After more than an hour of passionate debate, Hingham Town Meeting approved the appropriation of $2.5 million from unassigned fund balance for the design and pre-construction planning of a new Center for Active Living at Bare Cove Park. The measure, presented under Article 15, passed in a standing vote of 420-177, signaling a major step forward for a project that has been discussed for over a decade.

Proponents, including Building Committee Chair Tom Kerry and Council on Aging Chair Joe Neans, argued that the current 5,000-square-foot senior center at Town Hall is woefully inadequate for the town's growing senior population, which now comprises a third of residents. They described the new proposed facility as a necessary, purpose-built center that would serve the community for the next 50 years. "Our time is due," said resident Dick Pont. "The seniors in this town have been overlooked for years."

Opposition to the article was multifaceted. Architect Jerry Celin argued the proposed 28,000-square-foot building was "simply too much," noting it would be nearly double the size of centers in comparable towns like Scituate and Wellesley. He advocated for renovating the existing space at Town Hall. Other residents, including Dr. Susan Kanes and Anita Ryan, raised strong environmental objections to building within Bare Cove Park, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), citing risks to wildlife, forest habitat, and the Back River ecosystem. Judy Sneath questioned the project's affordability in the context of over $100 million in other capital requests facing the town in the coming years.

Motion: To transfer from unassigned fund balance an amount not to exceed $2.5 million for expenses associated with the design, architectural, engineering, and other professional services to complete the design and pre-construction bid documents for a new Center for Active Living at Bare Cove Park Drive.

Vote: Passed 420-177