News & Announcements/Meeting Minutes

Printer Friendly Layout

News/Events - Meeting Minutes

Board of Selectmen, December 6, 2011
MINUTES OF MEETING

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Present: Anthony V. Vegnani, Chairman; John F. Danehey, Shawn Harris, Joseph P. Norton

Patricia A. Vinchesi, Town Administrator

Press: Scituate Mariner

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA/ WALK-IN PERIOD

Mr. Harris made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to ACCEPT the amended Agenda for December 6, 2011. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Walk-Ins – Mr. Al Bangert, Director/Department of Public Works, gave an overview of
The snow and ice fighting policy for the winter months. He noted that pre-application of
of salt brine followed by application of straight salt will be more effective than the
previously used salt/sand mixture. Another benefit will be less sand to street sweep. The
salt barn located at the Highway Division building is not large enough to accommodate
all the salt. Additional salt will be stored at the Egypt Beach parking lot where it will
be covered with tarps and monitored by security cameras. Transfer Station
employees and equipment will move to snow fighting during major storm events and this
may cause temporary closures of the facility. Mr. Danehey thanked the Department of
Public Works employees for picking up litter around the schools. Mr. Bangert confirmed
that the Town is utilizing many more of its own vehicles and personnel for snow removal
than private contractors.

3. 7:05 PM/ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/ Town of Scituate Property/ Setting the
Residential Factor/ Tax Classification Hearing

The Board of Assessors, Mr. Fred Avila, Mr. Brian Sullivan and Mr. Steven Guard, and the Director of Assessing, Mr. Steve Jarzembowski, were present at tonight’s meeting. Mr. Sullivan stated that the Board of Assessors recommend that the Selectmen vote to accept the single tax rate of one (1) for the Town of Scituate. This will set commercial properties (4%) and residences at (96%) at the same rate.

Mr. Norton made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to classify all the property in the Town of Scituate at “one”. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. Discussion – Mr. Joe Gibbons, 223 Gannet Road, asked about the percentage attributable to the tax rate as a result of the recent override. Mr. Jarzembowski stated that the tax rate
Page Two
Board of Selectmen – Minute of Meeting – 12/6/11

for 2011 is $11.25/thousand and will be $12.34/thousand in 2012. If the override had not
passed the tax rate would have increased to $11.68 in 2012. Mr. Sullivan noted that Scituate has one of the lowest tax rates on the South Shore. Mr. Vegnani stated that
the taxes on an average ($500,000) home will go up approximately $300 per year. Mr. Gibbons spoke about the “poor condition” of Town owned buildings. Discussion continued on the “overlay”. Mr. Vegnani explained that this topic was outside the scope of this agenda item. No further discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

4. DISCUSSION/ VOTE/ Emergency Sewer Tie-In/ 27 Captain Peirce Road
(continued from November 29, 2011)
Ms. Jennifer Sullivan, Director of Public Health, Mr. Frank Lynch, Board of Health, and
Mr. Greg Morse, Engineer, were present at tonight’s meeting. Mr. Morse met with the
Department of Public Works and it is their recommendation is to tie the residence into
Town sewer via a 500’+ private spaghetti line connecting at Tilden Road. Mr. Morse
stated that most of the work can be done outside of the pavement area. He needs
permission rom the Selectmen to open the street in a few locations. The work will start
later this week or early next week. Streets opened will be repaved the same day. Discussion continued on the $5,000 connection fee that will be charged to the resident
rather than a betterment because the Town is not involved in the actual construction. The
resident must pay a $125 fee to open the road, $2,000 for a pump and additional amounts
for engineering and contractor costs totaling nearly $30,000. In addition, the resident is
responsible for the private spaghetti line. If sewer comes to this area in the future, the
resident’s betterment charge would be credited the $5,000 connection fee.

Mr. Norton made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to make an
EXCEPTION to the Street Opening Permit for a sewer connection at 27 Captain
Peirce Road. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. Discussion – Discussion on the urgency
of completing this tie-in now rather than waiting until the Spring. No further
discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

5. DISCUSSION/ VOTE/ Annual License Renewals

Mr. Harris made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following Common Victualler Licenses for 2012: Circe’s Grotto, Dad’s Place, Dribbles, Driftway Donuts, Egypt Country Store, Harbor Donuts, Harbor House of Pizza, Hennessy News, Sam’s on the Harbor, Maria’s Sub & Pizza, Inc., Marylou’s News, Morning Glories Bakery, Riva’s Pizzeria, South Shore Cinemas, The Silent Chef and Wilbur’s North. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. (4-0)

Mr. Norton made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the
following Septage Disposal Licenses for 2012: All Town, Inc., K. R. Anderson Pumping Co., Joseph Bonomi III, Rosano Davis Sanitary Pumping, P.F. Spencer, Jr., Inc. and Spirito Environmental Services, Inc. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No
Page Three
Board of Selectmen – Minutes of Meeting – 12/6/11

discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following Class II Licenses for 2012: Seacrest Auto, Driftway Auto, Inc., McBrien’s Diagnostic Repair and Automotive Depot. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Mr. Norton made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the following Class III Licenses for 2012: Ryan Alan LLC and Ray’s Repair Shop. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Norton, Danehey and Vegnani voted. Mr. Harris did not vote. (3-0)

Mr. Harris made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the Bowling and Electronic Games Licenses for Satuit Bowlaway for 2012. SECONDED by Mr. Danehey. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to RENEW the Movie Theater License for South Shore Cinemas for 2012. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

6. DISCUSSION/ VOTE/ OPEN ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT (4/9/12)

Mr. Danehey made a MOTION that the Board of Selectmen VOTE to OPEN the April 9, 2012 Annual Town Meeting warrant at 7:40 PM. SECONDED by Mr. Harris. No discussion. Unanimous vote. (4-0)

7. REPORT/ Town Administrator – No report this evening.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Danehey thanked the anonymous person who erected a beautiful Christmas tree with red bows in the center of the roundabout. Mr. Vegnani noted the success of the recent Santa Stroll and First Friday in the Harbor. Police, Fire and Harbormaster departments all did a great job. Mr. Norton noted that Community Christmas sponsors the event.