Town of Hanson - Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes – Hanson Town Hall
February 28, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Stephen Amico, James Egan, Richard Flynn, Donald Howard and David Soper
Members Absent:
Others Present: Town Administrator Rene’ J. Read and Executive Assistant Meredith Marini
7:31 p.m.~~~~~~~Chairman Amico called the meeting to order. Chairman Amico led the Pledge Allegiance and read the announcements and upcoming meeting schedule.
I TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Accounting Office -Mr. Read reported that Michael Daley of Financial Advisory Associates, Inc., is providing the Accounting office with temporary staffing services in that department.~ Mr. Daley will be in the office one day per week and helping ensure that our accounting operations are running smoothly.
FY13 Budget Update - Copies of the Preliminary Budget have been forwarded to the Finance Committee and all Department Heads. Mr. Read is still in the process of reviewing the requests and comparing that information to our projected revenues.
II NEW BUSINESS - MBTA Update – Wilbur Danner was present to give the Board an update on the MBTA budget. There will be a meeting on Wednesday, February 29th. The Advisory Board has proposed a $71 Million savings which could be achieved in part by shifting security to the State Police, move the ferry services to MassPort’s jurisdiction. A $12 Million savings could be achieved in part by not giving salary increases for FY13 and implementing abutter lease program. A $13 Million savings could be achieved by reviewing the institutional beneficiaries programs and increase in fares. They hope to bring in $170 million by instituting several changes. This will be a long term remedy for
financing the MBTA. Mr. Danner pointed out that the fares should be raised annually along with the cost of living.
Representative Webster – State Budget Update – Representative Webster reviewed the current status of the State budget. Talks have begun. He provided the Board with a handout highlighting local aid. He cautioned the communities about using the Governor’s figures. The Governor does not propose any local aid cuts and a slight increase in Chapter 70 numbers. Local aid funding is level funded in the governor’s budget. Ways & Means has begun regional meetings. The House and Senate have not taken local aid off the table. Governor is proposing a sugar tax which would be on soda and candy. Rep. Webster does not foresee any tax increases particularly due to the unemployment rate. No proposed local aid resolution as of
yet. Rep. Webster had proposed a permanent local aid resolution, but that was defeated.
Chairman Amico asked about internet sales tax and does the State have any bills before the legislature. Rep. Webster indicated that the Federal Government is looking into the matter as interstate commerce issues. Nothing to be acted on at the State level at this time.
Mr. Soper inquired about the community colleges and the State may be taking over the colleges. Rep. Webster indicated that was a proposal from the Governor. Rep. Webster does not feel there is enough support from the legislature to have the State take over local control of the community colleges.
Mr. Soper asked about the aliens with special status. Rep. Webster explained there are two types of aliens, illegal and legal. The legal are in the country with the appropriate visas. The Court declared that the State cannot withhold coverage for legal aliens.
Collins Center – Review of Second Floor Report – Mike Ward of the Collins Center was present to review the final report on the second floor regarding the general findings. The main theme was that the second floor is doing work to keep the Town strong for tomorrow. There is strong institutional knowledge with the staff and boards and committees. The biggest challenges are the vacancies.
Operations on the second floor are fundamentally interconnected, but there is a lack of use of technology and internet. The offices are bogged down in paperwork.
Communications and collaborations. The departments get along, but it is more due to the personalities not by structure or a formal coordination. There needs to be better communications with the public and formal meetings between the departments.
Mr. Ward reported that morale is also an issue with the second floor as with the first floor. They employees feel their work is under valued.
Hidden costs and risks – This can cause miscommunications between the departments.
Monica Lamboy reviewed the recommendations for the second floor. She explained that there are five smaller departments with no formal communications. She feels there needs to be a leadership position to watch over the day to day operations. The first model would have a Town Planner/Assistant Town Administrator to run the second floor and free up the Town Administrator. Three administrative assistants would be the support staff.
The second model would have a Director of Planning and Land use, a health agent, conservation agent and building commissioner as well as three full time support staff.
The third model would be combine Planning/Zoning/Conservation and the Health/Building departments. Cross training would assistant in the departments. The support structure would provide for cross training.
Mike Ward’s operational recommendations include information technology. Website access is necessary for on-line permitting. He recommends the continued support for the building permitting and expand the permitting to other departments. Sample of communities doing a good job on line are Acton, Somerville and Westford. Westford provides great access to application forms for building and health departments.
Mr. Ward recommends better aligning the windows of the departments on the second floor so residents know when the offices are open. They recommend more formal meetings with the staff and department heads. Technology review meetings would be beneficial to all the departments. Some temporary hours maybe necessary to reduce the backlog in some of the offices.
Richard Edgehille asked about a Town Charter and feels it would be beneficial for the Town. Mr. Ward agrees it is a good thing, but it is a long process and a lot of work. The Town is currently governed by the by-laws and special acts. Mr. Ward indicates that a committee would have to be created.
Mr. Flynn asked about the status of the chart discussed at the Wage & Personnel hearing. The Planning Board and Conservation would like to know when to expect a department head in their offices. Mr. Read hopes to meet with the Conservation and Planning Boards in the next few weeks.
Monica Lamboy pointed out that Massachusetts is unique with respect to zoning and its relation to building. Other states have zoning working more closely with planning.
The Board thanked Mike and Monica for a great report.
Honorary Citizenship Award – Exchange Student Eddi Kuschmierz – A request from Deborah Gallegher was submitted for an Honorary Citizenship Award which will be presented to Eddi Kuschmierz on March 11th. Mr. Kuschmierz is a tenth grade exchange student from Germany attending Whitman Hanson Regional High School and is living with host family Stephanie Nichols.
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to issue a Honorary Citizenship Award to Eddi Kuschmierz. Voted 5 - 0
Resignation - Robert Overholtzer from the Energy Committee. Chairman Amico read the following letter from Mr. Overholtzer dated February 21, 2012
To the Hanson Board of Selectmen
With regret, I’m handing in my resignation as a member of the Energy Committee. Other commitments have been making more demands on my time and I feel that I can no longer contribute at a level that I would like. In the future I hope to find another way to volunteer my time to help Hanson become a more sustainable community. I look forward to a time when Hanson will again have a Town Planner to provide the necessary technical assistance to various town boards and committees.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Overholtzer
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to accept with regret Mr. Overholtzer’s resignation. Voted 5 - 0
Chairman Amico read the following letter from Mr. Edwards dated February 28, 2012
Dear Sirs:
Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from the Hanson Zoning Board of Appeals to take effect on Thursday, March 1, 2012.
If need be, I may be available to serve as an alternate on a limited basis in the future, if it so pleases the Board of Selectmen.
I have enjoyed serving on this board since 2009 and, furthermore, to have had the honor to serve the people and businesses of Hanson.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Gary R. Edward, Esquire
Chairman Amico explained that alternate member David Nagle is interested in serving as a regular member. Mr. Nagle had previously served as a regular member.
MOTION by Howard, second by Egan to accept with regret Gary Edward’s resignation as a regular member on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Voted 5 - 0
MOTION by Soper, second by Egan to appoint David Nagle as a regular member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Voted 5 - 0
Gary Edward to serve as alternate
MOTION by Soper, second by Egan to appoint Gary Edwards as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Voted 5 - 0
Request for Fishing Derby – Hanson Rod & Gun Club Annual Fishing Derby Sun. June 3rd 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
MOTION by Soper, second by Egan to grant Hanson Rod & Gun Club’s request to use the Town Hall parking lot for the Fishing Derby on June 3, 2012. Voted 5 - 0
Interim Highway Surveyor Robert Brown gave the Board a brief update indicating that the salt and sand is ready for the impending storm. Another staff person is out sick, but he has coverage with a part-timer. Mr. Brown has reduced the use of sand by increasing salt which will reduce the costs for street sweeping and disposal. There are several repairs to the equipment. Mr. Flynn asked about the cost of fuel. Mr. Brown indicated that all the tanks were topped off last week. He has a contract with the county for the fuel. Mr. Brown has a request for a new sander on the capital improvement.
III OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None heard.
IV ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSES ~ Camp Kiwanee
Friend of Camp Kiwanee – March 23, 24, 30 & 31 - Play
MOTION by Howard, second by Soper to approve the liquor license to the Friend of Camp Kiwanee. Voted 5 - 0
V APPROVE MINUTES - February 7, 2012
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to approve the minutes as presented. Voted 5 - 0
VI COMMITTEE REPORTS – Maquan School Building – The MSBA schedule has changed and nothing will be going forward until January of 2013. The committee expects to have an article on the May 2013 Annual Town meeting and the May 2013 Town election. The committee does anticipate making a presentation at the October 2012 Special Town Meeting. There are several different designs being proposed, one of which will include consolidating the Maquan and Indian Head Schools. Memorial Hall will be preserved regardless of any of the plans.
VII EXECUTIVE SESSION – None heard
VIII ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Howard, second by Egan to adjourn. Voted 5 - 0
8:50 p.m. meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Meredith Marini,
Executive Assistant
Approved and Voted 5 - 0
March 13, 2012
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