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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoS - 04/26/2010 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 26, 2010 Selectmen Present: Karen Quigley, Chairman Edwin Carr Frederick R. Koed Paul Carlson Leland H.Jenkins Others Present: William R. Griffin,Town Manager Jennifer Oram, Selectmen's Clerk Chairman Karen Quigley called the meeting to order at 7:OOPM. Public Comment Period Dr. Robin Lawrence of 15 Beach Street stated that he was extremely disappointed in the Selectmen's vote to not have a Special Election for the 50/50 Sewer Betterment for the Little Harbor Sewer project. He feels that sewer is a municipal responsibility and he respectfully requests the Board put it on the warrant for the June Special Town Meeting. Judith Chute of 46 Beach Street stated that she supported the contents of Professor Lincoln Bloomfield's letter. Ms.Agnes McCann of 104 Doane Street stated that the 50/50 issue has already been voted on back in the day. She is glad that the Board decided not to have a special election. Mr.Alex Koines of 380 Atlantic Avenue asked if the 3-2 vote the Board took a few weeks back that voted down the special election set a precedent; the Board nor Mr. Griffin could recall. Selectman Koed stated that he had handouts that showed the vote of 2005. He stated that a hand vote was taken at Town Meeting,there were a 162 people at Town Meeting—130 voted in favor of putting it on a ballot for a vote and 32 were against. When it went to ballot,there was a large voter turnout of 1,954, 57%voted against and 42% in favor. He stated that it seems to him that the Town Meeting already spoke of this issue five years ago. Mr. Koines asked the Board if they would reconsider re-voting the issue. Chairman Quigley stated that this discussion had gone beyond public comment and there is a very full agenda this evening. Others asked to speak: Ms. Chute addressed the Board again and said that she was embarrassed to say that she was not aware of the situation back in 2005. Chairman Quigley stated that it was a very contentious, drawn out process that was covered extensively in the Cohasset Mariner. Mr. Murray Campbell of 217 Jerusalem Road asked how the Board of Selectmen could deny the Town an election if the Town still has a democratic process. Mr. Edward Finn of 51 Jerusalem Road stated that more people are aware about the project now then they were in 2005. Ms. Barbara Power of 74 Beach Street admitted that she was not following the issues back in 2005 but hopes it will be looked at further. Mr. Mark Dunne of 21 Beach Street asked about the democratic process and the inequity of the situation. Chairman Quigley thanked everyone and stated that obviously the Board will need to discuss this matter to see if the Board will place this discussion on a future agenda. Licenses and Permits- Selectman Edwin Carr moved to approve the Town's three (3)Transient Vendor Licenses(Ahmad Alkhatahib,d/b/a Zak's Ice Cream,Susan Franklin, d/b/a Del's Lemonade Selectmen—4.26.10-J BO 1 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 26, 2010 and Thomas S. Donahue, d/b/a Hingham Yogurt and Nona's Homemade Ice Cream. Selectman Paul Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Livery&Taxi Service—Selectman Carr moved to approve this license for F. Noel Collins, d/b/a Cohasset Livery. Selectman Leland Jenkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Council on Elder Affairs—Volunteer Recognition— Elder Affairs Director, Coral Grande and Volunteer Coordinator, Martha Horsefield, addressed the Board. Ms. Grande presented the Board with a "check" in the amount of$117,465 a representation of the monetary value of the over 7,000 hours of volunteered service given to the Town. Ms. Grande said that without volunteers,they would not be able to provide the many services to the seniors and their families in Town. Woody Chittick—Review Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment—Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, S. Woodworth Chittick, addressed the Board. Chairman Chittick explained that he is before the Board this evening requesting that this article be placed on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting. He would then ask that the Board send this request back to the Planning Board so it can hold a public hearing. He stated that he had been before the Planning Board with the proposed amendment and both Boards are in agreement. Chairman Chittick explained the need for the change is due to recent case law and Town Counsel has drafted the language. He added that without the change, essentially everyone with a nonconforming lot who wished to build would have to come before the ZBA. Chairman Quigley asked the Chairman of the Planning Board,Alfred Moore, who was sitting in the audience if he had anything to offer. Mr. Moore stated that Mr. Chittick had summed it up clearly. Selectman Koed moved to recommend this bylaw change go the Planning Board for a public hearing. Selectman Jenkins seconded the motion. Mr. Robert Sturdy of 270 Jerusalem Road addressed the Board. Mr. Sturdy stated that he felt the proposed bylaw change was a "Trojan Horse" and spoke against the change. Chairman Quigley then clarified that the vote this evening was only to forward this proposed change to the Planning Board for a public hearing. Selectman Koed moved. Selectman Jenkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (5-0). Noel Collins—Stormwater Advisory Committee Hearing on Annual Survey of Flood Prone Areas— Chairman of the Stormwater Advisory Committee, Noel Collins, addressed the Board. Mr. Collins stated that as part of their charge, they would be holding a public meeting on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 7PM in the Town Hall Auditorium. All residents who are experiencing flooding problems are urged to attend. If they cannot be present, they can send a detailed letter to the committee regarding their property. The Committee will prepare a report in the next few months for Board of Selectmen. Carlton Blake—Old Colony Square Affordable Housing Regulatory Agreement—Mr. Carlton Blake of Connell Cohasset Greenbush, LLC, Attorney Walter Sullivan and Maureen M. O'Hagan of MCO Housing Services addressed the Board. Mr. Griffin opened the discussion stating that Town Counsel and the Town's Affordable Housing Consultant,Judi Barrett, feel the agreement is very appropriate. Ms. O'Hagen reviewed the lottery process and how the local preference pool works. There are two affordable units (a one bedroom and a two bedroom) out of sixteen. She stated that if there were any questions regarding assets etc., that she would run them directly by DHCD. After further discussion, Selectman Carr moved to approve the agreement with a document to sign at a later date. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Board Liaison Assignments—The Board reviewed their lists and after a few changes, agreed to their assignments. Selectmen—4.26.10-JBO 2 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 26, 2010 Schedule June Special Town Meeting—Selectman Carlson moved to hold the Special Town Meeting on Monday,June 14, 2010 at 7PM,with May 7, 2010 at 1PM as the deadline for petitioned articles. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(5-0). Earth Fest Update—Recreation Director,Ted Carroll and Cohasset Seniors, Emily Bertovich,Jenny Magruder and Megan Richardson updated the Board on their May 8, 2010 event. The earth fest will be taking place on the Common between 10-213M, with vendors, displays and live music.The Recreation Department will also be hosting an electronic waste collection day in the Cohasset Town Hall parking lot. Chairman Quigley asked the students if they had alerted the abutters to the Common. They stated they will be doing so. The Board thanked everyone for the update and wished them good luck on their event. Board Priorities Discussion—Chairman Quigley stated that it is her hope that by setting Board priorities it will allow the Board to discuss them a continued basis until they are realized. Selectman Carr stated that he would like to focus on a Board policy on how they review matters, as well as Stormwater issues and Treats Pond. Selectman Jenkins would like the Finance Director to attend meetings on a quarterly basis. Chairman Quigley stated that she and Mr. Griffin have been discussing financial updates and one will be scheduled after FY10 ends. Selectman Jenkins would also like to look at Healthcare costs and if the Community Preservation Committee should be eliminated. Selectman Koed stated he would like to address Stormwater,the water department debt and the sewer outfall in to Little Harbor. Chairman Quigley asked if they should look at bringing out the Stormwater Master Plan; the Board agreed they should. Selectman Carlson stated that he felt very busy with the Water Planning and the Budget Planning Groups but would like to focus on grants. Mr. Griffin stated that he is overwhelmed with the amount of energy related grants and is concerned he may miss one. Selectman Carr stated that he would get a calendar with the dates of grants from the State. Selectman Carlson added that he would like to also keep moving the Senior Center along. Chairman Quigley stated that she would like to continue to work on facilities management,that the IT Study will be done and the Town needs to find a way to fund it, she would also like to look at Recreation Fees, legal bills and a long term maintenance plan for the Town Buildings. Chairman Quigley would like to hold these discussions as an agenda item at the end of each meeting. Selectman Carr then asked Mr. Griffin if he had anything he would like the Board to focus on. Mr. Griffin suggested that when projects get funded and have to be managed through the Town Manager's office,there should be enough money in the job to have someone who can handle the specs,filing etc. of the project. Minutes—Selectman Koed moved the minutes of March 1,2010 as amended. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (4-0,Selectman Jenkins abstained as he was not elected to the Board until April 12, 2010). Selectman Koed moved the minutes of March 8, 2010 as amended. Selectman Carr seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0, Selectman Jenkins abstained). Selectman Koed moved to approve the minutes of March 15, 2010 as written. Selectman Carlson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous(4-0,Selectman Jenkins abstained). Little Harbor 50/50 Discussion—Chairman Quigley asked the Board with all of the public comment this evening, would the Board like to revisit this issue. She stated that it is mostly she and Selectman Koed who were opposed. She said that she is very sympathetic to the comments made this evening, but she still has not heard anything new that would change her vote. She feels the issue has already been voted on. Selectman Carlson stated that if there is not going to be a 50/50 for Little Harbor,then the Board should establish a policy so when other areas are sewered the residents don't have any financial expectations. Selectman Koed stated that Town Meeting is the ultimate authority and it spoke to this Selectmen—4.26.10-J BO 3 Minutes—Board of Selectmen April 26, 2010 issue in 2005; so now do they ignore it? He stated that he does not buy the argument that people were unaware of the issue back in 2005. He said he was up for reelection at the time and he remembers being "creamed" on the issue. There was then a lengthy conversation about the vote in 2005 and how many times an issue can be revisited. Agnes McCann addressed the Board and stated that the people who were given sewer with the Little Harbor Sewer project received an improvement to their property in perpetuity. Selectman Carlson said that he is paying for other systems in Central and North Cohasset and feels that there is a public interest in the sewering of Little Harbor. Selectman Koed stated that he has been working this issue for thirty years and feels it was resolved five years ago. After further discussion, Chairman Quigley stated that it didn't look like the vote would change. Mr. Nicholas A. Manganaro of 67 North Main Street stated that the people are looking for fairness and that the Town needs to pay for its mistakes. Executive Session—Chairman Quigley moved that the Board go into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing Collective Bargaining.The Board will only come out of Executive Session for the purposes of adjourning the meeting.Selectman Koed seconded the motion. Selectman Frederick Koed—Aye Selectman Leland H.Jenkins—Aye Selectman Edwin G. Carr-Aye Selectman Paul Carlson—Aye Chairman Karen Quigley—Aye Meeting adjourned at 10:OOPM. Respectfully submitted, Karen Quigley Chairman Selectmen—4.26.10-JBO 4