Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
June 17, 2003
The Hull Board of Selectmen meeting was called to order at 7:40 pm on Tuesday evening, June 17, 2003 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: John Reilly, Chairman; Leonard Hersch, Vice Chairman; Christopher Olivieri, Clerk; Thomas Burns and Gerard McLaughlin, Members. Also present were Christopher McCabe, Town Manager, and James Lampke, Town Counsel.
The Chairman read a memo from the Town Manager in regard to the ongoing beach cleaning in progress because of the vast amount of foul smelling, insect infested seaweed that washed ashore along the beach.
McCabe said that the Board of Health declared an emergency situation and ordered the seaweed removed, and the Town received an emergency order from the Conservation Commission, which had put some limits on how the seaweed could be removed. After noticing that the Cohasset Beach was using a contractor with a special rake, McCabe said the Town hired Rosano & Davis Contractors with its custom designed mechanical beach rake, which removes the seaweed without removing sand.
McCabe commended the Highway Department and seaweed crew for its progress to complete what is not a very pleasant task. The volume of seaweed removed as of June 5 was 650 cubic yards at a cost of $18,000 for the private contractor.
McCabe said that the Town needs to be brought into the 21st century by purchasing new equipment for the beach cleaning such as this custom-made rake. The cost, he said, is estimated at $80,000.
MOVED-Hersch: To support the investment in the Rosano rake, or similar equipment, provided its use is authorized by the Department of Environmental Protection.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
7:30 pm - Donna Doherty and Joanne Rose - re: Chapter 46 Personnel Policies
Doherty, who said she was speaking for herself and not for any other group or person told the Board she wanted to discuss the Salary Classification Plan, (SCP) which she said is not being followed with the recent granting of a 25% pay increase, and a three-week vacation to a new employee, Administrative Assistant to the Retirement Board. She said the other employees received a 3% raise and have to wait five-years for a three-week vacation and she thinks this does not send a good message to the employees in this time of financial crisis.
Leonard Colten, Chairman of the Retirement Board, stated that his Board has autonomy, and is not bound by the SCP. He said the reason for the increase was that the new employee was competent enough to take over most of the work previously done by a consultant saving the Board $16,000.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/17/03
Page 2 of 6
Doherty pointed out that the position is listed in the SCP and if it is not covered should have been removed.
Police Chief Donald Brooker said that the Salary Classification Plan has not been updated in regard to salaries, but is current in regard to the other portions.
Doherty said she also wanted to discuss the Outreach Worker position that was funded at Town Meeting, but that no position has ever been created, and asked how a job can be funded before it is created. She added there is no position and no job description.
Lampke said that the Town Manager has the authority to hire an employee for a new position prior to including an article on the warrant to create the position.
McCabe said that the position had been advertised and filed by the prior Town Manager at the time the position was funded by a grant. He said he had originally submitted a budget without funding for that position, but a process evolved to include the budget item on the warrant.
Speaking in support of the position, and producing a document she stated to be a job description, was Linda Herman.
The Board recessed at 8:43 pm and returned at 9:02 pm.
8:15 pm - Henry Dunn - re: Carnival
Henry Dunn, the lessee of the Nantasket Pier parking lot, who was authorized at the May 13, 2003 Selectmen's meeting to host a carnival at the parking lot from July 9, to July 13, 2003, subject to several conditions, approvals, and to reporting back to the Board on the progress. He did report to the Board to give his status report, at which time the Board reaffirmed its original vote of approval.
The carnival, according to Dunn's original letter, was being held to benefit HYFA, as had happened in years past. However, the Board received a letter from HYFA stating it was having no part of this year's carnival, and was not to be a beneficiary.
Dunn explained that the President of HYFA had recently raised $11,000. and does not want anything to do with it, which Dunn said he did not know earlier. He said the recipients of the funds this year will be Joe Doniger's Theater Arts Program at the Hull High School, Hull Basketball, and Hull LaCrosse.
Police Chief Donald Brooker told the Board that there are several conditions to be met prior to holding the carnival and that they need to be completed well in advance. He suggested by July 6th and if conditions are not met there will be no carnival. He also said he will require payment in advance for the actual number of Police Officers to be utilized, which he said in not a reflection on the carnival, but because of other events for which reimbursement was not forthcoming.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/17/03
Page 3 of 6
Burns questioned Dunn's right to sublet under his lease to a carnival, to which Lampke replied that it is not a sublet, and is to the Town's benefit.
Burns also expressed concern that the location is in an AECE area and that debris might be thrown into the water, such as paper cups, plates, bottles, etc., to which Reilly responded that the same issue is true for any business operating at the pier, including for the marina with people in boats using the same kind of products.
McLaughlin asked Dunn to provide letters from the non-profits, and Olivieiri said he wants to make sure that the list of requirements is complete.
Jim O'Brien of Jakes Seafood, expressed his concern over the condition of the now vacant land where the razed building was once sited being water-soaked and therefore unusable. McCabe responded that Paul Gratta had worked on the lot that day and was optimistic about completing the work before the carnival.
8:15 pm - Chief Brooker - re: Seasonal Appointments
Brooker said that the appointees are all Police Academy trained, have completed the 40 hour Reserve-In-Service Program, passed the medical fitness standard and all but one has taken and passed the physical ability test, and that one will take the test on July 10th
MOVED-Hersch: To appoint as Seasonal Police Officers for the year 2003, summer season, as conditional offers of employment contingent upon passing of, and the certification of a physician that they meet the required physical fitness standards; successfully completing firearms training and qualification, and CPR and first aid as well as orientation training the following: John M. Grazioso, 71 Campbell St., Quincy; Donald F. Babbin, 13 Plain St., Upton; Thomas W. McCarthy, 13 Clifton Ave., Hull; Sean M. Conneely, 25 Kingsley Rd., Hull; and Danielle Cope-Sullivan, 506 Pleasant St., Weymouth.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
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A request by letter from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish requesting to hold the Second Annual Family Fun Day on Sunday June 22nd from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, was addressed with the Police Chief, who suggested that they will need a one-day volley ball permit.
MOVED-Hersch: To approve items one-four on the letter dated May 29, 2003.
SECOND-Olivieri
Selectmen Minutes, 6/17/03
Page 4 of 6
Reilly read the letter - 1. Close railroad bed behind church 2. Allow parking around the perimeter of the church at Lewis St. and Samoset Ave. 3. Mark off a section of the beach using ropes and flags for beach games and volley ball 4. Hire a detail Police Officer.
Reilly added, and to issue a one-day volley ball license/permit.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
A request from Jake's Seafood for a one-day amendment to the liquor licenses for a clambake to be held on Saturday, June 28th for 100 world wide Managing Directors of Intercontinental Hotels. The group will be ferried from Boston to Nantasket Pier, with a 30 X 40 ft tent placed on the north side of the building. No liquor will be allowed outside of the tent and no children or under age persons will be present.
MOVED-McLaughlin: To grant permission to Jakes Seafood for the one-day license and pitching
of tent provided a diagram is submitted to the Board.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
MINUTES
MOVED-Hersch: To accept the minutes of March 25 and May 27, 2003 as presented
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
CORRESPONDENCE
Noted a thank you letter from Temple Beth Shalom thanking Hersch for bringing to the attention of the Board the need for a traffic light on Nantasket Avenue in front of its building.
Unanimously approved a request from Kellie Nixon to have a band on June 21st from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 512 Nantasket Avenue, on a motion by Hersch, seconded by Olivieri.
Noted a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers stating they would be willing to hold a public hearing following the review period as requested by the Town Manager.
NEW BUSINESS
Burns said he wanted to update recent activity on the landfill because there is a dire need for recreational fields. He said no one favors using Mariners Park. There is a need for waste and composting facility at the site, but there is an area at the top which is the size of a football field or soccer field. Burns said he would like to see a study committee look aggressively at using the site.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/17/03
Page 5 of 6
The committee, he suggested, should be coordinated with the Park and Recreation Committee, Town Manager, and Public Works.
Hersch said he does not think it can be used at this point. Olivieri said he thought it was a good idea as there is no sense in waiting. Reilly asked that the committee get an estimated cost.
Burns said he would recommend that any use of the facility would be a controlled use.
MOVED-Burns: To form a landfill study committee consisting of a member of the Board of Selectmen, Park and Recreation, Town Manager, waste/compost/recycle group, Health Inspector, and School Committee to develop a scope of work to petition the DEP for final closure of phase 1 for the proposed active use and to determine the feasibility and cost and to report back to the Board by September 15, 2003.
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: UNANIMOUS in Favor
MOVED-McLaughlin: To appoint Thomas Burns as the Selectmen's Representative on the landfill committee.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: UNANINMOUS in Favor
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Notice from the Town Manager was presented to the Board of his intention to reappoint several department heads, which the Selectmen have the right to reject or to waive their right to object.
Hersch asked that the decision be postponed because he did not get the notice until just before the meeting and said he does not feel comfortable voting without having the opportunity to study the list.
The Chairman agreed and said the next meeting on the 24th will be just two appointments, Jakes Seafood negotiations and waiving or rejecting the list of appointees.
McLaughlin sought an update of the drainage concerns at Sunset Place and was informed by the Town Manager that the Conservation Commission has issued violations.
Olivieri said there have been several studies done for the Town that have never been implemented and that he has been reading those studies, which he said might be useful.
Hersch spoke about seeking a full blown marina for Nantasket Pier, without housing, that would meet the requirements of Waterfront Zoning.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/17/03
Page 6 of 6
MOVED-Hersch: To direct the Town Manager to start an RFP for the Nantasket Pier to be returned
by December 30, 2003.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Three, Ayes; Two Nays (Burns and McLaughlin)
Motion Passed
Reilly said he has a requisition form submitted by Nancy Allen for the Civil Service Fire Chief Examination, and asked if the Board preferred the 80% written/20% education or the 40%written-40% education and 20% leadership skills.
McLaughlin said he preferred the 80%; Chief Brooker told the Board he has sat in on the 40% assessment process and was not too impressed with the way it is handled; Town Manager said he was not impressed with the 40% assessment process which was held in Norton, and asked that it be held until next week.
MOVED-McLaughlin: To go into executive session to discuss disposition of real property, and strategy in deployment of security personnel.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Aye, McLaughlin; Aye, Burns; Aye, Reilly; Aye, Olivieri; Aye, Hersch.
The Board moved into executive session at 11:22 pm and thereafter adjourned.
July 8, 2003
APPROVED
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