May 7, 2007
Special Session 7:30 pm
Ms. Tully, Ms. Burns
Ms. Tully advised that Mr. Riley is ill and will be unable to attend the meeting
Voted - to appoint the following members of the Council on Aging for a term expiring in 2010:
Anne Condon
William Scott
Steven D. Waynen
Voted - to appoint the following members of the Cultural Council for a term expiring in 2010:
Mary Ann Blackmur
Constance Cummings
Voted - to appoint the following members of the Development and Industrial
Commission for a term expiring in 2012:
Peter Colket
Benedict Wilcox
Voted - to appoint the following Assistant Harbormaster for a one-year term:
Robert Jenks
Michael Murray
Michael Hickey
Daniel Galvin
Robert Blazuk
Voted - to appoint Edward Boylan a Trustee of the Hingham Public Library for a term expiring in 2010.
Voted - to appoint the following Deputy Sealers of Weights and Measures
Harold Tuttle
Charles Alexson
Voted - to appoint Betty Tower Registrar of Voters for a term expiring in 2010.
Voted - to appoint the following members of the Cable TV Advisory Committee for a term expiring in 2010:
Guy Conrad
Eric Connerly
Public Hearing - Aquarion Water
Mr. Healy explained that his mother lives on Lazell Street and is subdividing the lot in order to allow his brother to build a house. The request before the Board is for a grant of location to Aquarion Water Company to install a water main to provide town water to the lot. Mr. Sylvester has submitted a letter with the Public Works Department conditions governing the installation of the water main.
Voted - to approve the Grant of Location request of Aquarion Water Company to install and maintain approximately 180 feet of 12 inch ductile iron water main in Lazell Street originating from an existing 12 inch main in front of 209 Lazell Street, running in a southwesterly direction, subject to the stipulations of the DPW.
Public Hearing - Transfer of Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages License
Ms. McShain advised the Board that the parent company of Chili's Restaurant is restructuring and transferring all of the Chili's Restaurants in the state to Pepper Dining Inc. Ms. McShain stated that there would be no change at the restaurant level the management and d/b/a will remain the same.
Voted - to approve the application for transfer of the Restaurant Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages License of Brinker, Massachusetts, Corp. d/b/a Chili's Grill & Bar to Pepper Dining Inc., d/b/a Chili's Grill & Bar., 6 Whiting Street, Cristina McShain, Manager, subject to the approval of the ABCC..
Mr. Cristello said the agreement with the Shipyard Partners to move the utilities underground on the water side of Lincoln Street is ready for signature. Mr. Riley had requested that the time for receipt of the money be moved up from certificate of occupancy to issuance of the building permit and this has been incorporated in the document.
Voted - to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Hingham Shipyard partners regarding the Lincoln Street Utility Work.
Public Hearing - Grant of Location on North Street for HMLP
Mr. Tokadjian explained that the Greenbush project had damaged some conduits in the North Street area. This is a grant of location request on the part of the Hingham Lighting Plant to open the street and replace damaged conduits with the new ones. The conduits presently in place are made of clay and have been in the ground for over 50 years. The replacement conduit will be in plastic pipe and encased in concrete. Mr. Tokadjian explained that it did take some time to allocate responsibility for the damage.
Voted - to approve the Grant of Location request of the Hingham Lighting Company to install a new conduit system approximately 365 feet in length from an existing manhole in front of #74 North Street, to replace electrical conduits serving the businesses and residences in that area, as shown on Plan No. 04-20, dated 4/20/07, subject to the stipulations of Board of Selectmen and the DPW.
Public Hearing - Grant of Location on North Street HMLP
Mr. Tokadjian explained that this is a similar situation insofar as old clay conduits have been damaged by work in the area. The replacement conduit will require that the street will be opened in front of Talbots and across from the Square Café. Mr. Tokadjian noted that although some paving has been done the final paving has not yet been laid down.
Voted - to approve the Grant of Location request of the Hingham Lighting Company to install a new conduit system, approximately 95 feet in length. To an existing manhole in front of #164 North Street, to replace electrical conduits serving the businesses and residences on North and Central Street, as shown on Plan No. 04-20A, dated 4/20/07, subject to the stipulations of the Board of Selectmen and the DPW.
Reserve Fund Transfer Request
Mr. Macmillan said that since the Historic Districts Handbook was last distributed there has been approximately a 50% turnover in homeowners in the District. The Historic Districts Commission and the Historical Commission feel that this is the time to reprint and distribute the handbooks. Ms. Burns commented she was pleased that this was being done since it is really overdue. Mr. Macmillan reported that both Commissions discussed this and it was decided that this is the best way to deal with those who were unaware that a house was on the historic inventory since many people were not notified when the houses were included in the inventory. Ms. Burns suggested that the Commissions come up with a plan to do this on a regular basis, every five years or so, and to include the cost in the budget at that time. She also suggested that a mailing could be done when a
property turned over. Ms. Tully agreed that the Historic Commission should file these notifications at the Registry of Deeds. She also suggested that the new handbook contain a statement that the book should remain with the house.
Voted - to recommend a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Historical/Historic Districts Expenses account in the amount of $7,900.00
Ms. Tully asked Mr. Macmillan about the Greenbush Quiet Zone application meeting. He said that he had spoken to the people in Cohasset. This application is being done as a single quiet zone and one community must be the lead applicant.
Change of Manager Burton's Grill
Mr. Pappis, general manager of Burton's Grill, explained that the president of the company has opened a fourth restaurant and is not at the Hingham location as much as he was previously. This requested change is simply to put Mr. Pappis' name on as a manager. He has been at the restaurant for two years.
Voted - to approve the request of Burtons Grill, LLC of Hingham d/b/a Burtons Grill, to change the manager of their Restaurant Common Victualler All Alcoholics Beverages License from Kevin P. Harron, Manager to Stephen Papsis, subject to the approval of the Alcohol Beverages Control Commission.
Award of Nokomis Road Parcel for Affordable Housing
Mr. Cristello advised the Board that the Town had issued the RFP necessary to dispose of this parcel as was discussed at the last meeting. The file was checked and a 21E was done back in 2000.
Voted - to award the lease for a 23,923 sq. ft. parcel of land on Nokomis Road to South Shore Habitat for Humanity for the development of one unit of affordable housing.
Hingham Square Project
Ms. Foley explained that Mass Housing normally has an appraisal requirement for properties being developed. Under their guidelines communities are able to waive the appraisal requirement if they are confident of the property value. Since the property was appraised a few years ago and the Request for Proposals was issued recently the Town is comfortable with the appraisal. Mr. Busby of Mass Housing had advised that waiving the requirement under these circumstances would be normal practice.
Voted - to waive the appraisal requirement for the proposed Hingham Square Project as suggested by MassHousing.
Mr. Cristello advised that the developer of the Beals Cove playing fields suggested that two zones for the irrigation system would be a good idea for the fields since one is a practice area and one is a full playing field. This will be done at no cost to the Town and will allow the Town more control over the irrigation system.
Voted - to create two zones for the irrigation system to be installed at the Bare Cove Fields.
Mr Rabuffo voiced his displeasure with the Municipal Lighting Plant for not thinking far enough ahead and waiting until this point to open North Street to replace conduit. This lack of foresight raises an issue as to the type of covering for the streets. There has been discussion of a stamped covering but that could be very expensive to replace. Mr. Cristello noted that there was a similar problem on French Street after a repaving project. After that incident Mr. Cristello requested a meeting with the Light Department Management and suggested that the HMLP and DPW meet at least twice a year to discuss any anticipated projects and what streets are likely to be resurfaced. These meetings will be held before the construction season and at the end of the year. The DPW will be responsible for setting up these meetings. Mr. Rabuffo noted that with planning and forethought much of this confusion can be avoided.
Ms. Tully reported that the liaison list is in process. A meeting has been scheduled for Friday to discuss flooding adjacent to the tunnel with the MBTA. Their engineers are going to review the situation and will be getting back to us. There may be some compensation for merchants who have been affected by the flooding.
Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk