Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2009
Special Session 11:05 am
Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo
Worlds End Culvert
Steve Sloan of Trustees of Reservations said that originally the Trustees had envisioned a 6-12 month engineering process for the replacement of the culvert. They are currently reviewing design options with a 15 -20 ft. width and have asked various agencies to partnership with the Trustees on this. The most significant issue is the impact of the federal stimulus bill as a possible funding source. Originally, the thought was to replace outer culvert but the stimulus bill may make it possible to initiate an RFP process within the next two weeks. The Trustees will submit a project in response with a proposal to replace both culverts: the outer culvert to be replaced with riprap channel and the inner culvert by an inner rip rap channel with a footbridge. Mr. Sloan explained that the wider the channel, the lower the velocity of the tidal flow. This will eliminate some of the erosion currently taking place by the outer culvert and the open channel will allow greater tidal flush. He also noted that the bridge over the second channel will require some thought as to height of the bridge, etc.
Mr. Riley asked if it is necessary to replace the inner culvert. Mr. Sloan said that by opening the outer culver it might increase the velocity at the inner one. He noted that the second culvert is more defensible because the foot traffic is 3-4 feet above the culvert but it is a possibility that someone could end up in the water. The whole process should not be delayed if the second culvert tends to be a sticking point. Ms. Burns said if the two culverts worked as a system it might not work as well if only one were changed. Mr. Sloan said there would be sufficient natural resource and safety benefits to proceed with the removal of one culvert if that were all that was funded. The emphasis has been the safe width for the culvert and what the natural resource benefits are. There is an independent civil engineer and a firm that has been hired. The federal agencies will do the bulk of designing of this project. Once designed, it will be opened to public comment.
Ms. Granahan asked when the buoys would be placed to cordon off the cove. Ken Corson said they are waiting for the ice pack to disappear and then the buoy system will be installed within the next couple of weeks. The boats previously moored in that area will be relocated elsewhere. There will also be a temporary beach closure until the culvert is changed. Ms. Merrill asked if there could be some deal made with private beaches around the corner to be able to put boats and kayaks within walking distance for the neighborhood. Mr. Corson said that he would try.
Budgets
Mr. Paicos asked that if Board would be agreeable to voting a single dollar amount for each department rather than separate payroll and expense amounts. Ms. Burns expressed concern that in other times this could result in department head hiring people with this money. Mr. Paicos noted that there is a very robust personnel system that provides for extensive checks and balances. Any personnel actions must be reported centrally and the practice of creating new positions must be cleared. There is an education process that would go along with this change. Ms. Burns said she was very concerned about this and if she is sitting in this seat when times are flush again she would be willing to go back to voting the amounts separately. Dennis Friedman said that the numbers will continue to be kept as salaries and expenses. It was noted that the quarterly review process is a great process to continue to monitor expenditures by line item.
Voted - to recommend all the budgets as recommended by the Finance Director.
with the exception of the Harbormaster, Dispatch, Building, School and capital budgets.
Mr. Alexiades said that it is apparent that the proposed dispatch cut cannot be made at this time because the regional dispatch center cannot be implemented in time to make these cuts. He recommended a Dispatch budget of $444,744. Mr. Rabuffo said he was not convinced that there could not be some savings this coming year. Ms. Burns suggested that if the entire amount was voted then any savings could come back to the town.
Voted - to recommend a dispatch budget of $444,744.
Building Department
The Building Commissioner has recommended that the cuts be made in clerical staff, not the assistant building inspectors. Mr. Alexiades pointed out that the new computer system requires the staff. Mr. Paicos commented that the volume of permits is down and although code enforcement is great it cannot be done to the recommended extent in this environment.
Voted - to recommend a building department budget as recommend by the Finance Director.
The Harbormaster budget was discussed. The coverage recommended is from 6 am to midnight. The Board could discuss reallocating the permitting authority. The pump out boat policy was discussed. The pump out boat is an $11,000 item which is funded 75% by the state. In the last 3 years the Town has ramped up coverage. Ms. Lauter said that the deal a couple of years ago was that the old boat would be retained but no further money would go into it. The Board agreed that the Town is no longer able to offer the increasing level services that have offered in the past few years. Possibly some of the clerical work on permits, etc. could be relocated to another office.
Voted - to recommend the Harbormaster’s budget as recommended by the Finance Director.
Mr. Rabuffo said that he wanted to present a document which is an interim report of the Hingham Ad Hoc Committee on Tax Policy. He also presented a copy of the Moody’s Investors’ Service report relative to the BAN issue last December. Ms. Burns presented the Board with a piece for The Hingham Journal relative to making the recommendations on the budget. She explained that she wrote this because she felt that citizens would like to hear from the Board at this time. She said that of low taxes, no growth, and top line services – you can have two out of three. Expenses are growing more rapidly than the ability to fund them.
Personnel Issue
Mr. Paicos advised the Board that there is a sensitive situation in Police Department due to recent personnel issues there. He said he would like to accommodate a good employee by moving her somewhere she could succeed. This transfer is new ground and it is temporary. Both individuals will maintain the current grades and train each other. A permanent transfer would require approval to allow employees to work out of grade. That is the Personnel Board’s purview. The Personnel Board will be seeking an amendment to the Personnel By-law which would address this type of issue at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Paicos said the department heads are in a difficult position and these are difficult times which call for creative solutions.
Voted - to open the warrant for the 2009 Annual Town meeting and to insert the following articles:
Special Legislation – Regional Dispatch and
Special Legislation – Site Specific Liquor License.
Voted - to close the warrant for the 2009 Annual Town Meeting
Voted - to recommend that Louis Belknap re re-elected a member of the Committee to have charge of the income of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund for a term of three years.
Voted - to recommend that the Town, in accordance with, and to the extent only permitted by, General Laws, Chapter 91, Section 29, assume liability for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the improvement, development, maintenance and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tide waters, foreshores and shores along a public beach within the Town, in accordance with Section 11 of said Chapter 91, and that the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity to the Commonwealth assuming such liability.
Voted - to recommend that the Town confirm the choice by the Selectmen of Marjorie Mahoney as Director to serve for one year.
Voted - to recommend that the reports, if any of the committees be received and that all of said committees be continued, except that the Central Fire Station Building Committee be discharged with thanks.
Voted - to recommend that, in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, hapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, which allows the Town to establish departmental revolving funds, the Town authorizes the continuation of such a fund in the Building Department. Departmental receipts for building inspections performed by the Assistant Building Inspectors shall be credited to the fund. Moneys shall be spent primarily to compensate such inspectors for their services. The Building Commissioner shall be authorized to spend moneys from the fund. The amount that may be spent from the fund shall be limited to $350,000 during Fiscal Year 2010.
Voted - to recommend that the Town transfer $30,000 from the Waterways Fund to the Dredging Fund, such account to be used for the future dredging of Hingham Harbor, and the Town accept and credit said account with funds from State and Federal Governments for that purpose.
The Board voted by roll call vote to retire to executive session to discuss a real estate matter and not to return to open session this afternoon.
Mr. Rabuffo – yes
Mr. Riley – yes
Ms. Burns – yes
Open session adjourned 1:25 pm
Betty Foley, Clerk