Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
June 29, 2004
The meeting of the Hull Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:40 pm on Tuesday evening, June 29, 2004 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: John Reilly, Chairman; Gerard McLaughlin, Vice Chairman; Christopher Olivieri, Clerk; Leonard Hersch and Joan Meschino, Members. Also present were: Christopher McCabe, Town Manager and James Lampke, Town Counsel.
Chairman Reilly opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the passing of two Hull citizens, Josephine Darcy, wife of the late Town Clerk, Jack Darcy. She was a long-time resident and Hull businesswoman; and Felix Russo, a former Member of the Park and Recreation Committee.
MINUTES
MOVED-McLaughlin: To approve the minutes of May 25, 2004 as presented
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
7:25 pm Detective Sweeney -re-Commendation
Reilly, on behalf of the Board, presented a Letter of Commendation to Detective Ronald Sweeney for his distinguished service over the years, and for his investigative skills in arresting three suspects for numerous larcenies from automobiles and the recovery of thousands of dollars worth of stolen property.
7:30 pm VFW & War Memorial Commission -re: War Memorial
Reilly explained that the meeting was prompted by McLaughlin, and Bill Henderson in regard to the status of renovations of the War Memorial and improvements in communications between the Commission and the VFW. Reilly added that the general public is not aware of the amount of work that is done by the Commission on their own time.
Reilly also explained that vacancies on the five member Commission are appointed by the Selectmen and are to consist of three veterans, a member of the Beautification Committee and a member of the Board of Selectmen or its designee. Reilly said that because the Beautification Committee has been inactive for years, the Board of Selectmen appointed McLaughlin as its member to the Beautification Committee and then to the Commission.
Page 1 of 5
Selectmen Minutes, 6/20/04
Page 2 of 5
Lawrence McInnis, VFW Commander, was present and questioned the lack of communication, and some complaints in regard to the care of the monument, that were answered by John Coggins and Sumner Goldberg, the only two remaining members of the Commission. Goldberg said there has been no lack of communication on his part and that he can produce the various letters to the VFW that went unanswered; Coggins explained that they addressed problems when they came to the Commission's attention. He said the Commission is working with our State Representative and Senator for a list of Vietnam Veterans from Hull, and that the contract work on the monument is ongoing.
McInnis reported to the Board that Henderson, while at the hospital visiting a friend, had a heart attack and has undergone triple bypass surgery.
Reilly said that the Town Manager would advertise for members to serve on the Beautification Committee and War Memorial Commission.
As for the complaint in regard to the poor quality of the sound system at the Memorial Day Services, Hersch said that, if they remind him, next year he will arrange for a sound system that has good distribution of sound.
8:00 pm Rob Gilman -re: Sustainable South Shore Organization
Rob Gilman, Judeth Van Hamm and Harry Cochran appeared before the Board to seek cooperation from the Town and to notify the Board that it is holding an event on Saturday, July 17th from 10 am to 2pm at the Mary Jeanette Murray Bathhouse and Bernie King Pavilion on climate change, uses of energy, and demonstrating solutions.
Cochran presented a power point describing the organization and its goals and mission to raise the consciousness of the implications of climate change and to convince the citizenry to become a model sustainable energy community.
8:15 pm Public Hearing-McDevitt Enterprises, Inc. dba Jo's Nautical, Stephanie Aprea, Mgr. 125 Main Street - Application to Amend Description of Licensed Premises to add Patio
Reilly opened the Public Hearing and swore in witnesses.
Stephanie Aprea said she is seeking the use of the existing patio for five tables seating four at each, with only an emergency exit and a video camera for security. She said there would be no outside entertainment, music or juke box.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/20/04
Page 3 of 5
Police Captain Richard Billings said there are no objections from a public safety standpoint; Thomas Foley of 3 Mildred St. objected to an outdoor patio as did David Parker of Mildred St.
A petition in support of the amendment to the license submitted to the Board was signed by 46 persons.
MOVED-Hersch: To approve the amendment to the license to include the exterior patio to be open from 12 noon to 11 pm.
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Correspondence/Hull Police Department
Captain Billings discussed the correspondence dated June 23, 2004, submitted by the Police Chief, and said that a Civil Service List had been requested and received to fill the vacancy left by retirement of David Leary, and that is a reduction of two, including the former Chief's retirement.
Billings said the three candidates selected following interviews, background investigations and personal observations are: 1) Andrew J. Sweeney; 2) Elizabeth Purvis; and 3) Daniel P. Keaveney.
Billings stated that the Police Chief is respectfully recommending the appointment of Andrew J. Sweeney, and that he concurs.
Reilly explained that the Board would like to follow past practices and interview all three candidates and held the appointment until after the interviews.
Reilly, in response to a letter from Chief DiMarzio in regard to Detective John J. Coggins, Jr. for his involvement in solving a breaking and entering case at Raffael's and the recovery of stolen cash and checks, asked that a Letter of Commendation be presented to Coggins.
The Board recessed at 8:50 pm and returned to open session at 9:03 pm.
8:30 pm Jackie Chase and others-re: HRA
Reilly opened the discussion by stating that the Hull Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is autonomous and this meeting is to listen to the citizen's concerns, and not to criticize the HRA.
Selectmen Minutes, 6/29/04
Page 4 of 5
Jackie Chase, and a group of approximately 50 citizens, were present to oppose the development project proposed by the HRA for the construction of a high-rise condominium unit at the Phipps Street end and the condominiums proposed on the corner of Bay Street.
They said they were seeking advice as to how the project could be stopped. Reilly told them, and Town Counsel concurred, that it is not proper for the Board to give advice on how to stop the project. However, in regard to autonomy of the Authority, they were told the Department of Community Housing and Development had oversight.
Lampke answered their question on how to end the Authority by stating it would take a Special Act of Legislation or a change in the Town
The group indicated that they want to keep the land for open space and a Town Common for the use of the community. They said they have spoken to Carl Katzeff, Chairman of the HRA, and are not satisfied. They also said that they had asked Katzeff to do another survey to get a feel of the community's view, and were denied.
During the latter part of the two-hour meeting Katzeff arrived and answered a series of questions from the citizens.. Katzeff said that working on this project has been a long and open process with much opportunity for public comment and input.
Jean Paquin of Edgewater Road said that she attended many of those public meetings, but that unfortunately not many other members of the public attended.
Katzeff said that the HRA would be holding further public meetings. Reilly thanked him for attending and participating in the discussion.
CORRESPONDENCE
Reilly informed the board of the letter from Fire Chief Robert Hollingshead of the retirement of Firefighter Gary Fleck who served from 1966 to May of 2004. He served as Acting Captain and received several commendations. Members thanked him for his service and wished him well on his retirement.
Accepted with regret the resignation of Phil Lemnios from the School Building Committee, as he no longer resides in Hull, and unanimously appointed Dr. John Silva as a permanent member of the School Building Committee, on a motion by Hersch, Seconded by Olivieri.
Unanimously appointed Andrew Spinale to the DCR Committee on a motion by Meschino, seconded by Hersch.
Held discussion of a letter from Ann Perry in regard to reopening the Hull Fire Station
Selectmen Minutes, 6/29/04
Page 5 of 5
:LICENSES
Unanimously approved a parking license to Robert J. Kelly, Kelly's Gun Rock House for property tions177-179 Atlantic Avenue for the parking of 12 cars on a motion by Hersch, seconded by Olivieri.
TOWN MANAGER
Unanimously approved, subject to the requirements of the Superintendent of Streets, the application of Keyspan to install and maintain 4,125 feet of 8 inch gas main in Nantasket Avenue from Point Allerton Avenue west to Duck Lane to replace the 3 inch gas main which is to be abandoned, on a motion by Olivieri, seconded by McLaughlin.
The balance of the Town Manager's business: Two appointments to the Water Resource Committee; Main Street project; reappointment of department heads; Collective Bargaining (Municipal Clerks); Police Chief's comments on speeding on Central Avenue and Whtehead Avenue; were held over.
Reilly said the next meeting will be on July 13th
Meeting adjourned at 11:06 pm.
JULY 27, 2004
APPROVED
| 
