Updated Monday, April 29 2024 (updates provided by Hilary Jenison)
As 7:03 PM Hingham’s 2024 Town Meeting was officially called to begin.
The warrant articles will be covered live by the Hingham Anchor throughout the meeting with live updates as votes are cast.
ARTICLE 1
HANNAH LINCOLN WHITING FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 2 ASSUME LIABILITY FOR DCR
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 3
REPORTS OF VARIOUS TOWN COMMITTEES
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 4 PERSONNEL BOARD REPORT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 5
SALARIES OF CERTAIN TOWN OFFICERS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 6 BUDGETS
All budget line items with the exception of the following two budget line items were passed (via unanimous vote).
Discussion to continue surrounding the following two budget line items:
School Department Payroll (held)
Virginia Payne, Hingham Resident moved to amend the motion under budget line item 300 by increasing the amount of School Dept expense by $2M to increase school budget from $68,925,339M to $70,925,339M by more accurately estimating local receipt funding and increasing the FY2025 Forecast from $12,690,332 to $14,690,332 (on page 12 of the Warrant) to fund the increase.
The moderator ruled that the recommended motion of the article is out of the scope of the article due to the proposed source of the recommended motion funding (from Local Receipts, page 12 of Warrant) as it is not something the Town can raise (or control) and does not fall under article 6 (therefore the Town cannot vote on that). Discussion around School Budget funding continues.
Ben Louchheim, Hingham Resident moved to amend the motion under budget line item 300 by increasing the amount of School Dept expense by $2M to increase school budget from $68,925,339M to $70,925,339M by moving funds from the excess unassigned fund balance for the purpose of funding the proposed School Budget increase.
The meeting is moved to a standing vote on the motion to amend the School Budget.
The motion to amend the School Budget by $2M from unassigned fund balance PASSED (Standing Vote Yes:202, No: 171).
Property & Liability Insurance (held, explanation provided moved forward to approve total budget)
Total Budget: PASSED
Ben Lochheim made a motion was made to reconsider Article 6: FAILED
ARTICLE 7
TRANSFER FROM THE STABILIZATION FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 8
DISBURSEMENT OF ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT RECEIPTS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 9
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REVOLVING FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 10
CENTER FOR ACTIVE LIVING REVOLVING FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 11
TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE RESERVE FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 12
TRANSFER FY24 HARBOR REVENUES TO MUNICIPAL WATERWAYS IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 13
TRANSFER TO TAX MITIGATION STABILIZATION FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 14
TRANSFER FROM THE CAPITAL PROJECT COST AND DEBT SERVICE STABILIZATION FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 15
TRANSFER FROM THE CAPITAL STABILIZATION FUND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 16
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 17
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY LEASES FOR SOLAR PROJECTS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 18
SEWER: AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FOR ROUTE 3A SEWER CONSTRUCTION
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 19
EXPAND THE SIZE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 20
RETIREMENT: INCREASE COLA BASE
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 21
RETIREMENT: ACCEPTANCE OF M.G.L. C. 32, § 20(4)(d1⁄2) FOR RETIREMENT BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE STIPEND
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 22
WEIR RIVER WATER SYSTEM: AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FOR WATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 10:02. The Town Meeting will reconvene on Thursday, April 25th at 7:00 pm at Hingham High School. It is imperative that residents attend in order to meet quorum.
On night two of Town Meeting, the meeting was called to order at 7:20 after a delay as the quorum of 200 needed to begin the meeting had not yet been reached.
Passed.
ARTICLE 23
ACCEPTANCE OF M.G.L. C. 31, § 58A FOR VETERANS’ CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 24
AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW TO PURCHASE A FIRE ENGINE
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 25
SALE OF 8 SHORT STREET
Lengthy discussion occurred surrounding the sale of Short Street with many comments opposing the sale of the property in support of the current tenant Dick Orr and his furniture and cabinet making business. Discussion supporting the sale of the property recognized the need for additional non-tax revenue for the Town to serve many upcoming necessary Town projects such as the support for the Center for Active Living, a new roof for the High School, among other projects coming down the pike.
A motion was made to modify the article in order to forbid a sale of the property until the end of the current tenants lease in September 2025. The motion to modify the article to include the modified language was approved.
An early vote on Article 25 was taken with more than 2/3rds vote yes. However, the moderator recognized that there were still many voters waiting to comment and that the vote was premature. Discussion continued surrounding Article 25 (with the modified motion adopted to include that the sale of the property would not occur until the end of the current lease terms).
Mr. Fisher made a motion amend the motion to lay the article on the table which would put the article on hold until a future Town Meeting.
This amended motion of the recommended motion was PASSED.
A resident made a motion to reconsider the recommended motion FAILED with unanimous vote (meaning the motion cannot be reconsidered in this current Town Meeting).
ARTICLE 26
GRANT OF EASEMENTS FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 27
NAMING OF NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 28
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITIES
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 29
CELL TOWER LEASE AT DPW PROPERTY
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 30
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: UPDATE OF FLOODPLAIN MAP REFERENCES AND REGULATIONS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 31
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: GROUNDWATER PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 32
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: BREW PUB, BREWERY, WINERY, OR DISTILLERY USE
A discussion occurred surrounding the article to change the zoning laws in order to allow brewery, wineries and distilleries to operate in Hingham without the need for requiring business to operate a full kitchen or food on site.
Elizabeth Eldredge, M.D. the chair of the Health Department spoke in opposition of the article on behalf of the Board of Health citing the overall health and mental health crisis facing Hingham.
Many residents spoke in support of the article as a means of creating community gathering spaces and creating additional revenue opportunities for our Town.
After discussion a vote was taken and passed by more than 2/3 vote.
ARTICLE 33
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING PARKING REQUIREMENTS
A motion was made to amend the article recommendation to insert a minimum of 10% be equipped “at least level two” electric charging stations. The amended motion passed and was adopted.
A vote was taken but the audible vote was not clear to the moderator if a 2/3 majority was achieved. The article moved to a standing vote confirming an affirmative adoption of Article 33 by more than 2/3 majority.
The amended recommended motion of Article 33 passed.
ARTICLE 34
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: MBTA COMMUNITIES MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
A member of the Planning Board reviewed a presentation to support its recommendation to support Article 34 to comply with the State of Massachusetts Law.
Opposition was voiced from multiple residence and abutters of the French Street parcel.
A vote was taken and article 34 passed by simple majority (2/3 majority was not required for this article per the State of Massachusetts).
The quorum was called into question by a voter and a count of the meeting attendees was taken. A second quorum count was called for and it was clear that many attendees in opposition intentionally left the meeting to change the quorum count.
The moderator discussed the issue with Town Legal Counsel and was advised that since the question of quorum was was raised after the vote occurred it was therefore not valid and the previous vote stands.
Article 34 remains passed (as of Thursday, April 26).
UPDATED BELOW AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 29th (FINAL NIGHT OF TOWN MEETING)
Town Meeting began promptly at 7:00 pm on April 29, 2024. The evening began with a motion to reconsider the favorable action taken on Article 34 last Thursday evening.
Select Board member Joe Fisher spoke against the reconsideration. Chris Christiansen, an abutter to the proposed French Street property spoke in support of the reconsideration and against Article 34. Lyndsey Kruzer, also spoke out in support of reconsideration and against Article 34. Mary Power, spoke against reconsideration of the motion.
Kevin Ellis, chair of the Planning Board, spoke against reconsideration of the motion and in support of Article 34.
Discussion continued on both sides on whether or not to reconsider the favorable action Article 34 on Thursday evening.
A voice vote was taken and the moderator was in doubt if 2/3rd majority was achieved on either side.
The advisory committee unanimously moved to take a ballot vote on the motion to reconsider Article 34.
The ballots were counted with 446 votes total cast (yes votes achieved 108 votes and no votes achieved 338). Therefore, the motion to reconsider Article 34 did NOT pass and the previous favorable action on Article 34 remains.
ARTICLE 35
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: SOUTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB ZONING DISTRICT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 36
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: ABANDONMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE OF NONCONFORMING CONDITIONS
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 37
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE OFFICIAL AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 38
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: MAXIMUM HEIGHT IN THE HARBOR OVERLAY DISTRICT
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 39
AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: UPDATE TO NURSING HOME USE
Passed (unanimous vote)
ARTICLE 40 ACCEPTANCE OF EASEMENTS
Passed (unanimous vote)
At 8:26 pm Liz Klein made a motion to dissolve the meeting and was seconded by Joe Fisher. Town Meeting 2024 was dissolved at 8:27pm.
What is the Ben Louchheim motion that failed on article 6??
The motion to reconsider Article 6 failed which means that the previous approval of Article 6 stands and cannot be reconsidered by Town Meeting. Therefore, the Article 6 motion to increase funding to the School Budget by $2M remains as PASSED.