Dark Sky Lighting Rules and Regional Water Plans
The Hamilton Select Board hears a detailed proposal on how a Dark Sky bylaw could apply to one- and two-family homes, then reviews a conceptual plan to share water infrastructure with Wenham and presses on timelines, governance, and costs. The board also debates whether the town clerk should be elected or appointed and unanimously taps a longtime environmental volunteer for the Environmental Impact Committee. 22mins
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Original Meeting
In This Video
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Chair Olson called the Select Board meeting to order and explained that the first session in the new Town Hall meeting room was delayed due to an elevator inspection but was expected to occur soon.
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A speaker representing Hamilton Dark Sky outlined proposed components of a Dark Sky bylaw, summarized outreach and research completed since the last meeting, and asked the board to decide whether and how the bylaw should apply to existing and new one- and two-family residences.
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Chair Olson introduced a presentation on a proposal to regionalize water sharing with Wenham, as Town Manager Domelowicz outlined the participants from Wenham’s water department, engineering consultants, and water commissioners who would speak to the plan.
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An engineering consultant presented the conceptual plan for Hamilton and Wenham to combine their water systems, explaining that joint work and grants had identified regional supply, capacity, and PFAS treatment needs that shared infrastructure could help address.
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Select Board members raised questions about Hamilton’s short- and long‑term water needs, regulatory timelines, governance and ownership of a potential joint system with Wenham, and cost allocation, as Town Manager Domelowicz outlined options such as forming a regional water district and conducting rate studies for both towns.
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The Select Board praised an applicant’s extensive local involvement and environmental and water expertise, then voted unanimously to appoint the applicant to the Environmental Impact Committee.
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Board Member Galuza, Chair Olson, and others discussed the philosophical pros and cons of having an elected versus appointed town clerk, including accountability, training, potential for abuse, and the town’s past debates on this issue, with Town Manager Domelowicz noting that the current clerk now supports a shift to an appointed role.
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