50 Years Ago: A look back at Hull's news from 1975

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HULL OF A THROW: Ten-year-old Joey Tramontana of Hull makes the ceremonial first pitch to start Game 7 of the World Series at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds on October 22, 1975. Joey’s father, Joseph Tramontana Sr., is standing behind him, with Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn on the left and Dr. Herb Abelson of Boston Children’s Hospital on the right. The Tramontanas were guests of the Jimmy Fund and sat in the guest box behind the home team’s dugout. [Photo courtesy of Beverly Tramontana]

As published in The Hull-Nantasket Times | Compiled by John J. Galluzzo

Thursday, October 23, 1975

Joey Tramontana threw first ball for seventh game of World Series: Joseph D. Tramontana Jr. of Adams Street was the envy of millions of kids throughout the country last night when he threw out the first ball in the seventh game of the World Series. As a nationwide TV audience watched, 10-year-old Joey, student in Grade 5 at the Damon School, made a perfect pitch to Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who brought the ball back and presented it to the Hull youth after autographing it. Joey, accompanied by his father, was a guest of the Jimmy Fund for cancer research in the Children’s Hospital, Boston. They sat in the honored guest box behind the Red Sox dugout, surrounded by dignitaries including Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Dr. Herb Abelson of Children’s Hospital.

Occupancy law conflict arises: A conflict over enforcement authority in health and building codes arose at the selectmen’s meeting on October 20, as Building Commissioner Stanley MacLeod and health board Chairman Joseph Lanata disputed whether the state sanitary code or building law directives take precedence in Hull inspections. Hull’s winter occupancy law, a locally legislated derivative of the state’s mandatory sanitary code, became a focal point of the argument as selectmen, who appoint the building commissioner, maintained a neutral stance and urged “teamwork.” The session was held in open session on motion of Selectman Ryan, after it had originally been scheduled as a closed session.

Trick-or-Treat ban remains effective: Selectman Chairman Wallace E. Richardson said yesterday that Trick-or-Treat touring by children on Hull streets Hallowe’en is still definitely forbidden. “Selectmen believe that continuance of the ban is necessary for protection of children and adults as well, not only from street accidents but from other dangers,” said Richardson, who urged that children take advantage of the several public parties being planned for them, or attend private parties in homes in their own neighborhood.

Coast Guard to bag boats: The U.S. Coast Guard rescue units may be “bagging” sinking boats in the future. Newly developed emergency bags are presently being distributed to many Coast Guard units. The large inflatable bags are designed to supplement the dewatering pump kits already in use assisting sinking boats.

U.S. Marine Captain Frank Infusino…former Hull resident and baseball-football star at Hull High School, is now a teacher and athletic director at Marina High School, Huntington Beach, California.

Kennedy speaker for Tedeschi: Senator Edward M. Kennedy will be the special guest speaker at the testimonial banquet honoring Ralph D. Tedeschi, to be held on Friday, October 31, at the Surf Ballroom, sponsored by Old Colony Council Boy Scouts. Among the other guest speakers who will participate are the Most Reverend Joseph T. Maguire, D.D., Cardinal Cushing Hospital, Brockton, and Joan McElvenny, Braintree, winner of the New England Public Speaking Contest sponsored by the Readers Digest Association. Miss McElvenny’s subject will be “Our American Heritage.”

Students suspended: Principal Thomas Ballerino suspended 22 students for three days as a disciplinary measure because of a protest “walkout” at Hull High School Friday, October. 17. Twenty of the students walked out about 10 a.m., and remained in the front schoolyard. They were joined by two students already suspended. A false alarm sounded inside the school at 11:30 a.m., bringing firefighters to the school and sending more than 1,000 other students out of the building in execution of the school’s fire evacuation procedure. When it was discovered the alarm was false, all students returned to classes in the school except the 22 students who finally left the area and were marked absent without leave. “We had a tip that the walkout was coming on Thursday,” said Mr. Ballerino in a Times interview, “and we held assemblies the same day giving all students full opportunity to give their views on our school policy, particularly our rules regarding unauthorized departure and smoking on school premises. In the assemblies, only 20 out of 1,050 students felt our rules were unjustified. The 20 who walked out on Friday were 95% members of the freshman class, who apparently find it hard to believe that we intend to enforce our regulations.”

If you are interested in finding out more about Hull’s history as told through its newspapers, visit www.hullpubliclibrary.org for links to the online archives of The Hull Beacon (1897-1920), the Hull News Mirror (1959-1974), The Hull-Nantasket Times (1975-1989) and The Hull Times (1989-2004). The library also provides access to numerous databases, including national newspapers and magazines, and genealogical resources.

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Steps to ensure a safe and happy Hull-O-Ween for your ghosts and goblins on Friday

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A FRAMER: The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Spooktacular Hull-O-Ween Pumpkin Trail last weekend featured fun for the whole family. Some of the happy guests included four-month old Willow with Dad Jordan Kellem and four-year-old brother Parker, as well as grandmother Nanci Jaye. The museum and its grounds were overflowing with carved pumpkins and other holiday decorations to celebrate the season. [Skip Tull photo]

Halloween is almost here, so now is the time to plan for a safe and happy celebration. Official trick-or-treating hours will be between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Hull-O-Ween – Friday, October 31.

Hull Police Chief John Dunn asks parents to be vigilant and cautious and wished all a happy and safe Halloween.

Below are some tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the police department to help you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and happy celebration.

Costume safety

• All costumes, wigs, and accessories should be fire-resistant. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.

• Face masks can reduce peripheral vision. An alternative is face makeup. If a face mask is necessary, make sure the children know to take off the mask before crossing the street.

• When buying Halloween makeup, ensure it is non-toxic and always test it 24-48 hours in advance in a small area. If a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation develop, that’s a sign of a possible allergy.

• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.

• Don’t decorate your face with things not intended for your skin.

• Don’t wear decorative or colored contact lenses that appear to change how your eyes look due to the risk of eye injury, unless you have seen an eyecare professional for a proper fitting and have been given instructions on how to use the lenses.

• If children are allowed out after dark, they should fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags or be given flashlights or glow sticks.

Trick-or-Treating safety

According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year. To help prevent such a tragedy, parents and trick-or-treaters are urged to consider these tips before heading out:

• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.

• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you.

• Agree on a specific time children should return home.

• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car.

• Plan the trick or treating route ahead of time and travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with friends.

• Cross streets only at corners. Never cross the street behind or between parked cars or in the middle of the block.

• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.

• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep their heads up and walk, not run, across the street.

• Homeowners should keep their pets away from kids in costumes, as they may become frightened.

Driving safety

The following tips, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, can help keep the roads safe:

• On Halloween, there will likely be more pedestrians on the roads and in places where they are not expected. Slower speeds save lives. Continue to scan the road in areas where they are likely to be or where sight distances are limited.

• Be alert for pedestrians who may emerge from between parked cars or behind shrubbery. Stop and wait for them to pass.

• Don’t drive distracted. Keep your eyes on the road, your mind on driving, and your hands on the wheel.

• Don’t drive impaired. Designate a sober driver or use a taxi or ride-share service. Contact law enforcement if you see a potentially impaired driver on the road.

• Remember that social host liability laws may hold you responsible for parties where underage people drink, regardless of who furnishes the alcohol. You could be held legally accountable for your guests’ behavior after they leave.

• Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.

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Financial help is available to veterans negatively affected by the government shutdown

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By Paul Sordillo

Hull Veterans Service Officer

For my fellow veterans who are federal employees on furlough and have missed their first paycheck, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services is offering emergency temporary benefits. For eligibility criteria and to apply, contact the veterans office at town hall either through email or by calling 781-925-0305 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will be out of the office on Tuesday the 21st of October for training.

The Executive Office of Veterans Services offers a benefit to veterans with little income, called Chapter 115 benefits, that can help pay for daily living expenses, medical costs, housing, and other necessities. The Executive Office of Veterans Services also offers an annuity to certain disabled veterans, parents of a deceased veteran, and the unmarried spouses of deceased veterans..

Massachusetts veterans benefits are for residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Town of Hull has a Veterans Assistance Fund available to assist veterans in need. This assistance is only available to Hull residents. This fund is managed through the Veterans Service Officer with input from the Veterans Council. There are strict guidelines and eligibility criteria. To find out more, please contact the Veterans Service Office at town hall.

Call or visit the veterans office (appointments recommended, but not necessary) for more details of the subject matter in this article, or any benefit question. Paul Sordillo, Hull’s Veterans Service Officer, can be reached at 781-925-0305 or psordillo@town.hull.ma.us.

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HRA mulls change to in-person meetings, extends deadline for survey after no firms respond

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By Carol Britton Meyer 

The Hull Redevelopment Authority addressed a full agenda Wednesday night, from extending the deadline on the solicitation of services for a townwide survey about potential uses for the property to considering returning to in-person meetings with a virtual option.

Chair Bartley Kelly welcomed Charles Richardson, who was appointed last month to fill the vacancy created by Dennis Zaia’s resignation until the 2026 town election.

“Thank you for stepping up to the plate,” he said.

Much of the meeting was a back and forth about various uses for the property and related topics, including different views of what citizens would like to see there – whether community/open space, projects that would generate tax revenue, or some combination of the two.

“Whatever we do, we all want what’s right for the town,” Kelly said.
Regarding the townwide survey, the specifications for the questionnaire design and analysis are posted on the HRA website at hra02045.com as part of a solicitation for services. The goal is to encourage as many people as possible to respond.

After HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin reported that there have not been any responses by the October 14 deadline – unless any had been dropped off at town hall that have not yet been collected – the board unanimously agreed to extend the deadline until October 29.

Outreach will continue

In the meantime, Hamin will continue reaching out to prospective respondents with the necessary qualifications, and board members will do the same. The board will revisit the survey at its October 27 meeting and decide next steps, depending on whether there have been any responses by that time.

Requested services include working with HRA members on the design of effective survey questions and the submission of a report that will integrate the survey results and findings.

The company hired to perform this service will also analyze public responses to the survey questions, which will help in the creation of the HRA’s Urban Renewal Plan.

Other options include modifying the solicitation specifications to increase interest or thinking about another approach as to how to conduct the survey, as suggested by Hamin, if necessary.

Richardson noted that only 350 residents responded to the 2001 survey, and the one conducted in the 1990s, 600. He questioned the “validity of a survey” if the results don’t represent the majority of the townspeople.

“The whole point of doing this survey is to have feedback from as many people as possible – to get as many to respond as we can get in this 10,000-person town,” HRA member Adrienne Paquin said.

‘We’re getting better survey responses these days’

Resident Susan Vermilya pointed out that an independent survey in 2024 resulted in roughly 800 respondents, including 631 from Hull, and that the results were published in The Hull Times. “We’re getting better survey responses these days, which is encouraging,” she said.

Hamin noted that best practices from a planning and redevelopment perspective call for presenting different scenarios rather than an open-ended survey process.

There also was some discussion about the plan to revise the current draft Urban Renewal Plan and a general consensus that the URP process and the survey should be done concurrently.

Kelly discussed at length what he would like to see on the property, including housing with an affordable housing component and projects that would provide economic development opportunities for the town and generate tax revenue, as well as open space for the public.

There are “major projects coming down the pike,” he said, including the town hall, which is in a deteriorating condition, and the potential light plant/DPW barn combined facility, among others. “Without economic development on the HRA property, all those projects will be on taxpayers’ backs,” he said.

‘Not HRA’s responsibility to provide funding to the town’

In response, Paquin said she feels it is not the HRA’s responsibility to provide funding to the town, although it has done so in the past.

“We get to decide what our mission is,” and she objected to what she called “a scare tactic” used by Kelly that “it would all be on the backs of our citizens if we don’t agree to develop part of the HRA property.”

She further called the tax revenue argument “disingenuous,” asserting that Kelly incorporates “the same propaganda and talking points at every meeting. We will find out how people feel after [town election results are in],” a point also made by Kelly earlier after being elected seven times to the HRA. “Dan [Kernan] and I were also elected,” Paquin noted.

Kelly responded, “I have one word to say, touché!”

Kernan suggested asking citizens their thoughts about the importance of the HRA property generating tax revenue in the survey.

During a number of topics of discussion, Kelly said it is important to “get this show on the road,” referring to revisiting the draft URP and other issues.

Kelly also provided a brief parking lot vendor update, noting that this year’s operator owes the authority $73,500, a figure that could go higher considering attorney fees and possible “further damages,” according to Kelly. The board may meet in executive session next week about this issue.

Board could switch to in-person meetings, or hybrid

At Richardson’s request, the board talked about the possibility of returning to in-person, rather than continuing with Zoom, meetings – with varying points of view expressed by members of the board and the audience.

While in-person meetings can be more effective and foster better communication in some members’ view, Zoom meetings tend to attract a larger number of participants due to the convenience they offer. As an example, there were more than 35 people on Wednesday’s Zoom meeting at 8:30 p.m.

Hamin noted that while he personally sees the benefits of in-person meetings, the state Legislature extended the allowance for virtual meetings after the pandemic for a reason.

“It’s been recognized that virtual meetings significantly increase access to and the level of participation at meetings, among other benefits. The HRA should weigh the advantages and disadvantages and realize that abandoning virtual meetings will sacrifice a significant level of accessibility and participation,” Hamin said.

Following the discussion, it was decided to hold a Zoom meeting on October 27 and to discuss various options at that time – including hybrid meetings that combine Zoom with in-person – after Kelly does further research in the meantime, or holding one of the two monthly HRA meetings in-person and the other via Zoom.

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

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In the Sport-light: Roundup of news from Hull's wide world of sports

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Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Pirates Varsity Football team fell to Cathedral High School during last Friday’s game, 42-7. It was Senior Night – those honored included players Ayden Pike, Jack Gagne, Lawrence Bodley, Jayden McCarthy, and Logan Griffin; and cheer team seniors Olivia Creech, Bree Simpson-Sliney, and Emma Preston. This Friday, the 2-4 Pirates are southbound, playing Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich under the lights at 7 p.m.

GAME TIME: As part of the Senior Night celebration at Hull High’s varsity soccer game Tuesday, the Hull Youth Soccer 5/6 Boys team had a blast scrimmaging during halftime. [Courtesy photos]

• Boys 5/6 Soccer did not have a game over the holiday weekend and plays next on Saturday, October 18 at Hull High School against Marshfield at 2 p.m. However, the team did scrimmage during halftime of Tuesday’s high school soccer match and had lots of fun on the field.

• Boys varsity soccer Senior Night was Tuesday, October 14 – the Pirates tied, 0-0, against Carver. Seniors honored were Matt Thomas, Max Lofgren, Teddy Hipp, Thomas Brasil, and student-manager Chris Resnick. The team’s next games are on Monday, October 20 at home against Mashpee at 5:30 p.m. and then on the road in Holbrook on Thursday, October 23 at 3:30 p.m.

• After a holiday weekend break, Hull Youth Soccer’s in-town season resumes on October 18. Games are on Saturdays at the Dust Bowl field in Hull Village and teams have the same schedule each week for convenient planning – Guppies (coed): 9-10 a.m.; Kindergarten (coed) and Girls Grades 1 & 2: 10-11 a.m.; Boys Grades 1 & 2: 11 a.m. to noon.

• Hull High girls varsity soccer defeated Carver on the road on Tuesday, October 14, 7-0, to improve its record to 5-4-2. Up next are Mashpee on the road on Monday at 4 p.m. and then back home on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to host Southeast Regional Vocational-Technical High School. Upcoming season highlights include EM20 Night on October 24 against Pembroke, a fundraiser for the Emma Ryan Memorial Fund. JV plays at 4 p.m., and varsity takes the field at 5:30 p.m. Senior Night – honoring Montana Alibrandi, Emily Irby, Hannah Pearson, Abby Jeffries-Ranger, and student manager Sofia Provost – will be on Monday, October 27 vs. Abington at 5:30 p.m. (JV at 4 p.m.).

• Hull Youth Football action continues this Sunday, October 19 with a home game against Lower Cape. Mites (C Squad) will play at 10 a.m.; Midgets (A Squad) will pay at 11:30 a.m.; and PeeWees (B Squad) will play at 1 p.m. The Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club will host the players, cheerleaders, and their families for breakfast – C Squad from 8-8:45 a.m., A Squad from 9:30-10:15 a.m., and B Squad from 10:45-11:30 a.m.

• Hull Pirates Youth Basketball is now accepting registrations for its travel program, supporting boys and girls in grades 3-8. The season begins in late November, and registration will close on October 31. Families are encouraged to register players as soon as possible at https://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

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Residents invited to ‘visioning open house’ to share ideas, learn more about the master planning process

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The Town of Hull is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to develop a town-wide master plan. The planning process allows Hull community members to evaluate the town’s strengths, identify issues and challenges, and envision the type of community Hull would like to be in the near future.

A “visioning” open house is scheduled for Thursday, October 23 at the Memorial School, 81 Central Ave. There is no formal presentation, so residents can drop in anytime to learn more about the process.

At the end of the master planning process, the town will have a clearer understanding of what Town priorities should be and how strategic investments and other implementation efforts can achieve the community’s desired future. The master plan will provide a foundation for future decision-making by the town’s boards and committees, including town meetings, and provide opportunities for the community to hold leaders accountable to achieving shared goals. 

The MAPC also is conducting a survey to solicit opinions and ideas for the plan. Visit https://mapc.ma/hull-MP-vision for additional details and to take the survey.

For more information, visit www.mapc.org/resource-library/hull-master-plan or email  the MAPC’s Sarah Scott, sscott@mapc.org, or Jiwon Park, jpark@mapc.org, or Hull Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio, cdiiorio@town.hull.ma.us.

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'Community conversation' event to explore the history of housing discrimination

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The Hull Affordable Housing Committee, in partnership with the Council on Aging, Wellspring, and The Anchor, invites residents to a community conversation on the history and lasting impact of housing discrimination. The event will be held on October 21 at 7 p.m., via Zoom, and is free and open to the public.

Featuring guest speaker Bob Van Meter from the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), the program will explore how historic housing policies such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and exclusionary zoning shaped communities across Massachusetts. Participants will also learn how these systems continue to influence housing access and affordability today.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion, share experiences, and learn about ongoing efforts to advance fair and equitable housing in Hull.

To register, click here or the QR code: https://us06web.zoom.us/s/81224243632

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Is Hull’s historic library haunted? Paranormal investigators set to reveal their findings October 18

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Are there spirits lurking around the Hull Public Library?

Come to the library on Saturday, October 18 to hear the findings of Paranormal New England’s exploration of the building and you will find out!

This paranormal presentation fundraiser is sponsored by the Friends of the Hull Public Library and will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Hull Public Library building and its land are steeped in history, dating back to 1644, with the town purchasing the building for a library in 1913. During the summer, on the night of July 12, Paranormal New England, an investigative

ghost-hunting team with more than 50 years of combined research activity, spent six hours exploring the library.

Did they meet the English soldier who is buried in the yard after being wounded during the attack on Boston Light in 1775? What about the building’s former owner, Irish poet and activist John Boyle O’Reilly, who is said to haunt the upstairs rooms?

“We had a great time investigating the Hull Public Library,” said Joe Rainone, the lead investigator, “so come and review some of our evidence from that night.”

“It was an amazing experience to join the investigation and see the behind-the-scenes of a ghost hunt,” said library Assistant Director Betty Thompson. “I learned a lot about the process, as well as learning hidden secrets of the library I spend every day in.”

Tickets for the event, which will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 18, are $25. Visit hullpubliclibrary.org/about/friends and scroll down to the Paranormal Presentation button to purchase tickets, or stop by the library and pay with cash or check.

“This event is a great opportunity for the Friends of the Hull Public Library to raise money for future programming and services,” said library Director Brian DeFelice. Come on out, support the library, and maybe meet a ghost!

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Lifesaving Museum’s Hull-O-Ween Pumpkin Trail illuminated by the talents of Hull artist Jeff Menice

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The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Pumpkin Trail is right around the corner – and it would not be nearly as special without the artistry of Jeff Menice.

From October 23-25, step into a family-friendly celebration of pumpkins, creativity, and spooky fun. Follow a glowing trail of more than 100 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, each tucked into hidden corners, lit with humor, wonder, and artistry. Stroll across the pumpkin-lit deck, venture down the haunted wilderness trail (if you dare!), and gather back on the lawn for festivities.

What makes Hull-O-Ween truly shine is not just the pumpkins, but the story behind them, and the artist who brings them to life. Every single jack-o’-lantern inside the museum is carved by Jeff Menice, a Hull resident whose lifelong passion for art radiates through his work.

Jeff’s journey began early, leading him to the Vesper George School of Art, a BFA at The Art Institute of Boston, and a master’s in art education from Framingham University. He taught art at the Home for Little Wanderers before finding his calling at the Grace Farrar Cole School in Norwell, where he has been inspiring children for 24 years.

Outside the classroom, Jeff is a devoted father of five, a painter, and an active member of a plein air group, continually deepening his craft. For Hull-O-Ween, he pours that creativity into pumpkins that are more than decorations – they are gifts of joy, imagination, and community.

Alongside the glowing trail, kids can enjoy Halloween activities while adults relax with local brews in the beer tent sponsored by Vitamin Sea. Costumes are welcome, adding to the festive spirit.

Hull-O-Ween is more than an event, it’s a celebration of art, community spirit (with the Hull girls basketball team and the South Shore Neptunes Dive Club), and the joy of coming together. Thanks to Jeff Menice’s artistry, this year’s Pumpkin Trail will be the most magical yet.

The event will be held at the Hull Lifesaving Museum, 1117 Nantasket Ave., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 23-25. Visit www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org for more information.

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Allerton-area seawall project ‘on time and on budget,’ with completion only months away

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By Carol Britton Meyer

During an hour-long meeting Wednesday night, the select board heard an update on the $15.6 million Nantasket Avenue seawall project – including the taking of a construction easement from an abutting property owner, signed a Purple Heart proclamation, and accepted a plaque listing past Veterans of Foreign Wars post commanders, to be displayed at town hall.

WALLED IN: The select board this week heard an update on the seawall construction project currently under way near the Allerton lagoon. The project manager said that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. [Richard W. Green photo]

Kevin Mooney, project manager for the seawall construction at the base of Allerton Hill across from Mariners Park, reported that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. The work is expected to be completed in several months.

The signing of an order of taking by the board for 948 Nantasket Avenue related to a permanent construction easement – with a payment of $94,000 to the owner of the single-family home whose land would be affected – is an important piece in getting the work done on time, Mooney said. The property is located near the end of the seawall construction, close to the intersection with Point Allerton Avenue. The vote was unanimous. Board member Greg Grey was not in attendance at this week’s meeting.

Click here for the latest updates and details on the seawall project

Town meeting voters in 2024 approved the taking after some discussion. Town Counsel Brian Winner said that the current owner was offered the opportunity to talk about possible other options.

“We [referring to himself, Mooney, Town Manager Jennifer Constable, and another attorney] actively engaged with the owner, who lives out of state most of the time, to see if there was an alternative way to accomplish this short of an eminent domain proceeding … and we told him what would happen if we were unable to reach an agreement … because we needed to preserve the project schedule,” Winner said.

“This involves completing a critical portion of the wall as we head into nor’easter season, and we need to get the work done as soon as possible,” Mooney said.

Mooney also described a proposed change to the grade of the road just past 1 Point Allerton Avenue and a rain garden to help alleviate flooding in that area, contingent on conservation commission approval. An easement is also necessary for this work, Mooney said.

Excess construction materials would be used for the project, which means they would not need to be trucked from the site, as required under the contract if the materials were not being used.

Neighbors have been notified to expect truck traffic starting sometime soon.

“I have an open-door policy. Residents in the area do stop by for updates, and I take care of any issues right away,” Mooney said, noting that he is the only inspector for this quarter-mile-long project.

The select board also heard a presentation from Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo, who requested the select board’s signature on a Purple Heart Town proclamation, making official Hull’s designation as a Purple Heart Community under the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Springfield.

Board member Jason McCann read the proclamation out loud. The document proclaims Hull a “Purple Heart Town” honoring the “service and sacrifice of those from our community who were awarded the Purple Heart while serving in our nation’s wars” and August 7 as “Purple Heart Day” annually.

The board urges Hull’s citizens and organizations to display the American flag as well as other public expressions of recognition of the town’s Purple Heart recipients on that day.

The proclamation also acknowledges that the people of Hull have “great admiration and utmost gratitude for all the citizens of our community who have selflessly served in the armed forces that have been vital in maintaining the freedom and way of life enjoyed by all our citizens.”

The Purple Heart is the oldest American military decoration and was created as the Badge of Military Merit, made of purple cloth in the shape of a heart with the word “Merit” sewn on it on August 7, 1782, in Newburgh, N.Y., by General George Washington, then reestablished as the Purple Heart on February 22, 1932, by General Douglas MacArthur.

In other business

• Kevin Beck, past commander of VFW Post 1787, presented a plaque to Sordillo and the select board commemorating all past VFW Post 1787 commanders dating back to 1929 for display at town hall.

• The board approved – subject to legal review – the new board and committee handbook.

This guide is designed to assist both new and current members of the town’s boards, committees, and commissions in understanding their roles and responsibilities. The handbook also provides an overview of procedures, legal requirements, and best practices to ensure that the local government operates “transparently, ethically, and efficiently.”

Contents include the structure of Hull’s government, how to become a committee member, oaths and term of office, vacancies and attendance, organization of boards and duties of officers, adoption of rules and regulations, select board liaisons, meetings, conduct of committees and public officials, legal resources, communication and public relations, training and development, use of town resources, and annual reporting.

• Constable reported that the town recently was awarded three grants, including $332,000 “to advance resiliency work in the Hampton Circle neighborhood;” $252,000 from Coastal Zone Management to explore the resiliency of the DPW and municipal light plant facilities; and a $32,000 grant to the Hull Police Department for bulletproof vests and other items.

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