HHS Class of 2024 urged to ‘go forth with confidence, compassion’ at graduation ceremony

By Victoria Dolan

Last Saturday, the Hull community celebrated 51 graduates and 11 retirees in a bittersweet graduation ceremony. 

The ceremony, which took place outdoors on Finlayson Field, marked the last class for Superintendent Judith Kuehn and Principal Michael Knybel, who both delivered remarks. 

Knybel encouraged the class to stay true to themselves and embrace their individuality, because “this world needs individuals who are willing to stand for what is right, to contribute with kindness and truth.

“Go forth with confidence, compassion, and the unwavering belief that you are capable of shaping a better future,” he concluded. 

Check out these great images from the ceremony from Jennifer Lynne Photography by clicking here.

Kuehn encouraged the graduates to continue applying the lessons they learned at Hull High, as “your curiosity, your passion for knowledge, your kindness towards others, and your commitment to excellence will be the foundation upon which you build your future.” 

After walking the field to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” Dahlia Hedrick sang the National Anthem. Hedrick and Katherine Orpen later delivered Class Reflections, and the HHS band performed a short selection.

After the salutatorian address, valedictorian Veronica Fleming took the stage to deliver her remarks. Fleming reflected on the transitions the class has faced thus far from elementary to middle school and middle to high school, and took on the age-old question, “Why are we learning this?”

“We have learned all that we have up to this point so that our past can help propel us into a better future, and all that we will learn in the future will only augment the foundation we have already built,” she said.  “Even if we never see the Pythagorean theorem again, at least we can affirm that it has gotten us this far.”

The commencement speaker was Elizabeth Greenwood, a professor and alumna of Columbia University with multiple critically acclaimed novels. Greenwood grew up in Massachusetts and encouraged the graduates to treasure their community and their home in Hull.

Senior class president Maeve Mulvihill shared similar sentiments in her address, sharing that “the time we have spent here in this town with these people is irreplaceable, and I don’t want these relationships to go away.

“This is the time for us to make mistakes and take risks,” Mulvihill said. “It is our time to live our lives however we would like, and to discover ourselves for who we are and what we would like to become.” 

And as “Tongue Tied” by Grouplove played to conclude the ceremony, the 51 students on the field became alumni of Hull High School.

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Grad’s advice to classmates: 'Go beyond the rotary' – but come back to make a difference

By Victoria Dolan

[This the text of the salutatorian’s address delivered at Hull High’s graduation ceremonies on June 1 by Victoria Dolan – Ed.]

Good morning parents, faculty, staff, honored guests, and thank you for joining us to celebrate my fellow members of the class of 2024. I’d especially like to thank all of our wonderful teachers who helped us make it to this moment, and to my parents, grandma, and sister, who listened to me complain for four years about all the homework those wonderful teachers assigned.

As many of my peers already know, I moved to Hull from across the country in sixth grade. I didn’t know anybody, and as I looked into the future, I was excited to join this community, but also incredibly nervous about what this new setting would bring. Many of you may be feeling similarly now as you prepare to move into a new community – for a job, or college, or trade school. 

My third day of school, I got lucky. Shocked to learn I had never made slime before, Cali Gibbons invited me to her house to learn how. I failed, miserably, at it, but made a new friend in the process.

You see, my favorite thing about Hull and our time at Hull High is precisely what I experienced on that day with Cali. Cali represented the best characteristics of Hull’s close-knit community – one that is protective of its own while kind to outsiders, and always overwhelmingly generous. 

We’ve seen that community in action time and time again over the past four years. Packing the stands at cold and windy football games until we made it to Gillette for the first time in decades. Rallying around our gift-card fundraisers that relied on local businesses to help bring prom tickets to unprecedentedly low prices. Filling the seats of the auditorium for a 40-minute play, or the gym bleachers for the students-versus-faculty basketball game. 

But despite these successes, it is no secret that the past four years have been difficult ones for Hull High School. Our first two years were still impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. Our final two years were punctuated by continued changes in leadership. Whether it was braving class scheduling during add-drop period or driving through flooded streets to get to school, we still made it through, thanks to the support of our community and one another. 

I hope you’ll use what you’ve learned from navigating those uncertainties to help you with whatever path you choose to take next. Go “beyond the rotary.” Learn from a broader, more diverse range of perspectives than we have here in Hull, and let them shape the person you’ll become. I hope you find great success, and I hope you learn to fail with grace. Go into the world, and do it with the courage, tenacity, flexibility, and sense of spirit you learned at Hull High School.

Then, come back. Come back in the summer to a town with two schools instead of three, with an entirely new administration that you might not know the names of. Learn their names. Run for office, or speak up at town meeting. Vote. Support local businesses, and prevent people from building more condos. Come back to Hull with the lessons you’ve learned from getting out of here. Then give back to this community which has given so much to you.

Bring the new perspectives you’ll have from the new people you’ve met and lessons you’ve learned, and help Hull grow to become even better. We live in a town of 10,000 people, and I see 51 soon to be graduates seated on either side of me with the potential to make a serious difference in this town and in the world.

To all of you sitting on the field and in the stands, I ask that you welcome the new ideas these students bring back with the same grace, kindness, and Hull spirit that Cali once showed a new kid from California. I am forever grateful for the welcome I received from the Hull community, and I am proud to call this town my home.

Thank you, and congratulations to the class of 2024. 

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Former superintendent’s $5M wrongful termination suit settled on second day of trial

By Victoria Dolan

In the middle of the second day of testimony in former Hull Public Schools Superintendent Michael Devine’s $5-million wrongful termination lawsuit against the town, representatives informed Judge Patti B. Saris that they had reached a settlement in lieu of continuing the trial.

The Hull Select Board held an unscheduled Zoom meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday – allowable under the Open Meeting Law in emergency situations – to consider the settlement amount. The details of that executive session were not available by the Times’ deadline.

Devine, who was principal of Hull High School before becoming superintendent in 2017, alleged that the termination of his contract in 2020 was a product of discrimination based on his sexual orientation, and brought seven counts against the Hull Public Schools, the Town of Hull and five school committee members for breach of contract, discrimination, defamation, and economic and emotional damages. Devine filed his suit in 2021; the trial in front of a jury began on Tuesday.

Click here to read the full text of Devine v. Town of Hull, filed in 2021

Click here for the notice of settlement filed with the court on May 30, 2024

former Hull Superintendent Michael Devine….

Representing the schools, attorney Deborah Ecker argued in opening statements that Devine’s termination was not discriminatory, but a direct result of inappropriate text messages with former student Ryan Hauter, who was identified in open court and in attorneys’ filings.

Devine, said Ecker, “was texting with a student who looked up to him as a father figure and who he knew had significant mental health issues.” He had “crossed the line,” said Ecker, and at the time he told Hauter and multiple school officials that he knew it.

Devine was represented by India Minchoff and Stephen Kuzma. In her opening statement, Minchoff argued that Devine’s “sexual orientation was a deciding factor in his termination,” and that texts with a 21-year-old adult living in another state should never have been under the jurisdiction of the school committee.

Minchoff argued that the five school committee members decided to terminate Devine because they were worried about public perception and began to stereotype Devine upon learning of his sexuality.

“This case is about… public perception,” said Minchoff, “and the school committee’s perception of him as a ‘groomer.’”

After opening statements, Minchoff and Kuzma called two witnesses, former Athletic Director Jim Quatromoni and Executive Secretary Maggie Ollerhead, who both testified that Devine created a friendly and welcoming work environment within the school department. Quatromoni, who was subpoenaed to testify about whether Devine influenced the assignment of internships – Quatromoni testified that he had not – said that Hauter was eventually placed in an internship at the school’s main office. While in this internship, he frequently encountered and had one-on-one conversations with Devine.

Devine did not finish his testimony before the case settled. However, he spoke at length about his messages with Hauter and his fear of “coming out” as gay in the Hull community.

“I felt at times that there were people who were not tolerant,” he said, especially after hearing comments like “that’s so gay” from “people in positions of power,” such as local elected officials.

Devine argued that text messages with Hauter were incomplete and taken out of context. The trial and a pre-trial memorandum were the first time these text messages were made public. Devine and Hauter’s communication began with Hauter reaching out through email, after which Devine provided his personal cell phone and Hauter began texting him. The student had already graduated from Hull High School and was living out of state.

The text messages displayed during the trial were from September of 2019, and included Devine asking, “Have you ever thought about us in a different way?” In a later part of the conversation, Hauter texted “Hahahah my thinking was ‘my former principal just came on to me’ hahahaha,” to which Devine responded, “No he didn’t! Well…” and “You totally knew what I was hinting at didn’t you?”

Some excerpts of the conversation were not available, because they were left out of screenshots or, as Devine alleged, deleted by Hauter.

Devine stated that he asked Hauter about his feelings because Hauter had previously texted “I love you.”

The conversation continued, but Hauter later contacted school social worker Andrea Centerrino that he was upset by the messages. During conversations with Centerrino and former Hull High Principal Nicole Nosek, Devine repeatedly stated that he “crossed the line.” On the stand, Devine expressed that this sentiment was misperceived, and he crossed the line by making Hauter uncomfortable with his question about their relationship.

Before Devine finished his testimony, the parties reached an agreement to settle, the terms of which were not released. The judge issued a 30-day order to finalize written terms.

Christopher Haraden contributed to this report.

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Developer pays $6M for Paragon Boardwalk; venue won’t reopen for summer

By Christopher Haraden

Two months to the day after receiving planning board approval of its special permit for the Paragon Dunes project, a Middleton developer finalized the purchase of the property for $6 million.

The Procopio Companies plans to build a four-story, 132-unit mixed unit project at what has been known as the Paragon Boardwalk since 2017. The sale spells the end of the outdoor beer garden and indoor arcade, as well as the adjacent miniature golf course, as the former owner returned the venue’s liquor license to the town in March.

“We would like to forfeit our liquor license for Paragon Entertainment Ventures effective March 31. … Our insurance coverage will be lapsing on that date and we will not be renewing it,” Chris Reale, one of the property owners, wrote in a March 6 letter to the select board. If Procopio plans to reopen the businesses, the company would need to apply for its own business permits.

Principal Michael Procopio of 197 Nantasket Owner LLC purchased the site from Nantasket Dune Holdings LLC on May 20. The $6 million sale price was supported by a mortgage of the same amount from First Boston Construction Holdings LLC, a private lender owned by the Grossman family of Quincy. Nantasket Dune Holdings purchased the property from the Levin family for $1.25 million in November 2017 and replaced a large section of the storefronts with outdoor seating and performance space.

Procopio’s Paragon Dunes project is currently under environmental review by state and local authorities.

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Another milestone for the Class of 2024: Prom is one last dance for seniors

By Victoria Dolan

Last Thursday, more than 100 students attended the Hull High School junior-senior prom at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, for many marking the near end of their high school career with a night of dancing and fun.

Hull High SENIORS recently had their ‘last dance’ of high school. watch next week’s edition for more photos from the prom and from Hull high’s graduation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, june 1. [Skip Tull photo]

The moment was a long time coming. Senior class president Maeve Mulvihill explained that the student government has been fundraising for prom since freshman year. One major fundraiser that contributed to prom was the recent gift card raffle, where businesses donated gift cards that students raffled off to community members.

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Click here for 2024 Prom Photos from Jennifer Lynne Photography

WATCH FOR MORE PROM & GRADUATION PHOTOS IN NEXT WEEK’S EDITION!

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“We are very thankful that so many local businesses were so generous,” said student government advisor Lindsey Donovan. Their generosity resulted in a highly successful fundraiser that brought the cost of prom tickets down to only $40.

Mulvihill noted that although many seniors attended prom last year as juniors, this year had a different experience in store. Seniors walked down the “promenade” at the Hull Yacht Club for pictures in front of parents, as well as “watch[ing] our classmates get prom king and queen which was amazing!”
Madison Constable was named prom queen and Daniel Gianibas was named prom king. For them and their classmates, the best part of the night was the main feature of prom itself – the dancing.

“The highlight of the night,” agreed Donovan, “was how happy the students were dancing with their friends! How free they were.”

“Even though we haven’t graduated yet, it is an amazing way to end our time here in Hull,” said Mulvihill. “I think it was the perfect way for our class to come together for one of the last times.”

Victoria Dolan is The Hull Times school correspondent. This column reflects her student viewpoint.

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Parade, dedication of squares highlight Hull's Memorial Day observance

Scenes from Hull’s Memorial Day observances all over town on Monday, May 27. Many thanks to photographers who contributed images — Skip Tull, Jennifer Whelan, James Lampke, and Kerrie Ryan.

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Sensors to be installed off Hull’s coastline to collect data, monitor sea-level rise

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

On Tuesday night, the Hull Conservation Commission gave a unanimous green light to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) to install water sensors in various locations along Hull’s coastline to monitor sea level rise.

In this image from the Woods hole oceanographic institute’s website, research Associate Levi Gorrell opens the panel door of a water level sensor being deployed in chatham; similar sensors are proposed for installation off hull’s coastline.

The WHOI identified Hull as well suited to test the water sensors because the coastal community is vulnerable and provides an opportunity to better understand local flooding problems.

Sarah Das, WHOI scientist and author of the RDA, said a team at WHOI worked to develop the low-cost water level sensors to determine how sea level rise is affecting us “right in our back yard.”

The water level sensors are expected to help scientists track sea level rise in coastal communities throughout Massachusetts and the WHOI kept the cost low, about $300 per prototype.

WHOI has already deployed the new devices at its Woods Hole dock as well as Chatham Fish Pier. The WHOI visited Hull in April and is working with Chris Krahforst, Hull’s director of climate adaptation and conservation, to identify areas in Hull for placement of the sensors.

The commission members did not see any adverse effects of putting the sensors in place.

The sensors consist of a plastic box about the size of a tissue box that contains the electronics. On the top is a solar panel for power; on the bottom is an acoustic transducer, which is shaped like a small cone. A transducer converts acoustic energy to electrical energy and vice versa.

WHOI scientists believe the water-level sensors will provide data to a greater number of coastal communities and add community-specific data to the NOAA existing tide gauge network, which covers only a small portion of the Massachusetts coast.

According to Das, having the sensors in town will fill in some of the holes between someone reporting a flood in their backyard and the NOAA existing tide gauge not connecting to what the community is experiencing.

“There are only a handful of tide gauges on the whole Northeast, with an enormous stretch between observation areas,” Das said. “We need to deploy more sensors to understand water levels at a much finer scale.”

WHOI understands even a small community can see variability; it may not be a significant storm event, but it produces flooding.

NOAA’s tide gauges measure water levels every six minutes. There are six NOAA tide gauges in Massachusetts: in Woods Hole, Nantucket, Chatham, New Bedford, Fall River, and Boston.

The WHOI sensor uses technology similar to sonar to make its measurements; by sending out short pulses of sound and measuring how long it takes those sound waves to reach the surface of the water, scientists can determine the water level.

According to WHOI, the sensor collects data for 30 seconds every 10 minutes. Every second that the sensor is collecting data, it takes six distance measurements. Every 10 minutes, the collected data is averaged into one number that is sent to the cloud using a cellular data modem.

WHOI would like to deploy water sensors in Hull so scientists can compare the prototype to NOAA’s Chatham tide gauge across a wide variety of weather and water conditions.

According to a WHOI press release, sea level has risen in Massachusetts by two to three inches since 2022, “which is much faster than average rates observed over the previous three decades.” According to WHOI physical oceanographer Christopher G. Piecuch, this number comes from measurements taken by the Woods Hole and Nantucket tide gauges.

Das said it is this uneven accelerated rate of change, when it comes to sea level rise, that prompts a need for more data collection, especially to learn how that increasing rate will affect flooding on a local scale.

The sensors will assist in empowering coastal communities with localized data that could be used to mitigate flood risk.

“Where are we experiencing problems? Where might we want more data? How does a rainfall event come in versus extra river runoff, versus winds coming from the east or the west? All these scientific questions which really build into communities understanding why they’re having flooding in certain places and why it’s changing,” said Das.

Das pointed out during the same weather event, there could be a flood in one Hull neighborhood but not in another. The water sensors will provide detail that isn’t really captured by the federal network, which only monitors sea-level rise along a small amount of the state’s coastline.

In addition, Das said researchers have good measurements for sea level rise, but they don’t have as much data for coastal flood events.  Researchers are hopeful the sensors will improve understanding of flood processes, as well as the models used to allocate resources going forward.

“What we imagine for the future are networks of coastal water sensors that provide coastal towns and cities with data to inform policy and response,” said Das. “That helps scientists validate coastal flood risk models and advance our understanding of coastal flooding more generally.”

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

By Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Baseball team is headed to the state tournament! The Pirates finished 13-7 on the year after dropping their final game of the season to Quincy 12-2 on Friday, May 24. The team will be hosting a preliminary game against Boston Collegiate Charter School on Thursday to start off tournament play.

NIGHT BASEBALL. The Hull High baseball team is heading to the playoffs, and will be hosting the first game of the tournament on Friday. Here, the natural beauty of playing at Hull Gut surrounds pitcher Max MacEachern on the mound during the last game of the season, which also was senior night. [Photo by Jason Gagne]

• Girls Softball Team 2 played a close game against Scituate on Thursday, May 23, losing 7-4. Alyssa Donato, who had a single that scored two of the four Hull runs, led Hull’s offense. Robin Timins and Charley Cate Lofgren contributed with hits, while Tessa Schultz and Abby Baglione showed smart base running. Catchers Schultz and Baglione also had a good showing, with pitchers McKenzie Neal and Kelsea Dunlap recording a combined four strikeouts. Dunlap and Charlotte Higgins also made good defensive plays. D3 Team 2 played its last regular season game on Tuesday, May 28, coming from behind to beat Norwell, 14-13. Mackenzie McLeod, Charlotte Higgins, and Charley Cate Lofgren led the offense while McKenzie Neal, Brianna Ramos, Leigha McClory, and Kelsea Dunlap had strong showings on defense. Neal also pitched a full six innings and totaled six strikeouts. The team finished 5-5 this season and awaits to hear on its playoff status.

ON THE BALL. Hull’s youth sports teams were among those assembled at the high school on Monday morning to march in the town’s annual Memorial Day parade. Hull Youth Soccer players were ready for a banner morning. [Photo by Haley Zella]

•  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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Hull High principal search forum reveals frustration among parents, school staff

By Victoria Dolan

On Monday, a parent forum on the Hull High School principal search exposed remaining tensions behind Principal Michael Knybel’s departure and between parents, teachers, and administrators.

The forum, which took place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Memorial Middle School, was intended to offer parents and caregivers a “platform to share their perspective and input concerning the selection of the next Hull High School principal,” according to a flier with information about the principal search process. The meeting was well-attended by about 60 parents and teachers, but the planned proceedings were regularly interrupted and outbursts required repeated redirection from Superintendent Judith Kuehn.

Several weeks ago, Principal Knybel announced over email that he will not return to the position next year. The school provided no official explanation for his departure prior to the expiration of his contract.

In recent weeks, parents also have expressed frustration that administrators have not provided information about the extended absence of Hull High Assistant Principal Julie Burke.

Kuehn fielded repeated questions about the causes behind Knybel’s departure. At the beginning of the meeting, one parent was asked to leave after attempting to discuss her child’s experiences rather than addressing what qualities she hoped to see in a new principal.

Other parents voiced similar concerns, with one noting that “it’s hard to move forward if we don’t know where it went wrong,” and that “if we don’t know what the problem is, and why he left, it’s hard to say what we want.”

Kuehn and Director of Curriculum Christine Cappadona shut down all questions about Knybel’s resignation.

“It’s so hard, and it’s frustrating for everyone,” said Cappadona, “but we don’t talk about personnel issues. That’s just what we do.”

While there was no official explanation given for Knybel’s departure, comments from teachers present at the meeting hinted at tensions between teachers and administrators.

HHS teacher Keith McKay noted that a priority in a principal is “someone who’s very strong at managing the day-to-day operations,” and “someone who has a clear understanding of what teachers do, and how discipline works.”

Brian Mullin, HHS teacher and the Hull Teachers Association co-president, shared similar sentiments. He noted that teachers need help with discipline, and shared examples of students telling teachers to “F off” without repercussions, or administrators teaching students suspected of submitting work not entirely their own to “cheat better.” In the end, Mullin said he was asking for “someone that shows respect for the professionalism of teachers and does their job when they come to work.”

At one point, parents threatened to leave the forum due to the vocality of teachers in what was promoted as a parent and caregiver forum. In an argumentative back-and-forth exchange with parents, teachers responded that there was no avenue for feedback given to teachers. When Kuehn answered that a survey had been sent out, Mullin said that “the survey was sent out today” and contained no options for open input.

Another concern voiced was regarding Kuehn’s statement that if a suitable candidate out of the 15 applicants is not found, HHS will move forward with an interim principal and go through the search process again next year.

Mary Schultz, a parent, said she was uncomfortable with the idea of eighth graders moving up to the high school for the first year of consolidation with an interim principal in place.

“All of our children’s time here is fleeting,” she said. “It’s [principal turnover] a systemic problem that happened way back with Mike Devine that’s carried forward.”

When the discussion was back on topic, both parents and teachers provided valuable insight into the qualities they hope to see in the next principal. Many parents highlighted expanding opportunities for students who may not be college-bound, such as the career fair and MassHire, a state program for students entering the workforce after high school.

Parents and teachers also prioritized a principal who supports non-athletic forms of extracurriculars and in-school opportunities, such as woodshop and theatre. Providing those creative outlets, said English teacher Karissa Connors, “gets kids to school.”

Connors also added that if the goals outlined in Hull High School’s “Vision of the Graduate” and NEASC review were implemented, the school would “really just transform.” She added that the plan in place will help teachers who “want to make sure our kids get the best education,” but that little progress was made on those goals this year.

They also underscored the importance of an individual who understands how to work well within a small school, especially in the first year with eighth graders at the high school.

“It might have to be someone who understands how a small district and a small community works,” said parent Maura Jones.

Kuehn explained that all the values and goals for a new principal shared at the forum would be discussed with the principal search committee. The search committee consists of three teachers, three students, and three parents. In the end, however, the final candidate will be the choice of incoming

Superintendent Dr. Michael Jette, who was also present at the meeting. While Jette mostly observed the proceedings, he stayed after the forum and talked with parents and teachers.

Victoria Dolan is The Hull Times school correspondent. This column reflects her student viewpoint.

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Select Board begins process for reviewing applications for retail marijuana shops

By Carol Britton Meyer 

The town will soon accept applications from individuals or companies with an interest in operating a retail marijuana establishment in Hull through a five-page Request for Information (RFI) process, with a limit of two adult-use facilities permitted under the town’s zoning bylaw.

Alternative Compassion Services, which operates a medical marijuana dispensary on George Washington Boulevard, has already applied, along with one other applicant, Skarr Inc., owned by Mambo’s restaurant’s Anthony Ghosn.

The intent of the marijuana zoning articles that passed at the May 6 town meeting 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.

Click here for the template for the Request for Information for retail shops.

State Attorney General approval is required for zoning bylaw changes adopted by town meeting (the town is awaiting a response) and also a referendum vote – possibly on the ballot for the November 5 presidential election – because state law requires one when a zoning bylaw change involves banned activities, Town Counsel James Lampke told the select board this week.

Board member Irwin Nesoff observed with regard to the required referendum that “putting out an RFI for marijuana retail establishments that has nothing to do with the banned activities” shouldn’t affect the application process.

Lampke noted that the role of the Attorney General’s office is to determine whether bylaw changes conflict “with any state laws or the Constitution. They do not serve in an advisory capacity to say whether something is good or bad. We anticipate the bylaw changes will be approved before the referendum.”

60-day timeframe for submitting applications

In the meantime, once the RFI is posted – on the town website, in The Hull Times, and possibly on social media – there will be a 60-day timeframe for submitting applications from that date.

“I don’t anticipate an abundance of applications, but we will start reviewing them as they come in,” Constable said, noting that the process is a lengthy one.

The select board reviewed and made changes to Constable’s draft RFI this week. The board ultimately approved the document, authorizing Constable and town counsel to review it, make any necessary changes for clarity, and then post the RFI.

However, Constable will bring the document back to the board if she or the town counsel feel any substantial changes are needed.

She explained that an RFI “is simply a notification to let potential applicants know that the Town of Hull has the opportunity for two retail establishments and is seeking applications. The process will take time. There are a lot of considerations.”

Interested parties are asked to submit a marijuana retail establishment plan to the town, which will use the RFI submittals to gauge interest and to determine the suitability of the respondents.

The information provided will be evaluated by the select board in consultation with Constable and town counsel, with the police and fire chiefs and other town department heads, to conduct a preliminary review of the applications.

Upon completion of this review, Constable will present her findings to the board and make recommendations regarding which, if any, respondents should receive further consideration for interviews and a final review.

The town reserves the right to reject any application it considers to be incomplete. That said, it may, at its discretion, request that the respondent provide omitted information or further clarifications.

Respondents may be asked to present their application in person to the select board and respond to questions.

Business model required

Applicants are also asked to provide their financials, including projected revenues and expenses, and a business model. Abutter notification is part of the process.

The same holds true for creating a diversity plan to promote equity among minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientation, as well as one related to environmental sustainability in sourcing of retail products and within the overall operation of the marijuana retail establishment.

Selected respondents to the RFI may be invited to negotiate a Host Community Agreement with the select board and to then move forward with the local permitting and licensing processes. A special permit from the planning board is required.

“We’re on a good path forward,” Chair Greg Grey said.

Nesoff said he is “dismayed and disappointed” that the process has taken so long,

“I understand this is a long process, but we can only deal with what we have in front of us right now,” Grey said.

Being expeditious isn’t always the best way, because “mistakes can be made,” Constable said. “I want to avoid that on my watch.”

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