Hull Introduces First Assistant Town Manager, Proposes New Parking System

Town officials highlight efficiency improvements and modernization efforts

HULL, MA - October 9 - Hull's first-ever Assistant Town Manager, Stacy Callahan, has hit the ground running in her new role, focusing on human resources and community services. The position, created to improve efficiency and support for town departments, has been in the works for several years.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable praised Callahan's impact since joining the team six months ago. "This, to my knowledge, is Hull's first Assistant Town Manager, which has been invaluable," Constable said. "The goal from the beginning was to bring on an Assistant Manager that could help focus an estimated 50% of their work on human resource-related activities, and she has hit the ground running in that."

Callahan, who came to Hull from Rockland, has been working closely with department heads and staff to understand the town's operations and ongoing projects. She emphasized the collaborative nature of her work, particularly in managing community services and addressing HR needs.

"I've spent a lot of time going to those meetings and getting to know the department heads and the work that they do," Callahan said. "It's really great to sit into all of these meetings, you know, infrastructure meetings, the seawall meetings, and traffic studies, and watch them all collaborate with each other in a respectful, tactful way."

In her first six months, Callahan has tackled various HR responsibilities, including reviewing personnel policies, handling collective bargaining negotiations with five unions, and overseeing the hiring process for several positions. She has also been working on developing a comprehensive policies and procedures manual for town employees.

Select Board member Jason McCann praised Callahan's expertise and approach. "It's clear to me, you know, why you were brought on, like, to have that experience and know it so well and so confidently," McCann said. "And I think also approach it with such calm and grace that I see in your personality. I think is a much-needed benefit to the town."

In other business, Hull is considering modernizing its parking system. Police Chief John Dunn proposed transitioning from traditional parking meters to a pay-by-phone system, citing potential increases in revenue and improved parking management in busy areas.

The current parking meter system generates between $8,500 and $10,000 annually, but maintenance and replacement costs often outweigh the revenue. Chief Dunn suggested that a pay-by-phone system could be more cost-effective and user-friendly.

"I've been looking at this for a few years now, and basically having the meters, I think it's antiquated and it looks bad," Dunn said. "The cost to install or remove or replace or repair pretty much outweighs what we make every year in revenue from them."

The proposed system would allow users to pay for parking through a mobile app, similar to systems used in neighboring towns. The change would eliminate the need for physical meters and provide real-time data for parking enforcement officers.

Select Board members expressed support for the proposal, with some suggesting the town could potentially increase parking fees in certain areas. The board unanimously approved moving forward with the pay-by-phone system, with implementation targeted for Memorial Day weekend 2025.

Steve Greenberg, president of the Hull Chamber of Commerce, applauded the proposed change. "I really applaud this. This is great," Greenberg said. "We'd like to be involved if the board does consider changing rates. We actually discussed last night at our strategic planning meeting about developing a brand and town-wide marketing program for 2026 and being able to advertise perhaps free parking off-season and opportunity pricing during the summer could be good for everyone."