By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board addressed a full agenda this week, discussing the new MBTA 714 bus schedule, concerns raised at the recent beach management advisory committee forum, and a Weir River Water System update.

While Route 714 bus riders are enjoying the new bigger MBTA buses – with the smaller vehicle used only when necessary – recent changes have been made to the route and schedule.

These include the elimination of the Manet Community Health Center stop to avoid the bus having to stop on George Washington Boulevard and to align better with the ferry schedule.

Eliminating the Manet stop is a major concern, Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the board, with Chair Irwin Nesoff noting that “a lot of people who go to Manet don’t have cars.”

Board member Greg Grey pointed out that rides to Manet may be available through the senior center’s rideshare program.

Ridership on the 714 is up, whether due to the bigger and more comfortable buses or the new MBTA online schedule finder, select board member Brian McCarthy said.

The idea of creating more bus stops and installing covered waiting areas at some locations was also floated.

Another meeting with the MBTA is scheduled for next week, according to Constable.

Visit www.mbta.com/schedules/714/line to check the Bus 714 Pemberton Point-Station Street, Hingham schedule, including recent changes, a schedule finder that allows riders to choose a direction and an origin stop and to access schedule information and real-time departure predictions, as well as a PDF of schedules and route maps.

Water company working on communication

McCarthy, a member of the Weir River Water System Citizen Advisory Board, also reported that efforts to enhance communication with ratepayers is in the works.

Those experiencing water quality issues – including brown water – can report them by emailing waterquality@weirriverwater.com, while those seeking abatements for extra water used while flushing out the water in their pipes during the widespread discoloration issue earlier this summer can email abatements@weirriverwater.com.

In other news, McCarthy and fellow board member Jerry Taverna attended Monday’s beach management advisory forum and both reported hearing numerous complaints about the condition of the beaches.

“This doesn’t put the town in a good light,” McCarthy said. “We really need to keep our eyes on how we will [arrange for] a spring cleanup of the winter debris that accumulates from April 1 through August 30, when the Audubon Society does not allow vehicles on the beach due to the presence of piping plovers. Town officials need to work better to make the beach top-notch.”

McCarthy also reported that committee chair Susan Mann plans to find out if beach cleaning would be allowed prior to August 30 this year, with the safety of the plovers a top priority.

Concerns expressed about condition of the beach

Taverna noted that there “were some angry people” who expressed concern about the state of the beach. He gave an example of a large truck tire that had become embedded in the mud at low tide.

“People were asking why we don’t have a policy in place to clean up the beach,” he said.

One option to help the situation, Taverna suggested, is for Department of Public Works crews to walk the beach throughout the summer to manually remove debris if necessary.

“There are people who have bought expensive homes and want to invite their friends and family to enjoy the beach but say they are embarrassed by its condition,” he said.

At the end of the day, Taverna said, “we need to look at these and other issues as a board.”

A committee discussion will be part of an upcoming agenda.

In other business at the meeting, 50-year resident Philip Bellone, who earlier served on the zoning bylaw committee, was appointed as an alternate on the zoning board of appeals to fill a vacancy.

Also, Constable told The Hull Times in response to an email, that the light board recently approved the use of the townwide generators for another season, from October/November through March 2025, to protect residents from potential lengthy National Grid power outages.