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

TRACKING VICTORY: At the Greater New Bedford Sunset Invitational Meet on April 18, the Hull High track team’s medalists were, from left, Lawrence Bodley, Christopher Resnick, and Bree Simpson-Sliney. [Photo courtesy of Brian Lanner]

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Hull Youth Soccer’s Boys 5/6 Team 1 came out strong in its first home game of the season on Saturday, April 18, tying Scituate, 2-2. Luke Panetta scored opened the scoring for Hull, with Will McCarthy netting the second goal with a nice assist from Andy Michaelides. Liam Palermo was an integral part of the midfield line. The next game is Saturday, May 2 at home against Norwell at 1:30 p.m.

• Hull High Track and Field came away with four medals at the Greater New Bedford Sunset Invitational on Saturday, April 18. Congratulations to Bree Simpson-Sliney for finishing second in the high jump and fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, Lawrence Bodley for placing second in the 100-meter, and Christopher Resnick, who was fourth in the high hurdles.

• On Sunday, April 19, the Hull Youth Lacrosse Girls 5/6 team nabbed its first win of the season in a rain-soaked game against Abington with a final score of 5-4, after the game was called due to lightning. Frankie Rockett and Laila Dolan handled the scoring, with assists from Sydney O’Brien and Cordelia Hennessey. Hadley Dolan, Julianna Moore-DaSilva, Sienna Truglia, and Scarlett Riley roared around on attack to confound Abington’s defenders. Maryonna McKinney, Emma Medina, and Leah Dibley shored up Hull’s defense, while Hailey MacLeod was fearless in net. Great team effort with solid physical play, dominance on the draw, and no shooting space violations. The girls’ next game is on the road against Braintree on Sunday, April 26.

• The Boys Varsity Baseball team is 5-5 on the season after mixed results in its last three games – defeating Westport, 7-5, on Wednesday, April 15 and falling to Cohasset, 3-0, on Saturday and Pembroke, 13-3, on Monday. Up next are two road games – Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School on Thursday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. and Westport on Friday, May 1 at 4 p.m.

• The HHS Girls Lacrosse team defeated Dennis-Yarmouth, 7-3, last Friday on the road. Erin Walsh and Georgia White scored two goals each, while Tessa Schultz scored three times. Olivia Michaelides was fantastic in goal, with seven saves. The 6-2 team next travels to East Bridgewater on Friday, April 24 at 11 a.m. and returns home on Tuesday, April 28 to play Barnstable at 3:30 p.m. On Wednesday, the Pirates are back on the road to Abington, with the game starting at 4 p.m. at the high school.

• The HHS Girls Softball team won again, defeating Randolph at home, 15-4. Next week, the Pirates play East Bridgewater at home on Tuesday, April 28 at 4 p.m. and then travel to Rockland on Thursday, April 30 at 4 p.m.

For details on all the high school teams, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611

• The Tee Club, a local women’s golf club at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham, is accepting applications from young women between the ages of 12 and 18 for up to a $500 scholarship to help defray the cost of golf lessons, golf clinics, or the golf school of their choice. Interested students should write an essay stating how they were introduced to golf, how golf has made a difference in their lives, their goals for improving their game this season, and how they would use the scholarship money to achieve those goals. Be sure to include the name of the facility or golf professional you have chosen to work with and how you heard about the essay. Essays should be limited to two pages and must include contact information, including age and email address. Send essays by Friday, May 22 to The Tee Club, 31 Elmore Road, Hingham, MA 02043 or to seaglass1118@gmail.com.

• The Hull Youth Soccer In-Town and Travel spring seasons continue this weekend. On Saturday, April 25, there is one travel game scheduled at Hull High. Boys 3/4 (Bilodeau) vs. Pembroke at 9 a.m.

In-Town Soccer plays at the Dust Bowl at Pemberton:

Guppies (co-ed): 9–10 a.m.; Kindergarten (co-ed) & Girls Grades 1 & 2: 10-11 a.m.; Boys Grades 1 & 2: 11 a.m. to noon.

• Registration is now open for T-Ball. Season begins on Wednesday, April 29 and runs for six weeks from 6-7 p.m. at Jones Park (Friend Park) at the corner of Kingsley Road and Packard Avenue. Coaches are still needed (no experience necessary). Register at https://hullma.myrec.com. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, email amyloukelle@gmail.com.

• Hull Youth Baseball’s opening day is Saturday, May 2 at L Street. Team photos begin at 1:30 p.m. and the day’s activities include raffles, food, ice cream, and inflatable fun. The D1 Minor Game will be played at 4 p.m. – Fire vs. Corkin. For more information, visit www.hullyouthbaseball.org.

• 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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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Allerton developer reduces parking, modifies design in response to neighbors’ input

REFINING THEIR POINT: The developer of ‘The Point,’ a nine-townhouse complex that will replace the dilapidated buildings at the base of Allerton Hill, presented revised drawings to the planning board last week. In addition to reducing the number of parking spaces and eliminating an entrance near Fitzpatrick Way, the developer has moved the shared decking system from the bay side of the cottages to the street side. [Source: Hull Planning Board]

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The development team for a proposal to construct nine “residential cottages,” a pavilion, boat ramp and slips, a boardwalk, and other amenities at 839, 843, and 845 Nantasket Avenue on approximately 3.28 acres presented a modified plan to the planning board on April 8 during a lengthy, well-attended hearing. The meeting also was attended by the design review board, which also is reviewing the proposal.

The long-vacant property that once housed the Lighthouse Restaurant, Sunset Marine, and an apartment building is located at the base of Allerton Hill.

“We heard the planning board and public comments at the last meeting and have made material changes to the plan,” including ones related to the architecture of the cottages, said attorney Adam Brodsky, representing The Point Nantasket Realty LLC. The project is being proposed by Chris Reale of Hingham, who formerly owned the Paragon Boardwalk property at Nantasket Beach.

Roof lines have been adjusted, the seaward decks have been expanded, awnings have been increased in size to provide more protection, additional “contextually appropriate” siding has been added, and “fenestration” (referring to the design, specification, and arrangement of windows, doors, and skylights within a building’s envelope) has been adjusted to reflect interior layout changes. The residential units will have a wood exterior and metal roofs.

The developer is presenting the residential part of the project as a multifamily building with nine townhouse-style units connected by decks. While alternate design review board member Lisa French questioned whether this qualifies them as one building, Planning Board Chair Jeanne Paquin reported during the meeting that in response to an inquiry, Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly recently determined that the proposed units are considered one building according to Town of Hull bylaws Chapter 410 Article II.

Design review board Chair Julia Parker proposed that changes be made to the plan to get away from the “motel look,” and an Allerton Hill resident made a similar reference during the public comments. Another community member said the residential units “look like shacks.”

Click here for further details about the proposed project and related documents.

Public access should be clearly marked

She also suggested that the public access to the pavilion and the boardwalk be clearly marked.

Tom Fleck, a member of the development team – whose father ran the former boat yard situated at this location and who spent a lot of time with his siblings at the property growing up – said he builds homes “and I love it. I’ve been involved in a lot of fun, interesting projects, and this is one of the most exciting ones I’ve ever been part of – probably because [the property] is near and dear to my heart.”

“We have a huge sentimental and emotional drive to do right by this project,” he added. The development team is taking feedback from – and has reached out to – the Point Allerton Association and other abutters “to drive the design and to find what is the highest and best use for the property.”

Fleck added that the developer will be working to find ways in the future “to create community and public access and to welcome the people who love this property.”

The other modifications, as explained by David Kelley of Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., include:

• Eliminating the proposed one-way entrance near the intersection of Fitzpatrick Way, Nantasket Avenue, and Y Street;

•  Eliminating the proposed parking beneath the residential cottages to allow for improved sight lines to the waterfront along with the adjacent drive aisle in order to reduce potential vehicular conflicts in the area. A couple of community members wondered if future residents would store equipment such as kayaks and bicycles, boxes of beach toys, and other objects under the units, partially blocking the views.

• Reducing the overall parking, in response to concerns that the initial proposal had “excessive parking,” to meet the zoning requirements – with 18 spaces for residential use and four parking spaces provided to meet the zoning requirement based on the number of proposed boat slips.

•  Three public parking spaces are proposed along the Nantasket Avenue frontage in order to provide additional public parking and encourage use of the public amenities and access to the waterfront. Such spaces would need approval from the select board as traffic commissioners for the town.

•  The canopies above the parking on the southerly end of the site have been eliminated, allowing for improved sight lines and reduction of structures along Nantasket Avenue.

• The public-use pavilion that was formerly proposed at grade has been raised to the same elevation as the elevated first floor level of the cottages, with the elevated boardwalk connecting both the public use deck and residential dwelling units. The area beneath the elevated pavilion has been programmed to allow for public seasonal seating and passive enjoyment of the waterfront space. A mechanical access lift will provide accessibility to the upper level.

• The location of the cottages and elevated boardwalk have been adjusted to provide improved sight lines and access from Nantasket Avenue to the waterfront and public pathway along the waterfront.

• The elevated boardwalk has been shifted from the seaward side of the cottage units to landward side of the cottages facing Nantasket Ave.

• Access has been consolidated, with a reduction in the number of staircases serving the boardwalk.

Two small elevated, enclosed utility spaces have been provided on the northerly and southerly ends.

“We want to cooperate with the community on this project,” Kelley said.

Paquin read a letter voicing abutter concerns, signed by George Boylen, that was accompanied by a petition signed by 70 individuals opposing any direct access to Cadish Avenue “from any development on this property” to avoid increased traffic flow on the side streets from V to Q and out of safety concerns for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The petition notes that this stretch of Cadish Avenue was made one-way in 2018 “due to safety concerns with areas of the street as narrow as 12 feet and the poor condition of the roadway. As a result of this change, an even larger number of people regularly walk and bike this stretch of Cadish Avenue.”

Another resident expressed appreciation for the modifications, while another suggested gazebos be included in the proposal.

A number of neighbors voiced concerns about the boardwalk being moved to the front of the property.

One resident wanted assurances that the current access to the beachfront on the property won’t be restricted in the future, with Brodsky saying that won’t happen.

He asked the board for a sense of whether the development team is “moving in the right direction, or whether there is some major issue we haven’t anticipated.”

In response, planning board member Chandelle Schulte acknowledged “the tremendous amount of work you have done since our last meeting. … I don’t believe there will be a major issue – just more about what we’ve already talked about. I can see the project going forward with additional information.”

‘Open space is important’

Member Meghan Reilly suggested the developer come up with a couple of different options for the pavilion in response to concerns voiced by the public, noting, “You’re making a lot of good progress. Open space and public access is very important.”

Paquin noted that “it’s good to see [such] responsiveness from a developer. There are more boxes that have to be ticked, but I’m not seeing anything [insurmountable].”

As next steps in the process, the development team will respond to concerns addressed at the recent meeting, public comments, and feedback from the planning board.

The hearing was continued until April 22 and will be in the Zoom format. A draft decision is expected that night.

A replay of the meeting is posted on Hull Community Television’s website, www.HullTV.net.

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HRA’s new summer parking vendors include son of 2025 lessee being sued for nonpayment

By Christopher Haraden

The Hull Redevelopment Authority last week awarded leases for its summer parking lots to two new operators, including one to the son of last year’s vendor, who remains locked in a court battle with the agency over $70,000 in unpaid lease fees.

THE HRA AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR PARKING IN LOTS A & C, and HAS RESERVED LOT B for SUMMER events.

On April 6, HRA members reviewed responses to the request for proposals to lease, operate, and manage parking areas A and C on the HRA property from May 1 through October 12.

Lot A is bounded by Phipps Street and Samoset Avenue, and lot C is the triangle parking lot at the intersection of Water Street and Hull Shore Drive. This year, there are two separate leases.

Henry Dunn Jr. submitted the highest bid for parking area A at the northern end of the property. In 2025, Dunn’s father, Henry Sr., held the contract to operate all of the parking lots – which have a capacity of 900 cars – through his company, Dunn Rite Parking, for $175,000.

This year, four bidders submitted proposals to the HRA, which awarded the lease to the highest bidder for parking area A and the highest bid and two other criteria for parking area C – the inclusion of a community business partnership plan and an electronic payment and data reporting plan. The awarding of the leases is contingent on receipt of an initial payment, the signing of the lease, and providing a certificate of insurance.

The community business partnership plan relates to the parking lot operator developing a relationship with local establishments and a plan involving allocated parking, reduced rates, or other incentives for their customers – to help promote local businesses.

In addition to Dunn Jr.’s high bid of $70,177 through his home-improvement company HJD Exteriors, proposals for area A were received from Steven Misdea (Misdea Financial and Insurance Services), $65,000; and Anthony Ghosn (Gentek LLC), $58,800.

For parking area C, Coastal Marine Properties (owned by Joseph P. Reilly) was the highest bidder at $28,148 (and the highest evaluation overall), and other bids came from Henry Dunn Jr. (HJD Exteriors), $21,777; Steven Misdea (Misdea Financial and Insurance Services), $19,600; and Anthony Ghosn (Gentek LLC), $17,800.

In January, the HRA voted unanimously to issue two separate requests for proposals for the Water and Phipps Street lots – a total of 350 spaces – leaving the main area (Lot B) open for events. These smaller areas represent about 40% of the total available parking on the redevelopment authority property. Lot B, where the annual bonfire and summer carnivals are held, also is being considered as a site for a new public safety building.

According to documents filed in Plymouth Superior Court in January, the HRA alleged that during last year’s leasing arrangement with Henry Dunn Sr., “Dunn Rite willfully, intentionally, and purposefully failed and refused to comply with the requirements” of the agreement. The HRA said Dunn did not use hand-held electronic payment devices (as specified in the contract), accepted cash payments from customers (as prohibited in the contract), and failed to submit weekly transaction data to the HRA. Dunn Rite then “refused to make its final $70,000 lease payment” in August 2025, which prompted the authority to bring legal action for breach of contract and unfair and deceptive business practices under Chapter 93A, the state’s consumer-protection statute. HRA Chair Bartley Kelly told The Times last week that the suit remains unresolved.

Click here to read the lawsuit filed by the HRA against Dunn Rite Parking

At the April 6 meeting, HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin explained at the beginning of the process that the HRA was required to not open any applications outside of a public meeting, so the applications were sealed – and opened in the order in which they were received.

The names of the applicants were written on the outside of the envelopes, and in some cases, to which parking lots their applications related.

C. Anne Murray, who is seeking a seat on the HRA in the upcoming election, thanked all the bidders for their participation and called for a “round of applause.”

Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce President Steven Greenberg commended the HRA “for taking stewardship of the property” and attracting more bidders this year than in the recent past.

The next HRA meeting is scheduled for April 27.

A replay of the April 6 HRA meeting is available on the Hull Community Television website, www.HullTV.net.

Carol Britton Meyer contributed to this report.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Romano withdraws candidacy; Murray and Richardson now unopposed for seats on HRA

By Christopher Haraden

Two weeks after securing his place on the ballot, Valerio Romano unexpectedly withdrew from the race for a five-year term on the Hull Redevelopment Authority in the May 18 annual town election. His departure leaves the other candidate – C. Anne Murray – without opposition; current member Charles Richardson also has no opponent for his three-year HRA term.

The decision by Romano, who officially took his name off the ballot by informing the town clerk of his intentions on Wednesday, is a surprising turn of events for the high-profile redevelopment authority. In a letter published in this week’s edition of the Times, he blamed “politics of politics” and cited a desire to “not battle the entrenched partisans who objected to the seat I decided to pursue.”

VALERIO ROMANO

Romano, like Murray, had applied for the HRA vacancy created when Dennis Zaia resigned last year. Richardson was chosen from a field of seven to fill that position in September.

“When I was not appointed to fill the vacant seat, I set my sights on running for the HRA board this spring when the power to select a representative sat with the voters of Hull,” Romano wrote. “I know we can create a community-focused space that protects the beauty of the property, but to do so, we must bring people together in a constructive, collective way. … So rather than enduring the political process, I am opting not to run this year. But I am not giving up; I am simply choosing to protect the land through other means.” His full message is available on page 2 of the print edition of the Times.

Contested races on the May 18 ballot include five people seeking the two available three-year terms on the select board. Incumbent Jerry Taverna will be challenged by Michael A. Sampson, Susan Short Green, Patricia Lynn Cormier, and Christopher Niland.

One seat on the planning board will appear on the May ballot – the five-year position now held by Jeanne Paquin. She is being challenged by Lisa French.

Mark L. Kohn will face off against incumbent light board members Patrick Cannon and Jacob Vaillancourt for the two three-year seats available on the light board.

The school committee has two three-year terms available, with three candidates – current members Courtney Littlefield and Aleeza Hagerty and former member Ernest Minelli.

In addition to the HRA candidates, running unopposed are housing authority member Anne-Margaret MacEachern and assessor Pamela Sinton-Coffman, as well as Thu-Hang Tran and Amy Hyde, who are the only candidates for two three-year terms on the library board. Two positions on the board of assessors attracted no candidates by the deadline, which will leave two of the five slots on the board of assessors empty – unless candidates emerge with write-in campaigns.

The Hull members of the League of Women Voters are sponsoring a candidates’ forum on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Exhibition Room at Hull High School. All candidates on the ballot have been invited to participate, and the public is invited to suggest questions to be asked during the Q&A period.

Each candidate will make a two-minute statement, beginning with candidates for offices that are uncontested. Candidates in contested races will have the additional opportunity to answer questions posed by the moderator, so long as at least two candidates in the race appear at the forum. All candidates for a contested seat will be asked the same questions in rotating turns and limited to one minute. Send questions for offices with contested seats by April 17 to HullCandidatesNight2026@gmail.com.

The last day to register to vote in the May 18 annual town election is Friday, May 8.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

For fourth year in a row, schools receive no public feedback at annual budget hearing

By Carol Britton Meyer

For at least the fourth year in a row, there were no comments from community members during the annual public hearing on the proposed $18.9-million FY27 operating budget for the Hull Public Schools, held Monday night at the high school.

The overall school committee meeting was concluded in a little more than half an hour.

Next year’s budget request represents a 3% – or $551,713 – increase over FY26. The budget won unanimous school committee approval.

“The budget was presented a couple of times to the school committee and also to the advisory board,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette said. “The budget was well presented by [School Business Administrator] Diane Saniuk and well-received by the board.”

The sources of funding for the budget are Chapter 70 state education aid, 19.7%; revolving funds, including school meals, 4.6%; state and federal grant funding, 2.8%; the special education circuit-breaker program, 3.3%; and the town’s funding appropriation less Chapter 70, 69.6%.

The department’s overall expenses, by percentage, include total salaries, 78.34%; non-special education transportation, 4.31%; technology, 1.51%; instructional supplies, professional development, vocational tuition, 2%; non-salary special education, 5.99%; maintenance (non-salary), 2.54%; utilities, 3.79%; and all other (non-salary), 1.52%.

Click here for the department’s budget presentation.

Jette called the budget process “truly a partnership between the schools, school committee, and the town. We’re looking forward hopefully to a nice, smooth town meeting [May 4, when voters will be asked to approve the proposed FY27 municipal and school budgets], but we will be prepared to answer any questions from the public,” he said.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, Jette provided an update on the school department’s strategic planning process, which is under way.

HPS is partnering with the Teaching & Learning Alliance (TLA) – an education consulting organization – to help develop a strategic plan for the next five years. The most recent plan was for 2019-25.

Gary Maestas of TLA – who was a consultant for the recent school consolidation and will facilitate the strategic planning process – will be on site on May 6 to facilitate focus groups with staff, students, parents, and school committee members. Community member input is also key to the process, according to the superintendent.

“This meeting will provide feedback on the future of the Hull Public Schools,” Jette said.

School committee members Brendan Kilroe and Chair Kyle Conley will share one of the committee’s two seats on the strategic planning committee, and Liliana Hedrick the other. 

There will also be a related community survey developed and administered by TLA, from April 27 through May 4.

For those who cannot attend a May 6 focus group, there will be other opportunities to listen, ask questions, and to share their thoughts.

“We want to let people know that their voices can also be heard through email or a conversation,” member Courtney Littlefield said.

“We want to hear from everybody,” Conley added.

The plan is expected to be completed by next September.

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Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

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

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Hull High Girls Softball team recorded its first win of the season with 20-2 victory over Academy of the Pacific Rim at home last Friday. Up next is a home game on Friday, April 17 vs. Randolph at 4:30 p.m. [Courtesy photo]

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Boys 3/4 Soccer Team 3 played an away game against Middleboro Team 1 Saturday, April 11, winning 7-0. Middleboro had a full bench and Hull had only two subs. The first two goals came from third-grader Elijah Gerold, who was dribbling through the opposition with ease. The third goal came from Luca Finney who charged through the defense and took a close-range power shot. Evan Haskins scored the next two goals, and was playing with a sore leg but was still able to send shot after shot at Middleboro’s net, keeping the pressure on them throughout the game. Gerold put on an impressive performance, netting a hat trick and making the score to 6-0 Hull. The final goal was made by Rocko Truglia, at which point rules dictate that a seven-point lead means the winning team must no longer take shots on net. Honorable mentions go to all the other teammates. Anthony Saghbini, Charlie Swimm, Declan Fahey, Finn Safforian, and Lorenzo Delatorre who all showed the highest levels of hustle and teamwork. Team 3 looks strong and is looking forward to a fun season.

• The Boys 5/6 Team 1 had a great start to its spring season, ending the first game with a tie score of 3-3. Jordan Dunn, Luke Panetta, and Zachary Shea all scored one goal. Ryder Lankas was amazing in net, saving many of the shots put on him. Killian Kelly, Silas Van Slyke, and Owen Bilodeau were an unstoppable force on defense. Andy Michaelides and Will McCarthy did great controlling the field of play from midfield and striker positions. The team’s next game is Saturday, April 18 at 4:30 p.m. at home against Scituate.

• 7/8 Girls Lacrosse edged Kingston, 11–10, in a tightly contested game. Stella Palermo, Payton Dunn, Deirdre Flaherty, Ellie Kiley, Molly McCarthy, Piper Yakubian, and Kennedy Huxtable all scored, while Reese Irby added multiple assists to lead the offense. Defensively, Abby Donavan, Josie Tyrell, and Audrey and Caroline Lancaster delivered an almost shutdown performance. In transition, Natalie Tiani and Kayleigh Cooney repeatedly broke through double-teams to push the ball forward, while Faith Reilly and Addie Mahan moved the ball into scoring position. In goal, Ruby D’Erirco came up big with a series of clutch saves, standing tall under pressure and turning away key shots to preserve the Pirates’ narrow victory.

• Hull High Boys and Girls Track teams traveled to Mashpee on Tuesday, April 14, with both boys and girls coming away with a victory. Boys winners include Chris Resnick in the triple jump, high jump, and 110 meter hurdles; Finn Walsh in javelin; Manning Cunningham in discus; Lawrence Bodley in the100-meter; Rory Donnelly in the 400-meter; and Patrick Hughes in the 200-meter. Girls winners include Bree Simpson-Sliney in the high jump, 100 meter hurdles, and 100-meter; Gianna Thorne in javelin; Devon English in 400-meter hurdles; Pixi Dyer in the 800-meter, Scarlett Arevalo in the two- mile; and Pixi Dyer, Grace Kiley, Gianna Thorne, and Devon English in the mile relay.

• The Nantasket Nor’Easters, the sailing team for Hull High school, competed at the Boston Latin Quad Meet on Saturday, April 11. The team won both of its matches, 3-0, over Brookline and Scituate, with Boston Latin not being able to participate.

• The Girls Lacrosse team defeated Stoughton, 12-7, last Friday at home. Erin Walsh had three goals and an assist; Sophia Grosso scored two goals; Kaylee Blake had two goals and an assist; Maggie Mullen had two goals; and Emily Irby recorded a goal and two assists. Goalkeeper Jillian McDonough had eight saves. The team also came out ahead of Mashpee, 13-12, on Tuesday. Georgia White had four goals and five assists; Erin Walsh scored six goals and one assist; Sophia Grosso had two goals; Emily Irby scored one, and Maggie Mullen had one assist. In goal, Jillian McDonough had 12 saves. The 5-2 squad hits the road on Friday, April 17, traveling to Dennis-Yarmouth at 4 p.m.

WINNING WAYS: Hull High Girls Lacrosse defeated Stoughton, 12-7, last Friday at home. The 5-2 squad hits the road on Friday, April 17, traveling to Dennis-Yarmouth at 4 p.m. [Courtesy photo]

• The Boys Varsity Baseball team is 4-2 on the season, after picking up two wins at home in the past week. The Pirates defeated Quincy, 12-10, last Thursday and South Shore Technical High School, 11-6, on Monday. This weekend, the team participates in the O’Donnell Baseball Tournament at L Street.

• The HHS Girls Softball recorded its first win of the season with 20-2 victory over Academy of the Pacific Rim at home last Friday. Khloe Gravina pitched two scoreless innings with six strikeouts and Natalie Reilly pitched two innings with no runs. Montana Alibrandi had a triple and eighth-grader Sophie Munn recorded her first varsity hit. The team fell to Abington, 14-0, on Monday and to Norwell, 16-4, on Wednesday. Up next is a home game on Friday, April 17 vs. Randolph at 4:30 p.m.

For details on all the high school teams, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611

• The Tee Club, a local women’s golf club at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham, is accepting applications from young women between the ages of 12 and 18 for up to a $500 scholarship to help defray the cost of golf lessons, golf clinics, or the golf school of their choice. Interested students should write an essay stating how they were introduced to golf, how golf has made a difference in their lives, their goals for improving their game this season, and how they would use the scholarship money to achieve those goals. Be sure to include the name of the facility or golf professional you have chosen to work with and how you heard about the essay. Essays should be limited to two pages and must include contact information, including age and email address. Send essays by Friday, May 22 to The Tee Club, 31 Elmore Road, Hingham, MA 02043 or to seaglass1118@gmail.com.

• The Hull Youth Soccer In-Town and Travel spring seasons continue this weekend. On Saturday, April 18, the Travel teams play at Hull High:

Noon: Boys 3/4 (Fahey) vs. Norwell; 1:30 p.m.: Boys 3/4 (Bilodeau) vs. Pembroke; 3:00 p.m.: Girls 3/4 vs. Sacred Heart; 4:30 p.m.: Boys 5/6 (Panetta) vs. Scituate; and 6:30 p.m.: Girls High School Team vs. Weymouth.

In-Town Soccer plays at the Dust Bowl at Pemberton:

Guppies (co-ed): 9–10 a.m.; Kindergarten (co-ed) & Girls Grades 1 & 2: 10-11 a.m.; Boys Grades 1 & 2: 11 a.m. to noon.

Great energy all around to start the spring 2026 season!

• Registration is now open for T-Ball. Season begins on Wednesday, April 29 and runs for six weeks from 6-7 p.m. at Jones Park (Friend Park) at the corner of Kingsley Road and Packard Avenue. Coaches are still needed (no experience necessary). Register at https://hullma.myrec.com. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, email amyloukelle@gmail.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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Submit your questions now for League of Women Voters candidates’ forum on April 21

Submitted by Kim Kingston and Rachel Shaw

Hull Candidates Night Chairs
League of Women Voters of Hingham

The Hull members of the League of Women Voters invite the public to our annual Hull Candidates Night on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Exhibition Room of Hull High School, 180 Main Street. All candidates appearing on the ballot for the May 18 municipal election are invited to participate and will be contacted individually with details on the format. There is no charge to attend or participate.

The format follows the standard set by the League of Women Voters, designed to give candidates equal time and an opportunity to present themselves while giving the public substantive information, and in the case of contested seats, direct comparisons.

At the forum, each candidate is invited to make a two-minute statement, beginning with candidates for offices that are uncontested. Candidates in contested races will have the additional opportunity to answer questions posed by the moderator, so long as at least two candidates in the race appear at the forum. All candidates for a contested seat will be asked the same questions in rotating turns and limited to one minute. Questions are vetted and selected by a League-trained moderator who is not a resident of the town. Our returning moderator is Elizabeth Foster-Nolan, past president of the LWV of Massachusetts. Send your questions for offices with contested seats by April 17 to HullCandidatesNight2026@gmail.com.

The forum will be livestreamed and rebroadcast on Hull Community Television and available for on-demand viewing at https://hulltv.net.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization. We do not support or oppose candidates or political parties. The League encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Through study and consensus around issues, we advocate for change. Our core mission is to empower voters and defend democracy.

We are a three-tier organization, national, state and our local League, which serves Hull and other South Shore towns under the name the LWV of Hingham. We hold candidates’ forums, town meeting warrant reviews, register voters, meet with our legislators, and hold a variety of public education forums as well as member events, to encourage all to have a voice in their government. For more information, visit https://my.lwv.org/massachusetts/hingham.

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Town hall relocation expenses more than double as increased costs push project ‘$4 million over budget’

The targeted move-in time for town hall to relocate to the former memorial middle school is the spring of 2027.

By Carol Britton Meyer

Voters at the May 4 annual town meeting will be asked to authorize an additional $4 million – on top of the up to $3.6 million approved at the 2024 town meeting for repairs and improvements – to complete the relocation of town hall to the Memorial Middle School. The targeted move-in date is spring 2027.

The town is expected to use the space for municipal purposes for 30 years under the current memorandum of understanding with the school committee, Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the select board Wednesday night to justify the added expense.

“We met with the OPM (owner’s project manager) a week and a half ago and learned that the cost estimate is higher than originally [thought],” she said. “The project is $4 million over budget.”

The project scope includes mechanical (HVAC), electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems, necessary reconfiguration of offices, technology, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Two million of the additional cost is related to HVAC and air conditioning units for the building, and the remainder is due to escalating construction costs, Constable said.

“While this is a good project, there are relatively no frills,” she said. “There’s not much extra.”

Chair Irwin Nesoff noted that “we’re seeing costs increase for almost everything, and it doesn’t look like it will stop.”

The owner’s project manager offered three scenarios moving forward that would require a smaller additional funding request – including eliminating carpeting and using some window air conditioners, among other changes to the initial plan – but Constable said she prefers the project to be done “completely and correctly” for both the staff and the community.

“I can see this building becoming a community hub in different ways,” she said.

Select board member Greg Grey called the additional allocation “a no-brainer.”

It’s important “to do this right,” Nesoff said, noting the 30-year timeframe.

“The staff deserves air conditioning and carpeting,” as does the public, Constable noted.

The request for additional funds – Article 26 on the May 4 warrant – will be discussed at the next select board meeting on April 22.

Constable said the OPM may make a presentation at town meeting to explain the cost increase, or to the select board prior to town meeting.

“This is not an unrealistic number, but it’s larger than we hoped for initially,” she said.

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Select board opposes plan to limit excise-tax collections; town launches new website

The town of hull launched a new version of its website this week. click here for more.

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board this week voted to send a letter to state Senator Patrick O’Connor and state Representative Joan Meschino opposing proposed legislation that would eliminate driver’s license suspensions for non-payment of auto excise taxes and other non-safety-related debts.

“While we appreciate the intent of the bill, we believe it would result in significant and material unintended consequences for municipalities across the Commonwealth,” according to the letter signed by Chair Irwin Nesoff opposing S. 2874, An Act to Increase Opportunity by Ending Debt-Based Driving Restrictions. Member Jason McCann was absent from Wednesday night’s meeting.

The purpose of the bill is to “remove economic roadblocks” for those who are unable to pay their excise tax bills due to financial constraints, lose their right to renew their license, and then have trouble getting to work.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable noted that a payment plan may be available for residents who are unable to pay their excise tax through the treasurer-collector’s office.

The Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association reached out to communities asking them to share their concerns about the proposed legislation with their local legislators. Hull Treasurer-Collector Eileen White recommended that the board write the letter.

This is because motor-vehicle excise taxes are among the largest sources of local receipts for communities, “and the Registry of Motor Vehicles hold for non-payment of motor vehicle excise tax is currently the only effective enforcement mechanism available to municipalities to ensure collection,” according to the letter.

“Even with this enforcement tool in place, excise tax collection rates in the year of billing are already substantially lower than those of other local taxes,” the board wrote. “Without a comparable mechanism, collection rates are likely to decline further, resulting in unavoidable increases in property taxes.”

The letter also notes that the excise tax is often the only local tax paid by both renters and property owners.

Currently, many taxpayers only pay outstanding excise bills when a registry hold affects their ability to register a vehicle or renew a license. “Removal of this enforcement tool will significantly impact a municipality’s ability to collect these taxes,” the letter adds.

Hull’s motor-vehicle excise tax collection rate of 96.4% represents about $1.66 million in revenue. The approximately 3% not collected equates to roughly $58,500. Under current law, this amount is expected to be recovered in future years through registry holds, which can be released within 24 hours of payment.

“If this enforcement mechanism were eliminated, there would be no clear expectation of recovery,” according to the letter. “As a result, municipalities would be required to increase overlay reserves to cover the shortfall, doubling the tax impact.”

The letter also notes that at a time when housing affordability is a “pressing concern,” the loss of this enforcement tool “would negatively impact property owners and businesses through increased taxes, as well as renters, who would likely experience these costs passed on through higher rents. Alternative enforcement methods available to municipalities, including collection agencies and credit reporting, would impose additional administrative burdens and costs, creating further financial harm for both communities and taxpayers. … Preserving this enforcement mechanism is essential to maintaining fiscal stability and avoiding further impacts on housing affordability.”

In other business

• Mambo’s owner Anthony Ghosn notified the board that the restaurant will be temporarily closed while undergoing renovations. On March 8, the restaurant posted on social media that it was closed due to a burst pipe. Holders of liquor licenses are required to inform the town of any prolonged closures.

• The board met in executive session at the end of the meeting to negotiate the town manager’s contract, which expires later this year. Constable was recently given a 3% cost-of-living adjustment under her current three-year agreement.

• Christopher Hanes Lassiter resigned from the Veterans Council and War Memorial Commission since he is moving out of town.

• The first select board office hours session this week attracted one citizen, who asked a question about hybrid meetings. The next office hours will be one-half hour prior to the 7 p.m. May 20 meeting, when select board members Nesoff and Brian McCarthy will be available to talk with the public. Also, Constable held town manager office hours at the senior center on April 1, and plans to continue the practice.

• Constable also reported that town staff and a couple of Hull Redevelopment Authority members met with representatives from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which included a discussion about the proposed two-way road reconfiguration plan near the HRA property and a DCR sea level rise/climate change study. Constable called it a “great meeting.” The DCR is expected to provide an update to the community on a number of subjects in the near future.

• By a 3-1 vote, the board did not support member Jerry Taverna’s suggestion to consider increasing the board’s annual stipend with an annual 3% cost-of-living adjustment, similar to one received by some town employees. The chair currently receives $3,000 and the other members, $2,500.

• An updated and modernized town website (www.town.hull.ma.us) launched on April 8. Constable’s assistant, Michelle LeBlanc, played a significant role in getting it up and running, among others. Additional information will be added to the site, with more frequent newsletters planned.

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Months after endorsing traffic changes, HRA members learn of concerns expressed by DCR

By Carol Britton Meyer

Although not on the agenda, a lengthy discussion of the proposed traffic reconfiguration plan surrounding the Hull Redevelopment Authority property took center stage at last week’s meeting of the HRA.

This subject of what is known as the “two-way road plan” was brought up under “old business” by board member Adrienne Paquin, who said a two-and-a-half-year-old letter from the state expressing concerns about the plan recently was brought to her attention.

“It was news to me,” she said, adding that she did not know if other board members were aware of the November 30, 2023 letter to Community Development and Planning Director Chris DiIorio from Ginna Johnson, special projects manager for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, responding to his soliciting the DCR’s comments on the 25% revised submittal plans for the “two-way transportation improvement project.”

In summary, the letter says that after reviewing the two-way plan’s proposal for DCR’s roads – including Hull Shore Drive and Hull Shore Drive Extension – “we realized the 25% design layout is not compatible with DCR’s new climate adaptation and resilience goals for the reimagined boardwalk, or Nantasket Greenway” – which is included in the DCR’s master plan and described in the letter as a promenade, planting strip with seating and shade structures and a shared-use path.

Reconfiguration plan explained

The street reconfiguration plan would remove two of the four lanes of traffic crossing the HRA land and convert the remaining two lanes to one in each direction from Monument Square through the Surfside business district to the Anastos Corner area. Hull Shore Drive and Hull Shore Drive Extension also would become two-way and would connect with a redesigned intersection with incoming traffic from George Washington Boulevard near the Mezzo Mare restaurant.

“The path will knit together beloved Reservation landmarks like Bernie King Pavilion and Paragon Carousel, new spaces like the Nantasket Green and south park, and commercial attractions like the Red Parrot [sic], as it becomes a recreational destination itself,” the letter states. “We would like to work with the town to reimage the Reservation circulation to accommodate master plan elements and benefit both our visitors and the town’s residents. For instance, we are intrigued about the possibility of a Greenway loop, the stunning estuary views to the south along the town’s proposed shared-use trail complementing the ocean views along Nantasket Greenway.”

“I feel like we were told since I got on the board that we are waiting for 25% design comments from the DCR,” only to learn that comments were made in 2023, Paquin said.

Following an update on the two-way road proposal last November by longtime project engineer Kevin Dandrade of The Engineering Corporation, or TEC, Inc., the board voted 3-2 in favor of endorsing the proposed two-way road plan, with Dan Kernan and Paquin voting against the motion.

At the recent HRA meeting, Paquin pointed out that only parts of the plan were presented to the board at that time.

“When the board voted on whether to endorse the plan, we didn’t see the full plan,” which she said raised a red flag for further clarity.

She suggested seeking clarification during an upcoming working session between DCR, the town and representatives of the HRA – in this case, Paquin and HRA Chair Bartley Kelly.

“I find it troubling that the HRA was never informed about this letter since we kept asking to be informed and asking for answers,” Paquin said. “We keep asking for clarity and have been told that there’s nothing to tell, and then [we find] there was [this] letter from DCR.”

Kelly, the town’s building commissioner, has been involved with the proposal for several years and supports it, but said he wasn’t aware of the DCR letter.

Revoting endorsement suggested

Cindy Borges, who recently announced she is resigning from the planning board, suggested the board consider revoting on the concept “since you’re not sure what plan you were voting on.”

In response, Kelly said while he thinks the two-way road proposal “still has merit,” the board can choose to take a revote at any time.

Charles Richardson, the newest member of the board, said when he voted to endorse the two-way road proposal last November, it was based in large part on comments from the police and fire chief indicating “it would be much more beneficial to have a two-way road.” Enhancing overall pedestrian and traffic safety is a key element of the proposal.

HRA member Dan Kernan reiterated that he doesn’t endorse the two-way road plan, in part due to objections from some community members.

“I agree safety is important,” he said, but not when the plan affects Hull Shore Drive Extension. He also said he wonders why the safety issues plaguing the area haven’t been addressed in the meantime.

“I’m not saying not to endorse the proposal, but we don’t have enough information at this time,” he said, including how the plan would impact the board’s options moving forward.

Kelly suggested the board continue to work with the DCR and town to find the best path forward.

“Reaching a consensus is key,” he said.

Paquin requested that fellow board members “ask for clarity moving forward,” since she is not running for re-election when her term expires in the May 18 annual town election. “We’ve been doled out information, and we are abutters,” she said.

Prior to the vote to endorse in November, resident C. Anne Murray spoke out during the Zoom meeting, and when Kelly reiterated that the board was not taking public comments, she said that she was going to speak anyway. Murray is now running for the seat on the redevelopment authority being vacated by Paquin.

‘The HRA doesn’t need to endorse this project’

“Do you have a clue about what the latest plan looks like? The HRA doesn’t need to endorse the project, so why are you voting now?” she asked. “You should let the public have a say after this discussion that we have all been waiting for.”

After Murray spoke, Paquin said she was worried “that we are painting ourselves into a bit of a corner voting on such a vague [motion].”

‘Many people still don’t understand the two-way proposal’

With all the discussions over many years about the two-way road plan proposal – including many during HRA meetings – Kernan noted that “many people still don’t understand the reasoning behind the two-way road proposal. The community has not been involved with this.”

Paquin plans to share the DCR letter – which she said someone drew her attention to – with the other board members now that she has brought it to their attention.

“I asked questions [and looked into it],” she said.

Susan Vermilya of the SOS Hull open-space advocacy group echoed Kernan’s concerns about current safety issues not being addressed in the area of the proposed two-way road.

“Why isn’t the town dealing with these safety issues?” she asked. “If there are significant safety concerns, let’s not wait until this project [may happen] years into the future.”

Kelly said that while the town is addressing some of these issues, “we can’t install raised sidewalks [and other safety improvements] on a state roadway.”

In closing, he noted that “the bottom line is that the DCR paid for the traffic study that was the beginning of [all] this.”

Click here for more information and links to documents about the traffic reconfiguration plan

Click here to read the DCR’s 2023 letter

In other business

March 30 marked the opening of concession vendor bids for the Hull Redevelopment Authority property for the coming season. There were eight applications for six available spaces along Hull Shore Drive to operate between June 1 and Sept. 30.

However, one application was deemed “unresponsive” – meaning incomplete according to the bid specifications – and another was responsive but disqualified because the applicant was not present at the meeting.

Bids were opened in the order received, and HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin and HRA members went over each application to check whether they were complete.

Six applications were responsive (listed in order of highest bid) – Northeast Surfing, (surf camp and shop); Boston Lobster; Respiro Wellness/Sauna (mobile sauna); MJ’s, Ellie’s Treats, and Snack Buoy. The last four vendors will sell various food items and beverages. 

The highest bidder – Northeast Surfing, with a bid of $3,110 – got first choice of vendor space; the second-highest bidder got the next choice of space, and so on.

The HRA is only approving the use of its land; vendors are responsible for obtaining other necessary permits from the town.

The HRA has dedicated portions of its property as year-round event spaces in order to provide Hull citizens and organizations with locations to host open-space events. The authority also limited the amount of parking for the summer to provide space for events.

The HRA encourages uses – by Hull groups as well as ones from outside of Hull, with preference given to Hull-based entities if there is a scheduling conflict – such as concerts, food fairs, weddings, celebrations, community engagement events, art installations, markets, passive recreation, musical/dance/circus performances, and/or sports competitions.

All applications for use, once approved by the HRA, may also require approval from the Hull Select Board or Town of Hull departments as required.

A replay of the HRA’s March 30 meeting is posted on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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