By Carol Britton Meyer

In response to requests from Hull Redevelopment Authority member Adrienne Paquin and a number of citizens, a reorganization revote was taken this week, with the same results as the May 12 vote – 3-2 in favor of Bartley Kelly as chair, Dan Kernan as vice chair, Paquin as clerk, and Joan Senatore as treasurer.

Unlike the May 12 vote, though, on June 9, there was discussion following former chair Dennis Zaia’s duplicate motion from the earlier meeting. Following that motion, Kernan nominated Paquin to serve as chairperson.

“We need a chair who will listen more than talk – who honestly accepts and respects that others in the community do in fact know what they want for themselves,” he said. “Adrienne has demonstrated consistent fairness, pragmatism, and a deep understanding of the complex issues before this board as we look forward to the next [phase of our work] … a new way of looking at things as we revisit the Urban Renewal Plan.”

Kernan then made a substitute motion to Zaia’s, nominating Paquin as chair, Kelly as vice chair, Senatore as treasurer, and himself as clerk. Paquin seconded that motion.

She thanked Kernan for his vote of confidence, saying that she believes she “could be an asset as chair. My day job involves identifying problems and figuring out solutions, and I want to be part of the solution.”

She added that as chair she “would try to create an environment where all members are heard as we move to drafting [Option 3] of the URP – taking into account all input over the past two years and previously as part of an open public process.”

Paquin expressed appreciation to Kelly for serving on the HRA for many years and for Zaia in serving as the previous chair, and asked for her fellow members’ votes.

The vote to accept the substitute motion was 2-3, with Zaia, Kelly, and Senatore voting against.

A vote was then taken on the main motion for Kelly as chair, Kernan as vice chair, Senatore as treasurer, and Paquin as clerk, which passed on a 3-2 vote, with Paquin and Kernan voting no.

The issue has been a topic of discussion since May 12, when three hours into the meeting, Zaia abruptly announced he was stepping down from the chair role, catching some fellow board members by surprise and causing a number of residents participating in the Zoom meeting to express disappointment at a last-minute move without discussion among board members.

HRA members and some in the audience also questioned whether the topic was properly discussed at that meeting. Under the Open Meeting Law, all business items that the chair “reasonably anticipates will be discussed” should be listed on the posted agenda, although the law does not specifically prohibit discussion of other issues. According to an email exchange between the town clerk and three HRA members, Town Counsel Brian Winner said that an unanticipated topic “should not be discussed (or voted on) by the board and it should be placed on the next agenda.”

That night, Zaia immediately nominated Kelly, a former chair – who seconded the motion – with no discussion about other nominations. He then nominated Kernan as vice chair, Paquin as clerk, and Joan Senatore as treasurer. Those nominations were approved on a 3-2 vote, with Paquin and Kernan voting against.

A replay of the meeting is on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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