Funding approved for seawall, public safety study on town meeting’s second night; third session is Wednesday

By Carol Britton Meyer

The three-and-a-half-hour second session of town meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday evening after consideration of eight warrant articles, with only one “no” vote. The third session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at Hull High School, beginning at 7 p.m.

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Town Moderator George Boylen reads a motion on one of the articles at Tuesday night’s session of town meeting.

Voters approved spending $150,000 to study building a combined police/fire public safety facility, appropriating $6 million for the town’s share of rebuilding the deteriorating seawall in the Allerton area, establishing a floodplain overlay zoning district, and replacing the float at Pemberton Pier. An article that would have allowed the town to take land on Beach Avenue by eminent domain received a vote of 124-123, short of the two-thirds required for approval.

The first item on the agenda will be the MBTA Communities Zoning Act. While that article number was drawn during last night’s meeting, discussion was postponed due to the lateness of the hour out of concern that it was unlikely that a vote would be taken by the 11 p.m. deadline for adjourning the meeting.

New state legislation requires that MBTA communities (those served by commuter rail, ferry, bus, or subway service, or adjacent to those with service) have at least one zoning district of reasonable size near the MBTA facility in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.

Town meeting will be asked to adopt changes proposed to the town’s zoning map to put Hull in compliance. Failure to do so puts the town in jeopardy of losing significant state grants.

Other articles remaining to be addressed are Community Preservation Act funding recommendations; creation and funding of a special purpose stabilization fund for capital planning; establishing an opioid special revenue fund to hold Hull’s allotment of the Commonwealth’s share of the financial settlement with the states by manufacturers of opioids for use to treat and combat substance use and addiction; and funding the Memorial School retrofit related to relocation of town hall operations to that location as part of the school consolidation plan.

Voters are encouraged to arrive early so the meeting can start on time. Watch this week’s Hull Times in print and online for full details of town meeting action.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

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In first night of town meeting, voters approve budget, say ‘yes’ to accessory dwelling units

By Carol Britton Meyer 

Voters were in a “yes” mood during the four-hour first session of Hull’s annual town meeting Monday night, approving all seven of the warrant articles that were addressed – including the $50 million FY25 town budget, accessory dwelling units (ADU) and zoning and general bylaw amendments related to marijuana establishments – with 29 articles remaining on the agenda. The meeting was continued to 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Hull High School.

THE FEDS ARE HERE. US REP. STEPHEN LYNCH ADDRESSED HULL TOWN MEETING VOTERS TO ANNOUNCE that HULL has received $850,000 in federal funds for the two-way traffic plan in the area of the Hull Redevelopment authority property.

“It’s so good to see a full house of friends, neighbors, and my parents here tonight,” Rep. Joan Meschino, a Hull resident, said at the beginning of the meeting. “This is where we come together as part of our civic duty for public discourse on matters that are important to us.”

Passage of the ADU article will allow homeowners of single-family residences to add and rent out an accessory dwelling unit within their home, subject to the special permit process. The goal is to help increase the town’s housing stock and to allow owner-occupants to generate rental income. There’s a maximum of 10 permits that could be issued annually over 10 years, for a potential 100 ADUs.

The intent of the marijuana zoning article was to rectify and clarify procedural issues in the article that passed at the 2023 special town meeting intended to allow two retail establishments at one time, but not cultivation, testing, manufacturing, or on-site consumption.

Voters also approved salaries for the select board, town moderator, town clerk, assessors, and the municipal light board; a $50 million town budget, including $17.9 million for the schools, on a vote of 333 to 62; replacing the capital outlay committee that hasn’t met for quite some time with a new capital improvement planning committee; and accepting a $3.8 million settlement resulting from the sewer plant lawsuit filed in 2013 following storm damage.

Watch for full town meeting coverage in this week’s edition of The Hull Times, in print and online.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

Know before you go: Click here for the full town meeting warrant and budget documents

Town meeting will be held at Hull High School on Monday, MAy 6 at 7 p.m. This is last year’s turnout.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the full text of Town Manager Jennifer Constable’s FY25 budget presentation:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/FY25-Budget-02-21-24-MB-Balanced-Distribution-Version.xlsx

 Click below for the full FY25 school budget presentation:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/FY25-School-Budget.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Click below to watch Hull Community Television — the meeting will be broadcast live, and you can check the Video on Demand section for recordings of past meetings about the issues:

https://www.hulltv.net

Residents raise concerns about traffic, safety with seawall replacement plan

By Carol Britton Meyer

It was standing room only during the second informational meeting about the seawall project on Nantasket Avenue near the Fitzpatrick Way lagoon, in preparation for Monday’s annual town meeting, when voters will be asked to approve about $6 million toward the town’s share of the total $15.6-million cost. (See related story.)

The purpose of the project is to reduce the risk of flood damage and coastal erosion, increase resilience against projected future sea level rise, and maintain critical links to the infrastructure, homes, and businesses on Pemberton Point.

HITTING THE WALL. On Monday, a packed room of concerned Hull residents listened as town officials and engineers give a detailed presentation on proposal to replace the seawall along Nantasket Avenue near the Fitzpatrick Way lagoon. Among those speaking during the session were Allerton Hill resident Paul Falletti, who discussed the potential changes to traffic patterns on Allerton Hill. [Photos courtesy of the Point Allerton Association]

Residents at the meeting raised concerns about changing traffic to one-way along that section of Nantasket Avenue, safety for pedestrians along the new wall, and the impact of traffic on the rest of Allerton Hill.

The existing deteriorating seawall – which was named the top priority in a recent study of Hull seawalls and other vulnerable structures in need of repair – overtops during some storms and is in bad shape due to its age and erosion.

 If the seawall were to fail, everything north of the structure would be cut off from the rest of the town and vice versa, including two schools, the wastewater treatment plant, the U.S. Coast Guard station, the commuter ferry, and hundreds of homes.

Consultants provided an overview of the project and fielded numerous questions from among the dozens of residents who packed the Hull High School Exhibition Room Monday night.

The work involves replacing a large portion, about 1,675 feet, of the seawall along a section of Nantasket Avenue adjacent to 948 Nantasket Ave., Point Allerton Avenue, and Stony Beach as well as relocating overhead utilities, intersection improvements, raising a portion of the road, and creating an overlook with a view of the ocean.

The plan calls for the new seawall to be constructed landward of the existing seawall, with armor stone between the walls.

In response to a question from the audience, Russell Titmuss of GEI Consultants confirmed that the work involving cutting off part of the old seawall after the new seawall is installed.

One-way road a concern

Among residents’ concerns are the planned one-way road (direction not yet determined), additional expected traffic on Allerton Hill, the “incredible impacts” the project will have on residents, and other issues.

“There will not be enough space for the road to be two-way,” Titmuss said.

One resident suggested that the single-lane road could be one way in either direction at different times of the day, which was not ruled out as a possibility.

After a number of other residents questioned the use of stone dust for a walkway along the seawall, a request was made to have the pathway paved instead. Project engineer Kevin Mooney said that change is possible, pending conservation commission approval.

A 30-year Allerton Hill resident aired concerns shared with others living in his neighborhood about how to make the project “less burdensome” for those living in the area and suggested the money that would be used to create the overlook instead be put toward constructing a concrete sidewalk, which he considers safer and better than stone dust.

State and federal grants will cover most of the project’s cost – including associated road work – as long as the work meets certain deadlines, Mooney said. Town meeting voters will have the final say on the warrant article related to the town’s share of the costs.

Project could start this summer

The construction, with a targeted start date of mid-2024, will take about 18 to 24 months to complete, with an expected “lifespan” of at least 50 years.

“Although we can’t predict Mother Nature,” the new seawall is designed to stand up to major severe storms, according to Mooney.

Construction will take place during daylight hours, starting no earlier than 7 a.m. Rodent control is part of the contract.

The earlier town-approved matching $1 million for the $3 million state seawall grant and another $4.94 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help pay for the project, with approval pending on another $665,000 federal grant. The town is expected to pay the remaining tab, hence the request for $6 million on the May 6 town meeting warrant.

In response to a question about how the new seawall will be maintained “so it doesn’t unravel,” Mooney said he’s working with the town to develop a maintenance plan for all of Hull’s coastal structures that will involve annual inspections and keeping records of storm damage, cleanups, and other work performed.

Constable noted that many meetings can be viewed on hulltv.net on demand once they are recorded, including this week’s informational session.

For full town meeting coverage, click here.

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In the Sport-light - This week's Hull sports highlights

By Matt Haraden

• Congratulations to Hull High’s boys and girls track teams, both of which registered wins against Mashpee on April 24. The girls team won, 69-60, while the boys finished on top, 72-59. Winners for the girls were: Elsie Harper, triple jump and 100 hurdles; Bree Simpson-Sliney, high jump; Gabriella Thomas, javelin; Veronica Fleming, 100m; Abigail Jeffries-Ranger, 400m; and Kaelyn Burke, 400 hurdles. Winners for the boys were: Chris Resnick, high jump, long jump, and 110 hurdles; Jameson Luggelle, discus and javelin; Michael Cimetti, 400 hurdles; and Lawrence Bodley, 200m.

Hull Track and Field represented well at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association

Division IV relays, with six medal-winning teams, including:

• Fifth place, shot put: Jonah Smith, Dan Gianibas, Owen Bechtold

• First place, high jump: Joshua Miller, Lawrence Bodley, Chris Resnick

• Fourth place, SMR 1600 relay: Sam Tuchmann, Lawrence Bodley, Chris Resnick, Finn Walsh

• Second place, javelin: Kaelyn Burke, Montana Alibrandi, Gabriella Thomas

• Third place, 4x100: Lilly Copenheaver-Smith, Veronica Fleming, Elsie Harper, Bree Simpson-Sliney

• Second place, long jump: Lilly Copenheaver-Smith, Veronica Fleming, Elsie Harper

• On Saturday, April 27, the Nantasket Nor’easters were scheduled to sail three matches in a quad meet at Hull Yacht Club. The wind didn’t fill in until after 12:30 p.m., so only four of the scheduled six matches took place. The Nor’easters are a high school sailing team made up of students from Hull and Cohasset and are supported by Sail Nantasket, a non-profit dedicated to supporting youth sailing locally.

First up, in breezy 15- to 20-knot winds, the Nor’easters sailed a great first match of the season, beating Scituate five races to zero. Next up was Boston Latin. Last year Boston Latin was just too much for the Nor’easters to handle, beating them in two matches and keeping the Nor’easters out of the playoffs. Nantasket raced to a 4-1 win, frustrating Latin at every mark. After two lengthy protests and some negotiation between the teams over what additional protests were worthy of pushing forward, the 4-1 result stood and the Nantasket Nor’easters celebrated their two wins to start what promises to be a successful 2024 campaign.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer beat Cohasset on Saturday, 6-1, bringing the team’s record to 3-0 on the season. Aubrey Littlefield lead the way in scoring with four goals. Piper Yakubian and Stella Palermo each added a goal for the Pirates. Nadia Schultz and Ellie Kiley played solid games in midfield. Hull hosts Hingham Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at the high school field.

• The Boys 5/6 Soccer team played its best soccer to date this past Saturday, hammering Pembroke, 7-1 on the road. The game featured stellar performance by the impenetrable defense line, headed up by Billy Littlefield and Slava Rzhevskii. The midis and strikers had excellent performances, with Macklin Concannon scoring three goals, Henry Littlefield with three goals, and Eathan Medina with one goal.

• The Boys 5/6-2 Soccer Team played Kingston on Monday, finishing with a tough 1-2 loss. Cody Miller anchored the defense. Nick Mihal was in goal for the second half and saved a great penalty shot. Joe Elisii-Johnson had multiple breakaways and shots on net and scored Hull’s only goal. Jacob Greenberg, Reefe Markowitz, and Charlie Montgomery also had notable performances.

• The Boys 3/4 Soccer Team 2 was at it again, beating Carver this past Saturday. The boys –Owen Bilodeau, Ty Bilodeau, Jordan Dunn, Jack Gregorio, Harrison Jones, Braedyn O’Hare, Liam Palermo, Luke Panetta and Zack Shea – played a great game and showed tremendous sportsmanship toward their opponents by not playing to their fullest potential.

• Girls 7/8 Soccer battled hard and won, 2-1, against Marshfield, to remain undefeated on the season with a 4-0-0 record. Goals were scored by Gianna Thorne and Brianna Ramos, and the game featured strong defense by Bridgett Stamatouras and Scarlet Arevalo in net. The next game is Saturday in Middleboro.

• The Girls 3/4 Gold Soccer Team had a busy couple of days this past weekend. They notched their second win of the season with a 2-1 win over Carver on a rare Thursday night game. Magnolia Harbin and Frankie Rockett each scored, while Hannah Summers and Cate Mulvihill played strong halves in net, keeping the Carver team to one goal. On Saturday, April 27, the girls played at home and their strongest opponent yet. It was a tough loss to Plympton, but the powerhouse defense of Leah Dibley, Skylar Kaplan, Cate Mulvihill, and Charlie Ward made the opposing team work hard for any goal scoring chances. Strong offensive pressure by Jackie Collins, Magnolia Harbin, and Hannah Summers supported Frankie Rockett, who was able to get one goal by a highly talented Plympton defense. The team is 2-2 so far this season.

• The Hull Youth Lacrosse Girls 3/4 Team bounced back from last week to beat Weymouth at home on Sunday, with a final score of 10-5. First-time goalie Skylar Kaplan dominated the cage. Willa Britton zipped a pass to Sydney O’Brian for the goal. Bianka Truglia and Ryleigh Mooney had their first goals of the season, and Laila Dolan and Cordelia Hennessey added to the tally. Great defensive play came from Hadley Dolan, Hannah Summers, Cate Mulvihill, and Maddie Beck to keep Weymouth away from the net. Jackie Collins and Hailey MacLeod buzzed around on attack. The girls return to West Roxbury to take on Parkway Academy this Sunday at 11:45 a.m.

• The Girls Lacrosse 7/8 Team also beat Weymouth this week, coming out on the top end of a 12-8 score. Nelleh Huxtable scored five goals, Cassady Reilly scored two goals, and other scores were by Abby Baglione, Erin Murray, Evelyn Concannon, Tessa Schultz, and Bridgett Stamatouras. Olivia Michaelides played an excellent game in the net.

• Girls 1/2 Lacrosse scored an impressive 18-11 win over Weymouth on Sunday. It was a gorgeous day on the home turf, with points coming from Addie Chalifoux, Saoirse Gilroy, Meara Gilroy, Lennon Grieco, Margot Lankas, Keira MacLeod, Riley Musco, Eleanor Reilly, and Rae Rockett.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer played its best game yet against the Weymouth Wildcats. The game ended with the Pirates on top, 9-5. Goalies Ruby D’Errico with five saves and Audrey Lancaster with four saves led the team. The defense had standout performances from Caroline Lancaster, Abby Donovan, and Natalie Tiani, who forced multiple turnovers and helped move the ball away from the Pirates goal. Assists were earned by Deidre Flaherty, Ruby D’Errico, Nadia Shultz, Piper Yakubian, and Molly McCarthy. Payton Dunn, Eleanor Kiley, Ruby D’Errico, Molly McCarthy scored goals. The next game is in West Roxbury on May 4.

• The two D3 Softball Teams in town played a recent rematch. Hull 2 once again came out ahead, 17-9. Both teams played well and celebrated with good sportsmanship over pizza afterwards. Hull 2 offense was on fire, with almost every player hitting singles or doubles. The defensive star of the game was Abby Baglione, with two unassisted double plays at third base and two plays to first as catcher. Defensive plays by Mackenzie MacLeod, Brianna Ramos, and Robin Timins sealed the win for Hull 2. Pitchers Kelsea Dunlap, Loren Augier, and McKenzie Neal also turned in very strong performances, with a combined total of four strikeouts. The two teams will not meet again this season, and we wish both the best of luck against our other South Shore opponents.

• Coaches and Super Fans – we need your help to report the scores and results of the latest games in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com.

Deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m. 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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$50.1 million budget tops warrant for Monday’s annual town meeting

By Christopher Haraden

Voters at annual town meeting on Monday, May 6 will face a number of spending proposals, most significantly, the Fiscal 2025 budget of $50.1 million as proposed by Town Manager Jennifer Constable.

The total budget represents an increase of $2,596,531, or 5.46% over FY24’s $47.5M spending plan. Constable’s proposal would fund the schools at $17,854,77, an increase of $520,042, or 3% over the current year.

A significant increase is projected for the law department. Town Counsel James Lampke is retiring after 40 years on the job; the department budget is anticipated to increase from $147,898 to $300,000 as the town shifts away from an individual town counsel to a multi-firm model. Capital expenses include the movement of town offices, and possibly the senior center, into the Memorial Middle School, which will be available after the Hull Public Schools consolidate all grades into two buildings.

Monday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the high school and will be broadcast live on Hull Community Television, but voters must be present at the meeting to participate.

The 36 articles include Community Preservation Committee proposals for funds for a dog park feasibility study, Kenberma pickleball court resurfacing, restoration of lights at the Paragon Carousel, veterans’ memorial grave markers for Hull Village Cemetery, renovations to the Hull Lifesaving Museum boathouse at Pemberton Point and the steeple at St. Nicholas United Methodist Church, and more funds for the Village Fire Station rehabilitation.

Other articles propose zoning changes, tweaks to the retail marijuana bylaw, forming a capital planning committee, establishing an opioid special revenue fund using a settlement from suits against pharmaceutical companies, appropriating $150,000 for a feasibility study for a new public safety building and up to $385,000 for a new Hull Community Television media center, and spending $2.4 million to replace the Pemberton Point commuter float.

The full warrant with advisory board recommendations, as well as Times coverage of town meeting proposals, is available at www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024.

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Tipsy Tuna pledges to mitigate noise as board OKs entertainment license

By Carol Britton Meyer

Much of the three-hour-plus discussion during this week’s select board meeting centered around the consideration – and ultimate approval – of the Tipsy Tuna restaurant’s live entertainment license request and the continuous back-and-forth between the board and Anthony Ghosn, Freidy Elkhoury’s partner in the business, to iron out all the details.

The level of noise from the live outdoor entertainment is an issue for some neighbors, reflected in a number of complaints to the Hull Police Department in the past, which Ghosn acknowledged.

“We don’t want to be a nuisance to anyone,” he said. “The quality of life of my neighbors is something I take into consideration.”

The select board approved the renewal of the restaurant’s seasonal all-alcoholic and common victualer licenses last week to allow the business to open on May 1 for the new season, but stopped short of approving the requested entertainment license renewal pending the need for more information about the history of Tipsy Tuna’s past live entertainment requests and approvals.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable provided that information this week, researched by town staff. “Live entertainment in particular was restricted during COVID,” she noted.

In 2023, Tipsy Tuna, at 276 Nantasket Ave., was approved for a 1 a.m. closing time, along with a four-piece band for live entertainment. However, that information was not reflected on the actual license for some reason, according to Constable.

The 2024 seasonal live entertainment license application considered by the board this week requested approval for a 1 a.m. closing time, among other considerations.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board approved specific hours for piped-in, jukebox, and karaoke music – and live indoor/outdoor music Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight – instead of the requested 1 a.m. out of consideration for neighbors – Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.

To help resolve the noise issue, the Tipsy Tuna is hiring a sound engineer to make recommendations for reducing the decibel level. Noting that there are about 200 abutters to the restaurant, Ghosn pointed out that the complaints weren’t from that many people.

“The problem is in one concentrated area,” he said. “The sound is traveling up the hill behind [the restaurant], which makes it easier to remediate.”

Despite losing sleep due to the noise from live outdoor entertainment, Porrazzo Road resident John Farley said he holds both men in high regard.

“I’m not wanting them to alter their hours of business, but the decibel readings are too high,” he said.

Live entertainment begins on Memorial Day. Prior to voting on the live entertainment hours, the board approved requiring Ghosn and Elkhoury to present the results of the sound mitigation plan two weeks after Memorial Day to see how effective the remediation has been, with the possibility of adjusting the hours ultimately approved by the board, at the owners’ request.

“The size of the bands and the number of bodies is 90% of the problem,” Select Board Chair Greg Grey said.

Board member Brian McCarthy suggested that Tipsy Tuna owners meet with the neighbors informally before Memorial Day as a community outreach effort.

Board member Jerry Taverna reiterated that he thinks the board should develop an entertainment policy for the area along the beachfront to address these issues.

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Get your tickets now for this summer’s circus coming to the HRA land

This summer, on July 2 and 3, the Hull Redevelopment Authority is bringing to Hull the Hideaway Circus, a family-friendly experience perfect for all ages.

Be prepared to be dazzled by their new outdoor show, Canvas Sky, featuring 10 world-class performers who will take your breath away with their gravity-defying feats, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and mesmerizing displays of skill and artistry.

Canvas Sky features a relatable tale exploring the themes of self-acceptance and uplifting one another. We follow the story of a circus troupe where the clown struggles to fit in and find his voice, until he gets a little help from a friend who has already figured out how to embrace what makes her wonderful and unique.

HRA Chair Dennis Zaia is serving as project manager, leading the effort to bring Hideaway Circus to Hull as part of a 35-week tour to more than 60 towns in 22 states.

“I was mesmerized by the Stars Above show at Weir River Farm last summer,” he said. “The event was exhilarating. It was exciting to see all of the kids acting out the performance during intermission. I thought, why not do this in Hull?”

The HRA has invested in this demonstration project as it ramps up efforts to activate its space.

For more information and tickets to the July 2 and 3 shows, scan the QR code. General admission (bring your own seat) is $30 and reserved premium seating is $65. There is a 20% discount through May 27. The show is a two-hour performance with a 20-minute intermission. Also, if for some reason these dates do not work for you, you can also check out the show at Weir River Farm July 16 and 17.

For further information about the HRA, visit HRA02045.com.

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Proposed bylaw would allow Accessory Dwelling Units in Hull’s single-family homes

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

As the Legislature considers allowing Accessory Dwelling Units without a permit across the state, Monday’s town meeting voters will be asked to support a local measure that is designed to give Hull more control over the approval process.

On May 6, voters will consider Article 29, which would establish a permitting process for 10 accessory apartments per year within existing single-family homes. The proposal is supported by both the advisory board and the planning board.

Based on recommendations at the May 2023 town meeting, the planning board, along with the zoning bylaw committee and the zoning board of appeals, have worked collaboratively to revise the article to better fit the needs of Hull.

The bylaw provides owner-occupants of single-family homes with a means for obtaining rental income, companionship, or security, enabling them to remain more comfortably in homes and neighborhoods they might otherwise be forced to leave.

Under the proposed bylaw, ADUs will only be issued by special permit for up to a maximum of 100 units; they will not add to the number of buildings in town, reduce open space, and cannot be used for commercial purposes. Each of the units will be deed-restricted affordable and short-term rentals will not be allowed.

In their planning, the boards have also had to consider the impact of Gov. Maura Healy’s $4B housing bill, which would allow ADUs as of right, without a special permit, throughout the state to alleviate the housing crisis.

About a month ago, the Legislature’s housing committee voted to advance the bill without changing a single word. In March, Healy’s bill received support at a hearing before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets, where many said that housing is the top challenge facing Massachusetts and its residents.

A concern for local government is Healy’s ADU-by-right measure, one piece of many in the state bill, which not only overrides single-family zoning, but also may prevent individual municipalities like Hull from setting criteria for ADU usage that is tailored to their needs.

Some members of the planning board have said it is important for Hull to get something on the books because no one knows for sure what is going to happen with the state ADU law.

ADUs are often considered low-hanging fruit in efforts to boost housing production because they can be tucked into residential areas where new units are otherwise limited due to space or zoning constraints.

The Hull ADU bylaw includes some language of severability that indicates if the state law passes, the components of the town ADU bylaw that are still viable would remain in effect.

Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Patrick Finn has said the clear benefit of the ADU bylaw to the town is to “protect our local control over zoning decisions.”

Planning board member Steve White said there is no way to know what the state’s process will be, so the town should lead with this proposal.

In Hull’s proposed bylaw, ADUs will have a minimum lease term of six months, which is the legal threshold to ensure that tenants are Hull residents who can register to vote and pay taxes.

Many cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate, have their own local ADU bylaws.

Some officials believe it is possible if Hull passes this ADU bylaw prior to the enactment of the new state law, the town will be in a better place to enforce local requirements for a public hearing process with notice to abutters.

Finn said a “yes” vote for Article 29 at town meeting will “support local control of ADU permits and protect Hull’s single-family residential districts from the negative impacts of the potential for unlimited ADU’s, with absentee landlords and corporate ownership, as proposed in the Commonwealth’s housing bond bill.”

For full town meeting coverage, click here.

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Family still seeking answers months after discovery of ‘desecration’ of gravesite

By Carol Britton Meyer 

Former Hull resident Cindy Deegan is seeking answers to what she refers to as “the desecration of [her] parents’ graves” at Hull Village Cemetery by a group of volunteers who said they had permission to “clean up” veterans’ gravesites.

BEFORE AND AFTER. Cindy Deegan is seeking answers to what she refers to as the ‘desecration’ of her parents’ graves at Hull Village Cemetery. Last fall, a group of volunteers removed bushes and other landscaping, saying that they had permission from the town to clean up veterans’ gravesites. [Photos courtesy of Cindy Deegan]

She recently asked The Hull Times to look into the situation after earlier contacting the town manager and DPW director.

While living in Hull, Deegan decorated her parents’ graves with seasonal flowers. Since moving to Florida 20 years ago, Deegan and her husband have visited the site two or three times a year – weeding, cleaning up the area, and trimming the bushes.

However, Deegan was unpleasantly surprised during a visit to her parents’ graves last December to find the bushes ripped out and other damage. With assistance from her husband and a couple of cemetery workers, 2.5-gallon buckets of dirt were brought to the site to fill in the dug-up areas.

According to the Hull Police Department’s weekly log, residents called police on Sunday, November 5 to report trees and bushes being cut down in Hull Village Cemetery. An officer reported speaking with a member of the group who said they were “cleaning up veterans graves and have permission from the town to do so,” according to the police report, but later agreed to stop work.

After contacting the town manager’s office in December, Deegan told The Hull Times that she received a letter in January, signed by William M. Fleck, offering an apology and noting that “our goal, as volunteers, was to locate and clean up veterans’ gravesites.”

Fleck noted in the letter that at one point he was out of town and that he called “the superintendent” and was informed that the memorial bushes had been cut and that he didn’t know “who cut the memorial shrubs and plantings. I am truly sorry I was not there to stop it.”

The “official town manager envelope is postmarked Jan. 24, 2024,” Deegan said, noting that Fleck’s letter was mailed in an envelope printed with the town manager’s office as the return address.

On April 3, Deegan sent a letter to the town manager and DPW director asking for an explanation and who the responsible parties are, noting that several other graves were also affected.

After following up again by sending an email to all five select board members on April 18, Deegan heard back from Chair Greg Grey within an hour with an apology for the delay “in anyone getting back to you. Many graves during that period of time also experienced what your family did unfortunately and we apologize for this. A group of people who thought they were doing a good thing without permission were stopped once we were made aware of the situation. They have been spoken to about this and have admitted that they should not have done any work up there. I will follow up with the town manager to see what we are doing moving forward.”

Select board member Jason McCann also responded to Deegan’s recent email, saying he was “very, very sorry to hear of your experience” and that he was aware of Grey’s reply.

“We are looking into next steps,” McCann said.

The Hull Times reached out to Town Manager Jennifer Constable for information who is responsible for the damage done at the cemetery, and next steps to rectify the issue and we await her response.

“I am going to get to the bottom of this if it’s the last I do,” Deegan said in an email. “I want my parents’ graves restored to what [they were] before – and I want the responsible party/parties to be held accountable for the damage that was done at their site.”

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