By Dolores Sauca Lorusso 

The Community Preservation Committee this week unanimously endorsed six requests for funding that will eventually be considered by voters the spring town meeting. The projects, which will use funds collected from the Community Preservation Act surcharge, include $1.5 million to renovate the Village Fire Station, $99,000 for the Hampton Circle Playground, $55,000 to repair the L Street Playground and tennis courts, as well as $30,000 for playground shade structures, $70,000 to restore the Paragon Carousel windows, and $28,000 for a waterfront access consultant.

The CPC approved spending $500,000 in cash and bonding $1 million over 20 years for phase two of the Village Fire Station preservation project. A written summary of a CPC site visit to the Village Fire Station said that “conditions demonstrate the building is in severe need of repair but is structurally sound. Addressing the need in a timely fashion will allow for the continued use of the building as well as to preserve a property of high historic value to the town.” 

The committee members expressed interest in preserving the many historical documents, photographs, and collectibles in the upstairs meeting room and basement area. Some of these items belong to the town and some are in the archives of the Hull Historical Society, which has occupied the second floor for decades. The building was formerly the town hall, and the basement contains a historic jail cell and vault, which the CPC would also like to see preserved. “It is amazing we have that memorabilia and it needs to be preserved,” Committee member Jim Ianiri said.

Ianiri also questioned whether people would be allowed into the fire station if it were renovated, because he believes “it is important to keep the promise of letting people into the building after it is fixed.”

“The challenge here is that if it is open constantly to the public, then you have to meet ADA requirements,” CPC Chair Rachel Gilroy said. “But limited scheduled tours could allow to manage it better.”

She followed up by expressing the importance of “just refurbishing the building from a visual perspective for the Village, so when driving by they don’t see a building falling apart.”

Judy O’Quinn Ranson, who lives next door to the fire station, agrees the building is in disrepair and referred to it as “an eyesore.” She is also a “big advocate” of the 1.5% property-tax surcharge for funding the CPC and sees “what the tax does for the town and the historic component of the town.” The fire station is manned during emergencies and that makes her “feel better in an astronomical high tide to have a fire truck sitting next to my house if cut off from the peninsula.”

Greg Grey, a select board member and the CPC’s Park and Recreation Commission designee, said the “CPC is going to shine the trophies we haven’t been able to shine in a long time. I am in favor of this. It is not locking all the funds so we can do another historical project if it comes along.”

Gilroy agreed. “Earmarking just that $500,000 leaves plenty of money still in our cash in case something else comes along that needs our attention,” she said, explaining that the earliest the $1 million bond would be issued is July 2023, but “if more feasible they could hold on the bond if rates aren’t good and use the $500,000.”

The Hampton Circle Playground supplemental funding increased from the initially proposed $70,000 to $99,000 due to the addition of a swing set, increasing costs, and permitting work. Community Development and Planning Director Chris DiIorio said there is “demand in the area” and “the people approved the initial $200,000.” In support of the motion to approve, Grey added he believes it is “money well spent because this area has been without a playground for years and they need a place to go.” Issues of flooding in the area were discussed, but ultimately it was determined the park would withstand minor flooding.

“The playground will be elevated a little bit, so in minor flooding events it should be fine,” said DiIorio.

Regarding the L Street playground and tennis courts, Grey commented they are in “major disrepair because cracks continue to open up despite Parks and Recreation continuously fixing them.” Grey said he is in favor of this project because the area is “one of the most used playgrounds because of all the sports that go on there.”

The L Street playground shade structures were deemed essential because 250 kids are in the summer program on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. DiIorio described the proposed shade structures as “a four-post sail structure that will be easy to put up and take down, and some sun will still get through because it is over grass.” Grey said these awnings are important because the kids in the summer program – as well as other park visitors – could be stuck in the extreme heat of an 80- to 90-degree day without any shade.

“When it is extremely hot we need to do something to combat it. Besides the summer program, it would also allow residents to enjoy their lunch at a picnic table, sit to read a book, or watch a game,” Grey said. In addition, Gilroy said the pop-up structures currently being used are “not safe.”

CPA funds are designated for historic preservation, open space and recreation, and affordable housing, and the state provides a partial match for these funds. The CPC is responsible for evaluating the needs of the town and making recommendations, including anticipated costs, to the town meeting as part of the annual budget process. The final decision rests with voters after recommendations from the select and advisory boards. Gilroy hopes to make an in-person presentation to the advisory board at the end of February.