Marblehead-2014.Pdf
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ANNUAL TOWN REPORT OF THE YEAR 2014 MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 Board of Selectmen 3 Town Clerk 6 Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 6 May 5, 2014 Results of Annual Town Meeting 23 May 5, 2014 Results of Annual Town Election 56 May 13, 2014 Warrant for State Primary 61 September 9, 2014 Results of State Primary 63 September 9, 2014 Warrant for State Election 69 November 4, 2014 Results of State Election 75 November 4, 2014 Officials Elected 80 Officials Appointed 83 Vital Records of 2014 - # of births, 95 marriages, deaths Department Reports: Abbot Public Library 96 Board of Assessors 105 Board of Health 107 Building Commissioner and Inspectional 117 Services Cemetery Department 119 Conservation Commission 122 Council on Aging 124 Department of Public Works 129 Engineering Department 131 Financial Services 132 Fire Department 135 Fort Sewall Oversight Committee 150 Harbors and Waters 152 Marblehead Cultural Council 154 Marblehead Fair Housing Committee 156 Marblehead Historical Commission 157 Marblehead Housing Authority 160 1 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 Metropolitan Area Planning Council 170 Municipal Light Department 172 Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee 181 Old and Historic Districts Commission 183 Planning Board 184 Police Department 186 Recreation & Parks 191 Sealer of Weights & Measures 199 Shellfish Constables 200 Task Force Against Discrimination 201 Tree Department 204 Veterans’ Agent 205 Water and Sewer Commission 206 Zoning Board of Appeals 215 School Reports 216 Marblehead School Committee members organization and meetings Admission Requirements No School Announcement/School Hours Superintendent of Schools Marblehead School Committee Report Administration, Faculty and Staff 2014 MCAS Summary Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores (SAT) 5 year history Marblehead High School Class of 2014 Enrollment Summaries Town Warrant – Annual Town Meeting 262 May 4, 2015 2 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 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., Judith R. Jacobi, Bret T. Murray and James E. Nye. The Board meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Abbot Hall and as needed at other times. All meetings are open to the public. The Abbot Hall repair and restoration of the clock tower and accessibility upgrades to Abbot Hall were completed in 2014. The main focus of the project was repairing the structural stability of the masonry tower. Work included re-pointing of the masonry and stone; repairs and replacement of roof and sidewall flashings; reconstruction and re-pointing and stabilization of the four bell tower turrets; repairs and refinishing of clock hands and faces; repairs or replacement and repainting of wood parts of the peak dormers; replacement of slate roof shingles; removal and replacement of weathervane support; reinstallation of weathervane and installation of lightning protection in the tower. The accessibility upgrades included new hardware, railings, signage, and installation of new handicapped parking space. The Town received several variances from the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board. In 2014 the Town received a grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission to contract with architects and engineers to conduct a conditions assessment and treatment recommendations for Fort Sewall. This grant was matched by funds from the Curtis Coffin Fund administered by the Recreation and Park Commission. This report was completed by the architectural firm of McGinley Kalsow of Somerville and the structural engineering firm of Structures North of Salem. The Town conducted repairs on several Town owned buildings under the control of the Board of Selectmen including window painting and replacement at the Mary Alley Building, painting and lighting replacement in the Meeting Room at Mary Alley Building, new windows at the Central Fire Station and Police Station and the exterior painting of the Old Town House. The Board of Selectmen voted to restore voting to the Old Town House. This will bring voting back after several years of voting at alternate locations due to accessibility issues which have been remedied. 3 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 This year several employees of the Town left their positions: Teri McDonough, Council on Aging Director; Brendan Egan, Recreation and Park Director; and Jeff Chelgren, Town Administrator. The Board thanks them for their services and wishes them well. The Town also welcomes the following new employees: Lisa Hooper, Council on Aging Director; Tim Short, Recreation and Park Director. John McGinn, the Town’s Finance Director for the past 10 years, was appointed Town Administrator in November. The Board sadly acknowledges the death of Phil Sweeney, long time member of the Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees and the Chairman of the Electric Light Commission and also the passing of Naomi McIver former Town Treasurer. 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) 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) Several significant gifts were given to the town including a painting depicting the battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere. This gift was given to the Town by the Speiss family of Marblehead. Additionally the Festival of Arts gifted a Beverly Seaman’s sculpture entitled Winslow II. A gift of funds to be used for the creation of a repository for the Town of Marblehead historical documents and records under the control of the town’s Historical Commission was present by Patricia Lausier on behalf of Ross and Rita Terrain. The Board is appreciative of these generous gifts. 4 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 The Board would like to recognize the tremendous amount of time volunteers throughout the Town government and local philanthropic organizations devote to working for the benefit of Marblehead. In addition to thanking the volunteers for their time, the Board also thanks all of those who contributed financially to the various funds established for the benefit of the Town. Also the Board recognizes the efforts and dedication of our town employees who work extraordinarily well together. The Board also thanks Rebecca Curran Cutting, Town Planner/Chief Procurement Officer; Kyle Wiley, Administrative Aide and the office staff Jennifer Smith and Jane Tricomi, for all their assistance this past year and extend our best wishes and thanks to the all of the citizens of the Town of Marblehead whom we faithfully and conscientiously strive to represent. Faithfully yours, Jackie Belf-Becker, Chair Harry C. Christensen, Jr. Judith R. Jacobi Bret T. Murray James E. Nye 5 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 TOWN CLERK Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Essex, ss to Any Constable in the Town of Marblehead Greeting: You are hereby required and directed in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to warn and give notice to the inhabitants of Marblehead, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Marblehead Veterans Middle School Auditorium, Duncan Sleigh Square, 217 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, on Monday, the fifth day of May next A. D. 2014 (it being the first Monday in May) at 7:00 o’clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles in the Warrant for said meeting as follows: Article 1 Pledge of Allegiance To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 174 of the Town bylaws by adding a new section, 174-14, that would require the recitation of the United States Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of any session of Town Meeting as follows: “§174-14 – Pledge of Allegiance. Each session of Town Meeting shall begin with the recitation of the United States Pledge of Allegiance.”, or take any other action relative thereto. Sponsored by Joan D. Cutler and others. Article 2 Articles in Numerical Order To see if the Town will vote to adopt an order requiring articles in the Warrant to be taken up in their numerical order, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. Article 3 Reports of Town Officers and Committees To receive the report of the Town Accountant, the reports of the Town Officers, and special Committees, or take any action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. Article 4 Assume Liability To see if the Town will assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws, for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Massachusetts Highway Department for the improvement, development, maintenance and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tidewaters, foreshores and shores along a public beach in accordance with 6 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2014 Section 11 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefor to the Commonwealth, or take any other action relative thereto. Sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. Article 5 Accept Trust Property To see if the Town will vote to accept certain trust property, gifts or grants to be administered by the Town or modify the terms thereof, or take any other action relative thereto. Sponsored by Town Counsel. Article 6 Lease Town Property To see if the Town will vote to authorize the appropriate Town Officers to let or lease such land, buildings or structures owned by the Town on such terms as they may determine, or take any other action relative thereto.