By Carol Britton Meyer

By Carol Britton Meyer

After serving the Town of Hull for a combined 26 years during his two separate terms as town manager, Philip Lemnios announced to the select board Wednesday his decision to retire on June 30.

Under his contract, Lemnios must give six months’ notice of plans to leave the position. In the meantime, Lemnios intends to include funding for an assistant town manager in the proposed FY24 budget, which was a topic during the board’s October goals and objectives discussion, he noted.

“This would give the board some latitude on thinking about the town manager position, and what the next person in that role could accomplish,” he said. “I’m very excited for the town and for my own next steps. This is a great opportunity for the town and the select board to do some deep thinking and to reflect on the nature of the next person [who will fill the town manager position].”

Lemnios has a long history with the town, stepping for the second time into the town manager role in 2007 at the Hull selectmen’s request after holding that position from 1992 to 2003, when he left to serve as Natick’s town administrator. The second time around, Lemnios replaced retiring Town Manager Christopher McCabe, who – like Lemnios – had returned to employment in Hull after leaving for another community.

“I believe I’ve accomplished what the board asked me to do when they invited me back in 2007,” Lemnios said. “There’s a great team in place, and it’s a good time to gain a fresh perspective on the position. It’s been a great pleasure to work for and serve [the town], and I will be here for the next six months.”

Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable said it was the board’s pleasure and honor “to have you manage this town. Six months will go by quickly. Thanks for what you have done for the town. It’s a very stable community.”

Select board member Domenico Sestito recalled that Lemnios returned to Hull as town manager the year before he was elected as a selectman.

“You were met with one of the biggest economic crises of the last century, and [I appreciated] the way you navigated through what were uncertain, unprecedented, and scary times,” he said. “This was my introduction to your passion for the town. I’m happy for you but will miss you.”

Lemnios said this is the natural juncture for the board to decide what it would like the next town manager to focus on, “whether economic development, housing, or other issues,” whereas his charge was to focus on the town’s finances.

At Lemnios’ suggestion, an agenda item related to succession planning is planned for the Jan. 4 meeting.

“We’ll need to talk about and decide the process [moving forward],” Sestito said.

Board member Donna Pursel spoke about how many Hull board and committee members as well as town officials and members of groups outside of Hull’s borders speak highly of the town manager. “Your name often comes up as a resource and a reference,” she said. “You’re truly a leader, even outside of our town.”

Sestito noted that during discussions between the Hull and Hingham select boards related to the water company, Hingham officials also spoke of Lemnios with respect. “This is a testament to you [and what you have accomplished],” he said.