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Board of Selectmen
June 14, 2011
8:09 AM - Open Session
North Hearing Room 3rd Floor, Hingham Town Hall
Present: John A. Riley, Chairman; Laura M. Burns; Bruce Rabuffo; Ted Alexiades, Town Administrator; and Betty Foley, Assistant Town Administrator.
With a quorum present, Chairman Riley called the meeting to order and reviewed the order of the agenda.
Joint Session with the Sewer Commission to discuss the Consolidation Agreement between the Hingham Sewer Commission and the Board of Selectmen relative to the consolidation of the day to day operations of the Sewer Department into the Department of Public Works: Chairman Riley recused himself from discussion of this matter and stepped down from the bench, stating that his construction company has performed work for the Sewer Commission in the past and will cease doing any further work if this Agreement is approved. Michael Salerno, Chairman of the Sewer Commission, called the meeting of the Sewer Commission to order. Also present were members Edmund Demko and Edward Monahan. Mr. Alexiades and Mr. Salerno summarized the background and development of the proposed Consolidation Agreement. Mr. Alexiades noted the review and recommendation of the consulting firm, the vote of Town Meeting in support of the concept, and the benefits of the consolidation. Mr. Salerno spoke in favor of the Agreement and requested that two changes be made to Exhibit A Statement of Work. Mr. Demko inquired about cost savings to the Commission and rate payers, workers’ compensation rates, and Item 2.3 in the proposed Agreement allowing for the Town Administrator to sign contracts up to $50,000. Mr. Alexiades discussed the anticipated savings in labor costs, based on estimates, to the Sewer Department and rate payers, and he reviewed the employee benefit costs. Discussion followed regarding Item 2.3. Jim Dow, Supervisor for the Sewer Department, spoke to the need for equipment or materials in emergency situations. Mr. Monahan stated his main concerns are rate payers and protection of employees and spoke generally in favor of the Agreement. Discussion followed regarding the language in “Consolidation Scope” on Exhibit A, the intent to follow the same hiring practices followed by other departments, the provision in the Exhibit regarding weekly payroll, the provision regarding the Commission Chairman speaking for the Commission, the Open Meeting Law, Ms. Burns signing the Agreement as acting Chairman, Randy Sylvester following the same process for the evaluation of employees, and this being a three-year agreement with annual evaluations. The consensus of the Board and the Commission was to amend the proposed Agreement by adding a sentence at the end of “Consolidation Scope” on Exhibit A as follows: “Hiring and Firing will be subject to Commission approval”, and to review any other language changes at the annual evaluation. There was no public comment. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Consolidation Agreement as amended.
Voted – A motion was made by Mr. Rabuffo and seconded by Ms. Burns to approve the amended Consolidation Agreement effective July 1, 2011, by and between the Town of Hingham Board of Selectmen and the Town of Hingham Sewer Commission relative to the consolidation of the day-to-day operations of the Sewer Department into the Department of Public Works, adding the sentence “Hiring and firing will be subject to Commission approval” to the end of “Consolidation Scope” on Exhibit A Statement of Work. A vote was taken, with Ms. Burns and Mr. Rabuffo in favor; the motion passed.
Chairman Riley rejoined the Board.
Executive Session/Adjournment: A motion was made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Mr. Rabuffo to adjourn to executive session, not to return to open session, for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to Police Department litigation because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the town. A vote was taken by roll call and showed as follows: Chairman Rabuffo – yes, Mr. Riley – yes, Ms. Burns – yes. The motion passed.
The open session adjourned at 8:37 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Zivkovich, Clerk Pro Tem
Documents (a complete meeting packet of supporting documentation is on file and available for public review in the Board of Selectmen’s office):