Volunteers collect tons of trash, marine debris during week-long cleanup of Boston Harbor Islands

In a landmark environmental restoration initiative, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Center for Coastal Studies led a historic cleanup of five key islands in the Boston Harbor. This once-in-a-generation project aimed to help restore the natural beauty and ecological health of Great Brewster, Middle Brewster, Outer Brewster, Calf, and Lovells islands.

CLEAN HARBORS. Hull teachers Heather Weber (left) and Sheila Blair (right) assembled their summer science and Green Team students to join dozens of other volunteers participating in a recent cleanup of five Boston Harbor islands. The group sorted debris and combed through scores of bags to separate recyclables, Styrofoam, and other flotsam and jetsam from the tons of material collected and brought to the staging area at Pemberton Pier for eventual disposal. [Courtesy photos]

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This effort is the culmination of nearly two years of planning and organizing during which DCR and CCS brought together the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Boston Harbor Now for a historic public-private partnership. These organizations are focused on removing substantial marine debris from the Boston Harbor Islands to help restore critical coastal bird nesting areas and enhanced ecological health of the islands. This project also helped revitalize recreational areas on the islands for residents and visitors and ensure their sustainability for future generations.

“The Boston Harbor Islands are precious natural, cultural, and recreational resources that are visited by more than half a million people a year and this historic cleanup represents a major milestone in our collective effort to protect and preserve them for generations to come,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We are proud to lead this transformative effort alongside our dedicated partners… This initiative reflects our commitment to the environmental health of these islands and our belief in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change.”

“The Boston Harbor Islands are unique in the Gulf of Maine, located in the back yard of New England’s largest city,” said Laura Ludwig, director of the Center for Coastal Studies’ Marine Debris & Plastics Program. “Our joint effort is not just about cleaning up debris; it’s about collecting data, finding value in the material where possible, and disposing of all items responsibly. A collaborative approach ensures that our collective expertise and resources are effectively applied for the benefit of wildlife and surrounding communities.”

Volunteers during the week-long effort included three members of the Hull Rowing Club and Hull High’s Green Team, an environmental service group. Pemberton Pier was used as a staging area, and many in the community came together to contribute to the cleanup, according to volunteer Hilary Moll of the rowing club.

She said that St. Nicholas Church in Hull Village donated its kitchen to prepare meals for the entire week. A chef cooked the food and it was brought over to Peddocks Island on a boat provided by Hull Lifesaving Museum Executive Director Mike McGurl. She added that one night, McGurl and the Hull rowers rowed the chef and the prepared dinner across the Gut.

The cleanup includes several funding sources, including a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris grant, with funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. This $2.7 million grant was awarded to CCS for a multi-year coastal cleanup project, a portion of which will be used for the Boston Harbor Islands cleanup. In addition to the CCS grant, DCR is providing $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding and an additional $35,000 from DCR’s operational budget to cover the cost of the commercial vessels and heavy equipment rental to remove and transport industrial debris. USFWS is providing $80,000 through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration program.

The cleanup took place over a one-week period from September 13-22, and many volunteers camped out on the islands.

“The National Parks Service is dedicated to preserving the unique landscapes and ecosystems of our national treasures,” said National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey. “This cleanup underscores our commitment to safeguarding these irreplaceable resources and demonstrates the strength of our partnerships in achieving impactful and sustainable results.”

The cleanup addressed a diverse array of marine debris, including dock, pier, and bridge timbers, skidder tires, lobster traps, ropes, nets, buoys, metal and fiberglass boat pieces, plastic float components, rebar, plastic foam, and other plastic waste. Volunteers strategically staged debris for removal using barges, cranes, and boats. Efforts will be made to divert debris from landfills by exploring creative reuse – some items may be repurposed by artists, builders, fishermen, students, and researchers, or delivered to recycling centers specializing in wood, metal, and fishing gear.

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Select Board changes Hull’s legal approach by hiring law firm as town counsel

By Carol Britton Meyer 

The select board named Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC to serve as Hull’s new town counsel for a one-year term on a unanimous vote this week, following two separate one-hour interviews with MTC attorneys and also lawyers representing KP Law, PC. 

A screening committee had already narrowed the number of candidates to two. 

Whether the town will pay MTC a flat fee of $14,000 a month, a monthly “hybrid” fee of $9,000 a month, or pay for services at an hourly rate has not yet been determined. 

MTC replaces longtime Town Counsel James Lampke, who will assist with the transition. Lampke was a town employee; the new firm will be paid as a contractor. 

“We heard from two strong firms. Either would be a good choice,” Town Manager Jennifer Constable said. 

Mead, Talerman & Costa, with offices in Newburyport, Millis, and New Bedford, has expertise in general municipal law, land use and zoning, energy and environmental matters, labor issues, and residential and commercial real estate law, and serves as town counsel in dozens of Massachusetts communities, as well as special municipal counsel to others. 

BRIAN WINNER

Attorney Jay Talerman explained MTC’s team-based approach, while Brian Winner, the primary contact for the town, and co-primary Kate Feodoroff talked about the importance of good communication, accessibility to the attorneys working for the town, and proactively providing guidance along the way to avoid litigation if at all possible. 

“If chosen, we will be here to learn from you and what works best for the town,” Winner said during the interview. 

Attorneys Lauren Goldberg, Gregg Corbo, and Roger Smerage represented KP Law during the interview. 

KP represents more than one-third of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth as city solicitor or town counsel, and provides special counsel services. 

Dedicated attorneys 

KATE FEODOROFF

Both firms offered dedicated attorneys to work on a regular basis with the town – with assistance provided by other associates in specialized fields – and training seminars. 

MTC also offers office hours for town officials to become acquainted with its attorneys “and to help [them] navigate the complexities of town government,” Feodoroff explained. 

MTC represents a number of coastal communities. 

“Coastal issues are near and dear to our hearts,” Talerman said. 

Feodoroff has experience dealing with labor and employment issues, while Winner has a background in environmental law and working with local, state, and federal agencies. 

MTC also has experience in dealing with railroad bed, beach, and dune-related issues, has its own real estate department, and will keep the town apprised about new state and federal laws and legislation that could affect Hull. 

‘We are approachable’ 

“We would be there and approachable,” Feodoroff said before the vote. “We really love being municipal lawyers. Attending meetings is not a drag. Of course it’s work, but we make the choices that we do because we really like what we do.” 

MTC will also provide assistance with town meeting and special town meeting preparations and have a presence there. 

All five board members agreed that the MTC fee structure was the most beneficial to the town as well as the fewer number of communities served by MTC, although a significant amount, compared with KP Law, which select board member Greg Grey felt was “a better fit to respond to our needs.” 

Constable said that the MTC fee structure also appealed to her because “it gives us some degree of certainty in our budgeting. My office has a financial responsibility to the town, and this is an important factor.” 

‘A big bang for the buck’ 

Select board member Brian McCarthy noted that two of the MTC attorneys present at the meeting were former employees of KP Law “and took that experience to MTC,” a fact that was mentioned during the interview. 

“We’re getting a big bang for the buck,” he said. 

Due to the MTC team’s experience in this field, Constable said she doesn’t foresee the need to hire an additional land use counsel. 

Board member Jerry Taverna noted that one of the payment options – a flat fee of $14,000 a month – “might seem like a lot, but that comes to $168,000 a year, an amount that wouldn’t cover the cost of hiring one lawyer” to serve as town counsel. 

“If the attorney we hired had to work the hours that Jim Lampke worked, I figure the total to be about half a million dollars [a year],” Grey said. “Jim put in 2,000 hours a year. He went above and beyond because he was part of the fabric of our community. He is irreplaceable.” 

The other two fee options include a hybrid rate of $9,000 a month, and a traditional hourly arrangement. 

The flat fee includes virtually all general services (excepting labor-related) and substantially all routine litigation. The hybrid fee includes virtually all general services, excluding litigation matters, which are billed at an hourly rate of $225 per hour. 

The traditional hourly fee arrangement would bill all matters on an hourly basis. No additional charges are assessed for services provided by the firm’s paralegals, staff, or other personnel or for brief consultations before a meeting, for instance. 

Contract will be revisited in a year 

Constable said the financial model will be determined once the contract is signed. The contract will be revisited in a year. 

KP Law proposed town counsel services at the single, blended hourly rate of $245 through June 30, 2025, and also a retainer option, with varying hourly rates for specialty legal services. 

The MTC team is looking forward to a smooth transition. 

“We know Jim and really respect him,” Talerman said. “We have a great line of communication, and he will provide updates on [all the issues facing the town.” 

This is “quite a change for Hull,” Constable said. “Jim has been town counsel for decades and then some.” 

Hull Community Television will replay on its cable channels and on-demand at hulltv.net. 

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Economic Development Committee hears bus service update, considers promotion ideas

By Carol Britton Meyer 

During a one-hour meeting that covered a lot of ground, the Economic Development Committee heard an encouraging update about the year-round MBTA 714 bus and discussed holding off-season events for residents and visitors, a collaborative website to promote the town, and the creation of a handbook on how to open a business in Hull. 

CLick here for the survey

Director of Community Development & Planning Chris DiIorio and EDC Chair Jason McCann will first discuss the guide idea – which was suggested by EDC member Jim Pitrolo – with Town Manager Jennifer Constable, a past EDC chair, to flesh out the concept and to consider how the committee could be involved if the proposal moves forward. 

Further 714 bus updates and more information about the guide concept and off-season events, such as spring and fall festivals and a winter chowderfest similar to activities offered by other seaside communities – which will be explored by EDC alternates Jennifer Mullin and school committee representative Liliana Hedrick in the meantime – will be shared at the next EDC meeting on Monday, October 7, at 6 p.m. 

Hull Redevelopment Authority representative to the committee Bartley Kelly noted that an application process is outlined on www.hra02045.com for people with an interest in hosting events on HRA property. 

Bus Route 714 update 

McCann provided an update about recent productive meetings between Hull representatives – Town Manager Jennifer Constable, DiIorio, and McCann – and MBTA officials about enhancing the bus service. 

The bus system, operated by a new contractor who is interested in making improvements in response to feedback from the town, connects the Pemberton Point ferry to the 220 bus at the Hingham Depot on Station Street, with stops made along the way. 

“It seems as though the MBTA is more open to discussions [with the town] now,” DiIorio said. “The fact that the former bus didn’t look like a bus and other issues that have come up in the past are now being addressed.” 

EDC member and Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce President Steven Greenberg is hopeful that the town can demonstrate to the MBTA the need for additional bus and ferry service in Hull based on a vibrant economy and that this might be a real possibility. 

“It’s up to us to make that happen,” he said. 

Greenberg also noted that the Chamber and town officials will be hosting a “walk-through” with the MBTA in October. 

While ridership numbers aren’t high at this point, an increase is expected now that there is a regular marked MBTA bus in service on the Hull route, Charlie Cards and tickets can be used to pay bus fares, possible expansion of service is on the table, and discussions are under way about creating fixed Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bus stops to replace the current flagging system. 

“The MBTA isn’t a big fan of flagging,” DiIorio said. “It’s not the safest way to operate.” 

Visit www.mbta.com/schedules/714/line for information on the Bus 714 Pemberton Point-Station Street, Hingham schedule, including recent changes, a schedule finder that allows riders to choose a direction and an origin stop and to access schedule information and real-time departure predictions, as well as a PDF of schedules and route maps. 

“This is a really useful tool,” McCann said, while encouraging residents to share this information with family and friends. 

The MBTA is considering an online 714 bus survey encouraging residents and local businesses to provide feedback about the service with the intention of “making adjustments based on the results -- obviously not all of them!” said McCann, who plans with DiIorio to follow up about the survey with the transit authority. He will share details with the community as they become available and encourages all riders to participate. 

In other business at the meeting 

EDC alternate Irena Davy talked about the Hull Next website she created and expressed an interest in providing a platform promoting Hull in partnership with the EDC and the Chamber. “The website grew from three to 47 pages in the past two years,” she said. EDC members will explore the website and provide feedback. “I do this [website design] for a living, but it’s absolutely a labor of love.” 

The website features “Moving to Hull,” “Old World Hull,” “Visiting Hull,” “Hull neighborhoods,” Hull attractions,” “Hull Real Estate,” and “Who We Are” links. 

“We’re looking for a singular [online] access point for the Town of Hull for tourists looking for what to do, where to go, what’s open [on a particular] day, restaurants, kayak and bicycle rentals, [and other information],” Greenberg said. “The Chamber has been considering this, and hullnext.com [could be a] big part of future strategy.” 

The idea of finding an effective way to create an inventory of vacant commercial spaces that are for rent or for sale in an effort to attract more businesses to Hull was floated, as well as consulting other communities’ EDCs about how they make such information available and “if they feel [doing so] is worth the effort,” DiIorio suggested, noting that regular updates would be required. 

Davy expressed the thought that vacant “dilapidated buildings don’t create an inviting place,” while acknowledging that progress in this area has been made in recent years. 

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In the Sport-light - Roundup of news about Hull athletes

Compiled by Matt Haraden 

ON POINT. Hull High soccer Captain Elly Thomas had a banner week, as she was named to The Boston Globe’s list of High School Players of the Week and scored her 100th point during Monday’s 7-2 victory over Abington. [Courtesy photo] 

• Hull High Girls Soccer players Elly Thomas and Fallon Ryan were named to The Boston Globe’s list of High School Players of the Week, and Brianna Ramos was named the High School Female Athlete of the Week by The Patriot Ledger. More than 20,500 people voted for Ramos, a freshman on the varsity team who scored two goals in the Pirates’ win over Mashpee. This week, Fallon Ryan is up against 24 other contenders for the honor, while Thomas celebrated her own milestone during Monday’s 7-2 victory over Abington, as she scored her 100th point! The Pirates defeated Carver, 6-0, on Tuesday – the third shutout of the season for goalkeeper Montana Alibrandi. The Pirates host East Bridgewater on Friday, September 20 at 6 p.m., with the JV game at 4:30 p.m., and then play Rockland at home on Monday at 5:30 p.m. (JV at 4 p.m.) before traveling to East Bridgewater on Wednesday at 4 p.m. 

• Boys 3/4 Soccer Team 1 tied Plympton, 5-5, this past weekend. The team, consisting of Owen Bilodeau, Liam Palermo, Luke Panetta,  Harrison Jones, Rhys Siegrist, Henry Lidington-Trubia, Luca Dibley, North Saforrian, Finn Saforrian, Rocko Truglia, Sawyer Markowitz, and Casey Resnick, played well in the nail-biter, back-and-forth game. 3/4 Team 2 defeated Plympton, 3-1, on Saturday, September 14. Jordan Dunn scored two goals. Gibran Succar scored one goal with an assist from Andy Michaelides. Landgon Walper and Declan Fahey both made many saves while taking turns as goalies. Samuel Chiba was a powerhouse on both offense and defense. Now 2-0 on the year, the team’s next game is on Saturday, September 21 at noon in Halifax. 5/6 Soccer beat Pembroke this weekend with a final score of 6-2. Will McCarthy played strong on offense, scoring three goals. Slava Rhzevskii scored two goals and Tomas Bromberg-Issokson scored one goal. Jacob Greenberg was excellent in midfield, helping to assist in at least two of the goals with beautiful crossover passes. Reefe Markowitz and Killian Kelly both were amazing in goal. The team’s next game is in Duxbury on Saturday, September 21 at 1:45 p.m. 

• Girls 3/4 Soccer split their first two games with a win over Carver, 3-1, and a tough loss to Halifax, 7-3. The loss came with stellar goalkeeping by Thalita Nascimento and Lydia Caparrotta, who combined for 28 saves. Willa Britton scored all six goals for the Pirates, with assists from teammates Ellie Caparrotta, Rae Rockett, Maisie Handrahan, and Addie Chalifoux. Cate Mulvihill, Mackenzie Deegan, and Meara Gilroy held Carver to one goal with their fierce defense, while Laila Dolan, Viola Pearson, and Eleanor Reilly attacked Halifax to try to change the result. Girls 5/6 took on Norwell Team 2 at home, losing 5-0. Standouts for the home team were Sydney O’Brien and Ruby D’Errico, splitting their time in net. Unfortunately for such a hot day on the field, the Pirates were frozen out in their efforts. Girls 7/8 lost, 6-1, to Duxbury on Saturday, September 14. Payton Dunn had Hull’s lone goal off a beautiful corner kick from Aubrey Littlefield. Ava and Stella Palermo had strong games at forward and midfield. The team faces Cohasset in its next game. 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Although the Hull High football team came up short against South Shore Tech last week, hopes are high for the remainder of the season. This Friday, September 20, the Pirates head to Holbrook and then will return on the 27th for the annual Homecoming Game against Boston English at 6 p.m. It also will be Alumni Night, as former Pirates are invited to gather after the game at the Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club to celebrate memories, both old and new. [Sean Baggett photos] 

• Hull High Football fell to South Shore Technical High School on Friday, September 13, with a final score of 36-14. Luke Dunham had a touchdown run and pass, connecting with Toryn Ciulla-Hall for the reception. John Truglia played well on both sides of the ball. The team will travel to play Holbrook on Friday, September 20, and then will return home on September 27 to play Boston English at 6 p.m. This will be the team’s Homecoming Game and Alumni Night – former Pirates are invited to gather after the game at the Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club to celebrate memories, both old and new. 

PHOTO BY NICOLE TOWNSEND.

• The Hull High Varsity Boys Soccer team exploded for an 8-0 win over Carver on Tuesday night at home. The boys took the lead through a goal from Max Day and followed up with the first varsity goal by Finn Walsh. Although Carver was tough, the goals continued to come for the Pirates, who were playing at top of their game. Another goal came from Max Day to make it three, with Nick McDonald putting a corner in to make it four. This was followed by two long-range bullets from Oliver Szabo and Christian Truglia, and the scoring was completed by two fine efforts from JT Gould. Overall, an excellent showing before a large home crowd. Matthew Thomas made his starting debut in goal, while on defense, Jonah Whelan, Max Lofgren, Sam Tuchmann, and Nate Tiani stopped everything. Freshmen Patrick Hughes, Cameron Her, Christian Nolan, and Iktan Guzman played their part on the field as well. The next game is at Rockland on Monday, September 23 at 4 p.m., and then the team comes back home to play East Bridgewater on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. 

• Coaches and Super Fans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events 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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Two weeks of early voting for November 5 election begins October 19

By Carol Britton Meyer 

In-person, vote-by-mail, absentee, and early voting are four options available to Hull’s registered voters for the November 5 presidential election. 

CLick here for a sample ballot.

In-person voting for all precincts will take place at Hull High School, 180 Main St., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

The select board this week approved hours for early voting at Hull Town Hall, 253 Atlantic Ave., upon the recommendation of Town Clerk Lori West. 

Week one 

• Saturday, October 19: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• Monday, October 21: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

• Tuesday, October 22: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

• Wednesday, October 23: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

• Thursday, October 24: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Week two 

• Saturday, October 26: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

• Monday, October 28: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

• Tuesday, October 29: 8:30 a.m.  to 4:30 p.m. 

• Wednesday, October 30: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

• Thursday, October 31: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

• Friday, November 1: 8 a.m. to Noon 

The deadline to apply for the presidential/state election vote-by-mail ballot is October 29 at 5 p.m. Visit www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk for details.. 

The ballot return deadline is Election Day by 8 p.m. if returned in person or  by drop box. 

If returned by domestic mail, the deadline is 5 p.m. on November 8 (must be postmarked by Election Day). 

If returned by mail from outside the United States, the deadline is  5 p.m. on November 15 (must be postmarked by Election Day). 

The deadline to register to vote in the November 5 election is Saturday, October 26. To register to vote, update your address within Hull, or to change our party registration online, visit www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/ or stop by the town clerk’s office during regular business hours to register in person. 

For full election and voter information, including how to request a vote-by-mail application, online voter registration, a Hull voter precinct map, and absentee ballot application,  visit www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk. This page also has links to the Secretary of State’s website to verify voter status and for online voter registration, absentee ballot, and other voting details. For a sample ballot, click here.

The state election ballot also features five questions, the text of which are available at this link. 

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The classics were on display at the annual Nantasket Beach Car Show

The annual Nantasket Beach Car Show took over the main avenue on Sunday, as hundreds of vintage and classic autos were on display. Rod and Elizabeth Smith made the scene in their 1959 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, and Ellie Destito made quite an entrance in the traditional Marilyn Monroe parade. Kim Greaves didn’t disappoint again this year with her creative trophies – among the winners were Ed Clark, who won Best in Show for his ’39 Chevy truck with John Deere tractor in the bed, and Ann O’Brien, who took home a trophy for her 1928 Ford Model A. The show, which raises funds for Cops for Kids with Cancer and veterans programs, always attracts a crowd of auto enthusiasts – both car owners and those who appreciate the hard work that goes into restoring and maintaining a classic [Skip Tull photos] 

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Community pauses to remember those lost in 9/11 terror attacks

A TRADITION OF REMEMBRANCE. The Town of Hull has paused each September 11 since 2001 to remember those killed and injured by the terror attacks of 9/11/01. This year’s ceremony was held outdoors on a beautiful evening at the Bernie King Pavilion. [Skip Tull photos] 

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HRA reviews ‘lessons learned’ from summer season, sets two sessions on urban renewal plan

By Carol Britton Meyer

Monday’s Hull Redevelopment Authority regular business meeting via Zoom was an opportunity for members to provide updates on old business – “including lessons learned from this season” – from how to improve the parking vendor process to working with the Hull Police Department to fine-tune when and how police details are assigned.

The numerous agenda items were talked about briefly, with plans to continue those discussions at the HRA’s Monday, October 7 business meeting.

The search for an HRA operations manager “to help us with a lot of pieces that are floating [among] five sets of hands” continues, Chair Dennis Zaia said. “I hope we find someone soon.”

He also reported that the HRA’s legal counsel will answer legal questions submitted by its members during a public meeting in early November.

Member Dan Kernan made some suggestions related to the upcoming 2025 parking lot Request for Proposals following conversations with vendors, including potentially allowing them “a bit of flexibility” when it comes to parking fees.

“We should let the market decide what to charge for parking through a bidding process to be [more] competitive,” member Bartley Kelly said.

The idea of installing parking meters at a particular location also was floated.

Parking vendor survey

Prior to the October 7 meeting, members Adrienne Paquin and Kernan will create a survey for parking vendors to get their feedback on how the season went prior to issuance of the parking lot RFP for the 2025 beach season. The survey was Paquin’s idea.

This summer was tough for parking vendors and the surf camps, Kernan said, due to the large amount of rainy weather, including on a number of weekends.

That said, “the surf camps are doing great – they’re open until the end of the summer,” Kernan remarked. “Rentals were down due to the terrible weather, but those who book lessons learn how to surf rain or shine. This is the best location on the beach, the surf is great, and there’s sand.”

The HRA is also considering issuing an RFP for a property management service for lawn care, trash pickup, and other improvements to the property.

In addition to the parking survey, members heard a presentation on a recent survey conducted by Humans, Not Consumers, a private company owned by Hull resident Erin Swenson Gorrall, in partnership with SOS Hull, an organization that opposes large-scale development of the HRA property. Gorrall, who is not a member of SOS Hull, discussed the results, in which 631 Hull residents and 239 visitors were asked 20 questions, focusing on perceptions about Hull and what respondents believe would help the town’s future. According to the survey, 80% of those responding favored walkable park space, while 57% wanted a music or event performance area. Seven percent of those surveyed said they wanted to see condominium development on the 13-acre site. SOS Hull was not involved in analyzing the data from the survey. Results are available at this link.

Zaia was unanimously appointed as the HRA representative to the Department of Conservation & Recreation/Town of Hull working group charged with developing a memorandum of understanding on “Hull-related business.”

At the same time, member Joan Senatore said she thought it was important that the HRA representative share the opinions of all board members, and not just individual views, at those meetings.

Determining costs and value of development

Paquin reported that pending a change to the document that is in the works, the Keller Williams financial analysis is nearly complete. The HRA hired Keller Williams Realty to do a “review to derive costs and value of development” on the HRA property and its impacts, along with a revenue analysis to provide a baseline following public input in order to determine viable options.

Paquin also said the bayside picnic tables have been “a hit” and that she would like to keep them there for the winter “in case we have another mild one.”

New signs for the gazebo are in the works, and at the October 7 meeting, the HRA will further talk about whether to leave the pollinator garden as-is during the colder weather “so it will be even more glorious next year,” or to trim it back to help avoid trash from accumulating there.

Police detail process questioned

Senatore provided an update on charges for police details so far, with a week to go for the beach season.

“I’m trying to get an understanding of the process [of deciding when they are necessary]” –whether it’s based on the weather, who makes the decision, and how many officers should be on duty, she said.

Police detail charges so far this season amount to $27,900 (not including the recent circus), compared to $16,000 in 2023.

Senatore, who created a spreadsheet with the details to share with fellow HRA members, noted that two officers were on duty for the same eight-hour shift some days, which she said may be part of the reason for the increased cost this year.

Kernan noted as examples that two police officers were on duty during five of the seven days when there were more than 500 vehicles parked on the lot, and one officer for the other two, while there were “zero details” other days when there were a large number of cars parked there.

“We need to find out why the cost has gone up and try to mitigate it,” Kelly said. “We don’t need two police officers at one intersection.”

Kernan agreed to talk with the police department for answers to these and other related questions.

“When it was really hot, they did show up – at least one officer – but when there was no need for a detail at all, there were [sometimes] two officers,” he observed from looking at the spreadsheet.

Capacity to meet development

In other business, Kelly said he would follow up on earlier inquiries made of the water company, sewer department, and Hull Municipal Lighting Plant for information about their capacity to meet the needs of housing or other buildings that might be part of the final plan for the property.

“We need to document this information in the draft Urban Renewal Plan so we know the process,” Zaia said.

All of the above agenda items will be revisited on October 7.

Other upcoming meetings include:

• Tuesdays, October 8 and 15: In-person at Hull High School and via Zoom. These are continuing meetings about the draft Urban Renewal Plan, with no public input expected on those nights.

• Tuesday, November 4: Meeting with HRA’s legal counsel to address legal questions posed by HRA members.

• Monday, November 18: Regular business meeting.

This week’s meeting replay will be available on Hull Community Television and at www.hra02045.com.

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New superintendent presents entry plan to school committee, sets goals for first year in job

By Carol Britton Meyer

New Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette presented his entry plan to the school committee this week, including a commitment to “looking, listening, and learning” to help set up Hull Public Schools for “success for the next decade.”

The “#Anchored in” theme for the 2024-25 school year relates to belonging, opportunities, and relationships, with a focus on “hope, unity, stability, and strength.”

Hull Superintendent of Schools michael Jette, who is in his first year leading the district.

This is the first school year under the reconfiguration plan that places preK through grade 7 students at the Jacobs School and grades 8-12 at the high school.

Jette’s entry plan includes visiting every classroom before the end of September and each school weekly; reviewing school improvement plans and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “report cards;” looking for indicators and trends related to a sense of belonging for all students; “being mindful of opportunity gaps” and addressing them; and keeping an eye on enrollment reports.

Click here for the Hull Public Schools 2024 Convocation presentation and Superintendent Michael Jette’s Entry Plan.

“Enrollments are a challenge in Hull, and we need to keep paying attention [to this issue],” he said.

Working as a team

The plan also included meeting with key staff before the end of July “to get a sense of what they value and want to protect moving forward and to address [those as] a team,” as well as one-on-one meetings with the school committee; talking with Hull Teachers Association leaders “to build a collaborative relationship right out of the gate;” and meeting with representatives of the Boosters, PTO, parents, caregivers, families, and students.

Jette said he enjoyed talking with people at last weekend’s Endless Summer celebration. In fact, whenever he saw someone wearing something bearing a Pirate logo, he started a conversation.

Scheduling and attending community listening sessions and developing feedback mechanisms related to the opening of school under the reconfiguration plan and monitoring how it progresses are also part of the entry plan, along with developing and implementing “a full-circle feedback tool for [school] leadership.”

Both schools have done a “really good job” implementing the reconfiguration plan so far, according to Jette. “There’s still work to be done related to making all of this work in a seamless way.”

As part of his overall efforts to get to know the community better, Jette also reached out to the senior center “to see if there are opportunities throughout the fall to engage with and hear from folks without children in the schools to see what’s on their minds.”

Community involvement

Jette also plans to utilize open-ended interviews as an opportunity to learn from stakeholders; develop a communication plan involving parents and the community; ensure that all school leaders have the tools to be successful in their roles; establish a meeting schedule “to provide collegial support;” and continue to develop the “#Anchored in” theme for the 2024-25 school year.

Because the current Hull Public Schools strategic plan covers the years 2019 to 2025, Jette intends to collaborate with the school committee and others during the winter and to begin drafting a new one in spring 2025.

The goal is to begin implementing the new strategic plan next summer – including district and school goals “to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction,” he told the school committee.

During the recent HPS convocation, Jette noted that September 3 was his 34th consecutive first day of school since he started teaching. Adding 13 years of public K-12 education and six years of college brings the total to 53 first days of school he has experienced since he started kindergarten in 1972. “I’m still excited, nervous, and energized!” he said.

‘Growth-oriented mindset’

Also during the convocation, Jette shared his thoughts about what education means to him –including that students, administrators, and educators benefit from a “growth-oriented mindset” based on the premise that all students can learn; all teachers “must continually refine their practice;” and that the school community “must commit to high-quality professional development.”

School systems “must develop a sense of belonging for all students,” Jette said, noting that “decisions that work involve key stakeholders” and that “chain of command is important.”

The focus of Jacobs School this year is on achievement, perseverance, community, and engagement, and on innovation, unity, collaboration, and community at the high school.

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Interviews with law firms to serve as town counsel rescheduled for September 18

By Carol Britton Meyer

The interviews for a new town counsel planned for the Tuesday, September 10, select board meeting were postponed due to a scheduling conflict. The chosen firm will replace the services formerly provided by recently retired James Lampke.

former town counsel james lampke, who retired this year after 40+ years in the position.

The new date for interviews is Wednesday, September 18, starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular select board meeting.

A screening committee consisting of Town Manager Jennifer Constable and other town staff recently recommended two finalists from among four firms that submitted applications – KP Law, P.C. and Mead, Talerman & Costa, LLC.

“We looked at their price proposals and technical submissions and focused on who their lead and backup attorneys would be,” she said.

Whether the chosen finalist will serve the town as both general town counsel and land use counsel has yet to be determined, depending on the firms’ capacity.

KP Law represents more than one-third of the cities and towns in the Commonwealth as city solicitor or town counsel, and provides special counsel services. These include serving as labor and employment counsel to cities and towns, housing authorities, municipal light plants, regional transit authorities, and state agencies. The firm’s practice areas includes labor and employment, contracts, real estate, land use, environmental, town meeting, government information and access, procurement, and construction.

Mead, Talerman & Costa has expertise in general municipal law, land use and zoning law, energy and environmental law, labor law, and residential and commercial real estate law, and serves as town counsel in dozens of Massachusetts communities, as well as special municipal counsel to others.

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