Town Manager Rebuffs Light Board's Grant Exit
Other Committee · Meeting of September 24, 2026
Hull's town manager refuses to pull the light plant out of a coastal resiliency grant despite votes against the project by both elected boards. Commissioner Tom Burns pressed the manager to send a withdrawal letter to the state Coastal Zone Management office after the Light Board voted unanimously, and the Select Board 3-2, against a proposed joint Light Plant-DPW garage at 15 Edgewater Road, estimated at $55 million to $65 million with roughly $20 million falling on ratepayers. The manager cited town counsel's opinion that grant applications fall under "means and methods," not Select Board policy, and declined to act.
Resident Polly Rowe urged patience, noting federal funds could cover "upwards of $10 million." The board separately heard that summer peak demand hit 16.6 megawatts, up from 14.6, and approved a new MMWEC-LightShift battery storage program and free Voltpost EV chargers for Surfside, Kenberma and Pemberton. Commissioners Valancourt and Burns were named to a subcommittee to refine the garage's scope of work by October.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,146 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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