Hull Select Board Swears in Two New Police Officers, Approves Community Events
Nicholas Gianibas and Thomas Harrigan join the force after completing police academy training, while board approves alcohol license for Blessing of the Fleet celebration
HULL - June 25 and 26 - The Hull Select Board welcomed two new police officers to the town's force Tuesday evening, swearing in Nicholas Gianibas and Thomas Harrigan after their recent graduation from the police academy.
Town Clerk Lori West administered the oath to both officers, who are first cousins and Hull residents. Police Chief Jack Dunn praised their dedication during the six-month academy training, noting they drove daily to Randolph for classes and studied extensively.
"It's quite a task. It takes about six months, so we're very proud of them," the Chief said. "They're in field training now. It's a perfect time to go into field training in any department. It's the summertime."
Deputy Chief Neil Reilly highlighted the officers' backgrounds, noting that Thomas Harrigan served in the Army as a military police officer and is a college athlete, while both are working on their degrees. Harrigan also previously worked as a desk clerk for the department.
"Both working on their degrees. Tom also worked as a desk clerk. He did a great job with that. They're a nice family, so we're very lucky to have them," Reilly said.
The board also approved a one-day alcohol license for the Nantasket Beach Saltwater Club's Blessing of the Fleet event, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mariners Park.
Steve Richardson, president of the Saltwater Club, explained the event aims to revive a tradition that began in the 1980s. The celebration will include blessings for club members and lobster boats by local priests, along with family-friendly activities.
"The original Blessing of the Fleet was started back, I believe, 1984, 1985. It used to be a big festival in Mariners Park," Richardson said. "We're trying to get to that point again."
The event will feature bouncy houses and water slides within the club, a beer garden in Mariners Park, food trucks, and entertainment at the gazebo. Nicole Lonergan, the club's manager, said they will rope off the beer garden area and require ID checks with wristbands for identification.
Board member Greg Grey made the motion to approve the license with the added requirement of a police detail for safety.
The board addressed multiple committee appointments and reappointments during the meeting. Susan Vermilya was appointed to the Economic Development Committee after serving as an alternate for the past year.
Vermilya, a financial controller with over 20 years of leadership experience, said she wants to implement ideas from the town's 2021 rapid recovery plan and establish regular meeting schedules for the committee.
"One of the things, like the rapid recovery plan of 2021, had a lot of great ideas in there that I think we could implement," Vermilya said. "Really what I'd love to do is get the committee on to a regular schedule and really get some things accomplished."
Christine Cichello and Meryl Johnson were appointed to full member positions on the No Place for Hate Committee. Cicchiello has been attending meetings and helping with events including the Martin Luther King celebration.
Valerio Romano, a land use attorney who recently moved to Hull, was appointed to the Beach Management Advisory Committee. Romano, who previously chaired the Conservation Commission in Cohasset, said he spends significant time at the beach and regularly picks up trash.
"I'm at the beach three times a day, swim, picking up trash," Romano said. "When I clean the beach, it's like brushing my teeth. It just feels good after."
The board approved numerous reappointments to various committees, including members of the War Memorial Commission, Hull Cultural Council, Historic District Commission, and several other municipal boards.
Harbormaster Kurt Bornheim presented a draft shark policy for the town, describing it as the first of its kind for Hull. The policy outlines procedures and chain of command in case of shark incidents or sightings.
"I'm not saying that anything's going on, but I'd rather be proactive than reactive," Bornheim said. "We really had no policy. In case something did happen, chain of command, how it would fall out."
Bornheim noted that Hull has three shark receiver buoys that have been collecting data for five years, showing juvenile sharks typically appear in mid-September before moving on. The policy includes using purple triangular flags with white shark symbols for any necessary beach warnings.
The board also approved a road closure request for the annual Whitehead Avenue block party on Saturday, June 26, 2025, from 5 to 10 p.m. Board members noted this marks approximately the 20th year for the successful neighborhood event.
Other business included:
• Appointing board liaisons to various committees, with Jerry Taverna joining the Economic Development Committee as a voting member
• Discussing the Helen Street parking lot policy, confirming that residents with parking stickers can park there free of charge while non-residents must use the parking app
• Receiving updates on beach management and seaweed removal efforts, with Town Manager Jennifer Constable explaining the town's constraints due to protected plover habitat
• Scheduling a joint meeting with the Waterfront Access Committee and Planning Board for August 13 to review the committee's completed draft recommendations
The meeting concluded with the board entering executive session to discuss litigation strategy related to opioid multi-district litigation.
June 26 - The Hull Select Board has set its sights on key priorities for the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year. At a retreat at the High School on June 26 board members reviewed past achievements and outlined new goals across various areas of town management, focusing on economic growth, transportation, housing, and environmental sustainability.
Top priorities include putting the newly established affordable housing trust into action and securing its funding, assessing the Department of Public Works' operational budget needs, and developing a system to address citizen concerns more effectively.
The board is also considering a town-wide trash collection program and plans to continue working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, particularly on the issue of the abandoned hockey rink.
Other goals on the list include finishing playground renovations, advancing plans for a new police and fire station, and finding a new location for town hall.
Town Manager Jennifer Constable will update the goals document based on the board's discussion and share it with department heads for their input. The board aims to adopt the final plan by early August.
Another topic of discussion was the creation of a citizens' academy to help residents better understand how town government works. Chair Irwin Nesoff proposed a 10-session program covering various aspects of local governance, explaining, "So the idea really is that people understand not only how town government works but where the inputs are for them as well."
While the board agreed to keep this idea on their list of goals, some members asked for more details on how it would be implemented.
In line with their commitment to transparency, the board plans to review and potentially update their publicly available list of responsibilities and commitments.
Full meetings available via Hull TV. June 25 Select Board and June 26 retreat.