Town of Hanson - Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes – Hanson Town Hall
April 10, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Stephen Amico, James Egan, Richard Flynn and Donald Howard
Members Absent: David Soper
Others Present: Town Administrator Rene’ J. Read and Executive Assistant Meredith Marini
I 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.
II TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Mr. Read provided answers to questions raised by Mr. Soper at the April 3rd meeting
Page 40~~~~~~~~~~ Does the Town seek reimbursement for these funds?
Currently we do not seek reimbursement for these purposes.~ Bob Curran has explained that we may do so in the future and he will look into that process.
Page 48 ~~~~~~~~~ WHRSH Debt Service.~ How many years left on school?
15 years (please see attachments)
Page 56~~~~~~~~~~ Other supplies – Street signs - is this part of a plan to replace signs?
Yes, sign replacement and line striping
Page 57~~~~~~~~~~ Highway Fuel –Are we locked into a contract?
Yes, through Plymouth County.
Page 72~~~~~~~~~~ Maturing principal date – How many years are remaining on the Town Hall and storm water management?
Police Station will be paid off in FY26, specifically on 11/15/25.
Breakdown of Maturing Debt:~ $209,832
~~~~~~~~~ $90,000 for repayment of MWPAT Betterment loan for Title V septic repairs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (funded by collections of loan payments by taxpayers)
~~~~~~~~~ $110,000 for Town Hall
~~~~~~~~~ $~~ 9,832 for Stormwater Management
Page 78~~~~~~~~~~ Operating expense – Plymouth County retirement fund - explanation on the increase – Mr. Read provided a spreadsheet pertaining to the Plymouth County Contributory Retirement System.
Maquan School Building project ~ proposal to close School Street – Mr. Read reported that on Thursday, April 5th a meeting was held at Town Hall to discuss a proposal to close School Street relative to the Maquan School renovation project.~ After an informative discussion and careful consideration, the meeting concluded with general agreement that the safety issues related to closing School Street to normal vehicular traffic outweigh the possible benefits to school adjacencies and recreational field use.~
Discussion regarding agenda – Committee Reports – Mr. Read noted that in light of the recent Open Meeting Law and Ethic Training he would like to ensure that the Board is complying with the law.~ He requested that if members have a report for a specific committee that they contact either the Chairman or the office by the Thursday before a meeting with the item(s) to be discussed to ensure that the item(s) are properly posted on the agenda.
Schedule a Pre-Town Meeting session on May 1st – Mr. Read suggested that as done in previous years, the Board conduct a Pre-Town Meeting work session to review both warrants in their entirety.~ Mr. Read will ask all officials and proponents of all articles to be present for this important “dry run” walk through of Town Meeting
III NEW BUSINESS
Dollars for Scholars – Request to declare April Dollars for Scholars month and to erect the fundraising thermometer - Mr. Michael Ganshirt was present and requested that the Board declare April as Dollars for Scholar month. Chairman Amico read letter dated March 12, 2012 from Dollars for Scholars.
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to declare April as Dollars for Scholars Month.
Chairman Amico read the following proclamation:
Whereas Dollars for Scholars of Whitman and Hanson has been awarding scholarships to deserving students from Whitman and Hanson for forty nine years; and
Whereas, Dollars for Scholars of Whitman and Hanson has awarded nearly $1.8 million to over 2,500 students; and
Whereas, Dollars for Scholars of Whitman and Hanson is a community-based, non profit organization which receives support from residents, businesses, and community organizations; and
Whereas, Dollars for Scholars of Whitman and Hanson offers non-restricted scholarships open to qualified secondary school graduates from both private and public schools living in the towns of Whitman and Hanson; and
Whereas, Dollars for Scholars is currently appealing to Whitman and Hanson residents through their annual fundraising campaign.
Now, therefore, We, Board of Selectmen for the Town of Hanson, hereby proclaim the month of April as Dollars for Scholars month and urge all residents and businesses to recognize and support Dollars for Scholars of Whitman and Hanson and the work that they do.
So Voted 4 - 0
Mr. Ganshirt also requested permission to erect the annual fundraising thermometer on the Town Hall Green. Chairman Amico read a letter date March 10, 2012 from Dollars for Scholars for the fundraising thermometer for six weeks from April to May.
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to approve the Dollars for Scholar’s request to erect the fundraising thermometer. Voted 4 - 0
Hanson Girls Softball – Request permission for parade on Sunday, April 22nd . Chairman Amico read a letter dated April 2, 2012 from Craig Leonard on behalf of Hanson Girls Softball requesting permission to hold a parade on Sunday, April 22nd.
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to grant Hanson Girls Softball permission for a parade on Sunday, April 22, 2012. Voted 4 - 0
Hanson Little League – Request Permission for opening day parade, Saturday, April 14th at Noon from Town Hall to Botieri Field.
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to grant Hanson Little League permission for a parade on Saturday, April 14th. Voted 4 - 0
IV OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Open Special Town Meeting Warrant – add warrant articles
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to open the Special Town Meeting Warrant.
Mr. Read indicated that additional articles needed to be added to the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Mr. Read read the articles:
ARTICLE : To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Free Cash a sum of money to treat Oldham Pond for the suppression of Algae, or take any action relative thereto.
Proposed by the Board of Selectmen
Explanation: These funds are to assist the Town of Pembroke with the suppression of Blue Green Algae as a recommended course of action by the Oldham Pond Committee. Approx. $15,000
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to place the Oldham Pond article on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 – 0
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to recommend the Oldham Pond article. Voted 4 - 0
Union Contracts:
Highway
ARTICLE : To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from any available source of funds and/or confirm a previous appropriation of funding under Article 1 of the June 2011 Special Town Meeting, of an amount sufficient to fund the first year of a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Hanson and the Hanson Highway Union covering the term of July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013 as on file with the Town Clerk, which included,
no salary increase in FY 12, a 1.5 % base salary increase effective July 1, 2012 and an additional~ 1.5 % base salary increase on June 30, 2013 or take any other action in relation thereto.
Proposed by the Board of Selectmen
Explanation: The Board has reached a two year agreement with the Highway Union with the terms as outlined above. .The cost in FY 13 will be approximately $3,800.00 The incremental cost in FY 14 will be $4,200.00
MOTION by Egan, second Howard to place on the Highway Union contract article on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Voted 4 - 0
MOTION by Egan, second Howard to recommend the Highway Union Contract article. Voted 4 - 0
Clerical
ARTICLE : To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from any available source of funds and/or confirm a previous appropriation of funding under Article 1 of the June 2011 Special Town Meeting, of an amount sufficient to fund the first year of a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Hanson and the Hanson Administrative Professionals Union covering the term of July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013 as on file with the Town
Clerk, which included, no salary increase in FY 12, a 1.5 % base salary increase effective July 1, 2012 and an additional~ 1.5 % base salary increase on June 30, 2013 or take any other action in relation thereto.
Proposed by the Board of Selectmen
Explanation: The Board has reached a two year agreement with the Administrative Professionals Union with the terms as outlined above. Due to the consolidation of clerical positions there will be no additional cost for the 1.5% increase effective July 1, 2012. The incremental cost in FY 14 will be approximately $7,500
MOTION by Egan, second Howard to place Clerical Union Contract article on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 - 0
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to recommend the Clerical Union Contract article. Voted 4 - 0
Dispatcher
ARTICLE : To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from any available source of funds and/or confirm a previous appropriation of funding under Article 1 of the June 2011 Special Town Meeting, of an amount sufficient to fund the first year of a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Hanson and the Hanson Dispatchers Union covering the term of July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013 as on file with the Town Clerk, which included, no salary
increase in FY 12, a 1.5 % base salary increase effective July 1, 2012 and an additional~ 1.5 % base salary increase on June 30, 2013 or take any other action in relation thereto.
Proposed by the Board of Selectmen
Explanation: The Board has reached a two year agreement with the Dispatchers Union with the terms as outlined above. The cost in FY 13 will be approximately $4,200. The incremental cost in FY 14 will be $4,500
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to place Dispatchers Union contract on the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 - 0
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to recommend the Dispatchers Union contract article.
Voted 4 - 0
Mr. Read indicated that the street acceptance articles can be removed from the warrant.
MOTION by Howard, second by Egan to remove Article DD acceptance of Deer Hill Road and Article EE the acceptance for Fawn Lane from the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 - 0
Mr. Read explained that adjustments were made to the amount on some of the previously approved articles.
Norfolk Agricultural change from $8,500 to $12,500
Recreation Beach erosion project to $20,000
Transfer Station Site Assessment $15,000
MOTION by Egan, second by Flynn to close the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 - 0
ANNUAL WARRANT
MOTION by Howard, second by Flynn to open the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. Voted 4 - 0
Mrs. Marini noted that during the review of the articles at a previous meeting it was noted that Article X of the draft Annual Town Meeting Warrant for all day kindergarten would be coming off the warrant to be replaced with an Proposition 2 ½ budget override articles. Chairman Amico read the new article.
ARTICLE 6: To determine whether the Town will appropriate and raise by taxation or transfer from free cash or other available funds the additional sum of $235,766 for paying the Town’s assessed share of the Fiscal Year 2013 operating budget of the Whitman Hanson Regional School District; provided, however, that the amounts raised and appropriated hereunder shall be expressly contingent upon approval by the voters at an election of a Proposition 2 ½ override question in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 59, Section 21C(g) of the General Laws or take any other action in relation thereto.
Proposed by the Board of Selectmen
Explanation: This article also requires the voter approval of the ballot question at the May 19, 2012 Annual Town Election. If so approved, the funds will be added to the Whitman Hanson Regional School budget.
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to replace article X with Article 6 as read. Voted 4 - 0
MOTION by Howard, second by Egan to recommend – Mr. Flynn requested the Board wait to vote its recommendation as Mr. Soper had previously voted against the kindergarten article. Mrs. Marini indicated the recommendation could be made at the next meeting.
Mr. Howard withdrew his motion. Mr. Egan with drew second.
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to close Annual Town Meeting warrant.Voted 4 - 0
V APPROVE MINUTES
April 3, 2012
MOTION by Flynn, second by Egan to accept minutes of April 3, 2012. Voted 4 - 0
VI COMMITTEE REPORTS- None heard
VII ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Egan, second by Howard to adjourn. Voted 4 - 0
8:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Meredith Marini,
Executive Assistant.
Approved and Voted 4 – 0 – 1(Soper)
April 17, 2012
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