HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - AC - 03/08/2018 COHASSET ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
Thursday, 8 March 2oi8
Cohasset Town Hall
John Chapman,Chair,called the Cohasset Advisory Committee meeting to order at 7:15 PM
Attending:
Paul Carlson,John Chapman,Michael Dick, Richard Fitzpatrick,Leland Jenkins,
Helene Lieb,Nancy A Roth
Not Present:
Tanya Bodell,Ralph Tulio
Presentations by Chris Senior,Town Manager
1) Minutes of 15 Feb 2018 approved 5-0-1 (Roth abstained as she wasri t present at the
meeting.) Minutes of 1 March 2018 reviewed,John Chapman pointed out that he had not
asked that union negotiations be completed by the end of March 2018-minutes
approved 5-0-1 (Fitzpatrick abstained as he wasn't present at the meeting.)
2) Water Department Budget preliminary review and discussion,presented by Don Piatt,
Town Finance Director. Leonora Jenkins,Water Commissioner not present
Questions:Why did hydrant fee go up?When will water rates drop as a result of debt
rolloff?There were more questions on several line items but Commissioner not present
to explain and Don Piatt not in a position to answer for her.
Discussion covering Water Department:
• Capital recovery fees
• Use of debt service savings to cover operating expenses
• Debt reduction over time and elimination from Town budget (debt rolloff)
• Spending its retained earnings cushion on capital expenditures
Nan Roth recommended adding current another column to the budget spreadsheet: add
Current Fiscal Year Budgeted to go along with Current Fiscal Year Estimated Budget.
Don Piatt advised against counting"Liens Added to Taxes" and dropping the line from the
budget.
Don Piatt recommends that sewer betterments should be shown in the Sewer Dep't
spreadsheet.
The Advisory Committee supports aligning Water and Sewer Department budget layout
and formats. Don will take the lead to change and align the Water and Sewer budget
formats with all Town Departments.
3) Large Home Review-Annual Town Meeting 2018 Warrant Article from the Town
Planning Board,Peter Matchak,Town Director of Planning,led the discussion
• Article is a Zoning By Law change,requires 2/3 vote to approve
• Nan Roth asked if this article addresses subdivisions. The answer,no,
subdivisions are covered by the Subdivision Review procedures.
• Discussion on enforcement and appeals process
• Advisory Committee will schedule additional discussions on Large Home
Review warrant article after 21 March 2018.
Notes by Michael Dick Page 1 of 2
COHASSET ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
Thursday, 8 March 2oi8
Cohasset Town Hall
4) South Shore Vocational Technical School,Warrant Article,presented by Tom Hickey,
District Superintendent and School Administrator
The article seeks approval to amend the1960 Multi-Town Agreement that originally
organized the SSVTS. Changes will remove obsolete language,add current practices,
clarify budget process and voting approvals process,process to incur debt,define costs
and apportionment.
Only 3 Cohasset students attend SSVTS out of a high school population of several
hundred. Discussion of raising Cohasset families' awareness of the benefits of an SSVTS
education.
5) Marijuana Permitting Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article,discussion led by Chris
Senior,Town Manager. Question on amending either the General By Laws or the Zoning
By Laws to permit or prohibit growing,processing, grading, or selling marijuana in the
Town of Cohasset. Or decide to place a moratorium on these activities.
6) Discussion of Town By Laws Codification,Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 20
7) Advisory Committee,Meeting Calendar,March 2018
• Tuesday,3/13/18 -Joint meeting with Select Board to discuss Water Dept
budget and Marijuana warrant article
• Wednesday,3/14/18 -School Committee presents their FY 2019 budget in a
public hearing
• Thursday,3/15/18--Joint meeting with Select Board and School Committee to
discuss their budget
• Thursday,3/22/18 -Town Hall Building Committee to discuss their project
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Passed, 6-0,at 9:30 PM
Notes by Michael Dick Page 2 of 2