Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2010
Regular Session 7:00 pm
Mr. Rabuffo, Mr. Riley, Ms. Burns
Questions/Comments from the Public
Peter Forman invited the Board to a special event on Thursday, September 23 for a luncheon when the Governor will present a special award to the Town of Hingham, particularly the Planning and Zoning Board, for the streamlined approach to the development in South Hingham for the Bone and Muscle Center. This is the 2010 South Shore Chamber local public service award.
Mr. Riley recused himself from the meeting.
Public Hearing/Grant of Location on Parker Drive
Mr. Tokadjian explained that a request had been received from the homeowner at 10 Parker Drive to remove the pole and wires in front of his home. The applicant is fully funding the project and the Light Plant will bear no part of the expense.
Voted - to approve the petition of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, Plan No. 0910A, for the installation of a conduit and manhole system on Parker Driveway to remove the existing poles and overhead wires and replace them with an underground system of approximately 350 feet of underground conduit in Parker Driveway, from the corner of Malcolm Street to the corner of Cushing Avenue. The duct bank is to be installed under the roadway according to the requirements of the Department of Public Works.
Mr. Riley rejoined the meeting.
Reports
Mr. Rabuffo said the Town Hall Open House is scheduled for September 28 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.
The Board will be posted for a special meeting on that day. The agenda will to be to answer questions from the public at the Open House. Mr. Rabuffo also noted that next Saturday the closing ceremonies for the 375th Anniversary year will take place.
Boston Golf – Change of Manager
The new manager has been working at Boston Golf for eight years. She has had both Serve Safe training and TIPS training. Initially Ms. Patterson was John Minnick's assistant and she has moved on.
Voted - to approve the change of manager request of Maxx, LLC d/b/a Boston Golf All Alcoholic Beverages License from Malorie Haslett to Robyn M. Patterson.
Debt Refunding Authorization
There has been some discussion on how the Town should be handling its debt. Ms. Montgomery said the Town issued $42 million in debt in 2002. Capital Market Advisors has indicated that the time is favorable to re-fund. The annual savings would be between $ 70,000 and $80,000 for a total of $985,000 over the next 12 years. In the eight years since the debt was originally issued the Town has paid off a significant portion of that debt. Sixty-one percent of the reduction of interest must go to the state but the town will net $985,000 over 12 years.
Voted - that in order to reduce interest costs, the Treasurer is authorized to provide for the sale and issuance of refunding bonds under G.L. c.44, Sec. 21A to refund all or any portion of the remaining principal of and redemption premium and interest or any of the Town's $42, 155,000 General Obligations Bonds (Municipal Purpose Loan of 2002) outstanding as of the date of this vote, provided that no such refunding bonds shall be issued under this vote unless and until the final interest rate (s) and other terms of such refunding bonds have been approved by this Board.
News from Beacon Hill – Representative Garrett Bradley and Rick Collins
Representative Bradley recapped state funding over the past two years. Because the Town made an investment in the schools it was able to recoup some of that investment. Over the past few months Hingham has received a grant for the regional dispatch center and the grant for the Bone and Muscle Center. The President passed the Education and Jobs Bill which will result in an increase of $326,000. This money will come directly to the Town through C.70.
Representative Bradley explained that school districts can charge qualifying expenses dating back to August 1. He did note that the federal stimulus money is gone next year and there will be a significant hole in the budget because of that. This $326,000 could be held over and used to help soften the impact. Mr. Rabuffo expressed the Board's appreciation of the Representative and Senator's efforts on behalf of the Town. Ms. Burns asked if the Education and Jobs money which is coming through C. 70 must be used for employment. Rep. Bradley said that qualifying expenses are administrative and personnel costs. Mr. Rabuffo noted that the Representative's counsel about applying this money to next year was excellent.
Police Sergeant Appointment
Chief Mills reminded the Board that in mid August that the Board interviewed two candidates for police sergeant. In addition to those candidates the Board had previously interviewed David Jones who is currently serving as a temporary sergeant. Mr. Riley thanked the chief for presenting great candidates for consideration. Mr. Riley encouraged the candidates not chosen to continue on in their endeavors. Ms. Burns said she was quite impressed with the candidates interviewed in August but she was also very much aware of the qualities displayed by Dave Jones in the interviews last winter. Mr. Rabuffo said the most encouraging part of the process was the enthusiasm with which these individuals stepped up to get themselves positioned for moving forward in the department.
Voted - to appoint David P. Jones, to the position of Permanent Police Sergeant,
effective September 8, 2010.
Plumbing and Electrical Fees
Mr. Grylls requested the Board approve a revised fee schedule for plumbing, electrical and gas permit fees. The electrical permit fee schedule change is just cleaning up some language and moving the alarm fee from $35 to $50. The commercial plumbing fees for inspectors are going out on site visits are increasing to $50 because there is a greater amount of work involved compared to a residential inspection. Mr. Riley suggested that sending a man out in the field is worth at least $50, considering time, benefits and travel costs.
Voted - to amend the Plumbing, Electrical, and Gas Permit Fee Schedule as recommended by the Building Commissioner.
Foundry Pond
Mr. Prentiss advised the Board that the Conservation Commission had requested permission to dredge Foundry Pond which as silted up over the past 185 years. The dam was in danger of failing in 1998 and there were some emergency repairs done. He explained that about half of the five acres of the Pond have been filled in. A considerable amount of silt must be removed in order to have the pond function. The company who rebuilt the dam in 1998 did some work that destroyed the smelt habitat and the Department of Marine Fisheries is working to re-establish that.
There is approximately 22,000 cubic yard of material that must be removed at a total price tag of about $650,000. Once the material is dredged it would be dried and transported to Bare Cove Park. Mr. Riley remarked that people are advocating for removal of the dam. Mr. Prentiss noted that a lot of wetlands have been created by the dam over 185 years. Ms. Burns said that she presumed that dam removal would require a big study and a whole new process. Mr. Prentiss explained that dam removal is typically done slowly to avoid release of the silt. It took 180 years of mismanagement to create all this silt. Ms. Burns asked if there were any stakeholders such as the Weir River group who could help with some public/private fundraising. Mr. Rabuffo asked what we could do right now to help that has not been done. Mr. Riley reminded Mr. Prentiss that October 15 is the closing date for project applications to the Community Preservation Committee. Ms. Meyer asked the impact of removing the dam. Mr. Prentiss said any removal would have to be done incrementally. In 1998 it was estimated that there would be $16 million in damages.
Proposed Information Kiosk on Main Street
Mr. Rabuffo said that from time to time Hingham has been blessed by students who want improve things for the Town as a part of their Eagle project. Brian Sullivan informed the Board that he is working on an Eagle Scout project that he hopes to complete in the coming year. The
Board was presented with possible designs for an information kiosk to be located in the Square. The estimated cost of the kiosk project is $5,000. Mr. Rabuffo said that this was something that had been discussed when he was on the Development and Industrial Commission. Mr. Riley remarked that the proposed area needs something like this. He also remarked that the three sided design was his choice. Ms. Burns congratulated Brian on the suggested location and three sided design. The question that arose included who will see to the restocking of the information and which entity will be in charge of what goes into the kiosk. The Development and Industrial Commission seemed to be a reasonable group to have charge of this.
Voted - to approve the request of Brain Sullivan to place a kiosk in front of Old Derby on Main Street to provide information to visitors to Historical sites and current events and other noteworthy information for his Eagle Scout Project.
Voted - to approve the minutes of July 22, 27 and 29, 2010.
Voted - to approve a Reserve Fund Transfer in the amount of $23,000 from the
Town Hall budget to repair a drainage problem in Town Hall.
Voted - to grant the request for counsel as submitted by the Board of Appeals.
Voted - to grant the request for counsel as submitted by the Planning Board.
Voted - to grant a temporary liquor license to South Shore Stars, Inc. for a fundraising event at the Shipyard Amphitheatre on September 24, 2010.
Ms. Burns pointed out that the permit from the ZBA requires that everything at Lynch Field be brought to a close by 10 p.m. For that reason she suggested that the time be amended to end at ten. Mr. Riley agreed that a commitment had been made to the neighborhood and it is expected that the members of the Hingham Youth Football should respect that
Voted - to grant a temporary liquor license to Hingham Youth Football for a fundraising event at Lynch Field on September 24, 2010 to be concluded by 10 pm.
This Saturday will be the closing events for the 375th anniversary. There will be a final song at 7:30 but it is hoped that everyone can participate in the various events throughout the day
Voted - to grant a temporary liquor license to the 375th Anniversary Committee for Vintage Baseball Game on September 11, 2010.
Voted - to appoint Maureen Linskey to the Beautification Commission for a three year term.
Selectmen/Town Administrator's Reports
Ms. Burns said that pursuant to the last discussion on the meals tax revenue and the stabilization fund she has sent a draft to everyone for review. She asked the Board to review it for next week's newspaper issue. Mr. Paicos reported that the regional dispatch center awarded a bid for construction to Daigle Electric. Target date for completion is before the first of the year. The target date for the center to become operational is dependent on when the radios can go in. The Dispatch Center Group is expecting word on the third grant application. Mr. Paicos met with Nick Bonn about a compromise on the parking license for three Otis Street. He indicated that he will be sending a check to the Town based on the limited number of slips he was able to rent. Mr. Paicos also attended a legislative hearing on the closing of the District Court. Mr. Paicos said he has given the Board a draft of the save budget dollars program. Lt. Governor Murray will be at Fr. Bill's this Thursday to announce a continued grant to Fr. Bills for homeless veterans on the South Shore. Mr. Rabuffo said he will be at Representative Bradley's office regarding the MSBA and the Middle School.
Meeting adjourned 8:50 p.m.
Betty Foley, Clerk
Mr. Grylls submittals:
PLUMBING AND GAS PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE
Proposed Changes 7/12/10
Residential Plumbing and Gas Fees: Existing Change
1 Fixture (Minimum) $ 35
Each additional fixture $ 10
New house (complete) $200
Gas Water heater or boiler (gas & plumbing inclusive) $ 70
Oil Water heater or boiler $ 40
Site Visit $ 35
Re-inspection fee $ 75/unit
Commercial Plumbing and Gas Fees:
1 fixture (Minimum) $ 45
Each additional fixture $ 10 $ 15
Gas Water heater or water/steam boiler (gas & plumb. inc.) $ 90
Oil water heater or boiler $ 45
Furnace-Oil $ 45
Site Visit $ 50
Re-inspection fee $75/unit
WORK STARTED WITHOUT PERMITS DOUBLE FEE
Permit applications are to include homeowner's phone number.
Inspections are conducted Monday – Friday After 10:00 am
Inspections to be called in to 781-741-1420 between 8:30 and 10:00 am
with the permit number.
PLUMBERS MUST BE ON PREMISES FOR ALL INSPECTIONS
**No Water Piping To Be Installed On Outside Walls-NO EXCEPTIONS**
***PERMIT APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT REQUIREDFEES***
ROUGH AND FINAL INSPECTIONS MANDATORY
Re-inspection fees will be enforced