Hingham Select Board Advances “Center for Active Living” to Town Meeting

New Senior Center Project Targets Under $30M Price Tag

HINGHAM - January 13, 2026 - The Hingham Select Board voted unanimously January 13 to place Article P on the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant, officially advancing the proposal for a new Center for Active Living (HCAL) to voters. The Board’s decision follows months of debate over location and cost, with Chair William Ramsey emphasizing that the project must remain under $30 million to win his support.

The Full Story

After years of studies, committee meetings, and community debate, the proposal to build a modern senior center on Bare Cove Park Drive has cleared a major hurdle. The Select Board’s unanimous vote to sponsor the warrant article signals a unified front from town leadership ahead of the April Town Meeting.

Chair William Ramsey, who serves as the liaison to the project, offered a candid explanation of his journey to supporting the current plan. He admitted he was initially “adamant” that the center should remain at Town Hall.

“The only person on the planet that was more adamant than me was [Building Committee Chair] Tom Carey,” Ramsey said. “But ultimately... I was convinced it shouldn’t be here. We cannot make the parking work.” [01:21:36]

Ramsey also addressed the “fragile environment” of construction costs, stating he told project managers, “You have to get this project under 30 [million] or you’re not going to have my support for it.” [01:24:36]

Proponents of the project dominated the public comment period, framing the expense as a necessary investment in the town’s social infrastructure. Nes Correnti, identifying herself as a resident and caregiver, urged the Board to consider the “cost of inaction.”

“When seniors struggle at home—isolated, sedentary, and disconnected—the costs don’t disappear. They shift. They show up in EMS calls, hospitalizations, mental health crisis, [and] caregiver burnout,” Correnti said. [01:07:20]

Don Marsters, a self-described “new retiree,” spoke to the changing demographics of Hingham, noting that baby boomers like himself need a place for “social-emotional well-being” after leaving the corporate world. [01:17:01]

While support was strong, questions about the project’s long-term financial impact remain. Resident Diane DeNapoli cautioned that voters need a “complete picture” of not just construction costs, but the operational costs moving forward.

“I still think if we have a lot of outstanding questions... maybe we wait six months, do it right, spend an extra half a million versus $20 million that we don’t need to spend,” DeNapoli said. [01:11:53]

However, Board member Liz Klein pushed back on the idea of delay, citing the Town’s 2021 Master Plan which identified a new senior center as a top three capital priority alongside the Foster School and Public Safety Building.

“We have no reason backed in data that suggests that we should change course. So I firmly support moving forward with a capital investment in a new center for active living as planned and as promised,” Klein said. [01:27:31]

Why It Matters

For Hingham taxpayers, Article P represents the next major capital debt exclusion question. If approved at Town Meeting and a subsequent ballot vote, it will add to the tax burden already impacted by recent school and public safety projects. For the town’s growing senior population, proponents argue the new center is critical infrastructure that allows residents to age in place with dignity, potentially offsetting other town costs related to emergency services and health crises.

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Official Minutes & Data

Key Motions & Votes

• Motion to Approve Legal Seafoods Change of Hours: To allow opening at 10:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch.

  • Vote: 3-0 [06:05]

• Motion to Appoint Treasurer/Collector as Custodian of Tax Title Properties:

  • Vote: 3-0 [07:46]

• Motion to Submit Select Board Sponsored Warrant Articles (A-N): Includes standard annual articles such as committee reports, revolving funds, and the omnibus budget Article F.

  • Vote: 3-0 [01:02:57]

• Motion to Submit Article P (Center for Active Living) to the 2026 Warrant:

  • Vote: 3-0 [01:28:44]

Departmental Budget Reviews

The Board reviewed FY27 budget requests from several departments. No formal votes were taken on specific dollar amounts during this session, as they are folded into the Article F warrant submission.

• Treasurer/Collector: Requested ~$532,000. Key increases driven by COLA/step raises and rising postage/printing costs.

• Town Clerk/Elections: Elections budget will spike due to three scheduled elections in the coming fiscal year.

• DPW: Superintendent Ashley Sanford presented a budget of ~$5.8 million (up 2.9%), citing contract settlements as the primary driver. The Transfer Station budget is up 4% to ~$2.2 million.

• Conservation: Requesting ~$285,000. Noted increased grounds maintenance costs for Straits Pond, shared with the town of Hull.

Public Comment

• Nes Correnti: Spoke in favor of the Center for Active Living, citing the hidden costs of failing to support seniors.

• Joe Nevins (COA Chair): Urged the Board and public to focus on “value” rather than just “cost.”

• Don Marsters: Spoke in support of the new center as a venue for new retirees.

• Diane DeNapoli: Asked for clarity on operational costs for the new center and questioned the rush if outstanding questions remain.

• Yvette Kanter: Supported the project, stating the building is “fit for purpose” and warned against second-guessing the building committee.

• Jenny Ballou: Expressed strong support, joking that one would have to be “deaf, blind, and whatever” not to want the building.

What’s Next

• Warrant Article Review: The Board will meet again to finalize recommendations on the articles now placed on the warrant.

• Advisory Committee: The budget requests move to the Advisory Committee for detailed review.

• Town Meeting: The 2026 Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for April, where voters will have the final say on the Center for Active Living and the FY27 budget.

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Source Video: Harbor Media