HULL - December 3 - The Hull Select Board heard a comprehensive presentation from Board of Health Director Rachel Gerold on December 3rd about potential changes to the town’s trash and recycling structure, with discussions ranging from using Cohasset’s transfer station to creating a municipal collection system that could require millions of dollars in startup costs and add up to one million dollars annually to the town’s operating budget.
The Full Story
Hull currently operates under a private hauler system where residents contract individually with one of two permitted residential waste companies—Waste Management and Star Waste. According to Gerold, monthly costs for residents range from $48 to $70. Analysis of hauler reports shows between 1,500 and 2,000 of Hull’s approximately 3,500 single-family households utilize curbside pickup, leaving a significant population finding alternative disposal methods including sharing with neighbors, bringing trash to work, or summer residents transporting waste to their primary residences.
Gerold, joined by Board of Health colleague Max and Claire Galkowski from the South Shore Recycling Cooperative via Zoom, outlined several potential options for the town to consider. “Hull has limited options but we do have options and our plan is and our hope is to hold a few public meetings in the new year, hear from town residents to see where we might want to head or what ideas we want to entertain and go from there,” Gerold told the board.
One immediate possibility involves Hull residents utilizing Cohasset’s transfer station. Town Manager Jennifer Constable provided specifics: Cohasset plans to pilot opening their recycling transfer station to 100 non-residents at $300 per year, with residents purchasing their own bags at $2 for small bags and $5 for 30-32 gallon bags. Users would need to transport their own trash and recycling to Cohasset. If successful, Cohasset may expand to an additional 100 non-resident users.
A more comprehensive but costly option would involve Hull creating its own municipal transfer station. Gerold cautioned this would require substantial investment and ongoing expenses. “At the very minimum, with loose numbers, it would be approximately an additional half a million dollars to our current budget, if not a million dollars,” Gerold said. “Our DPW’s operating budget is approximately 1.2, I believe. And it would take, at the minimum, I would think four to five staff members to staff a proper trash and recycling transfer station.”
Select Board member Brian McCarthy noted that previous studies from six or seven years ago found municipal collection to be prohibitively expensive. Gerold acknowledged the challenge: “I think we’re talking about a project that could be, you know, millions to start and then to maintain potentially a million dollars additional to our budget a year.”
The town’s capped landfill property presents another complication. While it offers potential space for a transfer station, Gerard explained the town cannot place structures on the capped landfill, limiting its utility. Additionally, any municipal system would require substantial equipment, staffing, and infrastructure that Hull currently lacks.
Galkowski from the South Shore Recycling Cooperative explained that the cooperative has served its member towns for 27 years, running hazardous waste collection programs, conducting bidding for services, and advising towns on best practices. She emphasized a broader trend: “Towns are moving away from using tax money for trash management. Every town that can, you go to an enterprise fund where it’s fully funded by the users do.” She cited recent examples of Hanover, Cohasset, and Abington all moving toward user-fee funded systems.
On the recycling side, Galkowski addressed concerns about whether materials actually get recycled. “The only constraint to what is recycled is people not putting the right things in,” she explained. The single-stream recycling system accepts bottles, rigid plastic containers of sufficient size, paper, and metal. High-value items like plastics and aluminum help subsidize lower-value materials. However, glass in single-stream systems gets crushed for construction fill rather than recycled into bottles due to contamination. “It would make no sense at all for the recyclers to be paying the towns or crediting the towns for the value of materials if they’re just ending up in the trash,” Galkowski stated.
Gerold stressed that any structural change would require town meeting approval. “Right now, the structure that we have does work for our purposes. Moving forward, if we do change our structure, we just need to be very mindful that that could change the structure of how we utilize or how we service trash and recycling,” she said. The Board of Health plans public meetings in the new year to gather resident input before pursuing any specific option.
The group raised environmental initiatives, noting that Hull has tried composting programs with free starter kits. Gerold confirmed the town continues exploring ways to reduce waste volume, as food waste significantly increases trash tonnage.
In other significant business, the board interviewed James Kaplan for an alternate position on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Kaplan, who serves on the Clean Energy and Climate Action Committee, expressed interest in what he termed creating a “more restrictive, less permissive ZBA.” His comments referenced a recent Zoning By-law Committee meeting where residents discussed difficulty getting variance denials. Board Chair Irwin Nesoff questioned Kaplan about his terminology, and the interview revealed some uncertainty about the ZBA’s proper role. The board postponed voting, as additional applicants will be interviewed at the next meeting.
The board unanimously appointed Milton “Ken” Heckman to the Council on Aging for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028. Heckman, a Hull resident for 10 years who recently retired from a healthcare career, emphasized his interest in bringing South Shore Elder Services programs more locally to Hull. “One of the things I’ve noticed about this town in the time I’ve lived here, and my husband and his family lived here forever, is that people don’t like to leave town,” Heckman said. “So part of my hope would really be to work with the South Shore Elder Services and the Senior Center here to see how can we bring some of those services more locally to serve our aging community.”
The Historical Preservation Committee received Select Board approval, contingent on DCR permission, for an amended Community Preservation Committee grant application totaling $142,543 for Fort Revere improvements. The project includes safety fencing, landscaping, and a new lighting component featuring dusk-to-dawn lighting designed to enhance safety and deter vandalism. Maxine Nash, representing the Historical Preservation Committee, explained the lighting would be no higher than the hilltop edge and would use dark-sky compliant fixtures. “The nighttime lighting would also aid the ongoing police details up at the fort. There are efforts to curb vandalism that’s ongoing,” Nash said.
Select Board member Greg Grey questioned whether the lights would be vandal-proof and whether gates might be installed on fort entrances. Nash confirmed the lights include vandalism protection and that gates are planned for a second phase of improvements. Town Manager Constable stressed the importance of obtaining written DCR permission quickly, as the property includes both town and DCR land, and procurement laws will require at least three quotes, possibly full bidding with prevailing wages.
The board approved three liquor license renewals with modifications. Mehar LLC doing business as Nantasket Liquor received approval for amended hours of 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Preep Corp doing business as Quick Pick received renewal for Wine and Malt with hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Placido and Gaetano Treviso doing business as Nantasket Seafood received Common Victualer renewal with no changes.
Town Manager Constable provided extensive updates on town operations. She thanked DPW, fire, and police departments for another successful Thanksgiving bonfire. She announced Hull Light Plant will test town-wide generators December 9th from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., with expected 10-15 minute power disruptions. Ferry service between Hull and Hingham will be disrupted December 5-15 from 7:40 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dredging, with shuttle bus service available.
A public informational session on Manomet and Samoset roadway improvements will be held December 10th from 7-9 p.m. at the high school exhibition room, with free babysitting provided by the National Honor Society. The winter parking ban is in effect through March 31, 2026 on Nantasket Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Spring Street, and Main Street.
Constable announced Crescent Beach cleanup will begin within the next week, with seasonal workers removing loose items transported off by barge. She emphasized personal items cannot be stored on public beaches and warned residents to remove anything they expect to remain. Items embedded in dune systems will require conservation permits to remove. The beach is located past Gun Rock near Green Hill and is only accessible via stairway, complicating cleanup logistics.
Addressing a safety concern, Constable explained that the lobster trap tree at Mariners Park, now in its third year, added an entrance feature this year without town or Park and Recreation awareness. The town requested the entrance be closed due to liability and safety concerns. “First and foremost is safety. And we, as a town, would be liable, God forbid anything ever happened,” Constable said. She noted that other communities with similar structures require permits and engineering work. Last year, storm winds caused some traps to shift on the tree. Constable met with project organizers and expressed appreciation for their efforts while maintaining the safety priority.
Constable also addressed a public records request denial that was appealed to the Secretary of State. She explained that a Hull Light Plant member’s request was denied for three reasons: two because the requested documents didn’t exist in the form requested (public records must exist; towns need not compile reports or data), and one for proprietary utility reasons. The Secretary of State upheld all three denials after reviewing additional information. “The secretary of state found that the town had made the proper decision on two out of the three matters,” Constable said.
She also addressed disruptive behavior at a recent committee meeting where a resident physically approached board members and took items from them. “It’s just not allowed,” Constable stated. “I ask everyone to be really respectful of the work that boards and committees are doing in terms of just respectful human behavior, especially in this day and age.” She indicated the town will provide public safety monitoring at meetings if necessary.
Jones Park playground has reopened, with benches and tables to be installed in December. The basketball court installation will wait until spring to allow landscaping to establish. Constable will attend a DCR working group meeting December 4th where DCR will present phase two of their parkways climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies.
Select Board members offered updates. Taverna announced the Fill-A-Cruiser toy drive will be held December 8th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the police station, with a collection box available through December 15th. Santa will visit the carousel December 7th from noon to 3 p.m., also collecting unwrapped toys. He praised the Hull Light Plant for scheduling generator testing in early morning hours rather than during business hours as occurred last year.
McCarthy noted Hull Girls Soccer won the state championship following their tournament run discussed at the previous meeting. He reported recent paving work on Sunset Point outer loop and inquired about remaining paving projects. Constable explained that Clifton Avenue received base coat paving using remaining funds from this year’s pavement budget, with final paving scheduled for spring. The location was chosen based on road condition needs and remaining budget capacity. Spring Street was considered but proved more complex than available funding could address.
A resident, Camellia Bloch, thanked the DPW for their extensive but often unrecognized work on the Thanksgiving bonfire, including unloading and stacking pallets before the event and using magnets to collect nails from the property afterward. The board concurred with the recognition.
Why It Matters
Hull residents currently paying between $48 and $70 monthly for private trash collection could see dramatic changes in how they dispose of waste depending on which direction the town pursues. The Cohasset transfer station option would require residents to transport their own trash and pay $300 annually plus bag fees, while a municipal system could add up to $1 million annually to the town’s operating budget, likely funded through user fees rather than general taxation. With only about half of Hull households currently using curbside pickup, any new system must balance accessibility, cost, and long-term sustainability as national waste disposal markets continue to tighten and municipalities increasingly reject out-of-state trash. The planned public meetings will be crucial for residents to voice preferences that will shape Hull’s waste management for years to come.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve minutes of November 5th meeting with amendment striking reference to CPC representative attendance. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (McCarthy abstained). (Timestamp: 04:50)
Motion: Appoint Milton “Ken” Heckman to Council on Aging, three-year term ending June 30, 2028. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 16:36)
Motion: Approve Historical Preservation Committee amended CPC grant application for $142,543 for Fort Revere improvements, contingent on DCR written permission. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 28:33)
Motion: Close tax rate classification hearing. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 59:39)
Motion: Approve Mehar LLC (Nantasket Liquor) license renewal with amended hours: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:00:50)
Motion: Approve Preep Corp (Quick Pick) Wine and Malt license renewal, hours 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:01:43)
Motion: Approve Placido and Gaetano Treviso (Nantasket Seafood) Common Victualer license renewal. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:02:44)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:25:52)
Public Comment
Camellia Bloch of Allerton Ave asked for clarification on Crescent Beach location and inquired about boats left on beaches between Pemberton and the Coast Guard station. She also thanked the DPW for their work on the Thanksgiving bonfire, noting their efforts in preparing the site and cleaning up nails afterward often go unrecognized.
What’s Next
The Board of Health will schedule public meetings in early 2026 to gather resident input on trash and recycling options. The Select Board will interview additional Zoning Board of Appeals applicants at their next meeting before making an appointment decision. Historical Preservation Committee must obtain written DCR permission for Fort Revere improvements grant application. Hull Light Plant will conduct generator testing December 9th from 3-4 a.m. Public meeting on Manomet and Samoset roadway improvements scheduled for December 10th, 7-9 p.m. at high school. Crescent Beach cleanup will begin within one week. Town Manager will report back on DCR parkways climate change assessment following December 4th working group meeting.
Strong analysis of the real costs behind municipal waste management. The tension between $48-70/month private contracts versus a potential $1M annual budget increase really captures how infrastructure decisions force tradeoffs between upfront convenience and long-term municipal capacity. I worked in a town that tried a similar transition and the biggest surprise wasnt the equipment costs but the ongoing staffing needs, especially when you factor in training, benefits, and coverage requirements across different shifts and seasons.