HRA will open development proposals at meeting tonight

The Hull Redevelopment meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Anne Scully Senior Center, 197A Samoset Ave.

At 7 p.m., authority members will open at least two responses to its Request for Proposals to develop a portion of the 13-acre urban renewal site. The land has been vacant for nearly a half-century.

The Times will publish meeting details in Thursday's edition.

New residents fuel state economy, experts believe

By Michael P. Norton

Economists have long argued that a labor crunch in Massachusetts, punctuated by an aging workforce and slow natural growth in the labor force and population, is serving as a brake on economic growth. They're changing their tune now.

Economists on the editorial board of the economic journal MassBenchmarks met privately Sept. 28 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. They released their consensus findings late last week and reported they had a "spirited" discussion about economic activity, including recent growth they described as the fastest since the recovery began in August 2009.

Notably, they reported that employment in Massachusetts has grown, year to date through August, at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent – "faster than normal for the state" – with growth concentrated in professional services, construction, and the software, education, and health sectors.

As recently as January the same group of economists reported that the pace of economic growth in Massachusetts was expected to slow in 2018 due to labor supply constraints. But the most recent numbers from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development show a sharp uptick in the labor force in Massachusetts, which was up by 145,700 people from the 3,660,400 in August 2017, with 141,800 more residents employed and 3,900 more residents unemployed.

The question is where are those people coming from.

In their most recent talks, the economists concluded more residents are participating in the labor force and international immigration "seems to be holding steady, but does not appear to be a source of growth." And while noting that hard data won't be available "for quite some time," they tentatively agreed that domestic migration – or people moving to Massachusetts from other states – appears to be on the rise, even though it's been a net negative for years.

"It stands to reason that the fuel for the state's recent labor force growth is the movement of workers into the state from other states," economists wrote Thursday in an "excerpts from the board" summary released by the UMass Donahue Institute. "This could entail people both moving in to live and work in the state, and an increase in workers commuting into the state."

Compared to other states, high housing and energy costs and a higher cost-of-living in Massachusetts have long served as an impediment to growth, countered by the state's economic selling points such as higher wages and stable knowledge-based industries like higher education, the life sciences and health care.

State officials told the News Service Friday that residential developers on the North Shore say nearly a quarter of their leases are from people relocating from out of state. And Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash says jobs are pulling more people into Massachusetts.

"Massachusetts is renowned for its world-class talent, educational institutions, and forward-thinking companies. Our innovation economy relies heavily on our highly educated and skilled workforce, and it also attracts people who live in the broader New England region to cross the border for great jobs," Ash said. "Companies from key sectors such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing are expanding their presence in the state or relocating operations altogether, and this creates a greater pull for talent."

MassBenchmarks Executive Editor Robert Nakosteen, an economics professor at UMass Amherst, said editorial board members are "digging into the data" as they look for more conclusive proof about domestic migration.

IRS data reflecting 2018 tax returns and Census Bureau data will be available in late 2019 or 2020 and will shed light on domestic migration, according to Michael Goodman, co-editor of MassBenchmarks and executive director of the Public Policy Center at UMass Dartmouth.

"We just sort of backed our way into the hypothesis," Goodman said. "We reasoned our way to a plausible explanation for the growth."

Blue Hills deal would push Rockland Trust assets to $11B

By Michael P. Norton, State House News Service

Once its newly announced acquisition of Blue Hills Bank takes effect, Rockland Trust expects to have more than $11 billion in assets, the most bank branches of any bank headquartered in Massachusetts, and a presence on both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. 

Rockland Trust, which has a branch in Hull, last week announced merger plans with Blue Hills Bank, which was founded in 1871 as Hyde Park Savings Bank. Blue Hills Bancorp, with headquarters in Norwood, operates branches in Boston, Dedham, Hyde Park, Milton, Norwood, West Roxbury, Westwood, and Nantucket. As of June 30, Blue Hills Bancorp had $2.7 billion in assets. 

Independent Bank Corp., the parent company of Rockland Trust, estimates the value of the Blue Hills Bank transaction at about $726 million. 

The boards of each company have unanimously approved the transaction, according to Rockland Trust. “Our transaction with Blue Hills Bank is a natural fit and is consistent with our strategy of acquiring banks in overlapping and adjacent markets,” said Christopher Oddleifson, president and CEO of Independent and CEO of Rockland Trust. “Blue Hills Bank is a strong, well run, growing company with a tremendous franchise. This acquisition will strengthen the position of Rockland Trust in Eastern Massachusetts and also permit us to expand onto Nantucket Island.” 

Rockland Trust, which is in the process of acquiring The Milford National Bank & Trust Company, expanded to Martha's Vineyard in 2017 with the acquisition of The Edgartown National Bank. 

Hull woman cited after Cohasset crash

Cohasset Police responded to a motor vehicle crash Friday at the intersection of Route 3A and Beechwood Street. Police responded to numerous 911 calls at about 11:30 a.m. that reported a crash with injuries.

Arriving officers found four people injured and two cars with heavy damage to the front ends, Cohasset PD said in a Facebook post.

Witnesses said that the driver of a 2016 Nissan SUV was heading north on 3A when the driver of a southbound 2018 Hyundai sedan cut in front of the Nissan in an effort to turn left onto Beechwood Street from 3A. The vehicles collided in the intersection.

Three people from the Nissan and a single occupant of the Hyundai were transported to South Shore Hospital by ambulances from Cohasset, Hingham, and Scituate. None of the injuries were reported as life threatening.

Both vehicles were towed and the driver of the Hyundai, a 23-year-old Hull female, was cited for failing to grant right of way. She was not named in the Facebook post.

Student threatens firearms use at Hull High, but no weapon found

Superintendent Michael F. Devine and Hull High School Principal Nicole Nosek report that Hull Public Schools leaders acted swiftly after a student reportedly uttered threats against the school.
On Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m., it was reported to the high school main office that a student had made a threat to harm others with a firearm. The studentwas identified, and the Hull Police Department was called immediately.
A search revealed no weapons, and the police department took over from there. The administration will take the proper actions with regard to this student, according to a statement issued by the school district this morning, but there was no immediate threat and no danger to the high school. At no point was there a direct threat to students or staff. The school day is continuing without interruption.
"What matters most in this unfortunate situation is that our students, faculty and staff are not in danger," Devine said. "The policies and procedures we have in place for these kinds of situations were followed correctly, and the situation was resolved without further escalation or disruption to our school community."

STM NARROWLY VOTES TO KEEP SUMMER DOG BAN

After 90 minutes of impassioned debate from both sides, voters at tonight's special town meeting declined to allow leashed dogs nighttime access to Hull's beaches.

The ballot vote was 182 in favor of the bylaw amendment, 203 opposed.

Another trooper indicted in overtime fraud probe

A former lieutenant in the Massachusetts State Police was indicted Wednesday for collecting more than $12,000 in overtime pay for shifts he did not work as part of the ongoing investigation into overtime abuses at the law enforcement agency.

Former Lt. David Wilson, 57, of Charlton, was indicted in federal court on one charge of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. He had previously been arrested and charged by a criminal complaint on June 27.

Wilson was a member of the State Police's Troop E enforcing traffic laws along the Massachusetts Turnpike, and served as the officer-in-charge of several overtime shifts, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Troopers also patrol state property in Hull, such as the Nantasket Reservation and Fort Revere. 

In 2016, Wilson earned approximately $230,000 and worked 170 overtime shifts for the Accident and Injury Reduction Effort program, which targeted vehicles speeding on the turnpike, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that Wilson took home $12,450 for overtime shifts he either didn't work, or left early, concealing the fraud by submitting citations that were either never issued or were issued during hours outside the overtime shifts.

No date for Wilson's arraignment has been scheduled. Six troopers thus far have been charged by the U.S. Attorney in connection with the overtime abuse scandal. Trooper Gregory Raftery, 47, of Westwood, has already pleaded guilty, and suspended Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, of Braintree, has agreed to plead guilty, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office said.

State raises West Nile Virus alert to 'moderate'

State public health officials have raised the statewide risk level for West Nile Virus from low to moderate and are urging everyone to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

According to the Department of Public Health, it's only the second time that officials have raised the risk level statewide.

Officials said there have not been any human West Nile cases reported, but noted that the recent hot and humid weather, combined with frequent rainfall, have provided "perfect conditions for mosquito species carrying West Nile Virus to breed," according to Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel.

According to the state, West Nile can infect people of all ages, but people over age 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, state officials say, and while most people infected with the virus will have no symptoms, they may include fever and flu-like illness.

"I strongly encourage everyone to keep using insect repellant and to be especially aware of mosquito activity at dusk and dawn, when the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes is greatest. Move indoors if you are getting bitten," said Bharel. 

SAMOSET AREA WILL LOSE WATER SERVICE TODAY AS SYSTEM REPAIRS ARE DONE

Here is the updated Aquarion memo about today's anticipated service interruption, courtesy of Hull DPW's ace administrative aide, MaryEllen White.

Aquarion Water Company will be replacing two gate valves, one at the intersection of Samoset Avenue and Lewis Street, the other at the intersection of Samoset and Adams, on Aug. 9 (today).

This infrastructure improvement is necessary and is being done to help resolve the discoloration issue which some homes experienced earlier this week.

In order to do the work, water will be off to the following customers between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

125-199 Samoset Ave., all of Hadassah Way, 18 Adams St., 5 - 20 Lewis St., all of Weston Street.

The following fire hydrants will be out of service during the construction: 649, 786, 787, and 745.

The water company also sent out a second CODE RED message to the following streets to alert residents of potential low pressure and potential discoloration during the construction:

All of Manomet Avenue,  200-225 Samoset Ave., 1- 124 Samoset Ave., 560-652 Nantasket Ave.

Customers with questions or issues may call 800-928-3734.