 for building permit software package from the Building Department Revolving Fund, $34,000 by user charges and $427,353 from additional Chapter 90 funds allocated to capital. The capital outlay recommendation will put things into a $254,462 shortfall. There is also a placeholder of $500,000 for the DPW recycling building at the transfer station. The engineering bids were received about two weeks ago. There are large holes in the roof and numerous electrical problems and borderline OSHA issues. The Board requested recommendations from the Capital Outlay Committee as to what items should be cut or postponed if there is insufficient funding to meet the recommended items.
Housing Partnership
Mr. O'Brien advised the Board that four strong proposals had been submitted in response to the RFP issued for affordable housing to be located on the Beal Street Selectmen's parcel. The consultant retained by the Housing Partnership has analyzed the responses and additional questions have been sent out to all four respondents. The additional information is due before the Committee's February 28 meeting.
Mr. Riley advised that he also made a matrix similar to that done by the Housing Partnership. He ranked each proposal on criteria listed in the RFP as being highly advantageous, advantageous, less advantageous and disqualifying. Mr. Riley reviewed the various proposals, the return to the Town and aesthetics in the neighborhood. The Hart Judge buildings are large; Hidden Cove has duplexes more in keeping with the neighborhood; both Hidden Cove and Hart Judge are well capitalized; and some of the funds South Shore Housing is applying for may be a year or two into the future. Mr. Watson commented that the distribution of affordable units vary greatly. Some of the proposals include a payment to the Town. The Landworks proposal requires no federal, state or local funding through grants. This meets the time frame of getting in the ground within the year.
Housing Trust Warrant Article
The Committee said that the statute as drafted by the state is quite open-ended. Under the proposed special legislation the buying or selling of property would come through Selectmen as well as the Trust. The same would be true of borrowing and the allocation plan would require town meeting approval. Mr. Riley commented that he is in favor of a housing trust but would prefer to do it without special legislation if the bylaws can be enacted to modify the statute as suggested.
Hersey House Proposal
Mr. Hastings presented a plan for 15 town houses plus the Hersey House. He explained that the excess revenues to the Town would likely be about $250,000. The buildings would be primarily two unit buildings. The neighborhood would be shingle style, turn of the century architecture with porches and balconies. These will be low profile buildings that ride with the land; the siding would be cedar shakes; the overall height would be 28-32 feet. The developer is recommending roads that are18 feet wide. The garage door entrances will be shielded from North Street by landscaping. Mr. Hastings said that Heresy House should look different because it is a single family home. The mix will include four affordable units, 11 market rate units and the Hersey House. The whole thing could be built out in nine months. Sales price of the affordable units is projected to be $198,000. The Hersey house will be a single-family home, not age restricted and not in the condo association.
Mr. McDowell has inspected the barn from an environmental point. It was noted that the barn is quite tall and will be very close to the back right corner of the development. Ms. Murphy said there is a provision where the Board of Selectmen retain all review rights even if it were not a 40B. She asked if the Board was planning to solicit comments from the permitting boards. Mr.Cristello noted that the Selectmen's actions do not limit other boards during the permitting process. Ms. Murphy pressed the board to circulate the most recent submission. Mr. Edmundson said the Board had asked the developer to address two issues and he has done that. Mr. Riley remarked that there was precedent set before when an applicant approached the Board for a 40B and the Selectmen wanted the applicant to go the permitting boards. Mr. Edmundson noted that the Board asked the developer to come back with a revised number of units and elevations and he had done that. Ms. Murphy said she felt that the Town was giving up the possibility of a better project that might deal with setbacks, etc. Mr. Cristello explained that what is different about this is that it was initiated by the Selectmen and the Town. In the case of Whiting Lane, the developer approached the Board. In the present case input was solicited and obtained at every step of the process. If anything this has had more input than if it were a LIP coming in the door. Mr. Isadore said the Back River Project did get a lot of scrutiny and the development agreement got to the Board of Appeals. He said that, yes, there were Planning Board recommendations that did not get included but that does not mean that they were not heard. The development agreement merely set the parameters. Mr. Riley expressed concern of creating a double standard by allowing a 40B to go forward without the scrutiny that we thought we were going to have under a LIP. Ms. Tully stated that the Board has a signed contract saying it will go forward with this project. She also noted that the Selectmen have had all the input the Board of Selectmen would have under a LIP.
Voted - to approve the plan for Hersey House Traditional Neighborhood Open Space Plan by Orwig Associates dated April 3, 2006 as revised February 12, 2007, including 16 units, proposed exterior materials, proposed heights and proposed landscaping. This vote is not intended to influence the permitting authority of other Town boards.
Mr. Edmundson and Ms. Tully in favor, Mr. Riley opposed.
Stop Sign for Shipyard Drive
Mr. Cristello explained that this temporary stop sign came out of discussion with the Police Department, Katy Lacy and the Highway Department. A conflict emerged between traffic coming out of the boat parking area and other traffic on Shipyard Drive. This is only temporary until the construction in this area is completed.
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 as follows:
STOP SIGNS:
STREET STOPPED - SHIPYARD DRIVE
At the intersection of Shipyard Drive on the approach to the temporary access to the larger of the two temporary MBTA parking lots, southbound towards Lincoln Street.
WARNING SIGN:
To be placed 150 feet before the above mentioned stop sign as an advanced warning of the stop condition.
These signs are TEMPORARY SIGNS for the duration of the construction at the Hingham Shipyard.
Voted - to notify Finance Director Ted Alexiades that it is the Board's intention to renew his employment contract.
Voted - to notify to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the Town of Hingham Board of Selectmen will adopt the new AccuVote-OS Optical Scan System in place of the Optec III System for voting purposes. Our Town Election, which includes six precincts, will be held on April 28, 2007 when the new system will start operation.
Voted - to recommend a transfer from the reserve fund to the Police Department office supplies account in the amount of $4,000.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Ms. Tully presented the Board with a code of conduct presently in use in Sudbury for review. Mr. Edmundson asked if there would be any opportunity for use of the public space on the tunnel cap for events such as the "Taste of Hingham" held each spring. It would not be this year, but in the future the public square area near Main Street between North and South Streets could be used for such events. Mr. Edmundson also asked if the other Board members were of the opinion that there should be rules at the landfill regarding the gathering of signatures for political purposes. Mr. Cristello said that he has more information on this that he will share with the Board. Ms. Tully replied that she felt the Board should act on this. Mr. Cristello advised that he attended the Local Advisory Committee meeting and Governor Patrick did attend. The Governor said that despite the weainess of lottery revenue cities and towns would be held harmless. Ms. Foley reported that one of the Elder Services van drivers called this evening to compliment the Department of Elder Services and the Department of Public Works on the wonderful interdepartmental cooperation demonstrated today when one of the vans would not start.
Meeting adjourned 10:55 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk