By Carol Britton Meyer

The Town of Hull is issuing corrected versions of restricted parking permits and suspending enforcement of parking regulations following a printing error discovered on a batch of this year’s stickers.

Parking enforcement will be paused until the revised permit issuance resumes in early June.

The word “parking” was misspelled by the printing company responsible for producing the permits, so that the word printed on the stickers was “parknig.” The error was identified after a community member noticed the typo.

The town immediately contacted the printing company to correct the mistake upon learning of the error. The cost to reprint the stickers – 52 cents apiece – will be split with the town since the error wasn’t discovered when the sticker was proofread by a staff member.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable last week told the select board that the error originated with the printing company.

“That error shouldn’t have come over to us in a proof, and they acknowledge that,” Constable said at the board’s May 13 meeting. “The proof that was sent to us I feel was prematurely OK’d by one individual and we should all have had a chance to look at that proof and hopefully catch that error.”

Online permit applications will continue to be processed, however, with corrected permits expected to arrive within a few weeks. Senior center and library staff are available as needed to provide assistance to residents who wish to order a parking pass.

While it is not required, residents who already received a permit with the misspelling may request a corrected replacement. Requests for corrected permits may be made at the office of the treasurer/tax collector at town hall.

“We appreciate the public bringing this to our attention, and we moved quickly to address the issue with the printing company,” Police Chief John Dunn stated in a press release. “We thank residents for their patience and understanding while corrected permits are being produced.”

In a statement to the Times, the town manager acknowledged that this year’s price is higher than last year.

“Parking permit prices have been increased for the first time in many years,” Constable said. “Even with the increase in price, Hull's prices remain substantially lower than many neighboring communities. Sales revenues help support Hull's Community Service Officers who provide important services during Hull's busiest summer seasons, including parking enforcement.

Restricted parking permits and visitor passes are $20 each, up from $14 last year; senior citizens pay $10 (up from $7 last year).

The town also changed the effective dates of the stickers, with the 2026 stickers being sold in May expiring on December 31. Previously, the stickers were valid for 12 months, but Constable told the select board that the change was made in order to avoid bottlenecks in the spring when residents rush to purchase stickers prior to beach season. Future permits will run on the January-December schedule.

“The change in timing provides residents the opportunity to purchase permits well in advance of the summer season and ensures sales are captured in a single fiscal year, allowing for improved planning,” Constable said.
At last week’s meeting, the town manager said that the new expiration date would not affect most neighborhoods in the off-season. The select board is scheduled to discuss parking regulations townwide at its June 10 meeting.

This year, the town transitioned to an all-online system for sales of restricted parking permits and visitor passes, which remains active. The secure payment portal for Hull residents and visitors to purchase a parking permit or visitor pass can be found at epay.cityhallsystems.com.

Users must search for “Hull” in the “Enter Your Municipality” search menu. Constable said the online-only system is expected to save about $30,000 versus the cost of in-person sales.

To purchase restricted parking permits or visitor passes, applicants must provide all required vehicle and residency documentation, including their vehicle registration or property/excise bill. Additional documentation is required for certain situations, such as leased vehicles and vehicles that are registered to a business. Applicants will receive confirmation emails when their request is submitted. Permits and passes will be mailed to the resident address provided in the application.

Restricted permits are available at no charge for veterans with a DD Form 214 or military identification and for active military members with a valid military ID. Residents with a disabled or handicapped placard may also receive one restricted resident permit at no charge for one vehicle with valid documentation.

Residents with questions about the permit program or the ordering process can contact City Hall Systems at 508-381-5456.

Christopher Haraden contributed to this report.

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