Loss of state grant, higher operating costs mean Hull-O Trolley won’t run this summer

By Carol Britton Meyer

The popular Hull-O Trolley won’t be making its rounds this summer due to a lack of funding and higher operating expenses.

“In the past, we received [money from a state transportation grant], which we did not receive this year,” Adrian Muir, president of the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, which operated the trolley service, told The Hull Times.

GOODBYE, TROLLEY. A lack of funding and rising costs have prevented the operation of the Hull-O Trolley this summer. [File photo]

The state portion of the overall cost has amounted to roughly $25,000 a year in the past. Muir also noted that the cost to operate a trolley service has gone up substantially, and that there were competing requests from other grant applicants.

Last year, in addition to American Rescue Plan Act funding obtained by state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, the cost of this free-to-riders service was covered by $13,000 in funding from the Hull Redevelopment Authority, $10,000 from the Town of Hull, a grant from the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Better Beaches Program, and support from local businesses whose advertisements were displayed on banners on the trolley. Rep. Joan Meschino was also involved with obtaining earlier funding.

“Senator O’Connor, Representative Meschino, the town, the HRA, and local businesses have always responded positively and have been very generous once we had the seed money,” Chamber Treasurer Jim Pitrolo told The Hull Times. “Even if we had received the usual $25,000 from the state this year, we would have had to ask the HRA, the town, and local businesses for further [support].”

In addition, he explained, the cost of running the trolley has “increased tremendously” due to rising gas prices and the higher costs charged by trolley companies to provide service on the weekends, when the Hull trolley normally runs.

“During COVID, several trolley companies were sold to two or three major operators, and they are asking higher prices to provide weekend service,” Pitrolo said. “Even if we had received a state grant this year, we might not have been able to raise enough money to provide trolley service. The cost of running the trolley operation the first year was $35,000, while last year the total came to $50,000. It’s simply a matter of finances.”

Pitrolo outlined a couple of possible steps for offering trolley service in future years.

“The first would be to try to get early bids from trolley companies, and once we had those in hand, we could begin the process of looking for grants and donations,” he said.

In a statement provided to The Hull Times, O’Connor said: “The summer trolley that the Hull Chamber of Commerce offered was a great way to see and travel in the community. It is my hope that this service can be offered again in the future so that visitors coming to Hull can see how special it is.”

O’Connor also explained that member-directed spending, or earmarks requested by state senators or representatives, are not permanent.

“Priorities vary from year to year,” he said. “A lot of times, and in this instance, they are ways to seed fund projects in the community to get them off the ground, with the hope that they’d be self-sustaining at some point.”

The Hull-O Trolley typically ran on weekends, transporting passengers from the Pemberton Point ferry dock to Nantasket Beach, with stops along the way, during the peak summer season to encourage visitors to leave their automobiles at home in order to reduce beach traffic and to increase tourism, which benefits local restaurants and other businesses. Residents also have free access to this service.

In 2022, Hull-based South Shore Cycles owner Bill Hennessey managed the service. In the first two weeks alone, he reported that more than 400 passengers had already enjoyed riding the trolley.

The year before during COVID, when there was no trolley service, the HRA ran a free Seaside Shuttle Bus with a set schedule from Pemberton Point to Nantasket Junction, with continuous loops on Saturdays and Sundays from the end of June to the beginning of September. This pilot program was not designed as a replacement for the Hull-O trolley nor for the MBTA 714 bus service in town, but rather to demonstrate the need for regularly-scheduled transportation services in town and to help mitigate the loss of the Hull-O Trolley in the summer of 2021.

Words of freedom: Hull man carries on centuries-old Fourth of July tradition

Hull’s Tim Haraden, Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, reads the Declaration of Independence to a crowd at the Old State House in Boston on the morning of Tuesday, July 4 to mark the city’s traditional celebration of Independence Day. This tradition has been carried out every year by the Ancients since 1776, and the group was joined in the occasion by dignitaries including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

‘Hull is a special place:’ Lemnios reflects on his 25 years as town manager

By Carol Britton Meyer

Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who retired June 29, is looking forward to his first summer off since he was a young boy.

“It’s the first time I won’t be working since age 12 – whether as a paperboy, at Brigham’s, or jobs I held in college. I’ll figure out next steps in the fall,” he told The Hull Times this week as he reflected on his future.

Lemnios said he is “very confident leaving at this juncture” after serving as town manager for a combined more than 25 years.

“The town’s affairs are in good order, and financially, organizationally, and operationally, the town is on a solid footing,” he said.

ALL SMILES. Hullonians have known about Town Manager Philip Lemnios’s impending departure for months, but we only recently discovered that the real authority at town hall, Administrative Assistant Nancy Allen, also will retire this week. We wish both of them well as they conclude their many years of dedicated service to the people of Hull. [Skip Tull photo]

This is a good time for Jennifer Constable, who was Hull’s select board chair until she resigned in February so that she could apply for the job, to come onboard as the new town manager, “bringing new energy and perspective,” he said. “With the addition of an assistant town manager, Jen will be able to leverage her skills to take the town to the next level.”

What Lemnios will miss most are Hull’s residents and fellow town employees.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the staff, who try hard to provide great service,” he said. “I will miss working with these very dedicated people day in and day out.”

Lemnios first served as Hull’s town manager from 1992-2002, at which time he accepted a position as Natick’s town administrator.

“In 2007, the then-selectmen asked me to consider coming back because the town was struggling financially and operationally,” he recalled. 

Lemnios, a former Hull resident, decided to return to his earlier role “because I truly love this town.”

During his second run as town manager, he was able to restore the town’s financial affairs to good order and to get a number of capital projects moving forward.

“I consider this to be my biggest accomplishment,” Lemnios said.

During his tenure, roughly $35 million in grants were awarded to the town for a number of projects, including significant seawall improvements at Crescent Beach and Fitzpatrick Way and extensive Atlantic Avenue road work, as well as funding related to hazard mitigation, sea-level rise, and engineering services for projects in the pipeline.

The town also received roughly $6.5 million in grants for sewer department work in collaboration with Director of Wastewater Operations John Struzziery.

Also, $10 million worth of local road projects were accomplished with town funding.

“Our town has been so very fortunate to have Phil as our town manager for all these years,” said Select Board Chair Greg Grey. “He made every effort he could his entire career – 365 days a year, 24 hours a day – to do what’s best for our community.”

“Over the last five years I have had the pleasure of serving our community and working with Phil and getting to see first-hand how hard he worked in following through with policies we put in place, and the many goals we set and accomplished along the way,” Grey continued. “He chased every grant there was out there along with state and federal money that was available for roads, seawalls, and infrastructure all to keep us in a good financial position.”

Lemnios said he considers integrity, a strong work ethic, a willingness to be on-call 24/7, the ability to “synthesize a great deal of information quickly and to work in a complex regulatory environment on the local, state, and federal level,” and attention to detail important qualities for a town manager.

“No two days are alike, and none of them go as planned,” he said. “On a given day, you will be dealing with a small matter and half an hour later a much larger one. You have to take the issues as they come, prioritize them, and be willing to say ‘no’ and to explain the rationale behind that decision.”

Among Lemnios’s biggest challenges was “the period of turmoil in the police department in the 2014-2015 timeframe. This was a difficult time affecting a critical department,” he said.

Another challenge was the economic downturn that occurred shortly after Lemnios returned to the town manager position.

“We really had to scramble, with six years of zero salary increases on the general government side, involving negotiations with six unions,” he recalled. “It was a difficult process, asking staff to do more with less, but town employees recognized that everybody had to pitch in, and they did, allowing the town to continue offering [the usual services] without layoffs.”

Lemnios holds a degree in political science from UMass-Amherst and a master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California, which he has put to valuable use in his work for the town.

He served as assistant to the Attleboro mayor from 1988 to 1992 before coming to Hull.

“This was a state grant-funded position to bring professional management to that city,” he said.

Lemnios points out, though, that perhaps the most formative time in his career was the couple of years spent in the Congo as a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 1980s before heading for graduate school.

“This experience taught me the value of public administration – how when a government doesn’t work, there are negative impacts on the lives of the residents,” he said.

During his first leisurely summer in many years, Lemnios plans to golf, which he took up last year at his wife’s suggestion. “I’m terrible at it but enjoy the sport greatly!” he quipped. He also plans to spend more time with his family and enjoys cooking “anything and everything.”

His favorite part of Hull, where he lived for about 12 years starting in 1992, is its people.

“This community pulls together whether after a storm or when someone is going through a difficult time, putting aside their differences to help one another,” Lemnios said. “It’s from the heart. Hull is a special place.”

Lemnios finds Hull citizens to be “interesting and passionate people, which I enjoy.” His open-door policy led to some interesting conversations.

“Hull residents are not shy about sharing their wants and interests,” he said. “They are very direct.”

As he heads into a bright future, Lemnios expressed appreciation for Hull residents, members of the various select boards with whom he served, all the town’s employees, “and for the opportunity to work in Hull. I tried to do my best for the residents of this community. I expect Jen to pick up the baton and take the town to the next level.”

Constable, who is currently the assistant town administrator in Rockland, praised her predecessor for his leadership in the community.

“I wish Phil all the very best in a well-earned retirement,” she said. “Phil’s subtle, but distinct leadership, and moreover, his mentorship to so many has helped shape the community, which will undoubtedly be his legacy in Hull and for so many who walk in his path or try to fill his shoes.”

Lemnios also praised those involved with the search for a new town manager.

“We had a qualified consultant working with the town, a great screening committee, and a process that included public interviews of the three qualified finalists,” he said.

Lemnios also commended Town Clerk Lori West for “successfully navigating” the May 15 and subsequent two-hour follow-up election process under what he called “an extraordinary set of circumstances.”

“He was a great leader with our department heads and staff, and you could clearly see the results of that throughout town with the great work they all accomplished daily,” Grey said. “I am forever grateful for all he has done for our town, and I wish him the best in his retirement.”

Police chief named acting town manager: Lemnios to be consultant during transition

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board Wednesday night appointed Police Chief John Dunn acting town manager and approved a proposal by retiring Town Manager Philip Lemnios to provide interim consulting services until his replacement, Jennifer Constable, begins her duties later this summer.

TOP BRASS. Hull Police’s Stephen Glavin, center, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant on Wednesday. He is flanked by Chief John Dunn, left, and Deputy Chief Neil Reilly. Glavin previously served as a detective and is a crisis negotiator with the MetroLEC regional SWAT team. They are standing in the hall outside the town manager’s office, where Dunn will fill in as the Hull’s acting chief executive following Philip Lemnios’s retirement Thursday. [Courtesy photo]

Dunn’s appointment was made effective at midnight on Friday, June 30, following Lemnios’s resignation, which took effect the previous day.

Dunn will maintain the day-to-day operations of the town and attend select board meetings until Constable steps into the role.

“This is an opportunity for Chief Dunn to ensure that things continue on as they should,” Lemnios said during his final board meeting.

“I can’t think of anyone who would do a better job,” board member Irwin Nesoff said.

Dunn said he was “surprised and humbled” to be appointed to this temporary position and “is looking forward to being here as a caretaker between the time Phil leaves and when Jennifer Constable starts.”

When asked by board member Jason McCann how he will juggle both positions, Dunn said he has a capable deputy chief who can help run the police department.

Pending successful contract negotiations, Constable is expected step into her new role at the end of July or the beginning of August, according to Lemnios. Constable is currently the assistant town administrator in Rockland.

In his consulting role, Lemnios will work about 15 hours weekly and will be paid a flat fee of $2,250 per week. Following the meeting, the board held an executive session to negotiate revised employment agreements with the town manager designee/police chief and the deputy police chief.

Examples of Lemnios’s consulting duties include:

• Acting as resource with the acting town manager and staff members for questions, advice, and associated administrative tasks.

• Monitoring town manager’s email box daily and responding to or directing emails to the appropriate party for action.

• Being available 24/7 for phone calls regarding ongoing issues.

• Continuing to work on ongoing legal cases as determined by town counsel.

• Assisting the new town manager with the transition into her new role.

“This week I transferred my town hall number to my personal phone to ease communications and to be sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Lemnios said.

Nesoff thanked Lemnios “for helping us through this transition. Doing so wasn’t required.”

He further noted that the hourly rate for Lemnios’ services comes out to about $150 an hour, where most other consultants would charge far more.

“This amount may seem like a lot, but it’s an extremely discounted rate and speaks to your generosity,” Nesoff told Lemnios.

In turn, Lemnios said he and his family have appreciated the opportunity for him to serve the Town of Hull for many years.

“I want to remain involved without stepping on the new town manager’s toes,” he said. “[Jennifer Constable] is very competent, and I’m happy to help.”

Life-saving equipment installed at playing fields to help users in case of a medical emergency

By Carol Britton Meyer

A cooperative effort among town departments has resulted in the installation of potential life-saving equipment at several of Hull’s playing fields, basketball courts, and the high school walking track.

Automated External Defibrillators are now available at the Kenberma pickleball and basketball courts/playground, the L Street fields, and the high school turf field and walking track to provide emergency medical assistance at these widely-used locations.

A fourth AED will be installed soon at the Dust Bowl field at Pemberton. Signage has been ordered and will be placed at all the sites, with arrows pointing to the AEDs, which will be clearly marked.

AEDs are life-saving devices designed to treat individuals who experience sudden cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly.

The combination of CPR and early defibrillation is considered to be effective in saving lives when used in the first few minutes following a collapse from sudden cardiac arrest.

Installation of the AEDs is the result of a partnership among Hull High School athletic trainer Lexie Watkins, Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn, and School Business Administrator Diane Saniuk, Greg Grey and other members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the fire department, working with Chief Chris Russo.

“This was truly a group effort,” Watkins told The Hull Times. “Hull Public Schools split the cost with Parks and Recreation, and Hull Fire provided and mounted the cabinets for the AEDs.”

Watkins explained that after noticing that coaches don’t normally have access to the AEDs inside the high school on the weekends, she brought the issue to the attention of school administration.

“It seemed like a good idea to have an AED on site, because the field and walking track are used by student-athletes, community members of all ages, and sports groups who rent the field,” she said. “I took a look around and learned that most communities have AEDs at their athletic facilities. Given how widely used the high school field [and these other recreational areas are], installing AEDs made a lot of sense. They’re easy to use, and you can’t hurt anybody when using an AED while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. That extra time saved means a lot when someone is unconscious.”

After reaching out to Kuehn and Saniuk and gaining their support, Watkins approached Russo, who connected her with Grey.

“Park and Rec [members] felt it was important to have AEDs at the L street facility and Kenberma Field especially since we added the pickleball courts,” Grey said. “Athletic Director Connor Duhaime was also at our meeting and knew there was a need for one at the high school, so we reached out to Chris Russo for guidance, and he jumped right in and followed it through –  procuring the AEDs and having his department install them. This was a great effort by all.”

Kuehn called this “an important project because this small device plays an important role in saving the life of someone who is in cardiac arrest.”

The AED device walks the user through what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency. With more AEDs available, “a life may possibly be saved,” Kuehn said. “This is absolutely a team effort and another example of a partnership between groups in the community.”

At the end of the playing season, Watkins will collect the AEDs and bring them to the Fire Department for storage until the spring. The company that provided the devices maintains them.

“It’s really nice when people from different town departments work together and get things done,” she said, expressing gratitude to everyone involved. “It was quick action on everyone’s part in recognizing the need. The process started last winter, and we ordered the AEDs this past spring and then installed them for the benefit of everyone.”

Music by the Sea summer concerts return to the Bernie King Pavilion

Music resumed Memorial Day Weekend at the Bernie King Pavilion, and it starts up again this Sunday, June 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. and every Sunday through Sept. 10.

Performers will feature everything from music from the American Songbook, to the 1950s,’60s and ’70s, so you can swing, foxtrot, cha-cha and waltz, or just listen to beautiful Music By The Sea. Join fellow music lovers at the beach under the breeze-swept, shaded Bernie King Pavilion to hear the bands play some of your favorites.

This activity continues a multi-year tradition which is enjoyed by many music and dancing devotees. These popular musical events are supported by donations, so your financial support and volunteer hours are welcomed.

All of the funds collected go toward paying expenses. This very ambitious schedule needs everyone’s financial support to pay the musicians. Consider making a donation and asking your local business to do so.

To donate, refer a donor, or volunteer to be a part of this endeavor contact Gina Pag (thesnippery.hairstudio@verizon.net) or Lou Altieri (altlou@msn.com). Checks can be made payable to Music By The Sea and mailed to The Snippery, 428 Washington St., Braintree, MA 02184.

2023 Schedule of Performers at the Bernie King Pavilion

Sunday, June 25: The Continentals; From Swing to Soft Rock

Sunday, July 2: Don Altobello Dance Band

Tuesday, July 4:  Judy and Barry De Rossi (Formerly of Four Guys In Tuxes)

Sunday, July  9: Gina and The Jazz Notes; A Run Down Memory Lane

Sunday, July 16: Ray Cavicchio and the Amazing Therese DiMuzio

Sunday, July 23:  Bob Sinicrope And His Swing Set Trio       

Sunday, July 30: Magic Moments Live Vocal Group; Music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s

Sunday, Aug. 6: DJ Armand Ramos Playing Your Favorite Dance Requests

Sunday, Aug. 13: Gina and The Jazz Notes; A Run Down Memory Lane

Sunday, Aug. 20: Play It Again Band; Songs from the past 100 years

Sunday, Aug. 27: Magic Moments Live Vocal Group; Music of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s

Sunday, Sept. 3: Play It Again Band; Songs from the past 100 years

Monday, Sept. 4: Judy and Barry De Rossi (Formerly of Four Guys In Tuxes)

Sunday, Sept. 10: Dale And The Defenders Concert Corps 20-piece orchestra

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Calling her ‘the perfect fit,' board names former Chair Jennifer Constable new town manager

By Carol Britton Meyer

Former Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable is Hull’s first new town manager in 16 years.

JENNIFER CONSTABLE, HULL’S NEXT TOWN MANAGER.

Following a more than one-hour interview on June 15, Constable was unanimously named to the position by the select board to replace Philip Lemnios, who is retiring at the end of this month.

The other two finalists, Peter Caruso and Thomas Guerino, also underwent extensive interviews during the four-hour meeting. (See related story.)

Chair Greg Grey called Constable, Rockland’s assistant town administrator since 2019, “the perfect fit and the best choice for the citizens of our town moving forward.”

Newly elected select board member Jerry Taverna could not participate in the interviews or vote since the new town manager will be his wife’s boss. Joan Taverna is currently Hull’s health director. He observed the interviews from the audience.

Grey announced before the interviews that no questions or comments from the public would be allowed.

While select board members Grey, Irwin Nesoff, and newly elected Jason McCann said that all the candidates were qualified, they said that Constable’s experience on boards and committees and as a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the MBTA Advisory Board, Massachusetts Municipal Association, and the South Shore Coalition – in addition to her discussions with the Department of Conservation & Recreation as a select board member – will enable her to “hit the ground running.”

Nesoff called Constable’s experience working with the DCR, which owns a great deal of property in Hull, a “significant plus.”

Constable, who resigned from the board in February shortly after Lemnios announced his retirement, said crafting a master plan for Hull would be helpful when addressing proposed residential and commercial developments.

McCann noted that there were “three strong candidates, with a lot of consistency from the perspective of being a strong manager, although they are three very different people.”

All the finalists had experience in grant writing. Constable listed many successful grant applications that she wrote and talked about her background with affordable housing, unions, and financial management.

Her role as Rockland’s assistant town administrator helped prepare her for this position.

“The town administrator and I work collaboratively on most if not all of the town’s [business], so I am part of the finance team,” she said. “I also am acting town administrator [when the current one is not available] and work with the police, fire, and all the other departments.”

Constable accepted that position during a challenging time when there was “a level of mistrust” and a need for more transparency, she explained. The town is now in a much better place due to enhanced communications, including a popular bi-monthly newsletter, that could be implemented in Hull, she said.

Constable’s service to the town over 20 years, including time on the planning board, affordable housing committee, and seven years on the select board, added to her appeal.

Other of her priorities includes understanding the needs of department heads, having a strong capital improvement plan and seeking grants to help finance projects, financial forecasting, and maintaining good communications with school leadership.

“In Hull, 60 percent of the town budget goes to the schools,” Constable noted.

McCann said that while all three candidates had similar management styles, including an open-door policy and a collaborative approach, Constable was “very organized” and gave a comprehensive overview of how her past experience would benefit her in the town manager position.

When asked what she envisions the role of the new assistant town manager approved at this year’s town meeting to be, Constable said it would be “somebody who complements me and is capable of filling in when I’m not available. My strengths are housing and economic development.”

An ideal assistant town manager would also be someone who could handle human resources matters and who knows how to pursue grant opportunities, she said.

During her interview, Constable explained that while her two-decade career has been in public service, she had not envisioned herself working in local government, but it has proved to be a good fit.

“I live here and love this community,” she said. “It’s financially stable and there are a number of focus areas for the future that I think I am well poised and experienced in to help move this community into and through its next chapter.”

While she had pretty much made up her mind to apply for the position, Constable said that community support for her doing so helped her make that decision.

When asked about serving as town manager in a community in which she resides, she saw no conflict.

“One of my strong qualities is wearing multiple hats and understanding those different roles,” she said. “I take my work very seriously and approach it thoughtfully and with honesty. Being a resident might hold me to a higher standard, but that’s OK. I hold myself to a very high standard anyway and am willing to take on that responsibility.”

Search consultant Bernard Lynch from Paradigm Associates noted that a number of communities have town managers who are also residents, and some even make that a requirement.

Constable also said that if chosen for the position, she “would take my experience, love, and understanding of the community and apply it every single day.”

When asked about her management style, Constable said being flexible is important as well as good communication and transparency.

“I would want the select board to set priorities on an annual basis and be sure that the board’s and town departments’[goals] are in alignment,” she said.

The select board interviewed each of the three town manager finalists in alphabetical order, with Lynch assisting with the process.

Caruso is currently the town administrator of Millville, a position he has held for the past four years, and Guerino served as Bourne’s town administrator from 2005 to 2019 and is currently the executive director of the Greenfield Housing Authority.

Following the interviews, board members briefly shared their thoughts about the three finalists, followed by a motion by Grey to hire Constable and a unanimous vote in favor of that recommendation.

Before the interviews, select board members, other than Taverna and Brian McCarthy, read letters they wrote related to the State Ethics Commission disclosing that they have interacted with Constable in a professional capacity in the past and that they would remain impartial and fair in making the new town manager decision.

McCarthy’s letter of disclosure indicated that he has not worked with Constable on any committees in the past and that he, too, would remain impartial and fair in making the final choice.

Grey thanked Lynch for his “above and beyond professional guidance” throughout the process and members of the search committee for their hard work.

“You guided us through a very open process that was transparent from step one, as it is now,” Nesoff told Lynch. “We came up with three incredible finalists from a much larger pool.”

After the decision was made, Nesoff spoke to “the elephant in the room,” referring to social media chatter claiming that “the fix was in” for Constable from the beginning, stating that was not the case.

“Jen is clearly the most qualified, with a smaller learning curve. She will be ready to jump in from day one,” he said. “For anyone with concerns who listened to her interview tonight and read her references and resume, she stands out above the other candidates.”

While Constable holds a master’s degree in public administration already, she considers herself to be a “lifelong learner.”

Constable’s hiring is contingent upon “any and all background checks and the successful negotiation of a contract,” Grey said.

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Hull Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn to retire in June 2024

By Carol Britton Meyer

Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn will retire at the end of the next school year.

During a record-short 17-minute meeting Monday night, the school committee unanimously elected David Twombly as the new chair and accepted Kuehn’s letter of intent to retire in June 2024.

Kuehn said it was “with mixed emotions” that she made her announcement.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS JUDITH KUEHN.

“Coming to this decision wasn’t an easy one. However, it’s the right one as my retirement will coincide with the completion of the comprehensive reconfiguration of the [Hull Public Schools] project,” she said. “I owe it to the community, staff, students, and families to see it through.”

Previously the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and professional development, Kuehn was named superintendent of schools in May 2020 to replace Michael Devine.

She had been assistant superintendent since 2012. Prior to that Kuehn served as Hull’s director of student services for four years, where she oversaw special education, school nurses and medical services, 504 plans, grant writing, preschool, guidance and counseling, and the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

“I have had the good fortune to be associated with so many exceptional educators, educational leaders, and school committee members, who have the passion and commitment to make decisions that reflect the best interests of our students,” Kuehn said. “For 15 years I have also been blessed to be associated with outstanding students, families, support staff, custodians, central office staff, and town employees. I am proud that the Hull Public Schools is truly a special place where all students have access to an outstanding education and life-changing opportunities.”

One of her top commitments during the new school year is to complete the plans for phase two of the reconfiguration project to ensure that a successful implementation occurs in the fall of 2024.

“The Hull Public Schools is an incredible school district. I can say with confidence that this project positions the Hull Public Schools to be even stronger in the future,” Kuehn said.

Calling this a “bittersweet moment,” Kuehn thanked the school committee for the opportunity to serve as superintendent.

“I wanted to give the committee time to prepare,” she said. “I could have retired two years ago, but I really love my work and wanted to see [the reconfiguration] through. … I am so proud of what we have built together.”

During phase one of the consolidation, pre-K through grade 6 will be housed at Jacobs Elementary School, grades 7 and 8 at Memorial Middle School, and grades 9 through 12 at the high school for the 2023-24 school year.

The phase two reconfiguration plan calls for Jacobs School to house grades Pre-K through grade 7 and the high school, grades 8 to 12, starting with the 2024-25 school year.

The committee also welcomed new member Regan Yakubian, and elected Kyle Conley as vice chair and Liliana Hedrick as secretary for the coming year. Conley was not present.

The entire committee expressed regret at Kuehn’s plan to retire while wishing her all the best.

Twombly said he knew Kuehn was “getting close to retirement age – it was in the back of my mind. …You’ve done an excellent job, going from the refrigerator to the frying pan [after she was named Devine’s replacement], and then two weeks later COVID started, and you took the lead and did an unbelievable job.

“You’ve done it all and touched thousands of lives in the Hull Public Schools,” Twombly continued. “You’ve earned a nice retirement. I’m looking forward to working with you during the next year as we transition into the consolidation and [into the process of searching for] a new superintendent.”

Hedrick called Kuehn “an incredible person first and foremost, on top of the amount of care and time you have put into education for our community. There’s no doubt that you will see [the school reconfiguration plan] through and make it all happen.”

Speaking as a parent, Yakubian said she’s grateful to Kuehn for all she has done for the HPS and the students, “especially through COVID, when the kids were able to remain in school. You took care of the district and this community, and I look forward to the year we have to work together.”

Member Ernest Minelli thinks fiscal 2024 “will be a year of celebrating the next stage of the reconfiguration effort and to also celebrate your [Kuehn’s] accomplishments and achievements in the various roles you have performed.”

Also speaking as a parent, Minelli expressed appreciation for Kuehn’s understanding of students, educators, and the community.

“You are part of the fabric of what makes Hull [special],” he said.

When talking about next steps, Twombly said he expects a transition team would be created in the fall and that a consulting firm may be hired to help with the search.

In the meantime, Kuehn will work with the school committee to create a transition plan to support a successful start for the next superintendent on July 1, 2024.

“At the August school committee retreat, discussions related to the superintendent search will begin,” she said.

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Town manager finalist interviews reveal range of ideas for development, collaboration

By Carol Britton Meyer

All three finalists for the Hull town manager position were considered to be strong candidates, select board members said at their meeting last Thursday night before choosing former board Chair Jennifer Constable to replace Philip Lemnios.

Peter Caruso is currently the town administrator of Millville, a position he has held for the past four years. Thomas Guerino served as Bourne’s town administrator from 2005 to 2019 and is currently the executive director of the Greenfield Housing Authority.

“We had three excellent candidates,” said select board member Irwin Nesoff, who served as chair of the search committee.

PETER CARUSO

Constable was named to the position in large part because of her knowledge of Hull and her relationships with outside organizations such as the Massachusetts Area Planning Council and the Department of Conservation & Recreation.

During his interview, Caruso, a Scituate resident, said he appreciates all of Hull’s “nooks and crannies” and finds the town and its coexistence with the ocean “fascinating.”

He was also impressed with the number of candidates in the recent select board race.

In explaining his management style, Caruso said he always tries to be prepared while maintaining a sense of humor. One of his goals as a town manager would be “to help people be the best they can be in the municipal sector, coaching and acting as cheerleader, educator, and sometimes a student. You have to earn their respect.”

He also believes it’s important to be open, to set expectations, and to get “all the town departments to buy in and understand the financial challenges facing the town.”

When asked how he would increase the level of citizens’ trust as Hull’s town manager, he said finding a way for everyone to get along and “allowing people to have input” is helpful.

THOMAS GUERINO

With regard to public input at meetings, Caruso said having the select board manage the dialogue “even with parameters in place” is key. “Having someone in blue at the back of the room when you think a conversation might get dicey helps ensure that a meeting remains civil,” he said.

With regard to sound financial management, Caruso referred to himself as a “budgetmeister.”

It’s not something that a town manager can do alone. “It’s important to try to live within a town’s means and to have a good relationship with the school district and the superintendent,” he said.

Caruso noted that the fact that Hull has a number of shovel-ready projects helps pave the way for successful grant applications to pay a portion of the costs.

He also observed that because Hull doesn’t have much open space left, it would be good for the select board “to put a stake in the ground” regarding finding a balance between growth and “not pushing residents out of the way” during that process.

With regard to hiring an assistant town manager as approved by the recent town meeting, he thinks that rather than hiring a human resources expert, the town would be better served by someone who could assist with grant writing, procurements, and special projects. 

Caruso also acknowledged what Hull’s public safety officials and EMS staff “have to deal with on summer weekends. You never know what to expect.”

During his interview, Guerino said he spent two full days meeting in person or conversing by telephone with different Hull department leaders and has driven and walked around town.

He described his management style as “horizontal and approachable. I don’t micromanage the town departments.”

Part of his job would be to set goals with department heads and benchmarks, and if there’s a “hiccup” to find a way to address it and move forward.

If chosen for the position, Guerino said he would identify and address any “pressure points” that required special attention and find out the board’s consensus on the matter.

“I would attend every meeting I could for the first couple of months to be visible and out there and let elected folks know I am available,” he said.

Guerino also suggested running a “community academy” several times to help citizens become familiar with different aspects of Hull’s town government and how it is run.

While serving as town administrator of Bourne from 2005 to 2019, Guerino explained how he dealt with an unexpected necessary significant expenditure, working out a strategy to address the shortfall “and shore up our finances. We did some trimming, got a small override, only the second one since 1991, which failed, and created a new financial policy on the municipal and school sides,” he said. “The financial team worked hard over a number of years, and when I left the town was sitting on $8 million in free cash and a little less in the stabilization fund.”

The town’s financial rating also improved greatly under his leadership, he said.

Guerino envisions the assistant town manager as someone “eager who might not have municipal experience, but who has a specific skill set and might need some mentoring, but the expectations would be high for that person.”

He called Hull “a unique town surrounded by water, with limited access,” calling economic development and growth a “long-term plan. If you put a good team together, a project can go from seed to stalk to bearing fruit when possible.”

Guerino, who lives in Vermont, said the distance between his hometown and Hull wouldn’t be a problem and wasn’t when he worked for Bourne. “I never missed a meeting, despite the long commute. I would get a place down here and go home on weekends. It’s not perfect, but it works for my wife and me. You would never need wonder where Guerino is! You would get an awful lot of hours from me -- I would be the first one in town hall and the last one out as long as I could get in a swim once or twice a week and get my drumsticks out!”

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Police, fire departments issue reminders to celebrate Fourth of July safely

With the Fourth of July holiday quickly approaching, Hull’s police and fire departments issued several reminders for safe and lawful celebrations.

According to the state Department of Fire Services and State Police, Massachusetts fire departments reported nearly 1,000 fires related to illegal fireworks between 2013 and 2022. In addition to the 42 fire service injuries, five citizen injuries, and $2.5 million in damages attributed to these fires, Massachusetts medical facilities reported about 30 severe burn injuries extending to 5% or more of the victims’ bodies that were caused by illegal fireworks.

In 2022 alone, fire departments reported 106 fires and explosions attributed to fireworks, an increase of nearly a third over the prior year.

Fireworks of all kinds are illegal to use, possess, or sell in Massachusetts. Residents should also note that open burning is only legal in the state between Jan. 15 and May 1.

The Hull Police Department will take enhanced measures, including ramped up enforcement of beach parking regulations, in order to ensure that the ban on bonfires during the summer months is strictly adhered to and that fireworks are not used.

What is prohibited by under Massachusetts law?

It is illegal for private citizens to use, possess, or sell fireworks in Massachusetts without a license and a permit. This includes fireworks purchased legally elsewhere and brought into the state. It includes sparklers, firecrackers, cherry bombs, and other fireworks. The law prohibits any article designed to produce a visible or audible effect.

What are the penalties?

The sale of fireworks is punishable by confiscation, and a fine or imprisonment, or both. A fine can range from $100 to $1,000 and possible imprisonment is a maximum of one year.

The possession of fireworks is punishable by confiscation and a fine of $10 to $100.

Is there any danger associated with fireworks?

Fireworks can cause injuries to firefighters and citizens, along with millions of dollars in property damage. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there has been a significant upward trend in fireworks-related injuries. Between 2006 and 2021, injuries with fireworks climbed 25% in the U.S.

• Young adults aged 20-24 had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries in 2021.

• In 2021, there were an estimated 1,500 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 1,100 involving sparklers.

• In 2021, the parts of the body most often injured by fireworks were hands and fingers (an estimated 31% of injuries) along with head, face, and ears (an estimated 21%).

Residents are encouraged to report any misuse of fireworks to the Hull Police Department at 781-925-1212.

In case of a fireworks-related or other emergency, always dial 911.

Additionally, residents are reminded of these key safety tips for Fourth of July celebrations:

• Attend organized and permitted fireworks displays only.

• Report illegal fires to the police.

• Remember that alcohol/drugs and fireworks do not mix.

• Keep pets indoors and away from fireworks. The loud noises and flashing lights can be overwhelming for pets. Pets can become frightened and run from familiar environments and people, becoming lost.

The departments also urge residents to observe the following tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to get home safely following Fourth of July celebrations:

• Be mindful of pedestrians.

• Always wear your seatbelt.

• Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. From 2017 to 2021, 1,460 drivers were killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period; 38% of the drivers killed were drunk.

• Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, do not plan on driving. Instead, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service to get home safely.

• Take keys away from people who are under the influence and are planning to drive. Alcohol and drugs impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory, which are critical for safe and responsible driving.

• If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.

For more information on fireworks in Massachusetts visit: www.mass.gov/doc/summary-of-massachusetts-fireworks-law/download

For general summer safety tips, visit: www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer