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By Carol Britton Meyer
Twelve members of various Hingham boards, committees, and commissions -- and also the Town Moderator -- have terms expiring this year. Depending on how many citizens -- including incumbents -- take out nomination papers for the various positions, it could be an exciting election season. Nomination papers for the Saturday, April 29, Annual Town Election are available in the Town Clerk's Office. Potential candidates are asked to call or email ahead to schedule an appointment. Twelve incumbents have terms expiring in 2023, including: * Town Moderator -- Michael Puzo * Select Board -- William Ramsey * Board of Assessors -- Randall Winters * Board of Health -- Elizabeth Eldredge * Municipal Light Board -- Tyler Herrald * Housing Authority -- Ruth Bennett (This is a Select Board-appointed position so will not be on the ballot.) * School Committee -- Michelle Ayer and Jennifer Benham * Planning Board -- Judith Sneath * Sewer Commission -- Stephen Harold * Recreation Commission -- Vicki Donlan (five-year term) and Matthew LeBretton (who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dwight Hartman, term ending in 2026, until the next town election), so this is a three-year term. Nomination papers are due back in the Town Clerk's Office on or before March 10. The last day to register to vote is April 14. By Carol Britton Meyer
There will be no increase in the water rates for Fiscal 2024, which comes as good news to Weir River Water System customers. The system -- formerly operated by Aquarion Water Company -- transitioned to public ownership by the Town of Hingham in July 2020 and serves Hingham, Hull, and part of Cohasset. In an update to the board of water commissioners (comprised of the Hingham Select Board) Water Superintendent Russell Tierney said WRWS is exploring the possibility of installing a new metering system and adding hybrid/electric vehicles to its fleet; working to enhance the security systems at the water treatment plant and remote locations, such as wells; and continuing its collection efforts on past-due accounts, among other responsibilities. A new metering system would help track unaccounted-for water and monitor violations of watering restrictions. Although he was overall pleased with the way watering restrictions went this year during the severe drought, Tierney explained, "We want to stay on top of how we can better implement water bans" in the future. The overall Weir River Water System's mission is to provide "outstanding service to our customers . . . while continuously supplying the highest-quality water and improving the water system infrastructure," Tierney said.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
The Select Board, in accordance with tradition, voted to maintain a single tax rate for residential and commercial properties during the recent Fiscal 2023 tax classification hearing, as recommended by the board of assessors. The purpose of a classification hearing is to decide whether to shift the tax burden between the property classes. During the joint meeting, Director of Assessing Erin Walsh explained that at this time, shifting the tax rate to a higher one for commercial properties "would place a burden on the commercial base." That's because about 89 percent of the tax base is residential. As an example, based on an estimated tax rate of $10.02, the highest shift would result in commercial properties paying approximately 50 percent more in taxes, while owners of residential parcels would save about 6.48 percent. Board of Assessors Chair Chrissy Roberts said the board had a "very robust discussion, and at the end of the day we didn't see anything compelling to make a change at this point, but we will continue to look at [that option] every year." Statistics show that of the 27 cities and towns in Plymouth County, five have a split tax rate. Overall, property values are on the rise in Hingham, including residential and commercial properties and condominiums. By Carol Britton Meyer
The School Committee recently approved proposals for two new Kids in Action programs -- a Pre-K Spanish immersion offering at Foster School and an elementary strings pilot at South School. The strings pilot will feature an after-school program from January through May 2023, consisting of 45-minute beginner group lessons for about 10 third- and fourth-graders. Three time slots will be offered. Ultimately, the pilot is contingent on finding staff willing to serve as instructors. Kids in Action Director Jackie Sansone and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Joann Bellis will collaborate in this pilot to determine the viability of extending it further next year. The other new offering will feature a partial Spanish immersion program, with a literacy block focusing on English instruction. The remainder of the day will be in Spanish and include math, science, and social studies. Immersion programs are beneficial for students’ cognitive growth and for their English and second language development as well as helping them gain cross-cultural understanding, research indicates. By Carol Britton Meyer
In partnership with The City of Quincy/South Shore MassHire and, the South Shore Workforce Board, Hingham Public Schools plans to implement a "Connecting Activities" initiative during the current school year thanks to a $7,000 Department of Elementary & Secondary Education grant. This partnership will offer career development education activities that support college and career readiness for HPS students, including awareness, exploration, and immersion. A number of different activities have been identified as goals, including a job fair for students; a career exploration event for grades 9-12 -- with speakers providing an overview of their professions, including pathways and the necessary education or training; a Hingham Community Service Day to connect students with local businesses through service opportunities; job readiness skills workshops focusing on problem-solving and interview skills; resume building; learning the importance of attendance and punctuality, motivation and initiative; and good communication. "Connecting Activities" funds may be used for employer outreach and student work readiness and career development.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
The Climate Action Planning Committee provided an update recently to the Select Board on its Climate Action Plan, outlining potential actions at next spring's Annual Town Meeting. The CAPC is focusing on six areas -- natural resources, energy, buildings, community, waste, and transportation, with detailed recommendations included within each category. The goal is for Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant to lead on energy decarbonization as it relates to renewable energy, system upgrades, and reliability and resiliency. Potential items that may be raised at Town Meeting 2023 include potential funding for initiatives identified in the final Climate Action Plan, establishing a citizens group to implement the plan, and establishing limits on new natural gas hook-ups and on new oil heat boilers to encourage electric heat pump transition, among others. The report explains that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 "is a treasure trove to assist Hingham in meeting its Net Zero goals, offering lucrative incentives." The draft plan will be reviewed at a public meeting in January 2023. Continued involvement by the public is key to the plan's success. By Carol Britton Meyer
To avoid confusion, Assistant Town Administrator for Finance Michelle Monsegur recently provided clarification on the local questions related to the proposed new public safety facility and Foster School that will appear on the Nov. 8 state election ballot. Voters will also consider four statewide ballot questions. The local questions will appear on the back of the ballot, and unlike with the statewide ballot questions, the town is required to follow state-prescribed language and is not allowed to place information beside or beneath the questions about what a "yes" and what a "no" vote means. Select Board member Liz Klein explained that the dollar amounts are not allowed to be included in the questions either. As a way of starting to get the word out about these details, Monsegur explained that for both questions, a "yes" vote supports the town borrowing funds and raising taxes to construct the proposed new building, while a "no" vote does not support authorizing the town to borrow funds or raise taxes for that purpose. The town will share more information in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 1 Special Town Meeting, where voters will decide whether to support the proposals -- and also leading up to the Nov. 8 election.  Click here to watch Hingham's Weekly Update By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham citizens wishing to vote in the Nov. 8 state election have a number of different options: vote by mail, vote early in person, absentee vote, or vote in-person on election day. In-person early voting is available at Town Hall from Oct. 22 through Nov. 4. As an option to early voting, all registered voters qualify to vote by mail. All Hingham voters who have not already chosen to receive a vote by mail ballot for the Nov. 8 state election have been sent a vote-by mail application from the Secretary of State’s office. The Town Clerk’s office will process the applications and mail the requested ballots to voters. "Early by-mail voting makes it easier to exercise your fundamental right as an American," Falvey said. "We're asking Hingham citizens to minimize the costs associated with early by-mail voting by returning the ballots they requested!" Falvey noted that more than 1,200 residents asked for and received early mail-in ballots for the September Primary but did not return them. In-person voting for the state election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check the Town Clerk link on the Town of Hingham website for full details and voting locations. By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham voters can cast their ballots at Town Hall for the Nov. 8 state election through the early voting process if they wish to do so rather than vote in-person on Election Day or another option. On June 22, 2022, a Massachusetts election reform law titled “The VOTES Act” was signed into law. Among other things, the VOTES Act makes several of the temporary changes from the 2020 pandemic permanent including Vote by Mail and In-Person Early Voting. Town Clerk Carol Falvey recently announced in-person early voting hours at Hingham Town Hall starting Oct. 22 and continuing through Nov. 4. Check the Town Clerk link on the Town of Hingham website for dates and times for early voting opportunities. Call the Town Clerk’s Office with any questions: (781) 741-1410 or email TownClerk@hingham-ma.gov. Visit www.RegisterToVoteMA.com for voter registration information and the elections link on the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website for further information about early voting, absentee voting, the Nov. 8 election, candidates, and the statewide ballot questions. By Carol Britton Meyer
Voters will make two important decisions at the Nov. 1 Special Town Meeting and at next year's Annual Town Meeting related to a potential $139.6 million debt exclusion to pay for a proposed new Foster School and public safety facility and an anticipated Fiscal 2024 $4.9 million operating override, respectively. A debt exclusion is a temporary funding measure, while an override becomes part of the permanent tax base. The decision of whether to fully fund the two projects through a debt exclusion rests with voters at this Fall's STM and the outcome of a Nov. 8 ballot vote. A tax impact calculator will be available at a later date, which will provide taxpayers with information about how the passage of these two warrant articles would affect their tax bills. "We realize that [approval of these two projects] would represent a significant tax increase, with many approaches to help mitigate the impacts," Town Administrator Tom Mayo said recently. These include potential property tax exemption and relief opportunities for qualifying residents. The next steps include finalizing the permitting for the Foster School and public safety facility projects; continued efforts to cut costs; Select Board and AdCom warrant article votes, and an October "media blitz" to educate residents about the two proposed projects and related information. |
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