After contentious debate, voters OK assistant town manager position

By Carol Britton Meyer

Town meeting voters approved with flying colors the inclusion of $130,000 to pay for an assistant town manager in the Fiscal 2024 budget. The salary could be more or less, depending upon the applicant’s qualifications.

GETTING FISCAL. Mike Hickey criticized the salary for the town manager and proposed assistant town manager during the budget debate at town meeting. [Skip Tull photo]

The vote was 293 to 73 following a nearly two-hour debate during the annual town meeting’s first session.

“Why do we need an assistant town manager?” resident Scott Miller asked prior to the vote.

Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who is retiring in June, said the town’s operations have become “more complex over time,” the workload has increased, and that the person in this position would provide valuable assistance to the town manager related to capital and other ongoing projects, seawall repairs, and the town budget, and other responsibilities.

“If this position isn’t approved and the town manager was not able to perform [his or her duties], there would be nobody in place to take over that role,” Lemnios explained. “We’re running a $47 million operation, and there would be great impacts if the town was not being run properly. Frankly, the role is too great for one person.”

There was some debate over whether an assistant town manager should be expected to also serve in a human resources capacity.

Amendments by citizens related to removing the $130,000 from the overall town budget and another asking town meeting to approve allocating that amount toward the creation of a human resources department were defeated.

A couple of voters questioned the $185,000 estimated salary for the new town manager.

“We’re the fourth smallest town in Massachusetts,” resident Mike Hickey said. “The governor makes $185,000 and a United States senator $174,000 a year. The man in the corner over there [referring to Lemnios] makes over $200,000 a year, and we want to add [another position]?”

The select board supported the budget as presented, including the assistant town manager position, Interim Chair Donna Pursel said.

“We’ve been fortunate – Phil Lemnios has been the anomaly. People don’t stay in jobs for decades now,” she said. “We need to offer a good salary and work-life balance.”

Pursel also reiterated remarks made earlier by Lemnios that because his children are grown, he no longer has soccer games and other such activities to attend, allowing him time to dedicate outside of regular business hours, but that the new town manager might have such family obligations. 

Select board member Irwin Nesoff advocated strongly for the new position, saying that Lemnios is on the job 24/7 and that it would be unrealistic to expect the new town manager to do the same.

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Town meeting takes no action on accessory units, railroad bed permits

By Carol Britton Meyer

What turned out to be a marathon town meeting continued into Wednesday following the two previous nights’ sessions spanning nearly eight hours.

NO WAY TO RUN A RAILROAD BED. At this week’s town meeting, Randy Gould advocated a proposal to address abutters’ encroachment on the former railroad bed. Voters took no action on the article. [Skip Tull photo]

The first session addressed only four warrant articles, while Tuesday’s meeting completed an additional 11 articles, ranging from consideration of allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family homes to rezoning the Hull Redevelopment Authority property to prevent major development of the parcel.

During the second session, there was a “no action” vote on the ADU article, and the proposed open-space zoning for the HRA parcel was defeated. [See related story].

Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Pat Finn said passing an ADU bylaw would provide more flexibility to homeowners, providing an opportunity for residents of limited means to remain in their homes, while advisory board member Chad Wolfe explained the board’s concern that the proposed bylaw “doesn’t require these units to be affordable,” among others.

Planning Board Chair Harry Hibbard agreed with Wolfe that “this does nothing for affordability, and there’s no requirement that [the person wishing to create an ADU] needs help [financially].”

Town Moderator George Boylen convened Tuesday’s meeting by sharing comments made to him following Monday’s session.

“On the positive side, the electronic voting went fairly well. The negative side is about the deplorable behavior on the part of some people who couldn’t agree,” he said. “Not everyone has to agree, but we should be respectful to [those with differing views] and expect the same from them, whether a member of this body or a town official. I plead with each of you to be thoughtful and respectful to each other. You will probably lose support if you are loud or abusive.”

Boylen was referring to the sometimes emotion-laden remarks that were made Monday night, especially during the assistant town manager discussion, which prompted him to call a recess until the people involved had a chance to cool off.

More than 200 voters remained throughout the lengthy second session, voting “yes” to:

* Allowing the town to accept, at no cost, an easement to allow for public use of the Nantasket Beach Artwalk next door to the Horizons condominiums, and for maintenance activities;

* Transferring up to $1.5 from available funds into the stabilization fund (known as the rainy-day fund) to help rebuild the balance, bringing it to $2 million;

* Implementation of measures to address light pollution related to commercial and multi-family buildings;

* Allowing the Oscar Smith Mitchell American Legion Post 140 to hold its meetings at the Anne M. Scully Senior Center, previously known as the Veterans Building. This was once the home of the original Post 140. There is Legion history within the building and a plaque listing past commanders that’s hanging on the wall upstairs.

“We have insurance on the building and history on the wall. We are just asking to go home,” Post Commander Jim Richman said before the vote, followed by a round of applause.

Following a lengthy discussion, voters defeated a citizen’s petition filed by Randy Gould and others to establish a bylaw that would have required all town departments to restrict issuance of town permits to abutters of the railroad bed if they are encroaching on the railroad bed without permission.

The advisory board’s recommendation of “no action” advised voters that while this article attempted to resolve inequities involving the use of some abutters of the railroad property, it didn’t present an actionable plan for resolving several “foundational issues,” including the legality of permit denial, substantial title and survey work that would be required, establishing an appropriate fee structure, and “determining a use for this town-wide asset.”

Town Manager Philip Lemnios advocated strongly against the article.

“The motion as presented says that if a resident abutting the railroad bed files a permit to install a water heater, for example, this would require a town official to check to see if there is an encroachment onto the railroad bed,” he said. “This would mean that the water heater couldn’t be replaced until the town was satisfied that they’re not encroaching. I guess that means they would be taking cold showers in the meantime.”

Lemnios went on to say that establishing such a bylaw would “automatically assume you are wrong … saying [town government] is on top and citizens are at the bottom.”

Resident Polly Rowe said she thinks there are “a lot more higher and new priorities to address” at a time when the town is in the process of searching for and hiring a new town manager and with the upcoming local election involving a number of select board seats.

The petition submitted by Anne Marie Papasodero and others asking voters to approve the establishment of a citizen committee to interview the finalist for the town manager position to replace Lemnios when he retires was withdrawn at the request of the petitioner.

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Voters OK $47M budget, honor Lemnios as his retirement nears

By Carol Britton Meyer

The first night of Hull’s annual town meeting on May 1 was a lively event, spanning nearly four hours while addressing only four of the 26 warrant articles. The meeting was continued to the following evening in the Hull High School auditorium.

HAVING HIS PHIL. Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who is retiring in June, attended his last town meeting this past week. [Skip Tull photo]

The proposed assistant town manager position – at a salary of around $130,000 – took center stage during an almost two-hour discussion.

Funding for that position is included in the select board’s portion of the $47,542,888 budget, which was overwhelmingly approved on a 293 to 73 vote. [See related story].

A lottery system determines the order in which the articles will be taken up once the vote is tallied on the combined municipal and school budget. While the advisory board’s recommendations appear in the warrant, voters have the final say on all the articles.

For the first time, an electronic voting system using “clickers” was implemented, which tallied the votes at record speed without revealing the names of individual voters.

“This is how town meeting will vote going forward,” Moderator George Boylen said, noting that votes can be changed if voters so desire from green (yes) to red (no) within the allotted voting time, with the last color registering as their official vote.

At the beginning of the meeting, Boylen offered a prayer for “clarity of mind, compassion, diligence, a sense of humor, and an open heart,” followed by a Boy Scout color guard and the pledge of allegiance.

There was a moment of silence for past employees and town officials lost this year and recognition of 59 years of combined service to the town by school committee Chair Stephanie Peters (17 years), select board member Domenico Sestito (15 years), and former select board member John Reilly (27 years), followed by a standing ovation. Peters and Sestito are not seeking re-election.

Select board Chair Donna Pursel called town meeting “an opportunity to come together as a community to make decisions that will shape the future of our town and make a difference,” despite varying opinions and perspectives. “We all care about helping to make our town a better place.”

Pursel also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who is retiring in June, former select board Chair Jennifer Constable, and Sestito – who in turn read a proclamation in honor of Lemnios.

Sestito praised his dedicated service to the town over 26 years and his earlier involvement with the Peace Corps in the Congo, “which helped shape his dedication to good government.”

Lemnios was also acknowledged for advocating for grants and funding for street, seawall, and town building repairs and for school renovations.

“He has saved the town tens of millions of dollars, and his acumen has served our citizens well,” Sestito said. “The Town of Hull extends its best wishes in his future endeavors.”

There were about 380 voters present when the meeting convened at 7:17 p.m. after Boylen delayed the start to allow those lined up waiting to get into the Hull High auditorium extra time to be seated, and around 192 when the meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.

During the assistant town manager discussion, Boylen called for a brief recess after emotions ran high, after which the meeting proceeded in a more congenial fashion.

Voters also approved Community Preservation Act funding for the design and construction of a new Lt. Joseph D. McLaughlin Playground in the Hampton Circle neighborhood ($99,000), L Street playground and tennis courts design ($55,000), preservation and rehabilitation of the Village Fire Station ($500,000, plus $1 million to be bonded), design and construction of a shade structure at the fields at N Street and Nantasket Avenue ($30,000), hiring a consultant to study waterfront access points around town to establish a plan for prioritizing future projects ($28,000); and restoration of the Paragon Carousel’s windows ($70,000).

Voters also approved spending up to $986,802 from one-time American Rescue Plan Act funds for design and construction of improvements to the sewer treatment plant.

Also approved by voters was Article 16, which removes the room/bedroom maximum within residential units in mixed-use buildings in the business district, providing developers with the option to construct family-sized units if they wish to do so.

This article was passed despite the advisory board’s recommendation to first create a committee to review the town’s housing and housing policy to “jump-start better cooperation and coordination among the various board, committees, and employees.”

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Third annual beach cleanup continues teen’s commitment to serving the community

By Victoria Dolan

Alanna Lipsky’s third annual beach cleanup will take place on Sunday, May 7, drawing the support and efforts of out-of-town visitors and locals alike to give back to the community.

High school freshman alanna lipsky, shown here at the first beach cleanup in 2021, is organizing another sweep of the nantasket sand on sunday, may 7. [Courtesy photo]

Alanna, a high school freshman who attends school in Mansfield but frequently visits Hull, originally organized the cleanup in 2021 as part of her bat mitzvah project. However, she decided to continue the event because she “really enjoyed doing it and realized how much this little thing can help the beach,” she said.

Alanna has always loved the beach and the ocean, and cares deeply about the environmental impact that humans have on the ecosystem.

“Trash on the beach is so bad for the ocean and the animals in the ocean,” she explained, so leading efforts to clean up Hull sands helps her “feel like I’m helping the community a little bit.”
The past two years Alanna organized the event, turnout was “pretty good,” especially because “a lot of my family and friends will come out” to help support her efforts and clean the beaches.
Anybody who wants to help can join from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on May 7, and can “go off and do it by themselves or with others.” When they’re done, participators can leave their bags of trash on the soft sand of the private beach entrances, where it will be picked up and disposed of by Chris Emanuello of E-Scrap and Star Waste Systems.

“Both are donating their time for Alanna’s cause,” explained Alanna’s mother, Dayle Lipsky.
Now a freshman in high school, Alanna thinks organizing the cleanup has “really helped me grow as a person” because “it gives me a lot of responsibility… and a sense of community.”
“She’s grown tremendously, she’s taken on accountability,” her mother agreed.

Alanna’s taken on more responsibility in other areas, too; she helps out at her dance studio teaching younger kids to dance.
What makes her so community-minded?

“I think it just comes from wanting to help a lot,” she explained, “and wanting to do whatever I can to help people.”
Participating has also helped Alanna realize how much of an impact she can have on her local community by bettering the environment.

“Every little person that does it still helps a lot,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize how much just picking up a piece of trash off the beach can help.”
Alanna hopes that more people than ever will come out to help with the cleanup. After all, when it comes to helping the environment, “any help is good help.”

Voters complete work on town meeting warrant, defer action on marijuana bylaw

By Carol Britton Meyer

Town meeting business wrapped up Wednesday night during the third four-hour session, during which the remaining 10 of 26 articles were considered.

There was an unexpected twist to the request to allow an existing marijuana dispensary to add retail sales. The sponsor of the citizens’ petition offered a substitute motion, which was approved: “Based on information we were given by town counsel after town meeting began, I move that Article 18 be referred to the zoning bylaw committee without prejudice for consideration of the article at any special or annual town meeting.” The issue with the article concerned whether its wording would adequately address the general prohibition on retail marijuana sales that Hull voters approved several years ago.

Roughly 200 voters said “yes” to requiring an affordable housing component for any new development of more than 10 units, increasing dog license fees, and authorizing the select board to negotiate with the state for a long-term lease of beachfront property, including the potential for an arts center in the vacant former police station near the carousel.

Voters said “no” to instituting term limits for the select board (the original article, a citizens’ petition, related to all elected town boards).

As with the previous two sessions, Wednesday's town meeting wrapped up around 11 p.m., with Town Moderator George Boylen thanking those who attended for their patience in navigating through some very complex articles and related discussions. 

See this week's edition of The Hull Times for full details.

Town meeting enters third session Wednesday; term limits, marijuana sales still to be decided

By Carol Britton Meyer

Hull’s marathon 2023 annual town meeting continues Wednesday, May 3, at 7 p.m. in the Hull High School auditorium following Monday and Tuesday night’s sessions spanning nearly eight hours.

Town counsel James Lampke addresses a question at tuesday night’s town meeting. Behind him is moderator george Boylen.

The first session addressed only four warrant articles, while last night’s meeting completed an additional 11 articles, ranging from consideration of allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family homes to rezone the Hull Redevelopment Authority property to prevent major development of the parcel.

There was a no-action vote on the ADU article, and the open space zoning for the HRA was defeated. (See related story in this week's edition of The Hull Times, along with full town meeting coverage.)

Between the two sessions, 15 articles have been addressed, with 11 left.

Remaining articles for consideration by voters relate to requiring affordable housing for any development over 10 units; allowing an existing marijuana dispensary to add retail sales, and setting term limits for elected town boards.

Budget debate dominates first night of town meeting; four of 26 articles decided

By Carol Britton Meyer

The first session of Hull’s annual town meeting wrapped up last night after four hours, nearly two of which centered around a discussion of the merits of hiring an assistant town manager at an annual salary of roughly $130,000.

This position was included in the select board portion of the $47,542,888 town budget – including the school department – that voters overwhelming approved on a 293 to 73 vote.  (See this week’s edition of The Hull Times for full details).

There were about 380 voters present when the meeting convened at 7:17 p.m. after Town Moderator George Boylen delayed the start to allow those lined up waiting to get into the Hull High School auditorium extra time to be seated, and around 192 when the meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m.

Only four of the 26 warrant articles were addressed, with the meeting reconvening Tuesday night (May 2) at 7 p.m. at the same location.

Voters also approved Community Preservation Act funding toward improvements to the Hampton Circle playground,  L Street playground and tennis courts design, restoration of the Village Fire Station,  among others; and up to $986,802 from one-time American Rescue Plan Act funds for design and construction of improvements to the wastewater treatment plant.

Visit our special guide to Hull's 2023 Annual Town Meeting

Hull’s annual town meeting begins on Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Hull High School. Have you read the warrant? Do you know the background of the citizens’ petitions? The Times has compiled all of our town meeting coverage, at this link.

To read the full warrant, click here.

Staff, students, friends, and family honor Peters for 17 years on school committee

By Carol Britton Meyer

After serving for 17 years on the school committee and deciding not to run for re-election, Stephanie Peters was honored for her dedication and hard work by a large turnout of students, staff, sports team members, friends, and family on April 24 during her last meeting.

SCHOOL’S OUT. This past week’s school committee meeting was the last for member Stephanie Peters, who decided not to seek re-election after serving 17 years. Family, friends, staff members were among those who gathered to celebrate her contributions and wish her well. [Courtesy photo]

Proclamations were read, kind words expressed, and flowers presented in appreciation of Peters’ efforts to bring the community walking track and turf field to reality and other accomplishments.

State Sen. Patrick O’Connor presented her with a proclamation and told Peters that her name would be read into the Senate record.

Superintendent Judith Kuehn shared a list of what she called “Stephanie’s Greatest Hits” – besides the turf field, these included her role in holding three open houses to highlight what the school system has to offer, a 2012 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon award that honors schools that are high-performing and closing student achievement gaps, participation in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges decennial accreditation of Hull High School in June 2012, and creation of the 21st Century School program, with the goal of providing Hull students with an education to succeed in the current workforce.

state Sen. Patrick O’Connor presented stephanie Peters with a proclamation from the state house at her last school committee meeting this week. [Courtesy photo]

“Stephanie attended at least 340 school committee meetings, not including budget subcommittee and negotiation meetings,” Kuehn said. “She has also built relationships and earned the respect of other town departments while often not agreeing with their positions. At the same time, she has fought for fair coverage of the schools in our local paper. For many years, the schools were an easy target for what was wrong with the town. She has been consistent in advocating that investing in our schools benefits the entire town.

“Steph always had the mentality of why not us?” Kuehn continued. “She never wants to hear ‘we can’t,’ but works tirelessly to come up with a plan for how to make something a reality. She is all about student achievement and opportunity. She worked tirelessly on behalf of the students of Hull. She attended the Hull Public Schools and wanted to ensure the students had the best educational experience as possible. Mediocre isn’t in her vocabulary.”

“This is just really nice,” Peters, who isn’t one to sing her own praises, told The Hull Times, “I’m a little overwhelmed!”

Officials say zoning bylaw to increase accessory apartments needs revision

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

A proposal to authorize Accessory Dwelling Units in single-family zoning districts in Hull will be on Monday’s town meeting warrant, but both the planning and advisory boards say the proposed bylaw needs further study before being considered.

The ADU bylaw provides for a permitting process for 10 accessory apartments per year within owner-occupied, existing single-family homes. The ADUs will not add to the number of buildings in town or reduce the amount of open space, and cannot be used for commercial purposes.

The idea behind Article 13 is to create “housing choices for people who need help by using stock we have and not using open space,” said Patrick Finn, chair of the zoning board of appeals, which is sponsoring the article. “ADUs are also beneficial for providing multigenerational housing.”

The planning board voted to recommend that town meeting take no action, while the advisory board supports referring the article for study.

Finn said most homes are pre-existing, non-conforming uses within their zoning districts and would trigger an approval process through the board of appeals.

“As long as the board does not find what is being proposed as substantially detrimental to the character of the neighborhood, they would get it,” he said. “This creates a permitted use of accessory dwelling units and limits non-conformities.”

“This is the perfect example of the dangers of slipshod piecemeal approach to major housing,” Planning Board Chair Harry Hibbard said. “Right now there is no appetite for Airbnb in this town. What if two select boards down the road there is an appetite? We just created a bonanza for people with accessory units to use as Airbnb.”

Advisory board member Patricia Cormier agreed with the planning board’s assessment that the article is “piecemeal,” and said she would like to “see more collaboration between the entities that affect this and can effect the change.”

Planning board vice chair and zoning bylaw study committee representative Jeanne Paquin  voted against it because she thinks it should be special permit with age and income restrictions. “I want the planning board to take it up and find a solution,” she said. “Zoning should be looked at holistically and thoughtfully. It deserves further study relative to the whole town.”

“This does nothing for affordability; the planning board is looking into an accessory dwelling unit bylaw that would be restricted to elderly and handicapped,” Hibbard said. “Council on aging is interested in this to help seniors age in place; this article does nothing to help that.”

Planning board member Steve White said he agreed with Hibbard regarding the need for aging in place.

“There are good pieces in here, but needs to be crafted differently,” he said.

“It is not that we don’t agree with making Hull more affordable, but [we] don’t think all the pieces are here,” advisory board member Jason Frady said. “[This] provides an income stream for the property owner and argues that makes it more affordable; I don’t think that addresses affordability in Hull.”

Town Manager Philip Lemnios said there are several zoning articles addressing affordable housing in one way or another on this year’s town meeting warrant.

“It is better to send all of these articles to a committee to look at them and develop a comprehensive housing strategy; that is what is being attempted here but runs the risk of having a bunch of unintended consequences popping up,” he said. “Zoning bylaws need to be considered very carefully because they impact the land use of a community and people’s single largest asset is their property.”

Finn concluded he can’t change the main motion without going through the entire process again; however, he would “support any substitute motion that will at least create a permitted use that does not currently exist in Single Family A, B, C. Everyone has ideas as soon as you propose an idea, so I say put your idea on top of our idea and let’s have a good idea together.”

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