Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes 2008
Regular Meeting
July 8, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo
Questions from the Public
Robin Aborn on behalf of the Hingham High School Rowing program seeking relief from the user and additional fees in the amount of $7,000. The Lincoln Maritime Center has declined their request to waive fees. Mr. Riley advised the Selectmen will be reviewing their lease in August and would discuss this issue at that time. In the meantime Mr. Riley suggested that she contact the Acting Town Administrator and fill her in on all of the details.
John Hersey brought in pictures of a tree on Lazell Street and requested the Selectmen to view it to see how rotted and decayed this tree is.
Town Administrator Search - Michael Puzo, Personnel Board and Search Committee Member and Thomas Groux of Groux & Associates present. Mr. Puzo announced it was a unanimous decision to recommend Thomas Groux as consultant to provide services in connection with the recruitment and selection of a Town Administrator. His expertise and experience as a former Town Manager and expertise surpassed the other consultants that were being consulted. Mr. Groux thought that with higher salaries in the private sector, the candidate pool for town administrators has shrunk over the years. The Selectmen granted him permission to speak to department heads and agreed that Hingham residency would not be a requirement. Mr. Groux pointed out, if awarded the contract, he will be looking for candidates with strong diplomatic skills who will work closely with the Board of Selectmen, Department Heads, Town Boards and Committees. Mr. Groux thought the time frame would be late fall. Mr. Riley mentioned that the Board in order to avoid an impetus decision does not want to be in too much of a hurry. Mr. Groux suggested that the position be advertised in the MMA Beacon, the ICCMA and their websites. The deadline for the next Beacon is September 1st. Mr. Rabuffo suggested that the response time should be cut off at 30 days, especially where the market is small. Ms. Burns felt that position has changed since the hiring of Charles Cristello of 16 years ago as the job and Mr. Cristello grew together. That position had a role that looked like a Town Manager, but the residents could still have the final say through the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Riley agreed the voters did not want to give up the ability to be able to talk to the Selectmen.
Voted - to sign a contract with Groux and Associates in the amount of $8,000 for recruitment services, subject to satisfactory review and approval of Counsel for the Town.
Parking Study for Downtown and Harbor Area - Katy Lacy, Town Planner reported that the completion of a Shared Parking Analysis for the downtown area was identified as a top priority. She advised that the Planning board would be requesting approximately $7,000 from the Selectmen’s Engineering Budget to support the cost of hiring a consultant to prepare such a study. The Development and Industrial Commission voted their support for such a study. Ms. Lacy explained that due to several pending applications for Parking Determination for new businesses proposed for the downtown area, getting this study completed as soon as possible is urgent. The goal of this study would be to rationalize the parking requirements within the Downtown Overlay District so that when new construction is proposed, or one type of business is replaced with another, the Planning Board can better determine whether there is sufficient parking to accommodate the use. The concept of “Shared Parking” entails the use of a parking space to serve two or more individual land uses without conflict, inconvenience or encroachment. Ms. Burns said she would be happy to consider this request as it takes into account all parking even grandfathered businesses. Ms. Burns questioned if the Harbor area could also be included in this analysis. She explained she realizes the Planning Board does not favor this, as the vision of what uses should be on the harbor has not yet been presented. She inquired if the CPC funded master plan for the harbor is lacking in some way that is needed to allow us to include it. Ms. Burns questioned why couldn’t the existing uses be included, as she didn’t think that this plan envisions any other uses with the exception of some private parcels that the town might acquire. She pointed out that her question is why is it that we don’t have this vision and if this document is not adequate to provide what a parking consultant would need to know to include this area. Ms. Lacy advised she took this question very seriously and her initial impulse and this small harbor group also started at this juncture. She does think that people were flailing about for five years not certain if it should be a tourist destination, mixed use of stores and offices, or what. Mr. Rabuffo thought the Board should keep a vision for the Harbor in mind but the downtown area should be done first. Mr. Riley pointed out that the Harbor Parking Task Force is looking at the Harbor area. Ms Lacy commented that the waterfront is really important but has not yet been fully explored. After further discussion the Selectmen asked Ms. Lacey to refine the scope of the bid to include harbor parking, get the numbers, and return to the Board of Selectmen.
Voted - to authorize the Development and Industrial Commission and the Planning Board to pursue the selection of a parking analysis study within 60 days.
Avalon Shipyard LLC – Regulatory Agreement– LIP Application - Present James Toomey, Counsel for the Town, James O’Brien of the Affordable Housing Trust, David Gillespie and Steven Schwartz of Avalon. Mr. Gillespie advised they were seeking consent and approval of the Selectmen to enter into a regulatory agreement with the town. There is a single four-story building containing 91 apartment homes, approved under the LIP application. Within this building, 23 units, which represent 25% of the rental units, will be reserved for those making less than 80% of the median income. All 23 units will be affordable in perpetuity. Mr. Toomey advised he has reviewed the agreement and there was only one change made. Avalon has their own monitoring agents. The change reflected that the Town has the option to hire a monitoring agent at a reasonable cost subject to Avalon’s approval. Mr. Toomey advised that Avalon agreed and recommended that the agreement be signed.
Voted - to sign a Regulatory Agreement with Avalon Shipyard LLC and the Department of Housing and Community Development for the rental project known as Avalon at Hingham Shipyard.
Drainage Easement – Heather Lane – Mr. McCoy of Heather Lane requesting an extension of the drainage easement to allow a garage to be built. The Planning Board and DPW Superintendent support this request. Mr. McCoy has bought land from his abutting neighbors to meet the setbacks. He was under the impression that he could start construction as soon as the Selectmen approved this request. It was explained to Mr. McCoy that the Selectmen could vote to approve this matter tonight but it would be subject to ratification at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Voted - to accept an extension of the drainage easement shown on “As-Built Street Plan,” Heather Lane, Hingham, Massachusetts prepared by Hayward-Boynton & Williams, Inc., dated November 27, 2007, by extending said easement an additional three (3) feet as shown as relocated drainage easement on “As-Built Street Plan, Heather Lane, Hingham, Massachusetts, prepared by Grady Consulting, L.L.C., dated May 23, 2008 from Stephen J. McCoy and Ann M. McCoy, 5 Heather Lane. This Grant of Easement is subject to ratification at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Voted - to grant a 30-day extension to Station Street LLC for the submission of conceptual plans of the project.
Voted - grant the House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 916 Main Street a temporary liquor license for their Annual Oktoberfest to be held September 28 and September 29, 2008
Voted - to reappoint Amy Goebel to the Cable TV Advisory Committee for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Diane Lewis, Michael Adams, Ann Collins and Irene Kane to the Hingham 375th Anniversary Committee.
Voted - to appoint the following to the Bare Cove Park Committee:
Paul Murphy for a three-year term expiring in 2011;
James O’Hare for a three-year term expiring in 2011;
Barbara McMullan to fill an unexpired term ending in 2009.
Voted - to appoint the following to the Conservation Commission:
Charles Berry for a three-year term expiring in 2011;
William Grafton to fill an unexpired term ending in 2009
Voted - to reappoint John McCoy to the Historic Districts Commission for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Susan Berry to the Historic Districts Commission for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to reappoint Winston Hall as an Alternate Member of the Historic Districts Commission for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Lee Vigil as liasion to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Jessica Foley to the Open Space Acquisition Committee for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Robert Abbott as a Registrar of Voters for a three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint Robert Mosher to the Harbor Development Committee for three-year term expiring in 2011.
Voted - to appoint the following members to the committee to consider creation of a permanent building committee: Tom Carey, Mike Barclay and Alison Ferrante.
Conflict of Interest Seminars - The Selectmen expressed concern over the poor attendance of newly appointed committee members. Ms. Burns felt these seminars are extremely important, as they would help committees avoid lawsuits by not acting in ignorance, which could cause residents to lose confidence in town committees. The Board is considering making it a requirement that all new appointed people attend this session.
Selectmen’s Reports – Ms. Burns is planning to talk to the Traffic Committee concerning residents concerns regarding speed and safety at North/West/Beal Streets and the raised sidewalk proposal on North Street. Mr. Riley pointed out that the Beal Street Corridor Study suggested the raised sidewalk on North Street. Ms. Burns also plans to attend the meeting in Hull where Governor Patrick will be speaking. Mr. Rabuffo is planning to attend the DPU Public Hearing on the application of Aquarion Water Company for a 21% rate increase in Hull on July 16, 2008.
Adjourned 9:30 PM Clerk pro tem
Marilyn A. Harrington