Summer Residents Head to Court: Sixteen summer property owners have brought suit in the Massachusetts Land Court against the town, seeking to enjoin and restrain enforcement of the recently amended Hull zoning bylaw. The building commissioner, town clerk, selectmen, and others have been named as respondents in the suit, which focuses on a protest of alleged illegality on the format for new business and commercial zones along the Hull Bayfront. The suit, in effect, contends that substantial changes were made in the plan, as presented and approved at a Hull special town meeting last fall after a public hearing, and purports that the changes should have been the subject of another public hearing.
$3 Million Plan for Renewal Project: Hull Redevelopment Authority liaison member David Miller last night presented selectmen with the HRA’s petition to the federal government for a $3 million Project Two phase of Hull urban renewal. The application stipulated $280,000 for a survey and planning grant for the project, which is proposed to extend from the southern border of Project One at Water Street to Washington Boulevard. Highlights include further extension of a four-lane alternate highway parallel to Nantasket Avenue and new parking areas on a section of Shore Drive from Water Street to the boulevard, which would be closed to vehicular traffic with pedestrian walks created from the new apartment area along the beach.
Rebuilding of Pemberton Pier Sought: Selectmen Chairman Fallon and member Richardson voted last night to ask the state Waterways Division to rebuild Pemberton Pier as part of a $300,000 cost-sharing project. Selectman Berman abstained, asking that a written statement of intention first be given by the Waterways Division. “I want a written statement from the attorney general, stipulating what, if any, restrictions the state may place on the project,” said Mr. Berman.
Blanks Gains in Recount: The perennial ballot candidate, Mr. Blanks, was the only beneficiary of the Hull election recount held Saturday, March 20, at the Municipal Building. When the recount ended at about 4 p.m., after 5 ½ hours, the announced results pointed to David E. Berman’s election as selectman by a margin of 27 votes over Simmy Hartstone, instead of 33 votes as shown in the original election results. Berman dropped seven votes and Hartstone one vote, with Blanks picking up eight votes.
Police Sue for Overtime Pay: The Hull Police Relief Association has filed suit in Superior Court, petitioning that selectmen and the police chief be required to grant police officers overtime instead of straight time pay for court appearances as witnesses or prosecutors. The action also requests adjusted vacation schedules to correct what the officers contend is an inequity in the annual vacation, which is based on a five-day week instead of a seven-day week. Commenting on the action last night, Sgt. Kenneth Cowen said it is based on a recent ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court in a Holyoke suit that found that a policeman’s vacation is a full calendar week of seven and not five days.
Youth Commission Established: Selectmen, in two ballots last night, elected six members for the Youth Commission, recently authorized by town meeting. Elected for two-year terms were: Joseph Menice, Daniel Henderson, Edward Resnick, Mrs. Frances Finn, and Cynthia Siegan; Helen Raymond was chosen for a one-year term.
Historical Recreation Up at Fire Station: An 1848 “Indignation Meeting” in Hull and “Town Troubles – 1767” will be dramatized at the Hull Historical Society Hall over the Village Fire Station. The “Indignation Meeting” was called to protest the “alarming number of shipwrecks on the shores of Hull,” which all “too frequently called Hullonians from their beds in the dead of night to save lives and property”; the event will be recreated from newspaper accounts of the day. “Town Troubles – 1767,” written specially for this meeting by Dorothy Damon, formerly of the Herald-Traveler, tells the sad plight the Hull minister who was forced to sue the town to recover back salary, which the town meeting refused to appropriate.
It’s Play Ball for HHS Team: Baseball practice started recently at Hull High School for pitchers and catchers. Ace right hander Jim Lynch and lefty Bob Leahy will lead the mound corps. Veterans Jack Nealson at second base, John Tramontana, shortstop, Bob Vafides, backstop, Billy Tullish, Geore Karas, Kevin Vieira, Boopy Small, and Joe Warren are all returning basemen.
