Annual Report 2018
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Marblehead 2018 TOWN REPORT TOWN 2018 Marblehead TOWN REPORT Departmental Information Emergency: FIRE 911 POLICE 911 Town of Marblehead Official Website: www.marblehead.org (Note: All phone numbers are 781 Area Code unless otherwise noted.) Assessments Assessors 631-0236 Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates Town Clerk 631-0528 Board of Appeals (Zoning) Engineering 631-1529 Building Permits Building 631-2220 Burial Permits Health Department 631-0212 Cemetery Cemetery 631-1182 Collector of Taxes Finance 631-0587 Council on Aging Council on Aging 631-6737 Elections Town Clerk 631-0528 Finance Director Finance 631-1705 Fire Prevention Fire Department 639-3428 Fuel Oil Storage Fire Department 639-3428 Harbormaster Harbormaster 631-2386 Health Health Department 631-0212 Historical Commission Abbot Hall 639-3425 Library Abbot Public Library 631-1480 Licenses – alcohol, common victualler entertainment, second hand Selectmen’s Office 631-0000 Licenses – marriage, dog Town Clerk 631-0528 Plumbing Permits Building 639-9151 Police Administration Police Dept. 631-1212 Recreation Recreation & Park 631-3350 Schools: Administration 639-3140 High School 639-3100 Veterans Middle School 639-3120 Village School 639-3159 Bell 639-3171 Coffin 639-3181 Glover 639-3191 Streets, Sidewalks Public Works 631-1750 Town Administrator Selectmen’s Office 631-0000 Town Treasurer Finance 631-1033 Trees Tree Warden 631-2721 Veterans’ Benefits Veterans’ Agent 631-0990 Water & Sewer Water & Sewer 631-2694 Weights & Measures Sealer 631-0990 Wiring Permits Building 639-9151 Zoning Enforcement Building 631-2220 Cover Photograph courtesy of Rick Cuzner FEDERAL AND STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES: March 1-3, 2018, nor’easter. Causeway. US Senators: Elizabeth Warren 617-565-3170 Ed Markey 617-565-8519 US Representative (6th Dt.) Seth Moulton 978-531-1669 Back Photograph courtesy of Rick Cuzner MA Representative (8th Dt.) Lori Ehrlich 617-722-2014 March 1-3, 2018, nor’easter. MA Senator (3rd Dt.): Brendan P. Crighton 617-722-1350 Photo taken from Red Steps by Cliff Street with a zoom lens. ANNUAL TOWN REPORT OF THE YEAR 2018 MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2018 Board of Selectmen 3 Town Clerk 8 Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 8 May 7, 2018 Results of Annual Town Meeting 24 May 7, 2018 Results of Annual Town Election 54 May 15, 2018 Warrant for Special State Primary 59 February 6, 2018 Results of Special State Primary 60 February 6, 2018 Warrant for Special State Election 61 March 6, 2018 Results of Special State Election 62 March 6, 2018 Warrant for Special Town Election 63 June 21, 2018 Results of Special Town Election 66 June 21, 2018 Warrant for State Primary 68 September 4, 2018 Results of State Primary 69 September 4, 2018 Warrant for State Election 79 November 6, 2018 Results of State Election 85 November 6, 2018 Officials Elected 94 Officials Appointed 97 Vital Records of 2018 - # of births, marriages, deaths 108 Department Reports: Abbot Public Library 109 Board of Assessors 118 Board of Health 120 Building Commissioner/Inspectional Services 133 Cemetery Department 135 Conservation Commission 138 Council on Aging 140 1 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2018 BOARD OF SELECTMEN The Board of Selectmen is comprised of five members, each elected annually. Members of the Board of Selectmen are Chairman, Jackie Belf-Becker, Harry C. Christensen, Jr., M.C. Moses Grader, Judith R. Jacobi, and James E. Nye. The Board generally meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Abbot Hall and as needed at other times. All meetings are open to the public. In 2018, the Board of Selectmen sponsored an article to fund a major restoration of the exterior of Abbot Hall and install a new geothermal HVAC system. Town meeting approved the article and the voters approved a proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion override to fund the project. The work on the building includes window replacement, roof and masonry work and a heating and cooling system. Following the project’s approval the Board of Selectmen created the Abbot Hall Building Committee to assist in project oversight and first phase of the project to stabilize the building’s chimney was completed. Also in 2018, the Selectmen co-sponsored an article with the Water and Sewer Commission to change the use of the former railroad right of way. The article formally defined the surface of the right of way as a multi-model bike and walking path, as well as a utility corridor, that portion to be under the care, custody and control of the Board of Selectmen. This change allows the Town to now maintain it as a trail in addition to a utility corridor. The Town received a grant from the State to make repairs to problem areas on the trail. Following the approval of the article at Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water and Sewer Commission and Marblehead Light Commission to formalize this agreement and collaboration between the respective bodies. In 2018 the Board of Selectmen adopted a Complete Streets Policy. A Complete Street, as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) program, is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes – walking, biking, transit, and motorized vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities. The policy was approved by MassDOT and the Town received funding to create a prioritization plan as a result. The creation of a prioritization plan is required to achieve the designation as a Complete Streets community which then allows the town to apply for grant funding through MassDOT to fund the projects identified in the plan. The Town has selected engineering consultant, Stantec Inc. to 3 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2018 facilitate the process and provide professional assistance. The Selectmen appointed an Ad/Hoc Complete Streets Committee to oversee this effort. Marblehead was awarded a grant from Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to develop a 5-year Housing Production Plan to expand housing diversity, affordability, and opportunity in the community and the region, and meet unmet housing need in Town. Marblehead also received a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning Grant to help the town assess their vulnerability to and prepare for climate change impacts, build community resilience, and receive designation from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) as a Climate ChangeMVP program municipality. The Selectmen identified a core team and hired Barbara Warren of Salem Sound Coastwatch to assist the town in the effort. The Town held workshops and listening sessions to define top natural and climate-related hazards, identify vulnerabilities, and develop prioritized actions and opportunities to collaboratively advance actions to increase resilience. The result was a Municipal Vulnerability Assessment report and action plan. The Town conducted a cyber security assessment to analyze whether there is risk of unauthorized access to the Town's network, implement policies and procedures to protect the Town's technology environment, and identify steps to take in order to address any problems identified. This assessment was funded by a Community Compact Best Practice grant. In March of 2018 there were two major storm events that caused significant damage in the town from coastal flooding and beach erosion which occurred over multiple high tides, as well as damaging winds which knocked down many trees and tree limbs. The Selectmen sponsored an article to appropriate funds to repair seawall and other coastal damage. This article was approved at the annual Town meeting and a proposition 2 ½ override was adopted by the voters. In an effort to address the damage caused during these storm events, the town worked with the Marblehead Light Commission to make repairs and implement erosion controls at Leggs Hill. Seawall repairs were also made at Grace Oliver’s and Fort beaches and are planned at Fort Sewall. In 2018 the School Committee informed the Selectmen that they were vacating the Gerry Elementary school and that the building was no longer needed for school purposes. A Gerry School Re-Use Committee was appointed by the Board of 4 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2018 Selectmen to consider options and recommend a reuse strategy for Town review and approval. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is some other municipal need and if no other municipal need exists, then identify what the community would like to see the building used for, evaluate the merits and viability of alternatives and make a recommendation or recommendations to the Town Meeting. The Town selected a planning consultant, Harriman, to facilitate the process and provide professional evaluations of reuse options. The Town conducted repairs on several town owned buildings and property under the control of the Board of Selectmen including: the police station roof and the Highway garage roof. Barry Road was accepted as a public way in 2018. As the local licensing authority, the Selectmen renewed and/or issued the following licenses concerning its licensed serving establishments: Annual All Alcoholic Restaurant (15) Annual All Alcoholic – Package Store (5) Annual All Alcoholic Fraternal Club (2) Annual All Alcoholic Club (3) Season All Alcoholic Club (2) Annual Wine & Malt – Package (1) Annual Wine & Malt Restaurant (7 Day) (5) Farmer Series Pouring Permit (1) Annual Common Victualler (40) Annual Entertainment (16) Sunday Entertainment (14) Second Hand Dealers (12) Automatic Amusement Device (14) Annual Auto Class II (1) Annual Lodging (3) Movie Theatre (1) The Board sadly acknowledges the death of prominent members of the Marblehead community including; Douglas O’Leary, member of the Historical Commission and Harbors and Waters Board, and Fred Sullivan a long time member of the Conservation Commission. 5 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2018 In July, John McGinn retired as Town Administrator, a position he had held for 3 ½ years.