Hull Select Board Approves Community Events, Discusses Town Improvements

Free barbecue and annual carnival get green light as board members consider waste management solutions and town meeting venue changes

HULL - May 14 - The Hull Select Board unanimously approves two community events aimed at bringing residents together while also discussing potential improvements to town services and facilities.

Jennifer Freedman received approval for a one-day Common Victualler license to host "Rooted in Hull," a free community barbecue event on HRA land. The events will take place on Saturday, June 21, and Saturday, September 6, both from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"The goal is to connect the community by offering free food, live music, some clubs, and basically backyard activity events," Freedman explains. "Cornhole, board games, and we're also going to offer a tent with seating so that it can be an all-age event."

The barbecue will be entirely free to attendees, with costs covered by a local non-profit organization called Can Do (Communities and Neighbors Discovering Overlap), run by Jane Wicks and her husband Jeff.

Freedman anticipates between 80 and 150 people will attend the inaugural event, which will include a temporary fencing area for pets and opportunities for local organizations like Hull Beautification, the Anchor, and the Rotary Club to share information about their activities.

"This is just a free event for the community, and we just want more connection and community. Some maybe different intergenerational help and support, bringing back that like old village type feel," Freedman says.

Board member Jerry Taverna expresses enthusiasm for the proposal, noting, "That sounds exactly like the kind of event that the HRA or a lot of people that are interested in utilizing that space. It sounds exactly like what people want to do and it sounds very nice."

The board also approves the Hull Boosters' request for their annual carnival fundraiser, scheduled for June 18-22 and July 15-19 on HRA property. Both approvals are conditional on final sign-offs from public safety departments and other relevant town offices.

During the meeting, board members discuss several potential improvements to town services and facilities:

Waste Management Solutions

Board member Brian McCarthy brings up the possibility of revisiting the town's approach to trash collection, suggesting a single-hauler system might better serve residents.

"It's brought up a lot and being around town it's a common theme," McCarthy says. "It doesn't matter how we get there or who gets us there, just an end result that people in town will be more happy."

Chair Irwin Nesoff notes that town officials, including the Board of Health, are already exploring options. He mentions that Hull currently has three trash haulers operating in town, with a third recently approved by the Board of Health.

"The real question is for folks whether it would be less expensive for the town to manage it or not. We don't know that," Nesoff says.

Taverna suggests considering a transfer facility model similar to neighboring Hingham's.

"The Hingham model is amazing," Taverna says. "Residents bring their own trash to the dump weekly, they bring their own recyclables, everything's separated at the facility, so you have a true recycling facility."

Taverna notes this approach would eliminate trash trucks from town streets and provide a solution for yard waste disposal, which he identifies as "a big problem" for residents.

Town Meeting Venue Concerns

Taverna also raises concerns about the comfort of seating at town meetings, suggesting the board consider alternative venues.

"I think it's unfair to ask people to sit in those seats. No disrespect but they are backyard birthday party seats," Taverna says. "We have people of all different shapes and sizes, different afflictions, and it's difficult, and the bleachers in addition to that is very difficult to sit on for a long period of time."

He proposes investigating the capacity of other school facilities that might offer more comfortable seating, particularly for elderly residents or those with disabilities.

Other topics discussed during the meeting include:

- Congratulations to the Town Clerk and staff for a successful town meeting

- Recognition of the Hull Beautification Committee's successful cleanup day that attracted over 300 volunteers

- Concerns about building emergency response facilities on flood-prone land

- A suggestion to add public comment periods to Select Board meetings

- The upcoming Firefighters Memorial on Sunday, June 8 at 9 a.m.

Full meeting available via Hull TV.