May 6, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer (photos by Josh Ross Photography)
Town officials are awaiting the completion of the state Reopening Advisory Board report, which is expected to be completed on or around May 18.
That board, created by Gov. Charlie Baker, is charged with putting together a gradual, multi-stage process of lifting restrictions on businesses and activities.
"We continue to work on a [phased] reopening plan for town facilities," Asst. Town Administrator Michelle Monsegur said at last night's selectmen's meeting. "We will have more details about our plan in the coming days and weeks."
Town Administrator Tom Mayo said the first reopening phase could potentially occur in June and the full opening in July, but what actually occurs will depend on the results of the Reopening Advisory Board's report and whether the governor will extend the closure of non-essential businesses beyond May 18.
In other news, The Field Study Working Group, led by Recreation Department Director Mark Thorell, is expecting a draft report of the Athletic Field and Outdoor Court Study this week. "This is a Community Preservation Act-funded project that we started last spring/summer," Monsegur said. "The Working Group, which consists of representatives from the Recreation Commission, Board of Selectmen's Office, the School Department, DPW, South Shore Country Club, and the Hingham Sports Partnership, is excited to bring this project to completion."
In other business at the meeting, Selectman Mary Power detailed how the town had achieved "a significant milestone" last Friday in the transition to town ownership of the portion of the water system serving Hingham, Hull, and part of Cohasset with the filing of a business plan for the system with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Power acknowledged the efforts of all the consultants involved with the process and the water system transition and evaluation committee. "This submission is necessary in order for the water rights to be transferred to the town, and we are hoping to get feedback form the DEP soon," Power said. "This is a big deal in the transition process, and I appreciate all the assistance provided by [committee] volunteers [in reaching this point]."
Budget discussions continue among the selectmen's office, the advisory committee, and school officials to close an estimated $345,000 fiscal 2020 budget gap and a projected fiscal 2021 $2.9 million shortfall due to declining revenues in large part because of impacts from COVID-19, including a potential drop in property tax revenue collection.
"We need to either open up the [already finalized] fiscal 2021 budget, which was already approved by the advisory committee, and make cuts or identify additional sources of revenue, " Selectman Karen Johnson said.
The fiscal 2021 deficit could be reduced by applying part of the town's reserve funds. "Our current fund balance is on par with other AAA (-rated) communities across the country," Selectman Mary Power said, referring to Hingham's high bond rating.
At this point, Johnson said, "the use of fund balance would be coupled with close monitoring of revenue and a potential reduction in services if our projected fiscal 2021 revenue doesn't come in as anticipated."
Last night Mayo and Monsegur presented a three-tiered approach to help balance the fiscal 2021 budget that they and the selectmen hope will be supported by the advisory committee and school committee. "This is a fair and reasonable approach, and flexible enough to account for a changing economic landscape," Mayo said. "We're building metrics to help us understand what additional measures might be appropriate."
The different tiers range from hiring only essential employees and reviewing all proposed capital expenditures to potentially instituting a hiring and capital spending freeze to attempting to "defer or get out from under pre-arranged town contracts" with other parties.
"What I like about this plan is that it keeps open the opportunity to apply some of our rainy day fund [reserve fund] to the budget deficit, and it's certainly raining," Power said.
Power emphasized the importance of both the school and municipal sides supporting the three-tiered approach and "sharing the pain" if necessary. Mayo has been meeting with Supt. of Schools Paul Austin to discuss the budget, possible turnbacks of revenue from the current fiscal year -- which ends June 30 -- along with cost-cutting opportunities.
School Committee member Kerry Ni, after thanking all those involved with the budget process, asked if town officials are looking for input from the school commttee as far as the plan moving forward is concerned.
"Yes, but I think in order for our process to move forward, we need to be in a position to vote on the [revised] fiscal 2021 budget this Thursday (May 7, at 7:30 p.m.], and the school committee and advisory committee to vote early next week in order to meet the warrant publication deadline, Johnson said. "We're in unchartered territory, going through something we have never experienced before, not even during a recession," Johnson said.
She went on to say, "This [three-tiered] plan doesn't outline specific cuts or personnel decisions. It's a plan that we hope the town and schools could agree to implement for 2021 and to ratchet it up depending on how revenue projections come in."
Check the Town of Hingham website at hingham-ma.gov for meeting times, dates, and teleconference call-in information.