To the Editor:

Past: In 1993 after a great deal of voter frustration with the then-light board, a recall election took place, and four out of five members of the municipal light board were removed, as well as the light plant manager. The charter was justifiably changed for a new management style to take control of the light department.

Approximately 12 years ago, there was an issue regarding additional Hull Municipal Light Plant funds being transferred into the town’s general fund. The municipal light board felt that this was not appropriate and voiced their concerns with the then town manager. After three years, this transfer of additional funds stopped.

Present: At a joint meeting of the select board and the light board on April 16, a presentation was made on Article 37 a citizens’ petition. After a lengthy discussion, the select board voted unanimously to not support the article. The following night at the light board meeting, a vote was taken on this article, with two in favor two against and one abstention, which becomes a “no support” vote on the petition.

The current board, for the most part, worked well with the former town manager/light plant manager as well as our current town manager/light plant manager. This is not to say that over the years we didn’t have disagreements or battles, but the light board has always had the ratepayers’ best interest at heart.

Future: With the new light plant/town manager structure, the board found its way back to the new and improved light department as we know it today, with lower-cost power than many neighboring towns, 70% non-carbon emitting purchase power, 45-minute response time for trouble calls, as well as winter townwide generators for a power outage from the 85-year-old power lines from National Grid that run through Hingham to our town, as paid for by all the ratepayers as a surcharge.

There are also concerns regarding the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) money. This issue is being addressed within the current structure of the light department. It is an issue that was brought to the attention of all municipal light plants, not just by Hull. More research is needed and talks continue to take place so that this issue can be correctly addressed.

Through the test of time, we have made few rate increases over the years, been able to maintain our internal infrastructure, we have kept up to date with technology, purchase power, wind, solar customers, looking into any issues that face our concerns all with the current makeup of management and board of commissioners, as well as all staff at Hull light.

It is our belief that the current town manager/light plant manager should be allowed the opportunity to perform the duties of her job and we as a board should work together for the benefit of the ratepayers of Hull.

We will finish with asking that you do not support Article 37 because we have much bigger fish to fry, such as the need of a redundant feeder line into town and the repair of the National Grid feeder line, which would allow us to no longer need the generators.

We thank you for your consideration

Pat Cannon, Chair

Stephanie Landry, Member

Hull Light Board

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