In a wide-ranging interview on the public affairs show "You the People," Hingham Select Board Chair Bill Ramsey detailed several major initiatives facing the town, including infrastructure upgrades to the Weir River Water Company that serves Cohasset and Hull. Ramsey explained that the town is tackling long-standing issues with the water system, which has some pipes dating back to the early 1900s. "The system itself is very old," Ramsey said, noting that pressure fluctuations and breaks are major concerns. He outlined a plan to use new technology to locate and fix faulty valves and implement a "uniform directional flushing program" for hydrants to help clean the pipes and reduce "brown water issues" for residents across all three towns.

The largest capital project on Hingham's horizon is a new Center for Active Living, a proposed 25,900-square-foot facility with a $29 million price tag. Ramsey explained the complex, multi-step approval process, which is currently awaiting state-level sign-off. Because the proposed site at Bare Cove Park involves swapping conservation land, the project requires a two-thirds vote in both the Massachusetts House and Senate. When host Julie Thompson asked why a town initiative required state approval, Ramsey clarified the legal requirements. "Under Massachusetts law, when you you take conservation land, you have to exchange it for other conservation land," he explained. Following legislative approval, the project would still need a two-thirds vote at Hingham's Town Meeting and then majority approval in a town-wide ballot vote for the debt exclusion.

Addressing the financial pressures facing municipalities, Ramsey highlighted his desire to find new revenue streams beyond property taxes. He floated two key ideas: selling surplus, unused town buildings to boost the town's fund balance, and re-introducing the idea of a real estate transfer tax. This tax, paid by the buyer on a percentage of a home's sale price, could fund key priorities like affordable housing or climate initiatives. "The average home in Hingham right now is $1.3 million," Ramsey noted. "That tax money could be a significant boost."

Ramsey also discussed the town's focus on its employees, detailing the work of a new Healthcare Task Force. The group is studying ways to increase the town's contribution to employee healthcare premiums, which currently stands at a 50/50 split—a rate Ramsey called "one of the lowest in the area." Improving benefits, he argued, is critical for attracting and retaining top talent for town and school positions. Looking ahead, he cited future capital needs including school roof replacements and fortifying wharf walls against rising sea levels. "I thank you for the privilege to do this job," Ramsey concluded. "I'm honored to do it."