April 10, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Voters at the April 24 Annual Town Meeting will consider nearly three dozen warrant articles, ranging from the request for a $7.9 million override (under Article 6) and allowing separate Accessory Dwelling Units on single-family lots to the possible purchase of the 30 Summer St. waterfront property, a proposed townwide ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles, and the establishment of a Hingham Climate Action Commission charged with supporting, overseeing, and “holding to account” the town’s implementation of the Climate Action Plan.
The Advisory Committee report in the warrant explains the proposed override, including the tax impacts, in full detail. Passage of the override is contingent on a positive majority vote at Town Meeting and at the April 29 Town Election as a ballot question.
Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 24, at 7 p.m. at Hingham High School.
Voters will also be asked to decide whether to broaden the purpose of the 2020 Town Meeting appropriation of $525,000 related to the current Senior Center to include possible consideration of a potential alternative site for new construction.
Those dollars were initially earmarked for preliminary design work to expand and renovate the current Senior Center and a related feasibility study.
Community Preservation Committee recommendations for how to use the town’s Community Preservation Act funds include:
- digitization of Hingham Public Library’s Hingham newspapers that are now on microfilm;
- reconstruction of the Cronin Field basketball court;
- a Hingham Recreation Commission feasibility study and design of pickleball courts;
- painting and restoring the former Tree and Park Barn at 8 Short St.;
- rehabilitation of the Girl Scout House on Burr Road.
Other warrant articles relate to amending the current public buildings and public lands naming bylaw; funding for the permitting and design of Inner Harbor coastal structures to address safety issues, sea level rise, and harborside activities; amending the town’s by-laws related to storage of unregistered vehicles; and another article related to electric vehicle charging parking requirements.
Warrants will be mailed to every Hingham household with complete details and the requested funding amount for each article and may also be viewed on the Town of Hingham website.
Voters, who have the final say on all the warrant articles, are encouraged to read the entire warrant — which includes the Advisory Committee’s recommendations for each article — in order to be fully informed prior to attending and voting at Town Meeting.