Minutes of September 24, 1996 Selectmen Meeting
Selectmen Present: Judith Murdoch; Charles Flynn; James Haggerty,
Chair; Peter Jones and Catherine Kuchinski, Clerk with Joseph
Nugent, Executive Secretary to the Board of Selectmen.
I. Open: Haggerty called the meeting to order at 7:32pm.
II. Announcements: Letter of compliment from Mrs. Wolfe: She
praised Fire Department EMTs for their care of her medical
emergency on Friday evening at her home on Liberty Street.
Nugent to find out who was on duty for letter to be sent from the
Board. Letter of praise for Mr. Harris from Jean Leonard: her
request for a dead-end sign installation on June Elaine Drive was
handled within 24 hours. Mr. Harris was publicly thanked by the
Board for his service to the residents.
III. Classification Hearing - Meeting with the Assessors. Also
present: Marie Rosen-Nugent, Steve DeDominici with Assessor-
appraiser Cindy Long. As required by law, this meeting was
jointly held in order to receive input from the public regarding
the classification of property. the Mrs. Long gave the
Assessors' presentation stating that the Board expects the state
to certify a rate of $16.40 per $1,000 of valuation for fiscal
1997. FY96 rate was $17.05. 88.88% of the taxable property is
residential with the balance commercial, industrial etc. A split
rate for business owners is uncommon in communities in which
commercial property makes up less than 25% of the tax base.
Rental of Commercial / Industrial property is very slowly
recovering. She stated that a uniform rate would be most user
friendly to all classes. The average one-family dwelling is
currently valued at $138,200 which would result in an annual real
estate tax bill of $2,266.81. The average valuation for a single
family dwelling in FY96 was $128,000 with a tax bill of
$2,182.40. Motion 9/24/96.1: move to follow Assessors'
recommendation and stay with a uniform rate for the
classification of property. Motion made by Murdoch with second
by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Motion 9/24/96.2: move to follow
Assessors' recommendation not to adopt the Small Business
Exemption. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion
carried 5-0. Motion 9/24/96.3: move to continue this hearing
until the Assessors' report back that the State has certified the
rate for Hanson. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. Hearing must remain open until the assessors
receive the excess levy capacity figure expected next week.
IV. John Buckley - County Commissioner: Buckley wanted to update
the Board on several county issues in Hanson. (1) Tower: 2 of
the 4 sections and all accessory buildings are up; all permits
are in place including FAAA. Completion is expected within three
weeks and will be ready to take on all entities previously
approved; Public safety to be greatly improved. Commissioners
promise an on-site visit upon completion. (2) RFP for Plymouth
County Land: RFPs to be opened on October 1st at PC Commissioner
meeting. Nugent to attend for Selectmen. The advisory committee
appointed by the Moderator also to be invited for observation and
input. Kuchinski requested that the Commissioners request
prisoners to paint the County-owned houses on High Street.
V. Swearing-in of Police Officers: Present: Town Clerk Sandra
Harris, Police Chief Russ King, candidates Michelle Melia and
Michael Casey, family and friends. Longtime local residents,
Melia and Casey took the oath of office and badges were pinned on
by parents.
VI. Discussion and Assignment of October Special Town Meeting
Articles: Also present were members from the FinCom.
Presentations by proponents to be made, clarification, discussion
and recommendation on each article to be made this evening.
Assignment of Selectmen to present article on the floor to be
decided. For ease, Murdoch to make each motion to recommend the
article and Jones will second, then each member is freed to vote
by conscience.
Motion 9/24/96.4: move to recommend Article One - Luiz judgment
payment for $24,299.91. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Murdoch to present. Motion
9/24/96.5: move to recommend Article Two - $11,660 for
firefighters and $1,302 for Fire Chief for the purpose of funding
the Firefighters contract. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Jones to present. Motion 9/24/96.6:
move to recommend Article Three - $3,556 to fund the Dispatchers'
contract. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion
carried 5-0. Flynn to present. Motion 9/24/96.7: move to
recommend Article Four - Transfer $200,000 to Stabilization Fund.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Haggerty to present. Motion 9/24/96.8: move to recommend Article
Five - Bluestone "non-binding" contract. Motion made by Murdoch
with second by Jones. Motion carried 4-1 (Kuchinski opposed to
signing contract). Murdoch to present. Motion 9/24/96.9: move
to recommend Article Six - rescind Water department legislation.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 3-2
(Jones and Kuchinski). Flynn to present Motion 9/24/96.10: move
to recommend Article Seven - Selectmen to appoint 3
Commissioners. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 3-2 (Jones and Kuchinski). Motion 9/24/96.11:
move to recommend Article Eight - create Golf Study Committee.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Haggerty to present. Motion 9/24/96.12: move to recommend
Article Nine - 50 year lease to WHRHS for Liberty Street acreage
for SBAB purposes. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. Flynn to present. Motion 9/24/96.13: move
to recommend Article Ten - 50 year lease to WHRHS for Indian Head
School acreage for SBAB purposes. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Flynn to present. Motion
9/24/96.14: move to recommend Article Eleven - $41,572 for
technology. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion
carried 5-0. Kuchinski to present. Motion 9/24/96.15: move
to recommend Article Twelve - $8,000 for additional hours for the
building inspector. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. Haggerty to present. Motion 9/24/96.16: move
to recommend Article Thirteen - $875 for painting crosswalks.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 3-2
(Haggerty and Flynn). Kuchinski to present. Motion 9/24/96.17:
move to recommend Article Fourteen - $9,300 for clerical line
transfer from Library wages. Motion made by Murdoch with second
by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Jones to present. Motion
9/24/96.18: move to recommend Article Fifteen - $3,000 for
computer hardware upgrade. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Kuchinski to present. Motion
9/24/96.19: move to recommend Article Sixteen - to authorize
Board of Selectmen to take land by eminent domain. Motion made
by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Haggerty to
present. Motion 9/24/96.20: move to recommend Article Seventeen -
vote to accept listed streets. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Kuchinski to present.
Motion 9/24/96.21: move to recommend Article Eighteen - $305.75
for repair to veterans' agent car. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Haggerty to present. Motion
9/24/96.22: move to recommend Article Nineteen - $42,412.84
transfer into the CIC fund. Motion made by Murdoch with second
by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. CIC to present. Motion 9/24/96.23:
move to recommend Article Twenty - $15,000 for feasibility study
of the Town Hall. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. CIC to present. Motion 9/24/96.24: move to
recommend Article Twenty-One - $25,000 for a generator at the
Fire Station. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones.
Motion carried 5-0. CIC to present. Motion 9/24/96.25: move to
recommend Article Twenty-two - $1,100 for a computer printer.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Assessors to present. Motion 9/24/96.26: move to recommend
Article Twenty-three - amend bylaws for typo corrections. Motion
made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Wage
and Personnel Board to present. Motion 9/24/96.27: move to
recommend Article Twenty-four - $120,000 for a new ambulance.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Fire Chief to present. Motion 9/24/96.28: move to recommend
Article Twenty-five - $4,000 for hepatitis B shots for EMTs.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Fire Chief to present. Motion 9/24/96.29: move to recommend
Article Twenty-six - $1,000 for the Memorial Day parade. Motion
made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Veterans' Agent to present. Motion 9/24/96.30: move to recommend
Article Twenty-seven - $1,000 for Tree Department expenses.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Tree Warden to present. Motion 9/24/96.31: move to recommend
Article Twenty-eight - $5,000 for a sander. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Highway
Surveyor to present. Motion 9/24/96.32: move to recommend
Article Twenty-nine - $6,000 for street sweeping. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Highway
Surveyor to present. Motion 9/24/96.33: move to recommend
Article Thirty - $7,100 from VNA service to Elder Affairs
Custodian services and Elder Affairs expenses. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Council for
Elder Affairs to present. Motion 9/24/96.34: move to recommend
Article Thirty-One - $10,000 to establish monies for a senior
citizen tax payment voucher system. Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Council for Elder Affairs
to present. Motion 9/24/96.35: move to recommend Article Thirty-
Two - MOTION TO PASS OVER ARTICLE REQUESTING $20,000 FROM WATER
DEPARTMENT LEGAL LINE. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. FinCom to present PASS OVER.
Motion 9/24/96.36: move to recommend Article Thirty-Three -
$60,800 to fund a grant to improve Memorial Field. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Memorial Field
Trustees to present. Motion 9/24/96.37: move to recommend
Article Thirty-Four - to establish a parks and fields commission.
Motion made by Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
Memorial Field Trustees to present.
Additional information given on various articles: #4: free cash
has enough to cover requested articles and still put monies into
stabilization; #10 - housekeeping article; #11 for Indian Head
and Maquan Schools - use these funds in addition to those monies
raised by parents. Monies coming back to district because of a
lower assessment. #12 raise Building Inspectors hours by 10 to
35 hours per week; to use the time to address zoning complaints,
act as ADA coordinator and work with other boards on zoning
planning. 600 permits projected for $75,000 in revenue; Haggerty
noted that ADA coordinator must be a fulltime person and
Kuchinski requested that the BI hold a public meeting to address
zoning by-law questions and do an information show on cable t.v.
#13: Kuchinski brought article forward from citizen requests;
Highway surveyor has received one bid, Jones questioned use of
inmates to paint; Highway Surveyor to speak against the article
for liability issues. Murdoch to do her own research. #15: each
department is computerized and continually looking to interface;
this would allow interruptions to be isolated. Nugent stated
this a first request in five years. [Plymouth County Retirement
figures came in lower after monies set aside in May Town Meeting.
$51,000 lower.] #16: 8x10 section of property - reluctance to
sign with FDIC. #17: There is a new planning rule that
developer must deed over the roads during planning board process
in order to avoid current problems. #21: old generator is 10kw
and its use to determined later. new generator - 35kw.
[Kuchinski asked MaryLou Sutter for an updated priority list of
items from Capital Improvement Committee in light of additional
monies and request for actions at this Town Meeting.]
Article 24 - decision is to lease purchase versus outright
purchase; full price is in the ambulance fund through receipts up
until 8/31/96. #28: price may not reach $5,000 but department
is looking only to buy the hopper and install it themselves. #29:
for sweeping next spring. #30: increase custodian hours. #31:
to use $6 per hour vouchers for 60 and older residents at $500
per year per household. Details of program drafted by the
Council on Aging to be approved by the Board of Selectmen. #32:
passover because FinCom believes matter is a by-law not financial
situation. #33: $15,000 already given to trustees to have design
and engineering work done; grant is prepared and submitted; now
looking for town monetary support to receive up to $50,000
reimbursement (the town would eventually only have spent a total
of $25,000 for this upgrade of Memorial Field). Grant monies
would have to be spent by June 1, 1997. Funds requested would
have to be pro-rated to the amount of the grant received.
Discussion as to borrowing or free cash to be used. Murdoch
requested that we use the "common sense approach" to this matter.
McCormack to investigate issue with bond counsel. #34: Sports
groups and recreation commission support the article.
At 10:10pm Haggerty recessed the meeting for 5 minutes.
VII. Executive Secretary position as Special Police Officer:
Motion 9/24/96.38: move to appoint the position of Executive
Secretary as a Special Police Officer. Motion made by Murdoch
with second by Flynn. Motion carried 4-1 (Kuchinski).
Haggerty announced that the goals and objectives of the Executive
Secretary would be discussed at the next meeting of the Board.
VIII. Plumbing and Gas Heater Fees: The building inspector has
requested that the Board consider adjusting downward the fees in
this area in order to be in line with other surrounding towns.
Motion 9/24/96.39: move to lower that plumbing and gas heater fee
to $40 in order to match area towns. Motion made by Murdoch
with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
IX. Request for Three Video games at McCarthy's Pub: Mary Jane
Shanley as manager has put forth request for 3 video casino 5
games at the pub. Policy in place for accepting these requests;
police inspection report not in; and there is an apparent problem
with compliance with the Board of Health orders on the septic
system. Motion 9/24/96.40: move to table this request until the
next meeting. Motion made by Jones with second by Murdoch. Motion
carried 5-0.
X. South Shore Habitat: This item removed from agenda because the
deed not ready. Kuchinski remarked how great it was to see the
Dale and the Duds fund-raiser last Sunday. Kathy Nee to be
commended for her efforts.
XI. Polling Hours set for November 5, 1996 Election: Motion
9/24/96.41: move to set the polling hours from 7AM until 8PM on
Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0.
XII. Cycle Four for the 2nd Annual Ride for Hospice: Route is
north on 58, right on School Street and right on 14. Nugent to
check on the probable time for riders on School Street, check
with the police chief and prepare necessary letters of approval.
Motion 9/24/96.42: move to approve the ride through Hanson as
requested. Motion made by Kuchinski with second by Murdoch.
Motion carried 5-0.
XIII. Selectmen Action Requests/Announcements: (1) Kuchinski on
land donation: Jordan Stone still willing to donate - will
contact the Town in November. (2) Kuchinski - Dispatchers:
report that 3 part-time dispatchers hired. (3) Letter re: Factory
Pond: Kuchinski requested a letter be sent to DEP Jon Hobill
requesting status on the clean up of the Pond. (4) Oil
Recycling: status report for Jones (5) Flynn - Route 58: asking
for status on the route 58 testing; so far nothing concrete for a
response.
XIV. Executive Secretary's Report: (1) Council of Elder Affairs:
received a grant for $3,000 from the Curtis Trust for Adult Day
Care. Another recent grant of $3,600 which Nugent will obtain
the particulars. Kuchinski asked that a letter of commendation
go to the Senior Center. (2) Sandwich Board for the W-H Fall
Festival: students asking for permission for placing sign on the
Town Hall lawn. Motion 9/24/96.43: move to grant permission for
the placement of the sign on the Town Hall lawn. Motion by
Kuchinski with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. (3) Petition
for 4 way stop at Andrews Lane and Jerrold Streets: Item to be on
the next agenda for full discussion. (4) Troop 34 Door to Door
PopCorn Sales: BoyScouts looking for solicitation hours from 3-
6pm weekdays and 10-6pm on weekends for the month of October.
Motion 9/24/96.44: move to grant permission for the Boyscout
solicitation as given above. Motion by Jones with second by
Flynn. Motion carried 5-0. (5) Sept. 28 Open House invitations
for Boston Ave site of Habitat for Humanity: 1-3pm at Boston
Avenue. Deed to be addressed at next meeting once all glitches
corrected.
XV. Request for Executive Session: Nugent requested the Board go
into Executive Session for update on clerical negotiation on
grievance #3. Motion 9/24/96.45: move to enter Executive Session
under numbers three for clerical grievance negotiation. Motion
by Murdoch with second by Jones. ROLL CALL VOTE: Murdoch: Aye;
Flynn: Aye; Haggerty: Aye; Jones: Aye; and Kuchinski - Aye.
Motion carried 5-0. No votes expected. Meeting recessed at
9:48pm for camera breakdown.
XI. Adjournment: Motion 9/24/96.46: move to adjourn. Motion
made by Jones with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
Adjourned at 11:02pm.
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