HINGHAM - November 4 - The Hingham Select Board unanimously approved an agreement with Allied Consulting Engineering Services to design a replacement for the town library’s failing HVAC chiller system, authorizing up to $80,000 in funding for the engineering work that will pave the way for a major capital project likely exceeding $580,000.
The Full Story
Library Trustee Steven Weiss, chair of the Operations Committee, told the board that the library’s cooling system, installed in 2001, has reached the end of its useful life. Many core components are failing, and replacement parts are no longer being manufactured, making necessary repairs costly and increasingly impossible.
“Time is actually not on our side to get the design work done,” Weiss said, explaining that the library needs the engineering design completed to request funding at the fiscal year 2027 town meeting, either as a standalone article or as part of the broader capital plan.
The engineering contract covers three distinct phases: schematic design, which includes reviewing existing site conditions and preparing preliminary equipment selections; construction documents, consisting of detailed load estimates and final design drawings sealed by a professional engineer; and construction phase services, including site visits and resolution of any outstanding issues during the actual installation.
David Sequeira, the town’s Chief of Contracting and Procurement, read a letter from Library Director Linda Stone into the record, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The letter noted that during summer months, the building becomes uncomfortably hot, and cooling is critical for the library to remain open and serve the public.
“The library has also served as a designated town cooling center and is an important asset to the community in that we provide a comfortable place to go during the hot summer months,” Stone wrote. “Replacement at this time is critical. Delay could result in additional and unexpected costs for temporary cooling systems to be installed, as well as the possible closure of the library in the summer months due to excessive heat should the system fail prior to replacement.”
When Select Board member Julie Strehle asked about the anticipated cost of the actual chiller replacement, Weiss acknowledged that while a placeholder figure of $580,000 appears in capital outlay estimates, “we know that it’s going to be well in excess of that.” He indicated the project would likely require its own warrant article at annual town meeting in the spring rather than being funded through the library’s general capital budget.
The $80,000 for design services is funded through the library’s fiscal year 2026 capital budget and is currently available for immediate expenditure. Allied Consulting will invoice the town upon acceptance of each of the three project phases, and the contract term extends through June 30, 2027, which would bring the HVAC replacement project to completion.
Select Board member Liz Klein acknowledged that the chiller replacement has been on the library’s priority list for some time. “This has been on the list. It’s definitely a concern not only to have the cooling center for the town, people to be able to enjoy the library, but to protect our materials as well,” Klein said. “So I certainly see the importance and urgency here.”
In other business, the Select Board approved several routine matters. The board signed a memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local Union 25 Supervisors Unit, making midterm adjustments to align supervisor work hours with rank-and-file employees at the Department of Public Works. Town Administrator Tom Mayo explained that DPW rank-and-file employees recently shifted their start time from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. to coordinate better with contractors working for the town.
“We made that adjustment, but we also, in order for our employees to be managed and supervised, we need to change the supervisor contract to match that time frame so that they’re also starting at 7 along with their employees,” Mayo said. The agreement also awards the three supervisors a $300 per year stipend for being essential employees, matching what rank-and-file employees received in their recently negotiated contract.
The board approved a common victualer license for Mahant Krupa Food LLC, doing business as Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which will open at 400 Lincoln Street, Suite 22, in the plaza next to Stop & Shop. Franchisee and owner Dhruv Patel participated in the meeting remotely, explaining that this will be the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe location in Hingham. The franchise, which has 1,600 locations across the United States, serves smoothies and food items including wraps, quesadillas, and club sandwiches. The cafe will operate Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Select Board also granted a special one-day all-alcoholic beverages license to the Hingham Women’s Club for its Festival of Trees fundraiser, scheduled for December 5, 2025, at the Hingham Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jennifer Sherman, president of the club and a resident of Lazell Street, explained that the fundraiser supports multiple local charities including Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, Hingham Food Pantry, Scituate Animal Shelter, Adelia Strong, SNAP, and Arc of the South Shore.
“We did this last year, thanks to you folks. It was a roaring success, and we’d like to repeat this,” Sherman said. Select Board member Strehle thanked Sherman and the club members for their volunteer efforts. “I just want to acknowledge how much work it takes to put on events like that,” she said.
During public comment, Yvette Kanter of Main Street addressed the board about community support efforts in response to disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Kanter explained that a group of approximately eight women formed an initiative called Neighbors Helping Neighbors to provide immediate assistance to affected residents.
“We’ve raised money, and we are raising money, to which St. John’s Church has been very gracious to be the collection point for us,” Kanter said. “But we’re raising money in order to just help people in the moment. Like, this is a moment.” She explained that SNAP benefits are distributed on different schedules for different recipients, so the impact comes “in waves” throughout the month.
Kanter asked whether the town has reserve funds available to help during such crises. Town Administrator Mayo explained that spending taxpayer dollars on charitable organizations presents legal complexities. “There’s a question of our ability to spend taxpayer dollars on charitable organizations, so that is an issue that we’d have to overcome,” Mayo said. “It’s very much issue dependent, I think. We would obviously work with counsel.”
Mayo noted that the town planned to post a comprehensive list of available resources, both local and state, for various constituencies including seniors and veterans. He also said town officials would meet with Second Parish Church and the Hingham Food Pantry to assess needs and potentially develop a food distribution plan if necessary.
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors group includes clinical social worker Allison Horton, who handles confidential client information, along with Rory Early, Kim Windtrap, Kenzie Blackwell, Jessica Foley, Linda Luke, and Julie Mitchelson. Kanter emphasized that while the effort began in response to SNAP disruptions, it has expanded to assist federal workers not receiving paychecks and others facing temporary hardships.
Select Board Chair William Ramsey concluded the meeting by announcing upcoming Veterans Day events. The Lance Corporal Lawrence St. Laurent annual breakfast for veterans and their families will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on November 11 on the second floor of Town Hall, followed by a ceremony at 11:00 a.m. in Sanborn Auditorium.
Ramsey also highlighted last Saturday’s open house at the new public safety facility, which drew an estimated 500 residents. The fire department demonstrated vehicle extraction techniques, hoist systems for difficult rescues, and fire hose operation. “It was a really fantastic event,” Ramsey said, giving particular recognition to firefighter paramedics Ben Yodzio and Eddie Geswell for organizing the event.
Why It Matters
The library’s cooling system replacement represents a critical infrastructure investment that directly affects residents’ access to library services during summer months. Beyond providing a comfortable environment for reading and research, the library serves as one of Hingham’s designated cooling centers during heat waves, offering vulnerable residents a safe refuge from dangerous temperatures. If the system fails before replacement, the library could face closure during summer months, eliminating both regular services and emergency cooling shelter. The aging system also threatens the library’s collection of books, documents, and electronic materials, which require climate-controlled conditions for preservation. By investing in design work now, the town positions itself to complete the full replacement project before system failure forces more costly emergency measures or service disruptions.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the minutes dated October 21, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:02:22)
Motion: To approve the minutes dated October 23, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:02:32)
Motion: To approve the minutes dated October 28, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:02:43)
Motion: To sign the Memorandum of Agreement with Teamsters Local Union 25 Supervisors Unit, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:06:29)
Motion: To approve the issuance of a common victualer license to Mahant Krupa Food LLC, doing business as Tropical Smoothie Cafe, located at 400 Lincoln Street, Suite 22, effective through December 31, 2025. Outcome: Approved as amended with corrected hours of operation. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:12:56)
Motion: To approve the issuance of a special one-day all-alcoholic beverages license to the Hingham Women’s Club for Festival of Trees to be held at the Hingham Community Center on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:09:54)
Motion: To authorize the town administrator to sign the agreement with Allied Consulting Engineering Services Inc. for engineering and design services for a new HVAC chiller system at the Hingham Public Library in an amount not to exceed $80,000. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:22:25)
Motion: To enter executive session under Mass General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation. The board will not reconvene in open session. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 00:30:12)
Public Comment
Yvette Kanter of 442 Main Street addressed the board regarding community support efforts for residents affected by SNAP benefit disruptions. She described the formation of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a volunteer group of approximately eight women raising funds through St. John’s Church to provide immediate assistance to residents facing food insecurity. The group includes a clinical social worker who manages confidential client information. Kanter inquired about the availability of town reserve funds for crisis response, and Town Administrator Mayo explained the legal complexities of spending taxpayer money on charitable organizations while noting the town would provide information about available resources and coordinate with local food assistance organizations.
What’s Next
The town will meet with Second Parish Church and the Hingham Food Pantry this week to assess community needs related to SNAP disruptions and discuss potential food distribution plans. Allied Consulting Engineering Services will begin the schematic design phase for the library’s HVAC chiller system replacement. The library will likely seek funding for the full chiller replacement project at the fiscal year 2027 annual town meeting in spring 2026. Veterans Day events will take place on November 11, 2025, beginning with the Lance Corporal Lawrence St. Laurent breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and followed by a ceremony at 11:00 a.m. in Sanborn Auditorium.