Dear Hingham Residents,
This is a monthly update from my office that I hope will prove helpful for residents to stay informed. To receive this update and other important Town news via email, please subscribe to *Hingham General News and Announcements*. As always, please reach out with questions and feedback.
April is Town Meeting Month!
Annual Town Meeting is Wednesday, April 24th at 7 PM, Hingham High School. Please note the date change due to the Passover holiday observance. And please make every effort to attend. Hingham’s form of government works best when everyone participates. The proposed warrant articles have been posted on the Town Meeting website here.
The last day to register to vote for Town Meeting and the Town Election is Friday, April 12th.
If you are not a registered voter and would like to attend Town Meeting as a guest, please contact the Town Clerk in advance to be added to the Guest List. Guests will be checked in at the main entrance to HHS and escorted to the guest seating section of the meeting.
Tips:
- Arrive early
- Bring your warrant booklet (should arrive in mailboxes the week of April 8th)
- Large print warrant booklets are available
- Bring water and snacks
- Get on HHS wifi (password will be available at check-in)
More Logistical Information from the Town Clerk
Check-in for Town Meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. ahead of the 7 p.m. meeting start time. The Town Clerk will operate two registration tables, one at the High School main entrance and another at the back right entrance.
Parking is available at two High School lots – the front lot and the far lot down Union Street beyond the ball fields. Overflow parking will be available at South Shore Baptist Church at 578 Main Street after the Union Street far lot is full.
Message signs will provide additional information on the day of Town Meeting. Shuttle buses will be running to and from the Baptist Church overflow site from 6 p.m. until 30 minutes after Town Meeting ends.
Accessibility is a priority. Handicapped parking is available in the High School front and back parking lots. The Hingham Center for Active Living is providing transportation to mobility impaired residents. A limited number of large print warrant books will be available on request at registration desks. The Town will provide live closed captioning in the gymnasium and auditorium at this meeting. Accessible seating will be spread out across the gymnasium and auditorium. Finally, accessible restrooms are available in the High School. Please share your accessibility questions with the Commission on Disability, by email, at COD@hingham-ma.gov.
Town Meeting is open to all registered voters in town. Hingham’s Open Town Meeting form of government relies on participation from its registered voters to function. The last day to register to vote in order to participate in this year’s Annual Town Meeting is Friday, April 12, 2024.
If needed, a second night of Town Meeting will be held on the evening of Thursday, April 25 beginning at 7 p.m.
Watch this video for cliff notes version of the Warrant. Thank you to the League of Women Voters and Advisory Committee Chair Nancy MacDonald for creating this video on the 2024 Warrant.
A few important articles to be aware of…
Article 6: FY25 Budgets
Budget presentations can be found on the website. Please reach out with questions.
Articles 28 and 29: Cell Service
Cell service is a major issue in town. There is a proposed zoning article affecting the Town’s ability to work with carriers and improve service:
- Small cell facilities in any zoning district
- Cell towers in the Official & Open Space District – generally, town-owned property hosting buildings, parks, etc.
Article 34: MBTA Communities Multifamily Housing
The intent of this article is to create regulations that would allow multifamily development by-right within in a new overlay district (consisting of approximately 50 acres of land as shown on Assessor Map 36-0-104 (319 Lincoln Street); 36-0-108 (Hewitts Landing); 36-0-160 (111 Fitzroy Drive); 96-0-30, 97-0-2, 97-0-1 (French and Fort Hill Streets); 46-0-17 (The Cove); and 36-0-159 (152 Shipyard Drive), as required by Section 3A of the Zoning Act.
This is an important topic with ramifications if adopted or not. The financial implications through the loss of state funding are significant. Please get engaged and informed.
All Proposed By-Law Amendments are on the Planning Board website.
Please email me at kleinl@hingham-ma.gov with any comments or questions. See you at Town Meeting and save the date, April 27th for local elections!
Best Regards,
Liz Klein
Select Board, Chair