Hingham Select Board Advances Pickleball Courts Project

Select Board and School Committee Eye Multiple School Roof Projects in MSBA Funding Bid

HINGHAM - March 11 and 13 - The Hingham Select Board votes to recommend favorable action on the proposed pickleball courts project, while acknowledging the need for continued oversight to address residents' concerns about noise and other impacts.

During their March 11 meeting, the board also addressed a $383,000 budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026 and condemned multiple hate incidents at Hingham High School.

Select Board Chair Joe Fisher, who recused board member Bill Ramsey from the pickleball vote due to a conflict of interest, emphasized the board's responsibility to exercise appropriate oversight of the project.

"Whereas the Select Board has care, custody, and control of the property on which the pickleball courts are intended to be cited, and whereas the Select Board will exercise appropriate oversight responsibilities, I therefore move to recommend favorable action on Article CC," Fisher says.

Fisher notes that while the Recreation Commission has done extensive work to identify an appropriate site for the courts, the Select Board must ensure proper performance standards are met, particularly regarding noise concerns.

"I think the abutters around the pickleball courts deserve the same treatment, no less treatment than what was given to the abutters around the transfer station, which means that the Select Board needs to exercise appropriate control with respect to property that is within our custody and control," Fisher says.

He points out that the orientation of courts significantly affects sound propagation, suggesting the board will examine court placement to minimize noise impact on neighbors.

"If you're playing pickleball and you can actually see a home in your line of sight as you're serving, that location of the pickleball court actually magnifies the sound. If the court is turned parallel to the home, the sound is significantly muted," Fisher explains.

Board member Liz Klein expresses support for the project while acknowledging residents' concerns about financial impact, traffic, parking and noise.

"I do feel comfortable moving forward with this piece of the process, meaning the article will go forward. Advisory Committee will do their work. Their role is to do the due diligence, make a recommendation. Then it will go to town meeting," Klein says.

The board also recommends favorable action on the Community Preservation Committee's recommendation for the pickleball project within Article M.

In financial matters, Assistant Town Administrator of Finance, Michelle Monsegur presents the fourth version of the FY26 forecast, revealing a budget deficit of approximately $383,000.

"Unfortunately, this year, everything went up by 9% overall when we kind of take the most recent bill for our employees and retirees and the plans that they're in and put the new rates in," Monsegur says regarding health insurance costs.

She notes that retiree plans increased by 7% and 8%, while active employee plans rose between 9% and 15% depending on the plan chosen.

"We will likely need to look at asking the Board of Assessors to release some overlay to close this gap in FY26," Monsegur says.

Town Administrator Tom Mayo emphasizes that the 3.5% budget growth limit is working, despite being challenging.

"This was a year that we thought we would be using [the stabilization account]. So again, I've said this several times in our discussions as we go through this process last year and this year, 3.5% is working. It's very difficult to live with that. Very difficult. But it's helping us live within our means, perhaps more than we had in the past," Mayo says.

The town has approximately $800,000 in overlay funds that could be released to address the deficit, as well as $3.5 million in a tax mitigation stabilization fund set aside during the last two town meetings.

The meeting began with a somber statement from the Select Board addressing multiple hate incidents at Hingham High School.

"Since that meeting, there have been three additional incidents in Hingham High School. And unfortunately, we have to read a statement again this evening," Fisher says, referring to a previous incident involving a swastika found in a boys' restroom.

"Tonight, the Hingham Select Board expresses profound disappointment and outrage over the hateful symbols and racist messages discovered at our high school in recent weeks, including today. Racism, white supremacy, and all forms of hatred stand in direct opposition to our community's values. We unequivocally condemn these acts and will not tolerate them," Fisher states.

March 13 - Hingham officials are weighing the option to include roof projects for Plymouth River School and South School alongside the high school in their Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding application.

At a recent joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee, school officials presented plans to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA for multiple school roof projects by March 21.

School Superintendent Katie Roberts stressed the critical nature of the high school roof replacement, saying, "We have one extremely urgent roof, one very urgent roof."

Select Board member Bill Ramsey shared his firsthand experience, "I saw water pouring through places up there. When a roof fails, the entire structure eventually fails."

School officials pointed out that last year, 70 applications were accepted into the accelerated program, a significant increase from the mid-20s in previous years.

If accepted by MSBA, the proposed timeline for the high school project would see construction starting in summer 2028 and finishing in summer 2029.

Select Board Chair Joe Fisher expressed worry about this timeline, stating, "That roof will not survive until 2029."

To address immediate needs, the school department is asking for a $1.2 million Extraordinary Maintenance Account. Director of Business and Support Services Aisha Oppong explained the reasoning: "For our current self-RTU unit, the bids and work happening right now cost about $500,000 for one of the RTUs to be replaced in the cafeteria itself."

Before voting on the warrant articles for the upcoming town meeting, the Select Board has requested more detailed documentation on the estimated $3.3 million cost for schematic designs and feasibility studies.

Fisher emphasized, "I'd prefer to see where this is coming from, rather than just vote on it."

The board plans to review the additional information and vote on the MSBA Statement of Interest at their next meeting on March 18, ahead of the March 21 submission deadline.

Full meeting available via Harbor Media. March 11 and March 13.