Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
September 22, 1998
Selectmen Present: Chairman, Peter Jones, Judy Murdoch, Cathy Kuchinski, Daniel Webster, Charles Flynn and Executive Secretary Joseph Nugent.
I. Jones called the meeting to order at 7:30p.m. The first Item on the Agenda is the Classification Hearing - while waiting for the Board of Assessors the Board voted on 2 items. 1. Vote to allow tag day on Election Day, November 3, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Motion to allow Tag day by Webster, 2nd by Murdoch 5-0 Vote.
2. Vote Class II. license renewal, Lyle Waite of 68 King Street. Mr. Waite had inadvertently let his license lapse. Motion to renew Class II. license by Webster, 2nd by Kuchinski. 5-0 Vote.
II. Chairman Jones opened the Classification hearing at 7:35p.m. The Board of Assessors and Assistant Assessor Cyndi Long were present as well as the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Long explained a Uniform Tax rate as well as the effects of a 1%, 5%, 25% and 50% shift. The Board of Assessors recommend a uniform tax rate for Hanson. Motion by Kuchinski to accept the Assessors recommendation to adopt a uniform tax rate, 2nd by Murdoch. Roll Call Vote: Murdoch; aye, Kuchinski; aye, Webster; aye, Flynn; aye, Jones; aye. 5-0 Vote. The Uniform tax rate will be 17.37/1,000. Assessors notified the Board of Selectmen of the $2,627 in excess levy amount as required by law. Before closing the hearing Ms. Long explained a small commercial
exemption - the Board of Assessors do not recommend to adopt this. Motion by Kuchinski not to adopt the small commercial exemption, 2nd by Murdoch. Roll Call Vote: Murdoch; aye, Kuchinski; aye, Webster; aye, Flynn; aye, Jones; aye. 5-0 Vote.
Motion by Kuchinski to close the Classification Hearing, 2nd by Murdoch. Roll Call Vote: Murdoch; aye, Kuchinski; aye, Webster; aye, Flynn; aye, Jones; aye. 5-0 Vote.
III. Wage and Personnel Board - Charles O’Donnell, Michael Hulak, Karen Barry were present to discuss a few of the Administrative Personnel recommended to be taken out of the Wage and Personnel and to be negotiated by the Board of Selectmen. The Wage and Personnel Board recommended that the Treasurer/Collector, Town Accountant, Health Agent, Building Inspector and Director of Elder Affairs be taken out of theWage and Personnel Bylaw. The Board asked how this could be done. O’Donnell believes that an Article would have to be written for the May 99 Annual Town Meeting. The Board decided to proceed in that direction. Items for consideration would be a benefit package/evaluation process/salary and length of contract.
O’Donnell mentioned to the Board before he left that Article 21 of the October Special Town Meeting Warrant was already voted at the last Town Meeting and would require a hearing by the Wage and Personnel Board before being voted on at the Special Town Meeting. O’Donnell stated that so far, no hearing has been held. O’Donnell wanted to know if the Finance Committee or the Board of Selectmen would be recommending this article. Jones did not have an answer for either but stated that the Board will take this information into consideration before voting. The Board thanked the Wage and Personnel Board for coming.
IV. Cable Contract - Louise Russo handed the Board copies of the proposed changes to the contract. There was some discussion with regard to the language of Section 2.6- which refers to the ability of the Town to consider another cable t.v. company. Webster feels that it does not leave much room for competition. Motion to approve the Media One Contract by Murdoch, 2nd by Flynn. 4-1 Vote. (Webster - Nay) Kathy Dyer will be ombudsman for Medicare eligibility questions. There will also be $5,000 to Town to set up the internet at Town Hall.
V. Vote to award bid for Police Surplus Vehicles- The Police Chief Recommends the Highest Bidder. Motion by Murdoch, 2nd by Webster to award the Bid to the Highest Bidder, Winners Motor Corp. of Woodside, New York for $13,662. Range of bids were $1502 - $13662. 4-0 Vote (Jones Absent)
VI. Vote Polling hours- Motion by Kuchinski to set polling hours for State Elections as follows: Tuesday, November 3, 1998 from 7:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. at the Maquan School. 2nd by Murdoch. 3-0 Vote ( Webster and Jones absent)
VII. Chairman Jones had a few Announcements- (1) the South Shore Vo-Tech has invited members from the various Boards of Selectmen to their meeting of October 8, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting a member will be elected to represent them in matters of collective bargaining. Jones plans to attend as the Hanson representative. (2) October 3, 1998 will be Tavern Night at the Mill. (3) Whitman Hanson Regional School District will be holding a series of meetings on Strategic Planning on November 18, 20 and 21st.
VIII. October Special Town Meeting Article Recommendations as follows: All Votes on a Motion by Webster, 2nd by Murdoch.
Article 1 3-0-2Vote to recommend (Kuchinski and Jones abstained)
Article 2 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 3 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 4 5-0 Vote to recommend (assigned to Murdoch)
Article 5 4-0-1 Vote to recommend (Kuchinski abstained)
Article 6 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 7 5-0 Vote to recommend (assigned to Flynn)
Article 8 5-0 Vote to recommend (assigned to Webster)
Article 9 5-0 Vote to recommend (assigned to Webster)
Article 10 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 11,12,13 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 14 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 15 Hold for more information
Article 16 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 17 Hold for more information
Article 18 4-1 Vote not to recommend (Kuchinski, nay)
Article 19 Hold for more information
Article 20 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 21 5-0 Vote not to recommend
Article 22 5-0 Vote not to recommend
Article 23 Hold for more information
Article 24 Hold for more information
Article 25 Hold for more information
Article 26 Hold for more information
Article 27 Hold for more information
Article 28 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 29 5-0 Vote to recommend
Article 30 Hold for more information
Article 31 Hold to review
Article 32 Hold to review
Arlene Finn, Library Trustees arrived to discuss the Library Article (21)- Ms. Finn explained that she had written a letter to Wage and Personnel regarding this article and has never heard back from them. She explained that she has been unable to make contact with the Wage and Personnel Board all summer so that is why the Library Trustees submitted this article. The Board asked for a copy of the letter she had sent and the Board may reconsider their recommendation next week.
IX. Vote 61A land release - Daniel & Cheryl Re for property off Hillcrest Rd. No interest has been expressed by the Town Departments. Kuchinski clarified that the intention is to put one house on 3 acres of land and keep the rest of the land in 61A status. Motion by Kuchinski to release the right of first refusal on the mentioned property, 2nd by Murdoch. 5-0 Vote.
X. Action Requests: None
XI. Executive Secretary Report: (1) The Board should consider the avenues they will pursue for MunEnergy - The contract will need to be signed in October.
XII. Adjournment: Motion by Flynn to adjourn, 2nd Webster. 5-0 Vote. Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
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