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Town Government & |
Departments: Town Clerk
210 Central Street Important Links : Town By-Laws (PDF, 408k) viewable with Adobe Acrobat Reader? software. Available free from the Adobe? website.
Annual Town Meeting Articles, April 28, 2008 2008 Warrant and Supplement (PDF, 774k and 457K) Click on the article number to read the full text of the article.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Plymouth, ss. Greetings:
To choose all necessary Town Officers, other than those to be elected by ballot, including the following: COMMENT: The Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund was established in 1915 pursuant to the will of Ada B.W. Bacon in memory of her mother, “...to be expended in relieving the necessities of the deserving poor or unfortunate of South Hingham..." Grants from the income of the fund are made at the discretion of a committee of three members, one of whom is elected each year by the Town. As of December 31, 2007, the fund assets totaled $17,241, of which $2241 was available for distribution. The principal of $15,000 is held in trust and is not available for distribution. RECOMMENDED: 1. That Tereza Prime, 703 Main Street, be re-elected a member of the Committee to have charge of the income of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund for a term of three years; and 2. That Louis S. Belknap, 437 Main Street, be elected a member of the Committee to have charge of the income of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund to fill an unexpired term of one year.
Will the Town confirm appointment of a Director for the Plymouth County Cooperative Extension Service in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 128, Sections 41 and 42, or act on anything relating thereto?
To hear the reports of the following: Affordable Housing Trust; Animal Shelter Site Study Committee; Capital Outlay Committee; Central Fire Station Building Committee; Commission on Disability Issues; Community Preservation Committee; Conservation Commission; Country Club Management Committee; Council on Aging; Harbor Development Committee; Hingham Historic Districts Commission; the Historian; Historical Commission; Long-Range Waste Disposal and Recycling Committee; Open Space Acquisition Committee; Public Works Building Committee; Regional Refuse Disposal Planning Committee; Scholarship Fund Committee; 2006 School Building Committee; Wastewater Master Planning Committee; Water Supply Committee and the Zoning Permits Study Committee, or act on anything relating thereto. COMMENT: These are the existing posts, committees, councils, and commissions which were established by acts of Town Meeting. The Town is indeed fortunate to have many public-spirited citizens willing to work in these capacities. We thank them for their excellent service and recommend that all these posts and committees be continued. RECOMMENDED: That the reports, if any, of the Affordable Housing Trust; Animal Shelter Site Study Committee; Capital Outlay Committee; Central Fire Station Building Committee; Commission on Disability Issues; Community Preservation Committee; Conservation Commission; Country Club Management Committee; Council on Aging; Harbor Development Committee; Hingham Historic Districts Commission; the Historian; Historical Commission; Long-Range Waste Disposal and Recycling Committee; Open Space Acquisition Committee; Public Works Building Committee; Regional Refuse Disposal Planning Committee; Scholarship Fund Committee; 2006 School Building Committee; Wastewater Master Planning Committee; Water Supply Committee; and the Zoning Permits Study Committee be received; and that all of said Committees, Commissions, the Council, and the Historian be continued. To hear the report of the Personnel Board appointed under the Classification and Salary Plan, or act on anything relating thereto. COMMENT: This article provides funds to pay for an increase in financial obligations of the Town that result from salary increases, fringe benefit improvements and job reclassifications which have been or are yet to be determined. RECOMMENDED: That the report of the Personnel Board, a copy of which is on file in the Town Clerk's Office, be accepted; that the amendments of the Personnel By-Law, including the Classification and Salary Plan, and any agreements reached by the Personnel Board in collective bargaining, which may be embodied or referred to in said report, be approved and adopted in their entirety, such approval and adoption to become effective July 1, 2008 or as otherwise specified in said report or agreements; that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $554,917 for the purpose of this vote; and that the Town Accountant is hereby authorized and instructed to allocate said sum to and among the several Personal Services and Expense Accounts in such amounts, respectively, as are proper and required to meet such amendments and to comply with such collective bargaining agreements as may be entered into by the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Town.
Will the Town fix the salaries of the following Town Officers, viz: RECOMMENDED: That, subject to the proviso below, the salary from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 for each of the following officers shall be at the rates below stated or provided after the name of the office: Town Clerk1 and Treasurer/Collector in accordance with the compensation rates established in Grade 15 of the Town of Hingham Classification and Salary Plan of the Personnel By-Law. Selectmen: at the annual rate of $2,000.00 each, except that the Chair for the period of incumbency shall receive an annual rate of $2,500.00. Assessors: at the annual rate of $1,800.00 each, except that the Chair for the period of incumbency shall receive an annual rate of $2,000.00. Municipal Light Board: at the annual rate of $214.00 each (to be paid from the receipts of the Electric Light Department). Provided: that the salary of each such officer except Selectman, Assessor and Municipal Light Board Member shall be reduced by all retirement allowances and pensions received by such officer from the Town of Hingham. 1 Town Clerk, when serving as a member of the Board of Registrars of Voters, shall be paid for such duties in accordance with Section 19G of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
Will the Town raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, sums of money to defray the expenses of the Town for the twelve-month period beginning July 1, 2008, or act on anything relating thereto? RECOMMENDED: That there be raised and appropriated for each of the following purposes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, the sum of money stated therefor, provided that where a transfer appropriation is stated, the amount so indicated shall be transferred or specifically appropriated as stated; also that the authority is hereby given to turn in vehicles and equipment in part payment for vehicles and equipment purchased in those cases where a turn in is stated. Please click here for Town Expenses Will the Town appropriate, from the receipts of the Electric Light Department, money for the maintenance and operation of the Plant for the 12-month period commencing July 1, 2008, pursuant to Sections 57 and 57A of Chapter 164 of the General Laws, and provide for the disposition of any surplus receipts, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant is self-funding. Funds collected by billing customers are used to pay all expenses incurred by the Plant. RECOMMENDED: That, with the exception of $497,750 which is hereby transferred to the General Fund to reduce the tax rate, all funds received by the Municipal Lighting Plant during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2008, be appropriated to said Municipal Lighting Plant, the same to be expended by the Manager of Municipal Lighting under the control and direction of the Municipal Light Board for the expenses of the Plant for said fiscal year, as defined in section 57 and 57A of Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General Laws and, if there should be any unexpended balance thereof at the end of said fiscal year, such amount as is deemed necessary shall be transferred to the Construction Fund of said plant and appropriated and used for such additions thereto as may be authorized by the Municipal Light Board during the next fiscal year.
Will the Town assume liability in the manner provided by General Laws, Chapter 91,Section 29, as amended, for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the improvement, development, maintenance and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tide waters, foreshores and shores along a public beach, and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefor to the Commonwealth, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as a matter of policy, requires the Town to assume liability if it is to perform any of this type of work within the Town. In accordance with the statute, the Town would assume liability for all damages to property suffered by any person as a result of such work performed by the DCR. RECOMMENDED: That the Town, in accordance with, and to the extent only permitted by, General Laws, Chapter 91, Section 29, assume liability for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the improvement, development, maintenance and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tide waters, foreshores and shores along a public beach within the Town, in accordance with Section 11 of said Chapter 91, and that the Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity to the Commonwealth assuming such liability.
Will the Town accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, so as to establish and define the terms of a departmental revolving fund for the Building Department, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The purpose of this article is to continue the “Building Department Revolving Fund”, which provides payments to the Assistant Building Inspectors for their services. The Fund matches revenues from inspections with payments to the Assistant Building Inspectors. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, the fund had $229,668 in revenues and $307,841 in expenditures. For the six-month period ended December 31, 2007, the fund had $97,877 in revenues and $188,210 in expenditures. RECOMMENDED: That, in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2, which allows the Town to establish departmental revolving funds, the Town authorizes the continuation of such a fund in the Building Department. Departmental receipts for building inspections performed by the Assistant Building Inspectors shall be credited to the fund. Moneys shall be spent primarily to compensate such inspectors for their services. The Building Commissioner shall be authorized to spend moneys from the fund. The amount that may be spent from the fund shall be limited to $350,000 during Fiscal Year 2009. Will the Town raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money for the dredging of Hingham Harbor, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: Each year Hingham boat owners are assessed marine excise taxes by the Town of Hingham. Under Massachusetts General Laws, one-half of the collections must be used for waterways improvements. The remaining half is general revenue to the Town. Approximately $30,000 a year over ten years is required to fund the Town’s share of the periodic dredging of Hingham’s inner harbor. It is expected that the Town’s cost for dredging, scheduled to begin in the fall of 2009, will be in the $600,000 to $700,000 range. The Town’s cost is expected to be approximately 25% of the total with state and federal moneys covering the remaining 75%. The amount set aside for harbor dredging after the proposed $30,000 from marine excise taxes this year will be $732,840. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer $30,000 from the Waterways Fund to the Dredging Fund, such account to be used for the future dredging of Hingham Harbor, and the Town accept and credit said account with funds from State and Federal Governments for that purpose. Will the Town raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to the Town’s Reserve Fund for use during the fiscal year 2008, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: Extraordinary snow and ice removal expenses necessitate a transfer to the Town’s Reserve Fund. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer the sum of $230,000 from available reserves to the Reserve Fund for use during fiscal year 2008. Will the Town transfer a sum of money from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of reducing the tax rate, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: Pursuant to a prior Town Meeting vote, the proceeds from the sale of the old school administration building, municipal light plant building and the former police station were deposited to the Stabilization Fund for future tax reduction. It is the intention of this article to transfer $111,486 from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of reducing the fiscal year 2009 tax rate. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer the sum of $111,486 from the Stabilization Fund for the purpose of reducing the fiscal year 2009 tax rate. Will the Town transfer from available funds a sum of money 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, or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: In December 2005, the Hingham Municipal Light Plant (HMLP) transferred approximately $3.9 million of invested pension reserves to the Town’s general fund. These moneys are ultimately expected to be allocated, at the direction of the Light Board, for the benefit of HMLP employees’ pension and post-retirement medical benefits. The effect of this article is to reimburse the HMLP for the investment income earned on pension reserves in the now closed 2007 fiscal year. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer from available funds the sum of $200,203 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.
Will the Town transfer a sum of money from available funds to the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The Government Accounting Standards Board recently issued Standards #43 and #45, requiring all municipalities to account for and report their obligations for Post Retirement Costs. These costs are made up principally of healthcare benefits. The liability related to these costs for the Town of Hingham approximates $67,943,000. This amount is for both current/active employees and retired employees. The breakout between the two classes is as follows: Current Accrued Liability for: Under the new Standards, municipalities are required to calculate an “Annual Required Contribution”, or ARC. The ARC is the amount required to fund all current and past unfunded Post Employment costs. The new Standards further require the Town to either fund the current liability, which is made up of amounts currently due and an amortized amount for the remaining unfunded liability, or to partially fund the ARC and show the remainder as a Current Liability. The amount of the ARC for the fiscal year 2009 is approximately $5,733,890. After comparing Hingham to other like sized towns and communities in the Commonwealth, a determination was made to fund $300,000 of the ARC for Fiscal 2009. The remainder of the ARC will be shown in Current Liabilities. It is expected that efforts will be made to increase the percentage of funding the ARC in future years, and to also look at the potential for reducing future costs by examining the Plan design. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer the sum of $300,000 from available funds to the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust. Will the Town raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners for the improvement and/or replacement of various sewer pumping stations and/or force and/or gravity mains, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The recommended appropriation is intended for replacement of the Mill Street Pumping Station. The Station was constructed over 40 years ago, and, while various components have been replaced as needed over that time, a complete replacement is now the most cost-effective solution. This determination is the result of both an inspection by the Commission’s regular consulting engineer in November, 2007 and a corroborating assessment by a second engineering firm in March, 2008. If approved, the Town will issue debt on behalf of the Sewer Commission to be repaid from Sewer Commission rate-payer funds over the life of the debt instruments. During the past 20 years, the Sewer Commission has replaced five pumping stations on an as-needed basis. In these and several other instances, the Town has borrowed funds for repairs on behalf of the Sewer Commission. In each case, the Sewer Commission has made timely repayments of principal and interest against these obligations without interruption or incident. The net financial impact on the Town operating budget is zero. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the Town authorize and empower the Sewer Commissioners to renovate and/or replace the Mill Street sewer pumping station; and, (2) the sum of $380,000 be, and hereby is, appropriated for purposes of this vote; and, (3) to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, hereby is authorized to borrow up to the sum of $380,000 under MGL Chapter 44 (Municipal Finance), as amended, and that for said borrowing, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, hereby is authorized to issue bonds or notes of the Town, payable in not more than twenty (20) years from their dates of issue and upon such other terms as the Treasurer and the Board of Selectmen shall determine. Will the Town appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Historic Resources Reserve for the following purposes: i) to restore the “Hingham” sign located at the Hingham Public Library and create a replica sign, ii) to inventory and preserve five historic Town markers, iii) to inventory and conserve gravestones at the Liberty Plain Cemetery, and iv) for a study to determine preservation needs for historical Hingham documents and artifacts, or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: This article would provide funding for several different historic preservation projects with funds from the Community Preservation Historic Resources Reserve. The first two projects were proposed by the Hingham Historical Commission. The objective of the first project is to restore and preserve the existing Hingham sign that is located in front of the Town Public Library and to create a replica sign that can withstand an outside setting. The Hingham sign, a gift from Hingham England in honor of Hingham’s 350th anniversary, is a replica of a sign in Hingham, England. The second project involves the restoration and preservation of the early markers that define the Town’s settlement boundaries, and the mileage markers along the Boston to Plymouth Stagecoach line. The third project was proposed by the Liberty Plain Cemetery Association, a separate non-profit entity. In order to preserve the records and the history of the early residents of South Hingham, this project will inventory the markers including headstones, footstones, markers and monuments and prioritize their conservation needs, and conserve approximately 25 of the headstones most in need. There are approximately 160 other headstones in the cemetery. The Liberty Plain Cemetery was first established as a burial ground in 1739 and includes gravestones dating back to the Revolutionary War. The cemetery is located in the Liberty Plain Historic District. The pro-ponents for the fourth project are the Hingham Public Library, the Town Clerk, the Historical Commission, the School Department and the Hingham Historical Society. The requested funds will pay to determine the scope of work to catalog, preserve and digitize the wealth of documents and artifacts that are central to the Town’s history and development. The initial phase will determine the type, amount and condition of the documents and artifacts that currently reside with each of the project proponents. RECOMMENDED: That the Town appropriate $76,120 from the Community Preservation Historic Resources Reserve for the following purposes: i) $10,620 to replicate the “Hingham” sign located at the Hingham Public Library and create a replica sign, ii) $4,000 to inventory and preserve five historic Town markers, iii) $21,500 to inventory and conserve gravestones at the Liberty Plain Cemetery, and iv) $40,000 for a study to determine preservation needs for historical Hingham documents and artifacts. Will the Town transfer an amount of unspent funds from Community Preservation funds previously appropriated at the 2003 Annual Town Meeting under Article 21, Item 4, for construction of a park and pedestrian bridge on Whitney Wharf, to the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve, to be used for a pre-engineering study, final design, preparation of construction drawings and construction cost estimates to build a Mill Pond Outfall Crossing to enhance pedestrian access along the inner shoreline, or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: The project proponent is the Hingham Harbor Development Committee. This article would transfer $50,000 out of the approximately $77,000 remaining funds from an appropriation made at Town Meeting in 2003 for construction of a park and pedestrian bridge on Whitney Wharf. The $50,000 would be used to pay for a pre-engineering study, final design, and preparation of construction drawings and construction cost estimates to build a Mill Pond Outfall crossing to enhance pedestrian access along the inner shoreline. The initial plan approved in 2003, to build a pedestrian bridge, proved unfeasible, due to tidal swings and extensive ramps for handicap access. Currently pedestrians and others use the sidewalk across from Stars (along the waterfront at the intersection of Otis Street, Summer Street and North Street between the Town Pier and Whitney Wharf), but this sidewalk is obstructed by a cross walk signal pole and a signal control cabinet making it particularly difficult for people with strollers or wheel chairs. The current plan is to tie into the existing cement abutment using a cantilever bridge; this was previously considered but deemed unlikely to get state approval. This has changed with recent discussions with the state’s engineers, and they support the cantilevered approach, which has appeal for ease of construction and lower cost. The pre-engineering plan will confirm the approach and develop the detailed construction cost estimates. This plan may change based on the pre-engineering studies. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer $50,000 of unspent funds from Community Preservation funds previously appropriated at the 2003 Annual Town Meeting under Article 21, Item 4, for construction of a park and pedestrian bridge on Whitney Wharf, to the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve, to be used for a pre-engineering study, final design, preparation of construction drawings and construction cost estimates to build a Mill Pond Outfall Crossing to enhance pedestrian access along the inner shoreline. Will the Town appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserve to help defray the costs of placing underground all existing telephone, cable, electric and other wire services located on a portion of North Street in the downtown area, or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: This article was proposed by the Underground Utility Taskforce and Anne Collins. The Underground Utility Taskforce was formed by the Board of Selectmen in order to examine the feasibility to place all existing telephone, cable, electric and other wired services underground throughout the Town. A similar project, “Telephone Pole Removal,” was submitted by Anne Collins and the projects were combined. As an adjunct to the Downtown Restoration effort, the funds requested would fund a portion of the costs of the removal of six telephone poles from the south side of North Street in the downtown area and moving the various services underground. The poles being removed begin near Settles Glass and end near Liberty Grill. The total cost of the project (excluding connection costs described below) is approximately $550,000, with $250,000 being contributed by the developers of the former Shipyard site, $200,000 being requested from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserve and approximately $100,000 of work that the Hingham Municipal Light Plant has agreed to contribute. The costs of this project are less than they would be otherwise because the road will be under construction for other reasons. Abutting property owners are expected to be required to pay the costs of connecting to the new underground wiring either directly or indirectly. Town Counsel has opined that funds from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserve may be used to pay for this project. RECOMMENDED: That the Town appropriate $200,000 from the Community Preservation Historic Preservation Reserve to help defray the costs of placing underground all existing telephone, cable, electric and other wire services located on a portion of North Street in the downtown area. the Town appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation General Reserve and transfer said amount to the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve, to be used for the acquisition by the Hingham Conservation Commission, for conservation purposes, of Lot 6 on Assessors’ Map 42, known as 144 Rockland Street, consisting of approximately 3.3 acres, and authorize and direct the Conservation Commission to complete such acquisition, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: This article would provide money for the Hingham Conservation Commission to purchase an approximately 3.3 acre site on Rockland Street near the Weir River. The property is directly adjacent to the Pocahontas service station. A substantial amount of the property is located within an area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) and has open meadow, marsh land and trees. The acquisition is conditioned on a satisfactory environmental contamination review. This acquisition has a great deal of support. The Open Space Acquisition Committee is sponsoring this article in large part in order to protect the Weir River Watershed. The Conservation Commission supports this acquisition as consistent with its master plan; this property has for some time been included on the Conservation Commission’s target list of properties to be acquired. This property is also one of the parcels designated for acquisition by the Tri-Town Weir River Estuary Park Committee. Finally, Sustainable South Shore, a group whose stated purpose is to create a model sustainable community to help preserve the South Shore’s ecosystem, is working to develop a South Shore Greenway to create a network of natural corridors and walking and bicycling paths connecting destinations and open space in Hull, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, and Norwell. The property to be acquired is along the proposed bikeway. RECOMMENDED: That the Town appropriate $492,500 from the Community Preservation General Reserve and transfer said amount to the Community Preservation Open Space Reserve, to be used for the acquisition by the Hingham Conservation Commission, for conservation purposes, of Lot 6 on Assessors’ Map 42, known as 144 Rockland Street, consisting of approximately 3.3 acres, and authorize and direct the Conservation Commission to complete such acquisition. Will the Town 1) raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen to acquire by eminent domain or other means a parcel of land located at 24 Summer Street, and to mitigate environmental contamination on the property; and 2) appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Committee General Reserve for the acquisition of land or interest in land on said parcel; and 3) raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the acquisition of land or interest in land on said parcel; or act on anything related thereto? RECOMMENDED: The Advisory Committee will makes its recommendation at Town Meeting. Will the Town appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve to help construct one (1) unit of affordable housing on a certain Nokomis Road lot transferred for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) to a non-profit organization in accordance with the vote under Article 16 at the 2000 Annual Town Meeting, or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: The 2000 Annual Town Meeting approved the transfer of land located on Nokomis Road, Assessors’ Map 37, Lot 54, to the South Shore Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) for the construction of one (1) unit of affordable housing on the site. Habitat has completed plans for the development of one affordable home to be constructed on the Nokomis Road parcel. The Community Preservation Committee requests Town Meeting’s authority to transfer $85,000 from its Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve to support the construction costs of the home. RECOMMENDED: That the Town appropriate $85,000 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve to help construct one (1) unit of affordable housing on the Nokomis Road parcel of land, Assessors’ Map 37, Lot 54, transferred for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) to South Shore Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization, in accordance with the vote under Article 16 at the 2000 Annual Town Meeting. Will the Town transfer $175,000, the sum appropriated by the 2006 Annual Town Meeting for a pilot loan program for affordable housing proceeds to be administered by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), from the Community Preservation Housing Reserve to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: At the 2006 Annual Town Meeting the Community Preservation Committee proposed a pilot program to assist low-income residents with the basic repair and restoration requirements of their homes. The 2006 Annual Town Meeting, under Article 25, voted favorably to approve the appropriation of “$175,000 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve for loans of up to $30,000 ($50,000 for historic properties) per household made in accordance with procedures approved by the Community Preservation Committee and the Board of Selectmen to Hingham home-owners meeting income eligibility requirements established by the Housing Authority and approved by the Community Preservation Committee for use by such homeowners for restoration and repair of their homes (including the purchase and installation of handicap accessibility features), such loans to be repaid and returned to the Community Housing Reserve upon the homeowner’s sale of the home, and to bear interest payable with such principal repayment at a rate, and to be on such other terms and conditions (including mortgage security), established by the Community Preservation Committee and approved by the Board of Selectmen, and for legal and administrative fees and expenses associated with such loans.” In 2007, the Annual Town Meeting, Article 21, established the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT). “The purpose of the Trust is to provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the Town of Hingham for low- and moderate-income households.” This Article transfers the Pilot Loan Program and associated appropriation to the HAHT, which will implement and administer the program as part of its Charter. The Program, as administered by the HAHT, will be subject to the same restrictions as set forth in the original vote in 2006; namely, that the loans shall be repaid and returned to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust upon the homeowner’s sale of the home, and bear interest payable with such principal repayment at a rate, and to be on such other terms and conditions (including mortgage security), established by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust and approved by the Board of Selectmen. The funds transferred to the HAHT under this article may also be used for legal and administrative fees and expenses associated with such loans. RECOMMENDED: That the Town transfer $175,000, the sum appropriated by the vote under Article 25 of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting for a pilot loan program for affordable housing proceeds to be administered by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) for the same purposes and subject to the same restrictions set forth in the vote under Article 25 of the 2006 Annual Town Meeting. Will the Town appropriate a sum of money from the Community Preservation Housing Reserve and transfer such sum to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT), or act on anything related thereto? COMMENT: The 2007 Annual Town Meeting, Article 21, voted favorably to establish the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) to provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the Town of Hingham for low and moderate-income households. The HAHT was funded initially from funds the Town currently held which were generated for affordable housing by the inclusionary Zoning By-Law. Additional funding may be provided from a number of sources including the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserves. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) sets aside a minimum of ten (10) percent of its yearly funding for Community Housing. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) has voted favorably to transfer, for the fiscal year 2009, the sum of $225,000 to the HAHT. Each year the CPC may propose, through a warrant article at the Annual Town Meeting, to transfer money from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve to the HAHT. This Article would approve the transfer of the money for FY2009. The $225,000 will be expended by the HAHT in accordance with an “Allocation Plan”, developed by the HAHT Trustees and approved by Town Meeting each year. The Plan will recommend the use of the money for the general categories: maintaining and improving affordability of existing housing stock; construction of affordable housing; loans and/or grant programs; third-party costs including, but not limited to, engineering, accounting, appraisal, and financial and legal advice; and, general administration expenses. The distribution of the money may change from year to year based on the Trustees’ analysis of Hingham’s needs and opportunities for affordable housing. RECOMMENDED: That the Town appropriate $225,000 from the Community Preservation Community Housing Reserve and transfer said sum to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT). Will the Town, in accordance with the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) By-Law, adopted by vote under Article 21 at the 2007 Annual Town Meeting, approve an allocation plan for any funds to be appropriated to the HAHT in FY 2008 and FY 2009; such allocation plan may include, without limitation, the following provisions:
COMMENT: The 2007 Annual Town Meeting approved Article 21, accepting M.G.L. c. 44 Section 55C and creating the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) by adding Article 39 to the By-Laws of the Town. The purpose of the HAHT is to provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Hingham for low and moderate income households. The Town Treasurer is the custodian of the funds held by the HAHT; any income or proceeds received by the HAHT and any monies remaining in the HAHT at the end of the fiscal year remain with the HAHT. Each year, at the Annual Town Meeting, the HAHT will present the allocation plan for the coming fiscal year as an Article for Town Meeting approval. The HAHT will also report to the Town on the previous year’s allocation plan. RECOMMENDED: That the Town, in accordance with the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust (HAHT) By-Law, adopted by vote under Article 21 at the 2007 Annual Town Meeting, approve the following allocation plan for any funds to be appropriated to the HAHT in FY 2008 and FY 2009:
Will the Town amend the vote under Article 42 of the 2005 Annual Town Meeting Warrant by inserting the words “or functional equivalent” after the phrase “for the purpose of producing affordable housing under the Local Initiative Program”, or act on anything relating thereto? COMMENT: The 2005 Annual Town Meeting voted under Article 42: This amendment would allow the Selectmen to pursue the development of this project pursuant to other state and federal funding programs in addition to or in lieu of the Local Initiatives Program. This would give the Selectmen greater flexibility in identifying the most appropriate and cost effective means to proceed with the project. This amendment does not alter in any way the project as approved at the 2005 Annual Town meeting. RECOMMENDED: That the Town amend the vote under Article 42 of the 2005 Annual Town Meeting Warrant by inserting the words “or functional equivalent” after the phrase “for the purpose of producing affordable housing under the Local Initiative Program”.
Continue to Articles 26 through 50
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