Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2010
Regular Session 7:05 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
Mr. Reeves presented the Board with suggestions for budgetary cuts focusing on top administrators and the police department overtime.
Grant of Location – North Street and Mill Street
Mr. Fernandes explained that the Town would install the conduit prior to each utility pulling the wires for its own service. Ms. Burns noted that this project was funded in part through Community Preservation Funds as approved by Town Meeting. The work has been started and it is hoped that the work will be completed prior to July 1st. Mr. Riley reported that a large segment of the funding came from money obtained as mitigation from the developers of the Hingham Shipyard. He said this portion of North Street
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to Comcast of Massachusetts I, Inc. to install approximately 2,538 feet of conduit (6) Hand Holes in North Street between South Street and Mill Street, as shown on plan marked Proposed Cable Conduit Utility Plan, Town of Hingham DPW, dated 12/15/09, revised 1/10/10.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to Hingham Municipal Light Plant to install approximately 8,486 feet of conduit (11) Hand Holes and (1) 14’ x 8’ x8’, from the corner of Water Street and Mill Street to the corner of North and Station Streets. It will also encompass Mill Street, North Street from Summer Street to Station Street, and Cottage Street up to House #7, as shown on plans marked Proposed Utility Electric Plan, Town of Hingham DPW, dated 12/15/09 and Plan HMLP No. 2010-01, Dated 1-11-10.
Voted - to approve a Grant of Location to Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 2,586 feet of conduit (6) Hand Holes in North Street from Station Street to Mill Street, as shown on plans marked Proposed Telephone Utility Plan, Town of Hingham DPW, dated 12/15/09 and Plan #12/09-38, dated 12-18-2009.
Grant of Location – Saw Mill Pond Road
This roadway was private when the original utility installation was made. The new conduit will allow offering the new Verizon FIOS service in the neighborhood. It is hoped that this work will be done in the spring. It will not be necessary to cut the road since last year a dead ended pipe was placed in the roadway previously.
Voted - to grant Verizon New England Inc. permission to maintain underground conduits and manholes, on Saw Mill Pond Road, with the wires and cable placed therein, which were being maintained in and under such private way at the time of its acceptance of a public way. Plan marked VERIZON 08/09-15 dated 8-14-2009.
Voted - approve a Grant of Location to Verizon New England Inc. to install and maintain approximately 2,282 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and 10 hand holes from Pole 14/24/1 Charles Street then along Saw Mill Pond Road.
Selectmen’s Budget
Mr. Paicos explained that the budget approved at last year’s Annual Town Meeting did not show the COLA . The revised recommended budget as submitted this evening is a 4.8% reduction. The Board discussed a cut of $250 per Board member. Mr. Riley said he could go either way but felt that the Board could cut its salary. Mr. Rabuffo said that if the budgets were further squeezed this would allow further cuts later in the budget cycle.
Voted - to ask the Personnel Board to adjust the stipend for the Board of Selectmen down $250 per selectmen.
Permanent Audit Committee
Mr. Rabuffo explained that the temporary audit committee recommended the formation of a permanent audit committee. This committee would be independent of the management of the town and would be authorized to examine those areas of the town that might be appropriate. Mr. Riley thanked Mr. Rabuffo for his efforts in this matter. Mr. Paicos complimented the committee on its work and noted that there are not many towns in the state that have standing audit committees.
The Board reviewed a proposed warrant article to establish an Audit Committee. Ms. Burns suggested that the Board and Moderator should not work as a body. She also suggested that the charter be reviewed every three years rather than every year. The charter does not change but the scope of work may change
Voted - to include the recommended article in the warrant for the 2010 Annual Town Meeting.
Selectmen/Town Administrator Reports
Mr. Paicos reported that he met with the E911 coordinators regarding the grant for combined dispatch this morning. They have great concern that two of the communities have not yet signed on for this project. The grant consultant is also somewhat behind on the reporting requirements. The team will come out here for the next month and there will be monthly meetings from there on. The commission is very concerned that these dispatch projects succeed. The architect, grant manager and electronics expert have all been hired. The owners project manager proposals were opened today and should be signed next week. Mr. Paicos pointed out that once three towns have signed the grants are guaranteed and, if need be, we can substitute another community very quickly. Mr. Paicos said that he would reach out to some neighboring communities and ask them to put an article on their annual town meeting warrant this year.
Mr. Rabuffo said there had been some emails about the dog Gabriella questioning whether the dog had been adopted from the facility. The Animal Control Officer reported that the dog is still in the control of the New York facility.
Ward Street Fields
Mr. Tocchio said that his group had put together the permitting packages for the zoning process. The Board has previously voted to support this in principle. This is a gift with no consideration except the scheduling of Lacrosse during the spring season. The gift will cover the cost of construction; the fee structure is such that it is self sustaining; all permit related consultants will be funded by the donor; there will be a development agreement in place before construction begins; and there will be no bubble as previously suggested.
The Recreation Commission did vote to allow this to going forward. Ms. Burns advised that she had asked the Recreation Commission to look at the financials. Mr. Rabuffo asked if the group had discussions on how to communicate with the neighborhood.
Mr. Riley said he is comfortable with the information provided. Initially he felt that was an appearance that the proponents were trying to circumvent the process. The majority of this process was created by town meeting vote. One concern was the late arrival on financials. The concerns were forwarded to the proponents and the recreation commission.
Mr. McKinnion said he had seen the email. He explained that he is familiar with the four turf fields in Braintree and the costs there are very much in line with those provided to the Board. One of the concerns expressed was if the finances of the project would be impacted to the point where the project would not be self sustaining if the lights were not approved. Mr. McKinnon said construction would likely not be started before town meeting.
Scott Bosworth, Chair of the Recreation Commission, said he and others on the commission felt the projections were very conservative. It is their opinion that there would be sufficient revenue for maintenance and trust fund.
Voted - to authorize the Ward Street Turf Field Fund to proceed with permitting the project via the special permit application submitted to this Board and to pursue any other necessary permits necessary for this application.
Voted - to approve the request of Hingham Sports Partnership for temporary liquor license for their Annual Comedy Night to be held April 11,2010 at the Loring Theater.
Voted - to renew the Weekday Entertainment License of B E & E Inc, d/b/a The Snug, 116 North Street for Juke Box – Solo Artist and/or trio playing Irish Music. Monday through Saturday from 8:00 PM to Midnight.
Selectmen’s Reports
Mr. Rabuffo reported that the library is contemplating an annual auction and dinner to be scheduled in late April. He also said he had drafted a letter in response to the Hingham Journal of the Skateboard Park. Mr. Riley said the Harbor Task Force met again last night to work on an overlay plan incorporating the use of public and/or private property for use as a marina or restaurant. The audience at these meetings is getting larger and the task force welcomes the input.
Meeting adjourned 9:15 pm.
Betty Foley, Ckerk