Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
December 7, 2009
Regular Session 7:35 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
Reorganization of Land Use Departments to a Department of Community Planning
Ms. Sneath reported that she had been working with Mr. Riley and Mr. Paicos to review the organization for the land use boards over the past six months. By taking the five departments and coordinating them under one manager who reports to the town administrator there would be an improved work environment for the employees of those departments as well as some efficiencies and better communication. This consolidation may also save the Town some money. Mr. Paicos explained that the policy boards will continue to operate the same way they do today. The autonomy of those boards is exactly the same this is simply an administrative change, not a policy change. Ms. Sneath said that a large project will be much easier to deal with and there will be better communication between the boards. This arrangement will be better for the Town in negotiating with the applicant and there will not be the ambiguity on which board should be approached first, second or third. There have been savings already and there should be more savings over time but that is not likely to happen immediately.
Mr. Riley thanked Ms. Sneath, Mr. Bickford and Mr. Paicos for their efforts. He said this change would eliminate the duplication of information among boards.
Voted - to approve the reorganization of the land use departments to a Department of Community Planning as outlined in the December 1, 2009 letter to the Board.
Request for Qualifications for Permitting of Affordable Housing on Selectmen’s Parcel
Mr. Rabuffo said the Affordable Housing Trust is trying to provide a turnkey set up for a developer. The worst case scenario is that more than $100,000 would be spent and the Town could be holding the bag until a developer steps in. Mr. O’Brien explained that the HAFT has total control to stop the flow of money. The issues surrounding this parcel include that Beal Street has been very sensitive with regard to the traffic, the economy has changed significantly and concern for the ACEC and the Bare Cove Corridor. He said there is no obligation to spend a dollar; the obligation is to assemble a team, come back to the Board. These funds are from the Affordable Trust. There is also the opportunity to apply for technical grants. The Town was awarded $38,000 in a grant and that paid for the 21E and the topography. Mr. Riley said that as a developer he would jump at something like this. He said this is a good project and much needed. O’Brien noted that having this prepared will allow the Town to get a better deal and appropriate subsidies when we are ready to go.
Voted - to authorize the HAHT to finalize and issue the RFQ for permitting of affordable housing on the Selectmen’s parcel.
Mr. Paicos said that the Rowing Club had to leave the Country Club because of the new caterer. When it is not the rowing season this is not an official organization of the school and, therefore, cannot occupy Town space such as the former Tree and Park Barn. Mr. Paicos suggested that the club become a program of the Recreation Commission. If it is a Recreation program it can occupy Town space. This will most likely not be a huge change but it would be a short term solution, i.e., one winter.
Voted - to approve Request for Counsel as submitted by the School Department.
Redirection of Funds for Skateboard Park in DPW complex
Ms. Burns said during the discussion of the DPW Complex there was an amendment made from the floor of Town Meeting to include design and engineering for a skateboard park and that was, in fact, done. When the funds were actually voted to build the complex the skateboard park was not mentioned in the vote but it was mentioned in the comment. The DPW is completed but the skate board park has not been built. If this were not built there would be $175,000 turned back to the Town. The skateboard advocates have been very patient and the DPW Building Committee designed a facility that they felt would be an asset to the town. Mr. Paicos noted that skateboard parks pose a significant liability to the Town because of the nature of the park. The second issue is long term maintenance – can we afford to keep expanding facilities when we cannot maintain the facilities that we have? Ms. Burns remarked that since this arose from the floor of Town Meeting it did not go through the usual amount of consideration normally given such a recommendation. She noted that failure to follow through on this will disappoint a number of skateboarders.
Mr. Rabuffo said the Board should get this into the public domain and to make sure that the Committee got everything it needed. Moving this money to the reserves should not happen without a full discussion of the committee’s comments. He suggested that, out of respect to the town meeting process, this matter should be discussed at a future meeting.
Valet Parking in the Shipyard
Mike Fitzpatrick said that some of the restaurant tenants had requested some valet parking on Shipyard Drive. Two months ago there was a meeting on site and a letter was submitted requesting valet parking spaces. These spaces would adjacent to the building directly on the waterfront. Mr. Fitzpatrick said that the parking in the larger lot is closer to the other businesses. There would be no reason to put this into effect before the restaurant opened.
Voted - to designate three (3) parking spaces on Shipyard Drive as designated on the attached plan as “valet parking only between the hours of 5pm and 11 pm.”
Approval of commercial tenants in the Shipyard
Hal Davis explained that TIF agreements outline partnerships between the state, the tenant and the community. TIF agreements must be for businesses in Economic Target Areas and about 65% of the communities in the Commonwealth area Economic Target Areas. The Shipyard TIF was designed to attract new investment at the Shipyard. Under this agreement tenants are required to come seek certification of the Board of Selectmen. The advantage to the tenant is that they will be able to get a 5% tax credit on leasehold improvements. The advantage to the Town is new investment in what was a blighted area. Mr. Davis said that the state Economic Assistance Coordinating Council is scheduled to meet on December 22. After that time it is likely that new legislation would make it more difficult for retail businesses to qualify for the program.
The businesses seeking approval are Old Navy, Sleepy’s, Vitamin Shoppe, Patriot Cinemas, Pizzapalooza, Supercuts, Panera Bread, Fresh Market and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Voted - to approve 1.) Samuels & Associates Hingham LLC as the successor Developer under the Agreement and its certified project relating to the construction and equipping of common area improvements at the Launch, 2.) the certified projects of Old Navy, the Vitamin Shoppe, Patriot Cinemas, Sleep’s, Pizzapalozza, Supercuts, Panera Bread, Fresh Market and Bed, Bath & Beyond (collectively with Samuels, the “Applicants”) consisting of leasehold improvements and equipment 3.) the Town Administrator or his designee to take such other action as may be necessary to obtain approval of the Applicants’ approval of their certified projects by the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council.
Selectmen and Town Administrator Reports
Mr. Rabuffo said he has had a number of discussions with a variety of people regarding Ward Street. There will be a meeting on this subject on Wednesday at 11 am as well as a meeting on next Monday.
Mr. Riley said the Harbor Task Force had another great meeting. There were two members of the Advisory Committee there. Ms. Burns said she was curious about making the Mobil Station area Herbert Foss Park. Mr. Riley remarked that there are three areas that should be brought into one – Whitney Wharf, Veterans Park and Mobil Station. It might be possible to locate the whole thing at the former Mobil Station. The Task Force is looking at the zoning to see what revenue generating ideas could happen down there. The parcels, both Town and privately owned, are under very restrictive zoning. There are plans to present something to this town meeting.
Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk