Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2010
Regular Session 7:00 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
Comments from the Public
Scott Ford of the Historical Commission invited the Board and all citizens of the Town to the Lincoln Day celebration which will be held on Saturday, February 6th. He said the militia would muster around 10 and the ceremonies would begin at 11 am.
Voted - to approve the proclamation and proclaim Saturday, February 6 to be Lincoln Day in the Town of Hingham.
Appointment of Police Sergeants
Chief Mills recommended that David Petitti be appointed permanent sergeant and David Jones be appointed temporary sergeant. Ms. Burns noted that all the candidates interviewed at the recent Board meeting were excellent and it was a difficult choice but she would concur with the Chief’s recommendation. Mr. Rabuffo said that there were five talented people interviewed and he was quite encouraged by the diversity of the candidate pool. Mr. Riley echoed his colleagues’ sentiments as to the talent coming along.
Voted - to appoint David A. Pettiti permanent police sergeant, effective January 29, 2010.
Voted - to appoint David P. Jones temporary police sergeant, effective January 29, 2010.
Harbormaster
Mr. Corson said that he expected that the department would continue to serve the community and provide a safe place to enjoy the harbor, moorings etc. He said the Harbormaster’s office will continue to provide friendly faces on water, strong education on water and a good relationship with the boaters. Mr. Riley said he had the opportunity to work with Ken on the Harbor Task Force over the past couple of years and found him to be helpful and articulate. He noted that Ken also has a captain’s license and that is no mean achievement.
Voted - to appoint Kenneth Corson Harbormaster.
Ms. Burns noted that Mr. Corson is a sworn police officer and discussion has arisen over the harbormaster carrying weapons. She said that things have changed over the past ten years and the harbormaster is part of Homeland Security for the Port of Boston and the Town has signed an agreement with the Coast Guard as to its role as security for the port. Ms. Burns said she felt that the past discussion should be acknowledged and that because times have changed it is necessary to have weapons as a part of the harbormaster’s role. Mr. Rabuffo said it is obvious to him that with the activity and variety of law enforcement officials on the water it is important that our officials are ready to assist. Chief Mills said it is not his intent to train additional staff to be special police officers. There are three special police officers in the Harbormaster Department and he does not expect that number to increase.
Mr. Paicos said the Board was being asked to establish one fee and increase another fee. The larger question is whether or not the department can create enough income to become self sufficient. There is no reason to delay the decision on the request to establish a fee for floats. It is generated by the necessity to do work and that the fees should reflect that work. The floats require inspection. The second request is that the Board increase the existing mooring fees from $7 per foot to $8 per foot. Last week the board changed the length of boat that requires a license.
Mr. Corson said that increasing the mooring permit fee to $8 per foot would make Hingham’s fee comparable to those of Duxbury and Manchester by the Sea which are on the higher end of the scale. Last year there was a significant fee increase from $2 to $7 per foot. Mr. Amdur, speaking as an individual, said in his opinion the opportunity for increased income is in the area of floats that are not currently paying a fee. A comment was made that a float fee would be more understandable to a boater than an increase in the mooring fee for the second year in a row. Mr. Amdur recommended a deferral of the increase in mooring fees for a year. Ms. Burns agreed that she, too, had concerns about increasing of mooring fees again this year. Mr. Riley said that boaters as a group benefit from the harbormaster and that they should bear the cost of the department. The Board reached the consensus that it would postpone any action on increase of mooring fees for a year.
Mr. Corson said the harbormaster is responsible for the 10A floats – inspection, permitting and chasing them when they break free. There are roughly 50 floats ranging from something people swim from to those that extend into deep water. Those under C. 91 licenses would not be affected. In Scituate or Marshfield a small dock costs about $150 per season. Under the Harbormaster’s proposal the fee structure would be commensurate with the size of the float or dock.
There are potentially three marinas (as described under waterways regulations) containing 10 or more boats or over 200,000 sq. feet. The Yacht Club also fits into that category. Mr. Amdur said he felt the fee for the 10A floats was reasonable. The commercial marinas can pass the cost along to the slip owner; the yacht club can pass the additional cost along to members; the Lincoln Maritime Center could bear the cost. Jack Ryan of Otis Street said that as a residential float owner he feels this to be unfair. There are many Chapter 91 owners who pay a one-time fee and it is his opinion that it would seem more equitable to have a flat fee for residential floats. Ms. Burns said that according to the law the fee is to cover the cost associated with the issuance and maintenance of permits. As of this moment there is not sufficient statistical evidence that commercial marinas cost more. If anything, residential could be more expensive than commercial.
Voted - to set the moored docks fee to $1.50 per square foot.
Other Revenue Enchancing Opportunities
Ms. Burns said she had divided the ideas in Mr. Paicos’ memo to short, medium and long term opportunities. The big numbers are the .75% meals tax which is estimated to generate $225,000 per year after the $170,000 the first year; the transfer station fee; departmental fee increases; revolving account cost recovery; and the regional dispatch center. Departmental fee increases are in process. The Building Department fees have been updated; the Planning Board has increased fees; the Fire Department fees are in the process of updating; and the Health Dept is currently undergoing a fee review. As the departments update fees the fees are being posted on the website.
Ms. Burns asked her fellow board members if they had thought about the meals tax. Mr. Rabuffo said he had some reservation about instituting a new tax on restaurants who had been struggling of late. Mr. Riley thanked the state for offering the town the opportunity to be the bad guy. The Hingham restaurateurs have told him that they felt that this may make people think twice about going out to dinner. He said that he would, however, like to see the data. The two big ticket items for revenue enhancement are the meals tax and the transfer station fee. The meals tax would be paid in large part by people who are not Hingham residents. Ms. Burns suggested rather than allowing this increased revenue flow into the general fund the money could go into a stabilization fund that could be used to buy down the cost of capital projects.
Mr. Rabuffo would like to know more about it and what the impact would be. Mr. Paicos said the reality of a tax of less than 1% and a local option, is something that needs to be considered. What does the local business community think about this? The smaller restaurants are the ones that would be concerned and the problem is one of perception. Mr. Paicos said good taxes are progressive and efficient. The meals tax is both. He said from the point of view of classical tax theory this is great. More information is needed about what other communities are doing and some feedback from restaurant owners would be helpful. Mr. Riley asked if it was possible to direct this revenue to a special fund. Mr. Paicos said Town Meeting can direct the money to a special fund.
The Board discussed the possibility of a transfer station fee. It was the consensus that the Long Range Waste Committee should look at concerns, possibilities and design options for discussion. The concept requires a lot of work to find what will and will not work. The Board instructed Mr. Paicos to look into obtaining bids for the outsourcing of the Transfer Station and Tree and Park. The Long Range Waste Committee will come into a meeting soon.
Reports
The departmental budgets have been sent to the Advisory Committee. Mr. Paicos met with the Advisory Committee on revenue ideas. Mr. Rabuffo said it was thought that the Fire Department needed to make a statement in support of the replacement of boilers at Thaxter Park. Mr. Riley said there had been a productive meeting with everyone who would be involved in the creation of the South Hingham Overlay District. The district will be confined to the industrial park areas with no exceptions. Mr. Riley also reported that he had met with CPC last night and there will be no open space acquisitions this year so the warrant articles will be historical restorations and possibly some housing.
Voted - to install a new crosswalk at 367 Main Street as recommended by the Traffic Committee
Voted - to open the warrant for the 2010 annual town meeting, to insert one zoning article which seeks to establish a district in which certain lighting structures may be provided and to close the warrant for the 2010 annual town meeting.
Voted - to approve the minutes of December 1, 7, 9 and 19, 2009.
Voted - to renew the Auctioneer’s License of Scott McCulloch, to conduct auctions at Broad Cove Ballroom, 20 Broad Cove Road.
Voted- to renew the Second-Hand and/or Second-Hand Precious Metals Dealer’s License for Norman McCulloch, d/b/a Antiques of Hingham, 20 Broad Cove Road, Hingham.
Meeting adjourned 10:10 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk