Light board majority opposes plan to move to West Corner; prefers staying at current site

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By Carol Britton Meyer

A lengthy discussion at the June 4 light board meeting revolved around the proposed joint municipal light plant/Department of Public Works facility at West Corner – which the board opposes – and who has authority to make capital and policy spending decisions for the light plant.

At its April meeting, the light board adopted a resolution requesting a written accounting of related grant activity, among other information, from Town Manager Jennifer Constable, who also serves as light plant manager and has been advancing planning and grant work connected with the combined-facility concept.

At last Thursday’s meeting – which was standing room only – Constable said that information was not available that night and would be addressed at a joint meeting of the light board and select board on June 10, with the town’s consultant, Weston and Sampson, attending.

The Times reached out to Constable for this story but did not receive a response by this week’s deadline.

During the April meeting, the majority of the board members supported the resolution – proposed by light board member Jake Vaillancourt – to withdraw the Hull Municipal Light Plant from the Coastal Zone Management grant to combine the light plant’s headquarters and the Department of Public Works into one building.

At that time, Vaillancourt outlined the intent of the resolution: to require either the withdrawal of HMLP from the existing grant scope or modification of the scope so that any grant-funded work supports HMLP facility needs at 15 Edgewater Road, including the board’s previously approved new four-bay garage, rather than relocation to West Corner.

Click here for more details about the combined light plant/DPW at West Corner

According to Vaillancourt at that time, the resolution gives the board leverage to negotiate either a change in scope, a withdrawal of HMLP from the project, or a smaller award, and that without such a formal communication, the board has effectively no leverage.

The resolution asks for a written accounting covering grants since 2022 tied to light plant property, operations, or the combined-facility concept; light plant resources committed to those grants; the scope of work and design-completion targets for the Phase 3 grant and any pending or submitted Phase 4 application; town communications with the Office of Coastal Zone Management, the state energy office, or other agencies that represented or implied light board support; and confirmation of any Phase 4 application submitted on or before March 27, 2026, including its amount, scope, and any representation of board support.

The light board’s underlying question is whether the light plant has been named as a participant or beneficiary in grant applications for the combined facility without the elected board’s authorization, given that the board opposes the project.

The board’s opposition is based in part on concerns that a new building would cost ratepayers more than refurbishing and expanding the current building.

Under a change in the town manager act approved in 1993, the town manager also serves as light plant manager. The board’s position is that capital and policy spending decisions belong to the elected board, while day-to-day operations and the town’s buildings are the manager’s and the town’s domain.

The point was made at the June 4 meeting that funding of the roughly $60 to $65 million combined-facility project would require a two-thirds debt authorization at a future town meeting.

In a unanimous vote last November, the light board approved funding a capital project for a permanent four-bay garage at 15 Edgewater Road, where the current light plant is located.

The board’s current position is an estimated cost of roughly $2 to 4 million and that this work could be financed through a low-cost municipal loan program without new debt charged to the town’s taxpayers.

Such a capital project would be designed to allow for solar orientation and complement the historic nature of the existing building.

At the June 4 meeting, the board voted unanimously to oppose erecting a temporary garage – as proposed by town management – on the grounds that it does not match the permanent four-bay garage approved in November.

In response to a second motion, the board directed the light plant manager to advance the design and cost estimate for a permanent garage and to look into renting off-site garage space, within Hull, as a short-term stopgap to house an incoming vehicle while the permanent garage is built.

Also at the June 4 meeting, light board counsel Nicholas Scobbo, of Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele, urged the light board and select board to resolve their differences cooperatively for the benefit of the ratepayers, and that opening a dialogue makes more sense than spending public money while in disagreement.

Scobbo also advised that the light board’s Section 5 wording in the resolution went too far in directing Constable to produce records, but that the board may request the same information, including through a public records request. He noted that the 1993 framework governs until the law is changed.

It’s unclear whether the light board controls the decision to relocate the light plant. At the same time, the board’s position is that the capital spending decision is the board’s purview.

With regard to the passage of Article 40 at the recent town meeting, similar to last year’s Article 37 – which removes the town manager from the light plant manager role – the board voted last week 4 to 1 to reaffirm its support of Article 40. The home-rule petition would now go to the Legislature. The board also voted 4 to 1 to direct the light board chair and clerk to draft written testimony to the Legislature for the full board’s review at its next meeting. Commissioner Stephanie Landry was the only “no” vote.

The next regular light board meeting is scheduled for July 16.

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

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SEASON-ENDERS: Last week marked the end of the youth soccer season. The top photo is the girls 5/6 squad, which closed out the season Saturday with a hard-fought 3-3 tie against Hingham. The boys 7/8 team, shown in the middle photo, finished up the regular season this past week and is on to the Coastal Cup, while the boys 5/6 team 1 tied its final game at home against Pembroke with a score of 1-1. [Courtesy photos]

Compiled by Matthew Haraden

• Boys 5/6 Soccer Team 1 tied its final game at home against Pembroke Team 2 with a score of 1-1. Will McCarthy scored Hull’s only goal, and the whole team put up a good fight to end the spring season. Andy Michaelides, Jordan Dunn, Killian Kelly, Liam Palermo, Luke Panetta, North Saforrian, Owen Bilodeau, Ryder Lankas, Silas Van Slyke, Will McCarthy, and Zachary Shea all played their hearts out, improved their skills throughout the season, and look forward to seeing how much better they are in the fall.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer closed out the season Saturday with a hard-fought 3-3 tie against Hingham. The result was a fitting end to a year marked by steady growth and increasingly competitive play. Goals came from Charlie Ward and Willa Britton, who netted two, both finding the net off set pieces. Sharp passing and timely assists kept Hull in the match throughout, reflecting the team’s development over the course of the season.

• Girls 5/6 Lacrosse battled hard but came up short in a 12-5 loss against Weymouth on Sunday, June 7. Congratulations to Leah Dibley for scoring her first goal of the year. Frankie Rockett and Cordelia Hennessey each had two goals. Laila Dolan took the draws with ferocity and midfielders Sydney O’Brian, Maryonna McKinney, and Jacqueline Collins covered the field and made great passes against an aggressive Weymouth defense. Sienna Truglia, Ryleigh Mooney, and Emma Medina attacked Weymouth’s crease to open up shooting lanes. As always, Hailey MacLeod strapped on the pads in net to keep the game within reach while defenders Willa Britton, Julianna Moore-DaSilva, and Hadley Dolan swarmed Weymouth’s offensive efforts. The players held their heads high in defeat and showed great camaraderie and spirit to close out the regular season. Hull’s Jamboree by the Sea takes place at the turf on Sunday, June 14.

• The Hull Youth Soccer Travel registration for the fall 2026/spring 2027 season continues until June 20; this is a strict deadline and you may not be able to register your player after the deadline passes. If your child plans to play travel soccer this upcoming season, register ASAP to guarantee their spot. Travel players are required to upload an updated player photo for league rostering. Photos should be recent, similar to a passport or school photo, with a clear view of the face and no hats or sunglasses. Travel teams are boys and girls grades 3-8, and in-town teams are boys and girls, preK through second grade. Register online at www.hullyouthsoccer.com.

• The Hull Youth Football Association is excited for another great year and organizers have been working hard planning for the upcoming season. Families are asked to register as soon as possible so that HYFA can plan accordingly. As many of you know, Hull has faced challenges with numbers in the last few years. With athletes playing multiple town sports, the rise of club sports, and other activities competing for schedules, it can be very difficult and time-consuming to keep the program running. The sooner families register, the better chance there is to make all seven teams work for the 2026 season.

For details and to register, visit https://clubs.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=465294

• Have you ever watched the sailboats out on the bay and wished you were there? Now is your chance! The Hull Yacht Club is offering adult sailing lessons to members and non-members. Upon completion of the learn-to-sail course, you will be able to handle a small boat, including rigging the boat, principles of sailing, safety equipment, and procedures and terminology.
Adult Learn-to-Sail classes will begin the week of June 29. There are multiple time slots available, with classes running for six weeks (one lesson per week).There is a minimum of two adults with no more than three adults per class. Tuition is $300. Class options are Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday mornings or afternoons from 10 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Students are required to provide their own life jackets. The 2026 instructors are HYC members Claire Guerin, Joe O’Neil, and Charlie O’Connor. Register at https://hullyc.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 (first and last) 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.

Friends of Paragon Carousel to host annual ‘Field of Flags’ ceremony in honor of Flag Day

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The Friends of Paragon Carousel will host its annual Field of Flags ceremony on Sunday, June 14, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the historic Paragon Carousel.

The community event, held in observance of Flag Day, invites residents and visitors to come together to reflect on the history, symbolism, and importance of the American flag while honoring loved ones, veterans, active members of the armed forces, educators, mentors, and community leaders.

As part of the ceremony, patriotic musical selections will be performed by the Paragon Carousel Chorale. Throughout the event, American flags sponsored by community members will be displayed across the carousel lawn, creating a meaningful visual tribute to those being honored.

Community members may sponsor a flag for a $20 donation. Sponsored names will be included in the event program and read aloud during the ceremony, and sponsors may take their flags home following the event. Sponsorship opportunities at the silver, gold, and platinum levels are also available for individuals and organizations wishing to further support the program.

Proceeds from the event directly support the ongoing restoration and preservation efforts of the nearly 100-year-old Paragon Carousel, the last remaining attraction from the historic Paragon Park.

Flags may be purchased online at www.paragoncarousel.com.

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Opinion: The questions Hull ratepayers were not asked

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Op/Ed by Jake Vaillancourt, Clerk

Hull Municipal light board 

On June 10, the light board and the select board sat together for a presentation on a proposed building that would move the Hull Municipal Light Plant out of 15 Edgewater Road and into a shared facility with the Department of Public Works at West Corner.

The boards were told, near the outset, that no one was proposing to move the light plant into a joint facility. The cover of the slide deck handed to us that evening reads, in large type: Design of Resilient Joint HMLP and DPW Facility. Residents can hold both of those statements in mind as they read what follows.

Start with what the study never examined. After roughly four years of planning, exactly one option was presented: a combined building of approximately 37,000 square feet, rising to 44,000 with mezzanines, on the DPW site at 9 Nantasket Avenue. The deck’s site screening slide tells residents two things its presenters did not dwell on. First, the top-ranked site, the one that is actually out of the flood zone, is privately owned and the owner will not sell; the DPW site is the fallback. Second, 15 Edgewater Road was screened only for whether a brand-new, full-sized replacement light plant facility would fit there. Whether the existing facility could be renovated and a garage added, the path the light board has actually voted for, was never screened, never costed, and appears on no slide.

When the question was asked at the meeting, the project’s lead acknowledged it plainly: that wasn’t the scope. Select board member Jerry Taverna pressed the point, asking exactly where these buildings are failing and why, noting that the DPW building has extremely good bones, and asking whether the buildings the town already owns can be salvaged. No one had an answer, because in four years, no one was ever paid to find one. A feasibility study that examines one outcome is not a comparison. It is a recommendation in search of a ratification.

Next, the cost. The schematic design is with an estimator now; the town has no estimate. The only dollar figure shown to two elected boards on June 10, after four years of study, appears on a closing slide that reads, in full: $60 million plus $5 million, followed by a question mark. The presenter, to his credit, cautioned that no one should hold him to it. Fine. But notice what even that framing conceals. The light plant’s dedicated program is roughly 12,000 of the 37,000 square feet, about one-third of the building. So who pays what? If ratepayers are assessed a proportional share, that approaches or exceeds $20 million. If ratepayers pay only the $5-million increment, then Hull’s taxpayers are subsidizing the light plant’s housing. Nobody answered the allocation question, and until someone does, no one can honestly say what this proposal costs the people who pay electric bills in this town.

Then there is the money already spent and the money being sought. The boards were told on June 10 that the work to date has cost the town less than $100,000. The Commonwealth’s own announcements tell a fuller story: three consecutive Coastal Resilience grants for this project totaling $524,805, and the town’s own June 10 slides describe a pending Phase 4 application for roughly $500,000 more in state funds with an approximately $50,000 town match, with federal FEMA funding anticipated after that. These figures may well reconcile; awarded funds and expended funds are different things. But that is precisely what an accounting would show, and that is why the light board’s April resolution requested a complete written accounting of every grant touching light plant property and operations. At the board’s June 4 meeting, the town manager stated that the accounting would be provided. As of the June 10 joint meeting, it had not been. The ratepayers of Hull are entitled to see those numbers, and so is the elected board that answers to them.

Compare the path the light board has already chosen. In November 2025, the board voted unanimously to fund a permanent garage at 15 Edgewater Road to protect the plant’s fleet, including a bucket truck that cost ratepayers roughly $375,000. The board was later informed that design work on that garage had been engaged. What came before the board this month, more than six months after its vote, was not that design. It was a proposal for a temporary fabric structure in a coastal high-wind area that the board never requested and, at its June 4 meeting, unanimously voted to oppose. The board has asked what became of the permanent garage design, who redirected it, and under what authority; those questions are unanswered. The board’s preliminary review puts a garage and facility upgrades in the range of $2 million to $3 million. I will say plainly that the figure is preliminary, and the board intends to commission the engineering and cost work to firm it up, including full floodplain compliance, and to publish the comparison. But the financing structure is not preliminary: the light plant can fund this work itself, through reserves or the MMWEC pooled loan program, repaid from electric revenues rather than property taxes, without adding a dollar to the town’s borrowing and without the two-thirds town meeting vote the joint building will require. And the timeline is not preliminary, either. By the project’s own schedule, the joint facility would not be complete until 2030 or 2031. The light plant’s need to shelter its equipment is now.

What about flood risk, the stated reason for all of this? Look closely at the slide the boards were shown. The graphic titled HMLP Projected Flood Elevations measures from a base elevation of 3.2 feet, at the old storage buildings at the water’s edge on the lowest corner of the property. Those buildings are in use today, and that is exactly the problem the light board’s garage vote exists to solve: move the plant’s vehicles out of the low buildings and onto the upper ground along Edgewater Road, which sits at roughly 15 feet above the current FEMA base flood elevation of 10 feet, on land the town already owns. The joint facility solves the same problem by moving the vehicles to a site that starts at nine and a half feet, below the base flood elevation. Under the project’s own 2070 projections, the water line eventually rises past 15 feet at both sites, which is why the proposed building must be raised on deep foundations, in soil the geotechnical study calls challenging, with garage bays expected to take on water by design, and why Mr. Krahforst’s own closing slide describes the outcome in writing: a combined facility, still in the flood zone.

The board’s garage would be built to the same modern flood standard, on the highest ground either site offers. In other words, the slide is a fair picture of the problem and a poor argument for the prescription. Both plans get the trucks out of that building. One moves them uphill for $2-3 million; the other moves them five and a half feet downhill for a share of a $65 million question mark. If resilience is the goal, the smaller, higher, cheaper project is not the one that needs explaining.

Underneath all of this sits a structural problem the town can no longer avoid naming. Under Hull’s 1993 special act, one appointed official serves simultaneously as town manager and as manager of the light plant. Consider what that means here. The town manager’s office pursued and administers the grants that are premised on relocating the light plant. The same office supervises the DPW, which would anchor the new building. And the same office is responsible for carrying out the elected light board’s capital direction at 15 Edgewater Road, the project that competes with the grant-funded one. No individual could serve all three of those interests at once, and this is not a claim about anyone’s good faith. It is an observation about the structure, and it would hold for any person occupying both seats. But when one office sits on every side of a $65-million question, residents should not be surprised by what this record shows: a four-year study that examined one option, a grant application that left the elected board’s support field blank, a unanimous vote for a permanent garage answered with a fabric tent, and an accounting promised on June 4 and not delivered by June 10.

Any one of those might be an oversight. Together, they are what a structural conflict looks like in practice, and the ratepayer pays for it. Town meeting has now diagnosed this problem twice: in 2025, when it voted to remove the town manager’s role as light plant manager, and again this spring, when it adopted Article 40 to restore the governance under which nearly every other municipal light plant in the Commonwealth operates: an elected board that hires an independent, professional light plant manager. The capital authority of the elected board is not a technicality. It is the same authority under which this board, not any appointed official, voted to purchase the truck soon to be sitting in the weather. And it is the only structure in which the people who pay the electric bills choose the people who decide how their money is spent.

Both boards agreed on June 10 to take up a full cost comparison at a coming joint meeting, and I welcome it. The light board does not oppose a proper home for the DPW; that case may be strong on its own merits. Our charge is narrower and older: best value for Hull’s ratepayers. On today’s record, a $2-3-million project that the plant can fund itself, on the highest ground available, finished years sooner, is a better answer than a share of a building whose only published price is a question mark. If the forthcoming numbers prove otherwise, we will say so.

We ask only that the town do two things. First, do what four years and a half a million dollars of study have not: put both options on the table, with real numbers and a real accounting, and let the ratepayers see the comparison. Second, when the select board transmits Article 40 to Beacon Hill in the coming weeks, as it has indicated it will, our legislative delegation should carry it across the finish line. Last year’s petition was referred to study and died without a vote. Hull’s voters have now asked twice, and they will be watching to see that the answer this time comes from the Legislature and not from the filing cabinet. One office should not sit on both sides of the question.

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Public invited to honor deceased firefighters at Memorial Sunday ceremony on June 14

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On Sunday, June 14, the Hull Fire Department will celebrate Firefighters Memorial Sunday at the Firefighter Memorial at the Hull Village Cemetery. Arrival time is 9 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Firefighters Memorial Sunday is held each year on the second Sunday in June to honor all the active and retired Hull firefighters who have passed away during the last year, and has been a tradition for more than 100 years throughout the country. Memorial Sunday is sponsored by the Hull Firefighters Relief Association, organized in 1925; it provided a small benefit to the families of deceased members at a time of need.

Firefighters Memorial Sunday is also the department’s annual awards ceremony, in which members are recognized for actions above and beyond the call of duty during the year.

In the event of heavy rain, the service will be held indoors, at the Central Fire Station at the corner of A Street and Nantasket Avenue.

The public is invited.

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HRA elects officers, approves July fireworks to celebrate nation’s 250th anniversary

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By Carol Britton Meyer 

The Hull Redevelopment Authority welcomed newly elected member C. Anne Murray at its meeting this week and went on to approve an event to be hosted this summer by the town’s USA 250th Anniversary Committee that will feature a beer garden, live music, and fireworks – subject to select board approval and conforming to regulations to protect piping plovers in the area.

During the traditional reorganization following a town election, the vote was unanimous for Chair Bartley Kelly, Vice Chair Dan Kernan, and Treasurer Joan Senatore to remain in their current positions, with Charles Richardson unanimously elected clerk to fill the seat recently vacated by Adrienne Paquin, who resigned.

Following a brief discussion, Murray made a motion – which was seconded and then approved unanimously – for the board to look into the possibility of purchasing a software program designed by a Cohasset resident that takes meeting minutes and complies with the state’s Open Meeting Law requirements. Both Murray and Kelly will explore the possibility and report back to the rest of the board.

The board also approved the USA 250th Anniversary Committee’s request to host a one-day event featuring fireworks, a Vitamin Sea Brewing beer truck, the popular Assisted Living band, and two food trucks on Saturday, July 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Lot B (the large middle section) of the HRA property. There will be special seating for veterans. The Hull Boosters Club carnival will take place that weekend.

Select board approval for the event is required, as well as approval from state agencies overseeing endangered birds, because piping plovers are nesting on nearby Malta Street and a viewing plan is required to ensure that the fireworks display will not disturb them. This issue was brought up by Beach Management Advisory Committee Chair Susan Mann.

“The discharge of fireworks needs to be at least three-quarters of a mile away from nesting plovers,” Mann said. USA 250th Committee Chair John Reilly was unaware of this requirement but will look into it as well as update the HRA after going before the select board.

Reilly thanked the HRA board for its $10,000 donation for the planned 30-minute fireworks display and noted that “ironically, the signed Declaration of Independence arrived in Massachusetts on the same date” two and a half centuries ago. The fireworks will go on, rain or shine.

The committee is also planning a number of other events throughout the year.

In other business

• Richardson reported that 998 citizens responded to the recent HRA survey about possible uses for the property and that the results will be compiled soon by Market Street Research, the firm hired to conduct the survey.

• During the “member updates to board” agenda item, Richardson noted that he keeps hearing that more transparency in town government is needed, and that his recent campaign for election to the board after being appointed to fill Dennis Zaia’s unexpired term was based on a promise of transparency.

He disputed rumors that surfaced during his campaign related to him being a close friend of, and “in Bart Kelly’s back pocket,” and that Richardson is a real estate agent and a developer.

“When I returned to Hull a few years ago, I hadn’t seen Bart for 40 years, so the idea that we are close friends is ludicrous,” said Richardson, who grew up in Hull. “I’m my own person, but I’ve grown to respect you, Bartley, and the town is lucky to have you give of your time, energy, and expertise.”

While he obtained a real estate license a few years ago in Maine, where he ran a wilderness program and someone he knew recommended that he get one, “I don’t have a real estate license in Massachusetts, and I am not a developer,” Richardson said. “When I returned to Hull, I wanted to help out. In talking with different folks, I’ve heard as many suggestions as to what to put on the HRA property as I have met people – from a Ferris Wheel to a dog park to a boutique hotel. I will be working toward a compromise [as an HRA member].” His comments met with applause from the audience.

• Also related to the issue of transparency, Murray said she thought that the HRA agendas should contain more specific information under each item, especially under “old business” and “new business.”

While the way the agendas are posted does not violate the Open Meeting Law, according to Kelly, board members generally agreed that more information would be helpful for citizens, who might plan to participate if they had more details.

Murray also thanked those who ran for office in the recent town election.

“It’s not an easy thing to do – I didn’t think I would do it, but here I am!” she said. “For those who voted and for others who supported the candidates, it’s nice to know that people do care in [this town].”

The next HRA meetings are scheduled for Mondays – June 15 at 7 p.m. (a remote meeting) and in-person June 29 at 7:30 p.m., with a tentative town hall location.

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Resident’s property bequest aims to help housing trust build its stock of affordable homes

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Wishing to do her part to address the affordable housing crisis in Hull, one resident has named the Town of Hull Community Housing Trust in her living will.

“Due to the growing lack of affordable housing, I have decided, after careful consideration with qualified legal advice, to donate my single-family home to the Town of Hull Community Housing Trust,” said the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I would like to urge other single seniors to do similarly.”

The Hull Community Housing Trust was created at the 2025 town meeting with the mission of creating and preserving affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households through providing financial support for development projects, rehabilitating existing housing, and offering programs to assist homebuyers and renters. The Trust can accept donations of real property and cash.

“It is so wonderful to see a resident step forward and support both the Trust and the maintenance of affordable housing in our town,” said Irwin Nesoff, a select board member and chair of the Trust. “I truly hope that this generous donation will help to serve as a model for what one individual can do to truly make a meaningful difference and encourage others to consider donating to the Trust in their living will.”

The resident also said that she has stipulated in her will that “the house shall remain in perpetuity under affordable housing guidelines, and that prioritization be given to first responders (police/fire) and teachers who are and remain employed by the Town of Hull.”

The home was built in the 1920s and is 686 square feet with one bedroom and one bath. This can serve as a starter home to help retain a young family in the community. It could also serve as a way for a senior (single or couple) to downsize to remain in the community.

The Trust is dedicated to receiving and managing funds and resources to increase and preserve affordable housing. As a town entity, the Trust will work with other local boards, departments, and community organizations to address housing needs.

“By taking this step, this resident has shown us all what it means to care for our town and for our neighbors,” Nesoff said. “It will be many years before the Housing Trust takes ownership of this home, but this resident’s generosity stands as a model of what it means to build for the future.”

For further information and for any questions on how to donate cash or real property, or to learn more about the Town of Hull Community Housing Trust and its mission of creating and maintaining affordable housing, contact Nesoff at inesoff@town.hull.ma.us.

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In break with tradition, school committee votes to admit non-resident students through choice program

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The school committee addressed a full agenda this week during its two-hour meeting Tuesday night, including the traditional reorganization of the board following the town election, a discussion of the school superintendent’s annual evaluation, and a vote in favor of school choice for the coming year.

The committee voted unanimously for Kyle Conley to remain chair, Liliana Hedrick to remain in the vice chair seat, and Courtney Littlefield to continue as secretary.

The committee voted 3-2 to participate in the school choice program for the 2026-27 school year only, following a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons and in contrast to Superintendent Michael Jette’s recommendation against on this option “because HPS is not necessarily prepared to take on students from other districts.”

The school choice program allows families to enroll their children in schools in communities other than the city or town in which they live. Numerous discussions in the past have resulted in a “no” vote for school choice by the committee for a number of reasons.

School committees are required to make the decision every year whether to opt out of the school choice option by June 1. The decision applies each year to the coming school year, but once a student is enrolled in the program, he or she remains a student through high school unless deciding not to remain in the Hull schools.

A school system doesn’t know the particulars about any participating student – including discipline issues or whether they are in need of special education services, the cost of which is borne by the accepting town. A community offering school choice receives a state-determined amount of $5,000 for each student from the sending district. However, Hull’s per pupil expenditure “far exceeds that amount,’’ Jette said.

The general consensus among board members was that there were no objections to participating in school choice, but to direct administrators to provide further details at their June 15 meeting, including financial impacts, how many students to include in the program and for what grades, and that this is not considered to be a direct effort to increase Hull’s enrollment.

“This could bring some new and diverse ideas into our schools,” Conley said. When Hull’s school choice news is publicized, it will contain a note “to contact the district for details.”

Board members Aleeza Hagerty, Conley, and Brendan Kilroe voted in favor, and Littlefield and Hedrick against. Those opposed to the motion said the vote was not because they aren’t supportive of the school choice program but because they are seeking further information.

Conley also noted that Hull “is not an easy community to break through in the school setting if a student isn’t prepared for that challenge,” with the committee agreeing that the creation of a welcoming committee would help resolve that issue. It was also noted that a warm welcome should be extended to any new student, not just those enrolled in the school choice program.

The board then discussed Jette’s annual evaluation, including a progress report on his goals.

Maggie Ollerhead, executive secretary to the superintendent/office manager, will compile an updated document from the meeting – including each committee member’s scores on different categories that will be shared with her before the June 15 committee meeting – at which time the final document including the scores will be presented in open session and then voted upon.

The goals were discussed at this week’s meeting, with comments by Jette and school committee members, relating to collaboration among Hull Public Schools stakeholders regarding the development of an aligned curriculum – which Jette said is progressing but will take multiple years to complete. There will be an ongoing commitment to revising the curriculum as needed, with a focus on the math component during the next school year, he said.

Other goals relate to attracting and retaining highly skilled and effective personnel; professional development; Jette’s continued participation in the three-year new superintendent program – which he called a good networking opportunity; the HPS five-year strategic plan that’s currently in process; and for Jette to be as visible and accessible around town as possible.

“That has been a clear goal of yours, and I think you have been very accessible,” Conley said. Jette said he is open to feedback from citizens about whether they perceive him as having enough of a presence in the community and at sports and other school events.

“For the past two years, you have provided steady, meaningful progress and stability, which this district needed,” Littlefield remarked to Jette. “We’re all looking forward to the strategic and long-term plans. Enrollment is important and should be a serious focus point next year.”

In other business

• During the report by the Hull Teachers Association representative, union Co-President Mark MacDonald asked for an update following passage of “cell phone ban bill” legislation, with Jette explaining that school officials are awaiting further information and will discuss it at a later date.

MacDonald emphasized the importance of “clear communication” about any policy Hull Public Schools might come up with, and that overall, teachers support this legislation and are seeking similar support from school administrators.

MacDonald also announced that Co-President Heather Weber is taking a step back from HTA leadership and that he and Maura Jones will lead the HTA “as a duo” for at least the upcoming school year.

He also told the school committee that the HTA believes that there’s work to be done “to rebuild trust in our district” and supports working toward a more collaborative approach. MacDonald also questioned what he referred to as the current scenario of “dispute resolution through the almost exclusive grievance process – which is not acceptable.”

He also called for “a collective reset,” including “what our contract means in plain English” and asked administrators to include the teachers’ union in conversations about any new ideas or changes.

“Our contract requires that the HTA membership must be included in their development and implementation,” he said.

Conley reacted to MacDonald’s comments by referring to what she said has been “a trust-building year” and commended teachers and administrators for their work.

“I think a lot of things need to get tighter [with regard to] what our students and HTA representatives include in their reports in the future,” she said, noting that some guidelines will be “written up.”

• The committee observed a moment of silence this week for three former Hull Public Schools employees who passed on recently – Joseph Cole, a 37-year maintenance worker, Stephen Avakian, who served two terms on the school committee, and Edward Cooper, who spent 20 years as the school department’s IT specialist.

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Chamber of Commerce launches ‘Looking Good’ decorating contest to showcase Hull’s patriotic pride

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the USA and in cooperation with the Town of Hull, is sponsoring a “Looking Good” Business and Home Decorating Contest that is open to all in Hull, from the largest building to the smallest balcony. Registered displays will be judged by Hull Beautification Committee and Garden Club members, who will visit all registered locations between June 15 and June 22. Decorations must be on full display during that time. All locations will be judged for their creativity, originality, curb appeal and compliance with the American Legion Flag Code.

Registration is open, and displays must be registered before by June 8 to be eligible for judging. You can find a complete set of rules at www.hullchamber.com or leave a message at 781-925-9980. Winners will receive recognition on the Chamber website, social media and other recognition at a select board meeting. All are encouraged to decorate, even if you do not enter the contest! Because with all the good and bad, the ups and downs, we know we are all proud of our record of 250 years of self-governance through our great democratic values.

This program is part of the Town of Hull’s USA 250th Anniversary Celebration.

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Town manager’s new three-year contract extension sets salary at $208,274

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CLICK THE IMAGE TO READ THE FULL DOCUMENT

On May 21, the select board released the town manager’s contract extension, a new three-year agreement that takes effect on August 17. Appointed in June 2023, Town Manager Jennifer Constable is completing her first three-year term as Hull’s top executive.

The 10-page document was finalized during an executive session on May 13 and was signed by four of the five members of the select board. Member Jerry Taverna, who participated in the meeting, did not sign the contract.

Click here to read the full document

Under the terms of the agreement, the town manager’s annual base salary is $208,274, with provisions for cost-of-living and merit increases “at the board’s discretion based upon a performance evaluation.” In April the board voted unanimously to grant Constable a 3% cost-of-living raise prior to beginning negotiations for the contract extension.

The board must give Constable six months’ notice of its intention to not renew the contract on its expiration on August 16, 2029; if she decides to leave her employment, the town manager must give 90 days’ notice unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. If fired or “requested to resign by the select board,” the town must pay four months’ wages, “unless said termination is for serious misconduct,” according to the agreement.

The benefits provided for under the contract include:

• Five weeks of paid vacation – the equivalent of 20 working days, as town offices are open four days per week.

• 13 paid holidays

• An unspecified number of paid sick days

• Three personal days

• Funding for the employment agreement is not subject to budget appropriation; the contracted salary is a binding obligation and according to this contract, cannot be superseded by a budget reduction at town meeting.

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