Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
October 26, 2004
The meeting of the Hull Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:40 pm on Tuesday evening, October 26, 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.
MINUTES
MOVED-Hersch: To approve the minutes of September 7, and September 14, 2004 as presented
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Hersch: To approve the executive session minutes of September 28 and October 12, 2004 as presented
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Hersch: To release the executive session minutes of September 28 and October 12, 2004
SECONS-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Swearing In Ceremony
The Selectmen held a swearing in ceremony for the newly appointed Hull Fire Chief Frank Lyons. The Lyons family was present for the swearing-in ceremony conducted by Town Clerk Janet Bennett.
7:30 pm Jay Szklut - re: Social Service Proposals
Jay Szklut, Community Development Director and Town Planner was present to discuss the Social Service Proposals requesting the pleasure of the Board on the selection of those to be funded.
The four programs presented were Evening Adult Education (Wellspring) $15,006-
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Selectmen Minutes, 10/26/04
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recommended; Local Transportation (Wellspring) $18,472 - not recommended; Meals on Wheels for Disabled (South Shore Elder services) $10,400 - recommended, and Truancy Reduction Program (Hull Public School) $58,585 - recommended.
Vinny Harte, Executive Director of Wellspring, said that the Department of Education (DOE) has funded the adult education program for ten years, but this year it decided not to fund. He explained the importance of the program helping citizens gain support and skills to achieve independence and self-sufficiency, for those who need the education and work during the day. He estimated 20 persons per year at 10 per class use the program.
Harte also spoke for the transportation program and the dire need to transport many Hull citizens to Wellspring as well as to surrounding cities and towns, where the available services are now located, and especially because the local bus line has decreased its schedule. He said that the Hull/Hingham Rotary Club has purchased a van and allocated fuel. The application was for salaries only-administration and drivers.
Reilly asked if Towns of Hingham and Cohasset were willing to provide more financial resources to which Hart responded that he has been in discussions with them. In response to a question from McLaughlin, Hart said they service about 12 to 24 persons per day.
Szklut offered the information that the State will look more kindly on a grant if it is shared with towns not eligible such as Hingham and Cohasset.
Mary Nugent, the nutrition site manager, representing South Shore Elder Services cited the need for Meals on Wheels for the disabled that provides hot meals to the disabled which represent 21.9% of Hull's population. She said they are looking for 8 meals per day five days a week and seeking $10,400.
Gerald Fournier, Assistant Superintendent, representing the Hull Public Schools seeking to approve the loss of a grant for the truancy program, that he said has been very successful. He said the School Committee has approved the program and that the school provides $7,500 for in kind support, and $7,650 for a Special Ed Director. He added that not only does the program improve independence, but it also helps children in social dilemmas by being able to refer them to the proper agency. The program is for kindergarten to grade eight. The program had reduced the truancy significant from 270-day absences to 18.
Reilly expressed his concern that the truancy program not target particular students, but have it across the board for everyone, He said there was a claim that the program previously targeted free lunch students; Meschino asked if it was appropriate to ask for a report.
Selectmen Minutes, 10/26/04
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Szklut said there are three programs recommended and a vote is needed to permit Wellspring to resubmit the local transportation grant application.
MOVED-Hersch: To allow Adult Education, Meals on Wheels for the disabled the Truancy program and to allow Wellspring to resubmit the grant application for the Local Transportation program.
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
8:30 pm Affordable Housing Committee Applicants - Vinny Harte, Harry C. Hibbard, Jr., Jennifer Berardi-Constable, and Anne Lane
Vinny Harte, Executive director of Wellspring; Harry Hibbard, Jr., a practicing Attorney in Boston specializing in neighborhood development and among other housing issues worked with the Mass. Tenants Organization as a tenant advocate and as general counsel; Anne Lane, a Real Estate Broker specializing in low income and disability housing; and Jennifer Berardi-Constable, holds a Master in Public Administration, and among other credentials served as a Social Security Disability Paralegal.
MOVED-Olivieri: To appoint Vinny Harte, Harry Hibbard, Jr., Jennifer Berardi-Constable, and Anne Lane to serve on the Affordable Housing Committee for a one year term to expire on October 31, 2005
SECOND-Meschino
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Reilly asked the new Members to report back to the Board in six months and reminded them to be sworn in.
8:45 pm Cultural Council Applicants for Reappointment - Nick Genes, Jennifer Brown, Martha Paul, and Carolyn Anastos
The applicants for reappointment appeared before the Board and spoke about the work of the Cultural Council in a brief interview, except for Nick Genes who was unable to attend due to illness.
MOVED-Olivieri: To reappoint Nick Genes, Jennifer Brown, Carolyn Anastos and Martha Paul to the Cultural Council
SECOND-Hersch
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Barbara LaHage, an applicant for a vacancy on the Hull Cultural Council, said she was raised in Hull, is a full time resident and Member of the Library Trustees.
Selectmen Minutes, 10/26/04
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MOVED-Hersch: To appoint Barbara LaHage to serve on the Cultural Council for a term of two years.
SECOND-McLaughlin
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
9:00 pm Sheila Connor - Applicant for Conservation Committee
Sheila Connor said she has been a resident since 1996 having moved from Hanover where she had served as a Member of the Conservation Committee, and as Chairman for six years. Since moving to Hull she has been active with the Straits Pond issue and the Water Shed Committee.
Reilly said the board would not make any appointments this evening.
TOWN MANAGER
McCabe raised the request of the Hull Fire Department to increase the rate for the use of the ambulance.
MOVED-Meschino: To approve the increased rate for the ambulance service as submitted in a memo from Fire Chief Frank Lyons dated October 7, 2004
SECOND-Hersch
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
McCabe presented a contract for the new Fire Department Ambulance for signature.
MOVED-Meschino: To authorize the Chairman to sign the lease/purchase agreement for the new ambulance.
SECOND-Hersch
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
McCabe presented to the Selectmen a Housing Rehab Loan Subordination Policy for review.
Members agreed to set the date of November 16, 2004 for review of the Town Manager's yearly report.
Meeting adjourned at 9:42 pm
DECEMBER 7, 2004
APPROVED
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