By Christopher Haraden

Voters at annual town meeting on Monday, May 6 will face a number of spending proposals, most significantly, the Fiscal 2025 budget of $50.1 million as proposed by Town Manager Jennifer Constable.

The total budget represents an increase of $2,596,531, or 5.46% over FY24’s $47.5M spending plan. Constable’s proposal would fund the schools at $17,854,77, an increase of $520,042, or 3% over the current year.

A significant increase is projected for the law department. Town Counsel James Lampke is retiring after 40 years on the job; the department budget is anticipated to increase from $147,898 to $300,000 as the town shifts away from an individual town counsel to a multi-firm model. Capital expenses include the movement of town offices, and possibly the senior center, into the Memorial Middle School, which will be available after the Hull Public Schools consolidate all grades into two buildings.

Monday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the high school and will be broadcast live on Hull Community Television, but voters must be present at the meeting to participate.

The 36 articles include Community Preservation Committee proposals for funds for a dog park feasibility study, Kenberma pickleball court resurfacing, restoration of lights at the Paragon Carousel, veterans’ memorial grave markers for Hull Village Cemetery, renovations to the Hull Lifesaving Museum boathouse at Pemberton Point and the steeple at St. Nicholas United Methodist Church, and more funds for the Village Fire Station rehabilitation.

Other articles propose zoning changes, tweaks to the retail marijuana bylaw, forming a capital planning committee, establishing an opioid special revenue fund using a settlement from suits against pharmaceutical companies, appropriating $150,000 for a feasibility study for a new public safety building and up to $385,000 for a new Hull Community Television media center, and spending $2.4 million to replace the Pemberton Point commuter float.

The full warrant with advisory board recommendations, as well as Times coverage of town meeting proposals, is available at www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024.

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