Town of Hanson, MA - Special Town Meeting

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

Moderator Charles Mann called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium, Indian Head School with Richard Powers, Philip Wyman and Pamela Fasci appointed and sworn in as tellers.

Town Counsel was Everett Marder from Kopelman and Paige.

The meeting recited the Pledge of Allegiance and a quorum was declared present.

ARTICLE 1: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $3,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting Article 5, Line 8, Unemployment to be added to the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 30, Selectmen Clerical Wages or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer $3,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting Article 5, Line 8, Unemployment to be added to the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 30, Selectmen Clerical Wages.

ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $20,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 74, Disposal Operations and transfer $12,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 7, Town Insurance to fund an appraisal and engineering study for the next phase of the Golf Course or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Golf Course Study Committee

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer $20,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 74, Disposal Operations and transfer $12,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 7, Town Insurance to fund an appraisal and engineering study for the next phase of the Golf Course.

ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $3,400.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 86, Veterans Benefits to fund a summer work program in the Selectmen’s Office or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer $3,400.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 86, Veterans Benefits to fund a summer work program in the Selectmen’s Office.

ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to approve a five year contract between the Town of Hanson and Lifesafety Solutions, Inc. re: 911 Plus System or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to approve a five year contract between the Town of Hanson and Lifesafety Solutions, Inc. re: 911 Plus System.

ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $2,000 from the 1996 March Special Town Meeting, Article 1, Middle School Study to provide training for the service and maintenance of police vehicles and possibly other Town vehicles with the funds to be authorized by the Police Chief or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer $2,000.00 from the 1996 March Special Town Meeting, Article1, Middle School Study to provide training for the service and maintenance of police vehicles and possibly other Town vehicles with the funds to be authorized by the Police Chief.

ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Ambulance Fee Fund a sum of money to pay for the first payment for the lease/purchase voted at the October 1996 Special Town Meeting or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Fire Chief

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to transfer $25,020.00 from the Ambulance Fee Fund to pay for the second of three payments for the Town Ambulance.

ARTICLE 7: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $5,500.00 from the Fire Apparatus Bond to renovate the Central Fire Station or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Fire Chief

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye unanimous to transfer $5,500.00 from the Fire Apparatus Bond as voted at the 1994 Annual Town Meeting, Article 11, to renovate the Central Fire Station.

ARTICLE 8: To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from Free Cash and transfer a sum of money from the October 1993 Special Town Meeting, Article 29, ADA Requirements and transfer a sum of money from the 1997 May Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 103 Part-time Firefighters to be added to the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 102, Firefighters, Full-time wages or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Fire Chief

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye unanimous to transfer $10,000.00 from Free Cash and transfer $7,500.00 from the 1997 Annual Twon Meeting, Article 5, Line 103, Part-time Firefighters and transfer $13,000.00 from the 1993 October Special Town Meeting, Article 29, ADA Survey to be added to the 1997 Annual Town Meeting Article 5, Line 102, Full-time Firefighters.

ARTICLE 9: To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from Free Cash or transfer a sum from the Stabilization Fund to establish an article to fund contractual obligations of the Town when an employee retires or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen and the Fire Chief

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED, Aye 168, Nay 10 (2/3’s achieved) to transfer $30,000.00 from the Stabilization Fund to estblish an article to fund contractual obligations of the Town when an employee retires.

ARTICLE 10: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available Free Cash the sum of $1,000.00 to be used for the continuing beautification of the Town’s traffic islands, to be administered by the Officers of the Hanson Garden Club.

Proposed by Ann Delaney and others

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to transfer from available Free Cash the sum of $1,000.00 to be used for the continuing beautification of the Town’s traffic islands, to be administered by the officers of the Hanson Garden Club.

ARTICLE 11: : To see if the Town will vote to delete Sections 11A through Sections 11F, of the Personnel Classification and Compensation By-Law of the General By-Laws and in their place insert new Sections 11A through Section 11F as follows:

SECTION 11A: ADMINISTRATIVE/SUPERVISORY POSITIONS

a. Director of Elder Affairs 30,037 to 36,295 32,037 to 39,000

b. Town Accountant 34,243 to 44,905 40,000 to 50,000

c. Treasurer/Collector 36,045 to 46,509 40,000 to 50,000

d. Inspector of Buildings 28,264 to 36,540 30,000 to 39,500

SECTION 11B: ADMINISTRATIVE AND PART TIME POSITIONS

a. Management Ass't to Brd. of Selectmen 28,319/15.50 hr. 28,885/15.81

b. Asst. to Police Chief 21,029/11.51 to 23,751/13.00 to

24,793/13.57 hr. 30,145/16.50 hr.

c. Children's Librarian 23,546/12.89 hr. 23,751/13.00 to

d. Asst. Insp. of Buildings 10.85 to 11.97 hr. 13.00 to 16.00 hr.

e. Gas Inspector 10.85 to 11.97 hr. 13.00 to 16.00 hr.

f. Plumbing Inspector 10.85 to 11.97 hr. 13.00 to 16.00 hr.

g. Wiring Inspector 10.85 to 11.97 hr. 13.00 to 16.00 hr.

h. Health Agent 15.43 to 17.04 hr. 16.50 to 20.00 hr.

i. Veterans Agent 7,262 to 9,324 yr. 7,407 to 9,510 yr.

j. Civil Defense Director 905 to 999 yr. 923 to 1.019 yr.

l. Social Day Care Coordinator 10.54 hr. 14.00 to 16.00 hr.

m. Camp Kiwanee Rental/Program 10.78 hr. 11.00 to 11.48 hr.

SECTION 11C OTHER PART TIME POSITIONS 7/1/97 7/1/98

a. Animal Control Officer 11.96 hr. 12.20 to 12.50 hr.

b. Animal Inspector 995 to 1,099 yr. 1,015 to 1,121 yr.

c. Election Clerk 6.32 to 6.99 hr. 6.45 to 7.13 hr.

d. Election Officer 6.12 to 6.79 yr. 6.25 to 6.93 hr.

e. Election Warden 6.75 to 7.45 yr. 6.89 to 7.60 hr.

f. Registrar of Voters 7.80 to 8.76 yr. 7.96 to8.94 hr.

g. Sealer of Weights & Measurers 1,063 yr. 1,084 yr.

h. Milk Inspector 136 to 150 yr. 139 to 153 yr.

i. Custodian 11.38 to 12.81 hr. 11.61 to 13.07 hr.

j. Police Matron 8.04 to 8.88 hr. 8.20 to 9.06 hr.

k. Asst Veterans Agent 9.33 to 10.30 hr. 9.52 to 10.51 hr.

l. Finance Committee Secretary 8.36 to 9.23 hr. 8.53 to 9.42 hr.

m. Emergency Clerical Labor 8.36 to 9.23 hr. 8.53 to 9.42 hr.

n. Camp Kiwanee Caretaker 352.55 wk. 359.61 wk.

o. Library Page Federal Minimum Federal Minimum

p. Activities Coordinator-Senior Center 8.50 hr.

SECTION 11D: SEASONAL POSITIONS 7/1/97 7/1/98

a. Beach Director 9.15 hr. 9.43 hr.

b. Water Safety Instructor 7.29 hr. 7.52 hr.

c. Lifeguard 6.85 hr. 7.06 hr.

d. Boat Coordinator 6.85 hr. 7.06 hr.

e. Concession Worker 5.70 hr. 5.88 hr.

f. Recreation assistants Fed. Min. fed.min.

e. Security 10.95 hr. 11.29 hr.

SECTION 11E: TRANSPORTERS 7/1/97 7/1/98

Van Driver/Aide 16,005/8.76 hr. 16,479/9.02

SECTION 11F: CALL FIRE FIGHTERS/OFFICERS

First yr. Call Firefighters

Tours 11.70 hr. 11.93 hr.

Drills 10.46 hr. 10.67 hr.

Details 17.55 hr. 17.90 hr.

First yr. Call EMT's

Tours 12.32 hr. 12.57 hr.

Drills 11.07 hr. 11.29 hr.

Details 17.55 hr. 17.90 hr.

Second yr. Call Firefighters

Tours 12.32 hr. 12.57 hr.

Drills 11.07 hr. 11.29 hr.

Details 17.55 hr. 17.90 hr.

Second yr Call EMT'S

Tours 12.93 hr. 13.19 hr.

Drills 11.70 hr. 11.93 hr.

Details 19.40 hr. 19.79 hr.

Tours 13.56 hr. 13.83 hr.

Drills 12.32 hr. 12.57 hr.

Details 20.32 hr. 20.73 hr.

Call Lieutenants EMT'S

Tours 14.17 hr. 14.45 hr.

Drills 12.93 hr. 13.19 hr.

Details 21.25 hr. 21.68 hr.

A $500 stipend will be paid in June of each fiscal year to those call firefighters who successfully complete and maintain the certification of an EMT recognized by the state and approved by the Fire Chief.

or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Wage and Personnel Board

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye voice to delete sections 11A through sections 11F, of the Personnel Classification and Compensation By-law of the General By-laws and in their place insert the sections 11A through 11F as it appears in the warrant with the following amendments:

SECTION 11B: ADMINISTRATIVE AND PART TIME POSITIONS

a. Management Asst’s to Brd. of Selectmen 29,178/15.97 hr.

i. Veterans Agent 7,480 to 9,604 yr.

j. Civil Defense Director 932 to 1,029 yr

SECTION 11C OTHER PART TIME POSITIONS 7/1/98

b. Animal Inspector 1,025 to 1,132 yr

c. Election Clerk 6.51 to 7.20 hr

d. Election Officer 6.30 to 6.99 hr

e. Election Warden 6.95 to 7.67 hr

f. Registrar of Voters 8.03 to 9.00 hr

g. Sealer of Weights & Measurers 1,095 yr

h. Milk Inspector 140 to 155 yr

i. Custodian 11.72 to 13.19 hr

j. Police Matron 8.28 to 9.15 hr

k. Asst Veterans Agent 9.61 to 10.61 hr

l. Finance Committee Secretary 8.61 to 9.51 hr

m. Emergency Clerical Labor 8.61 to 9.51 hr

n. Camp Kiwanee Caretaker 363.13 wk

SECTION 11F: CALL FIRE FIGHTERS/OFFICERS

First yr. Call Firefighters

Details 18.08 hr

First yr. Call EMT’s

Details 18.08 hr

Second yr. Call Firefighters

Details 18.08 hr

Second yr. Call EMT’s

Details 19.99 hr

Call Lieutenants

Details 20.93 hr

Call Lieutenants EMT’s

Details 21.89 hr

ARTICLE 12: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Water Surplus Account a sum of monies to be added to the October 2, 1995 Special Town Meeting article 19 water exploration or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Water Commissioners

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye unanimous to transfer from the Water Surplus Account, $50,000.00 to be added to the October 2, 1995 Special Town Meeting Article 19, Water Exploration.

ARTICLE 13: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Water Surplus account a sum of monies to be added to the May 5 1997 Special Town Meeting water main article 5 or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Water Commissioners

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer from the Water Surplus Account, $50,000.00 to be added to the May 5, 1997 Special Town Meeting water main Article 5.

ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will vote to transfer from water surplus account a sum of monies to perform extraordinary maintenance work at the crystal spring wells or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Water Commissioners

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer from the Water Surplus Account, $25,000.00 to perform extraordinary maintenance work at the Crystal Spring Well.

ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $5,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 29, Board of Selectmen Salaries to fund the start up maintenance costs for the Parks and Fields Committee for this year or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Parks and Fields Committee

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, voice to transfer the sum of $5,000.00 from the 1997 Annual Town Meeting Article 5, Line 29, Board of Selectmen Salaries to fund the start-up maintenance costs for the Parks and Fields Commission.

ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will vote to transfer $2,000.00 from the 1997 May Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 8, Unemployment for additional work on the Basketball courts in the Town or take any other action in relation thereto.

Proposed by the Parks and Fields Committee

Finance Committee recommends.

VOTED Aye, unanimous to transfer the sum of $2,000.00 from the 1997 May Annual Town Meeting, Article 5, Line 8, Umemployment, for additional work on the basketball courts in Town.

ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Hanson Zoning Bylaw by adding a new Section VI. H. Cluster Residential Development District, as follows:

H. Cluster Residential Development District:

1. Purpose. The purpose of the Cluster Residential Development District is intended to provide that open areas, scenic vistas, environmentally sensitive areas and natural vegetative growth will be protected and preserved for general enjoyment and the public welfare.

2. Location. This district is hereby established, defined and located as follows: The Cluster Residential Development District shall be included in all zoning districts.

3. Applicability. When a subdivision plan is endorsed by the Planning Board with the wording, "Approved for Cluster Residential Development District", and the applicant has met the conditions set forth herewith, lots of less than the minimum areas specified in Section VII may be laid out and dwellings erected on such lots. The Planning Board shall not endorse any plan until the applicant has shown to the satisfaction of the Board that the requirements of Section VI. H. have been met and further that a special permit has been approved as specified below.

4. Special Permit. The Special Permit Granting Authority (hereinafter the "Authority") shall be the Hanson Planning Board and the procedure shall follow the requirements and procedures of a site plan application and approval as specified in Section VII. F. of this Bylaw. Before any endorsement by the Planning Board is given, a special permit shall have been secured by the applicant.

5. Site Design Performance Standards. No special permit shall be granted until it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the authority that the general purposes of this bylaw have been met. Further, any new building construction or other site alteration shall provide:

a. adequate access to each structure for fire and service equipment, and shall be so designed that for the given location and type and extent of land use,

b. the design of building form,

c. building location,

d. egress points, and

e. demonstrate that grading, and other elements of the development are sufficient to:

i. improve pedestrian or vehicular safety within the site and egress from it;

ii. reduce the visual intrusion of parking areas viewed from public ways or abutting premises;

iii. reduce the volume of cut or fill;

iv. reduce the number of removed trees, 4" trunk diameter and larger, or the area of wetland vegetation displaced;

v. reduce the extent of storm water flow increase from the site;

vi. reduce soil erosion;

vii. reduce hazard or inconvenience to pedestrians from storm water flow and ponding; and

viii. reduce glare from headlights or area lighting.

6. Net Buildable Area. The net buildable area of the tract covered by the plan shall be at least ten (10) acres. In determining the net buildable area of the tract or of lots for purposes of Cluster Residential Development, no area shown on the Hanson Wetlands Map, shall be included. Nor shall any area be included which is a resource area as defined in MGL, Chapter 131, Section 40.

7. Uses and Minimum Requirements. Single family or duplex houses shall be permitted in this development. The total number of residential units allowable on a site proposed for Cluster Residential Development shall not exceed the number of units that would be allowed under standard subdivision development (MGL, Chapter 41, Section 81_L), except as provided below. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant in determining the allowable number of units and said applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Authority that the following requirements are met:

Reductions in lot areas, frontages and setbacks may be granted for greater density if the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Authority that such reductions will not be detrimental to the intent of this By-Law. These reductions shall meet the following criteria:

i. Lot areas shall be at least 20,000 square feet of net buildable area.

ii. Lot frontages shall be at least seventy-five (75’) feet.

iii. Front setbacks to the building line shall be at least twenty--five (25’) feet.

iv. Side and rear setbacks to any structure shall be at least twelve (12) feet.

8. Adequate buffer areas, in addition to set back, shall be required around the outside perimeter of the residential units. The buffer area abutting existing street frontages shall be a minimum of twenty_five (25) feet in depth. The buffer areas shall have adequate existing natural vegetation to act as sight and sound screens or they shall be planted with native vegetation to the satisfaction of the Authority. All vegetation in buffers shall be of a low maintenance character. Wood chips, crushed stone and similar non_vegetative cover shall not be utilized. Lawn grass shall not be used unless proper perpetual care financial arrangements are included in forming a corporation or trust which is owned or to be owned by owners of lots in the site. The perimeter buffer areas may be considered as open space for purposes of meeting the percentage requirements for open space. All buffer areas shall be accessible from a public way or from contiguous open space areas.

Buffer areas are intended to be used only for existing or new vegetation. No buffer area shall be used for septic or other leaching or drainage systems or for retention/detention ponds, or similar uses. Buffer areas shall not be crossed to access the above uses; it being the intention of this section that these uses are to be contained within the site except for minor piping or surface drainage to adjoining property if such use is allowed by the Hanson Conservation Commission. There shall be no grading within such buffer areas except minor grading where there is no viable existing vegetation and with the express consent of the Authority. Construction of any of the above uses or for similar items, including retaining walls, shall be kept far enough from buffer lines to assure no damage will be done to existing or proposed vegetation and root systems.

Compliance with the requirements of buffer areas may be waived only by a vote of the Planning Board, when it is determined by said Board that such action is in the public interest and not inconsistent with the purposes of this zoning by-law.