New Appointments to Hull Council on Aging Amid Leadership Shake-up

Chairman resigns, citing concerns over accountability and program implementation

HULL, MA - September 25 - The Hull Select Board appointed five new members to the Council on Aging (COA) for three-year terms ending June 30, 2028, during a meeting that also saw the resignation of the council's chairman.

The new appointees are Peter Dewey, Marlene Earl, Rhoda Kanet, Mimi Leary, and Craig Wolfe. They will join the council tasked with identifying needs and implementing programs to enhance the quality of life for Hull residents over 60 years of age.

Jim Richman, the outgoing chairman, submitted his resignation citing concerns about leadership and accountability within the organization. Richman, who is moving to Hanson, also highlighted the need for progress on the 2024 needs assessment.

"It's been a struggle since the new director took over. Leadership does not back this council in any way," Richman said in his resignation letter. "There's no accountability for his action, and the nepotism has taken over many positions."

Richman expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of response from town leadership to the council's concerns. "We have met with leadership before. We've had some sit down with the members to discuss these issues, but they were dismissed by our Town Manager," he said.

The departing chairman also raised questions about the selection process for the current director. "I guess the biggest problem I have is the best candidate was not chosen. A backroom deal was done for this position," Richman claimed.

He ended, “In closing, my biggest concern is accountability of the director and the members of the council of aging. Remember that we're supposed to work together. You do not work for her. She works for us. On that, I am presenting my resignation.”

Among the new appointees, Peter Dewey brings over 20 years of experience working with senior centers. Dewey highlighted his recent involvement in implementing a food program at the Hull Senior Center.

"We started recently. Lunch for sandwiches and soup and so on," Dewey said. "We've been doing, I think our best day was like 44 people."

Mimi Leary, reappointed for her fourth year, teaches line dancing at the center. "I volunteer to teach dancing there for, like, two years now, every week," Leary said.

Craig Wolfe, known for his extensive community involvement, expressed enthusiasm about joining the council. "My skill sets are I'm working with actually everybody. State agencies, local agencies, groups, boards, people," Wolfe said.

Wolfe emphasized the importance of reaching out to seniors who may be isolated. "We're trying to get to the people who don't have the Internet and they don't have a car and they don't have grandkids. That's the people who need it the most," he said.

The council appointments come as Hull grapples with serving its aging population. Wolfe noted that seniors make up a significant portion of the town's residents. "There's 12,000 people in the town. 60% of the people are seniors," he said.

Before the appointments, the Select Board reviewed the responsibilities of COA members. These include identifying needs, implementing programs, and educating community leaders about senior citizens' needs.

The board emphasized that the COA serves in an advisory capacity, not a governance role. Members are expected to help set and review agency policies, while the director manages daily operations.

The newly appointed members will need to complete an online ethics course and be sworn in by the Town Clerk before officially beginning their terms.