Shorelines: Good news about your neighbors

- University of Massachusetts students Aidan Moran and Melissa Rymaszewski recently were initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. They are among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

- Kelsey Rose Bannen earned a bachelor of science degree, summa cum laude, in early childhood education and psychology from Bridgewater State University during graduation ceremonies on May 13 at Gillette Stadium. 

- Patrick Lynch recently was honored at Stonehill College’s 2023 Student Life Awards. This ceremony celebrates students, faculty, and staff who have made outstanding contributions to student life at Stonehill and to the communities surrounding the college. Helena Lynch, a member of the Class of 2024, was named to the spring Dean’s List at Stonehill.

- Bella Rinaldi has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter President’s List. The winter terms run from January to May.

- Stephen Fanning, a member of the class of 2024 majoring in computer science and robotics engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense research project titled Heat & Biodiversity Tracking through Automated Technologies. At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology that addresses an important societal need or issue. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university’s 50-plus off-campus project centers, which are located around the world. A signature element of the innovative undergraduate experience at WPI, the project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtful solutions to real problems that affect the quality of people’s lives-and make a difference before they graduate. Stephen was also named to the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence for the spring semester.

- Marilyn Hewett graduated with a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Regis College during the May 6 commencement exercises. She was among more than 1,300 students who received degrees ranging from associate to doctoral levels.

- Congratulations to Jill Larsen, who earned her BFA in painting from Mass Art, pictured here at graduation last week with her five-year-old daughter, Reya, and the Mass Art mascot. 

- Congratulations to Jaren Minucci, who received a bachelor of arts degree summa cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross.

- Springfield College has named Faye Lofgren to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the spring semester. Lofgren has a primary major of health sci/pre-PT.

- Grace Holden, a Lasell University student, participated in the institution’s annual Connected Learning Symposium in April. Each presentation demonstrates a particular set of core career competencies listed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers as being in high demand in the workforce. Grace received the Diane M. Donatio writing award (second place), which is selected by a faculty committee and announced at a special session of the symposium. She has was named to Lasell’s Dean’s List for the spring semester.

- On May 24 at a hooding ceremony at The University of Massachusetts Boston, Hannah Taverna received the degree of doctor of philosophy, global inclusion and social development. She is currently employed by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Congratulations, Dr. Taverna!

- Lilly Patterson, majoring in management and organizations and a member of the class of 2023, has been named to the Dean’s List at Bucknell University for the spring semester.

- The South Shore Conservatory congratulates piano student Jinny Hayes of Hull for having received special recognition in the eight-and-under age division of SSC’s recent piano competition. Three-year-old Jinny is a student of SSC piano instructor Mijin Choi.

- Congratulations to Siobhan Burke, who was named to the University of Alabama Dean’s List for the fall semester.

- On the morning of July 4, Hull’s Tim Haraden carried out the 247-year-old tradition of reading the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House in Boston. As Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, Haraden participated in the longest-running reading of the Declaration in the United States; it began in 1776 when a member of the Ancients announced the colonies’ intentions to separate from Great Britain. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was among those joining in the celebration, one of the largest Independence Day ceremonies in Massachusetts.
- Carly Donovan and 2023 graduate Griffin Doherty received Dean’s List honors for the spring semester at Fairfield University.

- Isabella McLellan, who is studying biological neuroscience, has made the Dean’s Honor List for the spring semester at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

- Katherine Seabury has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s List students have attained a grade point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.

- On May 26, Jackson Sordillo and Aryana Gagne graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Jackson received a BS in civil engineering and also graduated from the Commonwealth Honors College. Aryana completed her degree in three years and received a BS in psychology. The photo is by Jenna Gagne. 

- On June 6, Tyler Sordillo, 2023 graduate of Hull High School, was the Massachusetts recipient NFHS Spirit of Sport award. He was presented the award by Richard Pearson, associate executive director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The award is given “for exemplifying the positive ideals of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics.” Photo is by Hull High Athletic Director Connor Duhaime.

- Aiden Houlihan and Ciara Redfearn have been named to the spring Dean’s List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are recognized on the Dean’s List.

- Alexandra Hendrickson of the Class of 2023 was named to the spring Honors List at Pomfret School. To achieve this level of distinction, Alexandra earned a grade point average of at least 3.330 and received no grade lower than a B.

- Congratulations to John Clougherty, who received a bachelor of arts degree from Hamilton College on Sunday, May 21. Clougherty majored in economics.

- Hull cyclist Gary Kimball will participate in his 10th Pan-Mass Challenge in support of patients battling cancer. On Aug. 5 and 6, Kimball will ride the road as part of Team South Shore Health, fulfilling his promise to fundraise for cancer care services and programs on the South Shore. If you are interested in supporting and learning more about Team South Shore Health, visit www.SouthShoreHealth.org/PanMassChallenge.

- Sophia Tremblay has been named to the Plymouth State University President’s List for the spring semester. To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a grade point average of 3.7 or better and must have attempted at least 12 credit hours. Tremblay is majoring in psychology.

- Terri White of Hull participated in the Dragon Boat race at the Asian festival June 11. She was in a boat representing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass Blue Dragons. Their team captured a gold medal in the healthcare division, and silver in Division D.

• Another good turn. Lisa Patterson and her family have once again decided to dedicate their ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge to their neighbor and friend, late Hull Times Publisher Patti Abbate, who died of pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2022. This is Patterson’s 18th year in the PMC, a Massachusetts bike-a-thon that raises tens of millions of dollars for cancer research each year for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This is the third year Patterson has dedicated her PMC ride to Abbate to remember her and honor her. Lisa and her husband, Stu, will ride 85 miles on Aug. 5, Wellesley to Bourne, while Julia and Brad are riding virtually, where they live, in Denver and Washington, D.C. respectively, and their younger daughter, KK, is volunteering in Bourne. You can learn more about the Pattersons’ ride and donate to the PMC at https://profile.pmc.org/LP0071.

• Greg McQuade just earned another eight Emmy Awards for stories he produced for WTVR-TV in Richmond, Virginia in 2022. The 2023 Capital Emmy Awards ceremony was held in Bethesda, Maryland, on June 24. This latest win makes 64 Emmy Awards in total for his storytelling.Greg’s mom, Anne, and stepdad, Charlie, watched the Emmy Awards ceremony and were cheering him on from Hull. Helping him take home his many trophies is his girlfriend, Melissa Golden.

If you have news about Hull residents to share – birthdays, anniversaries, career and education achievements, weddings, births, and other milestones – send your information to us at news@hulltimes.com. If you include a photo, please be sure that everyone in the image is identified. Thank you!

Carousel to celebrate 95th year with birthday cake, music, and fun on Saturday

Five generations have cared for the Paragon Carousel and visited this treasure to experience the joy, to preserve memories, and to appreciate the artistry of a magical place on Nantasket Beach.

Our vintage 1928 carousel has been recognized as a tourism jewel on the state’s South Shore by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and named the “Best Historic Carousel” in New England by Yankee Magazine. It is a living museum whose horses, chariots, and scalloped canopy were created and carved by the greatest artisans of any age. These master carvers and sculptors came to America to escape persecution and poverty in Germany and Italy. Three thousand hand carved carousels were built from 1870-1930, the Golden Age of Carousels, and fewer than 150 operate in the world today. Only 19 truly vintage Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousels remain intact, in their original state, and operate today. The National Carousel Association has recently awarded an historic designation to Hull’s carousel.

Across the world, carousels were lost to fires, auctions, and amusement park closings. Individual horses were sold off to collectors. PTC #85 exists today because people cared. The passionate dedication of many people has made the 95th birthday possible. During the past 25 years, people have cared and supported the work of the Friends of the Paragon Carousel, a volunteer group that strives to continue to restore and preserve this piece of the American landscape.

Come celebrate with us on Saturday, July 15! Enjoy a piece of birthday cake and festive activities at 11 a.m., but stay the day. Nonagenarians, or those close to it, will be treated to an ice cream and a ride on the carousel. Come see and hear the magnificent Gavioli Fairground Organ. Built in England in 1897, it is the largest touring antique fairground organ in North America. Restored by American Roger Wiegand, it was dedicated to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Come meet the new executive team taking care of our beloved carousel: Director Jon Erickson; President Marge West; Vice President Jason McCann; Treasurer Bob Foster; Clerk Chris Lofgren; and Museum Curator Steve Greenberg. They volunteer because they care. We know that this place on Nantasket Beach is more than a merry-go-round. Come join us and celebrate because you care!

Please see the carousel’s website, www.paragoncarousel.com, and Facebook page for a schedule of events.

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Hull attorney elected president of Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association

By Carol Britton Meyer

Hull’s Karis North isn’t only an attorney who represents several communities in the state, she’s also the newly elected president of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association.

North, a lawyer with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP in Braintree, recently assumed the top leadership role in the trade association, which was formed in 1946 and includes hundreds of members who provide legal services to cities, towns, and for-profit and non-profit organizations.

North’s election to this role recognizes her “longstanding commitment to local governmental law and the distinction she enjoys among her peers,” according to an announcement on the MHTL website. An MMLA member since 2010, she has served on the board of directors since 2018.

In her role as president, she is “the face of the organization in the community, and CEO of the association, overseeing all of its activities,” she told The Hull Times.

Typically, attorneys who are elected president have already served a term as the elected vice president after being on the board for several years, demonstrating a commitment to, and ability to lead, the organization.

“That was the path I took,” North said. “I am thrilled and honored to be in this position. It means a lot to me that my colleagues and peers in the profession have entrusted me with this role.”

Attorneys who are members of the association represent local governments or other municipal or local entities, such as a school committee, a fire district, or a particular local board or committee in a specific legal action. Some communities contract a large firm with multiple attorneys to provide counsel, unlike Hull, which appoints an individual to the position annually.

North is the latest in a long line of MHTL attorneys to serve as president of the MMLA, and its predecessor, the City Solicitor and Town Counsel Association, which reflects the firm’s commitment to public service and public law.

In her role with MHTL, North advises and represents municipal clients with all facets of their legal affairs. She wears a number of hats, currently serving as town counsel for Natick and Mendon and as Newburyport’s city solicitor.

North also represents the town of Dartmouth on 40B comprehensive permit applications, advising the select board and zoning board of appeals throughout the process. In addition, she represents municipalities in land-use and environmental litigation, civil rights, and licensing, among other areas.

“It’s important for local governments and boards to have proper representation, because it’s at the town and city level where local government impacts citizens the most directly,” she explained. “It’s how their roads get repaired, their water is provided, their children are educated, and to whom they pay property taxes. There’s a lot of responsibility on municipal governments, and they need good legal representation to ensure they are acting consistent with the law, and when challenged, that they are appropriately represented and defended.”

Local government is a “very specialized area,” North said, “and I think it’s important to assist them in doing their job well and to be part of the team that helps provide services to the community.”

When asked how she keeps it all straight, North said she has “been doing this for a while now, and I have a lot of lists! I also have a terrific team – it’s not just me providing these services.

“Over time you come to know your clients and how they operate so that you can anticipate things,” she said. “You can also learn from work done for other clients, which could be useful in figuring out an answer to a question relating to a different client.”

North moved to Hull in late summer 1999, attracted by the beach and desiring to be on the South Shore so she would be close to Boston, where she worked at the time.

“I took the ferry to work for a number of years and fell in love with the community,” she said. “I love it here – the people, the neighborhoods, the great friends I have made, and the number of citizens who volunteer.”

While North said her neighbors “would tell you that they don’t see me around much during the week because I’m usually out with clients or at my office,” she has found time in the past to serve as a library trustee, on the bylaw review committee, and as the Hull representative serving on the board of the Straits Pond Watershed Association.

“I’m very committed to local government and advocacy in both my professional and personal life,” she said.

After growing up in Maryland, North graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s of science degree in animal science and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.

“However, I found I was better at reading, writing, and arguing that I was at being a scientist, so I decided to attend Vermont Law School, where I got my juris doctorate,” North said.

After practicing law at a large firm in D.C. for three years, she worked for a number of firms in Boston before joining Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, one of the 50 largest law firms in Massachusetts, in 2006.

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HRA elects officers, delays Urban Renewal Plan hearings until September

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

At its first meeting since the annual town election results were finalized, the Hull Redevelopment Authority elected new officers and agreed to wait until September to schedule additional public forums on its draft Urban Renewal Plan.

On Wednesday, June 28, longtime chair Bartley Kelly nominated Dennis Zaia to become chair; Zaia nominated newly elected member Daniel Kernan to be vice chair. Adrienne Paquin, also elected this spring, is now the clerk, and Kelly was named treasurer. That position previously was held by state appointee James Tobin, whose recent death has created a vacancy on the five-member board.

Earlier this year, the HRA held public hearings to solicit comments on options for developing the property. Kernan suggested that the authority members reposition the workshops going forward.

“Right now, is an opportunity to pivot…let the community know there is not just one plan anymore, we will come up with alternatives,” Kernan said.

Zaia said “pivot potential is an opportunity to learn more,” adding the board needs to “further distill” what was captured at the previous public forums.  

“We don’t want to lose the information; they were great public sessions” said Kernan. “But we weren’t asking the right question; we were asking about the current plan… [We] needed to ask what they would like to see on the land.”

Zaia agreed. “We may have asked one question predicated on the fact the draft plan was the draft plan and we wanted feedback; the question might have been: What can we do, even if not on the plan?”

The HRA will use its next two meetings on Monday, July 10, and Monday, July 17, as working sessions.

“Many alternatives were presented…we need to take the list of ideas from the breakout sessions at the high school and consolidate into categories,” Zaia said. “Then we will start to see which ideas have greatest viability.”

Paquin agreed about consolidating the list based on the feedback the board has received so far. “There is no point in more meetings until we have options to bring to the town, and we need more time to research and explore other options,” she said. “Two working sessions are a great start; there are so many options that haven’t been looked into.”

Consultant Steven Cecil updated the group, which included more than 25 residents attending the Zoom meeting, that Keller Williams is using the draft ideas as a starting point to complete a financial feasibility study to provide some “solid financial information” in the next few weeks.  “In the midst of the ongoing community participation effort, it came out that the fiscal impacts of whatever is involved is key,” said Cecil, adding the group has been keeping residents informed via the website, a page in The Hull Times Summer Guide, and biweekly information boxes in the newspaper.

“A lot of ideas and information has been put on the table; now we are validating from a dollars -and-cents standpoint…then [we] need to vet ideas and strike a balance to find something that fits and accomplishes the goals at hand,” said Kelly.

The HRA encourages citizens to submit their “pitches” for the HRA land to its website, hra02045.com.

“The avenue to public input is the HRA website; we encourage people to do research and submit ideas there…the public forums will help prioritize what works,” said Kelly.

Paquin will coordinate the addition of functionality to the site so that images will also be able to be uploaded.

“As the plan advances, there will be opportunity for community input at each stage,” said Cecil. “[We] invite citizens in the meeting today to think about the ideas robustly…you all came to the meeting, so you must have ideas.”

Pamela Marlowe of Old Colony Road said she agrees the HRA should collect additional “pitches” from the public. She said that when the forums were held in February and April, a lot of citizens were “not informed and some didn’t even know what the HRA was. We had a lot less information…now that we are more informed, ideas may be different than what people had back then.”

Kevin Locke of Nantasket Avenue said he was “flummoxed” because there are a lot of projects in town and there “does not seem there is a clear strategy…Paragon Dunes, HRA plans and aquarium; can’t build without first looking at how it fits the plan. What do we want to accomplish?”

Kelly described the master plan as one giving an overall view of the town; however, it was narrowed to the beachfront because those areas needed the most planning. He added to make a “better development process,” the Nantasket Beach Overlay District was created.

“Zoning dictates what is developed, and the town can’t compel private property owners to do anything with their property…Paragon Dunes is going through the process allowed by law,” Kelly said.

Cecil further explained the master plan for a town creates infrastructure to set an overall framework, but it “doesn’t compel the town to comply; it is just there to provide guidance.”

Paquin pointed out that the link Town Planner Chris DiIorio posted in the Zoom meeting chat went to a Community Development Plan document dated 2004, making it nearly 20 years old.

“The master plan needs updating, and it is what provides the identity of a town, what we want it to look like,” said Susan Mann. “How can the HRA move forward without the identity of the town? There are frustrated citizens who do not know what direction the town is going in.”

Zaia agreed the town needs a “well composed” master plan to direct how the town can move itself forward. However, he made it clear the “master plan is not in our realm of purview.”

“The town has suffered and identity crisis for 30 years since we tore down Paragon [Park],” said Kelly. “If the town wants to update the master plan, it should do it, but it shouldn’t sideline what we [the HRA] are doing…we are working our part of the puzzle, and we will help with other pieces of that puzzle as we always have.”

One piece of that puzzle is the plan for a two-way road system, which will restore the flow of traffic to nearly what existed before the HRA land was taken by eminent domain.  

“Anything with roads is a town project…the two-way roads are an integral part of the HRA because it improves traffic flow; diffusing the traffic instead of funneling it to one bottleneck,” said Kelly.

In response to a desire by new HRA board members and citizens alike to understand the full scope of the two-way roads and how they are linked to the HRA land, a presentation by consultant Kevin Dandrade of TEC will be arranged for an upcoming HRA board meeting.

“It’s not a rush to get someplace,” Zaia said. “We are trying to do something that works for the community as a whole.”

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In response to complaint, Select Board loosens some limits on public comment

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board last week adopted a temporary policy to allow public comment on individual agenda items, and members of the public wishing to speak on a particular item may do so after being recognized by the chair.

A section of the recent supreme judicial court case that determined that cities and towns could not prohibit residents from being critical in their commentary at public meetings. Read the full case by clicking here.

The temporary policy is based on guidelines provided by Town Counsel James Lampke and developed with input from retiring Town Manager Philip Lemnios. It is a work in progress that Lampke will revise prior to the board’s July 19 meeting.

The general consensus is that all board members support allowing public comment on specific agenda items rather than having a public comment period at either the beginning or end of each meeting.

The discussion was prompted by a complaint from Atlantic Avenue resident Christopher Sweeney about board’s disallowance of resident participation at meetings other than public hearings. The policy is being drafted in response to a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case that determined that municipalities could not prohibit “rude” public commentary at meetings.

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Click here to read the Southborough case about public comment at meetings.

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In July, the subject will be addressed again and new Town Manager Jennifer Constable will be asked for her perspective. Under the policy, all public remarks must be addressed through the select board chair, and not all matters presented by members of the public speaking on an agenda item may be debated or acted on by the board at the time they are presented.

Under the temporary policy, members of the public wishing to speak would be encouraged to maintain order and civility and respect the views and opinions of others in making their remarks. This language will be reviewed and revised by Lampke as well.

“Jim will create a clean document that we will review at our next meeting in three weeks,” Chair Greg Grey said. The select board will go over the revised document at that time and take whatever action its members deem appropriate.

A member of the audience indicated an interest in speaking, but Grey said no public comment will be allowed until the temporary policy is crafted and approved.

In other business at the meeting, Hull Police Sgt. Stephen Glavin was appointed lieutenant upon the recommendation of Police Chief John Dunn.

Glavin, a Hull High School graduate, holds a master’s degree in criminal justice and according to Dunn is “a very capable officer who has taken on added responsibilities with a great attitude. He’s well respected by his peers and has been the officer in charge for a number of assignments.”

Glavin was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and has been awarded two lifesaving medals, among other recognitions.

The select board also approved a new library contract with the Hull Library Staff Association Local 4928 for the period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.

The contract calls for an annual salary increase of 3% and an evening differential beginning at 5 p.m. and on Saturdays of 20% of the hourly wage, effective July 1, 2024. In addition, $100 was added to each longevity category.

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Fresh from successful En Plein Air event, Hull Artists to host Open Studios July 8 & 9

This weekend, you have the opportunity to visit 30 artists showing their work during the 2023 self-guided Open Studios weekend!

The event takes place on July 8 and 9, from 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m., with free admission and parking.  A self-guided map guides you to 30 artists at 22 locations throughout Hull and neighboring towns. Featured media include painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), mixed media, photography, fiber arts, encaustic, jewelry, drawing, collage, and more.

Since 1995, Open Studios has invited visitors into artists’ homes where you can chat with the artists, meet other art lovers, learn about art-making, get a unique perspective on Hull’s fascinating neighborhoods and remarkable natural beauty, and acquire art treasures along the way.

Details about each artist, and a downloadable map and guide, are available at Hull Artists/Open Studios. Also, be sure to visit Gallery Nantasket, the Open Studios headquarters, across from the beach – always free and always fun!

Last Saturday, despite potentially discouraging weather, 21 hardy artists painted “en plein air” (French for out-of-doors) throughout Hull. They stretched from the Weir River bridge overlooking the estuary up to Pemberton Point and the Gut.

Painting locations also included three private homes that provided excellent subjects to paint including, a “secret garden” recommended by the Hull Garden Club. The painting was concluded by 1:30 p.m. when artists turned in their “wet paint” art to be hung in the Hull Public Library’s upstairs gallery room. The public reception for the exhibition and sale was from 2:30-4:30 p.m., and quickly filled up the room with approximately 80 attendees viewing and purchasing the art. In the end, unsold art went home with the artists.

Cash awards were provided for the first, second, and third-place winners: Nensi Karanxha, Shannon Chiba, and Tina Watson, respectively. Additionally, honorable mention awards were given to Morgan Davis, Klarens Karanxha, and Susan Kerrigan. The show was judged by Kathy Mogayzel.

“From what I saw and heard, all the artists and the viewing public were thrilled with the event and everyone is looking forward to next year's event,” said Hull Artists President Bart Blumberg.

For photos of the event, painters on location, the art, and attendees visit the website: hullartists.com/pleinair2023.

Loss of state grant, higher operating costs mean Hull-O Trolley won’t run this summer

By Carol Britton Meyer

The popular Hull-O Trolley won’t be making its rounds this summer due to a lack of funding and higher operating expenses.

“In the past, we received [money from a state transportation grant], which we did not receive this year,” Adrian Muir, president of the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, which operated the trolley service, told The Hull Times.

GOODBYE, TROLLEY. A lack of funding and rising costs have prevented the operation of the Hull-O Trolley this summer. [File photo]

The state portion of the overall cost has amounted to roughly $25,000 a year in the past. Muir also noted that the cost to operate a trolley service has gone up substantially, and that there were competing requests from other grant applicants.

Last year, in addition to American Rescue Plan Act funding obtained by state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, the cost of this free-to-riders service was covered by $13,000 in funding from the Hull Redevelopment Authority, $10,000 from the Town of Hull, a grant from the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Better Beaches Program, and support from local businesses whose advertisements were displayed on banners on the trolley. Rep. Joan Meschino was also involved with obtaining earlier funding.

“Senator O’Connor, Representative Meschino, the town, the HRA, and local businesses have always responded positively and have been very generous once we had the seed money,” Chamber Treasurer Jim Pitrolo told The Hull Times. “Even if we had received the usual $25,000 from the state this year, we would have had to ask the HRA, the town, and local businesses for further [support].”

In addition, he explained, the cost of running the trolley has “increased tremendously” due to rising gas prices and the higher costs charged by trolley companies to provide service on the weekends, when the Hull trolley normally runs.

“During COVID, several trolley companies were sold to two or three major operators, and they are asking higher prices to provide weekend service,” Pitrolo said. “Even if we had received a state grant this year, we might not have been able to raise enough money to provide trolley service. The cost of running the trolley operation the first year was $35,000, while last year the total came to $50,000. It’s simply a matter of finances.”

Pitrolo outlined a couple of possible steps for offering trolley service in future years.

“The first would be to try to get early bids from trolley companies, and once we had those in hand, we could begin the process of looking for grants and donations,” he said.

In a statement provided to The Hull Times, O’Connor said: “The summer trolley that the Hull Chamber of Commerce offered was a great way to see and travel in the community. It is my hope that this service can be offered again in the future so that visitors coming to Hull can see how special it is.”

O’Connor also explained that member-directed spending, or earmarks requested by state senators or representatives, are not permanent.

“Priorities vary from year to year,” he said. “A lot of times, and in this instance, they are ways to seed fund projects in the community to get them off the ground, with the hope that they’d be self-sustaining at some point.”

The Hull-O Trolley typically ran on weekends, transporting passengers from the Pemberton Point ferry dock to Nantasket Beach, with stops along the way, during the peak summer season to encourage visitors to leave their automobiles at home in order to reduce beach traffic and to increase tourism, which benefits local restaurants and other businesses. Residents also have free access to this service.

In 2022, Hull-based South Shore Cycles owner Bill Hennessey managed the service. In the first two weeks alone, he reported that more than 400 passengers had already enjoyed riding the trolley.

The year before during COVID, when there was no trolley service, the HRA ran a free Seaside Shuttle Bus with a set schedule from Pemberton Point to Nantasket Junction, with continuous loops on Saturdays and Sundays from the end of June to the beginning of September. This pilot program was not designed as a replacement for the Hull-O trolley nor for the MBTA 714 bus service in town, but rather to demonstrate the need for regularly-scheduled transportation services in town and to help mitigate the loss of the Hull-O Trolley in the summer of 2021.

Words of freedom: Hull man carries on centuries-old Fourth of July tradition

Hull’s Tim Haraden, Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, reads the Declaration of Independence to a crowd at the Old State House in Boston on the morning of Tuesday, July 4 to mark the city’s traditional celebration of Independence Day. This tradition has been carried out every year by the Ancients since 1776, and the group was joined in the occasion by dignitaries including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

‘Hull is a special place:’ Lemnios reflects on his 25 years as town manager

By Carol Britton Meyer

Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who retired June 29, is looking forward to his first summer off since he was a young boy.

“It’s the first time I won’t be working since age 12 – whether as a paperboy, at Brigham’s, or jobs I held in college. I’ll figure out next steps in the fall,” he told The Hull Times this week as he reflected on his future.

Lemnios said he is “very confident leaving at this juncture” after serving as town manager for a combined more than 25 years.

“The town’s affairs are in good order, and financially, organizationally, and operationally, the town is on a solid footing,” he said.

ALL SMILES. Hullonians have known about Town Manager Philip Lemnios’s impending departure for months, but we only recently discovered that the real authority at town hall, Administrative Assistant Nancy Allen, also will retire this week. We wish both of them well as they conclude their many years of dedicated service to the people of Hull. [Skip Tull photo]

This is a good time for Jennifer Constable, who was Hull’s select board chair until she resigned in February so that she could apply for the job, to come onboard as the new town manager, “bringing new energy and perspective,” he said. “With the addition of an assistant town manager, Jen will be able to leverage her skills to take the town to the next level.”

What Lemnios will miss most are Hull’s residents and fellow town employees.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the staff, who try hard to provide great service,” he said. “I will miss working with these very dedicated people day in and day out.”

Lemnios first served as Hull’s town manager from 1992-2002, at which time he accepted a position as Natick’s town administrator.

“In 2007, the then-selectmen asked me to consider coming back because the town was struggling financially and operationally,” he recalled. 

Lemnios, a former Hull resident, decided to return to his earlier role “because I truly love this town.”

During his second run as town manager, he was able to restore the town’s financial affairs to good order and to get a number of capital projects moving forward.

“I consider this to be my biggest accomplishment,” Lemnios said.

During his tenure, roughly $35 million in grants were awarded to the town for a number of projects, including significant seawall improvements at Crescent Beach and Fitzpatrick Way and extensive Atlantic Avenue road work, as well as funding related to hazard mitigation, sea-level rise, and engineering services for projects in the pipeline.

The town also received roughly $6.5 million in grants for sewer department work in collaboration with Director of Wastewater Operations John Struzziery.

Also, $10 million worth of local road projects were accomplished with town funding.

“Our town has been so very fortunate to have Phil as our town manager for all these years,” said Select Board Chair Greg Grey. “He made every effort he could his entire career – 365 days a year, 24 hours a day – to do what’s best for our community.”

“Over the last five years I have had the pleasure of serving our community and working with Phil and getting to see first-hand how hard he worked in following through with policies we put in place, and the many goals we set and accomplished along the way,” Grey continued. “He chased every grant there was out there along with state and federal money that was available for roads, seawalls, and infrastructure all to keep us in a good financial position.”

Lemnios said he considers integrity, a strong work ethic, a willingness to be on-call 24/7, the ability to “synthesize a great deal of information quickly and to work in a complex regulatory environment on the local, state, and federal level,” and attention to detail important qualities for a town manager.

“No two days are alike, and none of them go as planned,” he said. “On a given day, you will be dealing with a small matter and half an hour later a much larger one. You have to take the issues as they come, prioritize them, and be willing to say ‘no’ and to explain the rationale behind that decision.”

Among Lemnios’s biggest challenges was “the period of turmoil in the police department in the 2014-2015 timeframe. This was a difficult time affecting a critical department,” he said.

Another challenge was the economic downturn that occurred shortly after Lemnios returned to the town manager position.

“We really had to scramble, with six years of zero salary increases on the general government side, involving negotiations with six unions,” he recalled. “It was a difficult process, asking staff to do more with less, but town employees recognized that everybody had to pitch in, and they did, allowing the town to continue offering [the usual services] without layoffs.”

Lemnios holds a degree in political science from UMass-Amherst and a master’s in public administration from the University of Southern California, which he has put to valuable use in his work for the town.

He served as assistant to the Attleboro mayor from 1988 to 1992 before coming to Hull.

“This was a state grant-funded position to bring professional management to that city,” he said.

Lemnios points out, though, that perhaps the most formative time in his career was the couple of years spent in the Congo as a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 1980s before heading for graduate school.

“This experience taught me the value of public administration – how when a government doesn’t work, there are negative impacts on the lives of the residents,” he said.

During his first leisurely summer in many years, Lemnios plans to golf, which he took up last year at his wife’s suggestion. “I’m terrible at it but enjoy the sport greatly!” he quipped. He also plans to spend more time with his family and enjoys cooking “anything and everything.”

His favorite part of Hull, where he lived for about 12 years starting in 1992, is its people.

“This community pulls together whether after a storm or when someone is going through a difficult time, putting aside their differences to help one another,” Lemnios said. “It’s from the heart. Hull is a special place.”

Lemnios finds Hull citizens to be “interesting and passionate people, which I enjoy.” His open-door policy led to some interesting conversations.

“Hull residents are not shy about sharing their wants and interests,” he said. “They are very direct.”

As he heads into a bright future, Lemnios expressed appreciation for Hull residents, members of the various select boards with whom he served, all the town’s employees, “and for the opportunity to work in Hull. I tried to do my best for the residents of this community. I expect Jen to pick up the baton and take the town to the next level.”

Constable, who is currently the assistant town administrator in Rockland, praised her predecessor for his leadership in the community.

“I wish Phil all the very best in a well-earned retirement,” she said. “Phil’s subtle, but distinct leadership, and moreover, his mentorship to so many has helped shape the community, which will undoubtedly be his legacy in Hull and for so many who walk in his path or try to fill his shoes.”

Lemnios also praised those involved with the search for a new town manager.

“We had a qualified consultant working with the town, a great screening committee, and a process that included public interviews of the three qualified finalists,” he said.

Lemnios also commended Town Clerk Lori West for “successfully navigating” the May 15 and subsequent two-hour follow-up election process under what he called “an extraordinary set of circumstances.”

“He was a great leader with our department heads and staff, and you could clearly see the results of that throughout town with the great work they all accomplished daily,” Grey said. “I am forever grateful for all he has done for our town, and I wish him the best in his retirement.”

Police chief named acting town manager: Lemnios to be consultant during transition

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board Wednesday night appointed Police Chief John Dunn acting town manager and approved a proposal by retiring Town Manager Philip Lemnios to provide interim consulting services until his replacement, Jennifer Constable, begins her duties later this summer.

TOP BRASS. Hull Police’s Stephen Glavin, center, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant on Wednesday. He is flanked by Chief John Dunn, left, and Deputy Chief Neil Reilly. Glavin previously served as a detective and is a crisis negotiator with the MetroLEC regional SWAT team. They are standing in the hall outside the town manager’s office, where Dunn will fill in as the Hull’s acting chief executive following Philip Lemnios’s retirement Thursday. [Courtesy photo]

Dunn’s appointment was made effective at midnight on Friday, June 30, following Lemnios’s resignation, which took effect the previous day.

Dunn will maintain the day-to-day operations of the town and attend select board meetings until Constable steps into the role.

“This is an opportunity for Chief Dunn to ensure that things continue on as they should,” Lemnios said during his final board meeting.

“I can’t think of anyone who would do a better job,” board member Irwin Nesoff said.

Dunn said he was “surprised and humbled” to be appointed to this temporary position and “is looking forward to being here as a caretaker between the time Phil leaves and when Jennifer Constable starts.”

When asked by board member Jason McCann how he will juggle both positions, Dunn said he has a capable deputy chief who can help run the police department.

Pending successful contract negotiations, Constable is expected step into her new role at the end of July or the beginning of August, according to Lemnios. Constable is currently the assistant town administrator in Rockland.

In his consulting role, Lemnios will work about 15 hours weekly and will be paid a flat fee of $2,250 per week. Following the meeting, the board held an executive session to negotiate revised employment agreements with the town manager designee/police chief and the deputy police chief.

Examples of Lemnios’s consulting duties include:

• Acting as resource with the acting town manager and staff members for questions, advice, and associated administrative tasks.

• Monitoring town manager’s email box daily and responding to or directing emails to the appropriate party for action.

• Being available 24/7 for phone calls regarding ongoing issues.

• Continuing to work on ongoing legal cases as determined by town counsel.

• Assisting the new town manager with the transition into her new role.

“This week I transferred my town hall number to my personal phone to ease communications and to be sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Lemnios said.

Nesoff thanked Lemnios “for helping us through this transition. Doing so wasn’t required.”

He further noted that the hourly rate for Lemnios’ services comes out to about $150 an hour, where most other consultants would charge far more.

“This amount may seem like a lot, but it’s an extremely discounted rate and speaks to your generosity,” Nesoff told Lemnios.

In turn, Lemnios said he and his family have appreciated the opportunity for him to serve the Town of Hull for many years.

“I want to remain involved without stepping on the new town manager’s toes,” he said. “[Jennifer Constable] is very competent, and I’m happy to help.”