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Duxbury Dispatch is coming, Fieldston Farms agreement

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HALIFAX– On Wednesday, June 22, Halifax Selectmen met and finished the bulk of the work in finishing an update to a 23-years-old consent agreement with Scott Clawson and Fieldstone Farms to hold horse shows. The Board also signed a dispatching agreement with Duxbury and heard from Jeffrey Bolger regarding concerns with access to Silver Lake from a Brandeis Circle lot.

Duxbury dispatching

The Board signed an agreement with the Duxbury Regional Emergency Communications Center (D.R.E.C.C.) to contract-out Police and Fire dispatching services for five years.

The Board states that no changes to service will be noticed, other than the lack of a physical human dispatcher sitting in the Halifax Police Station, and that the agreement is contingent upon upgrades to the Police Station.

There are plans to build a “safe-room” at the station, where someone could lock themselves inside, communicate with a remote dispatcher, and take shelter in an emergency until an officer arrives, as no one will be physically in the station at some times during the night with this change

Grant money from the State will be used for these upgrades, as well as to fund necessary technology upgrades, for both Halifax and Duxbury.

According to Selectman Kim Roy, contracting out dispatching to Duxbury will represent significant savings, in the realm of $175,000, each year of the 5-year contract.

The D.R.E.C.C. already handles call-taking and dispatching for the Town of Plympton as well as the Town of Duxbury. Plympton had a very smooth transition to regional dispatch, according to Selectman Tom Millias, who works as the Building Inspector for Plympton.

Clawson agreement hammered out

After months of negotiating, Scott Clawson and Fieldstone Farms will receive much of what they are asking for in a consent agreement painfully hammered out over many meetings. At this meeting, Clawson and his attorney, Phil Taylor, went over a draft agreement paragraph by paragraph.

The changes began when Scott Clawson, proprietor of Fieldstone Farms was originally called before the Selectmen because he had advertised more show dates for his annual “Class A” equestrian event than original agreement allowed.

His horse shows are governed by a 23-year-old consent agreement that came about due to an action by the Building Inspector at that time which was litigated, and a settlement was reached with the town.

The original agreement was signed by Clawson, as well as the Board of Selectmen, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building Inspector. Clawson, through his attorney, asked the board to change the agreement only after he was called before the Board to explain his excess shows.

But, the Board argued with Clawson and his attorney stating that the reason the board has summoned him in the first place was because of the fact that he had advertised too many shows in violation of the agreement. Clawson never was supposed to be there asking for more shows–or anything for that matter, he was there to explain himself for the violation.

In the end though, Clawson will receive more shows (not to exceed 30 days of shows), an increased number of horses (through changing the way that horses are counted; by “entries” not by “head” as one horse could be entered multiple times in a multi-day show), an increase in the number of RVs that could park overnight during shows for security staff, as well as other updates in the language to address today’s concerns. He will also be able, from time to time, to ask for an extra date or two if he gives the Board sufficient notice.

Clawson says he wants to leave the business to his children, and wants to work out an agreement that will cover the Board’s concerns for years to come. The Board plans to sign the agreement at their next meeting on July 12.

Brandeis Circle

Silver Lake concerns

Jeffrey Bolger, of Brandeis Circle, came before the Board to address a pressing concern of his: access to Silver Lake.

With a recent drowning on the lake, residents are concerned about people driving in and parking near the reservoir for recreational purposes.

“I don’t want to be a hypocrite…I own a kayak and I’ve been out on the lake,” said Bolger. But Bolger is concerned with the volume of people parking and using the lake, and parking and leaving litter in his neighborhood, as well as safety issues.

The issue originally arose when a parcel of land (Map 23 Lot 2) was gifted to the Town back in 2007, according to officials. The only problem is that the gifter did not have the title to the property, could not be gifted and today the Town does not own it. This is the area of Brandeis Circle that recreational lake users gather.

Bolger suggested putting up “No Parking” signs along the stretch of road, such that Halifax Police could enforce them.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig stated that he thought this was an excellent idea, especially for its simplicity because there are complex jurisdictional issues at Silver Lake– it lies in four towns but is a reservoir for the City of Brockton, who controls the water.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen next meets Tuesday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Traynor meets Carver pols

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PLYMPTON- Monday, June 19, Plympton Selectmen further discussed Carver “urban redevelopment” plans. They also held a hearing regarding Jeff Randall’s gravel permit, and other businesses.

Traynor takes the lead liaising with Carver politicians

With a development on the Carver/Plympton line moving forward, and Plympton residents to be affected, some even with eminent domain seizure of parts of their properties, newly-elected Selectman John Traynor has taken the lead in liaising with Carver officials.

Traynor told the board that his meeting with Carver Selectman Alan Dunham, Carver Town Administrator Michael Milanoski, and Carver Redevelopment Authority member William Sinclair was productive, albeit chilly in tone at first.

Although no concrete measures were agreed on, according to Traynor the officials were receptive to Plympton’s concerns– to some extent.

Many of the suggestions that Plympton residents have come up with to avoid traffic and eminent domain concerns were shut down entirely– for example using an on/off ramp from Route 44 for traffic– as that would necessarily encroach into Middleboro.

The Board’s strategy at this point is to work cooperatively with Carver officials to minimize the impact of the development on Plympton abutters and neighbors in order to protect their interests. It still isn’t clear what more the Board can do to assist residents at this time.

Gravel Permit hearing, or something else?

Jeff Randall, who has variously proposed building a medical marijuana grow facility and a Chapter 40(B) development on his Ring Road farm, also operates several other businesses from his property, including several cranberry bogs, a gravel removal business and a composting operation whereby horses he boards produce manure that is then mixed with dirt to produce compost.

According to officials, there has been a recent uptick in complaints regarding truck traffic to and from this property. Randall’s gravel permit restricts the amount of truck traffic to a specific time period – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For that permit, which he says he accidently let lapse for several months but that the town offered him a renewal, a particular map was attached. Due to a possible clerical error, it may or may not have been the most recent property plan.

Once this matter was settled, the hearing pivoted to his composting business.

Randall says he does not need to be licensed for his composting business, so his trucks can run at all hours. As a courtesy to his neighbors, he said he was willing to restrict his trucks to operating from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Randall, supposedly there to explain himself to the Board for operating outside the hours of his permit, was explaining the rules to the Selectmen, not the other way around, and Selectman Christine Joy stated she wasn’t sure the Board had the authority to limit Randall’s composting business.

A resident in the audience mumbled, “What are we even talking about?”

Then Joy pivoted again, and stated that the Board was trying to determine whether the farm was actually a farm or a “contractor’s yard.” When asked what a contractor’s yard was, the answer was more in what it was not– an industrial property that isn’t allowed in a residential zone.

It is not apparent why the gravel permit issue, which was listed on the agenda, morphed into a composting issue and finally into whether Jeff Randall is actually engaged in agricultural ventures vs. industrial ones on his property, and what rules, if any, he is expected to follow.

The Board of Health next meets Tuesday, July 5, at 5 p.m.

Plympton BOH “letter” holds up closing on 59 Parsonage Road

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PLYMPTON– According to documents obtained from the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds and Plympton officials, the sale of the vacant property at 59 Parsonage Road from the USDA to Richmond Poole is being held up due to an almost two years-old order placed  by the Board of Health on the title to the property.

In September, 2014, Health Agent Cathy Drinan ordered the USDA Farm Service Agency, a federal lending agency which through default proceedings became the owner of the property, to take certain corrective actions to improve the safety of the property following a barn fire that occurred around that time.

After that fire, the house and surrounding land, including trailers with indications of illegal septic hook-ups were so unsafe that even fire personnel were ordered not to enter, according to documents.

The letter in part stated: “The house and trailers are all uninhabitable. The house doors are open, its chimneys are crumbling, the floors are collapsing, the roof and ceiling are collapsing in the kitchen, the ceilings in other rooms are collapsing, and mold is on all the surfaces…The trailers are in the same condition, if not worse. Animals are using the trailers, evidenced by large amounts [of] animal scat. There are also narrow animal paths through the high vegetation to all the trailers and some burrows in the ground…The trailers have evidence of illegal septic systems, determined by the pipes going into the ground from under the trailers…The open unsafe house and trailers pose serious safety threats and are examples of an attractive nuisance to children. This applies to the burned barn also, that has a lower level that is now barely visible between and under the burned beans. There is a deep hole under those beams.”

Drinan laid out corrective actions that needed to be taken immediately, but were never taken, according to Art Morin, chairman of the Board of Health. The USDA, he says, does not have a good history of working with local officials.

The USDA, which successfully auctioned off the house to Plympton resident Richmond Poole, still cannot close on the property because the Board’s letter constitutes a “cloud” on the title according to a letter from Poole’s attorney to the BOH even though Morin states that the USDA incorrectly advertised the property as having a clear title.

Poole is claiming that he cannot continue work on the property, although his attorney says he has completed six of the eight corrective actions the Board ordered, without a “memorandum of understanding” among himself and the other parties, in which the USDA allows him to continue to work on the property by putting money in escrow, and when completed, the BOH will lift the letter on the title and Poole’s lender can disburse money to him to close on the property.

Notably, from the road, trailers are still visible on the property. Poole claims he has not been authorized by the USDA to remove the trailers from the property until he closes, nor does he have the funding to take the trailers off before he closes.

According to Drinan, and documents obtained from Plympton Health officials, the Board is currently working with Poole and his attorney for draft language of such a memorandum of understanding for consideration. He is also seeking a re-inspection of the property by Drinan, at his own expense, to ensure that everything that needs to be taken care of from the Board of Health’s point-of-view has in fact been taken care of.

Fieldstone Farms co-operation “Disappointing”

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HALIFAX– Two hearings dominated a multi-hour Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, June 14, in Halifax. Scott Clawson, of Fieldstone Farms was there to finish up a consent agreement with the town that has been in the works for months, but instead got verbally excoriated by the Board for the better part of an hour. A representative from the Morse Brothers, Inc. for an earth removal permit also drew a crowd, and that hearing was lengthy as well.

Clawson defends

actions yet again

Scott Clawson, proprietor of Fieldstone Farms, was called before the Board earlier this year for advertising more horse-shows on his property than were allowed in a decades-old consent agreement he has with the town.

At that period in time, the Board chose to verbally admonish him, and then take up his request to modify the old consent agreement to one which would allow him to, amongst other things, hold more horse shows.

He has been represented by an attorney for most of the process.

This week, a 600-gallon unpermitted diesel-fuel tank, used for equipment fuel, was found on Clawson’s property. The Fire Chief issued a cease-and-desist order, but inspections with the state need to now be done to make sure no leakage occurred.

Clawson insisted he didn’t know that he needed a permit for the tank, and that it had been there a very long time. He promised to fix the problem.

The Board was incensed. Selectman Kim Roy appeared beside herself with anger. Fumbling for words, she eventually got out, “This is just very, very disappointing,” and “I’m angry. I really wanted to make this work. I really did…but…you’ve lost me at this point.”

The Board drove home the point that Clawson does not seem to follow rules ahead of time, only after he has been caught breaking them does he follow up and fix problems. The Board has a long history with him and this type of behavior, they say.

Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron, who repeatedly attempted to move the conversation along but was interrupted by his fellow selectmen, eventually stated that he, “doesn’t get angry,” but looked Clawson in the eye and said, “I don’t trust you.”

These were strong words for Garron, the longest serving member of the Board, who is known for choosing his words carefully.

“Not everyone’s perfect,” replied Clawson, later.

Not surprisingly, Clawson’s consent agreement was tabled for another day (June 22), but not before he had angered one of his neighbors so much that he stormed out of the room, and visibly irritating all members of the Board of Selectmen.

Earth Removal permit for Morse Brothers, Inc.

A representative from GAF engineering, Bill Madden, came before selectmen to present a proposed earth removal permit to the Board and to the public. The permit is being sought by the Morse Brothers, Inc. for their cranberry operation to the west of the West Monponsett pond.

The cranberry growers claim that in order to produce a greater yield, more air circulation is needed around their bogs, and that a particular hill also blocks morning sunlight on a particular area of bogs, which is necessary to remove dew and prevent rot, said Madden.

To mitigate this issue, Morse Brothers, Inc. would like to remove 41,600 cubic yards of earth from a hill in the center of the bogs.

This would result in 1,660 round (truck) trips from the bog at the end of Lingan Street 7/10 of a mile to Route 58.

But, the representative did not know where the dirt was going, although they have a contractor in mind. Without that knowledge, the town and Morse Brothers, Inc. cannot calculate a mutually agreeable limit on how many truck trips could be capped a day to minimize detrimental effects to neighbors.

Several abutters noted that Morse Brother’s, Inc. have been good neighbors in the past, so concerns were mostly of a practical nature.

But, they were concerned about the narrow nature of Lingan Street, vibrations that could damage their foundations or that of the street, and the sheer number of truck trips proposed, especially concerning those with young children.

Others wanted to make sure that there would be no effect on Monponsett Lake.

The hearing was continued until July 12, when more information can be presented and questions answered.

Upcoming dates:

• The Board of Selectmen will next meet on Wednesday June 22, at 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

Eminent Domain one vote closer: Carver’s “Urban Redevelopment” plans could take some Plympton back yards

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, June 13, Selectmen held an at times emotional meeting where many residents expressed further concerns regarding Carver’s “Urban Redevelopment” plans.

“Urban Redevelopment” appears to move ahead

At a meeting held in Carver the week before, without public comment, according to a video record of the meeting, the Carver Redevelopment Authority voted to move another step forward with its “urban redevelopment” plans, sparking renewed outrage from the public.

The project, affecting North Carver and Plympton abutters along the Plympton/Carver line in the area of Montello Street and Heather’s Path, near Route 44, would see a mixed-use development and even has plans for a hotel in the industrially zoned area.

To date, the plans appear to be preliminary at best, where the hotel is shown on a river that doesn’t exist, or there is no hotel at all on various iterations of the plans. Several residents from Carver or who are landowners in Carver but have Plympton addresses have had their properties threatened to be taken by eminent domain for the commercial development.

This had Plympton residents back before the Board Monday, begging them to do something. Despite the apparent unanimity of the Selectmen against the project, the Board has little authority to do anything but attempt to negotiate with Carver to mitigate the impact of the development on Plympton residents, which they vow to do.

“They said they are going to ‘move’ my well. Where to? My front yard is septic,” said Melissa Singletary, whose property may be one of the most affected if the project were to move forward. “They are going to take my whole back yard…I’m going to have to walk away from that house.”

The Board has said that they are going to meet with Carver selectmen to discuss the project, and as well look into asking Carver to mitigate the project so that it doesn’t become a cost to Plympton tax-payers– through traffic calming measures, or signage, or whatever they can come up with.

When asked if traffic mitigation would really solve the problem, Selectman Christine Joy said she didn’t know, but that they are going to try to work something out with Carver to help the affected Plympton residents.

(Lack of) Town House Security

Officials have given out too many keys to Town House, and the time to change the locks is here, say Selectmen.

The practice of giving out keys to whole committees or casually copying keys is now a relic of the past as security concerns over Town House are prompting the re-issuing of keys. No specific incident was mentioned, just a generally “loose” policy on who has keys.

In the future, only those who work in the building or chair a committee will be given keys that will be expected to be turned in at the end of a chair’s tenure on a committee or an employee’s work with the town.

The idea of a more modern card reader, such as one found at hotels, or an RFID card reader that one might find in a workplace, was floated. Dale Pleau, Town Coordinator, will look into the expense of such a system.

The advantage of such a system would be that keys could easily be deactivated without an employee or chairperson having to physically turn in the key, and that access can be logged on a computer.

The Board of Selectmen will next meet on Monday, June 20, at 6 p.m., Town House.

Halifax regional dispatch proposed

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Last week, June 1, Halifax Selectmen held an energetic hearing on remote dispatching for the Police and Fire Departments from the dispatch center in Duxbury, which handles Police and Fire emergency calls for both Duxbury and Plympton, and wishes to expand.

According to Selectman Kim Roy, contracting out dispatching to Duxbury would represent significant savings, in the realm of $175,000, if the talks proceed for the 5-year contract. She also noted that the state is encouraging towns to regionalize with grants and that the end “product” would be the same or even better.

Plympton had a very smooth transition to regional dispatch, according to Selectman Tom Millias, who works as the Building Inspector in Plympton. “It has been outstandingly run well,” he said according to the Police and Fire Chiefs in that town.

Some residents were concerned about the police station “going dark” because the dispatcher is at times the only person at the station in the evening when officers are patrolling, although there are very few walk-in emergencies a year, according to Police Chief Edward Broderick, and even then a dispatcher “following the rules” cannot let someone into the station past the lobby until an officer arrives.

There are plans to build a “safe-room” at the station, where someone could lock themselves inside, communicate with a remote dispatcher, and take shelter in an emergency until an officer arrives, said Chief Broderick, in the rare event someone needs refuge.

Broderick noted that might be safer than the current situation, where the lobby door is unlocked.

Another concern expressed is that dispatchers at a regional center might not be familiar with roads or landmarks in Halifax. Yet, already two Halifax dispatchers have been hired by Duxbury and if Halifax joins, there is a possibility that they might hire others. Roy also noted that when Halifax hires a new dispatcher, they have to learn the streets, too.

“If there’s a place for obscure streets, it’s Plympton,” said Millias to much laughter, referencing the smooth transition Plympton had to dispatching from Duxbury’s center. “I have trouble finding streets in Plympton.”

Both Roy and Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron stated that the board was obligated to look at this proposal because taxpayers are demanding efficiencies, and selectmen serve at the will of the townspeople.

The high-tech facility located on Tremont Street, in South Duxbury, is able to not only take 911 calls and dispatch the appropriate personnel and assets, but monitor their status in real-time. Video feeds from the schools and other town surveillance cameras allow them to give very specific details about an emergency to first-responders. Cameras from Plympton will be coming online shortly, and Halifax is demanding them upfront in their negotiations, according to Duxbury officials.

Selectmen have made it clear many times that they have not made up their minds yet on the issue, and that this is not a “done-deal”. They say they are working with the departments, not “looking down on them” and imposing a change.

“There is no good reason to do this if it is not something that the Police Department and the Fire Department are comfortable with,” said Roy. “There is no way we would give you a service that would harm you or your family.”

Kayaker’s body recovered Sunday

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HALIFAX– A man who drowned while boating at Silver Lake Friday, June 3, has been recovered and identified. Shi Hu, 28, of Boston, was found in the water shortly after noon, Sunday, June 5, by State Police divers, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Local officials said that  at approximately 1:23 p.m., Friday, June 3, the Halifax Fire Department and the Halifax Police Department responded to a report that an individual had fallen into the water and was struggling offshore from the Brockton-owned water treatment facility located on Route 36, situated on Silver Lake straddling the Halifax/Pembroke line.

There were multiple witnesses to the incident, both from the water and shore, saying they believed the victim was fishing with a friend, according to officials. The friend was in a canoe, and the victim was in a kayak, which then overturned.

The friend attempted to reach the victim before he went underwater, but was unable to reach him in time. An investigation into how the drowning exactly occurred is ongoing. The victim was not believed to be wearing a life preserver, multiple sources say.

During the initial response, employees at the water treatment facility assisted firefighters by shuttling them on a facilities boat to the last known position of the victim. That initial search was not successful, at which time Halifax officials called for assistance from the State Police, Environmental Police and the Plymouth County Technical Response Team (Dive Unit).

More than a dozen Plymouth County communities responded, and scores of rescuers from local and state agencies were quickly on scene with specialized equipment, coordinated by Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros.

Rescuers suspended the search on Friday evening, after a herculean effort to locate the missing boater with no success. By Saturday morning, the search and rescue mission had grimly turned into a recovery operation.

The State brought in a mobile command post and other assets to assist with the recovery efforts. Personnel from as far away as Rhode Island were seen and a staging area for divers was bustling with activity as firefighters, police, and others supported the efforts of divers in the lake from shore.

Advanced “side-scan” sonar was used to scour the lake bottom, along with cameras and other technologies, which had very low visibility, say sources. Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) uses sound waves to find and identify objects in the water. Side-scan sonar is a specialized system for detecting objects at the bottom of a body of water.

At around 11 a.m., Saturday, about a half-dozen family members of the victim arrived, and appeared to speak with various officials, who sources say updated them on the recovery efforts. They could be seen, visibly distraught, under a tent set up on a lawn near the mobile command post.

Local firefighters and police were seen comforting them and providing them with water and other amenities. The family members left after about two hours. Members of the press were politely asked to keep their distance, which they did, although distraught crying could be heard from hundreds of feet away.

On Sunday, the decedent was finally recovered, under gray skies and a light rain. Although State Police say they actually made the recovery, they did note that it was a “cooperative mission.” Within a couple of hours, almost everyone had left, leaving behind just a handful of law enforcement and fire officials.

Officials say they do not yet know how the man gained access to the lake (and if so, if it was via the treatment facility), although Halifax Police Chief Edward Broderick mentioned that Silver Lake is a popular fishing area, where fishing may be, “Tolerated…”, but, “not encouraged.”

Use of the lake is restricted because it is a component of the City of Brockton water supply. “No Trespassing” signs are widely visible around Silver Lake. Motor boats and swimming are strictly prohibited, but other restrictions Brockton puts on the lake were not specifically known.  Broderick could not say if the man was trespassing on the lake at the time of the incident.

The Plymouth County Tactical Response Unit, thanked all of the responding agencies. In a statement late Sunday evening, Chief Broderick on behalf of the Town of Halifax said, “Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of [the victim of] this tragedy.”

‘Traffic calming’considered: Plympton BOS bracing for Carver “redevelopment”; Memorial Day is not forgotten

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, June 6, the Plympton Board of Selectmen met and discussed just a few issues. Town Counsel Ilana Quirk was present to answer questions that the board had about a proposed “redevelopment” plan on the Plympton/Carver line that has concerned some Plympton residents who may abut the proposed industrial park. The board also approved a modified Memorial Day ceremony to be held on June 14, Flag Day.

Carver

“Redevelopment”

concerns heard

The board asked Town Counsel Ilana Quirk to come and speak with them about ideas she has for residents who are concerned about a proposed industrial park in Carver that if built, may negatively affect some Plympton residents and their property.

Although Carver’s plans are in the preliminary stages, they have mentioned taking land by eminent domain, and several Plympton residents near the proposed development have Plympton addresses but portions of their property lie in Carver.

Although eminent domain seems to be the topic that has upset Plympton residents the most, residents of Montello Street and Heather’s Path are also concerned about increased traffic that any development might cause in their area, and this was the focus of Town Counsel’s advice.

Quirk offered a variety of ideas. She focused on “traffic calming” measures that Plympton could unilaterally impose on streets under their jurisdiction, and possibly ask for Carver’s cooperation. This might be a speed bump, or simply in the way an intersection is designed, maybe a narrowing of the road, in order to send a message to drivers to slow down.

Physical barriers are illegal, according to Quirk– at least in the sense of blocking off traffic from one community to the other.

Signage could be used, she said in response to a question posed by Selectman John Traynor. Signs like “No Trucks” might be used to discourage traffic through Plympton, although Quirk noted that it then becomes an issue of enforcement.

Quirk also suggested that the state Department of Transportation, who has jurisdiction over Route 58, could be asked to consider putting in a light at the intersection of Montello Street and Route 58, although this is in Carver.

The board agreed that it was time to bring Highway Surveyor Jim Mulcahy before them to ask his advice on exactly who has jurisdiction over the roads in the area and any other ideas he may have.

Modified

Memorial Day

Due to safety concerns, Memorial Day ceremonies in Plympton were cancelled. That hasn’t stopped the Memorial Day committee from quickly coming up with a new plan to honor veterans and service members.

Selectmen approved that plan to hold a ceremony on Tuesday, June 14, Flag Day, at 6:30 p.m. on the Town Green. Although there will be no parade, a variety of activities have been scheduled, according to the committee.

There will be a reading of the names of Plympton’s fallen soldiers and veterans, pinning of Vietnam Veterans, essay readings of “What Memorial Day Means to Me” by Dennet School students, as well as recitations of “Flanders Fields” and “The Gettysburg Address”.

Participants are

still welcome

To participate, contact the Selectmen’s Assistant, Briggette Martins at Town House by phone at 781-585-2700 or by email at [email protected]

Zika virus – what you need to know

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Express Correspondent

HALIFAX/PLYMPTON– State and local officials are warning Massachusetts residents about the Zika virus. The virus, making headlines nationally, is making its way north from South and Central America into US territories such as Puerto Rico and onto the US mainland in states such as New Jersey, Texas and Florida.

Zika is usually spread by certain types of mosquitoes. It is extremely unlikely that anyone could become infected with Zika from a mosquito bite in Massachusetts because the kinds of mosquitoes that are known to carry Zika are not found here, say officials. But travelers to zika-ridden parts of the world are warned.

At this time, only people traveling to places with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks or engaging in sexual activity with someone who has traveled to these places are at risk for getting the infection. If you or your partner is planning to travel, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends you check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices for information about where the Zika virus is occurring.

Most people– nearly 80%– who are exposed to Zika will not get sick. Those who do get sick may experience symptoms several days after infection that may include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Occasional immune system issues have occurred, rarely.

Although Zika virus is usually spread by mosquito, the virus can also be spread from a man to his partner during unprotected sexual contact and from a pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth.

Until more is known, pregnant women and couples trying to become pregnant should postpone travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing, according to the federal and state officials. Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider first and take great care to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Further travel advice for pregnant women is available at this CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zika-pregnancytravel.pdf.

If you are trying to become pregnant and have potentially been exposed to Zika through travel or sexual activity, the CDC has provided suggested time periods to wait before trying to become pregnant, generally 8 or more weeks after exposure.  You should consult with your healthcare provider for more information.

Recently, there is also concern that Zika could be transmitted through blood transfusions from an infected donor, as well as breast milk, urine and saliva but transmission potential from these sources is still being investigated.

Although Zika virus has been known to cause infection in people in Africa and Asia since the 1950’s, outbreaks of Zika infection have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands only more recently. During 2015, Zika virus was found in South America for the first time. Since then, it has spread to many countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean and some of the Pacific Islands, resulting in a very large outbreak of public health concern.

Plympton Police, Fire Depts. call numbers for 2015

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PLYMPTON– The recently released annual town report from Plympton shows some interesting figures, which indicate that both Police and Fire Departments were busy in calendar year 2015.

The Plympton Police Department, led by Chief Patrick Dillon, reported an overall total of 1,145 violations, 51 motor vehicle accidents (leading to three fatalities), 172 records requests filled, and 35 firearm licenses issued.

Of the 1,145 violations, 30 people were arrested, while 107 received criminal citations ordering them to appear in court. 133 criminal cases were successfully closed and prosecuted, the document indicates.

171 citations for civil infractions were issued, as well.

The rest of the violations resulted in either verbal (370) or written (471) warnings.

Police report that they handled a wide variety of crimes, from personal to property incidents although the most serious crimes occurred in very small numbers– generally one or two for the year. But there are large numbers of motor vehicle infractions– which is consistent with Chief Dillon’s statements over time that the Plympton Police focus heavily on motor vehicle infractions.

Dillon also has a word to the wise: wear your seatbelt; it can save your life. Despite the fact that not wearing your seatbelt is not a primary violation– an officer cannot initiate a stop because you don’t have your seatbelt on, but you can be cited if you’re stopped for something else– the Plympton Police are cracking down this year on those who don’t buckle-up.

In 2015, they reported only seven citations for seatbelt violations. As of this week, they’ve already issued 22, more than tripling the total number from last year in the first five months of this year.

“It’s a point of pride for certain officers.  People will hopefully remember that ticket, and wear their seatbelt next time they get into their cars,” said Dillon.

Chief Dillon pointed out that the health or well-being of a police force or community couldn’t necessarily be measured objectively by the number of arrests, or crimes committed. Many factors are at play, he says.

Dillon also wanted the public to be aware that the department isn’t necessarily there to crack down on accidental forgetfulness. For example, at the discretion of an officer, an unregistered motor vehicle can be renewed roadside during a traffic stop if you happen to be carrying a mobile-phone and a credit card.

Because this information is updated to police databases immediately, you might drive away with a warning. Although this isn’t an invitation to stop taking care of your responsibilities as a car-owner, it is a huge break for anyone pulled over who accidently forgot to renew their registration.

The Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Warren Borsari, reports that his department responded to 496 calls in 2015, representing 371 EMS calls and 125 fire service calls.

He reports, as does the Plympton Police Department, a steady increase in call volume over the last several years.