November 19, 2003
The Board met in Regular Session at 7:30 p.m. in its meeting room at Abbot Hall.
Present (constituting a quorum):
Jeffrey N. Shribman, Chairman
William M. Purdin Judith R. Jacobi
Harry C. Christensen
Anthony M. Sasso, Town Administrator

Mrs. Jacobi started as Chair until Mr. Shribman arrived at approximately 7:50 p.m.
MINUTES. Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of November 12, 2003. All in favor.
TAXATION AID COMMITTEE. Tax Relief Fund. The following committee members appeared for purposes of reporting to the Community the Town’s progress in connection with the taxation relief for the elderly and disabled donation fund that was approved at Town Meeting to assist low income elderly and disabled persons in meeting their property tax obligations: Richard O. Riess, Chairman of the Board of Assessors; Patricia Kelly Murray, Town Treasurer; and three appointed residents Patricia Roberts, Pamela Foye and Clark Willmott. Ms. Murray advised that applications for aid to the elderly and disabled will be available on November 20 at the Treasurer’s Office located in the Mary Alley Building, Widger Road and at the Council on Aging located at 10 Humphrey Street. Completed applications (together with proof of age, disability (if applicable), residency, income and tax liability) must be returned by January 1, 2004 to either the Treasurer or the Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey Street. Assistance with the completion of the application may be obtained from the Council on Aging. Mr. Willmott advised that donations to the Tax Relief Fund for the Elderly and Disabled may be sent to the Town of Marblehead, c/o Council on Aging at any time.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS. Classification Tax Allocation Fiscal Year 2004.
Richard O. Riess, Chairman of the Board of Assessors appeared with John Kelly, Secretary, Ann Nancy McCarthy and Michael Johnson, Assistant Tax Assessor to provide a report on information necessary for votes to be taken on an amendment to tax classification that would shift local taxes from the residential class to the commercial, industrial and personal property classes. The four categories of classification to be voted on are as follows: Residential Factor, Open Space, Residential Exemption and Commercial Exemption. After discussion, motion made and seconded to keep the residential factor at 100%. All in favor. Motion made and seconded to not allow a maximum exemption of 25% for all property classified as Open Space. All in favor. Motion made and seconded to not allow a maximum exemption of 20% of the average assessed value of residential property. All in favor. Motion made and seconded to not allow a maximum exemption of 10% of assessed value of commercial property. All in favor.
FIREWORKS COMMITTEE. Independence Day 2004. The following committee members appeared to present the proposed location of the barge and tentative plans for next year’s fireworks display: Jon Wales, Warner Hazel, Michael Mentuck, Lt. Dave Millett and Chief Jim Carney. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to have the fireworks display shot from a barge to be placed in the mouth of Marblehead Harbor, in the vicinity of Gerry Island and Gordon Rock. All in favor.
YMCA. New Site. Paul Gorman, Executive Director and Steven R. Wood, Project Consultant appeared to express their excitement and discuss tentative plans to build a new YMCA on the recently purchased land between Loring Avenue, Salem and Legg’s Hill Road, Marblehead. The new location, to be developed within the boundaries of the lands of the City of Salem, will be subject to the permitting regulations of that jurisdiction. The officials of the YMCA will keep the Selectmen’s Office posted as the project progresses.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE. Appointment. Letter from Dr. Steven Kurzrok, Chairman recommending the appointment of Marblehead High School student Jacob Bevilacqua as Student Representative of the EMS Committee. Motion made and seconded for Mr. Bevilacqua to be appointed to this position. All in favor.
SHELLFISH CONSTABLE. Appointment. Letter from Doug Aikman, 4 Cherry Street, requesting consideration as a shellfish constable. Motion made and seconded to invite Doug Aikman to meet the Board of Selectmen at a subsequent date for purposes of discussing potential appointment to this position.
SHELLFISH CLAMBEDS. Mr. Christensen presented a Memorandum of Understanding that sets up guidelines on the opening, monitoring, closing and reopening of clam beds. Motion made and seconded for the Chairman to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Board. All in favor.
LICENSING. Entertainment. Letter from Gordon J. Howard of Rio Grande Café, 12 School Street, requesting modification of his establishment’s current entertainment license. Motion made and seconded to approve the request for live entertainment to be permitted from the hours of 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on the night before Thanksgiving. All in favor.
PERMISSION. Banners. Letter from Leslie Gould, Executive Director of the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce requesting permission to hang a “Shop, Dine & Stay Marblehead” banner in December. Motion made and seconded to permit the banner to be hung from Monday, December 15 to Monday, December 22, subject to Light Department approval and insurance requirements being met. All in favor.
PERMISSION. Use of Abbot Hall. Request from the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor to use Abbot Hall in connection with the Holiday Pops Concert on December 13. Motion made and granted to allow the use of Abbot Hall on the following dates and times
i) Tuesday, December 9, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
ii) Friday, December 12, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
iii) Saturday, December 13, 4:30 to 11:00 p.m.
iv) Monday, December 15, 9:00 a.m.
LICENSES. Package Stores. Motion made and seconded to allow package stores in the Town to be opened on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and each Sunday thereafter until New Year’s Day, subject to the following conditions:
1. Stores may not open before noon;
2. Employees must be paid at a rate not less than one and one-half times the employee’s regular rate; and
3. No employee shall be required to work, and refusal to work on a Sunday shall not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, deduction of hours or any other penalty.
All in favor.
TOWN MEETING. Motion made and seconded that the Annual Town Meeting be held on Monday, May 3, 2004, at 7:45 p.m. at Marblehead High School, 2 Humphrey Street. All in favor.
Motion made and seconded to open the Warrant for the May 3, 2004 Annual Town Meeting. All in favor.
Motion made and seconded to close the Warrant for Town Government Boards and Commissions on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. All in favor.
Motion made and seconded to close the Warrant for the General Public on Wednesday, January 28, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. All in favor.
FINANCE COMMITTEE. Applicants. Motion made and seconded to set January 7th as a deadline for applications and for interviews to be scheduled for January 14th. All in favor.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/ REMINDERS. The Board of Selectmen will not be meeting on the evening of Wednesday, November 26. Abbot Hall and the Mary A. Alley Building will both close on Wednesday, November 26 at 5:00 p.m. and to reopen for business at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 1.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn at 9:16 p.m. All in favor.
Administrative Aide

Ursula M. Kretschman