Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
March 16, 2004
The meeting of the Hull Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:45 pm on Tuesday evening, March 16, 2004 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: John Reilly, Chairman;; Christopher Olivieri, Clerk; Thomas Burns and Gerard McLaughlin, Members. Also present were: Christopher McCabe, Town Manager and James Lampke, Town Counsel.
Not present: Leonard Hersch, Vice Chairman
MINUTES
MOVED-Olivieri: To approve the minutes of February 24, 2004 as presented
SECOND-Burns
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
7:30 pm Sergeant Joseph Lucas - re: Acting Police Captain
Sergeant Joseph Lucas told the Board that he entered the Hull Police Department as a seasonal officer following his military service in 1971. From 1972 through 1974 he served as a Permanent Interim Officer until he became a permanent Police Officer in 1984. He said he was promoted to Sergeant in 1994, having now served the Department nearly 33 years. Lucas said he received an Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and has been involved in continuing education.
Each of the Selectmen asked a series of questions to which Lucas responded in part; that Officers do have and should have discretion in many areas, but in an area like domestic abuse, which has a high priority, there is very limited discretion; suggested having more walking beats to improve community relations; is committed to the DARE Program; improve communication with community organizations and senior citizens; has a good rapport with patrol officers and is seeking to develop specialties to improve retention of officers, many of whom transfer for lack of advancement possibilities. He said he took the Lieutenants Civil Service Exam, and passed, but that the position was never filled.
7:50 pm Sergeant Richard Billings - re: Acting Police Captain Appointment
The Chairman said that as the Sergeant had been recently interviewed for another position that he could present the Board with a brief description of his qualifications.
Sergeant Billings said that he joined the Police Department in 1982 and became a permanent Sergeant in 1994 having now served the Department 22 years.
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Selectmen Minutes, 3/16/04
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Billings said he has an Associates, Bachelors, and Master Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and has been involved in continuing education.
Each of the Members asked a series of questions to which Billings responded in part; that Officers do have some discretion and that he wants to add more specialties or supervisory positions for retention of Officers; would like to secure a boat for coastal patrol; and he said he offers a style of leadership by setting an example; is dedicated to pursuing grant writing, encourages continuing education, supports the DARE Program; and wants to develop a close relationship with the community.
8:10 pm Robert Sawtell - Acting Police Captain Appointment
Sergeant Robert Sawtelle told the Board that he joined the Hull Police Department as a Seasonal Officer each year from 1983-1987 and became a permanent Police Officer in 1988. During that time he served as a temporary detective twice as acting Sergeant three separate times until he became a permanent Sergeant in 2001. He said that he has an Associates Degree Equivalent in Law Enforcement, majoring in Criminal Justice
Each of the Selectmen asked a series of question to which Sawtelle responded in part; that he is now an Administrative Sergeant dealing with grants, policy and procedures, etc. and would like to work to build a partnership with citizens and the rank and file, who needs to know that they have support; that retention is an issue and he believes it is not just lack of advancement that leads to transfers, but that an officer happy at his workplace is more apt to want to stay; to develop a relationship with the community, outreach programs, traffic enforcement for safe highways and to provide integrity, vision, community skills and listening skills; and support of the DARE program.
8:30 pm Jay Szklut - re Zoning Bylaw3 (Cancelled)
TOWN MANAGER
McCabe submitted to the Board a five-year Capital Plan for review.
Straits Pond
He told the Board that time is of the essence for the spraying of straits Pond and that he had prepared a spread sheet. He added that the cost of mechanical removal of the algae, widgeon grass and weeds is prohibitive. McCabe also said that the monitoring system last year showed that spraying Abate, a chemical, has had little effect on midges. McCabe said he is filing a Notice of Intent to spread the herbicide to control the widgeon grass, weeds and algae at a cost of $8,800, but that he does not intend to use the Abate as it has little effect. McCabe suggested that there is another natural product that might be looked into using.
Bartley Kelly, a resident along Straits Pond, told the Board he disagreed and that the neighbors feel that Abate spraying does help to reduce the midges.
Selectmen Minutes, 3/16/-4
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Seawall repair
McCabe said that he provided a letter to the Board in regard to the temporary repair of the seawall in the DCR area which includes dumping 31,000 tons of cobble on the beach to support the seawall, and if not that beach area will be closed off.
Reilly requested that our Representatives, Bradley, Hedlund & Delahunt be invited to a meeting along with the DCR.
9:30 pm Thomas Burns - re: Hull Water Supply Committee (Formation of)
Burns informed the Board that the Hingham Water Resource Supply Committee is meeting with the Hingham Board of Selectmen to present a proposal to buy Aquarion Water Company. Burns requested that a committee be formed. Olivieri agreed.
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Police Chief Donald DiMarzio said it is unclear to him that the DCR is willing to permit installation of parking meters on Nantasket Avenue along the reservation and that he will research the matter further.
The meeting recessed at 9:15 pm and reconvened at 9:31 pm.
DiMarzio said that all three candidates have served proudly and suggested that each be given an opportunity to serve as Acting Captain in the interim to give them experience, which is a valuable tool. He suggested 45 days each.
MOVED-Burns: To appoint Sergeant Richard Billings as Acting Captain effective at 12:01 am March 17, 2004
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in Favor
McLaughlin commended all three applicants, and suggested that the Town should look to filling the Lieutenant position for upward mobility. Reilly agreed to looking at a way to fill that position.
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DiMarzio requested that the Selectmen appoint an Acting Sergeant from the eligible six or seven candidates who had passed the Civil Service Exam.
Reilly asked the Town Manager to set up the interview appointments with all of the eligible candidates.
MOVED-Reilly: To go into executive session to discuss the sale, lease, disposition and value of real property and not reconvene in open session.
SECOND-Burns
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye, Reilly; Aye, Olivieri; Aye, Burns; Aye, McLaughlin.
The Board moved into executive at 9:50 pm and thereafter adjourned.
April 13, 2004
APPROVED
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