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By Carol Meyer
The Property Assessed Clean Energy Massachusetts program the Select Board recently opted into on a one-time basis will provide Hingham commercial property owners with an opportunity to finance energy improvements through special betterment assessments on their property tax bills, spread over up to 20 years. MassDevelopment administers PACE in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Business owners have the opportunity to apply by detailing the type of energy improvement project they would like to undertake and demonstrating that the energy savings will be greater than the cost. Owners of commercial and industrial buildings, including nonprofits, and owners of multi-family housing with more than five units work with a capital provider, such as a bank or a PACE lender, to finalize the application and to fund the project. PACE applications require Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and MassDevelopment approval to move forward. MassDevelopment works with the host community to bill and collect the assessment, which is then sent to the capital provider as repayment for the financing. Eligible projects include boilers, furnaces, HVAC systems, lighting upgrades, solar panels, insulation, and energy recovery. Retroactive consideration is available for already-installed improvements. "This is an interesting program that is aligned with Hingham's climate goals," Select Board Chair Liz Klein said. By Carol Meyer
Tara Boening was recently chosen as the next principal of South Elementary School from a pool of highly-qualified candidates, effective July 1. She will replace longtime principal Mary Eastwood. Boening, who has served as principal of Liberty Elementary School in Braintree for the past eight years, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for education to her new role. Hingham Public Schools administrators, the School Committee, and South School parents and staff participated in the intensive interview and selection process, with Boening coming out on top. She began her career as a Grade 6 classroom teacher in New York City before transitioning to other education-related roles in Massachusetts, serving as both a teacher and an administrator in various school districts. Expressing her enthusiasm for her new role, Boening stated in an HPS press release, "I am grateful for the opportunity to be the next leader of South School. It was an absolute pleasure getting to meet different members of the South School community during the interview process, and I look forward to connecting with staff and families when I begin on July 1." Eastwood will leave behind a legacy of excellence in education and a deep caring for the South School community, and Boening plans to continue this tradition. By Carol Meyer
Hingham has received nearly $250,000 to date as part of a settlement to resolve opioid litigation brought by states against large pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors from the town's total $1.2 million share. The remaining funds will become available over time. Town officials are in the process of deciding how to best allocate these funds to address substance misuse and related issues in the community. The need in Hingham is real, according to Elizabeth Miller, the town's new social worker and opioid use disorder program coordinator. She delivered the sobering news to the Select Board recently that 279 Hingham residents were evaluated for substance use disorder in South Shore Hospital's emergency department over the past year. The four main categories the settlement money can be used for are prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Part of the Fiscal 2024 plan presented by Miller and approved by the board includes allocating $17,000 for community outreach. She noted that it's important to focus not only on designating funding for treatment but also on prevention and post-treatment and to compile a list of qualified treatment centers and sober houses that provide the best quality care. In recognition of the fact that there is a need for these services in Hingham, Chair Liz Klein said she wants "to meet people where they are and help them access the services they need, using this settlement money in the best way possible." |
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March 2024
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