Town of Hudson - Board of Selectmen
Minutes – December 3, 2018
78 Main Street 2nd Floor 7:00 PM
Mr. Parent asked that a moment of silence be observed in honor of recently deceased Daniel Murphy of Hudson Light and Power.
Public Session Minutes – November 5, 2018
On a motion by Mr. Duplisea, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the public session minutes of November 5, 2018.
Executive Session Minutes – November 5, 2018
On a motion by Mr. Quinn, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the executive session minutes of November 5, 2018.
- Meetings and Public Hearings - 7:00 PM:
Selectmen to conduct a hearing to consider an application for a Pledge of Collateral and Change of Ownership Interest from 38 Washington Street, LLC, d/b/a Kith & Kin located at 38 Washington Street.
On a motion by Mr. Duplisea, seconded by Mr. Durant, the Board voted 5-0 to approve a Pledge of Collateral and Change of Ownership Interest from 38 Washington Street, LLC, d/b/a Kith & Kin located at 38 Washington Street.
Selectmen to conduct Tax Classification hearing to set property tax rates for fiscal year 2019.
Mr. Lucy made an opening statement. He stated:”
The annual presentation before us tonight is the work product of the Assessors and Hudson’s Finance Director.
I want to commend the Assessors and Hudson’s Finance Director twice.
The Assessor’s chairperson kept us apprised of the presentation’s development which is appreciated. Also this presentation was delivered early which was very helpful and much appreciated. Thank you Chairman Bowen.
The second commendation is for the most excellent presentation. We have tables that reach back in time as far as the Finance Director and the Assessor could find. Also there are graphs that highlight the fact that town and school spending goes up every year regardless, of the tax rate. Thank you Joanne and Tricia.
Mr. Bowen presented that tax rates to the Board. He stated that for FY 2019 the average single family home is valued at $372,142 this is a 7% increase over last year, this excludes new homes. Unfortunately the average tax bill continues to increase. This is due to the amount of the excess levy capacity.
The total increase of new growth was $31 million; this will result in $899,000 in new revenue for the Town.
Mr. Bowen stated that the Town can elect a single tax rate which would be $19.48, or a split tax rate which would shift a certain percentage of the levy between the residential and commercial classes. The Board can shift that percentage through a selection of the residential factor of .8738 which equates to a residential rate of $17.03 and $34.10 for commercial. The excess levy capacity, based on the option the Board chooses, will be approximately $526,905.
The Board discussed its options and ultimately decided on a residential factor of .8738.
Mr. Lucy noted for the record that Mr. Bowen had pointed out that the tax levy has goes up every year. He went on to say that spending is what drives up the tax levy and spending is what drives up what we pay in real estate taxes each year.
Mr. Lucy has been working with the Executive Assistant and has made two basic requests that relate to spending. One relates to the Apsley Street head count and the other covers over time spending. The hope is to get these two confirmed requests fulfilled and delivered in January.
On a motion by Mr. Parent, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted 5-0 to approve a Residential Factor of 0.8738 which will result in a residential tax rate of $17.03 per thousand and a commercial/industrial rate of $34.10 and approve an excess levy capacity of $517,169.00.
Selectmen to discuss I.A.F.F. Local 1713 Fire Union Negotiations to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body.
Selectmen to consider approval of a change of corporate name from G&G Peking Garden Inc. to Peking Garden Restaurant, Inc. d/b/a Peking Garden located at 159 Main Street.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 5-0 to approve a change of corporate name from G&G Peking Garden Inc. to Peking Garden Restaurant, Inc. d/b/a Peking Garden located at 159 Main Street.
Selectmen to consider approval of a Change of Pledge of License, Stock or Inventory for Welly’s Restaurant, Inc., Wellington DePinho, Corporate Principal, d/b/a Welly’s Restaurant located at 23 Main Street.
On a motion by Mr. Duplisea, seconded by Mr. Quinn, the Board voted 4-0-1 to approve the a Change of Pledge of License, Stock or Inventory for Welly’s Restaurant, Inc., Wellington DePinho, Corporate Principal, d/b/a Welly’s Restaurant located at 23 Main Street. Mr. Quinn abstained.
Selectmen to consider approval of 2019 License renewals for all licensee’s that have met their requirements.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Quinn, the Board voted 5-0 to approve2019 License renewals for all licensee’s that have met their requirements.
Selectmen to consider approval of the appointment of Patricia Desmond to the Council on Aging to fill the vacancy left by Glenna Karvoski for a term to expire on December 31, 2018.
On a motion by Mr. Durant, seconded by Mr. Quinn, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the appointment of Patricia Desmond to the Council on Aging to fill the vacancy left by Glenna Karvoski for a term to expire on December 31, 2018.
Selectmen to consider approval of the appointment of Cameron Bower as Auxiliary Fire Fighter at a rate of $11.00 per hour, effective December 4, 2018.
On a motion by Mr. Quinn, seconded by Mr. Duplisea, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the appointment of Cameron Bower as Auxiliary Fire Fighter at a rate of $11.00 per hour, effective December 4, 2018.
Selectmen to consider approval of the reappointment of Dorothy Bagley to the Hudson Cultural Council for a term to expire on December 31, 2021.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Quinn, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the reappointment of Dorothy Bagley to the Hudson Cultural Council for a term to expire on December 31, 2021.
Selectmen to consider approval and authorization to sign a Mass Development Demolition grant for 15 Broad Street.
Mr. Moses explained that the Town has been working to secure funding to clean up the site at 15 Broad Street and eventually addressing the building structure itself. The interior condition of the building is so that it would need to be demolished. This grant would allow the Town to apply for a loan to Mass Development for the demolition of the building. If the Town is successful in obtaining the grant it would have to take ownership of the building first.
On a motion by Mr. Parent, seconded by Mr. Durant, the Board voted 5-0 to approve and authorize the signing of a Mass Development Demolition grant for 15 Broad Street.
Selectmen to consider amend the Town’s traffic rules and regulations to delete the following paragraph:
And replace with the following:
B. The eleven (11) spaces in the northwest corner of the lot; the six (6) spaces that face the Fire Station and the two (2) spaces running parallel to the east side of the Fire Station shall be restricted to Fire Department employees 24 hours per day and seven (7) days per week; the five (5) spaces which face the western driveway entrance shall be restricted to Library employees from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays, excluding legal holidays.
Ms. Johnson explained that this is being proposed in order to help clarify some of the traffic rules and regulations and will help with enforcement. This is part of a larger effort to find more parking opportunities in the downtown. Mr. Lucy stated that the new language is poorly worded. Mr. Durant agreed. After discussing the matter the Board agreed to strike “The eleven (11) spaces in the northwest corner of the lot”.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Parent, the Board voted 5-0 to amend the Town’s traffic rules and regulations to the delete the following paragraph:
And replace with the following:
B. In the northwest corner of the lot the six (6) spaces that face the Fire Station and the two (2) spaces running parallel to the east side of the Fire Station shall be restricted to Fire Department employees 24 hours per day and seven (7) days per week; the five (5) spaces which face the western driveway entrance shall be restricted to Library employees from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays, excluding legal holidays.
Note: Mr. Lucy said Sundays instead of Saturdays, I believe he may have misspoken as this change was never discussed. If so, please make a motion to correct this.
Selectmen to consider approving and signing a Notice of Town’s Intent to not exercise its statutory option of right of first refusal on certain dedicated lots on a plan entitled “Plan of Land on Brigham Street in Hudson and Marlborough” drawn by Foresite Engineering and dated September 5, 2018.
On a motion by Mr. Lucy, seconded by Mr. Quinn, the Board voted 4-0-1 to sign a Notice of Town’s Intent to not exercise its statutory option of right of first refusal on certain dedicated lots on a plan entitled “Plan of Land on Brigham Street in Hudson and Marlborough” drawn by Foresite Engineering and dated September 5, 2018.
Greg Vashowski, 6 Wood Street asked that in the future when a presentation is going to be made that the presentation be available on the website in order to allow residents to review it first.
Correspondence to be Noted by Clerk:
On a motion by Mr. Parent, seconded by Mr. Lucy, the Board voted 5-0 to note the correspondence of its meeting of December 3, 2018.
Adjourn:
The Board voted 5-0, by roll call, to enter into executive session, not to return to public session.
Document List- December 3, 2018
Document |
Location |
Public & Executive session minutes – November 5, 2018 |
BOS Office |
Pledge of collateral – Kith & Kin |
BOS Office |
Tax Classification presentation |
BOS Office |
License application – Peking Garden |
BOS Office |
License application – Pledge of license – Welly’s |
BOS Office |
License renewals for 2019 |
BOS Office |
Appointment memo – Patricia Desmond, Cameron Bower & Dorothy Bagely |
BOS Office |
Traffic rules and regulations memo |
BOS Office |
Notice of Intent for land off Brigham Street |
BOS Office |
Notice of filing and hearing from Eversource |
BOS Office |
Comcast price changes information |
BOS Office |
Letter from resident |
BOS Office |
Sustainable Materials Recovery Program grant award letter |
BOS Office |
Xfinity TV channel updates |
BOS Office |
AFSCME letter requesting to enter into contract negotiations |
BOS Office |
Confidential correspondence from John Parent |
BOS Office |
Letter from Richard Braga recognizing community volunteers |
BOS Office |
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