Annual Report Town of Hingham 2008 1 Table of Contents GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Selectmen ................................................................. 6 Town Administrator ................................................... 9 Town Clerk Elected Officers and Appointees .......................... 11 Births ................................................................ 28 Deaths .............................................................. 34 Marriages .......................................................... 41 Annual Town Meeting......................................... 44 Special Town Meetings ....................................... 76 Appropriations ................................................... 80 Elections ........................................................... 88 Building Department .............................................. 100 Conservation Commission ....................................... 101 Personnel Board .................................................... 103 Planning Board ...................................................... 104 Zoning Board of Appeals ........................................ 106 PUBLIC WORKS Dept. of Public Works ............................................. 109 Municipal Light Plant .............................................. 112 Sewer Commission ................................................. 114 PUBLIC SAFETY Emergency Management, Department of ................. 115 Fire Department .................................................... 116 Police Department ................................................. 118 Harbormaster .................................................. 120 Traffic Committee ............................................ 121 EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN CONCERNS Affordable Housing Trust ........................................ 123 Bare Cove Park Committee ..................................... 125 Bathing Beach, Trustees of ..................................... 128 Beautification Commission ...................................... 129 Cable TV Advisory Committee ................................. 130 Central Fire Station Building Committee ................... 129 Community Preservation Committee ........................ 132 Country Club Management Committee ..................... 134 Cultural Council ..................................................... 135 Development & Industrial Commission ..................... 136 2 Elder Services, Dept. of .......................................... 138 Energy Action Committee ....................................... 140 Fourth of July Parade Committee ............................ 141 Grand Army Hall .................................................... 144 Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund ................................. 145 Harbor Development Committee ............................. 146 Health, Board of .................................................... 148 Historic Districts Commission .................................. 150 Historical Commission ............................................ 152 Long Range Waste Disposal & Recycling Committee ...................................................... 154 Metropolitan Area Planning Council ......................... 157 Memorial Bell Tower Committee .............................. 163 Open Space Acquisition Committee ......................... 164 Plymouth County Mosquito Control .......................... 166 Public Library ........................................................ 169 Public Schools ....................................................... 174 Public Works Building Committee ............................ 178 Recreation Commission .......................................... 179 Scholarship Fund Committee................................... 181 School Building Committee, 2006 ............................ 182 South Shore Recycling Cooperative ......................... 185 375th Anniversary Committee ................................. 190 Veterans' Services .................................................. 191 Water Supply Committee ........................................ 192 Weir River Estuary Committee ................................ 194 FINANCES Accountant ............................................................ 196 Assessors .............................................................. 202 Contributory Retirement Board................................ 203 Treasurer/Collector ................................................ 209 Report Compiled and Edited by Betty Tower 3 Isabel Bellenis and Doris McCann Isabel is the head of the Audio Visual Department at the Library. A long- time Library employee (35 years!) she was nominated by many of her co-workers and singled out for the Productivity and Efficiency Award for her friendly, enthusiastic manner and for always looking for, and implementing, ways to provide better and additional services. Her idea for an Independent Movie Night was so well received that it has become a regular feature once a month. Congratulations, Isabel. The parents of many happy children nominated Doris, School Bus #12 driver, for the Customer Service Award. Doris encourages her young riders to be kind to each other and promotes a loving and caring environment. Her smiling and calm manner assures even the most anxious child. Parents are confident that when her decorated bus arrives that the kids are off on a safe, fun ride to school. As one parent stated, “When Doris pulls up, it’s a GREAT start to the day”. 4 February 2009 – 200th Birthday of Abraham Lincoln Town Information Web Site: www.hingham-ma.gov Incorporated 1635 Population 21,747 Registered Voters 15,105 Area 22.59 Square Miles Shore Line 21 Miles Number of Houses, including Condos 7012 Assessed Value Real Property $5,956,375,800 Personal Property $90,217,060 Tax Rate $9.75 Schools 5 Public School Children, PreK-12 (3/07) 3,978 Professional Staff 320.5 Support Staff 164 Total FY2009 Budget $74,056,840 School FY2009 Budget $35,686,037 U. S. Congressman State Senator State Representative Tenth District Norfolk-Plymouth Third Plymouth Dist. William Delahunt Robert L. Hedlund Garrett Bradley 2454 Rayburn House State House State House Wash. DC 20515 Room 313C Room 478 202-225-3111 Boston, MA 02133 Boston, MA 02133 617-722-1646 617-722-2520 5 Laura Burns, John Riley, Bruce Rabuffo Board of Selectmen The recession that began in 2007 continued into 2008 and continues into 2009 as we publish this report. While assessed property values have declined slightly, the Town has experienced serious erosion in new development, excise tax receipts and other revenues. Just as so many of you had to tighten your financial belt, Hingham has taken proactive steps to contain costs. In the summer of 2008, the Board of Selectmen instituted greater oversight of department budgets, and in the fall, the Board introduced hiring controls to constrain staff growth. While it remains our intention to minimize staff reductions which we unfortunately see in so many neighboring communities, the Town needs to be vigilant in this time of uncertainty surrounding the economy. To that end the Board introduced management mechanisms such as quarterly budget reviews, benchmarking and measurements tools. The Board undertook a review of the town’s tax policy as a means to identify other tax relief steps. This review is ongoing. Of particular concern are the funds Hingham receives from the Commonwealth as it, too, deals with declining revenues. The state 6 announced a 10% cut in Town fourth quarter non-school aid. Our legislators have warned us to be prepared for similar reductions in fiscal 2010 as the state wrestles with significant shortfalls. State aid covers 12% of our expenses. We do not expect, by the time of Town Meeting, to know the level of funding Hingham can anticipate for the coming year. Town management does have contingency plans to address any projected shortfalls. As always, the Town must practice prudent management of your monies. The Board has adopted recommendations suggested to us by our external auditors and Finance Director in the interest of coping with long-term financial obligations. To bring stability to the Town’s planning, the Municipal Light Board and the Town have agreed to a new formula for the payment in lieu of taxes which the Town receives from the Light Plant. In anticipation of new accounting regulations effective in July 2009, the Town began to address its health care obligations to its employees in their retirement years. The Board wants to ensure that the Town can meet the commitments it makes to its employees after they complete their years of service. This past year saw the completion of the new home for its Public Works Department and the adjoining new sports fields. Both will be ready in 2009. The Town purchased with Community Preservation funds the former Mobil station on Route 3A as another step towards protecting and improving our waterfront. Most importantly, the construction of the new elementary school off East Street continues on schedule for a planned opening in the fall of 2009. The building of this, our fourth elementary school, was approved last year by Town meeting and on the ballot at the town election; it will relieve the overcrowding now being experienced in our schools. Opening a fourth elementary school depends on an additional vote by the town for a $1.1 million override which will provide the staffing. This funding would allow the town to continue its longstanding commitment to education. In the fall of 2008 at a Special Town meeting, the Town voted to purchase