Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
March 29, 2005
Present: Robert Forte, Mark Gallivan, Catherine Kuchinski, Jesse McSweeney and Rebecca Coletta. Also present Executive Secretary Michael Finglas and Executive Assistant Meredith Marini.
7:35 p.m. Chairman Kuchinski called the meeting to order, lead the Pledge Alliance and read the announcements and upcoming meeting schedule.
Item I Whitman-Hanson Community Access – Sonny Gerraughty, President of the Whitman Hanson Community Access Board of Directors was present with Paul Taber and Steve Roy for the signing of the Community Access Agreement. Mr. Gerraughty thanked the Town and the CATV committee for their work in getting the Community Access Board off the ground. He explained that WHCA is a non-profit organization. In accordance with the Comcast license, Comcast will pay the Town $140,000 which will be passed to the Community Access Board of Directors for operational costs.
MOTION by Coletta, second by McSweeney to join into a contract with Whitman Hanson Community Access. Voted 5 – 0.
Item II Executive Secretary’s – Mr. Finglas reported that on March 22nd he signed Payroll Warrant 39 in the amount of $82,206.19, Expense warrant 39 in the amount of $64,682.93 and Expense Warrant 39A in the amount of $29,656.32. This evening he signed Payroll Warrant 40 in the amount of $89,770.47, Expense warrant 40 in the amount $33,605.37, Expense warrant 40A in the amount of $16,368.22; Expense warrant 40B in the amount $137,875.00 and Expense warrant 40C in the amount of $133,853.82.
Building Inspector position - Mr. Finglas informed the Board that the Building Inspector applications closed on March 17, 2005 . Twelve applications were received. Mr. Finglas indicated that since Mr. Kennedy left the position, the office has been maintained by a part-time person. He suggested the Board consider a part-time building inspector, which could be shared with another community. The benefits of expenses and health insurance could be shared between the communities. Mrs. Coletta inquired whether Mr. Finglas has promised the position to someone as she had heard a rumor that an individual “had the job in the bag”. Mr. McSweeney indicated that the Board does not address rumors. Mr. Finglas pointed out that he isn’t the appointing authority for
the Building Inspector and that three members of the Board would have had to promise the job to an individual for them to “have it in the bag”. After brief discussion Chairman Kuchinski and Mr. Gallivan agreed to conduct interviews with Mr. Finglas. Mr. Finglas requested that the Board appoint David Bonney as interim building inspector.
MOTION by Coletta, second by McSweeney to appoint David Bonney as interim building inspector. Voted 5 – 0.
Vote Ballot Question – The Town Clerk requested the Board re-vote the ballot question, as the previous vote did not have a full Board present.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Gallivan to place the following question on the annual election ballot: “Shall the Town of Hanson be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds to be issued in order to pay the costs of constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new Police Station including all costs incidental or directly related thereto?” Voted 5 – 0
Item III Report from Government Study Committee – Peter Muise, Chairman of the Government Study Committee presented the committee’s recommendation on the Town Administrator’s position. Mr. Muise pointed out that the document provided to the Board of Selectmen was not a job description, but a guideline for the creation of a job description. He indicated that the Town Administrator must be properly empowered and the Board of Selectmen must be willing to relinquish some of its powers for the position to be effective. The Government Study Committee believes that the Town would be best served with a Town Administrator. Mr. Muise indicated that the Committee would
start phase II of its task and start to look at inspectional services and Highway. The Board discussed the various components of the Town Administrator’s position including hiring, firing and veto power of the Board. Mr. Muise pointed out that if the Board vetoes two or three of the Town Administrator’s hires, then the Board needs to look at the person hired as Town Administrator. The Board discussed hiring of department heads for the Planning Board, Assessors, Library and Board of Health. The Town Administrator would not have the authority to hire the position without legislative approval. The group discussed the Town Administrator taking on the duties of budget director and the entire budget process. Mr. Gallivan thanked the Government Study Committee for its hard work and the Department Heads for their input.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Forte to accept, adopt and implement the recommendation of the Government Study Committee for the position of Town Administrator as a working model for a final job description for the position in the Town of Hanson. Voted 3 – 2 (Kuchinski & Coletta)
Mr. McSweeney and Mrs. Coletta volunteered to work on drafting of the job description. Mr. Muise offered his assistance.
Item IV New Business - Close Special Town Meeting Warrant – Tabled until April 5th.
W-H Track team for a Bottle Drive on Saturday, April 9th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Forte to approve the WH Track team bottle drive on April 9th. Voted 5 – 0
Item V Licenses – Class II Renewal – Steve’s Auto Care & Used Cars 123 Liberty Street, License Exp. 1/1/06
MOTION by Gallivan, second McSweeney to approve a Class II license renewal for Steve’s Auto Care 123 Liberty Street. Voted 4 – 0 (Mr. Forte stepped out of the room)
One Day Liquors – Karen Pike – WHK Hockey Fundraiser April 23rd 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. and Jim Daly W-H Girls Basketball fundraiser – April 9th 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Gallivan to approve the one day liquor licenses as requested. Voted 5 – 0
Item VI Approve Minutes – Reg. Session Minutes of February 15, 2005 and March 15, 2005.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Gallivan to approve the minute of February 15, 2005. Voted 4 – 0 - 1 (Coletta)
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Coletta to approve the regular and executive session minutes of March 15, 2005. Executive Session minutes to be held until the matter has been resolved. Voted 3 – 0 – 2 (Forte & Gallivan)
Item VII ` Resignations & Appointments – Resignation – Patricia Rich has resigned from the Cultural Council. Her two year term is scheduled to expire June 30, 2006.
MOTION by Gallivan to accept with regret Patricia Rich’s resignation from the Cultural Council.
Voted 5 – 0
Appointment – Cultural Council - Jean Kelly 204 East Washington Street – Fill Patty Rich’s 2-year term – Exp. 6/30/06
MOTION by Gallivan, second by Forte to appoint Jean Kelly of 204 East Washington Street to fill Patricia Rich’s vacancy. Term to expire June 30, 2006. Voted 5 – 0
Reappointments: Animal Control Bernard Delory Exp. 3/31/06
Registrar of Voters Mary Puleio Exp. 3/31/08
Veterans’ Agent Robert Arsenault Exp. 3/31/06
Veterans’ Agent Assist. Dana Larsen Exp. 3/31/06
Veteran’s Burial Agent Robert Arsenault Exp. 3/31/06
Veterans’ Gravers Officer Robert Arsenault Exp. 3/31/06
Veterans’ Service Direct. Robert Arsenault Exp. 3/31/06
MOTION by Gallivan, second by McSweeney to reappoint the positions as printed in the agenda. Voted 5 – 0
Item VIII Committee Reports: Police Station Building Comm. – Mr. Gallivan indicated that the Police Station Building Committee would be making a presentation on April 5th. High School Building Committee - - Mr. Forte reported that the committee would be meeting next week.
MOTION by McSweeney, second by Gallivan to adjourn. Voted 5 – 0
10:40 p.m. Meeting Adjourned.
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