Select board considers 11 candidates, appoints four members to public safety building committee
/By Carol Britton Meyer
The select board this week considered 11 candidates for four residents-at-large positions on the public safety building committee – with Nick Russo, Donna Pursel, Patrick McCarthy, and Richard Scott Warmington appointed as permanent members, and David Twombly and Joe Berkeley as alternates.
Board member Brian McCarthy disclosed before the interviews that he is related to Patrick McCarthy, but after consulting with town counsel, it was deemed appropriate that he be able to participate in the interviews and the vote while giving assurances that he could remain impartial. Select board member Jerry Taverna was not present at Wednesday night’s meeting.
Russo is a former Hull fire chief and the brother of current Fire Chief Chris Russo; Pursel is a former member of the select board and economic development committee with a background in capital planning, contract negotiations, feasibility analysis, project oversight, and procurement; McCarthy is a consultant with owner’s project manager experience, including the new public safety complex in Quincy; and Warmington is a former Barnstable police officer who is currently an assistant district attorney and was involved with a public safety building project in another community.
Twombly, a former Hull School Committee and planning board member, has an extensive background in guiding public construction projects from the feasibility phase to completion and was involved with the Jacobs School building project.
Berkeley, who owns a marketing firm and is creator of the popular Humans of Nantasket Beach project, said he wishes to contribute his strong communication skills “and common sense” approach to “this important project.”
The other candidates were light board member and town electrical inspector Pat Cannon; Brian Elyo, who has been and is involved with public safety building projects; Cary Forman, with extensive commercial lending experience; Steven Greenberg, current Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce president with a “passion and understanding of Hull;” and John Andy Moroz, who was not present for the interviews. Julia Parker, co-chair of the Design Review Board, withdrew her application before the meeting.
Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff said he was grateful there were so many applicants.
“It speaks to the kind of town that we are to have 11 citizens applying for four positions on the committee – especially for a project that will impact the town and the safety [of our residents] for many years to come.”
He encouraged the applicants who were not appointed to attend the committee’s public meetings as an opportunity to share their expertise throughout the process.
“The project will affect our town for decades to come, and the more people involved, the better it will be in the end,” Nesoff said.
McCarthy said he didn’t hear “one candidate speak tonight who shouldn’t be on the committee.”
The charge of the nine-member committee – which is comprised of representatives from the police and fire departments, town manager’s office, select board (Greg Grey was appointed at this week’s meeting) and advisory board, and the four residents-at large – is to support the evaluation of suitable locations for a combined public safety facility as identified in the Hull Public Safety Feasibility Study for recommendation to the town; obtain an owner’s project manager and architectural services; and to assist with supporting the design, construction, and commission of a facility suitable for the current and future public safety needs of the town. The committee will also work with town officials to carry out community engagement efforts associated with the project.
The top two sites identified for the new building are the redevelopment authority property and the current location of town hall.
In other business…
• Anthony May was appointed to the open permanent seat on the zoning board of appeals to replace Tim Pranaitis, who resigned recently, and Philip Bellone – who also interviewed for the permanent position at the meeting – will remain an alternate member. The vote was 3-1 in favor of May’s appointment, with McCarthy opposed, because he was of the opinion that Bellone is already an alternate and the natural progression would be for him to be appointed to the permanent seat.
Select board member Jason McCann noted that “someone coming onto the ZBA with a fresh perspective could be helpful.”
• The board adopted the 2026 Town of Hull North Nantasket Beach Management Plan, which was shared and discussed at an earlier meeting.
The plan was established to manage the natural resources of North Nantasket Beach – from Phipps Street to XYZ Streets – for recreation, habitat protection, storm damage protection, and flood control.
“This has been in the works for more than a year, and we really needed a plan,” Beach Management Advisory Committee Chair Susan Mann said.
Nesoff expressed appreciation for all the time the committee dedicated to this project, working with Climate Adaptation & Conservation Director Chris Krahforst.
The plan is posted on the conservation commission and climate adaptation and conservation department webpages and will also be posted on the Beach Management Advisory Committee’s webpage. Click here to read the full plan.
The SPRING TOWN MEETING WARRANT WILL CONTAIN 10 CITIZENS’ PETITIONS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM BEACH ACCESS to light plant governance to allowing hybrid public meetings.
• Town Manager Jennifer Constable walked the board through the 2026 annual town meeting warrant article index – without comments on the substance of the proposals – prior to the closing of the warrant on March 25.
Board members will have an opportunity to take a position on any or all of the articles at a later time. Town meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 4.
The articles range from community preservation committee-recommended projects and capital requests to others related to the potential relocation of the senior center, public safety building facility design, town hall closure and relocation, and 10 citizen’s petitions. Click here for details on the citizens’ petitions.
The community preservation committee’s recommendations relate to a George Washington Boulevard community garden beautification project; Hull Lifesaving Museum outdoor space improvements; the Village Park playground and basketball court; Hull Lifesaving Museum Boathouse restoration; the Paragon Carousel clock tower; preservation of Hull Village Fire Station historical town records; and the Hull Community Housing Trust Fund.
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