By Carol Britton Meyer

After interviewing seven candidates who applied for a seat on the Hull Redevelopment Authority, the members of the HRA and select board chose a retired teacher with strong roots in Hull to fill the position.

Charles J. Richardson, Jr. was appointed this week in a joint meeting to fill the vacancy created by Dennis Zaia’s resignation in July. Richardson will serve at least until the 2026 annual town election, when he will have to face voters in order to keep the seat.

Richardson, who said he has a “vast interest in Hull” and no particular agenda except to abide by the HRA’s mission, said his school experience in Hull taught him the importance of “celebrating similarities and honoring differences.”

Richardson graduated from Hull High and taught history and coached football and baseball at his alma mater from 1985-1991. His career in education took him outside of town, but he returned to Hull in retirement.

**Newly appointed HRA member Charles Richardson…**

Noting that there seems to be “a bit of an impasse” among HRA members, he said that the words he so often heard in education are a “gentle reminder that we can get there again, and I would be super-excited to be part of it. I see so much potential here.”

Richardson also noted that growing up in Hull, he knew some of the families who were displaced when the property was taken by eminent domain many years ago.

“This is a mission-driven process, and I would love to have that mission realized,” he said

As he sees it, the HRA “is closer [to agreement] than it thinks. Everyone wants to do what’s best for the town.”

Other candidates who interviewed for the position were Raymond Delmonico, C. Anne Murray, Valerio Romano, Sara Venteuolo (remotely), and Judeth Van Hamm. Chris Niland withdrew prior to the interviews, and Chair Irwin Nesoff read James Pitrolo’s letter of interest since he was unable to attend the meeting.

Click here for the candidates’ letters of interest and resumes

After the interviews, select board member Jason McCann nominated Murray; Jerry Taverna, Richardson; and Nesoff, Romano, with Romano winning three of the combined boards’ votes, followed by Richardson winning five of the combined votes, which constituted a majority. A vote was not taken on Murray’s candidacy since Richardson had already won enough votes to be appointed.

In other business

John Struzziery, director of the Hull wastewater treatment facility, reported that a $98,771 Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection grant awarded to the town was instrumental in improving the pumping capacity and efficiency of Hull’s sewer treatment plant – with an estimated energy savings of $113,610 over 30 years. There will also be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Quarterly progress updates to the state, a public meeting, website updates, and a final report were part of the process, which included installing a pump that works when under water, for greater resiliency. The state is currently reviewing the report, which once approved, will be posted on the town’s website.

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