Hull Board of Selectmen
Minutes
February 8, 2005
The meeting of the Hull Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:36 pm on Tuesday evening, February 8, 2005 at the Hull Municipal Building, 253 Atlantic Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts.
Present: John Reilly, Chairman; Christopher Olivieri, Clerk; and Leonard Hersch, Member. Also present were: Christopher McCabe, Town Manager and James Lampke, Town Counsel.
Present at 8:10 pm were Gerard McLaughlin, Vice Chairman; and Joan Meschino, Member, both having been delayed in a meeting with Town Counsel.
CORRESPONDENCE
1. Read aloud a letter from Aquarion Water Co. that is seeking a Citizens Advisory Committee of 6-8 Hull Residents to meet quarterly and have staggered terms.
2. Unanimously approved the abatement of ambulance bill #401765 on a motion by Hersch, seconded by Olivieri.
7:30 pm Christopher Olivieri – re: DCR Presentation
Selectmen Olivieri, Chairman of the Selectmen’s DCR Committee reported on the progress of the Committee by stating it has been looking to the feasibility of establishing a partnership with the DCR and the committee has had a good relationship with Kathy Abbott, the DCR Director. Abbott had come to Hull in June of 2004 for discussions and viewed a slide show. The town is interested in reviving the DCR location and has asked that a portion of the fence surrounding the ten-acre parcel for scenic reasons and seeking the use of two smaller buildings. Olivieri commented that Kathy Abbott is no longer in charge, but they have been working with Joe Orfant.
Ron Davy spoke about vision and mission stating that they are seeking a private, Town, and DCR partnership; were successful in obtaining a Pioneer prize of $2,500; are planning to begin with a small specific project, and establish an economic development committee that he said is important to establishing a good relationship.
Olivieri thanked Senator Hedlund and Representative Bradley for their consistent voice in support and asked that the members of the committee and advisors be reappointed.
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Selectmen Minutes, 2/8/05
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MOVED-Hersch: To reappoint the Members for the upcoming year Christopher Olivieri, Ron Davy, Phil Bellone, Estelle MacDonald, Rick Lawrence, Andy Spinale, and Dennis Blackall.
SECOND-Reilly
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Hersch: To reappoint the advisors for the upcoming year: Town Manager, Christopher McCabe; Town Counsel, James Lampke; Town Planner, Jay Szklut; David Twombly, Planning Board Chairman; Carl Katzeff, Hull Redevelopment Authority Chairman; and David Ray, Conservation Commission Member.
SECOND-Reilly
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
MOVED-Hersch: To reappoint as a Member for the upcoming year, James O’Brien.
SECOND-Reilly
VOTE: Unanimous in favor
Reilly said that they should report back to the Board in one year. Hersch requested that the DCR Highway Superintendent Jackie Phillips be contacted in regard to the rumor that much of the equipment has been moved out and for a letter to be sent to Phillips extolling his work for the last 40 years.
The Chairman recognized Larry Kellem, Chairman of the Hull Chamber of Commerce who thanked the board for recognizing him without an appointment. He said he wanted to request that the Enjoy Hull Committee be re-established, and that some type of enterprise account be created to supplement the fundraising.
Reilly said that the work of the Chamber of Commerce is appreciated and sees no reason the committee should not be re-established. As for the fund, Reilly said it would be looked into.
The Board recessed at 8:15 pm and returned to open session at 8:28 pm.
8:00 pm Steve Wilkins, Bermaken Hotel – re: License Renewal
Steve Wilkins, owner and general manager of the Bermaken Hotel appeared before the Board, as requested, for the license renewal. He apologized for filing late and said it was because they waited until the completion of the work required for the inspectional services that have been approved.
Selectmen Minutes, 2/8/05
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He had been requested to appear based upon some complaints that Meschino spoke about at the last meeting, one of which was that there appeared to be no on-site manager as required by law, parking problems and noise.
Wilkens said the former on-site manager, Steve Robb, left at the end of November and he introduced Donald Barrett, as the new on-site manager.
The owners claimed to be responsible about the operation of the lodging house and that they often stayed several days in the building. They have also responded to all of the calls that have been received, she said.
The Board had been given a copy of the police logs relating to the area of the Bermaken. McLaughlin commented on the large number of calls to the police and expressed concern over one in which the manager did not give the name of the person reporting the incident to the police. Wilkens responded that the tenant did not want it known he had made the report and the police officer was satisfied.
Olivieri said that there were only a few serious calls and commented that that is the nature of the business. He also said that the lodging house must establish definable roles for the employees and owners for day-to-day operations.
Meschino commented that the problems were symptomatic, but the Police Chief said they were responsive and had a good rapport.
In response to questions from Hersch, the owners said the average tenancy is 1½ years, the vacancy rate is about three to rive rooms from the 34 available. Hersch added that it is not an easy task because many are single, lonely and not well
Reilly told the owners that they must have an on-site manager at all times as required in the original license, and must notify the Board immediately of any change in that status.
MOVE-Hersch: To approve the lodging house license renewal to the Bermaken Hotel, 102 Revere Street, conditioned upon a resident manager on premises and on record at all times with the Police, Fire Department and Town.
SECOND-McLaughlin
Carol Vafides of 102 Revere Street, and another neighbor, complained about parking in front of her house, horns honking, noises, and visits from the police to the lodging house. The owners responded that they have tried to work with the neighbors
Selectmen Minutes, 2/8/05
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Reilly offered substitute conditions to the motion:
1. Each principal provide a home telephone number and cell phone number;
2. Designate a resident manager to be on premises and act as a contact person;
3. Provide Town Clerk with a written job description for the resident manager which outlines hours, lines of communications while on site and overall;
4. Provide Town Clerk with a written copy of all the Bermaken’s policies including parking, revisions and up-dates and a copy of resident signatures acknowledging receipt of the policies; and
5. Hull Police review the incident reports for 102 Revere Street, regardless of severity, every three months and report to Board of Selectmen if there are problems.
Second-McLaughlin
Vote: Unanimous in favor
Hersch said he thought the conditions to be too strict.
The Board recessed at 9:22 pm and reopened at 9:29 pm.
8:30 pm Steamboat Wharf Marina 2005 Dock Configuration
Andrew Spinale and Justin Gould, the developers of the Nantasket Pier, presented in writing a Dock Configuration for 2005 showing 76 slips and a total of 96 slips from 2006-2009. They said that it was a misunderstanding that 104 slips had been proposed initially, and that whether it is 96 or 104 the bottom line does not change. Placing slips at the tip of the pier is not in consideration at this time, but a long-term consideration. In response to a question from Meschino, in regard to insurance for the fisherman, Spinale said that 40’ is set aside for fisherman who must be responsible for their own insurance.
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McLaughlin announced that the process of replacing the flag at the Monument is being addressed, but there was a technical problem in lowering the flag for removal and replacement.
MOVED-McLaughlin: To go into executive session to discuss strategy in litigation, deployment of security personnel and to not reconvene.
SECOND-Olivieri
ROLL CALL VOTE: Aye, Meschino; Aye, McLaughlin; Aye, Reilly; Aye, Olivieri; Aye, Hersch.
The Board moved into executive session at 10:19 pm and thereafter adjourned.
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APPROVED
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