Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
March 30, 2010
Regular Session 7:00 pm
Ms. Burns, Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley
Questions from the Public
Tory Dolan said she would like to work in the capacity of independent contractor and continue to serve as a Recreation Commission. Ms. Burns said that the matter was discussed on Friday morning and there was a decision that it was something the Board did not wish to pursue. Ms. Dolan requested the Board discuss the matter when she would be available to attend.
Harbor Geese Management Plan
Ms. Murphy said that the Harbor Management Task Force identified the Canada Geese as a problem at the harbor area. The Task Force looked into various approaches to controlling the geese and it was decided that hiring someone who owned a border collie who was experienced in chasing off the geese would be the best alternative. The Trustees of the Bathing Beach have agreed to the plan.
Various businesses and individual have offered to contribute to a gift fund to pay the cost of the service. Although DPW has worked very hard to provide receptacles for trash to keep the geese out it is also contemplated that there may be sufficient funds to purchase additional receptacles. The dog patrols would begin as soon as the geese begin to gather at the harbor, usually April. Things will slow down during the early summer and the need for patrol will increase again in August when the goslings begin to fly. Mr. Riley thanked the Task Force for their efforts and, in particular, thanked Susan Murphy for her efforts.
Voted - to endorse the Harbor Planning Task Force plan for geese management and establish a gift account for this purpose.
Easement on Turkey Hill
Ed Pitcovage of the Trustees of Turkey Hill informed the Board that last year the Trustees created a garden at Weir River Farm and then began selling the produce at the Farmers’ Market. In order to maintain and irrigate the garden the Trustees would like to establish and electrical connection by bringing power across Turkey Hill Road. Mr. Rabuffo asked if there was any alternative method of providing power. Mr. Pitcovage said he had investigated a small windmill which was expensive and a generator which was noisy. Mr. Riley said the preferred method of installation would be to bore a conduit under the roadway. He said he did not see a problem since there would be no further development on the property and he noted that there are no utilities on Turkey Hill Lane.
Voted - to approve the request of the Trustees of Reservations for a grant of location for an electrical connection and to place conduit under Turkey Hill Road. It is further noted that all costs of recording will be borne by the applicant and done according to the stipulations of the Department of Public Works. The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant will be charged with the task of marking the location of the electrical line.
The contractor will need to dig safe the location and marking the street will need to be done by either the Department of Public Works or the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant.
Policy Review
Mr. Becker explained that the existing computer use policy is very limited and did not envision the increased technology now available. He suggested that the Board consult counsel. David Basler has brought up the issue that there are things on their computers that people consider personal or private. Any device connected to the Town network is covered by the policy. Prohibited uses include hacking obscene material, gambling etc. The Board agreed to have the legal team look at the policy. Ms. Burns suggested that there be some training with the implementation of the policy.
The anti-harassment policy would designate the Assistant Town Administrator, the Director of Human Resources and a non-management female employee as people to whom employees could report incidents. Mr. Riley asked if anyone had any information on how the School administration handled the harassment issue. It was agreed that it would be best to get input from the School Department and buy in from Dr. Galo.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Paicos reported that the jake brake signs brought conflicting information . In Massachusetts you can have jake brake signs on non-state roads but these must be regulated through a by-law. He suggested that the signs go up anyway and that a by-law be put forth at next year’s annual town meeting. Mr. Rabuffo said this matter has caused some angst because it was thought that the Town was within its rights in putting up the signs. Mr. Paicos distributed a proposed chart of reorganization of the reporting relationships for certain departments.
Auditor’s Management Letter
Mr. Rabuffo explained that the Board had elected to embark on the audit process with the establishing of an interim audit committee. The firm selected was Powers and Sullivan and they have completed their first draft. The Interim Audit Committee sat down a week ago to review the draft letter.
Mr. Alexiades reviewed the comments. He said that in the future this meeting should take place in December. Typically these reports would be available within six months. Mr. Rabuffo said that they had handled some tough issues and have done it well. The level of detail was tremendous. Mr. Riley said he did not see anything earth shattering but it is the Board’s largest commitment to the town is to ensure the well being of the town. Mr. Riley thanked Mr. Rabuffo for following this issue. Ms. Burns said it gives a higher visibility to the excellent job that we do. The auditors questioned if there was a structure to bring information forward when there could be financial ramifications.
Selectmen Reports
Mr. Rabuffo reported there has been an outstanding issue on the lease of the alley way beside the Snug. Mr. Rabuffo said he called Mr. Brown and his attorney reported that the lease is being returned with the issues that they want to discuss. When the marked up copy is received the Board will discuss it.
Yesterday Mr. Rabuffo convened a meeting on the Ward Street Fields project and went through an exhaustive list of the outstanding issues. There is a zoning article on the warrant for the annual town meeting. Critical issues are how will the fields be used and by whom? This affects financial structure, the location, etc. There is a health concern that has come up and it has different answers from different federal agencies. Mr. Riley said he understood that the Recreation Commission would be reviewing the numbers to see if they work. His question was whether there was anyone with the expertise to determine if the 10 year plan is realistic to replace the artificial turf. There will be a meeting with Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Bosworth, and Mr. Alexiades to look at the hours of operation and traffic impacts. The quality of the turf is clearly an issue. Mr. Rabuffo said that the fact that someone would like to make such a generous donation to the town is great but the Board must be sure that we won’t be in trouble in ten years when we need to replace it. The Recreation Commission has reviewed some of the numbers and Mr. Alexiades and Mr. Rabuffo will follow up.
Mooring Field Optimization
Mr. Corson explained that since all the moorings have been removed for dredging there is an opportunity to replace the moorings within a particular structure and with precision. There are 231 moorings in total – 27 are Lincoln Maritime moorings and the remaining 204 are for the public. The plan has been being worked on since the beginning of December. This optimization plan will not allow everyone on the waiting list for moorings to get one but it will help.
Mr. Corson said the big change this year is that all moorings will have to be specifically located with a certain type of GPS. When mooring placement is done the harbormaster looks at the plan and places moorings in appropriate positions that, in most cases, are based on where they were in prior years. Mr. Riley asked if there was any issue as to the channel being deep enough to accommodate vessels of 30’ or more. Mr. Rabuffo expressed concern that there would be only one mooring capable of accommodating a vessel of that size. Mr. Amdur said the Harbor Development Committee had worked with the Harbormaster and had considerable input. He said the optimization plan for the harbor and Worlds End Is excellent. Being able to re-lay out the mooring field is a great opportunity which allowed people who have been waiting for a number of years to have an opportunity to get a permit in the inner harbor. Mr. Rabuffo asked if Lincoln Maritime had concerns. Ellen Dresser said that the Harbormaster had shared the information with them and they are pleased with the plan.
Voted - to approve the mooring optimization plan as submitted by the harbormaster with the understanding that Harbormaster will return if he judges the changes would warrant.
Mr. Corson said the Worlds End mooring field contained 24 moorings last year. Everyone who had a permit last year and applies for one this year will be renewed. Every mooring will have a specific
location; and additional moorings will be given to those on the waiting list. There are 30 moorings on the plans. There will be a limited number (1-3) of Town transient moorings for use of up to 14 days. The
number of moorings has been increased but there is still adequate space for rafting, etc. Ms. Burns noted that the town would own the tackle and asked if the fees would cover the cost of the moorings.
Mr. Rabuffo said that he was part of a group that had a mooring over there.
Dana Baxter asked if the same GPS equipment would be required in this field as well as in the inner harbor.
Voted - to approve the mooring optimization plan for the Worlds End mooring area as submitted by the Hingham Harbormaster. Mr. Rabuffo recused himself for purpose of this vote.
Voted - to reappoint William S. Reardon as Hingham Representative to the Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council.
Voted - to approve the request of the Planning Board to consult counsel as submitted.
Selectmen’s Reports
Mr. Rabuffo thanked those committees dealing with uncharted waters on the Ward St. Fields. Mr. Riley said the Advisory Committee voted favorably on the two articles relative to expanding the sewer in the Industrial Park. There has been a lot of interest those articles. Ms. Burns said the Farm Hills Association will be in next Tuesday at 6 to hear about the project prior to coming the Selectmen. The Fort Hill Street Veterans article will be voted on by the CPC within the next week. There was a meeting on this matter last week at the Thaxter Street Housing Development. Mr. Rabuffo said that at the recent Advisory Committee meeting Karen Johnson reported that the issues were narrowing and moving forward.
Meeting adjourned 9:20 pm.
Betty Foley, Clerk