New policy bans non-military displays – including holiday decorations – at war memorial
/By Carol Britton Meyer
At the request of the War Memorial Commission, the select board this week approved a new policy that prohibits anything other than official and military-related flags – such as holiday decorations like Christmas trees or menorahs – from being displayed at Monument Square.
Member Jerry McLaughlin explained that at its December 3 meeting, the commission voted unanimously to approve a new policy prohibiting “any and all displays, signs, banners, and flags on the grounds of the war memorial.”
Exceptions will be made for displaying the United States national colors and Massachusetts state, Town of Hull, POW, military service, and veterans organizations flags.
According to a statement read by McLaughlin, based on recent flag-related court cases – including Shurtleff v. City of Boston – the commission felt compelled to establish a policy to prevent individuals, groups, or organizations “that may not reflect or represent the mission or standards of the commission in memorializing men and women from Hull who served their country in time of war and armed conflict from putting up displays, signs, banners, or flags at the memorial.”
The members of the commission “hold these grounds in great solemn respect, and the names etched on the memorial represent those who will forever be honored for their service by a grateful community,” McLaughlin read.
McLaughlin, a 35-year resident of Hull, noted that the above-mentioned court case and others prompted the commission to create this policy.
“Every year there have been a Christmas tree and menorah at the memorial, which have been well-received by the community and the public in general,” he said.
‘We do not take this issue lightly’
The commission had a long discussion – “we do not take this [issue] lightly – but [according to court cases viewed by commission members], if we allow any organization or individual to put a display there, regardless of how noble it is or how much it benefits the community, we would then have to also allow other individuals and organizations to use this hallowed ground for displays that might not be beneficial or according to community standards.”
McLaughlin further explained that the commission created the policy to avoid getting into a situation where the town would be forced to allow such displays if others deemed appropriate were allowed earlier and to avoid any potential costly litigation.
“What we’re trying to do is to maintain our hallowed ground for all Hull veterans who died fighting for our country,” McLaughlin said. “For many years the [Christmas tree and menorah] were well-received – we had no issue with them – but because of these court cases [we came up with this policy]. I wish there was a way to get around this, but our responsibility is to that monument in honoring our veterans. It’s sacred ground, and we hope members of the community who have mourned for veterans who lost their lives or died as a result of injuries who have supported us [will understand].”
Select board member Brian McCarthy said “no more trees or menorahs is a tough pill to swallow,” but in light of the lawsuits in other communities that were mentioned, he -- as did the entire select board – voted in favor of the policy.
“This is the world we live in, unfortunately,” he said.
Board member Greg Grey echoed McCarthy’s remarks.
“Preserving that hallowed ground is number one and takes priority,” he said.
Chair Irwin Nesoff agreed, noting that the policy also “protects the town from possible legal action.”
The name “says it all – [it’s a] war memorial,” select board member Jerry Taverna said.
He also wondered if policies are in place on other town property “where this could be a concern. This might be something to think about,” he said.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Vote for your favorite holiday decorations during Sunday’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright event
/
MAPPING IT OUT. Last year, Verona Hedrick, 11, and Dahlia Hedrick, 19, helped distribute maps of local homes decorated for the holiday season. This year’s maps will be available on Sunday from 3:30-5 p.m. at Scoops in Kenberma.
We are so happy to be back for our fourth annual Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright event! With your help, we are creating a night of magical lights for our families to enjoy on Sunday, December 22. House decorations should be lit up and running starting at 3:30 p.m.
Gary Hedrick Creative designs our maps every year. This year, our friends at the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring our printed maps, which will be broken up by neighborhoods – the Village, the alphabet streets, Allerton Hill, Atlantic Avenue, etc. We are so lucky to have the support of so many local businesses. Kim at Seaside Floral Design even decked out her car with lights and helped us nominate some well-dressed houses.
Maps will be handed out on Sunday, December 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Scoops Ice Cream Company at 540 Nantasket Ave., Maps will also be posted online the day of the event (www.facebook.com/groups/bibbidibobbidibright), and we need your votes.
After you have checked out the participating homes and businesses you can vote for your favorite on the map and bring it over to The Parrot for a complimentary treat and photos with Santa.
If there are any elves out there that would like to help hand out maps or help collect and hand out prizes, please contact us directly, bibbidibobbidihull@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays! The Hedrick Family
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
HRA to draft new RFP for summer parking vendors, may conduct own survey
/By Carol Britton Meyer
Topics of discussion during Monday’s three-hour Hull Redevelopment Authority meeting ranged from the parking lot requests for proposals for next summer and a possible survey about potential uses of the property to the proposed two-way road plan and an update on police details during peak season.
HRA member Adrienne Paquin suggested that as the board heads into crafting “Option 3” of the draft Urban Renewal Plan, the HRA might consider conducting its own survey on top of the earlier independent poll to gauge citizens’ opinions.
During a 1-1/2-hour brainstorming session about crafting the parking lot RFPs for the next season, resident Susan Mann floated the idea of offering parking “subscriptions” for the HRA lots similar to those available from the Department of Conservation and Recreation at a cost of $60 for the season. The usual rate for in-state residents is $15 a day.
“I was thinking the HRA could do something like that for families who come to Nantasket Beach all the time,” she said.
No decision was made, but Chair Dennis Zaia noted that “many towns do offer seasonal passes.”
The two-way road proposal continues to be a topic of interest, and this meeting was no exception. To help avoid this issue from “becoming a distraction in upcoming meetings,” Zaia recently asked Town Manager Jennifer Constable to provide “a definitive statement” on the status of the project, tentatively in January.
“This will help us understand the town’s position on the two-way road plan,” Zaia said.
The traffic reconfiguration plan would remove two of the four lanes of traffic crossing the HRA land and convert the remaining two lanes to one in each direction from Monument Square through the Surfside business district to the Anastos Corner area. Hull Shore Drive and Hull Shore Drive Extension also would become two-way roads, and would connect with a redesigned intersection with incoming traffic from George Washington Boulevard near the Mezzo Mare restaurant.
During the lengthy discussion about “the most critical topics” related to the next RFPs for leasing HRA parking lots A, B, and C next year, Zaia noted that “this is the beginning of the framework for the RFPs, which will be tighter and sharper than last year’s. … I believe we need to be very specific in telling potential [operators of the leased lots] what they can and cannot do.”
First-come, first-served for resident parking
Residents with stickers will still be able to park for free in any of the lots, on a first-come, first-served basis. However, HRA member Joan Senatore said, “We need to make it clear to residents that if they arrive at lots and they are filled, they won’t be able to [enter] even though they have a sticker.”
The board talked at length about what to incorporate into the RFP, including the possibility of setting the parking fee limit at a maximum of $40, while allowing the operators to set their own fee structure; requiring clear signage – including fee and other information – at each lot and approaching the lots to let beachgoers and others know the status of the parking situation ahead of time; requiring a security deposit; a stipulation that all signage and any other items need to be taken down within a week of the close of the season (May 1 through Indigenous Peoples Day in mid-October – a change from last year’s September 30); requiring operators to clean up the lots at the end of each day; the minimum bid amount; whether to include police detail, lot maintenance, and other charges in the RFP; and whether to request reimbursement for those details from the DCR’s trust fund.
According to a link forwarded to a board member by Cindy Borges during the meeting, the trust fund relates to costs associated with the maintenance and safety of Nantasket Beach. Clarification will be sought from Constable about that possibility.
“People will start looking for free parking if the charge is too high and park all over the place,” Senatore said about the maximum fee of $40.
Member Dan Kernan believes that charging a security deposit this year “sends a real big message to leave the lot the way you find it,” both at the end of the day and when the season ends.
The discussion will continue at the January 13 meeting, along with the draft Urban Renewal Plan.
Police details
Zaia, Kernan, and Senatore met with the police chief and town manager this week to discuss police details for the coming season. The cost to the HRA this past year was $30,000.
Senatore reported that according to the chief, police details will be recruited based on “85-degree weather and whether it’s a sunny day” at a current cost of $59.27 an hour based on the union contract, and potentially higher next summer.
HRA members also talked about how long to allow the three lots to remain open, especially during early summer when the sun sets later and many people head to the beach after work.
Member Bartley Kelly suggested closing Lot C earlier to avoid people arriving to have dinner at restaurants in the area having to pay the parking fee.
Kernan, while saying he needs more time to think about it, said his initial thought overall is “the longer a lot is managed, the less damage is done,” noting that a “tremendous amount of trash gets let after the lots are unsupervised.”
In other business…
⦁ Kelly reported that he reviewed the HRA meeting minutes back to 2010 and offered to scan them so they can be posted on the HRA website.
⦁ Zaia talked about the upcoming draft URP “Option 3” discussion and asked fellow members to start thinking about the bayside parcel for the January meeting. “My notion is that the bayside is a parcel we all sort of agree won’t have anything happening on it except grass and passive activity,” he said.
• Zaia also mentioned the Parkers River Boardwalk Park in Yarmouth, which he recently visited. “It’s a pretty amazing event space, located on the bayside, with the sale of boardwalk planks [as a source of revenue],” he said, noting that planning for the park began in 1986. “That made me feel less anxious about how long it’s taking the HRA to get anything done.”
Zaia is also hoping for further consideration of the idea he floated earlier for a conference and learning center and event space on part of the property. “We can rip it apart or build it up as a starting point. Option 3 could be a modification or a totally distinct different thing none of us has seen before.”
Kelly thinks “we should start with the map from the URP draft as a baseline,” which ultimately led to another discussion of the two-way road proposal.
Until this issue is settled, Paquin said, it will be difficult for the HRA to make any decisions because the road plan may change the shape of the available land.
Kelly noted that “the two-way road is part of the plan …regardless of whether we put up any brick and mortar on the property” and that under the proposal, “we would gain 27 feet on the bay side.” He also said the map shown in the draft URP shows the two-way road.
Kernan holds a different opinion.
“I don’t think we need a two-way road – it really does limit the things we can do with the property,” he said. “Maybe the HRA should take a vote.”
“I will argue tooth and nail about this,” Kelly said. “Two-thirds of town meeting voted in favor of authorizing the select board to do this work.”
Because the two-way road plan includes funding for a number of improvements, “where will that money come from [if the plan doesn’t move forward]?” he asked.
Kelly said he “personally” believes “it’s the right thing for the town, whether anything gets built on the HRA property on not. We’d be getting sidewalks and improved traffic and pedestrian safety. … If [the HRA] doesn’t want the two-way road plan, fine, but we would be throwing out the baby with the bath water. We have all these planning documents as outlined in the minutes. Those cooperative planning efforts have led us to where we are. It all goes together.”
No one on the Zoom call commented about the two-way proposal during the “citizens attending the meeting” period at the end of the meeting.
“Obviously we have to make some kinds of decisions and continue this conversation, listen to each other, and [consider] all the pieces until we come to [some] things that we all can agree upon,” Zaia said.
Upcoming HRA meetings include: January 13, Zoom to discuss the draft Urban Renewal Plan and the parking lot RFPs; and a January 27 Zoom to review applications for use of the property for the 2025 summer season.
A replay of the full meeting will be available on Hull Community Television’s broadcast channels and on demand at www.hulltv.net.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
PorchFest donates $5,000 from annual music event to lifesaving museum’s veterans programs
/By Kathleen McKenna
Earlier this month, members of the Hull PorchFest team were honored to attend the Hull Lifesaving Museum’s monthly veterans coffee hour, along with a large group of local vets and family members.
WELL NOTED. At the December veterans coffee hour at the Hull Lifesaving Museum, PorchFest President/Army JAG Sue Lynch (right) presented a donation of $5,000 to museum Director of Development Maureen Gillis. [Skip Tull photo]
PorchFest president Sue Lynch, a Desert Storm veteran who currently serves as an Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, presented a check for $5,000 to HLM development director Maureen Gillis. The money was raised by PorchFest over the past year through grants, donations, and the sale of PorchFest merchandise, on and before the free PorchFest music festival that took place in the Kenberma neighborhood on September 14. The funds will go toward the museum’s programs for veterans, including coffee-hour speaker fees, and boat-building and rowing sessions that are free to veterans.
“PorchFest was a part of the community that embraced me when I first moved to Hull,” Lynch said. “So I was happy to join the PorchFest team and so glad when the board decided we’d make our local veterans the recipient of our 2024 fundraising efforts.”
“The HLM vet program is one that resonates with me personally, because it fosters community among vets,” she said. “Given that only 1% of Americans serve, returning home is a challenging one when your military experience is not common in your community. Bringing veterans together provides continuing camaraderie and a sense of belonging, as well as health and wellness.”
In past years, PorchFest has raised funds for the Anne M. Scully Senior Center and the Hull High School music program. The PorchFest team is very grateful to the town for its support this year, and in particular to Chief John Dunn and the Hull Police, who helped make the HLM donation possible by generously providing a free detail on event day.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Hull High receives praise, accreditation renewal from independent education group
/By Carol Britton Meyer
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Public Schools awarded Hull High School continued accreditation in a December 10 letter to Principal Robert Shaw as part of the voluntary public school accreditation process, which occurs every 10 years. This news was an item on this week’s school committee agenda.
This follows a recent review of the First Report of Progress and Planning of Hull High School that is part of that process and last January’s NEASC accreditation.
A three-day NEASC visit to the high school in early 2023 was overall very positive, with recognition of the school’s strong sense of community.
“Maintaining NEASC accreditation affirms that Hull High School meets the highest educational standards and that our programs, teaching, and resources are aligned with the needs of 21st-century learners,” Shaw told The Hull Times in response to a follow-up email. “We continue to meet just about all of NEASC’s foundational elements and will prioritize the remaining element, which is related to the format of the written curriculum.”
Shaw expressed appreciation for the “continued hard work of the staff, students, and parents – all of whom play a vital role in fostering an environment of academic excellence and personal development.”
In the December 10 letter, the commission commended Hull High for its “well-developed advisory program, which helps students feel known and supported and provides them opportunities for community service and social-emotional learning;” the variety of opportunities for students to showcase their learning, both in and out of the classroom; the community partnerships that provide significant learning opportunities for students; the use of formative assessments across disciplines to inform instruction; and the “commitment to developing curriculum maps to ensure clear expectations for teaching and learning.”
Seven of the eight foundational elements included in the standards for accreditation have been met. The last one, a written curriculum developed in a consistent format for all courses in all departments across the school, has not yet been achieved.
All accredited schools are required to submit a three-year Report of Progress and Planning, which, in the case of HHS, is due on October 1, 2026. The submission of a revised HHS school growth/improvement plan is also required.
HHS’s accreditation status will be reviewed at the time the commission considers the three-year report.
In other HPS news, during recent visits to Jacobs, Memorial, and Hull High by Massachusetts School Building Authority staff, all three buildings were deemed to be in “above average” condition, the highest rating available.
The MSBA is required to conduct periodic school surveys to evaluate the conditions of public schools in Massachusetts and to inform the MSBA grant program.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Bonfire rescheduled; will be lit at 7 p.m. on December 28
/The town’s traditional bonfire – postponed from Thanksgiving Day because of the danger of outdoor burning in the unusually dry conditions – will take place on Saturday, December 28, one month later than originally scheduled.
According to Hull Fire Chief Chris Russo, the fire will be lit around 7 p.m. at the Hull Redevelopment Authority property, and there is no rain or snow date planned.
Last month, Russo cited the drought across the state as the reasons for the delay. Wildfires across Eastern Massachusetts had been burning in several communities, clouding the local atmosphere with smoky conditions.
The pile of pallets that will be used for the fire has been on the HRA land since Thanksgiving. The tradition began in the 1960s as a way to build on the community spirit of Hull High’s football rivalry with neighboring Cohasset. The first bonfires were held at the Dust Bowl playground at Pemberton and later moved to the HRA site after the land was cleared of homes and businesses in the 1970s.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Rising health costs, debt service expected to necessitate up to 5% increase in town’s FY26 budget
/By Carol Britton Meyer
Town Manager Jennifer Constable presented a preliminary fiscal 2026 budget overview in a joint meeting with the advisory board this week, based on assumptions, “not solid numbers,” as well as a draft financial policy manual.
The uncertainty in the budget is due in large part to the projected but as yet unconfirmed roughly 10% increase in health insurance costs, unknown state aid, and other numbers.
At the same time, Town Accountant Mike Buckley predicted a potential 4-1/2 to 5% budget increase for fiscal 2026 as compared with past 3 to 3-1/2% increases, due mainly to current debt obligations and the projected health insurance increase.
“Health insurance is one of the largest expenses,” Constable said. “We will stay conservative with the budget. …We have our hands full.”
The town’s revenue comes from property and excise taxes, state aid, ambulance receipts, and building permit fees.
Click here for the town manager’s FY26 budget presentation to the select board
Advisory board member Chad Wolfe asked whether Constable “will talk with department heads and say, ‘Here’s your [allowed] increase and manage that.’”
Constable said she is taking a different approach this year.
“I’ve asked department heads for their wish lists. This allows them to think through their budgets and communicate to me their needs – some of the requests could be wishes – for discussion.”
Constable presented a fiscal calendar, starting with the beginning of the new fiscal year in July and also including budget and capital request meetings with department heads; presentation of the town manager’s proposed budget; and advisory board departmental budget meetings to refine revenue and expenditure estimates, leading up to next spring’s annual town meeting, where voters will have the final say.
Fiscal 2026 expenses in addition to debt and increased health insurance costs relate to seawall work, the Fort Revere project, pension liability, collective bargaining agreements, and assessments, Constable said.
Next steps include continuing to refine the fiscal 2026 budget and continuation with the capital improvement planning process; the advisory board and department budget meetings; finalization of the budget; the select board signing the town meeting warrant in late March, and the requested budget approval at the May 5, 2025 annual town meeting.
In other business…
• Constable presented the draft Town of Hull Financial Policy Manual, explaining why adopting one is important. The reasons include consistency of service; safeguarding and minimizing risk; ensuring the quality of capital investment; conforming to general law, uniform professional standards, and municipal best practice; protecting and enhancing the town’s bond rating; promoting transparency and public disclosure; and assuring accurate and timely reporting.
Click here to view the draft Financial Policy Manual
The policies relate to capital and financial planning, debt management, financial reserves, forecasting, investments, one-time reserves, financial operations, indirect cost allocations, and other post-employment benefits liability (OPEB).
Constable explained that for the most part, these financial policies “formalize what we are doing now, as well as include some newer processes that would be implemented over the course of the next couple of years. It’s an educational tool for the community as well.”
The next steps are for the select board and advisory board to review the manual for adoption and endorsement, respectively, followed by implementation of the policy.
YOUNG GUNS. The Hull Police Department welcomed four new officers to its ranks this week, as the newest recruits graduated from the Boylston Police Academy on Friday and were sworn in by the town clerk at the select board’s meeting on Wednesday. Shown at the graduation ceremony are, from left, Lt. Stephen Glavin, Officers Thomas Walters, Anthony Bates, Michael McDonald, and Thomas Bellew, and Chief John Dunn.
• Town Clerk Lori West administered the oath of office to the Hull Police Department’s newest officers, Anthony Bates, Thomas Bellew, Michael McDonald, and Thomas Walters, saying that swearing in officers is one of the “greatest privileges” in her role. West commended all four officers for their commitment “to upholding the values of public safety.” Constable noted that while some people are noting that “so many veteran officers are retiring and what a loss this is, there’s such a great [benefit to the town when new officers] join the force, setting an example in the community.”
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Hull’s students scored above state averages, according to report on latest MCAS results
/By Carol Britton Meyer
Hull Public Schools students fared well overall on the 2024 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams compared with achievement levels statewide, with room for improvement, according to a presentation at a recent meeting of the school committee.
Fifty-four percent of students in grades 3 through 8 met or exceeded expectations on the English Language Arts exam, well above the state average of 39%.
In addition, 46% of students in the same grades met or exceeded expectations above the state average of 41% on the math exam.
In other MCAS news, 58% percent of grade 10 students met or exceeded expectations on the ELA exam – slightly above the state average of 57% -- while 51% met or exceeded expectations on the math exam, above the state average of 48%.
Click here to view the full MCAS presentation to the school committee
Grade 5 and 8 and high school students scored slightly higher than the state average on the science exam (by seven percentage points in grade 5).
Total student enrollment declined from 887 in 2019 to 755 in 2024. The chronic absenteeism rate for non-high school students has steadily decreased during the last two years, and the high school rate has also decreased over that same timeframe, only much less significantly. Action steps are in place to support students in attending school regularly.
The Jacobs School has action steps in place to help students score higher on the exams, with a focus on parental engagement, support for staff, connections through after-school and other activities, and the hiring of math interventionists.
The high school also has action steps that include implementation of a common writing rubric, development of end-of-year skills assessments, exploration of innovation pathways, parental engagement, optimization of the vision for graduates, and support for the grade 8 transition to the high school.
District-wide targeted strategies for improvement revolve around the concept of “stay the course with minor adjustments.”
MCAS exams seek to assess whether students are exceeding, meeting, partially meeting, or not meeting grade level standards in English language arts, math, and science technology/engineering. While Massachusetts voters overturned the requirement that students pass the exam in order to graduate from high school by supporting Question 2 in last month’s election, students are still required to complete coursework that meets state standards.
MCAS is used as part of the state accountability system to determine how well a particular school and district are performing and to guide improvement planning.
Accountability components include achievement, student growth, high school completion, progress toward English proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and the percentage of students completing advanced coursework.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
Hull Wind II is unable to be fixed and will be dismantled
/Despite several repair attempts, the 18-year-old wind turbine at the former sanitary landfill is unable to be fixed and will come down, the Hull Municipal Lighting Plant has decided.
The plant is soliciting bids for the dismantling and disposal of the tower and blades that have been a familiar sight to residents as they enter town along George Washington Boulevard.
The turbine, which is about 200 feet tall, was installed in May 2006 and generated enough energy to power 800 homes each year. The plant had been waiting for new computer components to get the blades turning again, but the more work was found to be necessary.
The removal of Hull Wind II comes after Hull Wind I at Pemberton was taken down in February of this year. That turbine also was deemed beyond repair.
Although Vestas, the company that installed Hull Wind II in 2006, opted out of its maintenance contract with the town some time ago when the agreement expired, another company was hired to perform the necessary maintenance on the remaining wind turbine.
Bidders will be able to obtain specifications for removing the structure beginning Thursday, December 5.
Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.
© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.
