Town Administrator Tom Mayo delivered a significant financial win to the Select Board on Tuesday, announcing that Hingham has secured a $1 million state grant to fund the long-planned roundabout at the town center. Mayo credited Town Engineer J.R. Frey for the successful application, noting, J.R. Frey called me today. He did all of that work. The funding arrives as the board begins recalibrating its long-term capital strategy following the recent defeat of major projects at Town Meeting.

The collapse of "Plan A" for the Hingham Center for Active Living (CAL) dominated much of the evening's discussion. While the board reiterated its commitment to the senior population, members acknowledged that the public’s rejection of the $30.6 million construction article requires a complete reset. Select Board member Bill Ramsey noted that the objections centered on two primary factors: location and cost. Plan A didn't work. I thought it was a good location. I thought it was a beautiful design building... But the objections that I heard about were really two: location and costs. I totally get the cost argument, Ramsey said.

Former CAL Building Committee Chair Tom Kerry suggested the town should return to the drawing board—literally—by reviewing all town-owned parcels. I take it that that site's unacceptable. I heard the reasons... I would suggest that this time around we get a map from Tom and the committee sit down and look at every damn piece of land that the town owns, Kerry told the board. Joshua Ross of the Council on Aging emphasized that while the building project failed, the underlying space shortages remain. The issues that were before April 27th are still there, Ross said, suggesting that the town may need to move forward with smaller-scale improvements like reconfiguring the Town Hall driveway for parking. We need more parking to get more people in to do more programming.

Public comment reflected a community grappling with affordability. Resident Lizzy Eldridge highlighted the tax burden on low-income seniors, while Evette Caner criticized misinformation regarding the town's ability to simply purchase private property. When you look at the senior center and the services offered, the person who has that affordability issue, that's who this senior center is for, Caner argued. Other residents, including Ness and Ray O’Neal, expressed concern over how information was presented at Town Meeting, with Ness suggesting a need for better fact-checking to combat misinformation. Resident Diane summarized the tension many feel, noting the conflict between wanting to remain in Hingham and the fear of being taxed out of their homes.

To provide a structured path forward, Chair Liz Klein presented the FY27 Select Board goals, which are built on three pillars: Investing in Community, Financial Stewardship, and Transparent Communication. We put them in kind of three main areas: Invest in the community, financial stewardship, and effective and transparent communication, Klein explained. The goals include the formation of a standing facilities committee to bring professional expertise to long-term planning. Ramsey described this as a way to engage people with professional backgrounds, architects, engineers who would study our facilities and make recommendations for long-term planning.

The board also plans to overhaul the budget timeline to avoid the "fiscal anxiety" seen in recent months. Member Julie Staley suggested moving the capital outlay review earlier in the year. The idea would be to push the capital outlay process earlier in the fall so that committee can really wrap their arms around what exactly is on the list, Staley said. To improve communication, Staley also proposed a weekly video update driven by Town Hall staff to push out that information once a week, setting up the week. Motion Made by B. Ramsey to adopt the FY27 Select Board goals as presented. Motion Passed 3-0-0.

Earlier in the meeting, Harbor Master Ken Corson received authorization to staff up for the upcoming season. Corson clarified that these seasonal roles focus on management rather than law enforcement, which is handled by police officers on overtime. These individuals will be part-time employees for the town working from spring, summer, and into the fall. Their primary duties will be harbor inspections, mooring rentals, and management, Corson said. Motion Made by B. Ramsey to appoint Robert Sullivan, Trevor Steiner, Colin Cleary, Matthew McCloud, Edward Buckley, and Joseph Griffin as part-time assistant harbor masters through 2029. Motion Passed 3-0-0.

The board concluded by filling several committee vacancies. Motion Made by L. Klein to appoint Ted Matthews to the Bare Cove Park Committee through June 30, 2029. Motion Passed 3-0-0. Additionally, the board authorized the reappointment of twelve members to the 4th of July Parade Committee. Motion Made by L. Klein to reappoint the members of the 4th of July Parade Committee for terms ending December 31, 2026. Motion Passed 3-0-0.