Annual Report 2016
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Cover Photograph courtesy of Rebecca Cutting May 2016 Phase one of the Fort Sewall restoration project completed this year included concrete work, new railings and the installation of a binocular at the eastern tip of Fort Sewall. The binocular was generously donated by Felix & Ruth Twaalfhoven & Family and dedicated to their parents. Back Photograph courtesy of Meryl Thompson The Stramski pier project was completed for use on July 1, 2016. The Harbors and Waters Board recommended, and the Board of Selectmen voted, to name the pier the William Pattison Landing in honor of William Pattison, long time member of the Harbors & Waters Board who was passionate in the endeavor of this long project. Unfortunately Bill passed away in 2010 and did not get to see the project completed. ANNUAL TOWN REPORT OF THE YEAR 2016 MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2016 Board of Selectmen 3 Town Clerk 8 Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 8 May 2, 2016 Results of Annual Town Meeting 18 May 2, 2016 Results of Annual Town Election 28 May 10, 2016 Warrant for Presidential Primary 33 March 1, 2016 Results of Presidential Primary 35 March 1, 2016 Warrant for Special Town Election 42 June 14, 2016 Results of Special Town Election 44 June 14, 2016 Warrant for State Primary 45 September 8, 2016 Results of State Primary 47 September 8, 2016 Warrant for State Election 52 November 8, 2016 Results of State Election 57 November 8, 2016 Officials Elected 64 Officials Appointed 67 Vital Records of 2016 - # of births, 79 marriages, deaths Department Reports: Abbot Public Library 80 Board of Assessors 87 Board of Health 89 Building Commissioner and Inspectional 99 Services Cemetery Department 101 Conservation Commission 104 Council on Aging 106 Department of Public Works 112 Engineering Department 114 1 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2016 Financial Services 116 Fire Department 119 Fort Sewall Oversight Committee 134 Harbors and Waters 136 Marblehead Cultural Council 138 Marblehead Fair Housing Committee 140 Marblehead Historical Commission 142 Marblehead Housing Authority 144 Metropolitan Area Planning Council 154 Municipal Light Department 156 Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee 164 Old and Historic Districts Commission 165 Planning Board 166 Police Department/Animal Control 168 Recreation & Parks 173 Sealer of Weights & Measures 180 Shellfish Constables 181 Task Force Against Discrimination 182 Tree Department 185 Veterans’ Agent 187 Water and Sewer Commission 188 Zoning Board of Appeals 198 School Reports 199 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 2016 MCAS Summary Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores (SAT) 5 year history Marblehead High School Class of 2016 Enrollment Summaries Town Warrant – Annual Town Meeting 240 May 1, 2017 2 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2016 BOARD OF SELECTMEN The Board of Selectmen is comprised of five members, each elected annually. Members of the Board of Selectmen are Chair, 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 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Abbot Hall and as needed at other times. All meetings are open to the public. This year, the Town received a grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission for a conditions assessment and treatment report for Abbot Hall and its grounds. During the course of the Abbot Hall Tower Project, several things were learned about treatments that would benefit the entire of the building. The grant was matched by funds through the Historic Commission form the Shattuck Fund. The Town began the last portion of the ADA compliance work in Abbot Hall with the addition of a universally accessible lift to access the stage. This work began in 2016 and is expected be completed in early 2017. The Town conducted repairs on several Town owned buildings under the control of the Board of Selectmen including repainting of the Hobbs building, the enlargement and replacement of a DPW garage door, window replacement in the Central Fire Station, and the installation of a new heating system at the Police Station. Also in 2016, renovations where completed to the Town’s Community Center. These renovations reallocated space for both the Council on Aging and the Recreation and Parks Department, improved the conference room in the building and increased storage space. Funding for this project came from the Friends of the Council on Aging, the Shattuck Fund, and the Recreation and Parks revolving fund. Phase one of the Fort Sewall project was completed this year. The project was funded in parts by a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, donations and the Curtis Coffin Fund. The primary focus of the work was the masonry on the southern side of the redoubt, replacing window grilles, replacing doors, door frames and door gratings, as well as repairing unsafe conditions on a walkway and installing/replacing railings and the installation of Binoculars generously donated by the Twaalfhoven family. 3 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2016 Other significant projects that were initiated in 2016 included; selection of a vendor to update the Town’s website in terms of functionality and content, procurement of new maintenance software to track building and vehicle needs, and procurement of new pavement management software. A procurement process was also conducted to select a new operator of the concession stand at Devereux Beach. Also in January 2016, the practice of having a community bonfire, burning Christmas trees that are collected curbside twelve days after Christmas was reinstituted after several years at Riverhead Beach. Annual Town Meeting in May 2016 acted favorably on several articles sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. These included funding for necessary seawall and rip rap repairs on Ocean Avenue, funding for a new Pumper Truck for the Fire Department, funding for other vehicle and capital improvements to town owned buildings, as well as article authorizing the sale of town property in the vicinity of the Tower School. Town Meeting also approved a Home Rule Petition involving membership on the Old & Historic Districts Commission. This Home Rule petition was subsequently approved by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor. This year the Board of Selectmen adopted new curb cut regulations to institute better controls on new curb cuts and preserve on street parking. The Selectmen appointed a committee comprised of Police Department staff, other Town officials as well as citizens to update the Police Department’s Strategic Plan. In May 2016, this committee presented the Selectmen with an updated strategic plan titled “Continuing Forward 2021”. The Selectmen approved the plan covering a five year period. In response to the growing public health crisis a working group was formed in April 2016 to determine the scope of the opioid problem in town and formulate a plan to address the threats posed by opioids. The working group has involved representatives from many town departments. The main focus of this group has been to raise public awareness of this issue. During 2016, the group placed critical information about opioid addition, treatment options, as well as other assistance and resources on the Town’s website, produced an informational brochure, and planned community events all focused on awareness. In 2016 a Gerry School Building Committee was formed, as required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. This Committee was formed to examine and evaluate the various options for renovating, consolidating or replacing this facility. The committee includes representatives from the community with 4 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT 2016 particular expertise, along with various school and town officials. Both the Chair of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator serve on this Building Committee. The Board also reactivated the Cable Television Advisory Committee in 2016 by appointing several additional members to this committee. This Committee will assist the Board in the re-licensing process for Cable services with both Comcast and Verizon over the next few years. Early in 2016, Robert Ives, Building Commissioner, retired after 29 years of service to the Town. The Board thanks him for his service and wishes him well. The Town welcomed Richard Baldacci as the new Building Commissioner who was appointed by the Selectmen. In June of 2016 William Lanphear, the Engineering and Conservation Administrator left his position with the Town. Rather than refilling the vacancy the decision was made to reinstate the position of Town Engineer. The Selectmen appointed Charles Quigley as Town Engineer in September. The Selectmen also wish to acknowledge and thank the following employees, all of whom retired in 2016, for their service to the Town: Fire Captains Michael Porter and Daniel Rice, Police Officer Arthur Buckley, Deborah Frongillo, senior clerk in the Police Department, Mary Starrett, senior clerk in the Abbot Public Library, and Debra Christensen, payroll clerk in the Finance Department. During 2016, the Board appointed three new firefighters to the Fire Department and four new police officers to the Police Department. The Board sadly acknowledges the death of Marcia Sweeney a longtime volunteer in the town who was the town’s representative on the regional technical high school for many years. The Board also acknowledges