Michael Colver

Express contributor

It was not the usual crowd that gathered at the Halifax Commuter rail station last Saturday morning.   Unlike our typical bunch of commuters that have the trip down to a science, half of Saturday’s passengers had not taken the train into Boston and mistakenly stood across the tracks on what one would think was the inbound platform. 

Calls from the opposite platform hailed: “If you’re headed to Boston you need to be over here.”  This friendly gesture of one side reaching out to the other struck me as symbolic to what many feel has been lost in our country. However, it was not lost that morning at Halifax Station. 

Together, residents of Carver, Halifax and Plympton boarded a train, already crowded with people from Kingston and Plymouth, bound for the Boston Common to join thousands of others in the January 21st Women’s March.

  As a weekday commuter I am used to self absorbed silent passengers with heads buried in phones and laptops, but this was an animated friendly kitty-cap-clad crowd – chatting and introducing themselves to each other. The cordial hubbub of conversation was bolstered by an unspoken understanding of like minds with a shared purpose: to support the rights of women and minorities in a country more diverse than the rural communities in which we live.

Fran Lindgren, the Express’ Calendar Girl, drove in with her husband the night before to stay in a hotel nearby, not wanting to chance missing a minute of the march.  Why was it so important to her to be there?

“More than one older woman remarked that they never thought they would have to fight for our rights again.  I’m not sure if the younger crowd even knows what it was like when the only careers open to women were teaching, nursing or secretarial,” she said. 

“I went, not only for myself, but for others, including my 100-year-old aunt and those who had to work, like the gals at the hairdressers and our buddy who works a register at the Stop & Shop.”

She also said that she saw a notice on social media from Boston Chief of Police William Evans complementing all participants on their behavior.

.  There were only four incidents and all were medical. 

Women and men all over the world came together to support human rights and peaceful congregation.  Ghandi would be proud.

The meeting of the Halifax selectmen last week began with Town Administrator Charlie Seelig giving an update on the Elementary School roof project.

Seelig told selectmen that if all goes well, roof repairs would be scheduled for the summer of 2017, and the 30 windows and doors, will be done the summer of 2018.

Halifax has been asked to separate out the design cost of items which will not be reimbursed, such as tree work, the fire surpression system (sprinkler system), the acoustics, work in the gym, and playground equipment, changing the cost of the request from $98,105 to $52,170.

Seelig told the board that they should hear next month whether the revised proposal is approved.

Selectman Kim Roy asked if the other things such as acoustic work, playground, and such – “are they needed or wanted?”

Selectman Tom Millias answered that the acoustics is a “wish for” item.  He also noted that the fire suppression system is needed because of pinholes in the sprinkler pipes, resulting from the high mineral content in the water.   Selectmen agreed that the fire suppression system was a “must have” item.

Roy asked that the remaining items be quoted individually so that they could decide which projects they want to go forward, and then “I can come back to you and, say, pick and choose.”

Roy said she didn’t want to pay for design for projects that we may not do.

Seelig told the board that in order to go through the process of design and bid, he anticipates the need for a special town meeting in late March to fund the elementary school roof.

Another item on the special town meeting warrant would be additional funding for legal services.

In a Burrage Pond Elm St. access update, Seelig said he had received correspondence from several parties objecting to the construction of the new access, made necessary by the former access road being built on someone else’s property.  Seelig told the board that while he had letters of concern as well as letters in support of the new access road, it has nothing to do with the Town of Halifax as the state owns the land.

Selectmen accepted with regret the resignation of Joy Marble from the Holidays in Halifax committee.  Marble said in her letter that she had enjoyed her time on the committee and would continue to enjoy the event, perhaps volunteering the day of the event in some capacity.

Verizon Settles

Verizon, with telephone property in all of the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns, has been disputing their property assessments throughout the state for the past several years.  The Department of Revenue’s Bureau of Local Assessment sent out a memo stating they have reached a settlement with Verizon that would result in a $7,856 refund to Verizon from the Town of Halifax.  Selectman Tom Millias said Halifax got as good a deal as any town did, without joining in various law suits and thereby incurring legal costs.

Seelig told the board that the refund was covered by the Overlay Account and asked selectmen to approve Halifax’s acceptance of this settlement.

Regarding the Fieldstone Farms irrigation well, Mr. Clawson says the well can’t be tested in the winter and he doesn’t know what tests need to be done.  Seelig told selectmen that the Board of Health has issued an order that specifically states what tests need to be done.

The matter of the Town of Halifax v. Bergstrom case conference was held in Boston in December.  There will be a six-month discovery process, Seelig said, and the trial, if necessary, will be held in the fall.

Clawson v. Choate case discovery was held the same day and Ms. Choate was given 60 days to decide if she wants to actively defend the case. Sometime in February the board will learn if she wants to proceed.

Seelig said budget forms had been sent out to all departments in December to be returned by January 9.  Although the formal legal deadline is March 1, in order to complete the work for the town budget, they ask that budget forms be returned in early January.

Town meeting will be May 8; Town Election will be May 13.

Legal fees increase

FY18 budget has been submitted to Selectmen, Seelig said, and the most significant increase was in the legal budget line item, raising it to $63,000.  He said he wanted to budget accurately, anticipating upcoming legal issues. Last fiscal year the budget line item was $42,000 while the actual expense is projected to be $52,000.  Seelig said he would seek a transfer to cover the town’s current legal fees at the spring Special Town Meeting.

Selectmen received a complaint concerning the lack of snow removal in the area of Old Ocean Avenue.  The Highway Department has been limited in its snow removal there where the roads are about 1½ car widths wide.  The larger plows are not able to get down the road and the smaller plows are limited in how much snow they can push, given the size of the snowplow blades. Mr. Badore, the highway superintendent, told Seelig that he would try to get a loader down there to help get rid of the snow.

Selectmen received two letters regarding snow plowing: a letter from Christmas Tree Lane stated their mailbox was hit and a letter from a Falmouth visitor commending the Halifax Highway Department for their proficiency in removing the snow and treating the roads.

In other business:

• Selectmen met with the Council on Aging to appoint Ava Grimason to the COA.  Her term will expire June 30, 2017.

• Melinda Tarsi, a Halifax resident for over a year, professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Bridgewater State University, was appointed to the Finance Committee with the Board’s approval, her term expiring June 15, 2019.

• Lakeville Kennel’s contract was approved. This kennel handles the overflow from Halifax Animal Control.

• The Library’s 15 year old former 6-phone system was declared surplus.

• Local Emergency Planning Council grant from the state has been awarded in the amount of $1,127.  Selectmen affirmed its acceptance.

• Trailer permit for 159 River St. has been retired because the trailer has been sold or removed.

• Merrill Engineering has done a site review on the Autumn Lane sub development and work is progressing.

• The Board of Health held a public hearing in early January to create reporting regulations for trash haulers including reporting on their recycling programs.  The hearing was continued until March.

The board will next meet January 24.

Police Chief Patrick Dillon proposed to selectmen Monday night that the Town House’s “panic button” system installed in 2003 might be upgraded to a new digital system with 10 panic button units, to expand coverage to all of the Town House meeting rooms and offices.  The chief expects the cost of the system to be less than $1000 for installation and about $100 per year for monitoring.

Panic buttons in general enable users under duress or in the event of an emergency to immediately and silently call for help.

This action was in response to a belligerent and hostile person who attended a committee meeting last week.  After heckling the committee throughout the meeting, the individual waited for members to leave the meeting room at the close of the meeting, then waited in his car for members to drive away from the lot.   

Chief Dillon, in a follow-up conversation with The Express on Wednesday, suggested that all residents, town boards and committees, call 911 if they feel uneasy or threatened by anyone at any time.  “That is what we are here for,” he said.  “Pick up the phone, call us, and we will figure things out and keep them safe.”

The generosity of Halifax Stop & Shop shoppers put $7,855.63 into the kettle for the good works of the Salvation Army this Christmas season – and that doesn’t count the diamond ring, whose estimated value is between $800 and $1,000!

Halifax shoppers responded from their hearts when they heard the Salvation Army bell ringers, and opened their wallets to shatter previous years’ records of donations.

The bell ringers were welcomed at the Halifax Stop & Shop and invited to ring inside the store’s entryway where they could be warm and dry.  Store manager Eddie Samuels has welcomed the Salvation Army inside its store since the store opened several years ago.

The bell ringers, many of whom are Halifax senior citizens, volunteered their time to help the Salvation Army meet their goal to help needy people and families in the area.  Many people will be warm, fed, and clothed due to their generous gift of time.  Bell ringers include: Tommy Schindler, Kevin Rogers, Jo Schofield,  Dot Martel, Barbara Newcomb, Gerry Lambert, Pat Darrah, Dot Pease, Amy Merriam, Judy Yergeau, Marine Leighton Moore, Sharlene Capaccioli, Dylan Capaccioli, Jason Conroy, Amber Conroy,  Sally Fontaine-Burke, Kim Aluisy Roy, Carl Faith, Glendale Duncan, Gerry Dribbon, Lynn Whalen, Loud Lasdow, Sharon Hartz,  Brenda Fitzgerald, Julia Fitzgerald, Marissa Fitzgerald, Brenda Pettingill, Debbie Lawrence, Mackay Keegan, Diane Colantuone Cheverie, Michelle Dye-Striebel, Sammy Striebel, Martin Tuohey, Justin Jerome, Cill Jerome, Ellen Michaels, Tanya Little & Levi, Lisa Gilbert, Suzie Fontaine Hopps, Denise Driscoll, Ally Ryan, Brianna Foley, Shauna Foley, Sheryl Balerna, Brie Marsiotta, Kersten Santos and Ken Vinton!

Among the gifts in the bucket were an unscratched lottery ticket – which was a $10 winner, the diamond ring, and $50 bills and $100 bills.  Halifax shoppers were generous.

Christine Tompkins, who helped organize the volunteers, also would like to thank the Twin Lakes Convenience Store for letting her set up a counter donations kettle, Rockland Trust Company tellers for counting the donations, and to whomever put the diamond ring and the lottery ticket into the kettle.  It will all be put to good works.  “Many needy families will be warm, fed, clothed and so much more due to your generosity!  … We shattered every record this year: record number of volunteers and record donations! … I am proud of my town,” Tompkins said.

The Town of Halifax hosted a presentation and public hearing Thursday, Dec. 15 in the Great Hall of the Halifax Town Hall, 499 Plymouth St., given by the Division of Watershed Management Bureau of Water Resources, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection of a Draft  focusing on Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for Total Phosphorus in four ponds in the Towns of Halifax, Hanson and Pembroke Massachusetts.  The 128-page draft identified the problems causing toxic algae blooms and proposed solutions to making the ponds healthy again.

The four ponds, West Monponsett Pond, East Monponsett Pond, White Oak Reservoir (a.k.a. ‘reservoir’) and Stetson Pond are hydraulically connected and are impaired by nutrients, specifically phosphorus. This Draft TMDL Report is required by the EPA Federal Clean Water Act section 303d and is directed at control of excessive cyanobacteria, algae and non-rooted weeds (duckweed) which impair uses in the ponds, including swimming, and aquatic life.

A TMDL is essentially a “pollution budget” designed to restore the health of an impaired body of water.

The DEP representatives discussed and explained the draft document and responded to questions and comments on the report.

Kimberly Walsh, Dave Johnson, Matthew Reardon and Mark Mattson, all of the DEP spoke to the draft report and took questions from the 40-50 people in attendance.

Also present were Halifax selectmen Chairman Troy Garron and Kim Roy, as well as State Rep. Tom Calter, who has been vocal in his support of the ponds.

Monponsett Pond System encompasses both East and West Monponsett ponds, Stetson Pond and White Oak Watershed Resevoir.

TMDL = Pollution Budget

Total Maximum Daily Load, TMDL, is the maximum amount of pollution which each pond or waterbody can withstand to maintain an acceptable level of water quality.

“We cannot overenrich the water … the water has to be safe to drink,” Walsh said.  Secondly has to be acceptable for recreation, and then has to be able to support aquatic life.  Among some of the challenges to cleaning up West Monponsett Pond with heavy doses of alum, are the two protected fresh water mollusks, the Tidewater Mucket and the Eastern Pond Mussel.  Alum doses must me monitored so as not to destroy the protected species.

Walsh explained the  “target” her staff has developed to maintain water quality,  .025 parts per liter of phosphorous in the ponds.

That’s a big goal.

DEP reps spoke of the rapid clearing of the pond with alum treatments – then follow-up with limiting the phosphorus coming into the ponds. DEP officials claimed that alum treatments on a continuing basis would help keep the pond free of algae.

Kim Roy spoke up saying she and Halifax are not looking for a “quick fix”, she wants to clean up the pond the right way – the natural way, for a long-term continuing solution.

Rep. Tom Calter asked why the draft report didn’t take into consideration the 24% phosphorus reduction that stopping Brockton from diverting water from the Monponsett ponds would bring.  “Who told you not to use that in this report,” he furthered.

Calter was answered by a DEP official’s statements that stopping water diversions wouldn’t solve the problem, and that there are other means to solve the problem, while protecting Brockton’s legal rights to the water.

At one point, a Brockton Water Commissioner stood and said, “I’m the bad guy here!”  Saying that all he was hearing about was diversions when there are other solutions to be used.

Rep Calter asked how the report can ignore a cause that’s 24% of the problem?  Don’t you agree that the diversions exacerbate the problem?  DEP agreed, but did not want to use stopping the diversions as part of the solution.

The DEP representative said the diversions were having some impact but their working conclusions were that the diversions in accordance with the law don’t matter enough to become part of the solution.  They further claimed they are working with Brockton to help solve the problem.  “You’ve all seen the graph and it’s focused on nutrients and how to control them. “

What these folks are tasked to do is what is the best, quickest way of how to get to a clean pond.  They’re looked at nutrients, where they come from now and in the future, and how to stop them. This draft is a road map.  It says nutrients are the biggest problem and nutrients can be treated with alum.

We try to look at the law, the license, the fact that Brockton has registrations, we have nutrients coming into the pond, and come up with a response.   We are working with Brockton, but stopping the diversions alone wont’ get us there.

Calter:  I know that diversions alone won’t get us there.  Why won’t the final report say, they will be 24% better.  Silver Lake cannot continue to provide the 11 million gallons Brockton requires.“

Troy Garron asked if they could open up the dam to let the water flow to clean up the pond.

“Brockton has a legal right to have the dam,” was the answer. 

He said that they have looked at all the models, all the range of solutions, and the supporting documentation, and how much nutrients are flowing in there, as well as a timeline to get the ponds healthy.   We’re working on an agreement with Brockton Identifying the best path forward.

A Brockton water commissioner, identifying himself as “I’m the bad guy here… all I hear is diversion, Here’s your chance, your opportunity – you’ve got Mr. Calter her to go out and seek the funds.  Diversion isn’t going to solve the problem!”

Calter answered, You’re right,

Excessive phosphorous is the cause of the nutrients in the water, causing the algae bloom.

Selectman Roy said, “We’ve had many meetings with you – maybe it will not solve it, and by the way – we have treated the pond with our own tax dollars.  I want to fix the pond in the right way.”

Asking for order and reason, the DEP rep asked that the comments be written and sent for consideration. 

Stating that all have a right to be heard and their comments considered, he invited each to write their comments and concerns on the draft report and the hearing by the deadline of Monday, January 16, 2017, by 5 p.m. 

A copy of this Draft TMDL Report, a complete listing of all lakes, rivers and coastal waters on the Massachusetts Impaired Waters (303d) list and further explanation of the TMDL Program, is available online at:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/water/resources/a-thru-m/monponsett-phosphorus-tmdl.pdf

Based on the comments received, the Draft Report will be rewritten and the final version sent to the USEPA for approval. All comments should refer to the report number (CN 446.0) and must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, January 16, 2017. Please submit comments electronically to Matt Reardon, matthew.reardon@state.ma.us, or by US Mail to MassDEP, Attn: Matt Reardon, Watershed Planning Program, 8 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606.