Meeting Minutes
September 30, 2003
Present: Present were Catherine Kuchinski, Mark Gallivan, Peter Jones (late), Robert Forte and Jesse McSweeney. Also present were Executive Secretary E. Winn Davis and Executive Assistant Meredith Scozzari.
7:30 p.m. Vice Chairman Robert Forte called the meeting to order and read the announcements and upcoming meeting schedule.
I. Discuss Executive Secretary Search – The Board discussed the creation and composition of search committee for the Executive Secretary’s position. Mr. Gallivan volunteered to be the Board’s representative on the search committee.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by McSweeney to appoint a five member committee consisting of a member from the Board of Selectmen, finance committee, wage and personnel, the police chief and one citizen at large with applications for appointment to be in to the Selectmen’s office by October 14th and the interviews scheduled for October 21st. Voted 4 – 0.
II. Accept Resignations: The Board received resignations from Board of Health member Bill Scott effective 9/15/03 and Capital Improvement Committee member Robert Smith effective 9/24/03. The Board discussed the process by which Mr. Scott’s vacancy would be filled. Notification must be received by the Board of Health of the vacancy.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to accept with regret Mr. Scott’s resignation from the Board of Health. Voted 4 – 0.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to accept with regret Mr. Smith’s resignation from the Capital Improvement Committee. Voted 4 – 0.
III. Assessors – Classification Hearing - Assessors Kathy Marini, Dan Ward and Cindy Long were present to continue the Classification hearing.
7:55 p.m. Mr. Jones arrived.
Mrs. Long distributed the FY 2004 classification information. She informed the Board the Assessors voted to recommended uniform tax rate for residential as well as industrial and commercial properties. Using the uniform tax rate the fiscal year 2004 tax rate would be approximately $11.07 per $1,000. She indicated that the current value of all property in Hanson is $1,101,660,300.00.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to follow the Assessor’s recommendation of a Uniform Tax rate for fiscal year 2004. Voted 5 – 0.
Mrs. Long explained the Small Commercial Exemption, which applies to the real estate owners. Small businesses with less then 10 employees and under $1 Million dollars of real estate would qualify. She further explained there are only about 10 businesses in Town, which would qualify. The Board of Assessors did not recommend adopting the exemption.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte not to adopt the Small Commercial Exemption. Voted 5 – 0.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to in continue the hearing until the Assessors hear from the State. Voted 5 – 0.
Vote Supplement Tax Assessment on New Construction – Mrs. Long informed the Board that acceptance of the assessment would put a major burden on the Assessor’s office as well as the Treasurer/Collector’s office. The money received by accepting the assessment would not cover the additional staffing needed to accomplish its intent.
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Kuchinski to accept the Assessors recommendation that the Town of Hanson reject the provisions of G.L. Ch. 59 Sec. 2D, which impose a supplemental property tax assessment on certain improvements to real estate constructed after January 1 once an occupancy permit is issued for fiscal years that begin July 1, 2003.
Voted 5 – 0.
IV. Appointments:
Capital Improvement Patricia Concree 698 W. Washington Street – fill vacancy Term to expire - 6/30/06
Thomas Hall Memorial Committee – Faith Mosher 321 High Street – fill vacancy Term to expire 6/30/06
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to appoint Patricia Concree to the Capital Improvement Committee with a term to expire 6/30/06. Voted 5 – 0.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Forte to appoint Faith Mosher to the Thomas Hall Memorial Committee with a term to expire 6/30/06. Voted 5 – 0.
V. One Day Liquor License – Sharon Phillips, Water Street, Pembroke – October 18th 7 – 11 p.m. – Halloween party at Camp Kiwanee
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by McSweeney to grant a one-day liquor license to Sharon Phillips of Pembroke for Saturday, October 18th at Camp Kiwanee. Voted 5 – 0.
VI. Approve and Vote minutes: Regular & Executive Session September 2, 2003 and Regular Session September 9, 2003. Ms. Kuchinski indicated that a 4 – 0 vote on item 12 of the September 9th minutes needs to be added.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Kuchinski to accept the regular and executive session minutes of September 2, 2003. Voted 5 – 0.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to accept the minutes of September 9th as amended. Voted 4 – 0 – 1(Forte).
VII. Committee Reports: CATV - Mr. Jones informed the Board that ComCast has requested a meeting to discuss the studio facilities for Hanson. Whitman will be signing an agreement with ComCast and Hanson will no longer be able to use the Whitman Studio. Mr. Jones requested that he and Ms. Kuchinski meet with Mrs. Russo on Tuesday, October 7th at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Jones requested input from Carole McCormack. Ms. Kuchinski suggested Chief Hoyt participate due to his expertise in Plymouth. Plymouth County Hospital – Mr. Jones informed the Board that he and Mr. Davis met with DEP regarding the hospital project. DEP will review the septic system plans and make a decision in the next two weeks. Open Space Committee – Ms. Kuchinski indicated that Committee had met on Monday. She passed out the South Coastal Watershed Regional Open Space Plan for the Board’s review. She requested input by October 6th.
VII. Executive Session - Ron Gratton – Discuss complaint re: Conservation Commission. Chairman Jones announced that the Board would be going into executive session under item #2.
MOTION by Forte, second by Gallivan to go into Executive Session under item #2. Roll Call McSweeney aye, Forte aye, Jones aye, Gallivan aye and Kuchinski aye. Voted 5 – 0.
8:37 p.m. Brief Recess
9:17 p.m. Back in open session – No votes were taken.
IX. October Special Town Meeting Warrant – Assigned Article 9 SSVT recalculation to Mr. Forte and Article 11 Executive Secretary Search to Mr. McSweeney. Briefly discussed the Conservation article. Information has been received from the Conservation agent. The Board agreed to go with its current recommendation to Town Meeting.
X. Executive Secretary’s Report – Mr. Davis informed the Board that bids were received for legal advertising. Bids were received from the Ledger, Enterprise, Hanson Town Crier and the Hanson Express. Hanson Express was the low bidder with a rate of $25.00 for a block ad and no additional costs for repeat ads.
MOTION by Forte, second by Gallivan to accept Mr. Davis’ recommended to use Hanson Express for legal ads and to notify all departments of the bid results. Further if a Board will not be using Hanson Express to notify the Selectmen in writing. Voted 5 – 0.
XI. Public Records – Mr. McSweeney requested a list from all the departments of outstanding public records requests. Ms. Kuchinski suggested a memo go out informing the departments of the public records seminar and requesting the information.
10:15 p.m. Mr. Forte left.
XII. Executive Secretary – Mr. Jones noted that this is Mr. Davis’ last meeting. He thanked him for all his hard work. The Board joined in the well wishes.
XIII. Executive Session – Chairman Jones announced the Board would be going into Executive Session under item #3 to discuss strategies and litigation.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Gallivan to go into executive session under item #3. Roll Call Kuchinski ayes, Gallivan aye, Jones aye, McSweeney aye. Voted 4 – 0.
10:19 p.m. Brief Recess
10:34 p.m. Back in Open Session - Chairman Jones announced that the Board took one vote to instruct Town Counsel to pursue an enforcement order against Alan Dias.
MOTION by Kuchinski, second by Gallivan to adjourn. Voted 4 – 0.
10:34 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
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