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

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Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Registration for the 2026-27 Hull Pirates Youth Basketball Travel season (boys and girls entering grades 3 -8) is now open. Families are encouraged to register early to help with team planning and ensure players are ready for the upcoming season. The season runs from mid-November through March, featuring 14-16 regular-season games and playoffs in early March. Registration will close on October 2. The season begins with a tournament, and league schedules will be finalized in early November, with regular season games starting the first weekend in December. Games are held on weekends. The Hull Pirates Travel Program focuses on player development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and competitive basketball in a fun and supportive environment. Payment plans are available to help make registration more accessible for families. To register and learn more about the program, visit the registration page at https://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com.

• Hull High Boys Soccer will hold a fundraiser on Tuesday, August 25 at Shipwreck’d across from the high school on Pemberton Pier. Bring your family and friends between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for a fun night while helping the team launch a successful season. The event will feature raffles and great prizes. In case of rain, the fundraiser will be moved to the Sandbar, 297 Nantasket Avenue.

• Hull Youth Football has announced its schedule for the 2026 season. Games are played on Sundays – Mites play at 10 a.m. and Midgets are at 11:30 a.m. The season opens on Sunday, September 13 against Lower Cape at Monomoy High School. On September 20, the Pirates play Dennis-Yarmouth at home; September 27’s game is at West Bridgewater. The next three games are at home – October 4 against Carver, October 11 against Lower Cape, and October 18 against West Bridgewater. The next two games – October 25 and November 1 – are both away, against Dennis-Yarmouth and Hanson.

• Hull High’s fall sports season starts next month. The football team’s first game is on the road against Tech Boston Academy on Friday, September 11 at 6 p.m., followed by a return home on September 18 to face Monomoy Regional High School at 7 p.m. The girls varsity soccer team’s first two games are at home – against Marshfield on Friday, August 28 at 10:30 a.m. and Quincy on Tuesday, September 1 at 5 p.m., while the boys varsity team opens its season on Tuesday, September 8 against Norfolk County Agricultural High School at home at 4 p.m.

For the full schedule of all Hull High teams, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• 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.

Wellspring celebrates graduates of its youth education program

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CAPPING OFF THEIR EDUCATION: Congratulations to the Wellspring Class of 2026! Graduation ceremonies were held on July 28 at the Hull Yacht Club. Graduates included, from left, Jeffrey Reede of Hull, Chase Sheils of Kingston, MJ Coulson of Weymouth, Tom Johnson of Hull, Leah Kelley of Hull, Nyla Brand of Weymouth, Maryum Morgan of Braintree, and Makayla Sinkiewicz of Weymouth. Celebrating with them were, at left, Assistant Director of Youth Education Lindsay Agro, VP of Adult Education Jessie Pilewski, and Assistant Director ESOL Education Jon Dao. [Courtesy photo]

Wellspring Multi-Service Centers proudly celebrated the graduation of its Youth HiSET Education Program on Tuesday, July 28. Held at the Hull Yacht Club, the ceremony honored its graduating class of students who completed their high school equivalency credentials.

“One of the absolute best parts of my job is watching the young people sitting here today realize something life-changing: you do not have to be defined by a past version of yourself,” said Vice President of Education Jessie Pilewski. “What might be written about you on a piece of paper does not dictate the person who stands before us right now.”

During the ceremony, several students received notable distinctions and scholarships. Wellspring takes great pride in supporting learners of all backgrounds, offering a vital lifeline that helps students create brighter futures.

The Wellspring Youth HiSET Class of 2026 includes Tom Johnson, Jeffrey Reede, and Leah Kelley of Hull; Nyla Brand, Makayla Sinkiewicz, and Marton “MJ” Coulson of Weymouth; Maryum Morgan of Braintree; and Chase Sheils of Kingston.

Wellspring’s education initiative began in 1988 with just two volunteers in Hull. More than 30 years later, the program is 100% housed at the Weymouth location, operating out of The Hub at 875 Washington Street. Despite this centralization, Wellspring continues to support Hull students alongside learners from across the South Shore, providing tailored plans to meet their specific educational and professional training needs.

To learn more about Wellspring’s educational programs or to enroll, visit www.wellspringmultiservice.org/adult-learning.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Debate over property’s future reveals differences in priorities among HRA members

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HRA MEMBER CHARLES RICHARDSON SUGGESTED THAT THE HRA CONSIDER BUILDING ON LOT A, SHOWN HERE IN THE FOREGROUND. [RICHARD W. GREEN FILE PHOTO]

By Carol Britton Meyer

During a circuitous, two-hour discussion of the results of a recent survey about best uses for the Hull Redevelopment Authority property and next steps, members expressed their differing views – often more than once – about their priorities.

There was also some discussion about issuing a request for proposals for the parcel rather than developing a new Urban Renewal Plan after Chair Bartley Kelly noted that a URP is not a requirement.

There was also a conversation about using a consultant to provide different options once the board reaches a consensus on the best uses for the land.

Board member C. Anne Murray said that she believes that if a consultant is hired, it should be “a firm geared more toward developing public spaces rather than a brick-and-mortar architect” and that a new mission statement is needed to help guide whoever is chosen.

While some board members and individuals in the audience called the discussion a good one, with many ideas shared and discussed at length, Kelly called the lengthy and sometimes contentious meeting “kind of painful” as it wrapped up.

Strong desire to keep land open

Survey results showed a strong desire among respondents to keep the land open while preserving natural resources, with strong opposition to building housing.

While the board is in agreement about preserving at least a large portion of the property as open space, HRA member Dan Kernan said he has a strong preference for doing so, while Kelly – who noted that he has been on the board for 34 years – emphasized that as a redevelopment authority, the board’s charge is to build on the property.

“Everyone believes we should preserve a majority of the land as open space, but I think we should be looking at parcels that could be developed, because after we factor in all the expenses, there won’t be much left on bone,” Kelly said. “We have a mission to fulfill – there’s no choice. Residents who had their property taken by eminent domain were under the understanding that the parcel would be redeveloped, and it’s up to the board to do that.”

Member Charles Richardson’s suggestion to build several houses on Lot A at the northern end of the property – which he called “a golden goose” and “an asset” – as part of the funding piece, led to a back and forth about the pros and cons of this concept.

Housing is ‘a terrible idea’

Resident Maggie Merrill called that suggestion “a terrible idea,” noting that there are groups available to help identify funding sources other than from building housing.

Kernan, who acknowledges quite often that he is not on the same page as Kelly, thinks now is not the time to discuss funding.

“We need to start with what the citizens want,” he said.

He also is concerned that the focus of a member or two on generating revenue goes “beyond the scope necessary to preserve the land.”

Kelly contended that when the land was taken by eminent domain, “the intent was to create economic development for the town.”

Another point of agreement is a desire to create a connection from the ocean to the bay on the property.

Parking a consideration

Ensuring there is enough parking for whatever use or uses is ultimately decided upon was another topic of conversation.

During the discussion, Kelly told the board that creating a new version of the draft URP – which had been in the works over a number of years but was set aside some time ago pending receipt of the survey results – is not a requirement, at which time the discussion turned toward the RFP possibility.

“It’s our decision [whether to create one],” he said, adding that it is up to the HRA “to make a decision to move to the next level and go from there.”

‘There’s a path forward’

Despite the differences among board members, Kernan said he believes there’s “a path forward” – including developing a new HRA mission statement, defining what the board wants in an RFP, and “bringing in a design firm specializing in what we think is the general idea for an open community space and that will offer us a number of options.”

Noting that the board is “at a milestone,” Kernan said he doesn’t think the board should move forward “without at least one option that directly reflects what the survey said,” calling the process “a representative democracy.”

Kelly reiterated that as a redevelopment authority, “we have an obligation to redevelop. Doing nothing is not an option. [We] may disagree, but at the end of the day, we well have to take some votes and move forward.”

At the August 10 HRA meeting, Kelly will provide a map of the property for board members to talk about the different parcels “and what we see for each of them and keep hammering away.”

Murray said while some may not agree, “this was a very productive session.”

In other business

• The board approved a request by Hull’s USA 250th Committee for a change of date for the 250th anniversary celebration on the HRA property to August 14, with a rain date of August 15. The event will feature the fireworks that were postponed from July 18 due to inclement weather.

• A parking vendor’s request to extend hours of operation until 10 p.m. for the fireworks on August 14 was approved and applies to both lots A and C. Parking is free at both sites for residents with stickers, space permitting, throughout the season.

Kelly noted that while there have been a lot of social media posts about the middle lot not being open this year for parking, there have only been two or three times this season so far when lots A and C were full.

• It was noted that police details last year amounted to about $30,000, and that this year is expected to be about the same. There was some conversation about why the Department of Conservation and Recreation – which controls the Nantasket Beach Reservation – doesn’t pay part of the detail costs. Kelly said that during the next meeting between town officials and the DCR, which he plans to attend, he will bring up that question.

There also is an HRA meeting scheduled for August 31.

A replay of the July 27 meeting is posted on Hull Community Television’s website at www.HullTV.net.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Battery storage at former dump could supplement operation of Hull’s aging electrical system

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Holyoke Gas & Electric’s Mt. Tom Energy Storage System, which was developed in partnership with MMWEC, is similar to what is being considered for the former hull town dump.

By Carol Britton Meyer

The light board this week voted to further explore building a battery energy storage system to supplement the town’s electrical system, which could include installing a “microgrid” at the former town landfill.

On Monday night, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company presented an analysis of potential battery energy storage and the timeline for such a project. MMWEC assists Massachusetts municipal light departments like Hull’s with their needs to contract for energy and is pursuing several similar projects with other municipal light departments across the state.

Without mitigation, the Hull Municipal Light Plant faces increased risk of outages and brownouts before or by 2027, according to light board members.

A representative from MMWEC, Jason Viadero, suggested the presentation be made in executive session during the board’s Zoom meeting, with a recap for the audience once the meeting reconvened. The Open Meeting Law and Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 164, which governs the light plant, allow for private meetings on competitively sensitive energy and financial matters.

Light Board Chair Tom Burns’ update to the audience (about five citizens) after the lengthy executive session was brief: “The board voted to authorize the light plant manager to enter into negotiations with MMWEC to continue pursuing battery energy storage systems as outlined. As more information becomes available, we will release the specifics necessary for the public [to know].”

MMWEC’s presentation Monday night was a follow-up on a report presented by the light board’s electric capacity planning task force last fall that included recommendations for near-term reliability and capacity mitigation. The task force reported that a battery allows staged load pickup and a clean resynchronization, rather than relying on diesel generators during an outage.

Feeder line failures

Past failures of the feeder lines, which pass through remote areas of Hingham, led the light plant to rent townwide generators to supply electricity during an outage caused by failure of the National Grid lines – beginning in 2020 through last winter.

However, the light board recently voted 3-2 to not install the generators this winter for a number of reasons, including expense and the fact that they were used for only about seven hours during that time at a cumulative cost of $4.8 million.

According to the agenda, the lengthy executive session discussion included “proprietary financial information,” including MMWEC’s analysis of the responses to the light plant’s request for information regarding battery energy storage and “trade secrets or commercial or financial or confidential, competitively sensitive or other proprietary information, the disclosure of which would affect HMLP’s ability to conduct business pursuant to [Massachusetts General Laws], Chapter 164, and which the HMLP board has determined . . . will adversely affect the HMLP’s ability to conduct business in relation to other entities making, selling, or distributing electric power and energy pursuant to [Massachusetts General Laws].”

At the time of their presentation last fall, the task force recommended exploring the possibility of installing a battery-backed “microgrid” at the former landfill to “shave peaks and hold to under 17.5 MW until feeder upgrades are made, and to provide enhanced storm resilience with safe, staged load pickup and clean re-sync.”

Hull is served by two National Grid feeder lines (10 megawatts and 7.5 megawatts). MMWEC was then asked to assist the board in addressing this issue and the availability of funding.

In other business 

The light board tabled a motion requesting light plant financial records from the light plant manager until their next meeting, including:

• Complete monthly statements – not just summaries – for every bank, depository, or investment account in the plant’s name or held for its benefit, including the operating cash account, the depreciation fund, and any customer deposit account;

• Monthly statements for plant funds held in pooled or commingled town accounts, with the town treasurer’s cash book entries and allocation schedules showing the plant’s monthly share;

• Monthly account or participant statements for all plant funds held by or through MMWEC, including the purchased power working capital, rate stabilization, pension reserve, PASNY (Power Authority of the State of New York – financial mechanisms managed by MMWEC) and Other Post Employment Benefits trust funds. 

• Monthly reconciliations of the plant’s general ledger cash and fund balances for specific records;

• A registry of all transfers of plant funds to or from the town or between plant accounts, showing date, amount, purpose, authorizing official, and warrant or voucher reference; among other requests for information.

The light board also requested that moving forward, Town Manager/Light Plant Manager Jennifer Constable provide the items in the first four bullets above monthly, within 10 business days of receipt or preparation, and that compliance with these requests appear as a standing item on the light board’s agenda “until production is complete.” The account numbers on the accounts will be redacted.

Constable said she thinks the requests are “excessive” and suggested that any light board member with specific questions about light plant records arrange for a meeting with her and the finance director.

“It would be helpful to have a conversation about what and why information is being sought so it can be narrowed down,” she said. “This is not a small request and would be taxing on town staff,” noting that some financial information is already provided to the board.

Tabling the motion to request the above records will allow time for Burns and member Jake Vaillancourt, Constable, Operations Manager Mike Schmitt, and the town’s finance director to meet to discuss which of these requests could be more easily met and which would require more time.

The idea is to hold that meeting in time to report their findings at the tentatively scheduled August 6 light board meeting.

Vaillancourt said looking over the 2024-25 light plant minutes raised questions in his mind about payments to a particular vendor.

“I want to see that history … I haven’t seen a regular cadence of financial reporting, and that is what [these requests are] getting to,” he said.

There were no comments or questions during the public comment period at the meeting.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Shorelines: Good news about your friends and neighbors

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• Congratulations to Theo Anastos and Miriam Flock on their wedding in Moraga, California. Theo is a microfluidic engineer at 10X Genomics and Miriam is a veterinarian, both employed in Pleasanton, California. Theo is the grandson of the late Ernie Anastos of the former Anastos Variety and Hardware Store in Hull and the late Patricia Anastos, formerly a hostess at Jake’s Restaurant. Theo is the son of Ernie Anastos and Cecilia Anastos of California, and the nephew of Sheri Anastos and Janice Ryan of Hull.

• The Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club is featured on the cover of this year’s Massachusetts Boating & Yacht Clubs Association annual yearbook. The NBSWC was voted “Club of the Year” by its members. It’s a badge of pride for the NBSWC to have its association featured on the book that sits on the helm or nav station of nearly every recreational boat cruising around Boston Harbor and the South Shore this season.

• Summer Hill has been named to the Plymouth State University President’s List for the spring semester. To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a grade-point average of 3.70 or better and must have completed at least 12 credit hours during the semester. Hill is majoring in criminology.

• South Shore Health recently announced that Hull resident Me McBride, team leader for the South Shore Visiting Nurse Association, has been named the recipient of the Home Care Alliance Home Health Aide of the Year Award in recognition of her exceptional dedication to patients, families, and colleagues throughout more than 30 years of service. A trusted and respected caregiver, McBride is known for her compassion, professionalism, and commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, she continues to provide direct patient care, often exceeding productivity expectations to meet the needs of those she serves. 

“Me’s dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our patients make her truly deserving of this honor,” said South Shore Health Home Health Services Vice President Elizabeth Sulger. “For more than three decades, she has exemplified the compassionate care and professionalism that define South Shore VNA.”

• The University of Rhode Island recently announced that Richie Chau and Chase McDowell have been named to the spring Dean’s List. To be included on the Dean’s List, full-time students must have completed 12 or more credits and achieved at least a 3.30-3.79 grade-point average.

• Kelsey Rose Bannen earned her M.Ed. (reading education) from Bridgewater State University on May 14. She is shown with BSU President Fred Clark following the Graduate Studies graduation ceremony at the Xfinity Center. Photo courtesy of the Bannen family.

• Grace Holden and Josephine Saide have earned the Collaboration Recognition Award at Lasell University. This peer-nominated award recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in collaboration through effective communication, idea-sharing, and teamwork. The award reflects Lasell’s emphasis on collaboration as a core learning outcome and a key career readiness competency identified by the National Association of Colleges & Employers.

• Dylan Cavicchio has been named to the Plymouth State University Dean’s List for the spring semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must achieve a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.69, and be a matriculated student with at least 12 credits. Cavicchio is majoring in business administration.

• Congratulations Alexis Her, daughter of Sho and Phary Her, for earning her bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University.

• Saint Anselm College has released the Dean’s List of high academic achievers for the second semester. Among those honored is Maeve White, a nursing major. To be eligible for this honor, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.4 or better in the semester with at least 12 credits of study.

• This August 1 and 2, the Pan-Mass Challenge will bring together more than 6,000 cyclists and 4,000 volunteers to raise money for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants will be among those helping support the PMC’s mission to fund lifesaving cancer research and treatment. Local riders include Larry Gruber, Joshua Werner, Cynthia Auckly-Barbuto, Andrea Insoft, Ryan Rapp, Arnie Freedman, Nancy Werner, Amy Gruber, Laura Hoffman, Brenda Foresta, Peter Gunderson, Jenifer Hartnett-Bullen, Jeff Thiebauth, Thomas O’Brien, Mike Sweeney, Mary O’Brien, Adin Insoft, Gary Kimball, Louis Panaccione, and Richard Turner. The PMC, which raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraiser in the world, is aiming to raise more than ever this year, with a fundraising goal of $79 million. For the 20th consecutive year, 100% of every rider-raised dollar will go directly to Dana-Farber, one of the nation’s top three hospitals for cancer research and care.

Those interested in getting involved with the Pan-Mass Challenge can learn more and register at PMC.org.

• Congratulations to Erica McGowan, who graduated from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island with a degree in nursing. She is a Registered Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Hull’s Anne Finley, assistant office manager at Middleton Electric Light Department, received the Public Power Rising Star Award during the American Public Power Association’s recent national conference in Boston. The award recognizes individuals who are making meaningful early-career contributions to advancing public power. In a prior role, Anne led critical projects as executive assistant to the operations and finance manager at Hull Municipal Lighting Plant, including the upgrade of the utility’s customer service system while ensuring operational continuity. She now works in Middleton. Her dedication to expanding her knowledge of public power is evident through her involvement in regional organizations like NEPPA and the Municipal Electric Association of Massachusetts and marks her as an emerging ambassador for public power.

• Boston College High School has announced that six Hull students have been named to the fourth quarter honor roll: Asher Herrmann, Jaycub Freedman, Bruno Andrews Mundo, Jacob Parks, Jacob Hester, and Thomas O’Connor.

• Abigail Gibson of Hull was named to the Dean’s List during the spring 2026 academic semester at Salve Regina University. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a semester grade-point average of 3.6 for full-time students.

• About 7,000 students received bachelor’s degrees in more than 100 majors at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s undergraduate commencement in May. Graduates from Hull included Ava Margaret Hutchinson and Haylee Rose Londergan.

UMass-Amherst also announced that the following Hull students were named to the spring Dean’s List for the spring semester: Edie Belle Brooks, Finn Barry Carragher, Bridget Catherine Fleming, Shane D. Grier, Erin Jane Hever, Haylee Rose Londergan, Marie Josephine Marois, Neelah Marie McCarthy, Nicholas McDonald, Maria Roisin Polito, and Joshua B. Zieper. Students must have completed a minimum of 12 graded credits and have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.

Would you like to see your accomplishments celebrated here in the Shorelines column? If you have news about Hull residents to share – birthdays, anniversaries, career and education achievements, weddings, births, and other milestones – send your information to us at news@hulltimes.com. There is no charge for inclusion in this column. If you include a photo, please be sure that everyone in the image is identified. Thank you!

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Endless Summer Waterfront Festival now moved to Sunday, September 27

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The Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce invites you to join the fun at the annual Endless Summer Waterfront Festival at Nantasket Beach. The festival has been moved from Saturday, September 26 to the following day, Sunday, September 27.

Make plans now to be at the best late summer beach party in New England!

There’s something for everyone at Endless Summer – a wide variety of food options, terrific vendors, great bands, music down the avenue all day, and family friendly (including your pets).

All the awesome fun you’ve come to expect at Endless Summer will be there!

Admission is free, and with special thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, there will be plenty of free convenient parking near the festival.

Presented by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, the Endless Summer Waterfront Festival at Nantasket Beach will now take place on Sunday, September 27 from noon until 5 p.m. There will not be a rain date.

Registration is open on the Hull Nantasket Chamber Of Commerce’s website, www.hullchamber.com. Email info@hullchamber.com with any questions.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Allerton condo appeal delayed; developer alleges ‘witch hunt’ by opponents to deny project

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An architect’s rendering of the Point Nantasket project, from the water side. Source: Town of Hull

By Carol Britton Meyer

The zoning board of appeals hearing on the townhouse project at the foot of Allerton Hill was postponed until next month due to a last-minute cancellation by the ZBA’s attorneys.

The July 21 public hearing on The Point Nantasket Realty LLC’s challenge of the planning board’s May 14 unanimous denial during the site plan review process was continued to August 11.

Under the town’s zoning bylaws, building permits cannot be issued for projects without site plan approval.

“We were ready to go for tonight, and town counsel – representing planning board members – is present, and the attorney for the applicant,” ZBA Chair Richard Hennessey said. “As chair, I requested [the ZBA] have its own representation for this hearing based on what could be seen as a fairly complex and novel [issue],” referring to the nature of the appeal.

“Regrettably, the attorneys from the firm assigned to represent us are unable to be here tonight,” he said. “I received confirmation of that at about 4:30 p.m. today, and as a result, there’s an agreement to open this hearing and continue it, which [many will find] frustrating.”

Town Counsel Brian Winner said that during a meeting that afternoon among the attorneys, it was decided that due to circumstances “outside of our control,” the earliest continuation date would be August 11, and the “planning board has no objection to that.” Some planning board members attended this week’s ZBA meeting.

The developer’s attorney, Adam Brodsky, clarified that his client was prepared to “present this evening. He’s not taking a position for or against the continuance request … He hasn’t agreed to it, but he doesn’t oppose it.”

Click here to read the full text of the developer’s appeal

The developer is proposing nine “residential cottages” connected by a common deck at the former Sunset Marine property at 839-845 Nantasket Avenue, as well as a pavilion, boat ramp, boardwalk, and other amenities on approximately 3.28 acres. 

An architect’s rendering of the Point Nantasket project, from the street side. Source: Town of Hull

The proposal calls for demolishing the existing structures, which have been boarded up and surrounded by fencing for years, and repairing the existing dock.

The project is being proposed by Chris Reale of Hingham, who formerly owned the Paragon Boardwalk property at Nantasket Beach, along with Hingham builder Tom Fleck, whose father once ran the boat yard at the site.

‘Planning board’s decision should be annulled’

In a 20-page appeal posted on the ZBA page on the town’s website (www.town.hull.ma.us/786/07212026-Meeting), The Point Nantasket Realty, LLC asserts that “the planning board’s decision should be annulled” and that the board “engaged in improper procedure, had no legal or factual basis to deny approval, and failed to impose reasonable conditions.”

The appeal, written by Brodsky, alleges that “egged on by a small vocal group of opponents, the planning board, together with the design review board, engaged in a witch hunt seeking to, among other things, challenge the Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly’s zoning determination and reviewing the project for conformance with the Massachusetts Building Code, none of which falls within the planning board or design review board’s authority.”

In response, Winner wrote a memorandum to the ZBA on behalf of the planning board dated July 21, 2026 (posted on the same page as above), but there was no time to discuss it because the meeting was continued.

Winner wrote the memo after he reviewed the planning board’s decision and discussed it with members of that board, noting that the decision is “the product of the reasonable exercise of the planning board’s authority” under the town’s zoning by-laws and that its decision “is supported by substantial evidence both as a factual matter and as a matter of law.”

On behalf of the planning board, Winner requested that the ZBA deny The Point’s appeal and affirm the planning board’s decision. He also included a summary of the ZBA’s role in the appeal. Winner also provided a summary of why the planning board believes its decision should be affirmed.

In his letter to the ZBA, Winner notes that “a board may lawfully reject a site plan that fails to furnish adequate information on the various considerations imposed by the bylaw as conditions of the approval of the plan.” A board “also possesses discretion to impose reasonable conditions under a bylaw’s requirements in connection with approval of a site plan, even if the conditions are objected to by the owner or are the cause of added expense to the owner,” according to Winner.

In some cases, he continued, “the site plan, although proper in form, may be so intrusive on the needs of the public in one regulated aspect or another that rejection by the board would be tenable.”

‘Project is insufficiently described’

Winner also said the planning board’s decision sets forth that the board requested at least two additional meetings with the applicant to discuss revisions to the proposal, but that the applicant “only agreed to a single additional meeting and has made it clear there would be no additional meetings. As such, the board finds that the project is insufficiently described, the applicant has been uncooperative, and that the board, therefore, cannot make fair a determination on the merits of the project.”

Planning concerns also related to traffic, primarily at the intersection of Fitzpatrick Way and Nantasket Avenue, and the “great number of unresolved questions” about the proposal.

“The applicant did not provide the planning board with sufficient information and, moreover, did not provide the planning board with sufficient time to receive, review, and evaluate such information – assuming it ever was to be submitted,” Winner wrote. “The Point alludes to the planning board’s denial not being about the reasons stated in its written decision but rather being about some underlying objection to the project,” among other “entirely speculative motivations,” none of which Winner considers “worthy of response as none pertain to the singular legal issue before the zoning board.”

Winner also said that the planning board “requests that the zoning board affirm its decision and deny the petitioner’s appeal. If, however, a supermajority of the zoning board believes there is any merit to the petitioner’s appeal, it should vacate the decision and remand the matter to the planning board for further proceedings.”

At the final Site Plan Review hearing in May on the townhouse development, planning board members said they felt that the developer had not addressed all of their concerns and had presented plan revisions in a piecemeal format. That sentiment differed from comments board members made the previous month, when the developer was lauded for “responsiveness” and “making a lot of good progress” in modifying the plans in response to feedback.

Also, Design Review Board Chair Julia Parker told the planning board that the DRB had voted against the project on May 13.

‘Regrettable’ situation

On Tuesday, the ZBA unanimously agreed to the continuance “to its own time slot on Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m.,” Hennessey said, calling the situation “regrettable…. Given the size of this space [the high school exhibition room], we hope to be back here at that time.”

“Our team will be available August 11,” Brodsky confirmed.

Hennessey, Philip Bellone, and Edwin Parsons are the voting ZBA members for this appeal.

A replay of the ZBA meeting is available on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net, and planning board hearings on this project are available at www.youtube.com/@HullTVGovernmentMeetings.

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Citing high cost, light board votes to discontinue rental of rarely used winter generators

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Richard w. green photo

By Carol Britton Meyer

As part of a four-hour meeting July 16, the light board voted 3-2 against installing generators as a townwide backup for the upcoming winter in the event that both National Grid circuits feeding the peninsula from Hingham are out of service.

The rented generators, which were installed in December 2020 during the pandemic emergency and every winter since, are located at the Department of Conservation and Recreation parking lot at the end of Rockland Circle and can take up to four hours to start and come online, depending on conditions and the status of the light plant’s internal system, according to Operations Manager Mike Schmitt, who made a presentation to the board.

“The generators allow residents to shelter in place safely during winter storms,” he said during the lengthy discussion. “They also protect vulnerable populations such as the elderly or medically dependent as well as maintain critical services – water, heat, and medical facilities.” The generators aren’t utilized during short outages because of the time it takes to get them up and running, and cannot be used for spot outages.

The generators have operated only twice since they were installed – for a total of about seven hours – at a cumulative cost of $4.8 million.

The cost to install the temporary generators for the 2026-27 winter season would be roughly $1.3 million due to additional equipment and price increases, compared with a cost of $860,000 last winter.

“There’s strong competition for these generators – they can’t be built fast enough to meet the demand,” Schmitt noted.

This would have increased the ratepayer generator surcharge from $10.43 to $17.60 per month for 12 months – or about $211.20 per year – in addition to the $9.11 monthly customer service charge, which is in place with or without generators.

With the majority of the light board voting not to install the generators this winter, the $10.43 surcharge will come off ratepayers’ bills at the end of September.

Schmitt told the board that the risk of a multi-day outage remains possible.

“We’ve been lucky so far,” he said. “It’s a gamble.”

Before the vote, Town Manager/Light Plant Manager Jennifer Constable noted that ratepayers would need some time to digest “all [this] new information” if the board approved the installation of generators.

Commissioner Stephanie Landry – who along with Commissioner Dan Ciccariello voted in support of continuing the use of temporary generators this winter – suggested surveying ratepayers before making the decision, but with the August deadline looming, that was not considered to be a viable option.

Commissioners Jacob Vaillancourt, Mark Kohn, and Chair Thomas Burns voted to discontinue the use of generators for this year.

Burns said that he is “not in favor of governing by survey. We’re elected to make decisions. Sometimes they’re easy, sometimes not quite so easy. Nearly $5 million is gone for seven hours of generator usage. The cost of a new feeder line would be in the range of $5 to $10 million.”

A number of other factors also weighed into the board’s decision to discontinue generator use, including what Schmitt called the “good news” that National Grid has done some significant tree trimming, pole raising, and hardware work to help minimize the risk of a future outages, and the withdrawal of the light plant’s legal action against National Grid and the resulting inability to seek recovery of generator costs.

Public feedback at the meeting related to the age and condition of the National Grid conductors serving the town; the potential outage duration if generators are not installed this winter; the exposure of businesses and town departments during an extended outage as well as homeowners; the history of the generators’ performance over the past few years; potentially redirecting program funds toward longer-term resilience investments such as new feeder lines or local generation; and the value of peace of mind when the generators are installed. 

“The board is not here to give everyone a soft, fuzzy feeling that everything will be fine,” Burns said in response to the last comment.

In other business

• On a 4-1 vote (with Landry in opposition), the board approved testimony in support of the home-rule petition to submit town meeting-approved Article 40 to the state Legislature for action. The purpose of the article was to remove the town manager from the light plant manager role.

Both Article 40 in the spring town meeting – which was approved by a 236-82 vote – and Article 37 of the 2025 town meeting (approved by a 116-83 vote) would revert to the light plant management setup that was eliminated in 1993 when town meeting amended the town’s charter.

The charter change requires approval by the Legislature; last year’s proposal remains in a committee at the state level.

• Schmitt reported on interim storage options for the incoming line truck expected in October and said that a solution will be in place before the truck arrives. Under discussion are two potential rental locations in Hull, and reconfiguration options at the light plant location at 15 Edgewater Road – including relocating a door, removing shelving, and modifying a garage overhang – are being evaluated. Costs for these changes is not currently available.

• Burns and Vaillancourt presented an analysis of the 15 Edgewater Road site following the board’s unanimous vote of November 20 to propose a capital project to fund a garage at that location to store fleet vehicles, designed for solar orientation and to complement the historic nature of the existing light plant building.

Board members have repeatedly voiced opposition to the proposal currently under consideration to combine the light plant’s headquarters and the Department of Public Works into one building at the current DPW site.

Also last week, the light board authorized a professional feasibility study, at a cost not to exceed $110,000, covering a cost estimate and conceptual site plan for the garage; flood protection and preservation feasibility for the historic Edgewater Road building; a determination of the applicable historic preservation requirements; and a like-for-like comparison of protecting operations in place against relocation, and other considerations – with findings to be presented to the light board for further action.

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Dispute over Spinnaker Island electrical equipment continues in light board’s closed session

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Spinnaker island is a condominium community built in the 1980s on the former hog island off the coast of hull.

At the end of its regular meeting on July 16, the Hull Municipal Light Board held an executive session to discuss litigation involving Spinnaker Island. Public boards are permitted to discuss strategy for ongoing or threatened lawsuits in closed session.

According to a 2024 letter sent to the Spinnaker Island and Yacht Club Condominium Association, the light plant has determined that “the aging condominium electric infrastructure” needs to be upgraded or replaced. However, the light plant contends that the “town does not own the electrical infrastructure on Spinnaker Island. Consequently, the HMLP is not obligated to replace/upgrade or operate and maintain the condominium electrical facilities, other than the meters.”

Residents of the island have pushed back, objecting to the assertion that the light plant is not responsible for the electrical equipment on the island, citing HMLP’s decades of maintenance since the housing complex was constructed in the mid-1980s. Utilities to the island traverse a privately-owned bridge from the mainland.

The 2024 letter, signed by Town Manager Jennifer Constable and then-Operations Manager Panos Tokadjian, acknowledges the 40+ years of maintenance provided by the light plant.

“To date, HMLP has provided maintenance for the condominium's electric infrastructure,” according to the letter. “However, given the results of the HMLP's review of the ownership this is neither financially, nor operationally correct, nor is it fair to the HMLP ratepayers.”

Spinnaker homeowners say the 2024 letter caught them by surprise. They also speculate that if the light plant is successful in transferring the cost of replacing the electrical equipment – which could be in the millions of dollars – the effects could potentially be felt by condominium associations off-island as well.

–– Christopher Haraden

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New community group to advocate for green space, ‘thoughtful stewardship’ of HRA land

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A new advocacy group, Nantasket Community Green, formed last week with a mission to imagine, advocate for, and protect the Hull Redevelopment Authority land – its bay, its beach, its open horizon – as a living landscape woven into the rhythm of community life.

Nantasket Community Green will advocate for responsible development that prioritizes green space and protects sweeping sunrise and sunset views through the thoughtful placement of community gathering places. The space should strengthen the quality of life for the community and minimize impacts on infrastructure and utilities.

Nantasket Community Green envisions green spaces that breathe, structures that tread lightly, and systems that work with the tides and seasons rather than against them. Sustainability is not a feature to add; it is the foundation the group will build on.

And at the heart of it, Nantasket Community Green wants to help create a place for people: A lawn to gather on, a stage for sharing stories and songs; or a spot to grab a meal with neighbors and watch the sun set over the water. It aims to protect what makes this place worth protecting and to gather here together for generations to come.

By transforming underused land into shared green spaces, gathering areas, and gentle public amenities – such as food trucks and places for passive recreation like bocce, cornhole, and picnics – it creates a destination that brings people together while honoring the beauty that makes it worth protecting in the first place.

“We are committed to advocating for thoughtful, sustainable stewardship, protecting fragile habitats, minimizing our footprint, and ensuring that whatever we build here strengthens rather than diminishes the land's natural resilience,” said co-founder Kelly Crummey. “We are pleased that the HRA survey so strongly and definitively reflects the community’s wishes for the land to be both green space and public, and it is our goal to collaborate with stakeholders to help create a space which will support the community’s desire.”

Nantasket Community Green began organizing in April 2026 after three of its board members and Hull residents – Kelly Crummey, Jim Ianiri, and Susan Mann – resigned from the board of SOSHull. Valerio Romano, a Hull resident who brings deep expertise in conservation and land-use planning to the team, joined them to form the organization. They are in the process of becoming a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To learn more, visit www.nantasketgreen.org.

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