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Board of Selectmen
June 21, 2011
7:15 PM - Open Session
North Hearing Room 3rd Floor, Hingham Town Hall
Present: John A. Riley, Chairman; Laura M. Burns; Ted Alexiades, Town Administrator; and Betty Foley, Assistant Town Administrator. Bruce Rabuffo joined the meeting after roll call.
With a quorum present, Chairman Riley called the meeting to order and reviewed the order of the agenda.
Questions from the Public: There were no questions from the public.
Approval of Meeting Minutes of June 9 and June 14 (8am)2011: Voted – A motion was made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Chairman Riley to approve the meeting minutes of June 9, 2011 and the 8:00 am meeting on June 14, 2011. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Police Collective Bargaining Agreements: Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and Hingham Police Superior Officers Union, MCOP, Local 405, and Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and New England Police Benevolent Association, AFL-CIO Local 70: David Pace and Nelson Ross, members of the Personnel Board, and Police Chief Peraino joined the meeting. Mr. Pace stated that they have concluded negotiations and have reached collective bargaining agreements with both unions. He reviewed the key terms of the patrol officers agreement, namely the two year term beginning July 1, 2011, a two percent annual wage increase, continuation of educational benefits, inclusion of a few minor economic benefits, uniform clarification, the addition of firearms instructor and first aid officer stipends, and agreement with respect to rates for non-Town details. Discussion followed regarding the two new stipends. Mr. Ross stated that they were in the contained in the superior officers agreement and have been moved to the patrol officers agreement. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Chairman Riley to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and New England Police Benevolent Association, AFL-CIO Local 70 for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Mr. Pace next reviewed the key terms of the superior officers agreement, namely the two year term beginning July 1, 2011, a two percent annual wage increase, continuation of educational benefits, inclusion of a few minor economic changes, clarification of the clothing allowance, the inclusion of non-Town detail language, the removal of the first aid stipend, and the inclusion of a $1,000 stipend for the breathalyzer keeper of records. Discussion followed regarding the rate for details. There was no public comment.
Voted – A motion was made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Chairman Riley to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and Hingham Police Superior Officers Union, MCOP, Local 405 for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Mr. Rabuffo joined the meeting
Request of Hingham Beer Works for Extension of Hours: Jim Callahan, General Manager, and Joe Ferrari both representing Hingham Beer Works, were present. Mr. Callahan requested an extension of operating hours on Sunday through Thursday currently from midnight to 1:00 am. Police Chief Peraino reviewed with the Board his meetings and discussions with Mr. Callahan and Mr. Slesar and the assurance by the applicant that everyone is TIPS trained. He reiterated that any violations will be dealt with sternly. Discussion followed regarding the liquor licensing process, Shipyard activities, the length of time the applicant has been in business, and citizen concerns. Chief Peraino reported that the Department is aware and that details are starting up again. The Board also reiterated that any violations will be dealt with sternly.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the request of Slesar Bros. Brewing Company, Inc. d/b/a Hingham Beer Works to change the change the hours of operation at 18 Shipyard Drive from Sunday through Thursday 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM and Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM, to 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily, subject to the approval of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Joint Session with the Board of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to Interview Candidates to Fill a Vacancy on the Light Board: John Stoddard and Walter Foskett, members of the Board of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, joined the Board and called their meeting to order. The Boards jointly conducted an interview of each of the following applicants for the Light Board vacancy by asking a series of questions:
Roger Freeman: an eight year resident, business executive and lawyer with 15 years experience in the renewable/alternative energy business, wants to bring his experience to the benefit of Hingham citizens, no prior experience serving on Town boards.
Pamela Harty: Hingham resident, current chair of the Energy Action Committee, has an interest and passion in energy efficiency and sustainability, would like to see more promotion and outreach to customers, no hands-on experience with a utility.
The meeting recessed at 8:15 pm and reconvened at 8:18 pm.
Robert Daly: a 25-year+ Hingham resident, over 40 years experience in the electrical and construction industry, wants to help provide good, affordable and safe energy to the Town, has directly worked with utilities mostly in logistics, no prior experience serving on Town boards.
John Ryan: born in Hingham; prior member of the Advisory committee, the Accord Pond Watershed Study Committee, the Zoning Board of Appeals as a full member and as an alternate member, and was Chair of the Light Department Study Committee to review the management practices of the department; has a business background and experience building electrical and distribution systems; familiar with day-to-day operations.
Richard Hall: Hingham resident, 34-year background in multiple positions with a public utility, has a tremendous interest in the business, no prior experience on a Town board, considers education and safety to be paramount.
Richard Norman: Hingham resident, has worked in the energy industry since 1970, has a financial and technical background, makes his living in renewable energy, familiar with New England electrical system and natural gas, member of the South Shore Country Club Management Committee several years ago.
David Ellison: Hingham resident, currently serves on the Advisory Committee and member of the liaison subcommittee to the Light Board, has extensive experience in the finance business, has studied the utility industry, has a working knowledge of the Town, no direct experience in the utility industry or utility management.
Ms. Burns noted that Thomas Hoffman also applied but is out of town and unable to be interviewed. Discussion followed regarding the candidates. A motion was made by Mr. Foskett and seconded by Mr. Stoddard to nominate Jack Ryan to the vacancy on the Board of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant. Discussion followed regarding Mr. Ryan's merits. A vote was taken showing all members of both Boards in favor; the motion passed.
Council on Aging, Harbor Development, Historic Districts Commission and Memorial Bell Towner Appointments: Voted – A motion was made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Mr. Rabuffo to appoint Richard Ponte to the Council on Aging for a three-year term expiring in 2014; to appoint John Thomas to the Harbor Development Committee to fill an unexpired term ending in 2013; to appoint Jared Grimm as an Alternate Member to the Historic Districts Commission for a three-year term ending in 2014; and to appoint the following to the Memorial Bell Tower Committee for the ensuing year: Kenneth Drescher, Joan Getto, John McKendry, Martha Ryan, Michael Shilhan, Ann Shilhan, Dorcas Wagner. A vote was taken and all were in favor; the motion passed.
Selectmen/Town Administrator Reports: Ms. Burns reported that group that came before the Community Preservation Committee for a grant to fund the study of the documents belonging to five Town entities (Library, Historical Society, Historic Districts Commission, School Department and Town Clerk) is now working toward the cataloging and digitization of the documents. They will be coming before the Board at some future date to propose a historic archives taskforce to seek out funds and implement their plan. Chairman Riley reviewed Harbor Development discussions and stated that contact was made with the Seaport Council and a representative will be here on July 7th, time to be announced.
Adjourn Open Session/Executive Session for Pending Litigation - TH Claims: Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to adjourn to executive session, not to return to open session, for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to TH Claims litigation because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the town. A vote was taken by roll call and showed as follows: Mr. Rabuffo – yes, Chairman Riley – yes, Ms. Burns – yes. The motion passed.
The open session adjourned at 9:15 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):
1. Correspondence List Dated June 21, 2011
2. Meeting Minutes dated June 9, 2011 and June 14(8:00 am), 2011
3. Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and Hingham Police Superior Officers Union, MCOP, Local 405, and Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Hingham and New England Police Benevolent Association, AFL-CIO Local 70
4. Letter from Slesar Bros. Brewing Company, Inc. c/o Beer Works Corporate Office; Vote of the Board of Directors of Slesar Bros. Brewing Company, Inc. dated June 17, 2011; Memorandum dated June 10, 2011 to The Board of Selectmen from Chief Michael J. Peraino RE: Hingham Beer Works Request to Change Hours
5. Applications of Roger M. Freeman; Pam Harty dated May 23, 2011; Robert E. Daly; John P. Ryan dated May 26, 2011; Richard A. Hall dated May 15, 2011; Richard A. Norman dated May 13, 2011; David Ellison dated May 26th, 2011; and Thomas E. Hoffman dated May 17, 2011, for the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant Board position