The Halifax Board of Selectmen met in-person on August 10. Fire Chief Jason Viveiros met with the Selectmen to discuss COVID. “Obviously things have not gotten better, they have gotten worse during the last few weeks,” Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said. He further said that the number of cases in Halifax have increased to the levels last seen in April. He said the Board would need to reconsider whether they wanted to review policies related to COVID including the masking policy in town buildings. Selectman Chair Gordon Andrews updated the Board that the schools made a decision to follow the recommendations of DESE, the CDC, and the DPH in requiring rather than mandating masks.
Seelig provided vaccination statistics for Halifax youth saying that for 12–15-year-olds the rate stood at 38 percent and 49 percent for ages 16-19. The rates tended to increase with the age of the residents. “A quarter of the population of Halifax is not vaccinated yet,” Seelig said. Andrews said he was not comfortable making a change to the masking policy at the moment. Viveiros said he was watching different towns that were starting to implement mask mandates. “I think waiting another week or so and reevaluating it is fine,” he said. Viveiros also discussed the possibility of receiving tests from the State to be administered. The Director of the Council on Aging said that as of today they have begun recommending masks as they are meeting in small quarters. She said everyone was very receptive of it and masks were available on site.
Andrews recused himself but the rest of the Board unanimously voted to appoint Chris Carmichael as Alternate Building Inspector for Certificates of Occupancy. The Board also voted to appoint and reappoint the list of election workers through June of 2022.
There was also a continuation of a discussion on the Zoning By-Law Review Committee from a previous meeting. It was agreed that the Board would like to see as part of that Committee, the Building Inspector, a member of the Finance Committee, a member of the Board of Selectmen, and two members at large.
Andrews recused himself from the rescheduling of a new public forum for a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Green Earth Cannabis. Andrews’ father owns land within close proximity to the proposed site. The Board had previously voted in June not to enter into an HCA with the company but agreed to rescind its previous vote and hold a new public forum to avoid litigation against the town. The Board agreed to hold the forum on Monday, August 30 at 7 p.m.
Seelig told the Board there was a petition article submitted by August 10 with more than 100 signatures. The proposed zoning by-law amendment would restrict the number of marijuana dispensaries in town to one. Seelig said the Selectmen could submit it to the Planning Board that night but noted it would still need a public hearing. “It’s doubtful it’s going to be voted on at the Town Meeting on September 8,” Seelig said. The Selectmen voted unanimously to send it onto the Planning Board.
Seelig told the Board that the Council on Aging (COA) was interested in potentially increasing its number of members. Seelig also told the Selectmen that he had received a talent bank form for Ivy Matheny who was interested in working with the Council on Aging and potentially as the Veteran’s Agent.
Town Accountant Sandra Nolan and Recycling Co-ordinator Sue Johnston met with Selectmen to discuss the recycling fee process including abatements. Nolan said that one of the big issues is that they want to ensure that residents are recycling. Nolan said that this year they had at least 12 households who had their recycling fee abated and then tried to use the recycling center halfway through the year. “I think that people don’t understand that that recycling fee is not just for curbside; it also supports the whole functioning of the recycling center,” Nolan said. She continued, “It is really a huge benefit to the townspeople as far as having a place you can go with your old couch.” She called the fee “nominal.” Andrews summarized the conversation saying it would be a $50 recycling bill for FY2022 with a 60-day abatement window.
Library Director Jean Gallant and the Library Trustees had an appointment with the Selectmen in order to vote to fill a vacancy on the Trustee Board. There were two candidates interested. The Library Trustees made a motion to appoint Susan Hill. Both the Selectmen and the Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Hill to fill the remaining vacancy.
Seelig went over some of the articles on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant including one by the Chief of Police to take the town out of civil service. There is another for additional money needed by Silver Lake in the amount of $130,890. Seelig said it was the difference between what was appropriated at Town Meeting and what is needed. The Water Department also needs to put more money in their return line item. Article 17 would remove the buffer between marijuana establishments and liquor pouring establishments. Article 19 is in regard to traffic safety. Seelig said he would need to speak with Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward to find out what exactly the article would and would not cover with respect to things like sidewalks.
Tyler Nordgren met with the Selectmen regarding his application to be appointed to the Historical Commission. Asked by Selectman Ashley DiSesa why he wanted to apply, Nordgren explained, “I like historical sites and I would like to help preserve them as they are important to the community.” Nordgren, who has lived in town since he was 8, said he hasn’t recently attended Town Meeting but plans to attend the next one. The Board voted unanimously to appoint him to a three-year term.
The meeting ended with the official swearing in of Michael Boncariewski as a full-time Police Officer.