Voted - to accept the minutes of February 13, 2007.

Country Club Budget
Ms. Tully explained that the preliminary Country Club budget had certain items that the Board felt should be reviewed.  The drainage issue has been solved insofar that Roger Fernandes will be able to deal with that issue.  Mr. Walsh explained that the RFPs for the food and beverage service have been reviewed and there is one proposal that stands out as the best for the town.   The Committee is expected to vote on that in the near future.  The revenue for the restaurant is less than had been expected but the quality of the caterer will boost the image for the club.  The restaurant proposal now indicates that the Town will pay the utilities, which were formerly paid by the lessee.  The Committee has discussed raising the golf fees in the future but the plan is to wait until the course is in good shape.  This projected increase in fees would allow for a better bottom line.

Voted - to recommend a Country Club operating budget of $1,796,758
 The total sum shall be funded from Country Club revenue.

Deputy Fire Chief
Chief Duff explained that the intent of this warrant article is to make the appointment and position of deputy chief more in line with the management style of the town.  The Town has been requesting a deputy chief exam since 2004.  At that time there was an insufficient number of individuals interested in taking the exam; the same was true in 2005.  Recently there was an exam but no one passed it.  The failure rate through out the state was extremely high.   

Voted - to support the warrant article removing the deputy fire chief position from the provisions of civil service.

Harbor By-law Warrant Article
The harbormaster explained his recommended changes.  This formalizes the existing regulations.

Voted - to recommend the Article 15 Harbor By-Law changes as written.

Lease of Alleyway in Hingham Square
Mr. Wilcox explained that the purpose of the article is to allow for the lease of a piece of property between the Snug and Hennessey's.  The space is fairly small but would accommodate approximately 22 seats.  There would be a wall constructed at the lessee's expense to shield the area from view.  Mr. Wilcox advised that the Development and Industrial Commission attended one of the recent coordination meetings to discuss the proposal.  The Fire Department was concerned that the walkway was at least 4 ½ feet wide to allow emergency access; the Board of Health mentioned the need for Handicap Accessible bathrooms; and the Building Commissioner raised the issue of handicapped accessibility to the new area.  He will look into whether the accessibility has to be from the restaurant in addition to that from the street.  Ms. Tully said this is a first step in making improvements to make the Square more attractive to businesses.

Voted - to support the warrant article to lease an alleyway in Hingham Square. 

Retirement Articles
Mr. Shaw explained that for the past three years the Selectmen and Advisory Committee have supported this extension of retirement credit for service as a call firefighter.  Four years ago this was done as a home rule petition in order to protect the Town from someone coming into the town employment carrying call fire time from another community.  Apparently the home rule petition route seems to be a long, laborious process that gets bogged down.  If the Town were to accept the statute it would not have to go any further.  Mr. Lincoln explained that, if Mr. Shaw's article were to be accepted, he would drop his warrant article which would have the Selectmen continue to ask the General Court to pass special legislation.  Mr. Cristello said it was his understanding that the Town, by accepting the statute, would have to extend that to everyone from here on in.  He also noted that it does not seem that the legislature is inclined to go forward with the special legislation.  Mr. Alexiades said that the Retirement Board opined several years ago saying that it could not support such a provision.  He said that although the Board has not taken a formal vote recently, the Board is basically the same as a few years ago.  Mr. Edmundson said he would like to hear from the Retirement Board in a more current vote.  Mr. Alexiades said he would bring it up at the next Retirement Board meeting which is March 15.  Ms. Tully said she would be worried about accepting the statute not knowing who would be moving into Town and what retirement benefits we would take on.  After discussion the Board recommended that the Advisory Committee amend Mr. Shaw's article.

Voted - to recommend that Advisory Committee take one of the articles and make a recommendation for home rule petition for service credit  for Mr. Shaw and Mr. Lincoln's time as call firefighters. 
Retirement Articles
Mr. Alexiades explained that the proposed warrant article is to extend an additional benefit of $250 annually for dependents of accidental disability retirees. Currently, this benefit is available for dependents of ordinary disability retirees but not for accidental disability retirees' dependents.  Mr. Alexiades said that he had consulted the actuaries but they could not estimate any potential liability since the likelihood of anyone actually qualifying for this is extremely small.  

Mr. Alexiades advised that an ordinary disability retirement is a very meager benefit.  What happens under this provision is that the disabled employee is placed of the age 55 step of the retirement chart regardless of age.  The retirement benefit is then computed using actual years of service.  By changing the number of years necessary for  eligibility for ordinary disability retirement the Hingham System would be consistent with other retirement systems in the state.
 
Voted - to support the warrant article recommending a supplemental benefit for dependents of accidental disability retirees.

Voted - to support the warrant article that would change the number of years for eligibility for a disability retirement.

Warrant Article - Light Plan Investment Income
Mr. Alexiades explained that the Light Plant had established a fund to anticipate future retirement costs.  Under the law, the HMLP had to transfer those funds to the Town's accounts.  When they did that, the Light Department lost the benefit of the interest.  
The Town has received the interest income in the amount of approximately $75,000 from those funds and the Light Plant would like that money.   The intent is to deposit future monies into the Hingham Retirement Board account or to the Post Retirement Health Care Fund.

Voted - to support the article to transfer approximately $75,000 of investment income to the Light Plant.

Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2006
This local option would allow members of a Board or Committee to miss one session of a hearing and still participate in the vote.  Ms. Tully voiced reservations about such a process.  Mr. Riley explained that for the Planning Board there may be a series of meetings on a particular project before a vote is taken and this would allow a project to move forward rather than having to begin again if someone misses a meeting..

Voted - to adopt local option legislation for chapter 79 the acts of 2006

The Board reviewed several warrant articles requesting special legislation that had passed at last year's annual town meeting but had not made it through the legislature.

Voted - to recommend special legislation for a Shipyard Improvement District..

Voted -  to recommend special legislation for the South Shore Country Club and Linden Ponds liquor licenses to be site specific.

Voted - to recommend favorable action on the article for easements to allow reconstruction of the West Corner Culvert.

M.r Cristello explained that the proposed warrant article would authorize the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee to enter into agreements that are more in line with the useful life of the equipment. 

Voted - to recommend the article that would authorize the Selectmen and School Committee to enter into agreements for equipment and vehicle leases for up to five years.

The Assessors recommended that the interest rate on tax deferrals be held at 4% for the current year.  Mr. Edmundson said that last year when this article first came up the 4% rate was about 1% more than money market rates.  The current money market rate is approximately 5%.  He suggested that the rate on deferrals be set at 6%.  Ms. Tully suggested that there should be some consistency in setting the rates and recommended that the rate should be at one percent over the money market rate in any given year.

Voted - to recommend the warrant article for interest rate on tax deferreals be set at 6% for the coming year. 

The Veterans Agent has submitted an article to accept a local option whereby activated service personnel deployed outside the state are allowed 180 days after deployment to pay real estate tax without penalty.

Voted - to support adoption of the article as written.

Vanasse and Associates studied the intersection of North, West and Beal Streets as a part of their recent traffic study.  Various alternatives were considered for the intersection.  The Traffic Committee recommended Alternative 2B that would include a left turn lane from North Street.  Mr. Cristello said this is the alternative that was discussed with the Planning Board. The stop sign would be at the end of North Street.  Mr. Cristello pointed out that this does not preclude additional stop signs.  The raised crosswalks and island shown on the plan will not be included because of concerns voiced by the public safety agencies and the Department of Public Works.  Ms. Tully asked if it would be possible to install rumble strips before the cross walks.

Voted - to approve Alternative 2B of the November 3, 2006 Conceptual Improvement Plan for the Beal, West and North Street intersection as designed by Vanasse & Associates Inc. without the raised island or crosswalks.

Mr. Cristello said that the Department of Public Works is recommending Gale Associates as the designer for the renovation of the former baler building at the Town's recycling area and Transfer Facility.  This recommendation is based on responses to the RFP for design services issued in January.

Voted - to begin contract negotiations with Gale Associates for design of the renovation of the former Baler Building at the Town's Recycling Area and Trash Transfer Facility.

Mr. Cristello explained that there were things that were not finalized at the time of the land swap with Mr. Hastings.  A letter of agreement was the form that was recommended to memorialize these arrangements.  The items of concern include removal of utility poles, maintenance of drainage in the dagger parcel and the relocation of some trees among other things.

Voted - to sign the Continuing Rights and Obligations Under the Development Agreement between the Town and Thomas J. Hastings.

Voted - to send a letter to the MWRA in support of the connection of the Central Fire Station to MWRA sewer system

Voted - to sign an employment contract extending through September 30, 2010 with Police Chief Steven Carlson.

Environmental work that is being done at the property in back of the existing DPW building has been being paid from the Engineering Account but the work has exceeded the amount budgeted for engineering.  Mr. Cristello reported it is still too early to know what future obligations we will have under the law regarding this property.

Voted - to recommend a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Selectmen's Engineering Account in the amount of $40,000.

Voted - to grant request for counsel as submitted by the Board of Appeals.

Voted - to proclaim March as Red Cross Month.

Voted - to grant the following temporary liquor licenses for events to be held at the South Shore Country Club:
 Paul Hart, for a christening, on March 4, 2007.
 Martha Googins, for an anniversary party on March 3, 2007.
  Martha Googins, for a school fundraiser party on March 3, 2007.

Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Ms. Tully asked about the discussion regarding the gathering of signatures at the Transfer Station.  Mr. Edmundson said he would like to wait until a meeting when interested individuals could be invited and the subject could be in the press.  Ms. Tully asked the Board members if they had an opportunity to review the Code of Conduct which she distributed at the last meeting.  Neither Mr. Edmundson or Mr. Riley had an opportunity to study it this past week.  The draft code of conduct for board and committee members will be circulated to other departments for comment.  Mr. Edmundson reported that the Energy Committee is actively at work.  Mr. Heissner has made an outline of the various projects.   The Community Preservation Committee will be meeting this Thursday and, hopefully making the final recommendations. 

Mr. Edmundson advised that next week there will be an article regarding the property at 3 Otis Street. There has been discussion making a presentation regarding benefits to the Town in return for some consideration about parking.  Mr. Cristello reported that the Town recently received a letter of congratulations from Common Cause on the quality of the Town web site. 

Meeting adjourned 9:20 pm.
   
Betty Foley, Clerk