Hull Town Meeting debates shifting light plant control away from town manager

HULL -- May 6, 2026, Hull Town Meeting sparks another round of debate over municipal light plant governance. Town Meeting took up Article 40, a citizen's petition to restructure oversight of the Hull Municipal Light Plant and direct the Select Board to transmit enabling legislation to the state legislature, the third iteration of an effort that dates to at least 2024. The article's proponent argued Hull ratepayers pay an average of $160 per month, compared to a statewide municipal light plant average of $134 and Hudson Light and Power's $101, and contended the gap stems directly from the town manager's control over the utility. Town Manager disputed the account, saying the charter designates the town manager as light plant manager, that financial records are public and have never been denied, and that engineers, not administrators, determined the Edgewater facility lacked sufficient space for light plant operations. Advisory Board Chair Jason Crady announced the board recommended referral to study, saying "this issue needs further careful deliberation" given its potential impact on both ratepayers and taxpayers.