Select Board considers potential purchase of harborfront property

March 21, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer

The potential purchase of an available parcel of land bordering Hingham Harbor — contingent on ultimate approval by the Select Board, Advisory Committee, and Town Meeting voters following a due diligence process —  would be in keeping with the town’s overall plans for continuous improvement and beautification of the scenic waterfront.

The Select Board opened the April 24 Town Meeting warrant today (March 20) for submission of a warrant article related to the potential purchase of a parcel of land located at 30 Summer St.

Select Board member Joseph Fisher said any such purchase is contingent on “negotiating a fair price and concluding due diligence [on the property] prior to Town Meeting” and on a subsequent Town Meeting vote of approval.

The article inserted into the warrant asks voters to authorize, but not require, the town to acquire the property under terms and conditions deemed to be  “in the best interest of the town.”

While Chair William Ramsey said he thinks this location is important considering “what we have planned for the harbor [overall], the price has to be fair to taxpayers and due diligence completed to the extent that the Select Board and Advisory Committee can make an informed decision in their recommendation(s) at Town Meeting.” The purchase price is subject to negotiations with the seller.

Ramsey asked Town Administrator for Finance Michelle Monsegur to explain the tax impacts of this potential purchase at a time when “we’re recommending a pretty significant override.

“I received a call the other day from a resident asking what the tax impacts would be if the town purchased this property,” he said.

If the project is ultimately approved, “borrowing would be within the tax levy, so there would  be no property tax increase [associated with the purchase],” Monsegur said. She further explained that any such funding would come from either bonding the project or from unassigned fund balance.

Real Estate Town Counsel Susan Murphy explained during the Zoom meeting this morning that due diligence for this type of property includes a title search, an environmental investigation — which she said is the normal procedure when the town is considering purchasing property — and gaining information about the permitted and potential use(s) for the 30 Summer St. parcel.

Before voting to insert Article FF into the warrant, Ramsey, Fisher, and Select Board member Liz Klein recognized the potential value of possibly purchasing this property “but given the timing, we need to be sure certain things happen before we can commit [to supporting the potential purchase],” Fisher said. “The next step is inserting the warrant article with the recognition that the [end] result could be [a] no action [vote] by the Select Board, Advisory Committee, and Town Meeting, but in the meantime I think we should move forward.”

Klein noted that such a purchase would provide an opportunity for further preservation of  Hingham Harbor “and helping the town achieve its climate resiliency goals.”

The concern is “the cost and coming up with a fair price” and in consideration of the proposed override this year and the timing, she said. “More information is needed to make a good decision.”

The vote to take the next step “moves the process forward, but it doesn’t bind the Select Board,” according to Ramsey.

The Advisory Committee will discuss the potential purchase of this property at its meeting Tuesday night (March 21).

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