HULL - September 17 - In a dramatic 4-1 vote that reversed their previous position, the Hull Select Board directed Town Counsel to submit Article 37 as a home rule petition to the Massachusetts legislature, potentially removing the town manager from oversight of the municipal light plant and restoring full authority to the Hull Light Board commissioners.
The Full Story
After months of legal analysis and heated debate, the Hull Select Board voted to advance the citizen-initiated Article 37, which passed at the May 2025 annual town meeting by a margin of 116-83 votes. The article seeks to remove the Town Manager as municipal light plant manager and restore the Hull Municipal Light Board to the statutory responsibilities outlined in Massachusetts General Law Chapter 164.
The vote marked a significant shift from the board's earlier 4-1 opposition to the measure. Select board member Brian McCarthy, who had previously voted against supporting the article, changed his position, stating he would respect the "majority rules" principle despite his personal reservations about the change.
The meeting featured extensive discussion between the select board and light board, with competing legal opinions from town counsel Brian Winner and Light Board attorney Nick Scobo. Winner had previously advised that Article 37 was "not legally sufficient to effectuate a charter change" due to missing legal requirements for special legislation. However, Scobo argued the article represented a clear "rescission of section 14A" of the town charter and was "not that complicated."
Light Board Chair Tom Burns emphasized that the current governance structure creates ambiguity, noting that Chapter 164 requires the manager to present budgets to the light board, while the town charter's Section 14A requires presentation to the select board. "Who answers to whom? How do you reconcile that? Tell me. I don't think you can," Burns told the joint boards.
Select Board member Greg Grey maintained strong opposition, arguing the board lacked sufficient information about the proposed change. "Facts matter to me. Facts matter to everyone throughout town. We still have no idea of what this will affect our citizens with," Grey stated, questioning the absence of a formal transition plan or cost-benefit analysis.
Light Board member Jake Vaillancourt, who initiated the citizen petition, reported that Senator Patrick O'Connor assured him the legislature would accept the petition if it had local support, regardless of imperfect wording. However, Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff noted that both state representatives indicated the petition might not advance past committee due to its failure to explicitly request a charter change.
The evening also featured a lengthy Hull Redevelopment Authority (HRA) board appointment process, where Charles Richardson was selected from seven candidates to fill a vacant seat until the May 2026 election. Richardson, a retired educator with 41 years of experience, was chosen in a joint vote by both boards after extensive interviews.
Earlier in the meeting, the boards approved several routine matters including liquor license transfers, borrowing authorizations for fire department equipment, and received updates on successful grant awards totaling over $106,000 for wastewater treatment plant improvements.
Why It Matters
This decision could fundamentally alter Hull's municipal light plant governance, which has operated under Town Manager oversight since 1993. The change would affect how the light plant's $15+ million annual budget is managed and could impact future rate decisions for Hull's approximately 5,000 electric customers. However, no immediate changes will occur, as the legislature must approve any charter modifications, a process that could take one to two years. The vote demonstrates how citizen petitions can drive significant policy changes even when initially opposed by governing bodies.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Accept meeting minutes from August 20th and September 3rd. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:31)
Motion: Approve liquor license transfer for Nantasket Liquors. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 5:07)
Motion: Approve useful life determination for fire equipment borrowing. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 7:11)
Motion: Endorse wastewater treatment director's grant work. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 16:25)
Motion: Appoint Charles Richardson to HRA vacant seat. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 5-4 joint vote. (Timestamp: 2:01:00)
Motion: Direct town counsel to submit Article 37 as home rule petition. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 4-1 (Grey opposed). (Timestamp: 3:47:54)
Public Comment
Multiple residents spoke in favor of advancing Article 37, emphasizing respect for the democratic process and town meeting vote. Speakers criticized delays as potential obstruction tactics and argued that the 2025 town meeting provided adequate debate and education on the issue.
What's Next
Town counsel will prepare and submit the home rule petition to Hull's legislative delegation. The legislature will review the petition, with committee hearings and potential modifications expected. No changes to light plant operations will occur until/unless the legislature approves the charter amendment. The process could take 1-2 legislative sessions to complete.