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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AC - 04/06/2017 Town of Cohasset Advisory Committee Minutes, April 6, 2017 PLACE: Selectmen's Office, Town Hall ATTENDEES: Advisory Committee Also attending Nan Roth, Chair - John Beck, Sewer Commission, Paul Carlson - Sam Wakeman, Chairman of George Chamillard Capital Budget - John Chapman - Clark Brewer, Planning Board Richard Fitzpatrick - Woodworth Chittick, Zoning Leland Jenkins Board of Appeals Linda Mooney - Paul Schubert, Board of Selectmen - Peter Pescatore - Tom Callahan, proponent of Articles 26, 27 and 28 6:04 PM The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nan Roth The minutes for 3/30/2017 were reviewed. Chamillard moved to approve, Chapman seconded. The vote was 5-0. Roth announced that the Board of Selectmen requested our input on certain warrant articles for their April 11 meeting. Chamillard and Carlson agreed to attend that meeting. Article 3—Sewer Commission Rate Increase Roth asked the Sewer Commission for rate projections based on their proposal and the rates that would be necessary if the project was bonded. Beck informed the committee that the Sewer Commission is planning to replace the membranes in 2021. General Electric has given the commission an estimate of$1.4 million for the replacement. The new membranes should last for 8 to 10 years. By that time there may be more competition leading to lower cost. The Sewer Commission has an accumulated surplus of$600,000 and financial resources including funds in their capital stabilization fund of$1,083,000. They could prudently apply$600,000 to membrane replacement, leaving an additional$800,000 to be raised. Page ll Pescatore said that the Town Finance Director,Mary Gallagher,had designed the debt stabilization fund to be zero when the debts are fully paid off. Beck replied that the Sewer Commission has been using cash surpluses to meet debt service obligations. Chapman asked when we will see a five year budget. Beck was surprised that the committee members did not have it yet. He will assure that we get copies. Roth stated that increasing the rate will be permanent. Wants to see the difference between this proposed rate increase and the costs of bonding. Chapman said that people are not prepared for a 15%rate increase. Beck replied that the Sewer Commission has not needed to raise rates due to revenues from new customers. Fitzpatrick was concerned about taking money from stabilization accounts. Beck said that the rate increase will lead to a capital stabilization balance of$1.4 million by 2012. Chamillard stated that we need more data so before we can support this proposal. Fitzpatrick noted that the Sewer Commission does not need to bond the entire $1.4 million if they apply stabilization funds to the purchase. Pescatore said that the state may argue that we are accumulating too much surplus in the enterprise fund. Beck did not think the Sewer Commission will have the type of build-up that will attract the state regulators' attention. Fitzpatrick asked if the commission is planning to add new districts. Beck said that the five year forecast does not include any expansion. If there were an expansion,it would be funded through betterments. The Advisory Committee agreed to defer its decision until members had time to review the five year forecast. Article 8-Capital Budget Wakeman reviewed the Capital Budget warrant issues. Some of the requests are part of on-going multi-year projects including the School Department Digital Learning program($45,000) and the leasing of the heavy duty haul trailer($41,760). The old front line pumper is becoming expensive to maintain. The Capital Budget Committee has determined that we will be better off buying a new one.. They have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Replacement cost will be$600,000. The police are using smaller front line cruisers and we need two new ones at$42,435 each. Page The sidewalk plow is no longer reliable. Capital Budget is asking for$50,000. The DPW is asking for a more expensive model. Capital Budget wants to explore alternatives. They are also asking for a GIS mapping flyover to document town infrastructure. The flyover will be conducted in the fall when the leaves are down. After an expected$30,000 state grant,the cost to the town will be $36,000. The roof at the RTF building needs replacement with a request of$30,000. Mooney stated that this figure sounds high for a small building. Wakeman assured the committee that this was reasonable considering the condition of the building. Capital Budget is also requesting$64,000 for shatter proof windows for school security and an additional $56,000 for RTF cameras for security and enforcement purposes. Capital Budget's total ask is $1,247,764. There is also a request of an additional$406,000 for overruns on the Bound Brook Project,before recovery efforts. Chamillard moved that the committee recommend approval of Article 8—Capital Budget. Carlson seconded. The motion passed 6—0. Article 11,Project 3—Broadcasting equipment for the Senior Center. There is a request for$25,000 to enable broadcasting events including meetings of the Board of Selectmen from the Senior Center. The committee decided to defer consideration of this item until Capital Budget reviews it. Article 22—Zoning By-Law Amendment regarding definition of Residential Gross Floor Area Brewer stated that the Planning Board wants to tighten up our definition to match industry standards. Chamillard moved that the committee recommend approval of Article 22. Mooney seconded and the vote was 6-0. Article 23,Zoning By-Law Amendment—Section 9.7.8.b—Special Permits Brewer stated that this amendment would improve the wording and bring the threshold to ten feet above sea level for a special permit. The change was proposed by the ZBA and fixes a language discrepancy. Roth asked that there be a better explanation in the final warrant. Chapman moved that the committee recommend approval of Article 23. Fitzpatrick seconded and the motion passed 7-0. Artilce 24,Zoning By-Law Amendment—Section 2.1 Definitions—Definition of Dwelling Unit and Family Chittick stated that we need a better definition of a dwelling unit to prevent excessive numbers of people living in one home. We also need to consider impact of Airbnb type services. Page l3 Mooney mentioned that this may create problems for blended families where some people are unrelated, specifically step siblings. Schubert asked if there were other provisions dealing with troublesome situations such as noise ordinances, excessive parking, and Title 5 restrictions. Chapman moved that the committee recommend that Town Meeting not approve Article 24. Mooney seconded. The vote was 7-0. Article 25,Zoning By-Law Amendment—Inclusionary Zoning Brewer stated that existing inclusionary by-laws have only yielded 2 units,both at the Transit Overlay Building. This article will give the town funds from developers that we can use to create more affordable units. It is as fee in lieu of building affordable units in specific projects. The fees will go to the Cohasset Affordable Trust. The fee has to be equal to the cost of building the affordable units. Wellesley charges $1,200,000 per affordable unit. Deed restrictions are key to determination of"affordable." Chapman expressed concern that the step function nature of this proposal can create unfairness. Carlson moved that the committee recommend approval of Article 25. Mooney seconded and the vote was 7-0. Article 26,Amending Large Home Review Process Brewer stated that under the existing review process,the Planning Board makes recommendations to the Building Officer. Under this proposed amendment,the site plan review process can include approval with conditions. He also said that the Planning Board has 6 to 7 large home proposals per year. Callahan emphasized that the proposal enables the Planning Board to approve projects with conditions. Chittick noted that this proposal would enable the Planning Board to make subjective judgements which is not a good process for permitting agencies. Chamillard asked why people think we need to be more restrictive. Some believe that we need to do a better job using the existing large home by-law. Callahan said that Wellesley has had one project appear in ten years. Fitzpatrick moved that the committee recommend that Town Meeting approve Article 26, Chapman seconded. The vote was 4-3. Article 27, Creation of Scenic Roads By-Law Brewer noted that the Planning Board recommended approval 5-0. Callahan stated that this proposed by-law in based on the Norwell by-law which has worked out well. Page l4 Roth mentioned that her mother lives in a community with a scenic roads by-law and it works well. Jenkins pointed out this proposal covers activities on town property. It does not affect private property. Fitzpatrick moved that the committee recommend that Town Meeting approve Article 27,Mooney seconded. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote. Article 28, Citizens Petition New Land Alterations Regulations Callahan noted that this proposal is based on a model by-law developed by the Cape Cod Association. There is room for exceptions through special permits based on necessity. Also,this proposal adds enforcement powers and restricts clear cutting which developers prefer. The Planning Board will finish their review on April 12,the Board of Selectmen will consider this proposal on April 25. The Conservation Commission has recommended adoption of this proposal 6-0 and the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 0-5. Chittick stated that the ZBA opposes this proposal since it is vague, subjective and expensive for small projects. Callahan replied that these new regulations impact a project only if the developer exceeds the limits outlined. Mooney finds the limits to be restrictive, Callahan disagreed. Chapman asked if this proposal impacts commercial projects. Callahan replied that they had to include commercial projects. The committee decided to defer consideration until after the other hearings. Articles 21,Amend Town By-Laws Regarding Private Ways Mooney asked why this by-law is necessary since Town Counsel Derensis says this proposal is not more restrictive than state law. Senior responded that the proposal clarifies state law and enable betterments so that the abutters pay for any improvements to the private ways. Carlson moved that the committee recommend that Town Meeting approve Article 21, Chamillard seconded. The vote was 7-0. Roth stated that the committee needs an additional meeting to finish the articles dealing with sewer rates, the broadcasting equipment at the Senior Center and the land alteration proposal. After discussion,the committee agreed to meet on April 27 at 7:00. At 10:23 Chamillard moved that the committee adjourn, Chapman seconded. The vote was 7-0. Respectfully submitted: Paul Carlson Page l5