Hull Select Board Reviews Town Warrant with Potential Changes to Fees, Procedures
Draft warrant includes sewer fee increases, town meeting time limits, and debate over light plant management
HULL - March 5 - The Hull Select Board is reviewing a draft Town Warrant containing 41 articles for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting, with several proposals that could impact residents' wallets and change town procedures.
Town Manager Jennifer Constable presented the warrant during the March 5 Select Board meeting, walking members through articles ranging from routine budget matters to more contentious proposals.
"You will sign the warrant March 26th," Constable told the board. "The first probably 12 or so articles are really housekeeping articles."
Among the more significant proposals is Article 29, which would increase sewer connection fees for new construction or rehabilitation from $500 to $1,300 per bedroom. The sewer department requested the change, noting the last adjustment was made 20 years ago.
"It seems high," said member Jerry Taverna, adding, "It's an extra tax on the homeowner that's decided to invest in the town on top of all the other fees"
Constable explained that despite the substantial percentage increase, the fee currently generates only about $20,000 annually for the sewer department.
The board expressed concern about the impact on homeowners rebuilding existing properties. Brian McCarthy questioned whether it was fair to charge the fee to someone who "had been a sewer subscriber or sewer customer for so many years."
Another notable proposal is Article 26, which would reduce the maximum speaking time at town meetings from seven minutes to five minutes per person. The article was inserted at the request of the Town Moderator.
Chair Irwin Nesoff suggested an even shorter time limit might be beneficial. "To be honest with you, I still think five minutes is too long. If you can't say it in less than that, you're just repeating yourself, which we see ad nauseam, unfortunately."
The warrant also includes several articles establishing special funds, including accounts for injured-on-duty expenses, workers' compensation, employment liability, unemployment assessments, and grant matches.
Board member Jason McCann questioned the open-ended nature of the proposed grant match fund. "It just seems a little odd to have a fund that has no purpose other than matching grants and can be used for anything at any time," he said.
Constable clarified that the fund would help the town take advantage of grant opportunities that arise mid-year. "If we're in the middle of a fiscal year and we haven't planned for that, we're not able to accept that grant or commit to it in the application."
One of the more contentious citizen petition articles, Article 36, proposes removing the Town Manager as the Light Plant Manager. This sparked significant discussion among board members.
Taverna explained that the article's proponent, Jake Vaillancourt, had presented to the Advisory Board, noting that 88% of towns with municipal light plants operate with separate management.
"The impetus behind it is to set it up properly, structurally, the way it's meant to be set up, and to eliminate any inherent potential conflicts of interest from both sides," Taverna said.
Vice Chair Greg Grey offered a different perspective, recalling the history behind the current structure. "Years ago, 15 to 20 years ago is when that change happened, roughly. There was absolute chaos in the way it was run, and our townspeople voted to have it under better management, under one roof."
Constable added that she had worked in a community where utilities were independently elected, which sometimes created problems. "If you had a sewer commission that ran the sewer wastewater treatment plant, and they were duly elected, they were anti-development... they could stifle any improvements to that facility because of their political position."
The warrant also includes several Community Preservation Act projects totaling over $900,000, including $530,000 for redevelopment of the Jones Park playground, $137,500 for the boathouse restoration at Pemberton, and $111,000 for replacement of the roof at the carousel.
Other notable articles include:
- Article 22: Authorization to borrow for DPW projects, including rehabilitation of the Draper Avenue pumping station and repairs at the DPW garage
- Article 27: Amendments to zoning bylaws for compliance with state requirements for accessory dwelling units
- Article 28: Amendments to signage and lighting zoning bylaws
The warrant also contains 11 citizen petition articles, including proposals to rezone certain town parcels as open space, amend inclusionary zoning requirements, institute a quorum requirement for town meetings, and add impact fees to short-term rentals.
The Select Board will sign the warrant on March 26, with Town Meeting to follow later this spring.
In other business, Nesoff announced that the Affordable Housing Committee is hosting an "Affordable Housing 101" presentation at Memorial Middle School's auditorium on March 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
"It will be a very informative presentation about what affordable housing is, what it means to bring it to Hull," Nesoff said.