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By Carol Britton Meyer
The school committee delayed until Jan. 23 a vote on consolidating Hull’s schools into two buildings because a member was absent from Monday’s meeting due to a family illness.
The agenda for the meeting noted that the committee would vote on phase one of the reconfiguration plan by moving the sixth grade to the Jacobs Elementary School next year – or, in effect, keeping the fifth graders in the same building for another year. The Memorial Middle School would house grades 7 and 8.
However, the discussion and vote was delayed for two weeks because member Liliana Hedrick could not attend this week’s meeting.
“I know people are expecting us to vote on the reconfiguration tonight, but that wouldn’t be fair without all the school committee members here,” Chair Stephanie Peters said.
The overall reconfiguration as outlined in the MARS Best Educational Use of School Facilities report and supported by an ad hoc committee calls for the Jacobs School housing grades PreK to 7 and the high school containing grades 8 to 12 in the 2024-25 school year. A future vote would be needed by the school committee to implement the full plan.
The reconfiguration would leave the middle school open to other educational uses, such as the South Shore Collaborative, or municipal uses, such as town offices or a senior center. The school committee would maintain control of the building.
The MARS report evaluated the educational adequacy of the three current school buildings with the goal of what is in the best interests of Hull Public Schools students.
These votes by the school committee relate to a December school committee meeting during which Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn presented the two-phase plan. The first phase, if approved by the school committee, is to allow time for planning and communication prior to implementing the overall reconfiguration plan.
Before the agenda item came up, Kuehn noticed people in the audience who attended the meeting for the planned consolidation discussion and vote and let them know that it was being postponed.
Peters noted that she would like the committee to consider offering hybrid meetings, including the usual in-person meeting and an interactive remote option, so that those who can’t make it to a meeting are able to participate.
For the full consultant’s report and other data on the Best Educational Use of School Facilities, visit this link.
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By Carol Britton Meyer
Some Hull residents are experiencing the crunch of inflation and related challenges in different ways, Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable told fellow board members recently.
A WOLFE AT THE BORDER. Craig Wolfe, a familiar face around Hull, has been working to help migrants at the southern U.S. border in El Paso in his role as a Red Cross Disaster Team supervisor. He reports that the Red Cross and partners are providing different levels of services, such as shelter, food, blankets, cots, and safety in this large-scale operation. The Red Cross’s mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in all parts of the world. [Courtesy photo]
“We’ve had a number of inquiries about what kinds of assistance are available; this is not unusual [in times like these],” she said, following up her comment with a query to Town Manager Philip Lemnios about what services “are out there” to help individuals and families who are facing food insecurity, financial hardship, and other issues.
He noted as an example that while the price of eggs has tripled, “incomes haven’t.”
“We have a large senior population on fixed incomes who are not keeping up with the rate of inflation,” she observed.
An outreach worker is part of the Anne M. Scully Senior Center staff, Lemnios explained, “and we have a veterans’ agent and a board of health [on hand to provide certain types of assistance]. There’s always a need for services.”
Board member Irwin Nesoff noted that Wellspring Multi-Service Center on Nantasket Avenue is another source of help in many forms.
Lemnios noted that the holidays are “acute” times for the police and fire departments due to the number of calls for assistance. “This period is fraught with a lot of emotion,” according to Lemnios. “The long and the short of it is that we offer the same set of services available in other communities our size.”
He suggested that checking with Council on Aging Director Lisa Thornton could help define whether there has been an uptick in requests or demands for services at this time.
“I’m not sure there has been,” Lemnios said. “Seasonally, we know that there is an increase in requests for help, such as fuel assistance.”
Lemnios also mentioned that the Hull Municipal Light Plant doesn’t shut off service to customers who are late with bill payments during the winter months.
“Perhaps we could have some kind of contingency that provides [additional assistance], but towns [of our size] are not designed to provide safety net services,” Lemnios explained. Such services are offered to some degree at the state level. “Trying to provide them locally is [overall] an inefficient way [to go about it].”
At the same time, providing generator backup to Hull residents during the winter months to ensure they don’t go without electricity during a potential National Grid power outage is one way to meet citizens’ needs locally, Lemnios pointed out.
“Generators allow people to shelter in place during [a severe weather event] so that they don’t have to find a way to get to a warming shelter,” he said.
There is no short answer.
“There are indices that there is a need [for services] as shown in the [recently completed] needs assessment,” Lemnios said. The study focuses on the preferences, evolving needs, opinions, and interests of Hull’s 55-plus population.
This information is particularly meaningful in light of the town’s growing senior population.
In addition to needing services, some seniors and other residents also have other concerns.
For instance, the needs assessment report indicates that most Hull residents who responded to the survey wish to remain in town as they age but have concerns related in part to being able to afford increasing taxes and the availability of public transportation and affordable senior housing.
The study also shows that Hull has the highest proportion of older residents and the smallest physical space in terms of senior center square footage than its peer communities, and the lowest median household income for residents ages 60 and older.
A large number of older residents indicated that the nearest person they could call for assistance “is at least 30 minutes away,” Lemnios reported. “Nothing good can come from that.”
He noted that the state is currently making it easier for people to qualify for certain benefits, but that some people “put up pride or other barrier” to seeking this assistance.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly called food stamps), assistance is available if certain income and other guidelines are met to help address food insecurity, and “people who qualify should take advantage of this benefit,” Lemnios said. “Many people need and deserve it, and many individuals, especially seniors, have been paying for them through their taxes for many years. It’s innocuous. The SNAP card looks like a debit card. This program is designed so people [in need] don’t have anxiety about one of the most basic requirements for survival – food. It’s really a shame [when people don’t access benefits for which they are eligible].”
That said, Constable noted that many households are “on the cusp and don’t [quite] qualify.”
Lemnios intends to ask Thornton to include information about available social services in the newsletter for seniors.
Constable emphasized the importance of being “kind to each other,” especially during these challenging times.
“It’s as simple as that for starters,” she said.
By Carol Britton Meyer
State Sen. Patrick O’Connor and State Rep. Joan Meschino visited the school committee this week to provide an update on the Fiscal 2023 state budget and possible impacts on the Hull Public Schools, including additional education funds and an extension of free school lunches for all students.
RAPPING WITH OUR REPS. State Rep. Joan Meschino and state Sen. Patrick O’Connor met with the school committee on Monday night to deliver an update on the current state budget and educational spending priorities on Beacon Hill. [Courtesy photo]
“Massachusetts is going through a time of tremendous prosperity, with resources to deploy in our communities to tackle different challenges,” O’Connor said. “Hopefully, more of these will be deployed in the area of education to help Hull students achieve everything they want to in their educational careers.”
Overall, education “is still recovering from the pandemic,” he said. “I know that [experience] wasn’t easy, and I want to express my appreciation to the school committee [for their efforts].”
The FY23 state education budget includes $1.8 billion for the early education and care sector, while there’s a Student Opportunity Act balance of $500 million.
The SOA ushered in a new phase in the state’s commitment to ensuring that every student has the benefit of high-quality learning opportunities that lead to success in school, including at the postsecondary level.
“The SOA is a gamechanger [for economically-challenged school districts],” O’Connor said. “We’d like to continue to build on that success, especially in the gray areas where communities don’t meet the economic metrics but are struggling.”
For FY23, $6 billion was allocated to public schools through Chapter 70 funding (an increase of $495 million over FY22). Hull’s share of this education funding is $3.95 million, or a 1.26% increase over FY22.
In addition, $110 million is included in the current fiscal year’s state budget for a year-long extension of universal school meals (allowing every student who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch to receive it at no cost to their family).
Local aid to Hull includes $2.5 million for Unrestricted General Government Aid, representing a 5.26% increase over FY22.
Local Hull causes also benefitted in the FY23 budget – $20,000 for the Campbell Christmas Angels program; $20,000 to the Hull Lifesaving Museum; and $20,000 for the Noreen Deady Memorial Fund, which aids children who are experiencing serious medical issues or have lost a parent, sibling, or caretaker or faced some other hardship in life.
Local funding that benefitted the Town of Hull also included $3 million for repair of the Nantasket Avenue seawall.
Hull causes that benefitted from Economic Development Bill funding included Wellspring Multi-Service Center, $25,000; Friends of Hull Scouting, $25,000; and the Anne M. Scully Senior Center, $25,000.
The Hull Public Schools received $122,779 in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER I) funding and $274,746 in ESSER II funding. In addition, $962,051 in ESSER III funding was allocated, with $112,405 claimed to date.
The ESSER grants are a federal program administered by the Department of Education in response to the COVID19 pandemic. The program provides emergency financial assistance to public school districts across the country.
In another update, Meschino noted that genocide education legislation has been signed into law, relating to educating students on genocide and human rights in response to growing concerns regarding antisemitic incidents in the Commonwealth.
This legislation requires all middle and high schools in the state to include instruction on the history of genocide. The Genocide Education Trust Fund will be used for the instruction of students on the history of genocide and to ensure the development of related curricular materials, as well as to provide professional development training to assist educators in the teaching of genocide.
While overall supportive of the concept of genocide education, School Committee Chair Stephanie Peters expressed concern that “our teachers are hanging by a thread. I love the idea, but I hope there’s also a balance with what’s already included in the curriculum,” she said.
Peters also referred to the number of costly unfunded mandates imposed on school districts.
“Everyone’s plates are overflowing, especially our teachers’,” she said. “There are only so many hours in a day to do things.”
Meschino responded that Peters’ point was “well taken.”
The Mental Health Act, which O’Connor called “a hallmark piece of legislation” was also signed into law. This act addresses barriers to care, implements a 988 hotline for emergency assistance, initiates a public awareness campaign, mandates coverage, and eliminates prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services for adults and children.
It also stablishes an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion, increases access to care for those in school and individuals in geographically-located areas, and creates a roadmap for access to culturally competent care.
The goal of culturally competent health care services is to provide the highest quality of care to every patient, regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, English proficiency, or literacy.
Meschino also explained other legislation of interest, including an Act Relative to Educator Diversity, which did not pass this session. However, it was reported out favorably and is now with the House Ways and Means Committee.
“If passed, the act would establish alternative certifications for aspiring teachers, create an educator data dashboard, require districts to appoint officers or teams to set plans and ensure compliance, and create an educator diversity grant fund,” Meschino said.
Although this law hasn’t passed yet, a new $15 million line item was included in the FY23 budget focused on supporting teachers of color.
At the end of the presentation, Meschino noted that both her office and O’Connor’s provide constituent services, including helping people access resources and “navigate state government,” and encouraged members of the community to reach out to either office for help.
“We’re here for the community,” she said.
Peters expressed appreciation for the assistance both legislators provide to the Hull Public Schools and the town.
State Rep. Joan Meschino has had a busy start to the New Year, as she was sworn in for her fourth term as Hull’s Representative on Beacon Hill, was appointed the vice chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, and was interviewed by a Boston television news crew about a bill she sponsored.
ANOTHER TERM WELL IN HAND. On Jan. 4, Hull’s Joan Meschino was sworn in for her fourth term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her district includes Hull, Hingham, and Cohasset. [Courtesy photo]
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue representing the Third Plymouth District on Beacon Hill,” said Meschino, who lives in Hull and also represents Hingham and Cohasset. “As state Representative, I will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that our region is getting the resources it deserves and that issues impacting our communities are addressed. From supporting our local and regional economies to mitigating the effects of climate change, I look forward to getting to work and continuing to address these issues.”
Meschino’s district previously included North Scituate, but the boundaries were adjusted in the past election cycle.
In the 193rd legislative session, Meschino is the House vice chair for the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) while continuing her work on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Caucus for Women Legislators. The MBC was created in 2006 by the Legislature and is managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to take an in-depth look at the Boston region’s public beaches. It is composed of elected officials and community leaders from beachfront communities.
“I am pleased to serve as a vice chair in the House of Representatives for the Metropolitan Beaches Commission,” Meschino said. “As a legislator for an open-ocean district, I understand that the Commonwealth’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities depend on the maintenance of our coastline. I look forward to continued collaboration with leaders in this space to identify shared issues and to advocate for both increased resources and public access.”
Meschino also recently offered remarks in an interview with NBC10 Boston’s investigative team regarding her bill that would require a judge to review a child’s removal from a home during hours when courthouses are closed. She said that this oversight would ensure that sound decisions are made by the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families at critical moments, and that the well-being of each child is central in the decision-making process.
Meschino sat with NBC10’s Ryan Kath to discuss the proposed “timely court oversight” legislation, which is one of multiple children-and-family bills she plans to re-file in the new session.
“Any time government takes that step to intervene [with an emergency removal], we owe it to ourselves and to those families to be thoughtful,” Meschino said. “It seems like an obvious and reasonable thing. It is an important opportunity for key oversight to make sure we are making good decisions at critical moments.”
By Carol Britton Meyer and Christopher Haraden
A Hull resident’s announcement on social media that he plans to open a home for wounded veterans on Atlantic Hill – and name the facility after General Richard “Butch” Neal – has raised questions among local veterans’ advocates and prompted the Neal family to request that the project stop using the late Marine Corps general’s name.
Both the town’s veterans agent and the commander of the American Legion post said the proponent, Kenneth D. Rowland, had not consulted with them or with the Neal family before posting his plans on Facebook on Dec. 28.
This facebook post on december 28 sparked concern among hull’s veterans’ advocates…
Neal was a Hull native and Vietnam veteran who died last year. This week, his son-in-law said that the family has “received no official information from any source associated with the project” and requested “that General Richard Neal’s name be removed” from the proposal.
In an interview with The Hull Times, Rowland declined to name the investors he said are behind the project, and acknowledged that he has not made an offer on the property pictured in his announcement, the home and land at 16 State Park Rd. currently on the market for $1.45 million. The two corporate entities Rowland named in his Facebook post – Nantasket Beach Club LLC and General Richard Neal House LLC – also are not registered with the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Corporations Division.
Rowland, who lives at the Bermaken Hotel on Revere Street, is the CEO of Nantascot Peninsula Partners, Inc., a company he formed in 2019 that describes its business as “interconnecting the media industry with leisure, travel and tourism, outdoor recreation, arts, science, and education.” The Nantasket Beach Club is referenced in the Facebook post as a subsidiary of Nantascot Peninsula Partners. During a lengthy interview, Rowland described the Nantasket Beach Club as “soon to be an LLC” and a “virtual entity unrelated to the project right now.”
Rowland said some of his funding comes from the construction of the MarketStreet lifestyle mall in Lynnfield, with which he said he was involved. The Times was unable to independently verify that claim of involvement; Rowland provided newspaper clippings that referenced his role in the Reedy Meadow Foundation, a non-profit conservation organization in Lynnfield, but nothing that outlined his affiliation with the MarketStreet development, which was built in 2011 by WS Development and National Development.
Regarding the veterans project, Rowland said, “I’m the sole owner, with investors in the Lynnfield area involved with the MarketStreet and a couple of investors in Hull,” whom he declined to name but said were neighbors to the proposed project site.
Both Hull Director of Veterans Services Paul Sordillo and Jim Richman of American Legion Post #140 said they had not been contacted by Rowland about the project and were concerned about the name of the well-respected general being used without permission.
Jason Korzen, Neal’s son-in-law and executor of his estate, echoed these concerns in a statement to the Times on Wednesday.
“The family of General Butch Neal learned only within the last several days of a stated intention to develop a facility in Hull to provide housing for veterans. That information was communicated to the family informally by persons not associated with the project. We have received no official information from any source associated with the project, public or private. We have no details as to any person or persons involved; the scope of the project; how it is to be funded for development, construction, and/or operation; any cost control and oversight plans in place; the proposed management structure of the facility; nor, any other pertinent details,” Korzen wrote.
“Additionally, the family has been told that a proposal has been put forth by some involved to name the planned facility ‘The General Neal House’ or something similar. Due to the recency and sparsity of information regarding this project, the family of General Neal states that we can offer no endorsement of the project at this time,” Korzen continued. “Further, it is respectfully requested that General Richard Neal’s name be removed from any plans, promotional and/or fundraising materials at this time.”
After hearing about the Facebook post, Sordillo reached out to Rowland to talk about the proposal.
“We had a very cordial, pleasant conversation, during which he explained the project and I told him that the majority of veterans I have spoken with, while supportive of the overall concept, are concerned about the use of General Neal’s name without the family’s permission,” Sordillo said. “I also explained how much he [Neal] means to Hull veterans and others whom he grew up with – that he is held in high regard and that it’s not right to use his name without the Neal family’s support.”
Richman, who is reactivating Hull’s American Legion post, said that while he is in favor of the concept, he is “livid” that Rowland would use Neal’s name without first speaking with family members.
“General Neal’s name stands for honor, respect, and dignity,” he told the Times. “There are too many gray areas [to this proposal].”
What concerns him, Richman said, is that “this is a for-profit company using General Neal’s name when he’s [Rowland] advertising for investors. I and others involved with veterans are in the dark and just looking out for veterans’ best interests.”
There has been quite a bit of confusion surrounding the Facebook post, Richman said, and that Hull residents are wondering if Rowland’s plan is affiliated with existing veterans organizations in town. “Some people are wondering if I’m involved with this proposed project, but I’m not involved in any way,” he said.
Richman added that he and other veterans’ advocates “want to ensure that the veterans of Hull aren’t involved financially until the details are clear and they can decide whether or not they want to support the project.”
The veterans home plan is contingent on Rowland signing either a lease or purchase-and-sale agreement for the property, as well as obtaining approvals from the Veterans Administration and Hull’s planning department.
Rowland told the Times that he plans to initiate a letter of intent to the property owner through listing agent Judy Hemingway of RE/Max Realty Pros this Thursday or Friday that explains his proposal.
“The question is, Do we rent the property for [a period of time] and then initiate a purchase and sale?” he said.
Hemingway confirmed that the property is listed as for lease or for sale, but that “nothing is yet on the table – no offer or lease as of Tuesday. Ultimately, it’s the owner’s decision,” she said. At presstime, the property remained actively for sale for $1.425 million in the Multiple Listing Service.
Rowland said he envisions the four-bedroom house on the property serving as a place to hold events and as an administration building, with caregiver quarters upstairs, and offering transitional housing for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the form of about 10 modular apartment units behind the house.
“This veterans’ home would provide an opportunity for veterans being treated for TBI to spend time with other veterans and to help them transition into real-life settings,” Rowland said.
He explained that this would be a privately-funded project and that investors have already pledged $45,000.
“The rest will come from additional investors, with plans to sell off 49 percent of my corporation,” he said. “The investors are ready and eager [to move forward with the proposal].”
Under Rowland’s plan, about 10 investors would be considered executive board members, pledging $25,000 each, he said.
“We have about six already, including a couple of people from Hull, and are [expecting] about 36 additional investors pledging $15,000 each over the next year. We probably have 10 of those investors now,” he said. “We’re looking to fundraise the rest.”
Rowland told the Times that he’s expecting the Red Sox Foundation Home Base program to help pay for the services veterans living in the home would require if the project is approved. According to its website, “Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program, is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds for veterans, service members and their families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research.”
The Home Base Foundation issued this statement on Friday: “Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program, is not aware of this proposal, has not been contacted about this plan, and is not affiliated in any way.”
Rowland said he intends to reach out to neighbors and the community with further information about the project in the coming weeks.
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By Carol Britton Meyer
Sixteen elected town officials have terms expiring in 2023, including members of the school committee, select board, and the Hull Redevelopment Authority.
Depending upon the decisions of the incumbents, and whether other citizens step forward to run for office, the town could see an active election season this May. The HRA, school committee and select board have several important issues and decisions to make in the coming year.
The select board will be conducting a search for a new town manager to replace Philip Lemnios, who is retiring in at the end of June, the school committee appears to be on the cusp of deciding whether to consolidate the three schools following completion of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities study by the MARS Group, and the HRA is in the midst of finalizing a draft Urban Renewal Plan.
Nomination papers for the Monday, May 15, election will be available in the town clerk’s office in February, according to Town Clerk Lori West.
An informal poll of school committee and select board members with terms expiring this year produced mixed results, as the incumbents shared their thoughts about whether they intend to run for re-election with The Hull Times.
School Committee member Ernest Minelli plans to pull nomination papers for a second term.
“A near-term goal would be to ensure a smooth transition as we resolve the pertinent details related to the best educational use of our school facilities,” he said.
Colleague member Stephanie Peters, who has served on the school committee for 17 years, said she is “undecided” about another term.
Select board member Donna Pursel said she plans to run for re-election and would be “honored to serve another term on the board if given the opportunity.”
She said she has “really enjoyed my first term serving on the select board and have learned a lot. As a board, we’ve started projects and communication around affordable housing, coastal resiliency, the draft HRA Urban Renewal Plan, and of late, the search for a new town manager.”
Select board member Domenico Sestito is doing what he said he always does when he is facing this kind of decision.
“I evaluate whether to seek re-election and make a final decision around the January-February timeframe,” he said. “So at this point, I am still evaluating.”
Other incumbents with expiring terms include:
Housing Authority (five-year term): Jim Richman
Assessors (three-year term): Pamela Sinton-Coffman and Mario Peter Grieco
Light Board (three-year term): Patrick Cannon; Jake Vaillancourt
Planning Board (five-year term): Joseph Duffy, Harry Hibbard, and Jim Pitrolo (who was recently appointed to fill a vacancy until the upcoming election).
Hull Redevelopment Authority (five-year term): Henry Dunn and Max Walder, who also was appointed recently to fill a vacancy.
Library Trustee (three-year term): Ceila Nolan and Gail Saitow.
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By Carol Britton Meyer
The select board voted Wednesday to retain a consultant to assist in the search for a replacement for Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who is retiring on June 30.
Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable recused herself from that part of the meeting without explanation and left the room, returning after the discussion ended.
The alternative to hiring a consultant would be for the board to conduct an in-house search, which Lemnios did not recommend. He provided board members with a copy of the town charter, which defines the role of town manager, and also detailed a model of how many other towns conduct similar searches. The last time the town used a consultant was during the search for a police chief.
“You have the benefit of time in the sense that you’re not having to fill a position because someone left [with short notice] or there’s some problem to be solved right away,” Lemnios said.
Resident Anne Murray emphasized the importance of providing an opportunity for citizens to offer their thoughts “about what they see as town manager priorities. This will be a big change for the community, and there are a lot of issues [facing the town].”
Lemnios told the board they need to determine whether they want to offer a public outreach option early in the search process.
The new town manager will begin work at the beginning of Fiscal 2024.
“It will be an opportune time, and the board has the time to make [the right] choice,” Lemnios said. “You want to choose someone who will be successful in the position and have some longevity as well. It’s your process.”
After voting to retain the services of a consultant, the board asked Lemnios to start the process for hiring one immediately. Possibilities include UMass Boston’s McCormack Institute and Paradigm Consulting Group of Cambridge.
“The consultant will talk with the select board to gain an understanding of what the board feels a new town manager should bring to the table. It’s important to think about that,” Lemnios explained. “[My charge was] to put the town’s finances right when they were adrift, and that has been accomplished. The board may have a different focus this time.”
The consultant will develop a job description and advertising plan and recruit candidates.
“[Whoever is chosen] may be aware of individuals who might make good candidates for the [Hull] position” as a result of other consulting work, Lemnios said.
The next step is the formation of a screening committee, the composition to be decided, to work with the consultant. Lemnios suggested the committee consist of one member each of the select board, advisory board, and school committee, two members of the public, and possibly others.
The consultant will work with the screening committee to develop questions for the candidates, conduct reference checks and interviews, and narrow the field to semifinalists. That part of the process is private to ensure candidates not chosen as finalists won’t risk their jobs with their current employers.
Following the interviewing of the semifinalists, the finalists will be named for select board consideration through a public process.
“It’s important for the public to know that some aspects of the search process are private, while others are intended to be public and highly visible and that the board intends to keep it that way,” Lemnios explained. “For example, the public has the right to know how many applicants there are, the number interviewed, and other statistics.”
Once the final selection is made, a contract will be negotiated, a start date set, “and you’ll be ready to go,” he said.
An option is for the select board to host a public meeting for citizens to meet the candidates and ask questions. This would provide an opportunity to see how they answer impromptu inquiries and to gauge how they interact with the public, according to Lemnios.
Select board member Irwin Nesoff called the selection of a new town manager “probably the most consequential decision we will make this year. Outside expertise is important, and the process should be as open and transparent as possible.”
“Some people think residency (meaning the new town manager would live in Hull) is important,” Lemnios noted. “You’ll need to figure that out. There are lots of different cross-currents.”
The good news, Lemnios reported, is that “we have $2 million in the stabilization fund, $60 million in grant work completed or underway at zero cost to taxpayers, all town departments can keep on operating, and we’ll have the highest amount of free cash in many years. We’re in good shape. You don’t need to rush to make the right choice.”
Select board member Donna Pursel, who acted as chair in Constable’s temporary absence, said she trusts the process and thanked Lemnios for his service to the town.
Resident Steven Greenberg said “the earlier the better for the public process.”
The timeline for selection of a new town manager will be determined at a later date.
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An Allerton Hill resident who threatened self-harm with a gun prompted a multi-agency response and a warning to neighbors to “shelter in place” on Monday morning. Hull Police reported that the incident ended after about 45 minutes without injury.
Chief John Dunn said in a statement that police officers “successfully de-escalated a potentially dangerous situation” at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 2 after getting a report that a person refused to come out of their house on Beacon Road and made threats about guns in the home.
A “reverse-911” call advised residents to shelter in place while police officers maintained a dialogue with the person and convinced them to come out of the house and seek treatment.
Dunn said the resident, who has not been identified and has not been charged with a crime, legally owns firearms, but did not remove any guns from a safe during the incident. Hull Police have taken possession of all guns in the house. The Hull Fire Department brought the person to the hospital.
"Our society calls upon police officers who need to be prepared to respond to any emergency situation, and thanks to the compassion, training and experience of our Hull Police officers, a potentially volatile situation was resolved, and our officers were able to facilitate the rendering of aid to a resident," Dunn said.
Norwell, Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate police departments who responded to the scene to assist on the call.
The top news stories of the second half of 2022, compiled by The Hull Times staff…
JULY
The Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, part of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, presented the results of a survey commission by Hull’s Council on Aging. Among the concerns of Hull’s older citizens were tax increases, the availability of public transportation, affordable senior housing, traffic and local infrastructure, remaining independent and healthy, and climate change and sea-level rise.
The Hull Public Schools announced that Jacobs School Principal Christine Cappadona would move out of her current role to become director of curriculum and assessment districtwide. Assistant Principal Kyle Shaw would replace her in the top job at the elementary school.
A draft five-year Housing Production Plan indicated that more than half of Hull’s existing households are cost-burdened or living at or below the poverty level. As the next step in addressing Hull’s affordable housing needs, the select board and planning board met to hear an update on the plan, with a focus on providing more senior- and family-friendly housing.
The “Hull-O Trolley” was up and running again after being unavailable during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, and plans were under way to greatly expand its service.
The state extended the ability of town boards, commissions, and committees to hold remote meetings through March 31, 2023. The select board would continue to meet in person. Other town boards had the ability to decide in which format to conduct their hearings and meetings.
Dozens gathered for the second annual Hull Council on Aging Block Party outside the Anne M. Scully Senior Center to enjoy live music, dancing, food and ice cream trucks, games, raffles, and prizes.
Hull Municipal Lighting Plant voted that, for the third year in a row, it would rent backup generators to help keep residents warm in the coming winter in the event of a prolonged National Grid power outage. The temporary generators would be available as needed from Dec. 1 through March 31, 2023. The average residential electric bill rose last year by $6.97 a month for one year starting Sept. 1 to pay for the use of the temporary generators. This time around, customers would be charged an additional 73 cents, or $7.70 a month, on their light bills.
The Hull Lifesaving Museum presented its annual Harbor Illumination, lighting flares to honor, remember, or celebrate loved ones along the two-mile stretch of the bay from A Street to Hull Village. The celebration and personal remembrance event paid respect to the legacy of Capt. Joshua James and the lifesavers who patrolled the shores in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Then the community and visitors gathered along Hull Bay to witness the lighting of the flares.
The select board voted unanimously “to support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community [and to] reaffirm the select board’s ongoing support of our LGBTQ community.” This was in response to comments Chairperson Jennifer Constable had heard from a number of LGBTQ community members regarding a recent letter to the editor published in The Hull Times. Constable stated that “The letter used language that was quite honestly offensive to [our LGBTQ] community and that has rippled through the [town].”
Six local organizations were awarded a total of $15,000 for programming in and around Nantasket Beach as part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Program. The grant recipients included Friends of Nantasket Beach for summer programs, Friends of the Paragon Carousel’s youth talent showcase and Friday morning story times, Hull-Nantasket Chamber of Commerce’s Hull-O Trolley and Endless Summer Waterfront Festival, Latifa Ziyad’s Afro-Arabian Nights, Soca Hikes’ Wellness Day, and the Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Harbor Illumination.
AUGUST
Multiple 911 calls reported that a woman in a black pickup truck had driven over the rocks and then into Hull Gut. Although boaters and fishermen on the beach attempted to help, the truck slipped under the water before anyone could reach the driver. The police and fire departments, the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, Marine Unit and Airwing, Massachusetts Environmental Police, MassPort, the U.S. Coast Guard and Cohasset Police assisted in the search for the truck and its driver, both of which were found and removed from the water. The driver did not survive.
Residents of Gunrock, Green Hill, and Atlantic Hill dealt with roadwork, detours, and construction noise as the long-awaited reconstruction of the Atlantic Avenue continued throughout the summer and into the fall.
The Weir River Water System announced a total water ban that prohibited all non-essential outdoor usage in Hull. The mandatory Level 2 ban included irrigation using automatic sprinklers or soaker hoses; washing of vehicles, exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks; and filling swimming pools.
Following the town’s decision to adjust the frequency of town-sponsored 9/11 events to an every-five-years schedule rather than annually as has been the case for nearly two decades, Hull citizens planned a ceremony on their own in order to carry on the annual tradition.
SEPTEMBER
The Veterans Voice Radio Network, co-hosted by Gregg Brasso and Craig Wolfe, was recognized by the Veterans Administration during its national community partnership challenge for steadfast commitment to veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.
During a camp operated by Northeast Surfing, owner Ronnie Lees and others on the beach noticed a woman drifting out to sea. Lees’ 19-year-old son, Matthew (right), an aquatic first responder certified by the American Lifeguard Association, successfully reached the woman and brought her to shore.
The school committee voted unanimously to accept the Best Educational Use of School Facilities Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation to consolidate all grades into two buildings, with a PreK-7 configuration at Jacobs Elementary School and grades 8-12 at Hull High School. The Memorial Middle School would be used for other municipal and educational uses. The final decision on consolidation would rest with the school committee.
Hull was awarded a $3 million state grant for the reconstruction of the seawall along Nantasket Avenue near Fitzpatrick Way. The town was one of 23 municipalities and nonprofit organizations to receive funding through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Dam and Seawall Program.
The Nantasket Beach Car Show and Veterans Fair featured 500 cars along Nantasket Avenue and thousands of visitors. Antique and classic autos of all vintages and styles were on display during the event, which raised funds for Cops for Kids with Cancer.
Hull Porchfest filled the air with music as bands rotated performances throughout the Kenberma neighborhood.
The select board approved the establishment of a Climate Adaptation Committee and a Climate Adaptation Working Group at the request of Department of Climate Adaptation and Conservation Director Chris Krahforst. The committee was charged with reviewing new climate change information and the town’s adaptation policies, projects, and future plans, to receive an annual progress report from the working group, and to provide feedback and input
A 30-foot humpback whale that became entangled in fishing gear off the coast of Hull was rescued by a crew from the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team at the Center for Coastal Studies.
OCTOBER
The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s 36th annual Head of the Weir River Race saw as many as 60 boats jockey for position racing out of the narrow estuary and onto open water, traveling from West Corner on the Hull/Hingham/Cohasset line, past Bumpkin Island, across Hull Bay, to the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse at Hull Gut.
The school committee continued its discussion of the potential consolidation of school buildings, with Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn outlining the educational implications of moving most students out of Memorial Middle School and educating students in preK through grade 7 at the Jacobs Elementary School and grades 8-12 at Hull High School. Under this plan the middle school would become a mixed-use facility, to be determined by the school committee and town officials and guided by a memorandum of understanding. The South Shore Educational Collaborative programs would remain and the school committee would retain overall control of the Memorial building.
The Hull No Place for Hate Committee sponsored the third “Stand in the Sand,” in which participants lined up on Nantasket Beach to spell out ‘Hull for All,” a message of inclusion and community.
NOVEMBER
The Hull Light Board confirmed that both of the town’s wind turbines were out of commission and the unit at Pemberton Point needed to be removed or replaced due to damage from the elements. The turbine at the high school had been not been operational since April 2021 due to its deteriorating condition, and the one at the landfill stopped working more recently due to recurring electrical issues.
The late Richard I. “Butch” Neal, a Hull native and retired four-star Marine Corps general, was honored on Veterans Day when the unnamed section street on the north side of the war memorial was named “General Neal Way” at the request of the War Memorial Commission.
The new owner of the former Atlantic Aquarium property filed plans to tear down the long-vacant building and construct a four-story, 21-unit residential complex at the base of Atlantic Hill. The new building will be constructed on the foundation of the existing structure. The complex would have parking underneath the building and an outdoor pool to the side.
School administrators recently presented an overview of Hull students’ scores on this past spring’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams to the school committee, naming two critical areas of focus – student attendance and low participation in the exams as compared to statewide numbers.
Hundreds celebrated Thanksgiving Day as an enormous pile of wood went up in smoke in the annual Thanksgiving night bonfire on the Hull Redevelopment Authority property.
South Shore Community Action Council, Daddy’s Beach Club, and legions of local volunteers, led by Craig Wolfe, showed up at Daddy’s on Thanksgiving morning to prepare and deliver hot meals to hundreds of individuals and families.
On Thanksgiving morning, the Hull Pirates beat the Cohasset Skippers, capturing the South Shore League Tobin Division Championship. The football team headed to the Super Bowl.
DECEMBER
A Hull family found a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, the rarest – and the world’s most endangered – species of sea turtles stranded on the beach. Despite their best efforts, and those of the New England Aquarium, the turtle did not survive.
HRA Chair Bartley Kelley provided an update on the status of the HRA-owned 12.5-acre property that runs from Water Street to Phipps Street. Kelly explained that the HRA has been working on a draft Urban Renewal Plan (a plan for the improvement of the HRA property). Max Walder was appointed to a vacancy on the HRA that was created by the resignation of Robert DeCoste.
The select board and planning board met in joint session to fill a vacancy on the planning board by unanimously voting to appoint Jim Pitrolo. The vacancy resulted from Irwin Nesoff’s election to the select board.
The select board authorized Chair Jennifer Constable to sign a letter to be sent to the American Association of Retired Persons pledging Hull’s commitment to creating an age-friendly community and environment at the suggestion of the Council on Aging. The board also supported joining AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
Town Manager Philip Lemnios announced that he would retire in June after serving Hull for a combined 26 years over two separate terms as town manager. He also stated his intention to leave funds for an assistant town manager in the proposed FY24 budget. Lemnios was town manager from 1992-2003 and again from 2007 to present.
The landmark property at Pemberton that houses Jo’s Nautical Bar was sold to a company based in Arlington. Michael McDevitt and Stephanie Apria have owned the bar for 19 years and will continue to run it.
The Weir River Water System informed the Board of Water Commissioners that it would not raise rates in fiscal year 2024. It further announced that a new one-million-gallon water storage tank could be built on Strawberry Hill within the next three years as part of the system’s capital improvement plan. Pending successful completion of a feasibility study and other factors, the water storage tank would be built in either 2024 or 2025, as well as a booster pumping station.
Hundreds turned out to formally congratulate the Division 8 Super Bowl Champion Hull Pirates football team, as the players, coaches, and cheerleaders climbed aboard a trolley and were escorted by police and fire vehicles from the high school to the southern end of town for a watch party.
Following a recent overview of the spring 2022 Hull Public Schools MCAS results, the superintendent director of curriculum and assessment presented target strategies for improvement to the school committee. The goals included analyzing current MCAS data to make instructional shifts to close achievement gaps and to improve student outcomes in all grades.
The holidays came, candles were lit day by day, houses were decorated, and the police department collected toys to distribute to local families during its annual Fill-A-Cruiser event. A few days later, the massive generators leased by the town to provide electricity in the event of a town-wide power outage kicked into action during an end-of-year wind and rain storm, and Hull Light crews braved the winds to repair a smaller outage in Hull Village.
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