HINGHAM - May 19, 2026 - Following the historic town meeting defeat of a proposed $25 million Center for Active Living, the Hingham Select Board held an extensive post-mortem discussion to address escalating municipal costs and to map out a strategy to deliver essential senior services. The board also formally adopted its Fiscal Year 2027 goals, focusing heavily on enhanced financial stewardship, regional utility governance, and the implementation of electronic voting to modernize local legislative participation.
The Full Story
The Hingham Select Board convened for a significant debrief following the annual town meeting, where voters rejected “Plan A” for a new Hingham Center for Active Living (CAL). The proposed facility at Bare Cove Park Drive failed to achieve the necessary support, marking a rare instance where a heavily vetted, major capital request was turned down by Hingham residents.
Select Board member Bill Ramsey opened the discussion, acknowledging that the project’s defeat was rooted primarily in deep-seated objections over its location and overall costs. Ramsey pointed out that the economic climate had shifted dramatically, stating that rising everyday expenses have left residents feeling financially overburdened. Moving forward, Ramsey noted that any future planning must account for upcoming competing liabilities, specifically a looming municipal budget override and substantial capital improvement demands from the school department. He also clarified that any potential pivot toward acquiring an alternative private building would strictly require a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process to maintain municipal equity and transparency.
“[Plan A] didn’t pass, and the objections that I heard about were really two objections: one was the location, and the other one was costs. And I get it... the timing for this project, for reasons beyond a lot of our control, just hit it all together.” — Bill Ramsey at 00:12:07
