Town Meeting Will Need Second Sitting

Tom O'Donnell will get another chance to use his gavel before he retires his position as Town Moderator after time restrictions allowed for only 29 of the scheduled 62 Articles in the Warrant to be voted on last night's Town Meeting. 

Before the meeting began, there was an air of nervous expectation in the gymnasium. Unlike last year the venue wasn't full but there was a feeling that a lack of really contentious Articles would allow the meeting to flow smoothly.

For the first hour, the only element of real discussion centered on the recommended payroll for the School Department in Fiscal 2013 as part of the overall budget in Article 6.

A year ago, a split in the Advisory Committee had concentrated on the proposed Middle School and the repair to the High School Tracks but this year the concerns were over people as opposed to bricks and mortar. 

Elizabeth Eldredge, speaking for the minority on the Advisory Committee believed that the School Department budget was "unsustainable"- a comment that was countered by Amy Farrell who highlighted the "prudent fiscal management" that is part of running the education system in Hingham.

Apart from some lone sounds of dissent from the audience, Article 6 (budgets) was voted on and approved.  

Articles 7 through to 18 then proceeded smoothly and the evening seemed to be running on schedule until the Town Moderator read out Article 19.

Article 19 which dealt with a feasability study that the Selectmen have requested to undertake in respect of the Aquarion Water Company situation was the big talking point this year.

The Selectmen spent some time to explain why they felt that a study was justified while Aquarion Vice President Harry Hibbard and Aquarion representative Joe Connor took to the stand to counter with their own arguments. A succession of residents also argued both sides which ensured that Article 19 was discussed for nearly two hours.

After the study was approved, a rush of people headed for the exit, which showed evidence of how important the issue was.

The next ten articles proceeded without real incident and  just after 10:30 p.m. Moderator O'Donnell reluctantly advised that he believed that a second night would be needed.

After Article 19, the town voted positively on a number of projects that will continue the beautification of the harbor and enable the town to push forward with planned historical projects.

A plan to build a pedestrian bridge to link Whitney Wharf to the Town Pier was presented to residents and this project was enthusiastically received by those still in attendance. The purchase of land parcels at Scotland Street meadow and in an area adjacent to the current Middle School were also discussed in some detail highlighting some areas of natural beauty in Hingham that many residents never really see.

Town Meeting will resume Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Hingham High School.