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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF MEETING

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

DECEMBER 29, 2009

Present: Joseph P. Norton, Chairman; John F. Danehey, Shawn Harris, Richard W. Murray

Patricia A. Vinchesi, Town Administrator

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA/ WALK-IN PERIOD

Mr. Harris made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to ACCEPT the Agenda for December 29, 2009. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Unanimous vote.
(4-0)

Walk-Ins – Ann Burbine, 10 Pennycress Road and North Scituate merchant, noted that the North Scituate merchants did a good job of shoveling out their storefronts after the most recent snowstorm. She raised a concern about public sidewalks in the vicinity of the Henry Turner Bailey and Gannett Road intersection at the train tracks that had not been cleared and the inability for cars and pedestrians to see street line markings due to the snow. The Town Administrator will relay these concerns to the Director of Public Works. Ms. Burbine asked about Street Acceptance articles for the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Ms. Vinchesi stated that there is a “placeholder” for such articles on the warrant.

3. VOTE/ Special Municipal Employee Status/ By-Law Review Committee

Mr. Greg Harris, Chairman of the By-Law Review Committee, was present at tonight’s meeting. He stated that the Committee voted on December 16, 2009 to seek approval from the Selectmen on Special Municipal Employee status for the Committee. Mr. Harris noted that the Committee would receive Special Municipal Employee status as a whole, rather than named individuals. Mr. Danehey noted the importance of this designation for men and women who volunteer on these committees, commissions, boards and councils. State ethics and conflict of interest standards still apply.

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to GRANT “Special Municipal Employee” status to the members of the By-Law Review Committee. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

4. PRESENTATION/ VOTE/ Community Garden for Town Food Pantry/ L. Bertola

Ms. Lisa Bertola, 52 Elm Street, of Sustainable Scituate (a volunteer organization that donates time and money to special projects such as the wind turbine and playing field recycling bins) and Mr. John Belber, Holly Hill Organic Farm/Cohasset, were present to discuss the idea of a community garden to provide produce to Scituate’s Food Pantry located on Country Way. Mr. Belber works with various school departments’ science teachers and students teaching them how to produce food in a healthy way. He and his family have already started this effort by

resurrecting a garden behind the Gates School. Volunteers from Sustainable Scituate have also
been helping with this garden. Twelve deliveries of fresh produce were made to the Food Pantry in 2009. Mr. Belber noted donations from Go Green (compost) and the Town (woodchips for the path). He spoke about Ms. Alison Martino, 8th grade science teacher, who obtained a “garden grant” and is using this garden as a “living laboratory” for her class. He spoke about the benefits of organic gardening and possible harmful effects of pesticides used on some of Scituate’s playing fields. Mr. Norton asked Mr. Cafferty to check on the pesticides used on Town fields.
Mr. Murray asked who owns the land near the Gates School? Mr. Belber checked with Mr. Dave Ball, Scituate Historical Society, and it appears it is owned by the Town. Mr. Murray asked if this group would need to sign any type of document regarding use of this land? Ms. Vinchesi answered that the Town has volunteer liability coverage and that this project is sanctioned by the School Department. Mr. Danehey asked if a larger plot of Town owned land would be useful? Ms. Bertola answered “yes”. Mr. Harris thanked Ms. Bertola and Mr. Belber and added “it is people like you that make this Town the great place that it is.” The Selectmen concurred that this was a very good idea.

5. FY2011 BUDGET REVIEW
241 Inspections

Mr. Neil Duggan, Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer, was present at tonight’s meeting. Mr. Duggan read the Inspection Department’s “Mission Statement”. Mr. Norton stated that the Board of Selectmen understands that budget process was a large undertaking for departments this year, but the results are extremely helpful to the Selectmen. This budget is a large revenue source for the Town, but it appears there has not been a lot of growth in the Town over the last couple of years due to the overall economic downturn. Mr. Duggan agreed and added that the activity level is still quite high (500+ permits), but there are less new homes. 2009 realized a 5-10% increase in revenue over 2008. “Renovations and additions represent the bulk of permits. There were also a fair number of ‘reconstructs’.” Mr. Murray complimented
Mr. Duggan and his staff on their excellent work. He asked about enforcement follow up?
Mr. Duggan stated that his office follows up on complaints. Currently, there are thirty active, on-going complaints and only one, enforcement officer to follow up on them. Mr. Murray asked if the Town could get additional revenue from collecting fines on violations? Mr. Duggan answered “yes” and noted that sign violations have had fines levied. “Zoning is 60-70% of my department’s work.” He is looking over gas, plumbing and electrical fees. Building fees appear to be “in line” at this time.

176 Zoning Board of Appeals

Mr. Duggan stated that the Zoning Board of Appeals’ major responsibility has been overseeing Chapter 40B proposals. The Board has analyzed, permitted and or denied permitting some of the largest, proposed projects in Town. “They do an excellent job on a small budget.”

6. DISCUSSION/ VOTE/ Disbursement from Cable Trust Fund

Mr. Murray made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to GRANT a disbursement from the Cable Trust Fund in the amount of $1,187.50 for the Symantec Endpoint Protection license. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

7. VOTE/ ANNUAL LICENSE RENEWALS

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the Class II License for Alan’s Auto Service for 2010. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following licenses for Hatherly Golf Club, Inc. for 2010: Liquor License, Common Victualler’s License and Entertainment License. SECONDED by Mr. Murray. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following licenses for The River Club: Liquor License, Common Victualler’s License and Entertainment License. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote.
(4-0)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following licenses for the Mad Fish Restaurant: Liquor License, Common Victualler’s License and Entertainment License. SECONDED by Mr. Murray. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

8. VOTE/ CLOSE APRIL 2010 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen CLOSE the Annual Town Meeting warrant at 7:45 PM. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous
vote. ( 4-0)

9. APPOINTMENTS

Mr. Murray made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen APPOINT the following individuals as FULL MEMBERS of the Sea Wall Committee: James Bailey, Tim Kelley, Steve Berlo, David Ball, Kathleen Cruickshank, Richard Turner and Leslie Dienel and further that the following individuals be appointed as ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Kenneth Conway, Russell Totman, Donald Blake and Richard Eckhouse. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. Discussion – Mr. Norton thanked all eleven residents for volunteering to be on this important Committee. Mr. Danehey volunteered to be the Selectmen’s liaison member to this Committee. No further discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

10. REPORT/ Town Administrator

Ms. Vinchesi reported on Financial Trend Monitoring for November 2009. The only significant “red flag” was for unemployment, which was running higher than expected. She reminded that the Town would be hosting a seminar on Conflict of Interest Law on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at the G.A.R. Hall at 5:30 PM. She expects that 30-40 people will attend the seminar. Mr. Norton noted that the State is mandating that work be done on this matter at the local level, specifically by the Town Administrator’s office and Town Clerk’s office, but no funding is being provided for it. “This is yet another example of a mandated program that they (State) have no intention of funding.” Mr. Danehey concurred.

Mr. Norton thanked Ms. Vinchesi for her report and noted that her six-month probationary period came and went and no one was even aware of it!! This speaks to the good job Ms. Vinchesi is doing.

11. OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Murray stated that Mr. Jeff Rosen, Chairman of the Water Resource Committee, would like to update the Board on the Committee’s work at the January 19, 2010 meeting.

Mr. Danehey stated that 2009 was a “trying year” for the Selectmen and he commended his fellow Board members, the Administrative Assistant and Town Administrator for their work. He also noted the work of the volunteer committee members and the School Committee during these “trying” economic times. He noted that sadly, Dorothy Lee, a nutrition specialist at the Senior Center, had recently passed away. Mr. Danehey stated that he looks forward to meeting the challenges of 2010.

12. CORRESPONDENCE

Mr. Danehey read a letter from the Recreation Commission recognizing the Edwin Phillips Foundation for making a $5,000 donation to Scituate Recreation to fund programs for children with special needs.

The Board of Health will sponsor a H1N1 flu clinic on January 9, 2010 at St. Mary’s Parish Center from 10AM to 2 PM.

13. MINUTES

Mr. Murray made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to ACCEPT the Minutes of November 18, 2008. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

14. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Murray made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to ADJOURN the meeting at 8:00 PM. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Joseph P. Norton, Chairman

Richard W. Murray

John F. Danehey

Anthony V. Vegnani

Shawn Harris

Respectfully submitted,
Kimberley A. Donovan, Administrative Assistant