Annual Town Meeting Articles, April 27, 2009

PDF Format 2009 Warrant

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Plymouth, ss.
To the Constable of the Town of Hingham in the County of Plymouth,

Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Hingham qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet in the HIGH SCHOOL, 17 Union Street, in said Hingham, Monday, the twenty-seventh day of April 2008 at SEVEN o’clock in the evening, Then and thereto act on the following Articles:

ARTICLE 1. To choose all necessary Town Officers, other than those to be elected by ballot, including the following:
1. One member of the Committee to have charge of the income of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund for a term of three years, or act on anything relating thereto.

COMMENT: The Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund was established in 1915 pursuant to the will of Ada B.W. Bacon in memory of his 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, 2008, the fund assets totaled $17,552, of which $2,552 is available for distribution. The principal of $15,000 is held in trust and is not available for distribution.

RECOMMENDED: 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 for a term of three years.

ARTICLE 2. 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?

COMMENT: Plymouth County Cooperative Extension Service provides Plymouth County residents research-based information in the following areas: agriculture and landscape; family development; nutrition education; natural resources; and, environmental conservation. The group works with the UMass Amherst Faculty and Extension staff; UMass Extension; and the United States Department of Agriculture. The Extension Service also supports the 4-H Youth program. The Extension System is supported by County, Federal and State funds, and operates under Federal and State laws and agreements.

RECOMMENDED: That the Town confirm the choice by the Selectmen of Marjorie Mahoney as Director to serve for one year.

ARTICLE 3. 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, except that the Zoning Permits Study Committee and the Central Fire Station Building Committee be discharged with thanks.

RECOMMENDED: That the reports, if any, of the 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, except that the Zoning Permits Study Committee and the Central Fire Station Building Committee be discharged with thanks.

ARTICLE 4. 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 as yet undetermined financial obligations of the Town relating to salary increases, fringe benefit changes, and job reclassifications for non-School Department employees who either are not in a collective bargaining unit or who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement not yet concluded.

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, 2009 or as otherwise specified in said report or agreements; that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $225,000 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.

ARTICLE 5. Will the Town fix the salaries of the following Town Officers, viz:
1. Selectmen2. Treasurer/Collector3. Assessors4. Town Clerk5. Municipal Light Board;or act on anything relating thereto?

RECOMMENDED: That, subject to the proviso below, the salary from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 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 and Grade 17, respectively, 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.

ARTICLE 6. 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, 2009, 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, 2009, 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; and provided that any amount or a portion thereof appropriated to a sub-account under and included in a numbered account as set forth below may be transferred to another sub-account under the same numbered account with the approval of the Board of Selectmen and the Advisory Committee.

ARTICLE 7. Will the Town appropriate, from the receipts of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, money for the maintenance and operation of the Plant for the 12-month period commencing July 1, 2009, 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 i