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Advisory Committee
March 13, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Town of Hingham
Advisory Committee
March 13, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Present:  Port, Bierwirth, Alvarado, Barclay, Burns, Ellison, Farrell, Friedman, Kiernan, Lauter, Manning, O'Meara, Reardon, Seelen

Chair Linda Port called the meeting to order at 7:32PM in the Town Hall Building.

The Committee approved the minutes of the March 8, 2007 meeting. 

Jerry Seelen provided an overview of the Warrant Articles proposed by the Planning Board.  Jerry Seelen, Lou Alvarado and members of the Planning Board led the discussion of five zoning Warrant Articles.

The Committee voted favorably on the following articles:

. FDR By-law Amendments
. Off Street Parking
. Wireless Communication
. Non-conforming uses

o Favorable 9 votes
o Abstaining: Dennis Friedman
o Voting no: Mary Jane O'Meara, Jerry Seelen, Joe Bierwirth, Irma Lauter

The Committee voted "no action" on the Montessori School Property Warrant Article.

The Committee voted favorably on a Reserve Fund Transfer of $40,000 for the investigation phase of the remediation required for Bare Cove Park.

Mike Barclay and Dennis Friedman provided an update on the School Budget.  Dot Galo, David Killory and members of the School Committee were in attendance and provided additional comments. 

An extended discussion took place on the School Warrant Article requesting additional funding to continue the work of the 2006 School Building Committee.

The Committee voted favorably on the

. School FY2008 operating budget as shown on Attachment A.
. School Warrant Article

The FY2008 Capital Budget was presented by Jerry Seelen and Irma Lauter with Andy Mooradian and Jon Asher, members of the Committee, in attendance.  The capital Budget for FY2008 is $2,513,124.

The Advisory Committee voted favorably on FY2008 Capital Budget.

Laura Burns presented the Housing Trust Warrant Article. After a lengthy discussion surrounding the paragraphs allowing the Trust to borrow money, it was decided to vote on the Article excluding any mention of borrowing until it could be further clarified as to the Town's responsibility and role in the borrowing.  The placeholder will be kept for future use (2.a.10). 

The Committee voted favorably on the Housing Trust Warrant Article.  Mike Barclay abstained.

The Committee voted favorably on the Contributory Retirement budget as shown on Attachment A.

The Committee voted favorably on the following warrant articles:

. Personnel Board Reports
. Salaries of Town Officers.  Laura Burns recused herself.
. Reserve Fund

Tony Kiernan updated the Committee on the Retirement - Service Credit for Call Firefighters warrant article.  The Committee voted "no action" on the article.

Bill Reardon informed the group that Val Talmage resigned, effective March 13, 2007, from the CPC.

The Chair sent a thank you for her service on behalf of the Advisory Committee.

Bill Reardon informed the group that the Community Preservation Committee had withdrawn the Harbor Walk warrant article. The Committee is still discussing the Baker Main Street property, and that article was not ready for review by the Advisory Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:32AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Irma Lauter
Secretary