Selectmen's Meeting - June 4, 1996
Selectmen Attending: Judith Murdoch, James Haggerty, Chair; Peter
Jones, Charles Flynn, and Catherine Kuchinski, Clerk. Also:
Joseph Nugent, Board of Selectmen's Executive Secretary.
I. Announcements - (1) State of Emergency: Haggerty opened the
meeting at 7:30pm requesting the Board affirm the letter he was
requested to pen on May 22nd which stated that he had declared
the Town in a state of emergency on May 21, 1996 at 5:30pm.
Motion 6/4/96.1: move to confirm the Chair's declaration of a
state of emergency since 5:30pm on May 21, 1996. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. The town has
expended $19,000 to date on the storm. Paperwork being done by
Accountant, Executive Secretary and Highway Surveyor. Residents
are advised to move limbs to the street for pick-up by the Town.
Harris and Tree Warden Ferguson are before the FinCom this
evening looking for at least $2,500 for hiring crews to chip and
pick up debris. Storm will be on next agenda for assessment on
declaration of emergency. (2) NYNEX Diversity Program:
invitation to attend grant ceremony. Jones to attend. (3) W-H
Hockey Booster Club - Can Day - June 22: Motion 6/4/96.2: move to
permit the W-H Hockey Booster Club to solicit door-to-door for
cans on June 22, 1996. Motion made by Flynn with second by
Murdoch. Motion carried 5-0.
II. 7:45PM - Continuation of Hearing for alteration of Olde
Hitching Post Restaurant: Present: Arthur Leanos, owner;
abutters Rodney and Barbara Brunsell. A set of drawings (floor
plan) and the green notice cards were presented this evening.
Leanos stated that the purpose of the Tavern was to act as a
holding area for diners; hours and menu the same as the main
restaurant area; a possible future request to extend hours on
Friday and Saturday by one hour until 11pm, Leanos believes this
site has only been improved, including traffic control, by his
actions. No building permit has been issued for the noted future
area. The 1992 ZBA decision reviewed for 65 parking spaces, 194
seats (presently 167 seats); this lot is now maxed out; 67 people
employed here. Brunsells are the most visible abutters and have
concerns for traffic, tavern use not to be a bar and additional
signage not permitted by 1992 zoning decision. Kuchinski
requested Leanos to properly address this concern and he stated
he would. Motion 6/4/96.3: move to accept the existing
alterations for 48 Spring Street, Olde Hitching Post Restaurant:
4 dining areas plus bar, tavern area for 165 seats, 2 offices
upstairs with storage below. Motion made by Murdoch with second
by Kuchinski. Motion carried 5-0.
III. Fire Truck Bond Papers: Treasurer/Collector Carole McCormack
requested the Board to sign the $800,000 eleven year bonds at
5.74% interest for interest to total $269,000. She informed the
board that approximately $5,500 would be saved in interest.
Motion 6/4/96.4: move to sign the necessary bond papers for the
Town's payment on fire apparatus to State Street Bank (parent
company is Market and Company). Motion made by Murdoch with
second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
IV. Police Chief - Proposed Auxiliary Police Officers: candidates
for appointment as auxiliary/special police officers for the Town
of Hanson were presented to the Board for consideration: Leo
Arseneau, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Peter Calogero, Michael Casey, Keith
Sweeney, Algenon Queens, and Marc Vigneau. Once appointed, these
officers would patrol at no cost to the Town, performing duties
to assist full-time officers, on details, functions to benefit
the Town. Each candidate has attended the necessary 120 hour
academy schooling, background check, interviews plus an in-house
35 hour departmental training. All this at their own expense.
Each candidate stood and spoke to the Board on his desire to be
appointed and were commended by the Board for their dedication
and commitment. 1300 hours of patrol has been logged by the
auxiliary unit at no cost to the town. Motion 6/4/96.5: move to
appoint Leo Arseneau, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Peter Calogero, Michael
Casey, Keith Sweeney, Algenon Queens, and Marc Vigneau as
Auxiliary/Special Police Officers for the Town of hanson
Auxiliary Police Force. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Flynn. Motion carried 5-0. Town Clerk Sandra Harris came in to
the meeting and, in front of gathered family and friends, swore
in the appointed officers to their Town duties.
V. Release of 61B land: Hanson AA property on Reed Street: Bernie
Munro appeared on behalf of Hanson AA to explain the request.
The property is being split for sale for profit and accommodation
of an abutter who has built on AA land. Sales to be 8 acres to
abutter Costa for $50,000, 8 acres for $50,000 and one house lot
(30,000 sq ft) for $50,000. Motion 6/4/96.6: move to release
the land from 61B and to not exercise the Town's Right of First
Refusal on this property. Motion made by Murdoch with second by
Jones. Motion carried 5-0. Kuchinski did voice her concern that
the Town's procedure on this and other pieces of 61 property were
not being followed properly and that other abutters may have
wanted to have a chance at purchasing the property. Also, that
the Town was being asked to release property without meeting a
bonafide p&s price by a known potential buyer. Process must be
tightened up.
VI. Historical Society Request for Common Victualers' licenses:
The Society is requesting license for its June 21st Strawberry
Festival and its Harvest Fair on September 21 at the headquarters
on Main Street. Motion 6/4/96.7: move to issue Common
Victualers' licenses to the Society for June 21 and September 21
as requested. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Kuchinski.
Motion carried 5-0.
VII. Continental Cablevision merger with US West: Nugent noted
area public hearing to be June 26 7-10pm at Massasoit CC. Motion
6/4/96.8: move that the Board send a letter to the Cable
Committee notifying them of this letter and asking for a member
to attend the scheduled meeting and making note that the town
would appreciate no increase in cost of cable service. Motion
made by Jones with second by Murdoch. Motion carried 5-0.
VIII. Six Surplus Vehicles - bid for sale: a public ad for
bidding with visible inspection opportunities was placed; the
high bidder for the 1989 Ford Crown Vic was A. Gelsi for $52.90;
the high bidder for the second 1989 Ford Crown Vic was A. Glesi
for $52.90; the high bidder for the 1990 Ford Crown Vic was A.
Gelsi for $261.42; the high bidder for the Senior Center Van was
A. Gelsi for $86.00; the high bidder for the 1946 Dodge Brush
truck was Clyde Keene for $1,246.00 and the high bidder for the
1983 Cube van was A. Gelsi for $456.80. Motion 6/4/96.9: move
to award the vehicles (as-is) to the highest bidders on the list
presented this evening to the Board of Selectmen. Motion made by
Murdoch with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
IX. Request for Executive Session - Police Union under #3 for
Grievance and Police Chief under #4 for Security personnel:
Present: Chief Berry, Lt. King and Officers Larkin and Andrews.
Motion 6/4/96.10: move to enter Executive Session under #3 and #4
as requested. Motion made by Murdoch with second by Flynn. Roll
Call Vote: Murdoch - Aye; Flynn: Aye; Haggerty: Aye; Jones: Aye
and Kuchinski: Aye. Motion carried 5-0. Session expected to be
brief and any votes to be announced when the Board returns to
open session.
Board re-entered open session at 10:10pm. Haggerty announced
that the Board voted to deny the grievance presented by the Union
4-1 and also unanimously directed the Chief of Police to apply
for the second FAST COP grant personnel and report back to the
Board as soon as possible.
X. Appointments: Kuchinski noted that no letters of thanks had
gone out to those currently serving in appointed positions nor
did the Board know if people wished to be reappointed and that
the public had not been notified that appointments would be
considered. She requested the past procedure be followed and
that this item be placed on a later agenda. Motion 6/4/96.11:
move to send letter of thanks to people currently serving with
terms to expire June 30, 1996. Motion made by Kuchinski with
second by Murdoch. Motion carried 5-0. Street Acceptance
Committee to also be appointed on June 18th.
XI. Executive Secretary's Report: (1) Emergency funds for the
Storm: legislature expected to assist with 75% of the cost.
(2) Rockland Landfill - DEP answering Hanover residents' concerns
by requiring drainage work to be completed shortly. (3) Cross
Walks: Nugent reported his conversations with insurance agent
regarding expanded liability if cross-walks are installed. If
approved, the next step would be to locate the approximate $875
to do the five proposed walks. Motion 6/4/96.12: move that the
Town install five crosswalks along Routes 58 and 27 for
pedestrian traffic. Motion made by Kuchinski with second by
Murdoch. Motion carried 5-0. (4) Factory Pond Dam: inspections
underway; sluiceway boards back in; Landers to do paperwork for
Office of Dam Safety. (5) Request for Meeting: Bluestone
requested Selectmen meet with them on the 18th at 7pm. Kuchinski
noted that Bluestone had yet to have any answers from Stoughton
or Brockton so that Bluestone should be asked to attend a later
meeting in Hanson. (6) July Meeting Dates: Motion 6/4/96.13:
move to set meeting dates as July 2 and July 16, 1996 at 7:30pm.
Motion by Kuchinski with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0.
XII. Action Requests: (1) Murdoch - ZBA to be contacted to see if
Town Counsel Bill could be lessened if ZBA released lawsuit
against Commissioners. (2) Murdoch - wants to address the letter
from Commissioners to Bluestone. (3) Flynn- assess Town's
response to the storm emergency. Motion 6/4/96.14: move to send
a letter of appreciation to Family Tree Service for their
volunteer service to the Town during the Storm. Motion made by
Flynn with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. (4) Haggerty
- islands planted - contact groups for thank-yous. (5) Jones -
Hazardous Waste Day - June 8 10-2pm . Motion 6/4/96.15: move to
send a letter of appreciation to Board of Health for this project
and to ask about the oil recycling bin placement for operation
readiness. Motion made by Jones with second by Kuchinski.
Motion carried 5-0. (6) Kuchinski - Motion 6/4/96.16: move to
send a letter of congratulations to S.S. Votech student Steve
Reed of Hanson (and his Whitman partner, Lenny Lauzon) for their
outstanding state performance in the Ford contest. Motion made by
Kuchinski with second by Jones. Motion carried 5-0. (7) 175th
Anniversary Book: available at Holiday Cleaners. (8) Memorial Day
Thank yous: Town owes alot to Parade Marshall Paul Nawazelski,
the Hanson American Legion Post and Veteran Agent and Assistant
Robert Arsenault and Dana Larsen for the observances participated
in last week. (9) Eastern Utilities IVM program: Between June
15 and September 15, Right of Way Management to be done on
electric lines in town. (10) Housing Authority emergency action
plan: to be addressed at the overall meeting dealing with town
response to the storm.
XII. Adjournment. Motion 6/4/96.17: move to adjourn. Motion by
Murdoch with second by Flynn. Motion carried 5-0. Adjourned at
10:50pm.
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