Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
September 14, 2004
The meeting of the Hull Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:36 pm on Tuesday evening, September 14, 2004 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: 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.
Not Present: John Reilly. Chairman
Minutes
MOVED-Hersch: To accept the minutes of August 10, 2004 as presented
SECOND-Meschino
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
7:30 pm David Beck - re: Tax Classification Hearing
McLaughlin, conducting the meeting as Acting Chairman, recognized Assistant Assessor David Beck for a presentation of the Town's proposed Tax Classification for approval by the Board. Also present were Members of the Board of Assessors, Nunzie DeVito, Tom Gould and Peter Grieco.
Beck said that the Department of Revenue, prior to setting the tax rate, permits the Town to classify properties to allow different rates for residences, business/commercial and open space. He said that Hull has such a small rate of business (2%), no privately owned open space, so there would be literally no advantage to the residents. Beck said the program was designed for communities with numerous commercial and open space properties and he recommended to the Board that it approve the four questions submitted to it in writing.
MOVED-Hersch: To adopt the recommendation of the Board of Assessors on questions #1, #2, #3, #4 - #1 being to accept a factor of “1”.
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
When requested by Beck to vote on each question separately motions were made:
Page 1 of 4
Selectmen Minutes, 9/14/04
Page 2 of 4
MOVED-Hersch: No on questions #2 - not to grant a discount on open space
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Meschino: No on questions #3-not to adopt a residential exemption
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Meschino: No on question #4-not to adopt a business/commercial exemption
SECOND-Olivieri
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Members signed the questionnaire.
:7:30 pm Beach Management Committee - re Update on Activities
Rhona Kanet, Chairman and Dane Kizner, Member of the Beach Management Committee updated the Board on their activities. Kanet said that the Hull beach has not eroded in 300 years, and that the only erosion has been from Phipps Street South caused by the seawalls that are too close to the sea. The Committee would like the State to replace the walls with revetment moved 30' to 40' back from the sea, if the beach is to be protected. She also spoke about seeking a change in the Order of Conditions to permit picking up the sand from Beach Avenue and sifting it for storage at the landfill.
Olivieri said that the DCR Committee would like to send one of its Members to the next beach management meeting to see how it can help with revetment.
McLaughlin, with the concurrence of other Members, expressed outrage at the State spending six million dollars at Wollaston Beach, and hardly a penny on the Nantasket Beach, one of the most popular and widely used beaches in the Commonwealth.
8:15 pm Jay Szklut - re: CD Grant & Proposed Traffic Island at Rockland Circle
Jay Szklut, Community Development Administrator and Town Planner, had been requested to appear at the meeting to discuss the Town not having been selected this year to receive the Community Development Grant.
Szklut explained that the grants have a subjective quality and are dependent on the reviewers' opinion. He also said that the application scored 92% which was higher than last year's 91%.
Selectmen Minutes, 9/14/04
Page 3 of 4
As for not receiving the grant to re-side the Senior Center, Szklut said there were two problems: 1) there is a requirement to include architectural plans that were not included in the package for obvious reasons. He said that after speaking to them and explaining that replacing siding does not require architectural plans, they told him they will review that policy prior to next year; 2) that there was confusion over the building being named the “Veterans Building” and that it is used for other purposes such as political groups, Church, and other functions so that the reviewers concluded that the building is not just for seniors.
Comments were made by Members of the past grant performance and that Hull has received these grants for six out of the last eight years.
Szklut as Town Planner presented a plan to the Board, in its capacity as Traffic Commissioners, on behalf of the Hull Planning Board for the consideration of a traffic island at Rockland Circle. He said that as part of the Site Plan Review the Town has received $10,000. from the developer of Sunset Place, Ferdinand Kiley, to be used toward the island. Final plans will be reviewed and approved by the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Highway Superintendent, and the estimated cost is $15,900. The cost to the Town will be $5,900.
MOVED-Olivieri: To approve the construction of the traffic island on Rockland Circle
SECOND-Meschino
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
TOWN MANAGER
McCabe reported that the Pay-As-You-Throw recycling study has been conducted as an outreach that is in the process of evaluation.
Jay Szklut said that they received 937 responses to the written survey and 191 on the web site. The tabulation shows that 23% would not be interested and 26% would be interested if the cost doesn't exceed $200.00 per yearly.
McCabe stated his intention not to place an article on the warrant at this time as it does not seem cost effective and people do not seem to want to recycle. Members agreed and commented Nancy Kramer for her work on the program.
CORRESPONDENCE
Unanimously approved providing a revocable license for use of the railroad bed abutting 18 Adams Street, to Faye and Joseph Baglione subject to the approval of the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Highway Superintendent, on a motion by Hersch, seconded by Olivieri.
Selectmen Minutes, 9/14/03
Page 4 of 4
McLaughlin, in response to Olivieri's request for establishing a policy for the railroad bed, said the discussion would be held when the Chairman returns.
Read aloud by Hersch a thank you letter from the Hull Firefighters Association, Jay King, President, for the cooperation they received during a recent successful fundraiser.
Unanimously approved the request of Laurie Vasiliadis for additional parking on the west side of Nantasket Avenue at the North side of L Street. The parking request was approved in a memo dated September 9, 2004 from the Police Chief who recognized that there is no longer access from the new playground to Nantasket Avenue and no longer a safety issue, on a motion by Hersch seconded by Meschino.
Referred parking problem submitted by Rosemary Plausky of 6 Rockland Circle, and the memo from the Police Chief, to Town Manager to discuss with Ms Plausky.
Noted that Hull Police Officer Donald Love, Academy Director, has announced that the Citizens Academy, with orientation, is being conducted on October 7th at 7:00 pm and will be held every Thursday at the Police Station from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tabled in order to seek more information on property ownership and input from residents as to the location requested from Julie Brown in regard to wedding plans on August 27, 2005.
NEW BUSINESS
Under new business McLaughlin thanked the Harbormaster for the hard work that he did on Windemere Pier; announced the Dream Machine Ground Hog Benefit Triathalon for this coming Sunday, and agreed with Hersch that the Langstam Report should be redacted as little as possible and released.
Meeting adjourned at 10:18 pm
October 26, 2004
APPROVED
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