HRA to extend deadline, ask for specifics on citizens’ development ideas
/By Dolores Sauca Lorusso
In an effort to elicit as many detailed submissions as possible, the Hull Redevelopment Authority will extend the time for citizens to submit ideas beyond the end of August. At its next meeting on Aug. 14, the authority will clarify the process and expectations.
“I pushed to get it out there, but we should have been clearer with what we were expecting,” said HRA Chair Dennis Zaia. “We will take a step back and make a correction and next week we will define the extra requirements.”
“It would be helpful for those submitting ideas to say what parcel they would like to put it on based on the current Urban Renewal Plan and give rough dimensions,” said member Bartley Kelly.
According to Zaia, some people only submitted a photo, and it is preferable to see more information such as “reference to where the photo was taken, as well as proposed size and scope, funding, and possible partners.”
“I do not think it is the community’s responsibility to figure out where and how to execute,” said Liz Kay member of SOS (Save Our Space), a group advocating for less intensive uses on the HRA property. “This is over our professional expertise.”
HRA Vice Chair Dan Kernan said the board made the initial request and should “honor it” by putting the initial couple of submissions up on the HRA website.
“Someone could have a brilliant idea and not know what to do with it,” he said. “I would still rather see it than not… someone else may leverage that idea and provide the additional information.”
“People are not architects. They may not be able to note which parcel, what scope, how funded,” said Gisela Voss of Hampton Circle. “If you received 20 ideas for ‘blank,’ that at least becomes public record of the relative desire for ‘blank.’”
HRA Clerk Adrienne Paquin agreed that some people may not have the “bandwidth” to submit more than just an idea, but they should “honor the efforts” of the submissions received by posting them on the website.
The HRA also will revise its general agenda when members know a specific topic will be covered, or guest will be attending, if they able to meet the 48-hour rule for agenda posts by submitting changes by Thursday afternoon before town hall closes for the weekend.
At the upcoming HRA meeting via Zoom on Monday, attendees can learn more about the additional requirements for future submissions, and hear from a member of the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce regarding a request for funding for a trolley for Endless Summer in September.
Proposed bylaw would broaden Hull’s regulation of wetlands
/By Carol Britton Meyer
An article on the Aug. 31 special town meeting warrant would adjust Hull’s wetlands protection rules in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, the town’s conservation director told the advisory board this week.
When asked, “Why now?” by advisory board member David Clinton, Climate Adaptation & Conservation Director Chris Krahforst said the issues should be addressed before next year’s annual town meeting.
“There is some urgency to this article,” Krahforst said, explaining that it was due in part to “pressure from the conservation commission” and that a similar warrant article “fell off the radar screen” for last spring’s annual town meeting.
The article addresses a recent Supreme Court decision, Sackett vs. EPA, that restricts how certain land can be regulated under the federal wetlands rules. Krahforst said this could jeopardize the protection of wetlands in parts of Hull.
The ordinance proposed in the special town meeting article would protect wetlands that serve to capture stormwater, overwash, and ocean surge to mitigate flooding.
“This ordinance proposes that town residents value the protection from flooding provided by these wetlands and seek to preserve that protection – which was previously afforded under the Wetlands Protection Act,” Krahforst told The Hull Times in a follow-up email.
The article also seeks to require the conservation commission to consider “cumulative effects” proposed projects may pose on the town’s protected resources. As an example, an activity that may be permittable under the state WPA – such as adding docks over a marsh – would require the commission to consider whether this practice is consistent with protecting the entire resource.
“It’s important for residents to know about these issues due to the importance of storm damage protection and flood control,” Krahforst said.
Also, the conservation commission is seeking to institute a fee structure similar to ones implemented by many Massachusetts communities to administer the Wetlands Protection Act. These fees haven’t changed since at least 2013, according to Krahforst.
The commission is also requesting that these fees be doubled for after-the-fact work that requires a permit or a review.
Article seeks $800K to pay for increased costs of Fort Revere water tower project
/By Carol Britton Meyer
Voters at the Aug. 31 special town meeting will be asked to approve additional funding of up to $800,000 to cover increases in the cost of restoring the Fort Revere water tower.
The Fort Revere water tower was built in 1903 and is desperate need of repairs. [File photo]
The initial estimate for the rehabilitation of the tower ranged from $1.5 to $1.7 million. The May 2022 town meeting approved $2.2 million for the project. In the meantime, the cost – reflected in the three latest bids – has increased to an estimated $2.5 to $3 million.
“The scope of the project has not changed,” said select board member Irwin Nesoff, who attended Monday’s advisory board meeting during which the special town meeting warrant articles were discussed “The plan is to preserve, repair, and shore up the tower and to address any potential dangers.”
When advisory board member David Clinton asked “Why now?” rather than wait for the next annual town meeting, Nesoff replied: “Because as discussed at a recent select board meeting, the costs will only continue to go up.”
Clinton also asked the same question about some of the other warrant articles.
While understanding of that issue, Clinton expressed concern that the expected light attendance at the Aug. 31 meeting, due in large part to its being held during the summer, would mean that a smaller than usual number of voters who turn out for the annual town meetings would make this and other important decisions without wider participation.
Collection of stones inspires beachcomber to share ‘Hull hearts’ with the community
/By Gretchen W. TenBrook
From sea shells to sea glass, the beach here in Hull offers her treasures to us on a daily basis.
For me, this has mostly come in the form of heart-shaped rocks. I cannot seem to go a few steps along the shore without noticing them all around me! This pastime of sorts has been revealing to me in so many ways. I wanted to share a bit of what I am discovering with the Hull community – literally and figuratively – as I sense I am not alone in appreciating all the natural wonder and wisdom that surrounds us here.
HEARTY COLLECTION. Finding heart-shaped rocks during her walks along Nantasket Beach inspired Gretchen TenBrook to begin collecting the stones of all sizes and displaying them near the Cook comfort station on Hull Shore Drive near Phipps Street. [Courtesy photo]
I cannot remember exactly when I first started noticing heart-shaped rocks, but once I found myself returning from walks with more than I could carry, I began to wonder what my fascination with them was – why was this happening? As a spiritual person, I am always seeking the invitations that surface in the circumstances of my life, and nature is a frequent source of those.
At first, the message I heard was this: Love is everywhere! It was as if the rocks were appearing in abundance to remind me of this reality. Yes, love is indeed everywhere, and we just need eyes to see it. With this perspective, I began to see and look for love hidden in the people, places, and things around me. And for opportunities to be that love. What a powerful and empowering mindset! Suddenly that grumpy grocery clerk became someone who needed my patience and kindness instead of an irritant to add to my day.
Taking this a step further, another lesson has been this: what I train myself to see has a way of showing up, heart shaped rocks and beyond. The more I ponder this, the more I am amazed by the fact that with intention, discipline, and practice, I have the ability to call into my life what I choose to, and to minimize what I don’t. It is a matter of where I focus my attention. I look for beauty everywhere, and it keeps showing up for me, from hibiscus blossoms to my boyfriend’s patient, listening ear. There is an endless supply of what I chose to see.
As my heart-shaped rock collection began to grow beyond my ability to count, I began to wonder what to do with them all. Even more, I found myself pondering why I was keeping them all to myself and how I might share them with others. I wanted to create something with them that might be a source of inspiration to others. Yes, I wanted to find a way to be the love and beauty that these rocks have invited me to be.
With this in mind, last November I began bringing the rocks to a plot of grass near the flagpole at the north end of Nantasket Beach. With each visit, I would arrange them into the collection you see in the photo. It felt like a prayer of sorts to me – a way to create something beautiful with the love in my heart, and a way to trust that something beautiful would come of it. A way to invite others to “Share Your Hull Heart.” Why keep such a beautiful, powerful thing to ourselves?
Whatever you love, I invite you to find it within yourself, look for it around you, and then offer it back. And if you need some inspiration, I hope you will visit the collection of heart rocks. Maybe they will have a message for you. Or maybe you have your own to offer, heart shaped and beyond.
Yes, love is everywhere, and we just need eyes to see it, and the courage to express it!
Hull Police sergeant on leave after attack on elderly neighbor is captured on video
/Hull Police Sgt. Scott Saunders has been placed on paid administrative leave after being arrested in Pembroke for assaulting a 72-year-old neighbor on July 24.
Hull POLICE SGT. SCOTT SAUNDERS IN 2014. [FILE PHOTO]
In an interview with Boston 25 News, Harry Horlsey said that Saunders hit his car with a paddleboard as he tried to pass him on a narrow street, then pushed him to the ground and punched him. A video published on the news station’s website showed Horsley on the ground and Saunders on top of him.
Saunders, 46, was charged with assault and battery on a person over 60 with injury. After his arraignment, he was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the victim.
Hull Police Chief John Dunn said that Saunders was put on leave, his firearms license was suspended, and his badge was taken. Hull Police also launched an internal affairs investigation.
Saunders was hired by the Hull Police Department in December 2004 and has been a sergeant since 2019.
In 2014, Saunders was accused in a lawsuit of using “unreasonable and unexcused force” in tackling and seriously injuring a 16-year-old boy while on duty. The youth was part of a group of kids being moved along from the beach 2010, although no arrests were made during the incident. A Boston jury found that Saunders did not violate the boy’s civil rights and rejected his claim of $1 million in damages in the suit.
Land Court judge rules in favor of Graves Light owners in property tax suit
/By Christopher Haraden
A long-awaited decision by a Massachusetts Land Court judge has determined that Graves Light is not within Hull’s boundaries and its owners do not owe property taxes to the town.
A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT GRAVES LIGHT IS NOT PART OF HULL, BUT DID NOT INDICATE THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT LIES. [JENNIFER WHELAN PHOTO]
Judge Diane Rubin issued her decision on Aug. 1, eight months lawyers presented closing arguments, and more than a year after they submitted 151 exhibits during a trial last summer. The 50-page decision included a detailed analysis of historic records stretching as far back as the Colonial Land Grants from 1634 and multiple maps, deeds, and other documents. The judge also visited the remote Graves Ledge at the entrance to Boston Harbor to survey the seascape with her own eyes.
Her months of research and review resulted in the comprehensive decision document, which incorporated expert testimony from both sides and concluded with the fairly straightforward statement on the very narrow issue of the suit – whether Hull could claim the lighthouse for taxation purposes: “I find that Graves Ledge lies neither within the municipal land nor tide water boundaries of the Town of Hull.”
The suit was filed in February 2020 by David and Lynn Waller and Robert Sager, who bought the property in 2013 from the federal government for $933,888 and received a tax bill for $3,552.42 for fiscal year 2020. Waller contended that Graves Light was not previously included in the Hull assessors’ database like other public properties, but was arbitrarily added after he bought it.
“In our heart of hearts we knew we were right and we stood our ground,” David Waller said this week. “We had so many wonderful supporters throughout this process who reached out to us, creating a groundswell of support. It feels good to be vindicated and we want to thank our Mintz legal team as well as the judge for her carefully crafted and well-reasoned decision.”
“Based on her interpretation of the many documents and trial testimony, the judge concluded that Graves Island is not within the tidal or land jurisdiction of the town,” Town Counsel James Lampke said. “She did not declare in whose jurisdiction it is in, but alluded to any further action on that issue involving the Commonwealth and Boston.”
“The decision was very complete, detailed and thorough,” Lampke added. “It is clear the judge spent a lot of time on the 150+ exhibits, many stipulations and other matters pertaining to the case. She noted in her decision the many state, federal, and other documents which identified Graves Ledge as being within Hull, but concluded, particularly based on historic and legal documents, that it was not in fact within Hull.”
Waller said his deed from the federal government describes the property in terms of latitude and longitude, and references Broad Sound Channel, a shipping route in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Documents provided by a US Coast Guard office in Virginia indicated that “the property is not located within the corporate limits of any municipality.”
In court filings, Lampke disputed this characterization, noting that unlike other states, Massachusetts does not recognize unincorporated areas. The judge mentioned this issue, but sidestepped drawing a conclusion.
“I decline to wade into these deep waters, because I conclude this issue is not squarely
before the court,” Rubin wrote in the decision. “…I decline to decide whether there can be unincorporated land in Massachusetts, having concluded the issues raised by the amended complaint and counterclaim, and in light of the town’s late presentment of this issue which is not necessary to the disposition of this case.”
Lampke filed a counterclaim against Graves Light and Fog Station LLC, Waller’s corporate entity, in order to prevent further renovations of the 113-foot-tall lighthouse without permits from the Town of Hull.
During the trial, Waller’s lawyer, Peter Biagetti, presented documents and maps dating as far back as the 1600s that he says indicate that Graves Light is not within Hull’s boundaries. Lampke, a lighthouse historian, has introduced other maps that show the opposite circumstance, as well as documents from the federal government that list Graves as part of Hull.
Graves Light has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981. Graves Ledge was named for Thomas Graves, vice admiral of John Winthrop’s fleet and a resident of Lynn who became America’s first foreign trader.
Under the terms of the sale, the Coast Guard maintains the Graves fog horn and beacon, which began flashing its 2-2-2 signal in 1905. The Wallers and Sager renovated the lighthouse and use it as a vacation home.
Waller said he acted in good faith and the renovations to the property comply with regulations, and the attempts to collect property taxes are an example of “mistreatment” by the town. Lampke framed the dispute as a border-protection issue, and asserted that the town was not interested in preventing Waller from doing further work on the property, but sought clarity on the exact location of the town’s offshore boundaries.
“We thank Judge Rubin for her meticulous and thoughtful decision,” said Biagetti, the attorney for the Graves Light owners. “It’s a victory for every taxpayer who ever received an unfair tax bill but did not have the resources to fight back, unearth all of the historical records, make their case at trial, and secure a fair result.”
Lampke did not indicate whether the town planned to appeal Rubin’s decision, noting that it was still being analyzed.
“The town will likely have additional comment after the decision has been further reviewed,” Lampke said. “We are disappointed, but respect the judge and court and know that the town put forth a strong defense to this lawsuit.”
‘I like being challenged:’ Incoming town manager prepared for new leadership role
/By Carol Britton Meyer
One word best sums up Town Manager Jennifer Constable’s feelings about stepping into her new role – “excited!”
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get back to work in Hull and to working with the staff, select board, and other town boards and committees in a different capacity,” Constable told The Hull Times. “I missed being involved while I was on the sidelines” following her resignation as select board chair earlier this year prior to applying for the town manager position. The Select Board approved an employment contract with Constable last week.
Constable, who is looking forward to working with the “new and dynamic” select board following the recent town election, recently resigned from her job as Rockland’s assistant town administrator after four years in that role.
Constable’s past service to the Town of Hull during the 20 years she and her family have lived here, including the planning board and seven years on the select board, and her master’s degree in public administration, will hold her in good stead as she moves forward.
“When I first moved to Hull, I joined the affordable housing committee, and I was hooked,” Constable recalls.
She sees the role of town manager as “the glue that pulls things together.” Job responsibilities include guiding the select board, which is the policy-setter, and making sure members have all the information to make sound decisions, and supporting staff and department heads and ensuring they have all the resources they need “because they are the touchpoint of the community.”
Constable’s external relationships – including as a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the MBTA Advisory Board, Massachusetts Municipal Association, and the South Shore Coalition in addition to her past discussions with the Department of Conservation & Recreation as a select board member – will also contribute to a smooth transition into the town manager position.
Constable’s first priority will be talking with the staff, including department heads, to understand their work and their objectives, and meeting with the select board to learn more about its goals for the upcoming year.
“Having served on the board, I will have an understanding from both perspectives,” she said.
Working with the Hull Public Schools on the school building consolidation is also high on Constable’s list of priorities.
Enhancing communication between town government and citizens is another focus point “to ensure we’re engaging with the community” about important issues.
“I want the town to be proactive rather than reactive,” she said.
Challenges facing the town include dealing with climate resiliency issues and deciding “how the town wants to identify itself – what it is and who it wants to be,” Constable said. “That’s an issue we’ve struggled with, and I think having a master plan in place [would go a long way in accomplishing this].”
While her career going back more than two decades has been mainly in public service – and she had not earlier envisioned herself working in local government – doing so has proved to be the right choice, and she has no regrets.
“So many people supported me in applying for the town manager position that I felt energized to [do so],” she said.
“I like being challenged, and the town manager is challenged daily in different ways, which really holds my interest,” Constable said. “It’s also rewarding to see first-hand your work come to fruition and to know that you have a direct impact [on what’s happening in the community].”
When asked about serving in the town in which she lives, Constable sees no conflict.
“I’ve always been mission-driven and hold myself to a high standard, so [it makes sense to] want to [work] in my own community,” she said. “It’s almost as though I would hold myself to a higher standard, because if you’re living and working in the same town, you have to live with your decisions. You can’t retreat at the end of the day, because you’ll see members of the community in the grocery store, at the bank, and elsewhere.”
While dedicated to her new job and realizing it’s a 24/7 position, Constable said her family “will always come first.” Constable’s husband, Mark, and two children, Max and Madison, are supportive of her in this new role.
Constable sees a similarity between Yonkers, N.Y., where she grew up, and Hull, which she and her husband fell in love with while living in Quincy.
“There’s a lot of community spirit, economic and cultural diversity, and looking out for one another in both places,” she said. “Once we discovered Hull, we agreed that we would not be going anywhere else, despite earlier plans to return to New York. Although we have family, we feel as though Hull is also our family. We’re part of Hull and Hull is part of us.”
In her spare time, Constable enjoys spending time with her family and on the water, rowing and paddleboarding.
“It’s a peaceful, mind-clearing experience spending time on the ocean, where you’re in your own space,” she said.
Constable also enjoys doing yoga, “which gives me a mental break and helps keep me centered,” and playing golf.
Her favorite part of Hull is the ocean, sense of community, and the “boundless” opportunities for those raising a family or operating a business.
“I already see this happening,” she said. “It’s all about balancing the new with the old, which is what I’m hearing from the community.” A
Special Town Meeting warrant will include Fort Revere article; may go for more than one night
/By Carol Britton Meyer
What started out as a special town meeting called by the select board in response to a citizen’s petition related to a potential additional package store license for the town has evolved into a warrant that will include at least nine agenda items – some of them controversial – and possibly more.
Soon after the first citizen’s petition was submitted to the Town Clerk, a second one was submitted asking voters to amend the town’s zoning bylaw and overturn the ban on recreational marijuana sales resulting from a related 2018 town meeting vote. (See related story.) While those two articles are sure to be of interest to voters, so will the warrant article asking for town meeting approval of additional funding of as much as $1 million for the Fort Revere Tower rehabilitation project, because the bids came in much higher than the earlier $2.2 million borrowing approved at the May 2022 annual town meeting.
The special town meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31, due to the state requirement to call for a special town meeting within a particular timeframe if requested through a citizen’s petition, even though summer is not considered the best time.
“I think this meeting will go longer than one night,” Town Moderator George Boylen told the select board Wednesday. The dates to which the special town meeting may need to be continued have not yet been decided, but Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 7, if a third night is needed are under consideration – working around summer vacation and Labor Day weekend and depending on the availability of Town Clerk’s Office staff and space at Hull High School, where the meeting will be held.
“It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole,” Town Counsel James Lampke said, referring to the inconvenient timing of the meeting and the tight timeframe to prepare.
Chair Greg Grey noted that even though the special town meeting timing isn’t ideal and the Select Board could defer proposed articles other than citizen’s petitions – which must appear on the warrant – until the next town meeting, it might be wise to deal with them now because they would eventually need to be addressed and some are time-sensitive.
Other warrant articles relate to consideration of a revised accessory dwelling unit proposal geared toward aging in place and occupancy by family members; consolidating related warrant articles under a single vote in order to streamline the town meeting process – proposed by Boylen; changes proposed by Climate Adaptation & Conservation Director Chris Krahforst, with more details to come; and an appropriation to pay for highway department equipment in addition to three articles related to the recreational marijuana proposal.
All articles involving zoning bylaws have been referred to the Planning Board for its consideration at public meetings.
Citizen’s petitions for the Aug. 31 special town meeting will be accepted until Monday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m., according to Town Clerk Lori West. A
Citizen’s petition relates to allowing recreational marijuana sales in Hull
/By Carol Britton Meyer
A citizen’s petition submitted to the Town Clerk’s Office July 27 for the Aug. 31 special town meeting asks voters to amend the town’s zoning bylaw and overturn the ban on recreational marijuana sales resulting from a related 2018 town meeting vote.
Following certification of the required number of signatures, a warrant article asking voters to allow an existing registered marijuana dispensary in Hull to add adult use retail sales will appear on the warrant.
Last week, the Select Board acted upon another citizen’s petition calling for a special town meeting related to the potential granting of an additional package store license to the Town of Hull through special legislation – for the Quick Pick Food Store on Nantasket Avenue. Other warrant articles will also be addressed. (See related story.)
The green light for any such adult use retail sales would be subject to the issuance of a special permit and site plan approval by the Planning Board and the execution of a new host agreement between the registered marijuana dispensary and the town. Town meeting has the final say on all warrant articles. Passage of such a zoning bylaw requires a two-thirds vote of approval.
Hull resident Bruce McWhorter and others submitted the citizen’s petition containing 300 signatures on behalf of the Alternative Compassion Services medical marijuana dispensary on George Washington Boulevard, ACS Outreach Coordinator Ellen Kasper told the Hull Times. The article does not specifically name ACS. “Town meeting approval would be the first step,” she said.
ACS President Stephen Werther told the Hull Times that ACS would like to add adult use retail sales to the current dispensing of medical marijuana in order for the business to be more viable. “We’re a local company hiring local people, and we’re legal, regulated, we bring in revenue to the town, and our marijuana is tested,” he said.
The sale of marijuana is legal in Massachusetts but is not legal at the federal level.
A big benefit to the town if recreational marijuana sales were to be allowed in Hull, Werther said, is that the host community receives three percent of the 20 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana sales.
The town of Rockland has received a significant amount of tax revenue generated by its three recreational marijuana dispensaries – a total of $2.4 million from Fiscal 2021 through Fiscal 2023 – an example, Werther noted. He predicts that if the sale of recreational marijuana is ultimately allowed in Hull, tax revenues could also be significant, even from the one dispensary – ACS – that’s currently in town. This potential revenue could end up topping restaurant and hotel tax revenues, he speculated.
“If we sold [recreational marijuana in addition to medical marijuana], I believe we would draw more business from Hull, Hingham, Cohasset, Scituate, and the surrounding area,” he said.
The initial purpose of the citizen’s petition was to call for a special town meeting to discuss the proposed adult use retail sales, but by the time it was filed, a special town meeting had already been called related to the liquor license warrant article submitted by Hull resident Christine Rivieccio and others July 17.
Submission of the adult use retail sales citizen’s petition follows an unexpected twist to the citizen’s petition submitted by Meghan Sylvester and others that was considered at the spring 2023 town meeting related to allowing Alternative Compassion Services to add retail sales of marijuana by special permit, subject to site plan review.
At that time, Sylvester offered a substitute motion on behalf of the petitioners, which was approved by voters, that “Based on information we were given by Town Counsel after town meeting began, I move that Article 18 be referred to the zoning bylaw committee without prejudice for consideration of the article at any special or Annual Town Meeting.”
The deferral was requested at that time because the article addressed only the zoning prohibition on retail marijuana, not the ban contained in Hull’s general bylaws.
A negative vote on the zoning change at the Spring 2023 town meeting would have prevented the issue from being considered again at town meeting for at least two years.
Citizen’s petitions for the Aug. 31 special town meeting will be accepted until Monday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m., according to Town Clerk Lori West. A
