Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2010
Regular Session 7:00 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo
Public Hearing Hingham Beer Works Common Victualler All Alcoholic Beverages License
Jeffrey Tocchio explained that his client would be located in the Hingham Shipyard near the water. The licensee has four other licenses in Boston, Lowell and Salem. The staff will be TIPS certified since this is the standard procedure in all of their other locations. There will be piped music and, possibly jazz for Sunday brunches in the adjacent grassed area. The company currently has 300 employees spread over the other stores. There will probably be an additional 60-70 employees at the Hingham location. A summer opening is planned. Ms. Burns reminded Mr. Slesar that he would need to apply for an entertainment license for live music.
Voted - to approve the application of Slesar Bros. Brewing Company, d/b/a Hingham Beer Works, Joseph Slesar, Manager, 18 Shipyard Drive, No. K, for a Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License, subject to the approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and all Town Boards. It is also understood that these premises will be constructed according to the plan submitted.
Fresh Market Retail Package Store License
Mr. Tocchio said this is a 20,864 sq. ft. specialty grocer. The company was founded in 1982 and currently has 95 stores predominantly in the southeastern United States. The district manager is Daniel Watkins Jr and he has five stores with beer and wine under his control. Mr. Watkins will be at the store 1 -2 days per week. The hours of operation will be 9-9 Monday through Saturday and Sundays 10-8.
Voted - to approve the application of The Fresh Market of Massachusetts, Inc., d/b/a The Fresh Market, 11 Essington Drive,, Daniel J. Watkins, Jr. Manager for a Retail Package Goods Store All Alcoholic Beverages License, subject to the approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and all Town Boards. It is also understood that these premises will be constructed according to the plan submitted. This license will be revisited in six months for appointment of a manager who will be there full time.
MMA Essay Contest Winner
Ms. Burns recognized Colin Dale, a student at Hingham Middle, won the Massachusetts Municipal Association Annual Essay Contest. He read is prize winning essay to the meeting.
Voted - The Board of Selectmen delares Thursday as Colin Dale in recognition of his being selected as the essay contest winner.
Warrant Articles
Voted - to recommend the Building Department Revolving Fund with a limit of $250,000 which may be spent during Fiscal Year 2011.
Voted - to recommend that the Town assume liability for work performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation for improvement, maintenance and protection of certain tidal and non-tidal areas within the Town.
Voted - to recommend that the Light Plants Receipts be approved and that the amount of $450,000 be transferred to the General Fund to reduce the tax rate.
Voted - to transfer the amount of $29,453 to the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant in order to return investment income earned by the town on funds invested for the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant.
Voted - to recommend a transfer of $111,486 from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of reducing the FY2011 tax rate.
Voted - to support the article setting terms for the Lincoln Apartments LLC Board of Managers
as written.Voted - to support the article amending certain of the Town Clerk’s fees as written.
Voted - to recommend an increase in the Treasurer Collector Demand Fee to a $15 fee.
Ms. Burns said it has become apparent that the Town needs to do a significant amount of research on the subject of Transfer Station fees so the Board has requested the Long Range Waste Disposal Committee to look into the issue.
Chamber of Commerce Report on Derby Street Corridor
Peter Forman of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce said the Chamber had spent more time on this report than originally expected. He said the outlook for South Shore is very optimistic for the next 10-20 years. This optimism is due to the mixed use developments that have been approved and are, in some cases, already underway. Mr. Forman said there is an advantage for large Boston corporations to expand to South Shore because of the existence of a separate power grid which gives a capacity to move operations if necessary. The trend is for companies to want to be closer to workforce supply and the Derby Street Corridor provides that opportunity. South Shore Hospital is one of the strongest economic engines for the South Shore area and all the services cannot be contained in the hospital. Proximity to Southfield could be an advantage; South Shore Industrial Park is an asset; and the Serono and Blue Cross area is growing. When preparing this the Chamber tried not to get too specific however it is clear that it makes little sense to look at this area for residential. Mr. Forman said the option of retail was investigated. While the Derby Street Shoppes are very successful but it is doubtful that another large retail project in the area would fare as well. It is the Chamber’s conclusion that the area is best suited for light manufacturing, health or green industry sectors and professional office space.
The Chamber’s recommendations include review the zoning to accommodate people coming into town, infrastructure improvements, a review of traffic needs with state and federal officials, and streamlining of the permitting process to accommodate growth.
Ms. Burns said there is readiness but is there something proactive that can be done. State has a public private partnership that acts as a clearing house for site selectors who are looking for land. Mr. Forman said he is hoping the business community will get into regional branding and some form of marketing of the South Shore. Mr. Rabuffo thanked the Chamber and the Hingham Light Plant for their work on this report. He urged everyone to join hands and work with the state officials.
Voted - to support the warrant article to petition for special legislation to permit the South Hingham Industrial Park and Office Park area to join the MWRA sewer system.
Voted - to recommend the warrant article to form the South Hingham Industrial Park Area Sewer District and place that district under the Board of Sewer Commissioners and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for design and engineering of said district.
Mr. Paicos noted that the other issue in that area is transportation. He asked that the Board designate the Town’s transportation priority.
Voted - to designate the Derby Street corridor as the Town’s transportation priority.
Skateboard Park at the Department of Public Works Complex
There was a specific town meeting vote to build a skateboard park as a part of the project. Mr. Garrity said that approximately two or three years ago when it became apparent that the project would be on budget a sum of $175,000 was allocated for construction of the skateboard park. The Committee feels the skateboard park would be a nice asset for the Town and it is a good project. It is also the Committee’s opinion it would be necessary to take this back to town meeting to eliminate the skateboard park.
Raymond Estes commented that Town Meeting voted to build this facility and there should be some other way found to bolster reserves. Nancy Bettinger said she proposed the original amendment to the Town Meeting article six or seven years ago and she feels that failing to fund this sends a message that these kids’ interests matter less. Phil Shute also voiced support for the skateboard park.
Mr. Rabuffo said it is about the money.
Mr. Paicos said the skateboard park is an expense and the Town cannot afford to maintain the fields and recreational facilities that it already owns. The liability question is also a problem.
Mr. Garrity said there would likely be no maintenance expenditures for the first 10-15 years. He did not know if an insurance policy rider would be necessary. He also noted that experience says these parks are not any more dangerous than any other field. Several residents spoke in favor of building the park.
Mr. Rabuffo said that this was a useful discussion and the Board had gotten some information. There are good questions raised and there are questions about insurance liability. He commented that he would like to get answers to some of these questions. Ms. Burns said that she feels that things are not quite as dire as there were when this subject originally came up. She remarked that she is not feeling the pressure enough that she would want to go to town meeting to take this away. The Board agreed to revisit the subject at another meeting.
Harbor/Barnes Historic District
Mr. Macmillan reported that there is an article in the warrant this year to create the Barnes/Old Colony Hill Historic District. All the property in this area was owned by Alfred Hersey or Charles Barnes and they were the people with the greatest impact on this area. Up until the close of the 19th century they were the most active and wealthiest residents of the town. Mr. Macmillan noted that this area would be eligible for the National Register of Historic Districts.
Mr. Rabuffo said the Selectmen have always unanimously supported Historic Districts when proposed.
Ms. Burns said she has always admired the houses in the proposed district but expressed concern about the uninhabited parcels on the harbor. The area east of where this district begins has businesses. If it is a historic district one looks at what is around it to see what is appropriate. Ms. Burns noted that there is nothing historic on the water side and very little historic on the other side of the road. She asked how the Districts Commission would make decisions on what would go in there except on the basis of personal preference. Several residents from the proposed district expressed concerns about a variety of regulations in a historic district.
Voted - to incorporate a parcel of land consisting of approximately 15.37 acres off Beal Street formerly owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MassHighway Department, into Bare Cove Park.
Voted - to grant the request of the Conservation Commission to consult counsel as submitted.
Voted - to grant Lynn Putigrano a temporary liquor license for a Bridal Shower, at Old Derby Academy on April 18, 2010
Mr. Rabuffo said he had been unable to connect with Mr. Bosworth on the management of the fields but he felt that since the software for scheduling fields would not be available for use until August there was no reason to delaying the moving scheduling responsibility until later in the Spring.
Voted - to grant permission to the Recreation Commission to schedule the Carlson Fields.
Meeting adjourned 10:30 p.m.
Betty Foley, Clerk