By Carol Britton Meyer

During an hour-long meeting Wednesday night, the select board heard an update on the $15.6 million Nantasket Avenue seawall project – including the taking of a construction easement from an abutting property owner, signed a Purple Heart proclamation, and accepted a plaque listing past Veterans of Foreign Wars post commanders, to be displayed at town hall.

**WALLED IN:** The select board this week heard an update on the seawall construction project currently under way near the Allerton lagoon. The project manager said that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. [Richard W. Green photo]

Kevin Mooney, project manager for the seawall construction at the base of Allerton Hill across from Mariners Park, reported that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. The work is expected to be completed in several months.

The signing of an order of taking by the board for 948 Nantasket Avenue related to a permanent construction easement – with a payment of $94,000 to the owner of the single-family home whose land would be affected – is an important piece in getting the work done on time, Mooney said. The property is located near the end of the seawall construction, close to the intersection with Point Allerton Avenue. The vote was unanimous. Board member Greg Grey was not in attendance at this week’s meeting.

Click here for the latest updates and details on the seawall project

Town meeting voters in 2024 approved the taking after some discussion. Town Counsel Brian Winner said that the current owner was offered the opportunity to talk about possible other options.

“We [referring to himself, Mooney, Town Manager Jennifer Constable, and another attorney] actively engaged with the owner, who lives out of state most of the time, to see if there was an alternative way to accomplish this short of an eminent domain proceeding … and we told him what would happen if we were unable to reach an agreement … because we needed to preserve the project schedule,” Winner said.

“This involves completing a critical portion of the wall as we head into nor’easter season, and we need to get the work done as soon as possible,” Mooney said.

Mooney also described a proposed change to the grade of the road just past 1 Point Allerton Avenue and a rain garden to help alleviate flooding in that area, contingent on conservation commission approval. An easement is also necessary for this work, Mooney said.

Excess construction materials would be used for the project, which means they would not need to be trucked from the site, as required under the contract if the materials were not being used.

Neighbors have been notified to expect truck traffic starting sometime soon.

“I have an open-door policy. Residents in the area do stop by for updates, and I take care of any issues right away,” Mooney said, noting that he is the only inspector for this quarter-mile-long project.

The select board also heard a presentation from Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo, who requested the select board’s signature on a Purple Heart Town proclamation, making official Hull’s designation as a Purple Heart Community under the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Springfield.

Board member Jason McCann read the proclamation out loud. The document proclaims Hull a “Purple Heart Town” honoring the “service and sacrifice of those from our community who were awarded the Purple Heart while serving in our nation’s wars” and August 7 as “Purple Heart Day” annually.

The board urges Hull’s citizens and organizations to display the American flag as well as other public expressions of recognition of the town’s Purple Heart recipients on that day.

The proclamation also acknowledges that the people of Hull have “great admiration and utmost gratitude for all the citizens of our community who have selflessly served in the armed forces that have been vital in maintaining the freedom and way of life enjoyed by all our citizens.”

The Purple Heart is the oldest American military decoration and was created as the Badge of Military Merit, made of purple cloth in the shape of a heart with the word “Merit” sewn on it on August 7, 1782, in Newburgh, N.Y., by General George Washington, then reestablished as the Purple Heart on February 22, 1932, by General Douglas MacArthur.

In other business

• Kevin Beck, past commander of VFW Post 1787, presented a plaque to Sordillo and the select board commemorating all past VFW Post 1787 commanders dating back to 1929 for display at town hall.

• The board approved – subject to legal review – the new board and committee handbook.

This guide is designed to assist both new and current members of the town’s boards, committees, and commissions in understanding their roles and responsibilities. The handbook also provides an overview of procedures, legal requirements, and best practices to ensure that the local government operates “transparently, ethically, and efficiently.”

Contents include the structure of Hull’s government, how to become a committee member, oaths and term of office, vacancies and attendance, organization of boards and duties of officers, adoption of rules and regulations, select board liaisons, meetings, conduct of committees and public officials, legal resources, communication and public relations, training and development, use of town resources, and annual reporting.

• Constable reported that the town recently was awarded three grants, including $332,000 “to advance resiliency work in the Hampton Circle neighborhood;” $252,000 from Coastal Zone Management to explore the resiliency of the DPW and municipal light plant facilities; and a $32,000 grant to the Hull Police Department for bulletproof vests and other items.

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