 By Carol Britton Meyer
A communication/outreach plan is in place to ensure that voters are fully informed prior to the Nov. 1 Special Town Meeting. This effort includes public information sessions, tour dates, details about project costs and associated tax impacts, and the permitting status for the proposed new Foster Elementary School and new public safety facility. There are two separate articles for the two projects and a third related to creating a stabilization fund to help lessen the burden on taxpayers. Two local debt exclusion questions will appear on the Nov. 8 state election ballot regarding the proposed Foster School and public safety facility projects. A debt exclusion is a temporary funding measure that excludes certain debt from counting against the Proposition 2-1/2 limit on year-to-year property tax levy increases. In order to secure the requested funding for both projects, two-thirds of the voters at Town Meeting would have to vote favorably on both warrant articles, while the ballot questions would each have to pass by a majority vote.
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 By Carol Britton Meyer
New Hingham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Margaret Adams presented an "entry plan" to the School Committee recently, focusing on developing an outline of activities to support her transition into this new role. Key points include governance, community, communications, teaching and learning, and culture. The entry plan reflects Adams' core values and beliefs about education, including the "collective responsibility as educators to ensure the success of every single student in our care," among others. This collaborative and collective effort "will ensure the success of all of our students, [whose] sense of belonging is strengthened when we honor and celebrate their diverse backgrounds," according to Adams. The report, including conclusions and recommendations resulting from the interpretation of information gathered during the entry plan process, will be shared with the School Committee next January.  By Carol Britton Meyer
The newly-updated Hingham Hazard Mitigation Plan assesses the potential impacts to the town from flooding, high winds, winter storms, brush fire, geologic hazards, extreme temperatures, drought, and invasive species while also identifying the projected impacts of a warming climate for each risk -- including sea level rise. Goals of the plan -- which involved town officials partnering with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council -- include helping to ensure that critical town infrastructure sites are protected from natural hazards, protecting existing residential and business areas from flooding, and working with surrounding communities to ensure regional cooperation and solutions. "Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters," according to Hingham Deputy Fire Chief Louis Lachance. The Hingham Hazard Mitigation Plan is posted on the town website.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
Current Hingham Public Schools Science Director Kathryn Roberts was recently named interim assistant superintendent. She will be stepping into the role formerly occupied by Asst. Supt. of Schools Jamie LaBillois, who resigned after accepting a position with the Brockton Public Schools as assistant superintendent of student support services. The School Committee approved Roberts' appointment upon the recommendation of the new Supt. of Schools Dr. Margaret Adams. Adams expressed appreciation for Roberts' willingness to serve in this capacity "during this year of transition" and said that she is highly respected among members of the school community. Roberts, who has worked in the Hingham Public Schools for more than 20 years, was hired as a middle school science and math teacher and transitioned to a K-5 science specialist before being asked to serve as the K-12 Science Director.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
If all goes as expected, a Special Town Meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 1, for voters to consider approval of full funding for the construction of a new public safety facility on Lincoln Street and for a new Foster School. Both buildings would be energy-efficient. Town Meeting 2021 and 2022 approved $1.6 million each for the preparation of schematic and design documents for the public safety facility and the preparation of pre-construction bid documents respectively. Town Meeting 2022 approved $3.1 in interim funding to pay costs associated with moving forward with the Foster School proposal. The Foster School project cost is estimated at about $113.3 million, with an expected state reimbursement under the Massachusetts School Building Authority partial reimbursement program of between 36.87 to 40.52 percent, depending on various factors. The construction cost for the public safety facility was last estimated at $38 million, a figure that will be adjusted for inflation and other considerations. The expectation is for the new school to open in Sept. 2024. "This is an aggressive schedule, but we're committed to staying as close to this goal as possible," School Building Committee Vice-Chair Ray Estes said. "The kids and staff have been dealing with Foster's issues for many years, and they have waited long enough."  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
The tagline for the newly-created strategic plan for the Hingham Public Schools is "Hingham together: Navigating our future." "This plan really does signify a moment in time," Interim Supt. of Schools Gary Maestas told the School Committee during a recent presentation. "How do we bring our community together educationally and how do we set the future straight for our students?" The strategic plan is based in part on feedback from stakeholders who participated in a survey that garnered nearly 400 responses and comments and from numerous meetings. The plan's mission is: "Together with students, staff, families and community, we cultivate an equitable, inclusive, innovative learning environment that empowers all students to contribute to their local and global community." School Committee Chair Michelle Ayer called the plan "an excellent road map" for the next three years. The plan is posted on the Hingham Public Schools website.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
If all goes as planned, two more affordable Habitat for Humanity homes will be built in Hingham by Spring 2023. These will be the fourth and fifth Habitat homes in town, including two on Central Street and another on Nokomis Road. Plans are underway to build two affordable Colonial-style single-family homes at 302 and 304 Whiting Street in partnership with SSHH. The Hingham Affordable Housing Trust has played a big role in getting this project up and running. SSHH volunteers will work alongside the individuals or families who are chosen to be the new homeowners, hammering, painting, and performing other tasks. Each adult in the family is required to contribute 250 hours of their time toward building their new home. For those unable to do so, other volunteer opportunities are available, including providing lunches for the workers at the site. "We'll be welcoming volunteers in late summer to help build these two homes," SSHH Executive Director Beth Lyons said recently. "It takes about 500 volunteers to build one house." Habitat houses remain affordable in perpetuity through deed restrictions.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham's Fourth of July celebration usually starts off with fireworks, but this year's display has been postponed until Fall due to the presence of protected wildlife on Button Island, the usual place from which the fireworks are launched. The parade will go on as usual. This year's theme is "History Happens Here," a salute to Hingham's roots and traditions harking back more than 350 years. The Fourth of July holiday will feature the early-morning Hingham Rec Road Race and the Kiwanis/Lions Club pancake breakfast on Hingham Centre Common, culminating in the traditional Fourth of July Parade -- featuring marching bands, colorful floats, antique cars, Hingham's own Uncle Sam, and much more. Thousands of spectators -- many decked out in red, white, and blue and waving American flags -- come from near and far to line the parade route, including former residents who have moved from town who return year after year to enjoy Hingham's Fourth of July celebration. Harbor Media will be providing the community with live coverage of the Hingham 4th of July parade on HD Channels, Comcast 1072, Verizon 2131! The pre-show will feature local community partners and be hosted by Harbor Media's Community Manager, Kaley Gilmore, and Joe Collymore. The pre-show begins at 8:30 and the parade will be making its way down Main St at approximately 10:15 AM. This live feed is brought to you by our community partner AZ Studio. Make sure to visit www.harbormedia.org for updates. For further information, visit hinghamjuly4th.org. Happy Fourth of July!!  By Carol Britton Meyer
The Hingham Food Pantry, which supports more than 160 local families annually, has been fully operational throughout the pandemic. "We did see an earlier increase in the number of families that we serve, although things seem more constant now," Executive Director Susan Kiernan said recently. "We are expecting another increase, however, as prices soar." The National Association of Letter Carriers held its annual food drive recently, with widespread participation among Hingham residents, whose donations benefit the Hingham Food Pantry. Thanks to the NALC drive -- with full participation by Hingham letter carriers -- and several other planned food drives, the Hingham Food Pantry will be well-supplied with many non-perishables. There is still a need for one-pound bags of sugar, two- and five-pound bags of flour, pasta sauce, nuts, dried fruit, and cookies. For more details, check out the Hingham Food Pantry Facebook page.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
Under the draft guidelines for a new multi-family zoning requirement for "MBTA communities" with commuter rail, ferry, bus, or subway services, Hingham would be expected to potentially accommodate up to 1,986 units of this type of housing "as of right" within at least one zoning district designated for that specific purpose. This legislation was enacted as part of the Jan. 2021 economic development bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker as a way to address the state's growing housing crisis. While Hingham and other affected communities wouldn't be required to actually build that many units, they are required to have the potential to do so or risk losing certain state grants. Criteria include a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, with an overall minimum 50-acre size requirement; that the housing is situated not more than one-half mile from a commuter rail, subway, bus station, or ferry terminal; that there be no age restrictions on the housing; and that it be suitable for families with children. Dec. 31, 2024, is the deadline for the adoption by MBTA communities of any required zoning amendments to bring them into compliance with the new law. |
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