By Carol Britton Meyer

Voters were in a “yes” mood during the four-hour first session of Hull’s annual town meeting Monday night, approving all seven of the warrant articles that were discussed, including a $50.1 million town budget ($17.9 million for the schools), accessory dwelling units, and bylaw amendments to clarify the town’s marijuana regulations, with 29 articles remaining on the agenda. The meeting was continued to 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Hull High School.

**CAPITOL REMARKS.** U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch addressed town meeting voters to announce that Hull has received $850,000 in federal funds for the two-way traffic plan in the Hull Redevelopment Authority area. [Skip Tull photo]

“It’s so good to see a full house of friends, neighbors, and my parents here tonight,” Rep. Joan Meschino, a Hull resident, said at the beginning of the meeting. “This is where we come together as part of our civic duty for public discourse on matters that are important to us.”

Passage of the ADU article will allow certain homeowners of single-family residences to add and rent out an accessory dwelling unit within their home, subject to the special permit process. The goal is to help increase the town’s housing stock and to allow owner occupants to generate rental income. (Click here for related story.)

The intent of the marijuana zoning article was to rectify and clarify procedural issues in the article that passed at the 2023 special town meeting intended to limit the number of retailers to two by special permit, but not to allow cultivation, testing, manufacturing, or on-site consumption.

Voters also approved salaries for the select board, town moderator, town clerk, assessors, and the municipal light board; the $50.1 million town budget on a vote of 333 to 62; replacing the capital outlay committee that hasn’t met for quite some time with a new capital improvement planning committee; and accepting a $3.8 million settlement resulting from the sewer plant lawsuit filed in 2013 following storm damage.

Town counsel, school superintendent honored

Prior to starting the journey through the 36-warrant article annual town meeting agenda, retiring Town Counsel James Lampke and retiring Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn were recognized, and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch shared good news about federal funds coming from Washington.

Advisory Board member David Clinton read a resolution in honor of Lampke, commending him as “a dedicated public servant to Hull for 46 years” in various capacities, most notably in his current role for many years.

“He has a keen legal mind and an understanding of municipal law that has served our citizens well and has earned him the admiration and appreciation of the Hull community and our neighbors,” Clinton said. “We wish him well in his future endeavors and visits to as many lighthouses as possible!”

His remarks earned Lampke a standing ovation, and the same for Kuehn, who School Committee Chair David Twombly called “a great public servant, always the first one [to arrive] and the last to leave. She has done wonderful things for Hull’s hundreds of students.”

Kuehn expressed appreciation for the “supportive community” and for the opportunity to lead the Hull Public Schools successfully through the pandemic and the school consolidation plan. Phase 2 of the grade realignment is now under way.

Kuehn, who has worked for HPS for 15 years, said it’s been “an absolute honor to work for [the district]. I always made decisions based on what’s best for our students. I’m moving on to take care of my family and spend time with my new granddaughter.”

Good news from Washington

Congressman Stephen Lynch announced the good news at the start of the session that Hull will receive $850,000 in federal funding “to convert part of the stretch that runs by Nantasket Beach to a one-way traffic design that will improve roadway connectivity and public access and serve as a catalyst for local businesses.”

This is on top of seawall and pandemic-related CARES and American Rescue Plan Act funding – totalling $7.75 million in federal money granted to the town during the past three funding cycles, he said.

“Hull is different in the best way,” Lynch said. “This town is a shining example of what’s best about America. You take care of your seniors, veterans, and young people every day.”

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