January 31, 2023 Submitted by the Town of Hingham
With the new year underway, Town Administrator Tom Mayo and the Town of Hingham are reflecting upon the town’s achievements from 2022.
The town made strides in several key areas in 2022, including toward a more sustainable and climate-friendly future, made significant infrastructure improvements and hosted a variety of events and celebrations for residents and town institutions.
“So many of our town departments did significant work last year toward our collective goal of making Hingham a better place to live, work and visit,” Mayo said. “I’m proud of their efforts, which included everything from tangible steps toward addressing climate change to making significant investments in our infrastructure and facilities.”
Capital Investments
- The Town of Hingham either began, completed or secured funding for a variety of key infrastructure projects in 2022. Last year, Hingham:
- Completed repairs and restoration work on the Memorial Bell Tower
- Launched a $1.4 million window replacement project at Lincoln School Apartments
- Completed installation of advanced fiber optic cable connecting all town facilities
- Completed major upgrades to the town’s IT data center
- Secured $8 million in funding for a new town pool
- Gained Town Meeting and voter approval for a new Foster Elementary School and a new public safety facility
- Invested over $3.1 million in capital improvements for the Weir River Water System, including completing over 8,000 linear feet of water main replacement in Hingham and Hull, reducing unaccounted-for water by 2.7 percent so far.
- Implemented new on-street accessible parking space downtown at 6-8 Main St.
- Launched a draft Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan to guide future accessibility improvements
Sustainability
- The town had several sustainability success in 2022, including:
- Contracting for sustainability coordinator services, with funding provided through a state budget earmark
- Completing LED lighting retrofits at Hingham Town Hall and High School, utilizing a $185,000 Green Communities Grant
- Enabling the Hingham Municipal light Plant’s deployment of five electric vehicle charging stations in three municipal lots – the first in town
- The Hingham Police Department’s front-line cruiser fleet is now 100% hybrid, having added seven hybrid cruisers since July 1
Recreation
Hingham’s recreation department offered 200 programs — including 150 child-focused programs — serving over 3,900 participants. Additionally, the town implemented a new field maintenance program that has improved the condition of 68 acres of fields throughout town.
Last year also marked the beginning of construction of a new maintenance building at the South Shore Country Club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022.
Services for Seniors
After delays due to COVID-19, the Hingham Senior Center finally celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 and began a new tradition of hosting quarterly community blood drives. In addition, the town completed an Elder Services Community Needs Assessment that will guide its work with senior residents for years to come.
As part of its wide-ranging work with seniors, the town quadrupled participation in its Senior Means-Tested Property Tax Exemption Program.
Awards, Honors and Celebrations
- Several town employees were recognized with industry honors in 2022, while the town hosted a variety of community events and celebrations.
- Veterans Services hosted events commemorating Peace Officers Memorial Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Battle of Grape Island during the Revolutionary War
- The Recreation Department partnered with the Police and Fire Departments and the Department of Public Works to host the Fourth of July road race and parade
- Hingham Harbormaster Ken Corson Received the Meritorious Public Service Award from the U.S. Coast Guard
- The town received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, for the 26th straight year, from the Government Finance Officers Association
2022 By the Numbers
- 150 animal control calls for service
- 392 library programs
- 566 Harbormaster calls for service
- 3,000+ building permits issued by the Building Department
- 5,000+ building inspections conducted by the Building Department
- 5,037 calls for fire services
- 9,425 registered active borrowers at the library
- 30,111 calls for police services
- 324,857 physical and digital assets — books, magazines, audiobooks, e-books, e-audiobooks and other materials — lent to library patrons