By Carol Britton Meyer

Irwin Nesoff was unanimously elected as select board chair for the coming year at Wednesday’s meeting, while former Chair Greg Grey was made the new vice chair on another unanimous vote.

**TO THE RESCUE:** The town received a check for $300,461 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for an ambulance. ARPA money comes from the federal government and is in response to the COVID19 pandemic; it must be allocated by the end of this year. Shown at Wednesday’s check presentation are select board members Greg Grey and Jerry Taverna, Deputy Fire Chief William Frazier, select board member Brian McCarthy, Plymouth County Commissioner Chair Jared Valanzola, select board members Jason McCann and Irwin Nesoff, Town Manager Jennifer Constable, and Fire Chief Chris Russo. [Photo courtesy of James Lampke]

“It’s been a fun experience being chair for a year,” Grey said before physically moving his seat at the table. “Now it’s time to switch chairs!”

Jason McCann agreed to serve as clerk for another year on another unanimous vote.

Nesoff thanked Grey for his work as chair.

“You’ve done a momentous job in moving the board forward, and I hope to continue that work and build upon what we have accomplished in the past year,” he said.

“This was the quickest reorganization in several years!” quipped Grey.

“That’s because we all get along so well,” Nesoff said.

In other business at the meeting

• Plymouth County Commissioner Jared Valanzola presented an American Rescue Plan Act check for $300,461 to the board to cover the cost of the new Hull Fire Department ambulance, which is already in service.

Chief Chris Russo expressed appreciation for the grant.

“This is wonderful for the department and the community,” he said.

This is on top of earlier grants of $595,000 toward the sewer department ocean outfall rehabilitation project that began in December 2023 and additional ARPA funding of $986,803 last fall.

The ARPA bill was a response to the COVID19 pandemic, geared toward addressing both the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

• In keeping with the select board’s goal to make appointments to various committees and boards by the end of June each year, interviews were conducted for the newly formed beautification committee, permanent sewer commission, veterans’ council, and the war memorial commission.

The following appointments were made:

• Beautification committee: Anne Finley, Leandro Rosa, and Betsy Russo, all for a three-year term. Finley and Russo are Hull Garden Club members, with Russo serving as president. Rosa thought serving on the committee would be a good way to “do something for the town.” There are four remaining seats to fill on the seven-member committee. More applicants will be interviewed June 26.

The newly-created beautification committee intends to enhance the natural beauty of the town and to “cultivate a more visually appealing and vibrant community by actively spearheading projects that elevate the aesthetics of public spaces.”

• John Clougherty and Jordan Depenbrock were interviewed for two seats on the permanent sewer commission, with additional applicants to be interviewed at the board’s next meeting, when the appointments are expected to be made.

• Current Veterans’ Council members Philip Bellone, Robert Bowes, David Irwin, and Andrew Wohar were interviewed after expressing an interest in being reappointed, along with Peter-Michael Preble – the minister of the St. Nicholas Church in Hull Village – James Richman, Jr. –who recently revitalized the American Legion in Hull – and Kenneth Walsh, an advocate for veterans. Because there are more applicants than there are available seats on the council and more potential interviews on June 26, the appointments will be made that night.

• Current War Memorial Commission members Edward Burke, Andrew Wohar, and Ernest Minelli, III were reappointed to the commission, and Joseph Grieco was reappointed as an alternate member.

Interviews for the one opening on the board of health will be held June 26.

“This is what makes Hull a special place to live,” Nesoff said, referring to the large number of candidates interested in serving in various capacities on a volunteer basis.

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