Residents’ complaints prompt town to begin cleanup of knee-deep seaweed piles

By Christopher Haraden

Amid complaints about large mounds of seaweed washed up on Nantasket Beach – and at least one dead deer – several town departments this week launched a plan for cleanup.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH: In response to residents’ complaints about massive amounts of seaweed washed up on Nantasket Beach, Hull’s public works crews began pushing the piles toward the water line to be taken by the outgoing tides. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the week. [Richard W. Green photo]

DPW Director Chris Gardner said Wednesday that crews are moving the seaweed down the beach toward shore be taken with the outgoing tides.

“The seaweed is being pushed back into the water with a front-end loader with a rake attachment,” Gardner said. “It’s been a practice we have used for years and works well. The town has a process that is required to follow before any machines can be put on the beach.”

On Tuesday, Public Health Director Rachel Gerold acknowledged in a memo that her office had “received numerous complaints from residents concerning the accumulation of seaweed from B Street to N Street.”

“The large accumulations of seaweed will, if not removed, become infested with insects and could pose a present or imminent threat to the health or safety of the general public,” she wrote.

“We have all worked collaboratively and swiftly on a solution for cleaning the beach between B Street to N Street,” she said Wednesday. “We all will continue to monitor all of North Nantasket Beach.”

According to the town’s beach management plan, seaweed is removed only from the area between mean high water and 10 feet seaward of the dune. Seaweed may be removed with hand rakes or, if the accumulation is large enough, with machinery.

Click here to read Hull’s beach management plan

Residents from other neighborhoods – from Kenberma to Gunrock – also reported large buildup of seaweed on their sections of the beach.

On Sunday, DPW crews removed a dead deer from the sand near the dune opening at Revere Street. Gardner said no heavy equipment was used in that process in order to comply with the town’s beach-cleaning regulations. A few days later, residents reported seeing another deer swimming in the ocean.

The DPW director estimated that the seaweed movement operation should be completed by the end of the week.


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Board’s officers to remain unchanged; members debate social media posts in contentious meeting

By Carol Britton Meyer

During an often contentious select board meeting this week, Chair Irwin Nesoff, Vice Chair Greg Grey, and Clerk Jason McCann were elected to those same positions for the coming year, with board member Jerry Taverna nominating himself for all three seats. There were no seconds to his nomination motions.

The votes were 4-1 (with Taverna voting no) for the chair and vice chair positions. The vote for McCann to remain in the clerk seat was unanimous.

“Even if this might be ceremonial, I’m doing it as an example to help people understand how [the process] works,” Taverna said after nominating himself for vice chair.

While saying he was pleased with some board accomplishments during his first year, Taverna said he is “not completely onboard with a lot of things that have happened since. … The second year has not gone as expected.”

Select board members brian Mccarthy, greg Grey, Jason McCann, Irwin Nesoff, and Jerry Taverna.

Nesoff said he was out of order, saying that the board was in the process of making nominations.

After nominating himself for clerk, Taverna said again, “I know it’s ceremonial, but I’m trying to break into this board of officers. I’m willing to start at the bottom, gentlemen. Is there a second?”

There was no second, and McCann was elected on a unanimous vote.

Nesoff thanked board members for their confidence in him and explained that he expected the board to disagree in a respectful manner and to “treat each other with respect. Unfortunately, that is not the case with a board member who feels he needs to go on social media.” He did not mention a specific individual.

“Can I call you out of order?” Taverna asked, to which Nesoff responded, “Not at this time.”

Nesoff read a number of social media posts he said were made by the board member he referred to that he deemed “not acceptable.”

As a board, “we should respect each other and not call out another board member publicly,” he said. “Facebook is not the place for us to have disagreements, which belong in the board room among board members.”

Because of these posts, Nesoff asked that a copy of the “Dignity Pledge” recently supported by the board be placed in each member’s packet of information for that meeting.

Nesoff said he believed that everyone doesn’t have to agree on every issue.

A member of the audience said she knew who Nesoff was referring to and didn’t feel the posts were inappropriate. Another resident said she saw a post by a No Place for Hate Committee member “making derogatory comments” about someone running for office. “The select board should look at what other people are saying on Facebook,” she said.

“It would be up to the NPFH chair to address that,” Nesoff responded.

In other business…

• During select board updates, Nesoff said he wanted “to assure people that this board is not stonewalling on Article 37” which passed at the recent town meeting. The purpose of the article was to remove the town manager as the light plant manager.

“It’s a long process, not something we can do in [the] three weeks since town meeting met,” he said. “The town manager has met with counsel for the town and light plant to discuss next steps and legal ramifications, so that vote is not being ignored and is moving forward.” Town Manager Jennifer Constable was absent due to another commitment.

Taverna said he believes the select board should be involved “in those discussions, but that’s for the chair to decide.”

He added concerns about the 2024 select board retreat following an earlier mention of setting this year’s date – which he said was not attended by any members of the public, unlike the previous year’s.

“I don’t want to waste another Saturday going through that experience again and would like to see a clear agenda before I agree to attend,” he said. “The first one wasn’t bad.”

Nesoff asked Taverna to pause his comments because he said it was not the time “to critique our retreat meeting.”

“Should I prepare a statement?” Taverna asked, at which time Nesoff said, “If you continue, I will call you out of order.”

“Fair enough,” Taverna responded. “Mr. Chairman, the floor is yours.”

Nesoff said that “this is the time for select board updates,” to which Taverna responded, “I don’t want to be called out of order. It would be a stain on my good record.”

During the meeting, there was some back-and-forth discussion about when members of the audience are allowed to speak.

“We don’t have a public comment period. If an agenda item is posted, they can talk,” Grey explained. Article 37 was not on that night’s agenda.

Light Commissioner Jake Vaillancourt, who spearheaded Article 37 as a citizens’ petition, was in the audience. Following discussion with Nesoff, he said that “serious matters have been raised that haven’t been addressed, and there are more,” without giving specifics.

Nesoff suggested Vaillancourt request to have this issue put on an upcoming agenda.

Vaillancourt said he was not available for the June 11 board meeting but plans to attend the June 25 meeting “after sending the board some information.”

“We will follow up directly,” Nesoff responded.

When asked by light board member Tom Burns whether public comment is only accepted when an item is on an agenda, Grey said that agenda items involve “discussions with an audience. If we go by the fly [and talk about items not on the agenda], anyone could go with any topic they want.” Public comment on agenda items is encouraged.

McCann noted that if items are discussed that aren’t on the agenda, citizens who watch the meeting live on community television or later on the replay could say, “I didn’t realize the board was going to talk about this.”

“It’s about transparency and giving notice, and not having an item that’s discussed on the agenda is a huge disservice to the community,” he said.

Citizens who wish for certain items to be placed on an agenda are encouraged to email a member of the select board, the town manager, or assistant town manager, “and if appropriate, we will see about putting them on a future agenda,” Nesoff said.

• Nesoff read a proclamation declaring Saturday, June 7, as Hull Pride Day. This will be the town’s 12th annual Pride celebration.

• The board approved Public Health Nurse Elizabeth Gudmand’s request to host an event with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Sun Safety and Skin Care Prevention Program van on the HRA property for skin cancer prevention screenings and Dana-Farber’s mammography van to do breast cancer prevention screenings at the Manet Community Health Center on June 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Rhoda Kanet was appointed as a member of Hull’s newly created 250th Anniversary Committee, created to help celebrate the USA’s semiquincentennial anniversary.


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A day of remembrance and reflection: Memorial Day 2025

On Monday, May 26, the town observed Memorial Day with the traditional parade from Hull High School down Main Street to Spring Street, and ending at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at Hull Village Cemetery.

The keynote speaker this year was Colonel Francis J. Curtis (Retired), who served for more than 32 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. His is a recipient of the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Following the ceremony, town officials dedicated four squares in memory of Hull veterans — Joseph Mario Grieco, Sr. at Standish Avenue and Beacon Road; John D. Zullo at D Street and Nantasket Avenue (on the beach side); the Chase family – including Robert, Joseph, John, and Harold – at Samoset Avenue and Phipps Street; and Edward Charles O’Brien at Edgewater Road and Sixth Street.

Photos by Skip Tull and James Lampke.

Following the parade, marchers gathered at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at Hull Village Cemetery… [Skip Tull photo]

David Irwin of Hull American Legion Post 140… [Skip Tull photo]

Chloe Hedrick sang the National Anthem… [Skip Tull photo]

Hull Police Officer Leanne Marshalsea and Officer Peddocks… [Skip Tull photo]

Colonel Frank Curtis was the keynote speaker… [Skip Tull photo] 

Marchers in the parade included Hull’s police and fire departments, town officials, and community groups… [Skip Tull photo]

Point Allerton Coast Guard Commander Justin Young handed out small American flags… [Skip Tull photo]

 The Rev. Scott Euvrard gave the invocation… [Skip Tull photo]

A gun salute marked the dedication of squares in memory of local veterans. [James Lampke photo]

 A square was dedicated in honor of Joseph Mario Grieco, Sr. at Standish Avenue and Beacon Road. [James Lampke photo]

 A square was dedicated in honor of the Chase family – including Robert, Joseph, John, and Harold – at Samoset Avenue and Phipps Street. [James Lampke photo]

A square was dedicated in honor of John D. Zullo at D Street and Nantasket Avenue. [James Lampke photo]

A square was dedicated in honor of Edward Charles O’Brien at Edgewater Road and Sixth Street. [James Lampke photo]


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Hull man faces ‘open and gross lewdness’ charge after exposing himself while driving

By Christopher Haraden

A 39-year-old Hull man was arrested on Tuesday after four teenage girls reported that he performed a lewd act while driving next to them on George Washington Boulevard.

FILIP CERNY

Filip Cerny was arrested Tuesday and charged with open and gross lewdness, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, as the Hull Police Department’s investigation confirmed that Cerny exposed himself while driving unsafely in order to maintain eye contact with passengers in a car in the next lane.

According to a report by Sgt. Edward Minelli, “Mr. Cerny expressed that he did not intend for the girls to see what he was doing. Mr. Cerny expressed that he had been masturbating for one minute while driving and that he stopped when the girls saw him.”

However, in separate interviews with Hull Police Department sexual assault investigator Officer Leanne Marshalsea, the three 19-year-old girls and one 18-year-old recounted the same circumstances of the incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. on Monday.

The 19-year-old driver told police “that she tried to speed up but the van accelerated with her remaining next to her vehicle,” according to Marshalsea’s report. “She stated that at some point she slowed down and that the vehicle also slowed down in an effort to maintain the same speed as her.” She said the driver “looked over in their direction several times but did not make any facial expressions or say anything.”

All four girls said their vehicle and minivan were side by side traveling into Hull until the two lanes merged into one lane near Cumberland Farms on Nantasket Avenue. They followed the minivan until it turned off at A Street.

In the interview room at Hull Police headquarters on Tuesday, Cerny admitted to masturbating but “the ladies weren’t supposed to see anything,” according to the incident report.

Cerny was arraigned later that day in Hingham District Court and released on personal recognizance with the condition that he have no contact with any of the victims or witnesses.


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In the Sport-light: Roundup of news about Hull athletes

Compiled by Matt Haraden 

• Hull High Baseball qualified for the state tournament, beating South Shore Vo-Tech, 7-5, in the Pirates’ latest game. Ted Hipp got the win on the mound, pitching 6-2/3 innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Ken Autio got the save, recording a strikeout in the final third of an inning. Luke Dunham went 3/3 from the plate. The 10-10 team will host Avon on Thursday, May 29 at home in the Pirates’ final game of the season.

• The Hull High Girls Lacrosse team is heading into its final game with a 10-8 record, after winning the last two games. The Pirates defeated Rockland, 11-2, on May 21 and Mashpee, 15-12, on May 23. Next up is an away game against Swampscott on Sunday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m.

FORWARD MARCH: Members of the Hull Girls Softball team get ready to march in the Memorial Day Parade outside the high school on Monday morning. [Courtesy photo]

• Girls Softball D1 Team 1 wrapped up its season this past Tuesday, May 27, with a game in Hingham. A great season was had by all girls, including Jameson Mooney, Shakti Mundo, Keira MacLeod, Iris McMullen, Ava Noonan, and Aubrey Sampson.

D2 Softball is 4-4 before playing the final game of the season on Wednesday, May 28, with a 16-8 win against Scituate. Emma Medina was hot at bat, going 3-3 after pitching four strikeouts in the first two innings on the mound. Ryleigh Mooney contributed in the final inning on the mound with a strikeout and two outs at first. Erin Goodfellow had a two-RBI hit in the final inning.

BEACHY KEEN: On Tuesday night, the Girls 3/4 soccer team made the most of a beautiful evening with a beach practice and some post-practice ice cream. It was a great way to build team spirit, and have fun on an alternative playing surface. [Courtesy photo]


• Coaches and Super Fans – 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 Tuesday at midnight. 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 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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Can you believe it? Castiglione to speak at temple sports brunch

Temple Beth Sholom will host retired Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione at its sports brunch on Sunday, June 15.

Castiglione, known for his 42 years announcing Red Sox games, will be the featured speaker at the event, which begins at 10 a.m. at the temple.

He joined the Red Sox in 1983. At the end of the 1992 season, Castiglione became the team's lead radio announcer, along with Jerry Trupiano. His voice became nationally known when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, as his unforgettable “Can you believe it?” became a catchphrase.

In August 2014, Castiglione was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, and in 2023, he was named as the 2024 recipient of the Ford C. Frick  Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, and later accepted the award during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend in July 2024.

A raffle for Red Sox tickets will be held; tickets are $5 each or three for $10. Two seats at each game on July 11 and August 6 are the raffle prizes.

Cost is $15 per person; children under 18 are free. RSVP at www.tbshull.org/sports-brunch.html.


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McCarthy, Nesoff returned to select board; Hedrick, Littlefield, and Kilroe win school committee seats

A total of 1,402 voters participated in Monday’s annual town election, re-electing select board members Brian McCarthy and Irwin Nesoff and turning out one incumbent, housing authority member Kathleen Bogdan.

McCarthy received 881 votes and Nesoff finished with 782, topping challenger Christopher Niland, who earned 475 votes, according to results released Monday night by Town Clerk Lori West shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Turnout was about 15% of Hull’s total 9,263 registered voters.

Lisa Boretti defeated Kathleen Bogdan, 660 votes to 504, in the race for a five-year seat on the Hull Housing Authority. Nichole Londergan was unopposed for a three-year seat.

On the school committee, incumbent Liliana Hedrick and Brendan Kilroe won three-year terms, with 828 and 742 votes, respectively as former school committee member Ernest Minelli IV fell short in a bid to return to the board with 513 votes. Courtney Littlefield, who was appointed last year after Minelli resigned for personal reasons, retained her seat over Linda Hetue in the contest for a one-year term, 938 votes to 222.

The planning board has two new members, as Abby Klieman defeated Edwin Parsons for a five-year term (771 to 448) and Chandelle Schulte was unopposed for a three-year seat.

Other races were unopposed. Incumbents winning new terms were Town Moderator George Boylen, Town Clerk Lori West, assessor Richard Morris, light commissioners Thomas Burns and Daniel Ciccariello, and library trustee Alice Sloan. DJ Simon won the second open seat on the library board.

A school committee meeting to reorganize after the election that was scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled. The housing authority will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m. over Zoom, and the select board meets again on Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at town hall.

Full results are below.


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Despite members’ reservations and easement uncertainty, ZBA approves Rockaway Annex condos

By Carol Britton Meyer

After reviewing the proposal for a four-story, 12-unit condominium development in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood since last August, the zoning board of appeals approved the project by a 2-1 vote Tuesday night.

However, an unresolved access easement issue could halt the plans for 25 Ipswich Street, which is being proposed under the state’s Chapter 40B comprehensive permit process. The ZBA vote came after the board wrapped up the final details of its written decision, related conditions, and waivers requested by the developer.

ZBA member Richard Hennessey voted against the project and didn’t hold back on expressing his opposition.

“Nothing personal, but this is a terrible project that doesn’t benefit the town,” he said. “It benefits the developer, and I find it to be a detriment to the neighborhood and its occupants. I don’t like it one bit.”

“Many members of the public and town folks are against this project, and I want it to be known that their voices have been heard and that I feel terrible about it,” he said.

Unlike most ZBA votes, those related to comprehensive permits are not required to be unanimous.

‘I’m certainly disappointed’

ZBA member Ed Parsons had concerns of his own but said he decided to vote “yes” because of the affordable housing component.

After Hennessey voted no, ZBA Chair Patrick Finn asked him if he would accept a motion to reconsider in order “to make the vote unanimous.”

“No,” was Hennessey’s reply, to which Finn responded, “I’m certainly disappointed.”

Town Counsel Brian Winner noted that “this is the first stop in a very long process. Alot of this is conceptual.”

The Residences at Rockaway, proposed by developer and Hull resident Alan Mckenzie, includes six modular townhouse-style buildings with two units each set on a .63-acre, single-family-zoned lot. Three units would be affordable. Parking would be in garages under the units and in the driveways.

The comprehensive permit process, more commonly known as Chapter 40B, allows developers to circumvent most local regulations in exchange for an affordable housing component if the town has less than 10% of its housing units designated affordable. Hull’s current ratio of affordable units is 1.6%, according to the state’s formula.

‘I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes’

Before the expected affirmative vote was taken, Finn told the development team: “This is not as cut and dried as yes, good luck, you’re all set, but proceed at your own risk is essentially how I look at my favorable vote. Please do your due diligence to see if this is even doable financially and legal-wise. It’s a lot, I think, and a risk, and I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”

Finn was referring, in part, to the unresolved issue of an access easement over the neighboring property at 20 Ipswich St. that is necessary to carry out the current development proposal.

The developer had planned to use the easement as an alternative access road and for the installation of utilities to service the project, but the property owner is opposed to this plan and has challenged the validity of the easement.

Lawyers for the abutters have submitted letters describing the easement as void because it was not properly filed at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds.

In response to a question from a ZBA member, Winner explained what would happen if the easement issue is not resolved.

“If the determination is made that the developer has no right to the easement, they will have to decide what they want to do with this project and conditions in the decision,” he said. “If they can’t build the development as proposed and approved, all bets are off and they could [present] plan B if they want to, which has not been vetted by the ZBA.”

Changing plans would trigger another separate review process.

Controversial process

Dean Harrison, housing consultant for the developer, said after the vote that while he hoped it would be a unanimous decision, “We do understand that this is a very controversial process. I don’t see anyone coming out of this as the overall winner except for the people who get to live in this housing, which will be a high-quality product that [the town] will be proud of once it’s done.”

“We’ll be back in front of you with good news, bad news… ” he said in closing out his remarks at the end of the meeting.

Earlier, Finn remarked that the process must be “stressful [to the developer] as a Hull resident doing something that has never done before,” referring to this being the only approved Chapter 40B project in the town’s history. “It’s like reinventing the wheel.”

Visit the online version of this story for more details on this project, including reports, plans, and architectural renderings.

A replay of the meeting is available on demand on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.


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HRA pressed for action by couple proposing wellness center; arts group presents own plan

By Carol Britton Meyer

During the recent, often contentious three-and-a-half-hour Hull Redevelopment Authority meeting, Dennis Zaia stepped down as chair and the board listened to two presentations on possible uses of the HRA property by Hull Artists and The Wildlands Trust.

BUILDING INTEREST. Hull Artists, the non-profit association of local artists that currently operates Gallery Nantasket, have proposed building an arts center on the northern end of the Hull Redevelopment Authority property, opposite Monument Square.

They also heard an update from Cohasset residents Lisa and Paul Rogers, who proposed a children’s wellness and community center – which would be named Dylan’s Tide in memory of their late son – for one of the parcels a few months ago.

The Rogers emphasized a number of times during the Zoom meeting that their project would come fully funded, that they weren’t interested in competing with similar uses for the property, and that time is running out for the board to consider their proposal due to investor deadlines.

The proposed Dylan’s Tide and Hull Artists proposals both have a community center approach, and a focus on the arts – among other similarities – while the Wildlands Trust would complement either of those or other uses with an open space component.

HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin, working as a consultant for the HRA, facilitated the presentations, asking the presenters to stay within 15 minutes each and to focus on “broad themes and programs” proposed for the property, “without going into too many minor details, which may be premature at this time as this is part of a big-picture conversation.”

The HRA has just begun another round of draft Urban Renewal Plan edits and revisions. The plan requires select board and state approval.

Collaboration possibilities

The goal the night, Hamin said, was for the three entities to listen to each other along with HRA members and the audience “to start thinking about where there may be possibilities for collaboration around the entire HRA property. Not all visions involve the entire property.”

Bart Blumberg and Malee Nuesse presented the Hull Artists’ proposal for a two-story Nantasket Community Center for the Arts situated on the north end of the HRA property, including a roof deck offering “breathtaking views and unique event opportunities,” landscaping, sculpture gardens, play areas, and a small performance space, among other features.

“For more than two decades, Hull Artists has been looking for a permanent home to meet the increased demand of artists and the South Shore,” and after a failed effort to convert the vacant DCR police station into a dedicated arts center, “Hull Artists is now focusing on the HRA land to bring this vision to life,” Blumberg said.

Their vision for such a center includes live performances and public and private events, art education, galleries, a cafe, and business and meeting spaces, with 150 parking spaces.

Community and creativity hub

The proposal, geared toward serving as a community and creativity hub, includes a building designed “to inspire and endure” and built to exceed climate resilience and modern design standards.

Funding for what could amount to “multiple millions depending on the scope and magnificence of the building,” according to Blumberg, would come from a capital campaign and grants from public and private entities at the local, state, and national levels. Naming rights would be considered, he said.

The center’s management would consist of an executive director, event planner, and other staff who would oversee operations, along with a board of directors.

Designed for longevity with low upkeep, the center would sustain itself through rental fees, café sales, program fees, membership dues, classes, exhibitions, art sales, and donations.

HRA member Dan Kernan referred to the proposal as “a truly grand structure and concepts,” asking questions about the fundraising and other aspects.

‘It’s a no brainer’

HRA member Adrienne Paquin was “a bit struck about the way this proposal was put together. I’m a little emotional. Beautiful, stunning arts centers around the world draw people to them. It’s a no brainer,” she said. “That our little Hull could have such a place is just a dream, but hopefully we could make something happen. The dream is just so beautiful.”

Hamin suggested that those making proposals start giving thought to whether they would like to acquire part of the property through a purchase or lease.

Next on the agenda was the Rogers’ proposal, which involves building a multi-generational child wellness and community center on the HRA parcel adjacent to the paved DCR lot on the northern end of what is referred to as parking lot B.

Lisa Rogers told the board she had not planned to make another presentation that night because of the “substantial” one made earlier. At that time, the HRA expressed overall enthusiasm for the proposal.

Such a center could offer walking paths, sports for all ages, musical swings, an art gallery, a rooftop vegetable and flower garden and farm-to-table events, an outdoor fitness court, patio with fire pits, a retail store selling beach clothing, towels, candles, surfboards, bikes, and beach buggies, inspired jewelry, and other items, and a library, among many other uses, according to the earlier presentation. All profits from the store would support non-profit organizations.

Public-private partnership

The Rogers’ concept is for construction to be paid for through their own financing as well as other private investments, fundraising, grants, and other sources. The town would be asked to contribute to the maintenance as part of what they hope would be a public-private partnership.

In her earlier presentation, Rogers said that she and her husband “have a lot of resources willing to donate their time, talents, and efforts to help get us established” and that a paid director would create a staffing and community activities plan, “with input from us all, who would be responsible for management of the center.”

During last week’s meeting, Rogers asked how realistic it was for the Hull Artists to fund such a large project “in such a small town. The process is concerning to me to be honest,” she said. “We come fully funded for our center with private donations. We were really clear when we made our initial presentation that we had a limited opportunity to secure this funding, and I’m a bit concerned this evening that this might not be a possibility. … Are you interested in competing projects or looking for ones that are funded and ready to go?”

Rogers also said there might be a possibility of the Hull Artists having a gallery within her project.

‘Jazzed up’ about the possibilities

Zaia said that the Rogers “really got us jazzed, which brought Hull Artists to the table.”

The couple asked the HRA to put together a detailed project plan, including the URP timeframe. “If this is going to take another 50 years, we may need to move on…,” Paul Rogers said.

The Rogers said they have talked with many people in town, and there is enthusiasm for the project.

“We would like the HRA board to tighten this down so we can understand if the timeframe is realistic – who is going to do what and when so we can understand whether we can gift this to the town,” Paul Rogers said.

Lisa Rogers said it seemed that the couple and the HRA “are further away than closer together.”

Hamin noted that one of the purposes of a URP is to “ensure decisions are done in harmony rather than in a piecemeal kind of way.”

He also said the “HRA membership wants to move with a fair amount of dispatch in revising the current draft URP and gathering relevant public input – there has already been a lot – and there’s no interest in stretching this out indefinitely.”

The URP “is literally that project plan Paul [Rogers] is speaking of that is so critical,” Zaia said.

‘We come with a funded project’

“We need to make good business decisions,” Lisa Rogers said. “We come with a funded project for a certain amount of time. We’re being completely transparent. We’re bringing a gift to the town of Hull we believe, and that’s how we would expect for it to be accepted.”

Kernan told the Rogers that he “is extremely happy you came forward and sent a message to the town that you exist. … The earlier URP was not really in line with the opportunity you are bringing to us, and we’re currently much more diligently rewriting it, so we would have a framework that you would fit in.”

“Thanks for that,” Lisa Rogers replied. “This is the only time I’ve expressed any frustration. We’re just trying to give you a beautiful community center with no frustration.”

“You have done your homework to see what the community wants, … and I’m hoping there is a place for you folks,” HRA member Joan Senatore said. “It would be foolish for us not to accept a gift like this that comes with funding.”

‘Clear road map’ requested

Lisa Rogers again asked for “a clear road map. You know we want to be there,” she said. “…We need to know if it’s a viable option for us.”

Hamin said the public process moves at “a different speed from the private process. The goal is to find some way of identifying a middle ground to speed up the public process to make certain types of projects viable.”

Dennis said the Rogers “brought us a vision we didn’t have before, and we want to work with that. If nothing else, you are giving us a kick in the seat of our pants, and the Hull Artists has made that a bit more robust, saying we have got to do something. The Wildlands Trust could be another piece of the big picture.”

President and Executive Director Karen Grey then explained the role of the Wildlands Trust, which works throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to permanently protect native habitats, farmland, and lands of high ecologic and scenic value that serve to keep communities healthy and their residents connected to the natural world.

“I’m not here to give an alternative vision – you have two great proposals in front of you,” she said. “I was asked to talk about how we could assist and possible augment some of these other visions tonight if there is going to be a significant open space component to these projects – any kind of walkways, hiking fields, marsh restoration…”

The Trust offers a community stewardship program that aids municipalities in achieving their open space objectives – “how to design, implement, and fund them,” Grey said. “We’re not an advocacy organization. We stay out of politics and away from hotly disputed topics. We don’t take sides or push communities to a place where they don’t want to be.”

Common themes

Zaia noted “common themes” among the three presenters.

“We have a parcel with nothing on it that needs to be nurtured – given magic so it can flourish, and seeing that this is part of the Wildlands Trust’s mission is appealing,” he said.

Hamin said that developing an URP “requires a phased timetable to [create] the plan over the next several months, as well as phased implementation of the vision. It all won’t be built at once.”

When Kernan asked the Rogers about their deadline – “Is it even possible for us to achieve this?” – Paul Rogers said they will be able to answer that question more accurately when the HRA delivers more specific dates and times and projects.

“This board has inherited a 50-year reputation of not getting stuff done,” Rogers said. “No one thinks this will even get done from talking with people in the community.”

Zaia pressed the Rogers for a more definitive answer.

“If we know we have ‘this’ much time and need to fit in more meetings, we would do it, but we need a more definitive statement,” he said. “How much time do we have?”

Lisa Rogers recalled talking initially with the HRA about a six-month timeframe.

“It’s been three months, and we haven’t made much progress. I need to go back to [our investors] and see if they can give us a little more time,” she said. “If we tell them we’re getting a good commitment, the dialogue can continue, but people won’t hold onto their contributions. They will give them to someone else. We don’t want to lose that.”

The idea of Hamin and an HRA member meeting with the Rogers and their attorney – at their suggestion – to talk about the timeline and other issues was suggested, with Kernan offering to attend.

Hamin noted that this same opportunity should be provided to all the presenters.

When the Rogers said they don’t want to compete, Blumberg asked them for more specific details about their proposal – “a bullet point list of what is definitely included in the proposal or what could be proposed, and where – to collaborate, compare, or decide how to move forward.”

Programming the community wants

“We were really clear that we’re not sure what will be in the building,” Lisa Rogers said. “We can make the programming exactly what the community wants. We’ve been out there asking.”

A concerned Blumberg noted that the Hull Artists’ proposal doesn’t mention a wellness center – only a community center – and asked the Rogers to explain what part of the HA’s plan they thought would compete.

Lisa Rogers said that a commercial kitchen, function space, garden sculpture, walking areas, and the rooftop concept are similar in the two proposals.

Ours would be more downscale – not as elaborate because we are privately funded,” she said.

“We don’t want to compete, but we do want to complement what’s already in place,” Paul  Rogers said.

Citizens express concerns

During the citizens’ comment period at the end of the meeting, a few residents expressed concerns about the Rogers’ proposal.

Resident Lisa French asked if admission to the wellness center would be free.

“Could the public enter and use the facilities without charge?” she asked. “This seems to me important to know.”

She also said she “has reminded board members several times about the number of residents who responded in [an earlier] HRA forum that they don’t want a conference or community center. Only a tiny percentage wanted a community center of some sort.”

C. Anne Murray, on the other hand, sees Hull “as needing more space for committee meetings and civic groups – more of a community than a wellness center,” she said. Also, “a rooftop garden meeting space sounds lovely, but we live in Hull, and even on the nicest spring day, we could get 40 mph winds blowing you off the rooftop.”

Sara Ventetuolo said the Rogers’ comments about not wanting competition “didn’t agree with me. They’re asking for a prime location, which may or may not benefit Hull, whereas Hull Artists is a town group with a focus on Hull residents.”

The next HRA meeting is scheduled for June 2 at 7 p.m. over Zoom.

A replay of last week’s meeting is available on demand on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.


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Kelly elected HRA chair as Zaia calls for surprise vote for reorganization

By Carol Britton Meyer

More than three hours into the May 12 Hull Redevelopment Authority meeting, Dennis Zaia abruptly announced he was stepping down as chair, catching fellow board members by surprise.

“Now that the governor has reappointed Joan [Senatore] to the HRA, I would like to move to advance a slate of officers for the upcoming year,” he said.

BARTLEY KELLY

Zaia immediately nominated former chair Bartley Kelley – who seconded the motion – without discussion of other nominations. He then nominated Dan Kernan and Adrienne Paquin as vice chair and clerk respectively in their then-current roles and Joan Senatore as treasurer, Kelly’s current role at the time of the meeting.

“I will [remain], as a member of the authority,” Zaia said. The motions were accepted on a 3 to 2 vote, with Paquin and Kernan voting against.

“Dennis, I prefer you stay as chair,” Paquin said.

“You’re tired of being chair?” Kernan asked.

Zaia’s response was simply, “Bartley will be chair at our next meeting on June 2, and I can take a breath. I will be at that meeting.”

After the vote, Paquin asked if that business item was on the agenda.

“It doesn’t need to be,” Zaia responded.

“It would have been nice to have notice, that’s all,” Paquin said.

Zaia said the vote was “appropriate since we had a member recommitted by the governor, and every time there’s a town election, [a reorganization] usually happens – when someone new gets on a board.”

During the citizens’ comment period at the end of the meeting, Zaia was strongly criticized by a number of people for not posting the reorganization of the board on the agenda and for not asking other board members if they an interest in any of the positions.

Resident C. Anne Murray noted that Zaia taking up this item after 10 p.m. was in sharp contrast to his announcement at the beginning of every HRA meeting that discussion on compelling subjects will not be addressed after that time.

“I’m appalled at what has happened tonight. Maybe I missed it, but this was the first mention I heard that Joan had been reappointed by the governor, and all of a sudden to put forward a full slate of officers when the other members hadn’t caught wind that it was coming and not having even five minutes to think about it felt totally inappropriate, Dennis,” she said, “and I have to call you out on it.”

Murray said she thought it would have been more appropriate if he had opened up that part of the meeting for nominations for the four positions.

“Yes, Joan was reappointed, and yes, usually there can be a change of officials, but doing it the way it was done tonight is not appropriate,” she said.

Murray suggested that the item be put on the next agenda and revoted in order to “do it the right way. I find this very upsetting.”

Audience member Susan Vermilya agreed.

“The vote tonight was very quick and unexpected and not on the agenda, and I was very disappointed at how fast that came along for such a vital change on the board,” she said. “It should have been put on the agenda first and then maybe voted on at the next meeting. It all happened so fast and furious that it didn’t really seem fair.”

Vermilya asked whether anyone on the board was aware of the vote to come prior to the meeting.

“I was,” Zaia responded. “It was not inappropriate.”

In response to Vermilya’s comment that she was “not sure this is legal,” Zaia retorted, “Of course it is.”

Vermilya also noted that others may have wanted to be considered for those positions.

“I think this should be on the agenda of a future meeting, and maybe the board would end up in the same place. Who knows? It feels like [other board members] were blindsided. Does any other member have feedback?” she asked.

Cutting Vermilya off, Zaia said, “I’m still chair until the end of this meeting in the next couple of minutes.”

Paquin said after the vote was taken, “It did feel very bad.” She noted that other boards “always put their reorganization on their agendas” so members can give it thought ahead of time.

“I’m not really happy myself, Dennis,” she said, “which is why I voted no, but you are going to just smile and move on, and that’s fine.”

In response, Zaia said he was “just looking forward to saying the meeting is adjourned, but I can’t do that until everyone has spoken their mind.”

Resident Mindy Markowitz told Zaia she was “in complete shock that you would pull such a thing. What were you thinking? You chose the person you wanted to be chair when it seems the logical choice would be at least to go to the vice chair first. … This is odd behavior on your part when it’s past 10 at night and you are tired and you know you should put it on the agenda.”

Whether he talked with anyone on the board about the vote to come or “just decided to spring it on everyone, it was a bad choice either way,” Markowitz said.

Zaia thanked each speaker for their feedback but did not respond specifically to their concerns.

Kernan thanked Zaia for stepping up in the chair role, saying “I’m very grateful.”

However, he said, “You really should not have done that. If someone else was interested, there should have been a discussion rather than a decision. If they were interested, I would have loved to have had a choice.”

Kernan added that he doesn’t think he could have handled being chair.

“I could have been asked, but you knew I didn’t want it, and you didn’t put me on the spot,” he said.

Paquin also said she was not asked about the vote beforehand.

“It came as a complete surprise, simply for the record,” she said.

A replay of the meeting is available on demand on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.


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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.