By Carol Britton Meyer
The select board this week reorganized following the recent town election, agreed to support a grant application to establish a welcome center at the new Paragon development, and adopted a notice of non-discrimination related to the town’s services and hiring practices, among other actions.
During the board reorganization, Brian McCarthy was elected chair, Jerry Taverna vice chair, and newly elected member Susan Short Green, clerk.
Before the election took place and after Taverna was nominated for vice chair, outgoing vice chair Greg Grey said to Taverna, “If you fill this position, I hope you don’t repeat the social media attacks and emails. [It] is a very important job.”
Taverna responded that he thought it was “inappropriate to discuss this publicly” and mentioned his First Amendment rights.
“I just think that is something you should do,” Grey said.
Taverna then said that he has a long list of “ways I would like you to act differently,” with Grey welcoming him to share them.
“But not in public,” countered Taverna.
“I want to work collaboratively together and move beyond the past,” Grey said, to which Taverna responded, “I certainly hope we can do that.”
After being elected to the vice chair position, Taverna said he plans “to serve in this seat with honor and with full transparency and openness, and I hope we all can do the same.”
“Absolutely,” responded Grey.
McCarthy said he will try his best in his new role. “We’re all in this together,” he said, adding that he prefers being called “Brian” to “Mr. Chairman.”
Welcome center grant supported
At the request of economic development committee members Meg Riley and Steven Greenberg, the board agreed to submit a letter in support of a grant application for $60,000 through the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Capital Grant program to create a welcome center for visitors.
The EDC is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce on this effort. The Chamber has signed an agreement to lease space from the Procopio Companies (developer of the Paragon mixed-use complex) for $20 a year to establish a welcome center and gathering place.
The grant would cover interior work on the 250-square-foot space – including furniture, historical displays, and printed materials in addition to signage.
“This would [help] present a new image of what Hull is and can be,” Greenberg said. “This will become a resource, with the beach, DCR parking, and the carousel nearby. The most important message is that the Hull/Nantasket Beach [area] is a welcoming place to come.”
The grant awards will be announced sometime in the fall.
Also, in accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the town of Hull – as unanimously approved by the select board this week – adopted a notice of non-discrimination stating that the town will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities related to services provided by the town and its programs or other activities.
Neither does the town discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices, in addition to complying with all regulations of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly was appointed as the town’s ADA coordinator, responsible for the administration and implementation of the town’s grievance procedure.
Town Manager Jennifer Constable was appointed ADA determination appeals officer, responsible for reviewing and deciding any appeals of determination issued by the ADA coordinator under the grievance procedure.
These actions coincide with a grant application that is due June 1 related to creating an ADA-accessible entrance at the front of Memorial School in preparation for moving town hall to that location.
In other business
• Green was appointed as the select board representative to the Plymouth County Advisory Board to replace Jason McCann, who did not run for re-election.
• The board discussed its annual retreat, setting the date of Tuesday evening, June 23, with the location and time to be announced.
• Constable provided an update on restricted parking stickers, stating that the new ones with the correct spelling of “parking” will arrive within the next week or so. The information about when they become available will be posted on the town website and social media. In the meantime, stickers may be applied for online.
A resident told the board that there’s a demand for being able to apply for parking stickers in person at town hall for those who find it difficult to apply online, including some seniors and those without credit cards or who would prefer paying cash.
Constable said she will look into the possibility of cash payments.
In the meantime, the library and senior center have online access on their computers to help residents apply for stickers.
• The select board shared a proclamation for Hull Pride Day June 6, acknowledging in part the “dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression” and that Hull Pride is an LGBTQIA+ community organization that “celebrates and promotes Hull’s strength through diversity – principles that are crucial to securing human rights and equality for all.”
