Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2009
Regular Session 6:30 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
The Board voted to adjourn to executive session for discussion of collective bargaining.
Mr. Rabuffo – yes
Ms. Burns – yes
The Board resumed open session at 7:30 pm.
Chief Duff explained that the Fire Department has been actively pursuing grants for equipment, vehicles, etc. Some time ago Lt. Keyes and Krauss approached the Chief with a request to submit an application for thermal imaging equipment. The application was successful and the Town now has three cameras, one in each station. The Department will be able to get three cameras due to this Homeland Security Grant. Unfortunately, the federal government did not fund additional money for training. The department has also put in for two other grants. Lt. Keyes noted that there are not many fire grants available. Chief Duff mentioned that the department also received a $2,500 grant to update the emergency management plan.
Reserve Fund Transfers
Snow and Ice – Mr. Paicos said the account is $727,777 over budget. The additional maintenance due to snow and ice activity should be in the snow budget. The rolling average is somewhere about $450,000-$500,000. The budget has been kept at a flat $250,000. Mr. Paicos noted that the general modus operandi has been to expect that there would be sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund to deal with the request for additional funds. If the funds are appropriated in the snow and ice budget and it is not necessary and it does not drop back into free cash. Mr. Paicos said that proper budgeting is a forced form of discipline. Mr. Sylvester explained that the Public Works Expense lines were over due to line painting which includes crosswalks, centerlines, etc.
Ms. Burns pointed out that there are several accounts which were not overspent and this is not indicative of overspending the budget but an ineffective budgeting process. The department will return in excess of 2% to the town. $100,000 will be returned to the general fund between the transfer and Department of Public Works budgets.
Voted - to approve a transfer from the Public Works Salaries Account to the Public Works Expenses Account in the amount of $23,739.
Voted - to recommend a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Department of Public Works Equipment Rental/Leasing Account in the amount of $727,777.
Veterans benefits – The shortfall of $4,000 is a result of Mike Cunningham doing his job very well. Ms. Burns commented that this is one account that she is always happy to see go up. These are needy people who are owed this money by the Town and the State. She said that Mike has done yeoman’s work on this and Jon Asher has spent hours helping Mike work his way through the paperwork.
Voted - to approve transfers from the Veterans Services Expenses Account, $2,338 to the Veterans Benefits Account and $226 to the Veterans Salaries Account.
Voted - to receommend a transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Veterans’ Services Benefits Account in the amount of $4,000.
Voted - to approve a transfers from the Sewer Department MWRA Assessment Account as follows:
$4,130 to Medicare Taxes Account
$26,213 to Employee Benefits Account
$32,865 to the Hull Intermunicipal Agreement Account
July 9, 2009
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Voted - To approve a transfer from the Bathing Beach Salaries Account to the Bathing Beach Expenses Account in the amount of $1,232.
Worlds End Culvert
Mr. Paicos said he had been unable to reach Mr. Sloan at the Trustees of the Reservations. The ACOE originally approved removal of the culvert but then had second thoughts, as did DEP. If the culvert were removed what would happen with the channelization of the ocean bed? The technical experts have been going back and forth on this. Mr. Paicos will call the Trustees of Reservations and try to reach someone else for an update.
Right of First Refusal for Loring Hall
During the permitting process of the Shipyard there were concerns raised that the theatre in the Shipyard might eventually supplant the Loring Hall. As part of the permitting process the Town negotiated for a right of first refusal on the building. This would give the Town a voice in what would happen to the building.
Voted - to sign a Right of First Refusal Agreement for the property known as “Loring Hall”
Ms. Burns said there are only two articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting.
Voted - to sign the warrant for the August 3, 2009 Special Town Meeting.
Voted - to grant a temporary liquor license to the House of Lutheran Church for their annual Oktoberfest to be held September 26 and September 27, 2009.
Voted - to appoint the following to the Hingham 375th Anniversary Committee:
Robin Stuart-Tilley
Leah M. Godfrey
Selectmen Reports
Mr. Rabuffo reported that the second annual Hersey Trophy baseball game took place on Sunday. Mr. Rabuffo and Tom Hoffman did the announcing. Gary Nisbet and Suzanne Buchannan arranged the game. The Audit RFP resulted in six respondents and hopefully the responses will be reviewed soon and the finalists chosen. On Monday Mr. Paicos and Mr. Rabuffo went to the Planning Board in response to an invitation to discuss the process to address the South Hingham Overlay District and the potential for economic development. Dick Cook advised that in 1985 the issues were traffic, sewer and water. The issues remain much the same but there may be resolutions that were not available at that time. Other towns that abut Hingham are in similar situations and the issues may require joint efforts on behalf of the area towns. At this time there is no study for the Cushing Street corridor. The focus is the area between the Derby Street Shoppes up to the industrial park. Mr. Paicos said there has been some discussion about re-working the Exit 15 interchange but the only person from the town who has been given any information is the town engineer. Apparently the stimulus money will provide a chance to address some of the traffic issues at that interchange.
The Board voted to adjourn to executive session to discuss litigation and not to return to open session this evening.
Mr. Rabuffo – yes
Mr. Riley – yes
Ms. Burns – yes
Open session adjourned 8:40pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk