Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
(Agenda for February 18, 2003)
February 20, 2003
The Hull Board of Selectmen meeting was called to order at 7:36pm on Thursday evening, February 20, 2003 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: John Reilly, Chairman; Thomas Burns, Vice Chairman; Regina Burke, Clerk;
Leonard Hersch and Gerard McLaughlin, Members. Also present were Christopher
McCabe, Town Manager and James Lampke, Town Counsel.
A moment of silence was observed on the passing of Roberta Beck, wife of Assistant Assessor David Beck, who died following a long illness.
The Selectmen's meeting was canceled last Tuesday because of a blizzard on Monday. Reilly said that Town Hall was closed on the holiday Monday and on Tuesday because of serious weather conditions. An emergency meeting was held on Monday, he said, to set plans in case of flooding, and other serious conditions that might result from the storm and to declare a state of emergency.
The members thanked the Highway Department, MDC's Jackie Phillips, the Light Company, and the Emergency Management Committee, Janice Lichtenberger and Fire Deputy William Sousa. The emergency was suspended at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Reilly said.
MINUTES
MOVED-Hersch: To approve the minutes of November 26, and December 3, 2002 as presented.
SECOND-Burns
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
7:30 pm- Public Hearing - Eamon J. McIntyre, dba The Little Village - re: Application for Wine and Malts (Annual) Package Goods Store, 169 Nantasket Avenue.
The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and swore in witnesses.
The applicant was represented by Attorney John Sullivan who told the Board that McIntyre is planning to open a convenience store from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm and offer beer and wine to its customers. All employees will be TIP certified, he said.
Reilly read into the record the Police Chief's response which expressed his concerns over the applicant's lack of experience in the liquor industry, and based upon issues other than suitability, he recommended the license not be issued. In his opinion, he wrote, a public need does not exist at the proposed location citing that five annual all alcoholic package store license are located on Nantasket Avenue and three in close proximity to the proposed location.
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Selectmen Minutes, 2/20/03 (2/18)
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Sullivan said that the family is to be involved with the operation, and his client has worked at D'Angelos in Medfield, and will be TIP certified.
Hersch said that beer and wine had previously been sold at Ocean Place and that the previous use of the building on the first floor had been a barroom.
MOVED-Hersch: To approve the Annual Wine and Malts License to Eamon J. McIntyre at 169
Nantasket Avenue, and that the area of the store containing the beer and
wine will be gated for Sunday closings.
SECOND-McLaughlin
Burns complimented the applicant on the newly renovated building and asked that if the license does not issue would he still open the store.
McIntyre said it would be very difficult to succeed without the license and that part of his design for the establishment includes a separate space for alcohol. He needs to know how to configure the building, he said.
Reilly said he wished to impress upon the applicant that he must familiarize himself with State Laws and Town of Hull Bylaws, and added the advice not to sell singles.
VOTE: Three, Ayes; One, Nay (Burke); One Abstention (Burns).
8:00 pm - Water Resource Study Committee - re: Desalinization Plan
David Irwin, Chairman, Ed Petrilak, Vice Chairman, John MacLeod and Malcolm Brown, members of the Water Resource Committee were present to discuss their progress on developing a Desalinization Plant in Hull.
Doug Reid of Woodward and Curran, Engineers, said that the next step is to develop a business model, which he summarized.
A discussion ensued on whether or not the Town should be spending $280,000. at this time of financial difficulty.
Burns said he was skeptical about the taste of desalinized water and asked who is going to pay. McLaughlin spoke of whether the Board is willing to take the chance of it being a successful project so that the seed money will be returned to the taxpayer, and if not, he asked, who will pay that money.
McCabe said that he is uncomfortable looking at a proposal committing to a financial investment of that magnitude without legal analysis. He added it is in our best interest to take that step before going any further.
Reilly said that the trouble with seed money is it grows. He agreed that the next step should be a public utility legal counsel.
Selectmen Minutes, 2/20/03 (2/18)
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MOVED-Hersch: To contact a public utility attorney in order to have information on hand before processing further.
SECOND-McLaughlin
McLaughlin said that he agrees with Hersch, and is impressed with the business model but is in favor of continuing. Reilly told the Committee that the members are not trying to “take the wind out of your sails”, but we need more information. Burns said that he thinks the legal issue is significant.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
8:30 pm - Michael Haynes, 84 Atlantic Avenue - re: New Applicant for Livery Badge and Livery Vehicle License (Postponed to February 26th)
LICENSES
Unanimously approved a common victualer license to Hull Donuts, LLC, Dunkin Donuts, 1B Bay Street on a motion by Burke, Seconded by Hersch.
CORRESPONDENCE
Noted a letter from the Commonwealth Office of Leasing seeking a space in Plymouth County for use as a morgue.
TOWN MANAGER
McCabe presented a schedule for the preparation of a Special Town Meeting to be held on May 5, 2003. The Special will be held within the Annual Town Meeting that will permit intra-transfer of funds, he said.
MOVED-Burns: To adopt the schedule as presented.
SECOND-Burke
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
McCabe also submitted a list of the FY03 reduction in state aid for Hull and each of the surrounding communities.
The Board recessed at 9:23 pm and returned at 9:37 pm.
9:00 pm - Stephen Lathrop - re: Noise Study Representation
Stephen Lathrop appeared before the Board to offer to represent the Town of Hull in the ongoing FAA noise study being done in connection with the expansion of Logan Airport.
Selectmen Minutes, 2/20/03 (2/18)
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Lathrop presented the Members with a briefing book, which he said contains an appendix that is confidential.
He said he is willing to be Hull's representative on the governing board for noise study and attend meetings of the Citizens Advisory Council, but that he is looking for some kind of reimbursement due to the large amount of time involved as some meetings are expected to last all day, which would result in his being unable to do his regular job. He estimated the amount of dollars involved as $50. per hour capped at $35,000. and at 700 hours.
Hersch said that the Town is in no position to fund his request right now and moved no action, which was seconded by McLaughlin.
Burke said the people of Hull need some relief and that she is in favor of asking Town Meeting for the funds.
Substitute Motion
MOVED-Reilly: To take under advisement.
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
NEW BUSINESS
Reilly said that the Town needs an updated Emergency Handbook as the present one is outdated. The Members by consensus authorized Reilly to prepare a new policy for the Emergency Handbook.
Meeting adjourned at 10:22 pm.
April 29, 2003
APPROVED
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