Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes 2008
January 15, 2008
Regular Session 7:05 pm
Ms. Tully, Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns
Residential Exemption
Ms. Burns explained that under the residential exemption program no revenue is lost. The tax not paid by lesser-valued homes is spread over the remainder of the tax base. There are some implementation costs associated with this plan. Using FY07 numbers, the average price valuation was $666,000. If a home were valued at $200,000 tax bill would drop by 13%. The breakpoint is approximately $850,000 valuation after which property taxes would increase due to the shift. Using a 20% exemption factor a property valued at 200,000 would decrease about 70%. Ms. Burns noted that the goal of the residential exemption is to lighten the impact of the property tax on citizens of modest means. This is of particular concern at a time when the school building override is being considered.
Mr. Riley said that he was interested in hearing about the program but was unsure whether this was something that should be implemented. Ms. Tully said that she had assumed there was some town meeting process but there is no such process required. Ms. Burns agreed that there is no town meeting process but that she felt that this was a program that should be thoroughly aired and discussed prior to any action by the Selectmen. The towns that currently have the residential exemption either have a large number of apartment buildings or second homes. Traditionally, this program is not attractive to municipalities that don’t fall into one of those two categories. Ms. Tully said she does not know if she supports this program and needs a lot more information.
Ms. Knapp told the Board that Florida has a law that restricts tax increases to 3% for residents but allows significant increases to unimproved parcels, commercial properties and second homes. The taxes on their property went from $2,500 to $10,000 in two and a half years. Mr. Knapp warned the Board that this would start a class war with the rich paying for the poor.
Mr. Watson noted that the Town is trying to do is to lighten the burden on people of moderate income and to keep the Town open to the people who are here now. He said the approach is very close to that of the income tax. He said the program is worth looking at. Ms. Meyer said the amount of taxes raised will remain the same. She also remarked that a lot of people who work very hard who cannot afford to live here.
Ms. Tully said the next step is to continue gathering information and have a public hearing which would be two weeks from now on the 29th.at 7:30 pm.
Public Hearing – Grant of Location for Verizon
Ms. Kane explained that Verizon was seeking permission to relocate a pole on Wompatuck Road in order to make clearance for a new home at 99 Wompatuck Road. The existing pole would be moved about 27 feet to approximately the property line between houses number 95 and number 99.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location on the joint petition of Verizon New England Inc and Hingham Lighting Plant to relocate Pole #9 by twenty seven feet in a southerly direction on Wompatuck Road, a shown on plan marked VZ N.E. No. 12/07-10 dated 11/27/07.
No Place for Hate Program
Mr. Marcus said he co-chairs the Hingham program with his wife Barbara. This began as a joint effort of the ADL and MMA in 1999. Locally, the committee did a number of showings of a documentary called Paper Clips which was attended by over 800 people. Mr. Marcus noted that one town can make a world of difference. There have been numerous events over the past several years including the annual interfaith Passover seder. On a Sunday afternoon this coming March there will be a public forum on immigration to be held at the Library. The intent of the immigration forum is to educate not to take a position on the matter. The statistics on immigrants will be presented. The No place for Hate Hingham Committee was one of the first schools to pilot a program of peer facilitation. The faculty leaves the classroom and the students lead the discussion. This has minimized the amount of hate and violence in the schools. The program was so popular that it is now in the Middle School.
Mr. Riley thanked Mr. Marcus for the efforts of the No Place for Hate Program Committee. Mr. Marcus noted that there is a limit to the committee’s resources and they are unable to do everything they would like to do.
Employee Health Insurance
Ms Tully explained that the Town will have more say in the administration of the employee health insurance program under the new arrangement for health insurance through a joint purchasing group. The withdrawal of the Town from the Plymouth County Health Group does not affect the offerings, the co-payments, etc. The only change is the administration of the program.
Voted - to withdraw the Town of Hingham from the Plymouth Country Health Group and enter into a MGL 32B Section 12 trust or joint purchase agreement with other cities, towns, counties and districts for the purposes of negotiating and purchasing insurance policies providing group hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health care coverage for employees, dependents and retirees of the Town.
Voted - to extend existing contract agreements for the rental of equipment for one year as follows:
Gallant Grader Services ¼ yd. Backhoe @ $70/hour
¾ yd. Excavator @ $75/hour
2 yd. Loader @ $78/hour
18 Ton Grader @ $95/hour
24 Ton grader @ $110/hour
and
E. L. Margetts 8.5 Ton Dozer @$80/hour
Selectmen’s Goals
Property Tax Relief: This evening’s discussion is an effort to open the conversation about property tax relief options. One other item is the extending exemptions to the maximum allowable amounts. Ms. Burns said that with the budget in the condition that it is and the possibility of a large override coming up it may be that cutting services is something to discuss. More information on senior exemptions available and what is the maximum allowable is available at the Assessors’ Office.
Public Safety Communications: The Fire Department is seeking funds from the Capital Outlay and state funds.
Early large development vetting: The Selectmen are working with other boards with regard to the Selectmen’s parcel and Ms. Burns has done a lot with 40R. One interesting aspect of the 40R overlay district is the permitting authority would be a board consisting of one selectman, one member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and one member of the Planning Board. This would be a new model.
Traffic issues: A capital outlay request has been submitted to the Route 3A rotary. Many years ago Senator Brian MacDonald got an earmark for redesign of the Route 53 corridor. The Board is trying to find out if there are any design funds still encumbered with the state for Exit 15.
Televise meetings: Recreation Commission meetings are on the local channel. The Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals had a joint meeting which was televised. The volume problem is much improved.
Closure of the landfill: The DEP is not moving as quickly as hoped. There is little likelihood that this can be accomplished in the current year. It looks as if this will be an ‘09 matter. Mr. Watson mentioned that many years ago it had been suggested that the capped landfill be used for skiing and hiking and urged the board to consider this.
Bury wires: The focus is to try to rid North Street of wires between Station Street and the Liberty Grill. The Committee is making great headway by working with the Light Plant trying to make a plan that will accommodate individual needs. The costs have come in a little higher than anticipated. Ms. Peavey, a committee member with extensive background in utilities, suggested that it is possible that Comcast and Verizon may be able to help.
Bare Cove Corridor: The first quarterly meeting was in July; there was not much to discuss in October; now there is due to the site work for DPW facility.
Shade Tree policies: This is on hold until next year. Mr. Riley is concentrating on parking issues at the harbor instead.
Selectmen’s Reports
Mr. Riley reported that he attended the dedication of the new statue at the library. It was a great time and a nice tribute to the mothers of the town. Ms. Burns attended the MMA trade show on Friday. She said she attended workshop of the new regulations on 40B which may provide some relief by allowing for some design standards.
Ms. Tully commented that the speaker at the MMA said good leaders try to find solutions by asking people what the solutions are. Ms. Burns said there might be a selectmen’s question where the Board could ask a question and get people’s feedback. A letter wasa received from Bill Salisbury thanking the DPW for the assistance at the Old Ordinary.
The Board voted, by roll call vote, to adjourn to executive session for purpose of discussing real estate and pending litigation and not to return to open session this evening.
Mr. Riley – yes
Ms. Burns – yes
Ms. Tully – yes
Open session adjourned 8:30 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk