ANNUAL TOWN REPORT OF THE YEAR 2006 MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT Table of Contents Board of Selectmen 4 Warrant for Annual Town Meeting 7 May 1, 2006 and Annual Town Election May 8, 2006 Results of Annual Town Election 23 May 8, 2006 Results of Annual Town Meeting 27 May 1 & 2, 2006 Warrant for State Primary 66 September 19, 2006 Results of State Primary 68 September 19, 2006 Warrant for State Election 74 November 7, 2006 Results of State Election 79 November 7, 2006 Officials Elected 83 Officials Appointed 86 Vital Records of 2006 98 Number of births, marriages, deaths and causes of death recorded Department Reports: Abbot Public Library 101 Board of Assessors 105 Board of Health 107 Building Commissioner and Inspectional 120 Services Cable TV Oversight Committee 122 Cemetery Department 123 Conservation Commission 125 Council on Aging 127 Department of Public Works 131 Engineering Department 133 Financial Services 134 Fire Department 136 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Fort Sewall Oversight Committee 148 Harbors and Waters 149 Marblehead Cultural Council 151 Marblehead Historical Commission 153 Marblehead Housing Authority 155 Metropolitan Area Planning Council 162 Municipal Light Department 169 Old and Historic Districts Commission 177 Planning Board 178 Police Department 180 Recreation, Parks & Forestry 186 Sealer of Weights & Measures 199 Shellfish Constables 200 Veterans’ Agent 201 Water and Sewer Commission 203 Zoning Board of Appeals 211 School Reports Marblehead School Committee members 212 organization and meetings Marblehead Schools on the Web 212 Admission Requirements 213 Signals for No Schools 213 2006-2007 School Hours 213 Superintendent of Schools 213 Marblehead School Committee Report 216 Administration, Faculty and Staff 218 2006 MCAS Summary 234 Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores (SAT) 238 5 year history Marblehead High School Class of 2006 239 Enrollment Summaries 244 Town Warrant – Annual Town Meeting 246 May 7, 2007 3 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT SELECTMEN The Board of Selectmen meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in their Meeting Room in Abbot Hall. All meetings are open to the public. The Board is composed of five members, each elected annually. Members of the Board of Selectmen are Harry C. Christensen, Jr., Judith R. Jacobi, Jackie Belf-Becker, James E. Nye and Jeffrey N. Shribman. Harry Christensen was elected chairman during the Board’s annual reorganization meeting in May. Following are some of the many matters that came before the Board during 2006: The municipal website www.marblehead.org was activated for public use. The website contains information on town government, public meetings and other municipal records. The five corners sidewalk improvement project which made the area wheelchair accessible was completed; this project is located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue, Washington, School and Essex Streets and involved new sidewalks, accessible curb cuts and new signage. This year a limited edition reproduction of "The Spirit of 76" was created under the authority of the Board of Selectmen. The prints were available for sale with the proceeds being donated to the War Against Terror Memorial Fund to create a monument to honor the victims of the September 11th attack and the War on Terrorism. The monument was dedicated on Veterans Day in Memorial Park. This year the long term lease for the concession stand at Devereux Beach expired. In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 30B, the town issued a request for proposals for the property. The lease was awarded to Paul and Louise Petersiel owners of the Red Rock Bistro in Swampscott. The Petersiels have named the concession stand Lime Rickey’s. The Board wishes the new lease holders the best of luck. Additionally the Board would like to thank Pam and Jeffrey Flynn of the years that they operated Flynnies at the Beach. 4 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Continued participation by the Town in the HOME Consortium Housing Program. In 2006, funds through this program were made available to low and moderate income first time homebuyers for down payment assistance. This program has worked in concert with the affordable housing which has been created through the two MA G.L. Chapter 40B housing developments: Oliver’s Pond and Marblehead Highlands. Winning the Energy Star 2006 Change a Light Change the World competition. Thanks to the efforts of its citizens Marblehead pledged to change 4,262 incandescent light bulbs to energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs. Marblehead won the competition against the Town of Swampscott. In preparation of the upcoming retirement of Marblehead Police Chief James Carney, the Board elected to hire a consultant to conduct sole assessment center as governed by Massachusetts Civil Service Commission. The Board wants to recognize and thank the countless volunteers throughout the Town government and local philanthropic organizations that spent substantial amounts of their personal free time working for the benefit of Marblehead as well as all of those who contributed financially to the various funds established for the benefit of the Town. Without the dedication, involvement and generosity of these volunteers and her citizens along with the efforts of our town employees, Marblehead (and its local government) certainly would not be as special and the wonderful place in which we currently live and are proud of. The Board thanks Dr. Raymond F. Cole, Jr. for his gift to the town of his collection of maritime memorabilia along with a $250,000 donation for the room’s upkeep. The Board also wishes to thank the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club for the generous gift of a sound system for the Abbot Hall auditorium. Additionally, the Board appreciates the effort and dedication of the volunteers who established and maintain Hamond Park the birthplace of marine aviation. The Board of Selectmen and the staff extends their gratitude to Pat Charbonnier, who took a temporary leave from her retirement to assist us this summer. 5 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT The Board also thanks Anthony M. Sasso, Town Administrator; Rebecca Curran, Town Planner; and the office staff: Ursula M. Kretschman, Patricia Cerrutti and Deborah Fadden 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. Marblehead Forever! Faithfully yours, Harry C. Christensen, Jr., Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker Judith R. Jacobi James E. Nye Jeffrey N. Shribman 6 WARRANT – ANNUAL TOWN MEETING and ELECTION 2006 TOWN WARRANT – ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MAY 1, 2006 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 first day of May next A. D. 2006 (it being the first Monday in May) at 7:45 o’clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles in the Warrant for said meeting as follows: Article 1 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, as requested by the Selectmen. Article 2 Reports of Town Officers and Committees To receive the report of the Town Accountant, the reports of the Town Officers, and special Committees and act thereon. Article 3 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. Article 4 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. Article 5 Assume Liability To see if the Town will assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91 of the General Laws as most recently amended by Chapter 5, Acts of 1995, 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 Section II of Chapter 91 of the General Laws and authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefore to the Commonwealth, or take any other action relative thereto. 7 MARBLEHEAD TOWN REPORT Article 6 Unpaid Accounts To see if the Town will vote to appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to provide for the payment of any unpaid accounts brought forward from previous years, or take any other action relative thereto. Article 7 North Shore Regional Vocational School District To see if the Town will vote to approve the gross operating and maintenance budget of the North Shore Technical High School and appropriate a sum of money for the Town’s assessment of the same, or take any other action relative thereto. Article 8 Revolving Funds To see if the Town will vote to authorize various revolving funds as required by M.G.L. c44s.53E ½, or take any other action relative thereto. Article 9 Memorial Park To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money to be expended by the Board of Selectmen for planning, engineering and erection of an appropriate memorial recognizing the names of Townspeople who have lost their lives in the War against Terror, or take any other action relative thereto.