Minutes: May 31, 1994 - Selectmen Meeting
Selectmen attending: Joseph Frisoli, Chair; Judith Murdoch, Vice-
Chair; Peter Jones, Charles Flynn and Catherine Kuchinski, Clerk.
Also: Joseph Nugent, Executive Secretary to the Board.
I. Opening Announcements: Frisoli called the meeting to order at
7:32pm with the following announcements: (1) Invitation to W-H
High School graduation on June 4, 1994. Jones to attend
representing the Board; Flynn may possibly attend. (2) Frisoli
noted that he and Murdoch are unable to attend the 6/14 meeting
and later in this meeting will request meeting change - issuing
reminder that 3 signatures needed on warrants every Tuesday
evening. (3) Frisoli read a District Attorney William
O'Malley's letter of commendation for Brian Watson's outstanding
efforts as Deputy Sheriff for his participation in the state's
case prosecuting the murder of Linda Jenner of Plymouth. Motion
5/31/94.1: move to place District Attorney's letter in officer
Watson's personnel file. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Kuchinski. Motion carried 5-0. (4) Frisoli noted that two
letters of response drafted by Nugent for his signature
submitting requested information to D.A.'s office investigating
Open Meeting law complaints.
II. Clerical Union Contract amendment: Selectmen discussed the
proposed Grade position change from grade 3 to grade 5 because
the personnel in grade 3 is doing more than grade 3 work.
Discussion noted that a change in description necessary because
"Assistant Assessor" could be interpreted to mean that the
Assistant automatically stepped in to Assessor position. Motion
5/31/94.2: move that the proposed position change in the
classification table read "Assistant to the Assessor". Motion
made by Murdoch with second by Kuchinski. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion 5/31/94.3: move to accept the proposed amendment to the
Clerical Union contract as noted conditional upon the Union also
accepting the wording change. Motion made by Murdoch with second
by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
III. Lyle Waite - Request for Class II License. Mr. Waite
looking for a used car dealer's license for automobile sales with
no inventory to be present at his King Street residence. He
requires the license in order to do paperwork only. Motion
5/31/94.4: move to issue Class II license for Lyle Waite at 68
King Street. Motion made Murdoch with second by Kuchinski.
Motion carried 5-0.
IV. Monthly Budget Tracking: Frisoli gave a short review of the
tracking process covering the major budgets: Police, Fire, Town
Hall and Highway departments. Including the fact that the end of
fiscal year is near, notations were also made of police and fire
overtime and vacation expenses as well as delineation of the
entire cost of snow removal from the winter storms.
V. Solicitation by W-H hockey Booster Club: Ms. Belasco and Ms.
Christensen requesting permission for the high school Boosters'
club to conduct a bottle and can door to door solicitation drive
on Saturday, June 11 from 9am to 2pm. Motion 5/31/94.5: move to
allow W-H Booster Club permission to conduct bottle and can
solicitation as noted above. Motion made by Jones with second by
Kuchinski. Motion carried 5-0.
VI. Common Victualer's license requested by Historical Society:
Hanson Historical Society requesting common victualer's license
to have food at their Annual Strawberry Festival on June 10 (5-
8pm) and the Annual Harvest Fair all day on September 24, 1994.
Motion 5/31/94.6: move to issue common victualer's license for
dates noted in applicant's request. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. Board of Selectmen Minutes: Motion 5/31/94.7: move to
accept the minutes of March 22, 1994, April 5, 1994, April 19,
1994 and May 2, 1994 as printed. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Kuchinski. Motion carried 3-0-2 (Flynn and Jones).
Motion 5/31/94.8: move to accept the minutes of Emergency Meeting
on April 12, 1994. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Frisoli. Motion carried 2-0-3 (Kuchinski, Flynn and Jones). On
the Open Session Minutes of May 17, 1994, Flynn questioned
whether the inclusion of the notation of the IRS information
presented to Board by T. Dahlberg was proper to include in the
minutes since it occurred on break. Minutes held in order for
the D.A.'s office to be contacted. Motion 5/31/94.9: move to
accept the minutes of the May 17, 1994 Executive Session. Motion
made by Murdoch with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
VIII. George Street Residents - Request for Road Work: residents
aired their concerns tonight to follow up their May 16, 1994
letter to the Board. Present with Highway Surveyor were Ray
DiMestico, Rebecca and Tom Nehily, Brian Ledbetter, Alayna and
Jonathan Hanlon and Carolyn Hoffman. Residents want some of the
monies approved to be used to repair the road and drainage
conditions on this road. Frisoli noted that the Board of
Selectmen has little jurisdiction and that Highway Surveyor would
do the best job given on all the roads within the monies allowed
through the budget. After stating the criteria used for
announcing the streets to be fixed with the voted monies (traffic
flow, severity of pot holes) Harris noted that the pot holes on
George Street were fixed today and that the frost heaves have not
settled down because the road does not receive heavy continuous
travel of larger vehicles. Cost for quick fix - $10,182.00 since
the street needs to be completely pulverized. Discussion did net
the agreement that the catch basin area will be dug out and reset
for at least a distance of 4-6 feet around. Harris has promised
that the work would be done by July 1st. Road problems are
caused by improper drainage of water flow by initial development.
BONNEY HILL ROAD: resident Brian Kenney (7th grade) submitted a
petition of neighbors requesting road work for Bonney Hill Road
off High Street. No work has been promised. Both petitions have
been forwarded to the Highway Surveyor for consideration when
additional funds have been secured. Harris noted that state
funding for major road work on streets (West Washington Street
and Elm Street) has been sought.
IX. Collector/Treasurer: Carole McCormack briefed the Selectmen
on the $60,000 Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) to be signed for the
borrowing during the period of June 15, 1994 through 7/95 at 4.1%
interest. The BAN is for the reevaluation voted at the May 1993
Town Meeting. McCormack also informed the Board that she will be
going out to bid before July 1st to borrow $1.85 million. She
also alerting Board to potential need to borrow again in the fall
because of tax bills.
X. Use of Town Hall Grounds - Friends of Jimmy: Present: Linda
Osborne, fund raising chairman, Joanne White, Barbara Polese and
father James Cohan. James E. Cohan, III is suffering from
leukemia and friends have rallied to raise money to assist with
expenses. Jimmy's treatments at Dana Farber are going well,
however, treatments will continue for the next few years before
remission can be announced. With the help of Heidi Hollow Farm,
the non-profit committee is looking to use the Town Hall grounds
on June 12 (Sunday) from 12 noon until 5pm for an ice-cream
festival. Motion 5/31/94.10: move to allow the use of the Town
Hall grounds by the Friends of Jimmy for an ice cream festival on
Sunday, June 12, 1994 from 12 noon until 5pm; with use of the
Town Hall sign the week before to advertise the event. Motion
made by Murdoch with second by Kuchinski. Motion carried 5-0.
XI. Action Requests:
1. Whitman-Hanson Building Study Committee: Peter Jones
informed the Board that he had spoken with former Selectman
Haggerty who would wish to continue on the committee. Motion
5/31/94.11: move that the Board of Selectmen designate James
Haggerty as their representative to the Building Study Committee
requesting he made update reports to the Board by end of June,
1994 and by October 1, 1994. Motion by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Jones willing to go on to
negotiation team. He shall work with Frisoli on the Highway
Contract. 2. Jones noted his desire to send a letter to Therese
Murray regarding the Town's MBTA status. 3. MBTA meeting:
Kuchinski reported that the MBTA requested meeting with her
scheduled for June 1 was canceled by the MBTA this afternoon.
Kuchinski stated that the MBTA was continuing their internal
dialogue on create versus timber ties. Discussion ensued on
approach to be taken if any further direct contact is made to
selectman. Any requested meeting will be scheduled as a posted
meeting of the Board of Selectmen. 4. Clean-Up - June 18:
Kuchinski announced that helpful residents will be gathering at
10am Town Hall parking lot to clean certain locations. Debris
will be brought to Transfer station by vehicles properly
registered with the Board of Health. 5. Fire Apparatus
Committee: Discussion on Flynn's present appointment to this
committee as a resident. Members thought it best to ask him to be
official representative from the Board of Selectmen with the
press to announce vacancy for a resident to fill. 6. Cherry Sheet
discussion: Frisoli noted that although the Town was receiving
$29,000 from the state, that Hanson is actually $60,000 deficit
for starting the FY95 budget on July 1. Apparently, the $89,000
figure from MMA statistics the town was using to base its budgets
was calculated too high. Frisoli requesting thoughts on how to
handle this situation from department heads and selectmen for the
next meeting. Adjustments may be needed at October town Meeting.
Nugent directed to send memo notifying departments of the
shortfall requesting conservative spending. 7. Route 58: Nugent
stated that the state has not passed along any definitive work
schedule from Todesca; that work is continuing along the length
of the road; and that Harris and Nugent are continuing to develop
and maintain a punch list of items to be corrected by the time
project is considered finished. Kuchinski noted she has been
following the Crowley concerns with the state.
XII. Executive Secretary Report: (1) Plymouth County Assessors
workshop: to be held June 8 at 7pm at Hanover Town Hall. (2)
Betty Archer donation of paintings - the Thomas Mill and Town
Hall: Mrs. Archer has donated 2 lovely framed paintings for
hanging within Town Hall. Motion 5/31/94.12: move to send a warm
letter of thanks for her kind donation of two paintings. Motion
by Murdoch with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0. (3) Fire
Department Commendation: Since last meeting, the Board has
received clarification on actual respondees for accident suffered
by M.J. McIssac, Jr. last month. Motion 5/31/94.13: move to
place letter of commendation in the personnel file of Lt. Ralph
Becker who was the off-duty fire-fighter who rendered assistance.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Eric Hutchings was the call fire-fighter. (4) Board Meeting
times: Frisoli noted that June 14 was inconvenient for 2 members
therefore wished a rescheduling. Motion 5/31/94.14: move to hold
June meetings of the Board of Selectmen on June 7 and June 21,
1994. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Kuchinski. Motion
carried 5-0. Motion 5/31/94.15: move to hold meetings of the
Board of Selectmen on July 6 (Wednesday) and July 19, 1994.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Kuchinski. Motion carried
5-0. August dates will be set in July. (5) Water department and
workers' compensation insurance payment: Nugent reported that
Town Accountant responded today to questions on the $9,000
insurance bill asked by the Water Department. The Town can
consider it a FY94 bill since it was received this year.
Although Frisoli wanted to request an emergency transfer to cover
the payment of the bill, other members wanted to allow the Water
Commissioners to address the matter at their posted Thursday,
June 2, 1994 meeting. Currently, the Town has a blanket coverage
policy. The Water Department is not a fully funded enterprise
system. (6) Insurance: Insurance coverage is not out for bid
every year, but is reviewed to keep agent on target for best
coverage for the Town. Nugent to request Insurance Committee to
reactivate.
XIII. Executive Session. Frisoli announced the need to enter
executive session for two matters concerning the police
department - contract negotiations and the filing of a lawsuit.
Motion 5/31/94.14: move to enter Executive Session under #3 for
collective bargaining on FY94 and FY95 police contract and under
#3 for litigation filed by police department. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Vote taken by roll call vote:
Murdoch - Aye; Flynn - Aye; Frisoli - Aye; Jones - Aye and
Kuchinski - Aye. Motion carried 5-0. Chair announcing the
likelihood of at least one vote being taken during the session to
be announced when returning to Open Session. Thomas Dalhberg
asked the status of Town action on bringing the small vehicle
plan into compliance with IRS tax laws. Nugent indicated that
Treasurer/Collector is investigating the question and is
coordinating the response.
At 10:05pm break for Executive Session.
XIII. Re-entry to Open Session and Adjournment. Re-entered open
session at 11:15pm. Chair announced the vote taken in the
Executive Session - to accept the contract for Fiscal years 94
and 95; and noted he would be signing the draft letters to the DA
query regarding Open Meeting law complaints. Motion 5/31/94.15:
move to adjourn. Motion by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. Adjourned at 11:18 pm.
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