Back to Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
Board of Selectmen
May 16, 2011
11:05 AM - Open Session
North Hearing Room 3rd Floor, Hingham Town Hall
Present: Laura M. Burns; Bruce Rabuffo; Ted Alexiades, Town Administrator; and Betty Foley, Assistant Town Administrator.
Ms. Burns called the meeting to order and announced the order of the agenda.
Police Department Lateral Transfer of Joel E. Salituri: The Board met with and conducted an interview of Officer Joel Salituri at its meeting on May 3rd. Ms. Burns stated that it is Chief Peraino’s recommendation to hire Officer Salituri. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to unanimously approve the Lateral Transfer of Joel E. Salituri to the Town of Hingham Police Department from the Town of Hull Police Department, effective May 16, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Mr. Alexiades noted that Officer Salituri’s swearing in will take place at 9:00 AM tomorrow morning.
Hersey House Extension of Closing Date under Purchase and Sale Agreement: Ms. Foley reported that she spoke with Attorney Susan Murphy, and a deadline extension from 10:15 AM on Wednesday to 5:00 PM on Thursday is needed to accommodate the recording and funding processes. Attorney Murphy also suggested authorizing the Chairman to execute all necessary documents. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to extend the deadline for the Hersey House closing until 5:00 PM Thursday, May 19, 2011, for recording and funding. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to authorize the execution of all documents necessary for the Hersey House closing pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement and to authorize John A. Riley, Chairman, to sign all documents not requiring three signatures. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Ms. Foley stated that at Attorney Murphy’s direction the Board has been provided with a Lawn Plan for the property. Discussion followed regarding the no-build zone, driveways, and a 40’ section of lawn between the Hersey House and the neighboring church which possibly could be conveyed to the church for any Historic District use. Mr. Alexiades reported that all inspection reports are back and clean, and to his knowledge this is the only outstanding issue on the closing. Discussion followed regarding conveyance of the 40’ strip, a possible driveway in the 80’ section, church parking in the 40’ strip, and the possible rotation or pivoting only (no side to side movement) of the house. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns that the consensus is that the Lawn Plan represents what the Board of Selectmen has directed. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Ms. Foley stated the document signing is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 10:15 AM.
The meeting recessed at 11:17 AM and reconvened at 11:18 AM.
Public Hearings/Grant of Locations for Verizon New England Inc. to Lay Fiber Optic Cable: Penny Kane, Manager Rights of Way for Verizon New England Inc. addressed the Board requesting that the Board grant to Verizon new conduit locations in some public ways for FIOS service on Captain Thompson Lane, Cutter Hill Road, Fairfield Street, Mallard Run, and Loring Hill Road, as more fully described in each Petition for Conduit Location. Ms. Kane confirmed her receipt of each letter from the Department of Public Works (“DPW”), and she stated that she walked the sites with the DPW and the Tree Warden. Mr. Alexiades stated that the written stipulations of the DPW address Verizon’s responsibility to pay for an arborist.
Captain Thompson Lane: Discussion followed regarding the location of conduit not being in the roadway but in the right-of-way and regarding the Petition Plan. There was no public comment. Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the Grant of Location request of Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 985 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and handholes from existing Pole #3-1 along Captain Thompson Lane to handhole 3, to install fiber optic cable, as shown on plan marked Verizon No. 04/11-07, dated 4-29-2011. The Grant of Location is subject to the Department of Public Works stipulations dated May 10, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Cutter Hill Road: There was no discussion or public comment. Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the Grant of Location request of Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 874 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and handholes from existing Pole #5-1 along Cutter Hill Road to handhole 1B, to install fiber optic cable, as shown on plan marked Verizon No. 04/11-08, dated 4/29/2011. The Grant of Location is subject to the Department of Public Works stipulations dated May 10, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Mallard Run: There was no discussion or public comment. Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the Grant of Location request of Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 331 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and handholes from existing Pole #62-1 along Mallard Run to handhole 1A, to install fiber optic cable, as shown on plan marked Verizon No. 04/11-11, dated 4/29/2011. The Grant of Location is subject to the Department of Public Works stipulations dated May 10, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Fairfield Street: Ms. Kane confirmed that all cable is underground but coming off an existing pole. There was no discussion or public comment. Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the Grant of Location request of Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 229 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and handholes from existing Pole #4-1 along Fairfield Street to handhole 1, to install fiber optic cable, as shown on plan marked Verizon No. 04/11-09, dated 4/29/2011. The Grant of Location is subject to the Department of Public Works stipulations dated May 10, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Loring Hill Road: There was no discussion or public comment. Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the Grant of Location request of Verizon New England Inc. to install approximately 690 feet of 1 ¼ to 2 inch conduit and handholes from existing Pole #6/32A along Loring Hill Road to handhole 1A, to install fiber optic cable, as shown on plan marked Verizon No. 04/11-10, dated 4/29/2011. The Grant of Location is subject to the Department of Public Works stipulations dated May 10, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
When questioned by the Board, Ms. Kane confirmed the depth on all these projects is 18-24”.
Reserve Fund Transfers Requests:
Town Clerk Salaries: Mr. Alexiades stated this transfer is the restoration of a 2 percent reduction of the salary budget for Fiscal 2011. This is the one department that actually worked without pay or reduced staff; all other departments had been restored or allowed to be adjusted. There was no public comment.
Emergency Water: Mr. Alexiades stated that the Town received a quarterly bill from Aquarion to have water available at hydrants. Discussion followed regarding the transfer being due to an increase in pricing after sending in the budget and not due to a budget amount decrease. The Board directed that #5 on the Request be corrected to say increase in price. There was no public comment.
Harbormaster: Discussion followed regarding the repairs listed in the Request. Mr. Alexiades stated that the Town Pier repair is the most important, and that Chief Peraino concurred with doing the minimal amount initially (the replacement of 30 pieces of deck boards) and other repairs through the capital plan. Discussion followed regarding the bids received and the $3,185 proposal from Marrocco Partners. Mr. Alexiades recommended approval today of $3,185 and coming before the Board at another meeting for other items. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the following Reserve Fund Transfers Requests:
Emergency Water Account in the amount of $6,478.00
Town Clerk Salaries in the amount of $3,879.00
Harbormaster R&M Grounds in the amount of $3,185.00
A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Temporary Liquor License – Samuels & Associates Hingham Events, LLC: Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to grant a temporary liquor license to Samuels & Associates Hingham Events, LLC for Friday, June 10, 2011, from 7:00 PM to 12:00 midnight per its application. There was no public comment. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Memorandum of Understanding for Department of Public Works and Sewer Department Contract: Mr. Alexiades stated that the contract is consistent with what was afforded the other bargaining units. There is a zero percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal 2010 adjustment, a two percent COLA for Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2012, and a few other revisions in fairly modest amounts. Mr. Alexiades stated there is not anything affecting the consolidation of sewer operations. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Hingham and Teamsters Local Union 25 on behalf of the Department of Public Works and the Hingham Sewer Department to remain in effect through June 30, 2013. Such Agreement shall be based upon and shall succeed the July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010 collective bargaining agreement. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Appointments: Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to appoint Joan Williams to the Harbor Task Force as the representative of the Trustees of the Bathing Beach. There was no public comment. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Recognition of Fire Department Members: Mr. Alexiades announced that six Hingham fire fighters recently were involved in a complex rescue at the Linden Ponds quarry site, and he would like to bring them before the Board to recognize their action. The individuals are Captain LaChance, Incident Commander; Lt. Murphy, Operations Officer; Lt. Shores, Support Team Leader; FF/Paramedic Sara Joy, Lead Paramedic; FF/Paramedic Kevin Bliss, Support Team; and FF/Paramedic Jeffery Saunders, Support Team. Discussion followed regarding the incident and checking on the possibility of a recurrence.
Katy Lacy – Review of Proposed Changes to Appointed Committee Handbook: Ms. Burns stated that the Board sends out the Appointed Committee Handbook to all volunteers serving on Town committees, and it is meant to represent a how-to guide. Ms. Lacy, Community Planning Director, addressed the Board, reported on meeting with Mr. Rabuffo to discuss updating the Handbook with proposed changes, and distributed a red-line revision for discussion purposes. Topics of discussion included:
Ms. Lacy stated that she will complete a “tracked-changes” version with a calendar based on today’s discussion and will provide it to the Board for further consideration at a future meeting. She also distributed a Community Planning update for the Board and discussed providing a regular, quarterly report.
Ms. Lacy reported that Mr. Hersey is very concerned with the sign by-law and its implementation and has offered to take it on under the tax work-off program. Ms. Lacy feels there are some proactive steps to be taken before enforcement, including notifying industry-specific groups of the regulations. She stated the by-law does need revisions, and currently Derby Street, the Downtown Association and the Shipyard are involved. Discussion followed regarding contractor signs currently not being authorized under the by-law and whether consideration be given for small businesses. No formal action was taken.
Selectmen/Town Administrator Reports: Mr. Rabuffo stated that the Board is in contract discussion with various Town leaders. Mr. Alexiades noted that all votes will be public after negotiations are finished. Ms. Burns reported on her attendance at the Lowell Regatta at the invitation of the High School crew team.
Executive Session/Adjournment: Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations, not to return to open session. A vote was taken by roll call and showed as follows: Ms. Burns – yes, Mr. Rabuffo – yes. The motion passed.
The open session adjourned at 12:14 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Zivkovich, Clerk Pro Tem
Documents (a complete meeting packet of supporting documentation is on file and available for public review in the Board of Selectmen’s office):