2025 Town Meeting Results

Town Meeting Warrant Articles

(See full 2025 Town Meeting Warrant for Comments, Recommendations and Reports)

ARTICLE 1

HANNAH LINCOLN WHITING FUND

Will the Town choose all necessary Town Officers, other than those to be elected by ballot, including the following:

• One member of the Committee to have charge of the income of the Hannah Lincoln Whiting Fund for a term of three years

 or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 2

ASSUME LIABILITY FOR DCR 

Will the Town, in accordance with, and only to the extent permitted by, Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) Chapter 91, Section 29, as amended, assume liability for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the improvement, development, maintenance, and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, harbors, tide waters, foreshores, and shores along a public beach within the Town, in accordance with Section 11 of said Chapter 91, and authorize the Select Board to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity to the Commonwealth assuming such liability, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)  

ARTICLE 3

REPORTS OF VARIOUS TOWN COMMITTEES

To receive the reports, if any, of the following:   Affordable Housing Trust; Audit Committee; Capital Outlay Committee; Climate Action Commission; Commission on Disabilities; Community Preservation Committee; Conservation Commission; Country Club Management Committee; Council on Aging; Energy Action Committee; GAR Hall Trustees; Harbor Development Committee; Historic Districts Commission; Historical Commission; Board of Managers of Lincoln Apartments LLC; Long Range Waste and Recycling Committee; Master Plan Implementation Committee; Memorial Bell Tower Committee; Open Space Acquisition Committee; Public Safety Facility Building Committee; Scholarship Fund Committee; 2017 School Building Committee; Center for Active Living Building Committee; Town Historian; Wastewater Master Planning Committee; Weir River Water System Citizens Advisory Board; and Weir River Water System Transition and Evaluation Committee; or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 4

REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL BOARD

Will the Town accept the report of the Personnel Board appointed under the Classification and Salary Plan, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)  

ARTICLE 5

SALARIES OF CERTAIN TOWN OFFICERS

Will the Town fix the salaries of the following Town Officers: 

      1. Select Board 

      2. Board of Assessors 

      3. Town Clerk 

      4. Municipal Light Board; 

or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 6

BUDGETS

Will the Town raise and appropriate, or transfer from available funds, sums of money to defray the expenses of the Town for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2025, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 7

TRANSFER FROM THE STABILIZATION FUND

Will the Town transfer a sum of money from the Stabilization Fund and/or from available reserves for the purpose of paying debt service for excluded debt in order to reduce the need to raise said funds through the FY26 tax rate, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)  

ARTICLE 8

DISBURSEMENT OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEPARTMENT RECEIPTS

Will the Town appropriate, from the receipts of the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant, money for the maintenance and operation of the Plant for the 12-month period commencing July 1, 2025, pursuant to Sections 57 and 57A of Chapter 164 of the Massachusetts General Laws, and provide for the disposition of any surplus receipts, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)  

ARTICLE 9

BUILDING DEPARTMENT REVOLVING FUND

Will the Town limit the total amount that may be spent from the Building Department Revolving Fund, established under Article 18 of the General By-laws, to $255,000.00 during FY26, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 10

TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE RESERVE FUND

Will the Town raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to the Town’s Reserve Fund for use during FY25 or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 11

DPW VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

Will the Town vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to be expended by the Select Board to be used to purchase vehicles and/or equipment for the Department of Public Works, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 12

TRANSFER OF TAX TITLE SALE PROCEEDS INTO THE CAPITAL STABILIZATION FUND

Will the Town appropriate and/or transfer the net sale proceeds received during Fiscal Year 2025 from the sale of any tax title real property into the "Capital Stabilization Fund", or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board) 

ARTICLE 13

TRANSFER FROM THE CAPITAL PROJECT COST AND DEBT SERVICE STABILIZATION FUND

Will the Town transfer a sum of money from the "Capital Project Cost and Debt Service Stabilization Fund" established under Article 3 of the 2022 Town of Hingham Special Town Meeting to be expended by the Select Board for the purpose of the payment of debt service on outstanding excluded debt bond anticipation notes and/or bonds related to the new elementary school at 55 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA and the new Public Safety Facility at 335 Lincoln Street, Hingham, MA, in order to reduce the need to raise these funds through the FY26 tax rate, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board) 

ARTICLE 14 

CENTER FOR ACTIVE LIVING REVOLVING FUND

Will the Town limit the total amount that may be spent from the Center for Active Living Revolving Fund, established under Article 16 of the General By-laws, to $80,000.00 during FY26, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Council on Aging)

ARTICLE 15

DESIGN, BID DOCUMENTS, AND OPM FUNDS FOR CENTER FOR ACTIVE LIVING

Will the Town raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds an amount  of money to be expended under the direction of the Select Board for expenses associated with design, architectural, engineering, owner's project manager, and other professional services to complete the design and to complete the pre-construction bid documents in order to obtain construction bids for a new Center for Active Living to be located at Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, Massachusetts, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 16

CENTER FOR ACTIVE LIVING: ARTICLE 97 LEGISLATION

Will the Town authorize the Select Board to file a petition with the General Court of Massachusetts in accordance with Article 97 of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, M.G.L. c. 3, § 5A, M.G.L. c. 45, § 7 and all other applicable laws, to allow the Town of Hingham to change the use of approximately six acres of land located on a portion of Assessor Map 77, Lot 1, off Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, MA, for use as a Center for Active Living and uses associated therewith, and to authorize the Select Board to acquire and/or dedicate any replacement land, all on such terms and conditions and in such form as determined by the Select Board, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 17

ACCEPTANCE OF M.G.L. C. 59, § 5, CLAUSE TWENTY-SECOND I: VETERANS’ TAX EXEMPTIONS

Will the Town accept the provisions of M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, clause Twenty­second I (HERO ACT), which allows for certain veterans real estate tax exemptions to be increased annually by an amount equal to the increase in the cost of living in accordance with Consumer Price Index for such year as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 18

SOUTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB: AUTHORIZATION TO BORROWFOR EQUIPMENT AND RENOVATIONS

Will the Town vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds a sum of money for the purchase of equipment and/or for the renovation of the South Shore Country Club facilities, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Country Club Management Committee.)

ARTICLE 19

RECREATION DEPARTMENT REVOLVING FUND

Will the Town vote to amend the General By-laws of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 13, 1939, as heretofore amended, by adding a new Article to said General By­laws as follows:

Article: ____

RECREATION COMMISSION

SECTION 1.  That the Recreation Commission (formerly the Playground Commission) established under Article 27 of the 1947 Town of Hingham Annual Town Meeting and Articles 42 and 43 of the 1958 Town of Hingham Annual Town Meeting shall exercise the powers conferred by M.G.L. c. 45, § 14 and shall be subject to all other applicable general or special laws and by­laws of the Town of Hingham.

SECTION 2.  That in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44, § 53E½, there is hereby established in the Recreation Department a Recreation Department Revolving Fund for the following purposes:

1. For the receipt of all fees, charges, and other receipts from Recreation Department programs or activities.

2. For expenditures to pay the costs and expenses of said Recreation Department programs or activities.

3. For expenditures to pay wages, salaries, and fringe benefits for full-time, part-time and/or seasonal employees (as applicable) of said Recreation Department for performance of their services and for expenditures to pay for equipment and capital improvements, including debt service, associated with said Recreation Department programs or activities.

4. The Recreation Commission shall be authorized to expend from said Revolving Fund for said purposes in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 44, § 53E½. The Recreation Commission shall report all receipts and expenditures of said Revolving Fund to the Select Board at the end of each Fiscal Year.

And further, will the Town vote to establish said Recreation Department Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 in accordance with the above provisions and limit the total amount that may be spent from said Recreation Department Revolving Fund during Fiscal Year 2026.

And further, will the Town vote that any funds remaining in any previously established Revolving Fund for the Recreation Commission and/or Department shall be appropriated and/or transferred and deposited into the fund established hereunder or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 20

RECREATION COMMISSION NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS

Will the Town raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds an amount of money to be expended for the design, bidding, demolition, site preparation, construction, and all other related expenses for new pickleball courts to be located at Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, Massachusetts, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Recreation Commission)

ARTICLE 21

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

Will the Town appropriate, borrow, and/or set aside for future appropriation a sum of money from the available Community Preservation Funds remaining after payment of debt service for bonds and/or notes issued under M.G.L. c. 44B for the following items recommended by the Community Preservation Committee for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025:

1) Appropriate a sum of money in the amount of $40,000 from the Community Preservation General Fund to be used by the Community Preservation Committee for its administrative and operating expenses;

2) Appropriate a sum of money in the amount of $209,179 from the Community Preservation General Fund to be available for expenditure by the Select Board for the payment of bonds or notes borrowed for Community Preservation projects under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 44B, § 11;

3) Appropriate a sum of money in the amount of $700,000 from the Community Preservation General Fund for community housing purposes to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust Opportunity Fund to be used by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust for community housing purposes and that these funds, including, without limitation, any net proceeds received by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust from the sale of any property acquired in whole or in part with said funds or any previous funds appropriated to the Opportunity Fund, shall remain in said Opportunity Fund for future use for said purposes.

4) Appropriate a sum of money in the amount of $600,000 from the Community Preservation General Fund for historic resources purposes to be used by the Hingham Historical Society, Inc. for the Old Ordinary Campus Improvements Project.

5) Appropriate a sum of money in the amount of $758,640 from the Community Preservation General Fund for open space/recreational use purposes to be used by the Town of Hingham Recreation Commission for the Pickleball Courts Project.

6) Appropriate from the Community Preservation General Fund the net sale proceeds received by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust from the sale of 18K Beal’s Cove Road and 21B Beal’s Cove Road, in Hingham, MA, during Fiscal Year 2025, to the extent that the acquisition of said property was made using Community Preservation Funds, to the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust Opportunity Fund to be used by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust for community housing purposes and that these funds , including, without limitation, any net proceeds received by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust from the sale of any property acquired in whole or in part with said funds, shall remain in said Opportunity Fund for future use for said purposes.

or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Community Preservation Committee)

ARTICLE 22

SCHOOL BUS LEASES

Will the Town authorize the School Department to enter into bus leases through the end of FY26 for the procurement of four (4) school buses for regular transportation for a term of greater than three years but less than ten years under M.G.L. c. 30B, § 12, including leases for electric school buses and the installation of infrastructure associated therewith, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 23

SCHOOL BUS LEASE TERMS

Will the Town authorize the School Department to enter into bus leases for regular transportation for a term of greater than three years, but less than ten years, under M.G.L. c. 30B, § 12, including leases for electric school buses and the installation of infrastructure associated therewith, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 24

ACCEPTANCE OF M.G.L. C. 40, § 71:  SCHOOL BUS CAMERAS

Will the Town accept the provisions of M.G.L. c. 40, § 71, for the purpose of authorizing, but not requiring, the Town of Hingham to enforce and fine an operator or owner of a motor vehicle who fails to stop for a school bus when required by law, as identified through a school bus violation detection monitoring system, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Traffic Committee)

ARTICLE 25

TRANSFER HARBOR REVENUES TO MUNICIPAL WATERWAYS IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FUND

Will the Town vote to appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money, which sum was generated from fees paid to the Town of Hingham during FY25, from any parking license for the purpose of accessing slips or moorings, and revenues generated by the Harbormaster’s Office and/or boat excise taxes, for deposit to the Town’s Municipal Waterways Improvement and Maintenance Fund, to be used in accordance with M.G.L. c. 40, § 5G, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 26

REPAIR/RECONSTRUCTION OF TOWN PIER WHARF AND INNER HARBOR STRUCTURES

Will the Town vote to amend the appropriation of $5,650,000.00 previously approved under Article 20 of the Town of Hingham 2021 Annual Town Meeting to expand the purpose for which said appropriation may be expended as follows: Said appropriation may be expended by the Select Board for the repair/reconstruction of the Town Pier Wharf and/or any other inner harbor structures, to address safety issues and sea level rise, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Harbor Development Committee)

ARTICLE 27

TOWN ELECTION VOTING HOURS

Will the Town vote to amend the General By-laws of the Town, adopted March 13, 1939, as heretofore amended, as follows:

By deleting the title of Article 2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

 “TOWN MEETING AND ELECTIONS AND NOTICE THEREOF” 

and by deleting the last sentence of Section 2 of Article 2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following:   

“At any town election held on a Saturday the polls shall be opened at eight o’clock A.M., and remain open until six o’clock P.M., and at any town election held on a day other than Saturday the polls shall be opened at eight o’clock A.M., and remain open until eight o’clock P.M.”, 

or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Town Clerk)

ARTICLE 28

ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to file a petition with the General Court in accordance with Article LXXXIX, Article II, Section 8 (M.G.L.A. Const. Amend. Art. 2, Section 8), of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, as follows:

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF HINGHAM TO UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE METHODS 

FOR PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any other general or special law or town bylaw to the contrary, whenever the Town of Hingham is required by a general or special law or town bylaw to publish a legal notice in a newspaper of general circulation then the Town of Hingham may utilize the alternative means of publishing said legal notice as provided in Section 2 below.

SECTION 2. The Town of Hingham may publish said legal notice on the bulletin board or electronic visual display outside the Town Clerk's office and: (i) in a local newspaper, in either electronic or paper format; or (ii) on the town's website. For the purposes of this section, the term "website" shall mean the official website of the Town of Hingham that is operated and maintained by the town's municipal government.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 29

WATER: TRANSFER OF HINGHAM MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT PARCEL TO WEIR RIVER WATER SYSTEM

Will the Town of Hingham vote to authorize, but not require, pursuant to M. G. L. c. 40,  § 15A and all other applicable laws, the transfer of the care, custody, management and control of the property known as Assessor's Map 64-0-2 (as described in Certificate of Title No. 22301 registered with the Plymouth County Registry District of the Land Court) from the Municipal Light Board to the Select Board acting as the Board of Water Commissioners, upon the vote of said Boards approving said transfer, for the purpose of constructing a pump station as part of the Weir River Water System, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board acting as Board of Water Commissioners)

ARTICLE 30

WEIR RIVER WATER SYSTEM: AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FOR WATER CAPITAL PROJECTS

Will the Town vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, a sum of money to pay for the costs of designing, engineering, constructing, reconstructing, repairing and/or improving the Weir River Water System, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Board of Water Commissioners)

ARTICLE 31

WEIR RIVER WATER SYSTEM:  CELL TOWER LEASE AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Will the Town authorize, but not require, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 40, § 3 and all other applicable laws the Select Board acting as the Board of Water Commissioners to renew and/or enter into a new lease for a portion of the Weir River Water System Treatment Plant site located at 900 Main Street (Assessor Map 158 - 36), Hingham, MA, for the purpose of continuing to locate a cell tower and appurtenances thereto, subject to all applicable zoning and permitting requirements and on such terms and conditions as the Select Board deems in the best interest of the Town, or act on anything relating thereto?  

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 32

HIGH SCHOOL TURF FIELD

Will the Town vote to authorize, but not require, the Hingham School Committee to replace the turf field at Hingham High School at 17 Union Street, Hingham, MA and will the Town raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds a sum of money for said turf field replacement, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 33

SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE CHARGE

Will the Town authorize, but not require, the expansion of the role of the 2017 School Building Committee, or such other committee as may be designated by Town Meeting, to pursue, oversee and execute the replacement of roofs and the update of the heating, ventilation and Air Conditioning System with respect to Hingham High School and the replacement of the roof at Plymouth River Elementary School and South Elementary School pursuant to and in conjunction with Hingham’s invitation into the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Grant Program, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 34

SCHOOL: HIGH SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the 2017 Hingham School Building Committee, or such other committee as may be designated by Town Meeting, for the purpose of paying feasibility study and schematic design costs for a potential roof replacement and heat pump conversion project, at Hingham High School, 17 Union Street, Hingham, MA, which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the Town has applied for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”).  The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the Town to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. 

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 35

SCHOOL: PLYMOUTH RIVER SCHOOL ROOF SCHEMATIC DESIGN

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the 2017 Hingham School Building Committee, or such other committee as may be designated by Town Meeting, for the purpose of paying feasibility study and schematic design costs for a potential roof replacement at Plymouth River School, 200 High Street, Hingham, MA, which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the Town has applied for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).  The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the Town to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. 

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 36

SCHOOL: SOUTH SCHOOL ROOF SCHEMATIC DESIGN

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the 2017 Hingham School Building Committee, or such other committee as may be designated by Town Meeting, for the purpose of paying feasibility study and schematic design costs for a potential roof replacement, at South Elementary School, 831 Main Street, Hingham, MA, which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the Town has applied for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).  The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the Town to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. 

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 37

SCHOOL EXTRAORDINARY CAPITAL REPAIRS

Will the Town vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, a sum of money including the transfer of any remaining funds in the account established under Article 24 of the 2019 Town of Hingham Annual Town Meeting to be expended under the direction of the School Committee for the purpose of funding Roof and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) rooftop unit system Extraordinary Maintenance Capital needs for Hingham High School, Plymouth River Elementary School, and/or South Elementary School, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the School Committee)

ARTICLE 38

DIGITIZATION OF TOWN OF HINGHAM MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS

Will the Town raise and appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the Select Board for the digitization of Town of Hingham municipal government records, or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted by the Select Board)

ARTICLE 39

SPECIALIZED ENERGY CODE

Will the Town vote to amend the General By-laws of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 13, 1939, as heretofore amended, by adding a new Article at the end of said General By-laws to adopt the “Specialized Energy Code” for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, pursuant to the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23, including Appendices RC and CC, and including future editions, amendments or modifications thereto, as follows:

Article ____

SPECIALIZED ENERGY CODE

SECTION 1:  Definitions 

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) - The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is a building energy code created by the International Code Council. It is a model code adopted by many state and municipal governments in the United States for the establishment of minimum design and construction requirements for energy efficiency, and is updated on a three-year cycle. The baseline energy conservation requirements of the MA State Building Code are the IECC with Massachusetts amendments, as approved by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards and published in state regulations as part of 780 CMR. 

Specialized Energy Code - Codified by the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23, including Appendices RC and CC, the Specialized Energy Code is an appendix to the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code, based on further amendments to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the climate impacts of buildings built to this code. 

Stretch Energy Code - Codified by the combination of 225 CMR 22 and 23, not including Appendices RC and CC, the Stretch Energy Code is a comprehensive set of amendments to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) seeking to achieve all lifecycle cost-effective energy efficiency in accordance with the Green Communities Act of 2008, as well as to reduce the climate impacts of buildings built to this code. 

SECTION 2:  Purpose 

The purpose of 225 CMR 22 and 23, including Appendices RC and CC is to provide a more energy efficient and low emissions alternative to the Stretch Energy Code or the base Massachusetts Energy Code, applicable to the relevant sections of the building code for both new construction and existing buildings. 

SECTION 3:  Applicability 

This energy code applies to residential and commercial buildings. 

SECTION 4:  Specialized Energy Code 

The Specialized Energy Code, as codified by the entirety of 225 CMR 22 and 23, including Appendices RC and CC, and including any future editions, amendments, or modifications, is herein incorporated by reference into this By-law. 

SECTION 5:  Enforcement 

The Specialized Energy Code adopted hereunder shall be enforced by the Town of Hingham Building Commissioner.

or act on anything relating thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Climate Action Commission)

ARTICLE 40

CITIZEN PETITION: HOME RULE PETITION: LIQUOR LICENSE TO HINGHAM GAS

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to file a petition with the General Court in accordance with Article LXXXIC, Article II, Section 8 (M.G.L.A. Const. Amend. Art. 2, Section 8), of the Articles of Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, as follows: 

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 17 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, the licensing authority of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts may grant 1 additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not be drunk on the premises under section 15 of said chapter 138 to MERHEJ AND SON, INC. dba HINGHAM GAS, located at 19 Whiting Street in the Town of Hingham. The license shall be subject to all of said chapter 138, except said section 17. 

(b) The licensing authority shall not approve the transfer of a license granted pursuant to this act to any other location, but it may grant the license to a new applicant at the same location if the applicant files with the licensing authority a letter from the department of revenue and al letter from the Department of Unemployment assistance indicating that the license is in good standing with those departments and that all applicable taxes, fees and contributions have been paid. 

(c) If a licensee terminates or fails to renew a license granted under this section or any such license is cancelled, revoked, or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all of the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the licensing authority which may, within 3 years after such return, then grant the license to a new applicant at the same location under the same conditions as specified in this section, otherwise such license shall dissolve. 

(d) The license granted under this act shall be issued within one year after the effective date of this act: provided, however, that if the license is originally granted within that time period, it may be granted to a new applicant under subsections (b) and (c) thereafter. 

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage,

 or act on anything relating thereto. 

(Inserted at the request of registered voter William Brett and others)

ARTICLE 41

AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: UPDATE OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT REGULATIONS

Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, in order to update Section V-K of the Zoning By-Law for consistency with the provisions of Sections 1A and 3A of the Zoning Act as modified by § 8 of Chapter 150 of Acts of 2024 (the Affordable Homes Act) and any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, by replacing Section V-K in its entirety as follows:

V-K       Accessory Dwelling Unit

1. Purpose

The purpose of permitting dwelling units accessory to single-family dwellings is to:

1. Provide accessory dwelling units without significantly adding to the number of buildings in the Town or substantially altering the appearance of the residential property in order to protect the stability, property values and residential character of the surrounding neighborhood.

2. Provide housing units for persons with diverse housing needs including, without limitation, persons with mental and physical disabilities.

100. Enable the Town to monitor accessary dwelling unit construction for code compliance.

2. Definitions

1. An “accessory dwelling unit” is a second self-contained dwelling unit within a single-family dwelling or a detached structure accessory thereto, which second dwelling unit is subordinate in size to the principal dwelling and otherwise complies with the provisions of this Section V-K.

2. A “principal dwelling” for the purposes of this Section V-K is a single-family dwelling exclusive of the area that constitutes the accessory dwelling unit.

100. A single-family dwelling with an accessory dwelling unit shall not be deemed to be a two-family dwelling.

3. Eligibility Requirements

The Building Commissioner may only issue a building permit for an accessory dwelling unit that meets the following minimum eligibility requirements:

1. The area of the lot on which the existing single-family dwelling is located shall not be less than five thousand (5,000) square feet for an accessory dwelling unit within the principal structure or ten thousand (10,000) square feet for an accessory dwelling unit in a detached accessory structure.  In the case of new construction, the area of the lot shall comply with the applicable minimum lot size for the single-family zoning district in which the single-family dwelling is proposed.

2. The application must be accompanied by written confirmation from either (i) the Board of Health that the requirements of the Massachusetts Title 5 septic system regulations and the Hingham Board of Health Supplemental Rules and Regulations for septic systems have been or can be met or (ii) the Sewer Department that there exists available capacity in the applicable sewer district, in either case, to support the total number of bedrooms proposed for the lot inclusive of the accessory dwelling unit.

100. Only one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per lot so that the total number of dwelling units per lot shall not exceed two.

500. In Residence District D and in Business Districts A and B, accessory dwelling units are only permitted in connection with preexisting nonconforming single-family dwellings.

4. Dimensional and Design Requirements Applicable to All Accessory Dwelling Units

An accessory dwelling unit shall meet the following dimensional and design requirements:

1. The architectural character of a single-family dwelling shall be maintained.

2. All stairways accessing an accessory dwelling unit above the ground floor of a single-family dwelling or detached accessory structure shall be enclosed within the exterior walls of the single-family dwelling; provided, however, that the Building Commissioner may permit an unenclosed stairway on the rear of a structure to access an accessory dwelling unit located on the second floor of an existing building.

100. The maximum area of an accessory dwelling unit shall be the lesser of 900 square feet or 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling.  For this calculation, the gross floor area shall be as defined in Section VI of this By-Law.

500. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section III-I,2 of the Zoning By-Law, no accessory dwelling unit shall be created by any extension of a non-conforming building dimension, including the front, side or rear yard setback.

5. Any new entrance for the accessory dwelling unit or principal dwelling shall be located to the side or rear of the single-family dwelling or detached accessory structure.

6. Water and sewer utilities serving the accessory dwelling unit shall not be metered separately from the principal dwelling; provided, however, an accessory dwelling unit with a lawfully existing structure which already maintains separately metered utilities, if the request is accompanied by the written approval of the appropriate utility.

7. Additional or modified landscaping, fences or other buffers may be required to protect abutting properties from potential negative visual or auditory impacts of the accessory dwelling unit.

8. In addition to the minimum required parking spaces for a single-family dwelling, the parking requirement for an accessory dwelling unit is one space, provided however, that no parking space is required for an accessory dwelling unit located within 0.5 miles of a commuter rail station or ferry terminal.

1. An accessory dwelling unit shall not have more than two (2) bedrooms.

5. Additional Requirements Applicable to Accessory Dwelling Units in Detached Accessory Structures

A detached accessory dwelling unit shall meet the following dimensional and design requirements:

1. The detached accessory dwelling unit shall comply with all building dimensions, including the front, side or rear yard setback and height limitations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an accessory dwelling unit may be located within a lawfully existing nonconforming detached accessory structure provided that the accessory dwelling unit is not less than 10’ from a side or rear property line.

2. The detached accessory dwelling unit shall be located a minimum of 10’ from the principal dwelling and (i) to the rear of the principal single-family dwelling or (ii) to the side of the single-family dwelling at a minimum position 10’ further back from the front plane of the single-family dwelling.

6. General Conditions

Any permit issued pursuant to this Section V-K shall be subject to, and shall incorporate the following conditions:

1. Neither the principal dwelling nor the accessory dwelling unit may be sold or otherwise conveyed or transferred separately from the other.

2. The principal dwelling and accessory dwelling unit, if not owner-occupied, shall have a minimum occupancy or rental term of 6 months.

or act on anything related thereto, including such further revisions to the Zoning By-Law as may be reasonably related to the regulation of accessory dwelling units?

(Inserted at the request of the Planning Board)

ARTICLE 42

AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: EXEMPTION FOR LOTS AFFECTED BY TAKING

Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, as follows:

Item 1 By inserting a new subsection “d” to Section III-I.1. as follows:

d.      Structures Affected by Takings – New or intensified dimensional nonconformities resulting from a taking by a governmental body through eminent domain may be continued.

and resequence the existing subsections d. and e. to subsections e. and f. 

Item 2   By adding a new subsection “3” to Section III-I as follows:

3.    Upon the issuance of a Special Permit A1, a building or structure affected by a governmental taking that resulted in a new or intensified nonconformity may be altered, reconstructed, extended or structurally changed, provided that any nonconforming yard and/or height conditions are not extended. 

or act on anything related thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Planning Board)

ARTICLE 43

AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: SIGNAGE REFERENCE CORRECTION 

Will the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, as follows:

Item 1 By replacing the reference to “Section IV-C, 6” under footnote 3 to the Schedule of Signage Regulations Table in Section V-B.3 to “Section IV-C.7” 

Item 2 By replacing the reference to “Section V-B.6 (e)” under footnote 3 to the Schedule of Signage Regulations Table in Section V-B.3 to “Section V-B.10.e”

or act on anything related thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Planning Board)

ARTICLE 44

AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: EXTENSION OR ALTERATION OF NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES

Will the Town amend the Zoning By‐Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, by replacing in the entirety, Section III‐I.1.c with the following: 

 c.   Except as allowed under Section III‐I.2, pre‐existing nonconforming structures or uses may  not be extended, altered or changed except upon the issuance of a Special Permit A1 by the Zoning Board of Appeals which shall include a finding that such change, extension, or alteration will not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing nonconforming structure or use.

or act on anything related thereto?

(Inserted at the request of the Zoning Board of Appeals)

ARTICLE 45

AMEND ZONING BY-LAW: EXPIRATION OF CELL TOWER SPECIAL PERMITS

That the Town amend the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Hingham, adopted March 10, 1941, as heretofore amended, by deleting Section V.E.7.l in its entirety. 

or act on anything related thereto? 

(Inserted by the Zoning Board of Appeals)

ARTICLE 46

GRANTING AND ACCEPTANCE OF EASEMENTS

Will the Town authorize, but not require, the Select Board to grant and to accept grants of easements for streets, water, drainage, sewer and utility purposes or any public purpose on terms and conditions the Board deems in the best interest of the Town, or act on anything relating thereto? 

(Inserted by the Select Board)