Hull Town Manager Earns High Marks in First-Year Evaluation
Board Approves Retail Cannabis Agreement with Alternative Compassion Services
HULL - December 4 - Hull's Town Manager, Jennifer Constable, received a positive evaluation for her first year in office, with the Select Board voting to offer a 3% merit increase retroactive to her anniversary date.
The evaluation, conducted through a multi-step process, rated the town manager between "achieved" and "exceeded" expectations in six out of 10 areas assessed.
"This is a very strong evaluation," said chair Irwin Nesoff. "For a first year coming into a very moving and difficult situation, this is a very positive evaluation."
The town manager's overall rating was 4.2 out of 5, with individual characteristics scoring 4.2 and professional skills at 4.0.
In areas such as policy execution, reporting, citizen relations, and fiscal management, the town manager achieved expected standards. Staffing and supervision were also noted as meeting expectations.
The evaluation process included a self-evaluation by the Town Manager, individual meetings with Select Board members, and interviews with a random sampling of department heads.
"I want to thank the board for its support throughout the year," Constable said. "I look forward to the upcoming years working with both board members and the community. I think we've accomplished a lot together over the year plus, and I think we're on a path to continue to do so."
The Select Board Chair noted this was the first time the town had gone through such an exhaustive process in evaluating the Town Manager.
In other business, the Hull Select Board approved a retail cannabis host community agreement with Alternative Compassion Services (ACS), allowing the company to operate as both a marijuana retailer and medical marijuana treatment center at 175 George Washington Boulevard.
The agreement, which follows a template issued by the Cannabis Control Commission, outlines the terms under which ACS will operate within the town.
Key points of the agreement include:
- ACS will operate within the marijuana overlay district.
- The company will pay an annual community impact fee not exceeding 3% of gross sales.
- Impact fees can only cover infrastructure improvements, inspectional services, and public safety costs directly related to the facility.
- ACS must maintain an approved security plan on file with the Hull Police Department.
- The company commits to hiring locally and using local suppliers where possible.
"The Town Manager summarized the HCA the way it's designed now perfectly," said Stephen Werther, representing ACS. "We're already submitted our application for the Planning Board. We're scheduled to be on the Dec. 11 meeting."
ACS held a required community outreach meeting earlier in the week, which was attended by several residents.
The approval of this agreement allows ACS to submit its application to the Cannabis Control Commission for final licensing.
Constable clarified that this agreement, covering both medical and retail cannabis operations, would constitute one of the two allowed host community agreements for retail establishments in Hull.
"The legal opinion is that that would be one, and there would be an additional HCA that could be issued," she explained.
Board members raised questions about the community impact fees, which have been a point of contention in the past. The town manager explained that recent legislative changes now require towns to provide actual documentation for any fees charged.
"Cities and towns are required, they have to provide actual documentation," Werther from ACS added. "It was a problem, and since then, everything's been in upheaval, really."
The select board unanimously approved the host community agreement, authorizing the town manager to sign and advance it to Alternative Compassion Services.