Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes 2008
April 8, 2008
Regular Session 7:35 pm
Ms. Tully, Ms. Burns
Legislative Update
Representative Bradley advised the Board that the Legislature has passed a local aid resolution. Hingham has done well under this resolution. Chapter 70 aid is up 7.9%; lottery aid has been level funded; and veterans’ services reimbursements are about $100,000. He noted that the biggest increase in the assessment was a $179,000 increase in retired teachers’ health care.
Senator Hedlund noted that the lottery is suffering a decline in revenues. The projection is short and that difference is being made up from general fund revenues. There was an effort to put out a one time local aid payment from the state rainy day fund. However, the rainy day fund is being tapped for some other uses. The other category of aid that is level funded for Hingham is Chapter 90.
Both Representative Bradley and Senator Hedlund noted the new school project is the first project to be funded under the new MSBA out of over 400 statements of interest. The Treasurer has done a great job in getting the project up and running.
Senator Hedlund remarked that the Massachusetts rainy day fund is very healthy compared to those of other states. He noted that in the last session there was a surplus over the projected revenues and, somehow, the Legislature found ways to squander those funds rather than send them back to local communities. Rep. Bradley said last year’s budget did allocate money for the design of the harbor dredging. Hopefully, the funding for dredging itself will be included in the environmental bond bill. The Governor asked for a list of priorities over a year ago and that was on it. Sen. Hedlund advised that there are authorizations in place for the money and Director Mooney has said the language is there to get the money, but the problem is getting it into the EOEA spending plan.
There is a meeting discussing a delay in the project dealing with the Rockland Street bridge and flood control. This project was originally scheduled for ‘09 and has been moved out to Fiscal 2014. There is language in transportation bond bill to make the improvements in the Summer Street rotary, etc. The Fish and Game land was discussed at a recent meeting regarding the parcel adjacent to Bare Cove Park.
Sen. Hedlund reported that he is working very hard on the Aquarion rebate grant. He said that to Aquarion’s credit, they have been helpful and hired a couple of lobbyists in the effort to see this through.
Ms. Burns said the issues of people who have trouble paying property taxes have come to the fore particularly after an override. She asked Rep. Bradley and Sen. Hedlund if there may be a way to expand the circuit breaker. There are needy people in town who are not elderly. We do not know how many people in Hingham or across the state would meet the criteria if the circuit breaker were extended to those who are not elderly.
Sen. Hedlund noted that a few years ago the assessed value for homes was adjusted. Originally, it was thought that those who had reached the particular age had paid a significant amount of money over many years and the circuit breaker was to provide relief to those individuals who qualified. There is no idea of what it would cost to remove the age restriction at this time, nor is there money for it right now. Ms.Tully agreed that if you can’t quantify it, it would be had to vote it. Rep. Bradley remarked that when you take the burden away from one group you are moving it to another group.
Ms. Malme commented that the circuit breakers across the country are predominantly for the elderly. However, some states have the circuit breaker available for younger people. Participation in many of these programs is quite low. There is a new study that shows that most of the elderly are not the ones who need to be worried about. The hope is to target certain relief to those most needy. Ms. Burns agreed that the first question that must be asked is “what is this going to cost?”
Ms. Tully advised both Sen. Hedlund and Rep. Bradley that some Town money has already been spent looking at the rotary at Summer Street. The design will be ready in 2009 and moving forward on this is a high priority.
Voted - to sign the warrant for the 2008 Annual Town Meeting
Voted - to grant Request for Counsel as submitted by the Library.
Voted - to proclaim April 25, 2008 as Arbor Day in Hingham.
Selectmen’s Report
The Fire Station Rededication was a wonderful event. Chief Duff presented a great history of the station. The ceremony of uncoupling the fire house was quite interesting and, the equivalent of cutting the ribbon.
Voted - by roll call vote, to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing real estate and not to return to open session this evening.
Ms. Burns – yes
Ms. Tully – yes
Open session adjourned 8:35pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk