By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Redevelopment Authority this week welcomed its new lead counsel and held a preliminary discussion of its upcoming survey on future uses of its 13-acre property.

Gareth Orsmond of Pierce Atwood LLP law firm is transitioning into the counsel position formerly held by Paula Devereaux, a commercial real estate and land-use attorney whose practice focuses on development, zoning, permitting, planning, and environmental regulatory compliance. Devereaux, also affiliated with the Pierce Atwood law firm, is retiring from this role after several years.

During a Zoom meeting Monday, Orsmond – whose practice focuses on commercial real estate, land use, environmental, and energy matters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire – the discussion centered around his anticipated role with the HRA, the difference between executive session law and attorney-client privilege, and other legal points. Orsmond has worked with other redevelopment authorities and municipalities in Massachusetts.

“I work with a lot of people, and some call on me more than others,” Orsmond said. “I can go either way.”

HRA member Adrienne Paquin thanked Devereaux for her service to the HRA. Devereaux said it’s been her pleasure to work with the board.

She also said that Mark Hamin – in his role as HRA technical operations manager – “has made things more efficient. It’s been a great way to cut down on legal fees because he reaches out only when he needs to – to ask one or two questions or just to catch up. It’s been working well.”

In response, Hamin called Devereaux “an amazing resource,” noting that whatever he discussed with her were not “sensitive matters that would fall under attorney-client privilege.”

Hamin said he recently participated in a Zoom meeting with Devereaux and Orsmond to confirm his role and that it was not one “that interfered with or complicated attorney-client privilege. We had a robust discussion, and I’m looking forward to working with Gareth. I see myself as a conduit for asking questions about the law in general and nothing that would fall under attorney-client privilege,” he said.

HRA Chair Bartley Kelly said he, too, is looking forward to working with Orsmond “and getting this project done” – referring to the Urban Renewal Plan – not to still be sitting here 10 years from now!”

In other business

Stephanie Gonthier of Market Street Research – the company hired to conduct a townwide survey about uses for the HRA property – discussed the upcoming project. MSR, a marketing research firm that utilizes a customized approach, has been operating for more than 45 years.

MSR submitted the lowest bid of $22,000 and aligned most closely with the solicitation of services for a townwide survey design and analysis issued by the HRA earlier, according to Hamin.

Services will include working with HRA members on the design of the survey questions and format, survey response optimization features, analysis of response data, and submission of survey reports, subject to HRA approval.

The results of prior surveys will be shared with Gonthier as a jumping off point. She emphasized the importance of HRA members sharing their goals for the survey.

“We specialize in finding common ground,” Gonthier said. “There are no canned surveys.”

She also emphasized the importance of widely promoting the survey and including as much of a representative sampling of Hull residents as possible in the responses.

“We’ve got you covered,” she said. “We have lots of things in our tool box to serve you.”

Hamin noted that MSR has experience with survey methodologies and will address “limitations in earlier surveys.”

The HRA approved creating a survey subcommittee consisting of Paquin and Charles Richardson to talk with Gonthier and to share ideas in between regular HRA meetings – and without making decisions, to then bring this information to the entire HRA for its consideration. Hamin will also be involved in these subcommittee discussions.

While the usual response rate to surveys is about 2% in many instances, MSR’s goal is “well into a double-digits response rate – which would be exceeding the norm, but that’s our goal,” she said.

Hamin is working with MSR to develop a contract. MSR will handle all related tasks except for the actual survey mailing and postage costs.

“We also provide advice along the way,” Gonthier said.

At the next HRA meeting on January 26, which will also be over the Zoom platform, the board will discuss its goals – what members would like the survey to accomplish – and possible survey questions with Gonthier, in addition to the contract, among other business.

A replay of the January 5 meeting will be available on demand on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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