May 29, 2007
Special Session 6:30 pm
Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley, Ms. Burnss
The Board voted by roll call vote to adjourn to executive session for the purposes of contract negotiations and a real estate issue. The Board will return to open session at approximately 7:30 pm.
Mr. Riley - yes
Ms. Burns - yes
Ms. Tully - yes
May 29, 2007
Regular Session 7:35 pm
Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns
The Board interviewed the following candidates for Police Officer:
Justin Burns, a 2001 graduate of Hingham High School, advised the Board that he is currently employed as a Boston Special Police Officer and considers himself as honest and hardworking. He said his greatest weakness is that he did not push himself hard enough in high school. Mr. Burns is interested in pursuing a Bachelors Degree. He informed the Board that he feels the most important the most important character trait for a police officer is honesty and that he or she treat everyone fairly and with respect. If hired he would like to explore what the best position is for him. At this time he would be interested in the DARE program or detective work. Mr. Burns has coached lacrosse for several years and attended the Citizens Police Academy.
David Langill, a long time Hingham resident that recently moved to Rockland, has worked as a security person at a local mall and was acting deputy director of security at One Ashburton Place. He is presently a part-time special school officer in Rockland. If appointed he would like to become a DARE Officer or work on traffic enforcement. Mr. Langill described himself as a good people person, cool under pressure and very detail oriented. He has an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Massasoit Community College and would like to go as far as possible with his education. Mr. Langill commented on the importance of community policing.
Seth Dunlap, a lifelong Hingham resident, is currently a shift supervisor at a South Boston glass company and a special police officer in Rockland. He said that he has attempted to stay busy and build his resume and life experiences toward being an officer. Mr. Dunlap explained that as a special officer in Rockland he has no protection under Civil Service but those six years as a special have given him some experience and knowledge of procedures. He cited a recent example of a fourteen year old that had disappeared and he was involved in the search. Mr. Dunlap said his strengths are experience, being bright enough to make the right decisions, and learning from mistakes; his weakness is a need to work on full time employment. If hired Mr. Dunlap said the position of patrolmen is most interesting to him.
Daniel Galvin, a lifelong Hingham resident and a graduate of Salve Regina University, is currently a special police officer and an assistant harbormaster. Mr. Galvin said he has always had an interest in police work. His degree is in Administration of Justice. During his internship with the Newport, Rhode Island Police Department he helped found the Choices Program. Mr. Galvin reported his strengths an ability to deal with people and to be fair and respectful; his weakness is taking work home all the time. He also said he felt his personality fit the position of police officer well and that management within the police department is a goal.
David Orlandi, also a lifelong Hingham resident attended Massasoit Community College and then Curry College. He is presently employed as a campus police officer for Stonehill College as well as a special police officer in Hingham. He previously worked as a seasonal officer with Hull. The community-oriented side of policing and working with the schools is of interest to him. Mr. Orlandi described himself as outgoing, team-oriented and with a good head on his shoulders. He said that he needs to work on a tendency to be over-detail oriented. He noted that he has worked very hard to get where he is today and would like to keep going.
Police Policies and Procedures
Chief Carlson advised the Board that the policies and procedures of his department haven't been totally revised since 1978. The process of reviewing the procedures was started in 2001. The primary change is the number of motorcycles instead of cruisers. The motorcycle officer does not have the protection to engage in pursuit. The pursuit policy has not changed. The department does have a policy that it will pursue but the officer in charge can call off the pursuit at any time when it is judged to be unsafe to continue pursue. The chief explained that there are policies for all imaginable procedures. The Board took the revised policies and procedures under advisement.
South Shore Country Club
Mr. Walsh explained that there have been a couple of major changes in the operation of the country club this year. The caterer left in October and a number of outsider caterers filled in until the present caterer, Lantana, came on board. Since October there have been about $18,000 worth of utilities charged to the Country Club. In total, there have been $101,000 in expenses related to the catering operation that were not anticipated. The club did not renew the contract with Johnson Golf Management, which necessitated the purchase of quite a bit of equipment. The bulk of the equipment will be financed over 5 years. A pick up truck was purchased at a price of $25,000; this was not anticipated. Other unplanned expenses included a pesticide building, a wetlands delineation study and 21 E study and a holdover from the irrigation system. All told, the budget was overspent by approximately $230,000.
Mr. Riley questioned why these numbers were not identified earlier. Ms. Tully expressed her concern that this was able to snowball to this level before it was noticed. Mr. Welch, Ms. Berard and Ms. Curley are going to sit down with Mr. Alexiades and totally review and revamp the budget. Although the club is experiencing a word of mouth campaign that the course has comeback, the "800 person waiting list" turned out to be much less than expected.
Cable TV Committee Update
Mr. Conrad said the Town's cable contract runs out in August of 2009. The Committee has met with Comcast and toured the existing five-town facility. The Committee also met with the attorneys and recommend negotiating with Verizon, Comcast , etc. to get the best service for the town and new capital equipment. The current equipment is quite outdated and the contract renewal will provide an opportunity to update that. Mr. Connerly said they have spoken to 12 other towns regarding the extent to which the companies comfortable with spending the money. Comcast, Verizon and any alternatives have indicated an interest in shedding the local studio obligation. There seems to be a preference to substituting cash payments for services in kind. The Committee plans a town wide survey by phone, which can be done with hardly any cost. They have identified potential studio sites as the Country Club or space at Town Hall. The Committee might start negotiations as soon as the Fall. Mr. Conrad noted that most towns are tending toward more than one provider - some even have three. Mr. Riley asked that the Committee make a point of getting a commitment from providers to work in harmony with the Town to get utilities underground.
Voted - to send a letter inviting Verizon to file a franchise application in Hingham.
Voted - to adopt a resolution opposing Verizon's efforts to preempt local control of cable franchising authority
Historic Districts Commission
Mr. Ford explained that the town has six districts a number of those have proposed extensions. The extension that has been discussed and proposed a number of times over the past several years is the Hingham Centre District. The process begins with the preparation of a study report, followed by a number of meetings with homeowners in the proposed district and, finally, a statutorily mandated public meeting. This would be presented to the Massachusetts Historical Commission in time to get it into the warrant by January. There are a number of people who live within the proposed extension who have stepped forward to assist in the process. The three proposed modifications are: 1. elimination of Jones Street from the district because it is a dead end; 2. the ball fields, Powers Field at Centre Field and 3. a possible extension down Union Street to Honstra Farm. Mr. Riley said he was very supportive of this extension. Ms. Burns commented that it appears that this time the Districts Commission has a plan that is going to work. Ms. Tully said she, too, was pleased to see the timeline. There would be no impact on the ball fields as they stands now but a proposal for lights or metal bleachers would change the character and could potentially change the character of that neighborhood.
Discussion and Vote on Use of Beal Street Field House
Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Harlow explained that the building has been redesigned to allow access and use of the vending machines and restrooms without access to the remainder of the building. The lease arrangement is a modification of the Lincoln Maritime Lease. Hingham Little League and Youth Football will meet next week and approve them. The two organizations will have a separate agreement that will be memorialize their arrangements.
Voted - to sign the Beal Street Playing Fields and Field House Lease Agreement.
Revised Shipyard Drive
Mr. Cook said he had a plan for the revision of Shipyard Drive that requires the Selectmen's endorsement. This revision will allow the traffic to go around an urban roundabout for traffic management.
Voted - to sign the plan entitled Shipyard Drive Roadway Easement Modification, Hingham Shipyard, 349 Lincoln Street, Hingham, Massachusetts dated May 7, 2007.
Mr. Hammer of Downer Avenue said that the neighborhood is about three years and quite a bit of money into a land ownership case. The Harbormaster indicated that he had been directed to issue a permit for a dock. The court has not yet issued a decision as to the ownership of the property. Mr. Cristello said there is a time window as far as acting on the application and that Town Counsel has reviewed the documentation and authorized the harbormaster to proceed. The neighbors noted that Judge Sands has been grappling with this for some time and asked that the issuance of a permit be delayed until the case is decided. The Board agreed that the documents brought in earlier today will given to Mr. Toomey and his opinion requested before the permit is issued.
The Zoning Board of Appeals negotiated an agreement with the owners of the Loring Hall to give the Town the right of first offer in the event that they decide to sell the property.
Voted - to enter into the Right of First Offer Agreement with Philip J. Scott Realty Trust for the property known as Loring Hall at 65 Main Street.
Voted - to set the summer meeting schedule as follows:
June 4, 12 and 26
July 10 and 24
August 7 and 21
September 4 and 18
Voted - to waive the building permit fee for the construction of an awning over the rear entrance to the police station.
Mr. Cristello noted that although P. A. Landers was found guilty in criminal court, the Town purchased materials other than those types of materials that Landers were found guilty of shorting customers on. The Town purchases these materials through the South Shore Consortium by a group bid.
Voted - to sign contract extension letters for the following contracts with P A Landers:
#1B. Bituminous Concrete Construction (small areas, berms and sidewalks)
#1C. Cement Concrete Sidewalks (construction, reconstruction, repair)
Voted - to appoint Arthur Smith to the Veterans Council.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Ms. Burns met with the REACH committee regarding the possibility of siting wind turbines in Town. She said she was impressed with the quality of the research that has been done. The Light Plant Manager will be in next week to discuss this project. The Board will meet on Friday to set goals for the coming year.
Meeting adjourned 10:45 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk