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Halifax budget strategies

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The Halifax Finance Committee met virtually on Jan. 31. Chair Thomas Connolly led things off with a roll call. Vice Chair Cheryll Zarella- Burke was in attendance as were Todd Dargie, Michael Bennett, and Jonathan Schmaling. Town Accountant Sandra Nolan, Town Clerk Susan Lawless, and Holmes Public Library Director Jean Gallant were also present.

Regarding the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, Connolly said, “There’s no new action, other than keep educating ourselves about what’s there.” Nolan noted that she did add $150,000 to revenues for motor vehicle excise. “We’ve always been very conservative, and we did very well last year on motor vehicle excise which was surprising; this year the State is estimating about a 7 percent increase,” Nolan explained.

Nolan also said that they did not yet have the assessment from Silver Lake. She said that there is currently a placeholder for level funding. The Committee noted that the estimate was that Silver Lake’s portion of the assessment would be going up $340,000. “That’s where the rubber is going to hit the road,” Connolly said. Nolan said that to stay in the black, the number would have to be closer to $164,000. “So that obviously goes well over that,” Nolan said.

Linda Cole said that health insurance would be less than what was estimated in the budget. “It will fluctuate a ton between now and then… it will come down, probably significantly,” she explained. She said that the same is true every year. The placeholder is currently set at 7 percent, but the actual number will likely be closer to 3 or 4.

Burke said that she had heard from the Police Chief that the Police Department plans to have a vote at town meeting to purchase two new cruisers. She also said that the Police Chief said that the town has eight auxiliary officers who need to pay their own way through the Police Academy. “So needless to say, they’re not going to do that, so we’re probably going to lose them.” Connolly asked if it was standard practice for towns to have auxiliary officers pay for the academy themselves and was told it was. As a result, the town may end up paying more in overtime for officers. Lawless brought up the high cost of paying officers overtime to fill the shifts normally filled by the auxiliary officers, were they to leave. Connolly responded saying, “Is there a way, you know, local businesses could pay that tuition, or we recruit new auxiliaries who are willing to foot the bill themselves if that is consistent with what other towns ask of their auxiliaries; maybe we can just find a creative way to cover those costs or find someone who is committed enough that they’ll cover them themselves.” Zarella-Burke recommended having the Police Chief attend their next meeting to discuss.

Regarding some of the other departments under Zarella-Burke’s purview she said that while they understand the need for level funded budgets, some costs are out of their control. She gave the rising cost of ambulance supplies as an example.

It was suggested that the Committee approach the department heads to ask for a few ideas for ways to increase their revenues. It was recommended that fee schedules be looked at among other things. “It’s definitely worth looking at,” Nolan agreed. Gallant asked if the library should consider going back to instituting fines for late items. Nolan said that the amount generated would be very small. Gallant said that the Board of Trustees was split on whether to charge late fees though she noted she was against them.

Connolly said that they had a request from the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen plan to hire an assistant and asked that the position be moved to a Grade 2, Step 3 due to her experience. The Finance Committee voted to approve the request.

Connolly explained that Committee member Michael O’Brien has previous commitments that overlap with much of the work being done by the Finance Committee on Monday evenings. “What I wanted to propose to Michael, if it’s acceptable to the Committee, is that he remain on the Committee, he remain the contact for the departments that he is looking after, and it’s not every Monday that he needs to be away… if he’s amenable to it, because he did express that he would like to stay on the Committee, he’ll miss votes, he’ll miss certain evenings but we still have a quorum without him and then on the evenings that he can join us, he’ll update us on whatever is happening with the budgets that he’s working on,” Connolly explained. While no vote was needed, the Committee did agree to move forward with Connolly’s plan contingent upon O’Brien’s agreement.

New Covid testing program for schools

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The Plympton School Committee met remotely on the evening of Monday, Jan. 24. Superintendent Jill Proulx spoke to a change in the District’s COVID testing program. Previously, Silver Lake was enrolled in the State’s test and stay program. In that program, caregivers were able to opt into testing at school should their child have a school related exposure. The program allowed students to be tested and, if negative, stay in school rather than quarantine at home. Proulx told the Committee that since the implementation of the program in the State, 98 percent of tests were negative. “For that reason, they know that schools are safe and the best place for them [students] to be,” she explained.

Dennett Elementary School Principal Peter Veneto said, “overall I think the test and stay program – it met its goals; it kept the kids in school.” He also credited the hard work and overtime put in by school nurse Ryann Camara and staff for making the program a success. Of the 570 tests performed at Dennett, only eight were positive. This means that 562 school days were salvaged through the program.

Despite the success of the program, DESE and the Department of Public Health (DPH) recognize the strain placed on school health staff and now recommend that districts participate in a new program. Districts that elect to forgo the test and stay program will be provided with rapid antigen at-home tests for all participating staff and students that can be used on a weekly basis. Districts that choose instead to maintain test and stay will need to continue contact tracing and will not receive the at-home tests.

Implementation of the new testing program means that contact tracing will no longer be done, and any potential in-school contacts do not need to quarantine. Instead, the focus will shift to monitoring for symptomatic individuals. Individuals who test positive on an at-home test will need to report the results. Proulx explained, “For at least the next several weeks, distribution to staff and students will be staggered, with staff getting one kit (2 tests) the week of January 24 and participating students getting one kit (2 tests) the week of January 31.”

Proulx said similar programs have already been transitioned to in both Connecticut and Vermont. She also told the Committee that the new option is only being made available to Districts that continue or start symptomatic and/or pooled testing; Silver Lake already participates in symptomatic testing.

Committee member Dan Cadogen asked how many children at Dennett are fully vaccinated. Veneto said that as of January 24, 26 percent of students are fully vaccinated. Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen confirmed that there are many other children who have had one dose of the vaccine and are awaiting the second dose. Wilhelmsen also said that the vaccination numbers published on the school website are not accurate and reflect a lower vaccination rate.

Playground and Solar Panel Update

Wilhelmsen provided an update on the playground saying that it is now open. Due to timing and weather-related constraints, the rubberized surfacing that was going to be put down has been temporarily replaced by mulch. Wilhelmsen told the Committee that the surfacing will likely be put down following the close of school for the year in order to avoid closing it down for any length of time while school is in session. He said that funds will determine how much of the mulch can be replaced by rubberized surface.

Wilhelmsen also provided an update on the solar panels. He said he met with the Town Administrator and the solar company to try and get the agreements sorted. Once they have the agreement, they can make any adjustments with town counsel. He said the goal is to have everything signed ahead of town meeting in order to get the necessary articles through at that time. The goal is to have the panels installed prior to the start of school in the fall.

Legislative Update

Committee member Jason Fraser provided a legislative update. Fraser told the Committee, that House 1, the first pass of the FY23 budget at the State level, comes out this week. He said that they are pushing to make sure they are using a multiplier for Chapter 70 that is in line with current inflation. “We’re asking them to use the consumer price index in the northeast as a multiplier for inflation.”

At the federal level, he said the IDEA Full Funding Act looks to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) over a ten-year period. Additionally, he said they are looking to seek an extension of the free meals program that has been implemented in schools throughout the pandemic.

Dennett Update

Veneto gave a brief school update saying that current enrollment stands at 240 students. He also told the Committee that he has a good lead on the vacant music teacher position. “It’s challenging for those part time positions to find people that are interested,” he explained. Finally, he said a $1,000 gift was made to the school by a donor who wished to remain anonymous.

New Literacy Program

K-6 Curriculum Coordinator Melissa Farrell gave a presentation on the new K-5 literacy program – Collaborative Classroom. In selecting a program Farrell said the team was “thinking about how we can be a little bit more progressive in our work with students.”

Farrell said they are in the implementation phase which includes an extended field test process. There are 20 teachers testing the program throughout the District with 5 of those at the Dennett. Farrell acknowledged the efforts of those teachers who include Beth Antoine, Gail Belcher, Lauren Bellao, Dawn Day, Kristina Josselyn, Sharon Landers, Liz McCartney, Kara McNerney, Devon Morse, Jenna Ouellet, Megan Parker, Meghan Piccini, Kristen Pishkin, Jennifer Reidy, Dawn Richardson, Meghan Shaheen, Beth Splaine, JaneMarie Sylvester, Lisa Tamasco, and Ann Walker. Of the 20 teachers selected to be a part of the field testing, 17 have supported moving forward with the program.

The process thus far has included field test 1, field test 2, pilot meetings and feedback rubric, classroom visits and check-ins, and consensus meetings. She said that a lack of substitutes made the consensus meetings difficult. As a result, the meetings were held at individual grade levels which Farrell said provided an interesting perspective on how each grade level was affected by the program.

Farrell said that qualities they were looking for in the program were that it was aligned, research-based, balanced with technology and print, and most importantly, fun for students. She said they were also seeking to make sure professional development was a priority so that they were not only supplying teachers with high quality materials but also improving instructional processes in the classroom. They were also looking for the program to include more non-fiction works including those that extended into other subject areas.

The schedule for the program includes training and planning time for K-5 teachers throughout the spring of 2022 and Understanding by Design (UBD) unit development and grade level scope and sequence planning over the summer.

Budget Presentation

Proulx gave a preliminary budget presentation. She told the Committee that Circuit Breaker, the State’s special education reimbursement program, was estimated at 65 percent for the initial budget. The regular day budget increase was 6.04 percent while there was a decrease of 11.02 percent in special education. The total budget represented an increase of 0.71 percent or an increase of $27,073 over the previous year. Veneto said he was estimating the incoming kindergarten class to match the size of the outgoing class therefore avoiding any potential enrollment increase. Notable increases were for textbooks, instructional software, and shared costs.

Some of the proposed costs that went beyond a level service budget included an adjustment counselor estimated at $65,000, a part-time ELL teacher estimated at $22,000, and a part-time instrumental music teacher for Grades 4-5 estimated at $11,000. With respect to the counselor, Veneto stressed the rise in requests for mental health services during the pandemic saying that cases of anxiety in students had quadrupled in the last few years. He also noted the difficulty of finding outside mental health services as most are not accepting new patients.

Veneto shared with the Committee some of the projects that had been completed in FY22 including the playground project, the paving project, the parking lot, tree removal, and the purchase of a custodial floor machine. Projects that still need completion going into FY23 include flooring replacement estimated at $9,800 per room for 4 rooms, rooftop unit replacement estimated at $30,000 each for 5 units, and replacement of the exterior siding for which a quote has not yet been established.

Halifax legal costs $40,000 over budget – no questions

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen met in-person on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

COVID Updates

The Selectmen voted to transfer $100,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds to the legal line. The Selectmen commented that they were currently negative over $40,000 in that line. From the audience, Alan Dias asked for clarification that the money was being spent on legal defense. Selectmen Chair Gordon Andrews said he was not entertaining questions from the audience. Dias insisted but was told by Andrews, “I’m not getting into it with you, Sir.”

Health Agent Bob Valery told the Selectmen that the town would be receiving 3,000 more free test kits. Valery also pointed out that people can order test kits online through a federal program. Andrews asked Valery if there was an amount that he wanted to request to purchase additional test kits. “I don’t think that we need to go to the $8,000 mark we were thinking of,” Valery said. Valery said that he thought 1,000 test kits would suffice. Selectman Ashley DiSesa pointed out that the schools would also be supplying test kits to students’ families per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)’s new plan. Fire Chief Jason Viveiros recommended that the Selectmen approve $5,000 to be used toward the purchase of additional test kits. The Selectmen voted to approve the request.

The Board also debated whether an at-home test showing a positive result would suffice for a town employee using sick time. DiSesa argued that user error can come into play with at-home tests and also that employees could potentially show a picture of a positive test result that was not actually their test. The Selectmen agreed that anyone using sick time due to a COVID positive result would have to receive a positive result on a test obtained outside of their home. The Fire Department offers testing for symptomatic employees. The Board also discussed when an employee could return to work. DiSesa said that starting day 6 employees could return to work in a mask if their symptoms were resolving. Valery emphasized, “as long as it’s a well-fitting, properly worn mask.” Valery offered that the town has a lot of kn95 masks that can be made available to employees free of charge. The Selectmen voted that if a town employee is exposed at work and told to go home, they would receive sick pay.

The Water Department Superintendent Bill Lindsay told the Board that the Department was “Looking to use some of the ARPA money for some of the things that aren’t included in the upgrade project… there’s a lot of stuff in the treatment plan that’s just outdated.” He said the filter plant won’t run if power is lost as there is no generator. Andrews said he was in favor of using the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds for this purpose but noted he wanted to find out the payment plan from Plymouth County first. The other Selectmen also stated their support especially since residents have expressed their concern regarding the water in town.

Budget Discussion

There was a discussion on the FY23 budget. Andrews, who also serves on the Halifax School Committee, said “the minimum contribution numbers were released… Halifax’s proportion of Silver Lake’s is going up $240,000. Kingston’s is going up $240,000. Plympton’s is decreasing by $130,000. It’s not good news for the Halifax assessment number for Silver Lake.” He continued, “They’re talking about a million dollar increase so you have the shift of 240 and then you have the increase on top.” Regarding the budget, Andrews also told the Selectmen, “We talked about at the Finance Committee, moving some free cash, talked about an override, talked about cuts… putting everything on the table and possibly using stabilization.”

Interim Town Administrator Ed Thorne said, “In talking about revenues… ensuring that one-time revenues go to one-time projects and trying to free up existing revenues to help with the operating budget for FY23.” Regarding 368 Monponsett St., which Thorne said, “needs to be demolished,” he said himself and the town treasurer/collector talked about taking the property for nonpayment of taxes and looking at demolition costs versus what the property would be worth as a buildable lot. “That would be a project that the Board needs to look at for improving one-time revenues for the town,” he explained.

A conversation was also had regarding building security. Andrews said they would need to put an article in the capital plan for the security system being recommended. Andrews confirmed that they had a plan to move forward with the locksmith.

The head of the Interactive, Technology, and Communications Department, Cesar Calouro, told the Selectmen that he was seeking $5,300 for an embedded interactive display. Calouro told the Selectmen, “I priced out what it would cost to get an additional TV screen and that came out to about $1,000.” Andrews said they would put the discussion on the agenda for their next meeting.

ZBA Request

There was a discussion about adding an associate member to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Andrews recused himself from the discussion. ZBA member Peter Parcellin appeared before the Selectmen expressing concern over moving forward with votes, etc. when current members need to recuse themselves.

He noted that the Selectmen elected not to reappoint the former Chair of the ZBA, Robert Gaynor. The ZBA member expressed concern that a vacancy on the Board was not being filled. DiSesa appeared frustrated with the conversation and at one point Selectman Troy Garron interjected, “Bottom line, what are you looking for?” Parcellin said, “Me, personally, I have two questions. One, I’m interested in seeing what the process would be for an associate member. And two, very, very, one hundred percent honestly, I have no idea why there is in certain people a specific issue with the Zoning Board… I ask for people to come to meetings. I can talk to anybody at any time. All of our stuff is on YouTube. I guess I don’t understand why there was a shift in tone. I worry, very honestly, that it is because of personal lawsuits that certain people have.”

DiSesa asked when the Selectmen were asked to come to the meeting. She said that she has not been personally invited. Parcellin said that a letter was sent to the Selectmen. Garron tried to mediate saying that the bottom line was that they would like to have an associate member named to the ZBA. Parcellin said, “what we’re looking for is to have five regular members and two associate members who get along, care about the town, and have positive interactions… that’s job one.”

Halifax BOS set COVID policies

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen met in-person on Tuesday evening, Jan. 11. The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing COVID related policies for employees.

Fire Chief Jason Viveiros, Library Director Jean Gallant, Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward, and IT Department Head Cesar Calouro were all in attendance for the discussion. Specific cases were discussed including a library technician who only works 11 hours per week and therefore does not receive benefits. Said employee had a close contact in their immediate family and then later tested positive themselves. Gallant said she wished to pay the employee for the missed week’s salary as they were a good and long-time employee. “I realize that she doesn’t have benefits and you would be making an exception for her,” Gallant told the Board.

The Board was in agreement that if someone is symptomatic but has not yet received a test, they would need to provide documentation of a positive test result. The employee would need to take sick time but would be reimbursed by the town for the time out assuming they had a positive test result. In the case presented by Gallant, it was agreed that despite the employee not having benefits, the town would still reimburse the employee for the missed pay. Selectmen Chair Gordon Andrews said that they wanted to encourage sick employees to stay home so as to not risk exposing others out of fear of lost wages. “I think we need to look out for the employee’s health and for the town’s health,” Andrews explained.

The Fire Department is providing free testing for town employees. Asked how they were doing on tests, Viveiros said they still have a few hundred tests to be used on town employees.

Another case specific question was asked which prompted Selectman Ashley DiSesa to joke about the myriad of gray areas surrounding COVID. Gallant said she had an employee who tested negative but is quarantining while caring for a positive dependent. It was agreed that sick time would also be reimbursed in that instance. Viveiros and Hayward said that in the interest of consistency, they have been forwarding questions to Halifax Health Agent Bob Valery for guidance on case specific questions.

Other questions regarding the recent CDC guidance updates were also asked. Recent guidance states that COVID positive individuals can end quarantine after five days as long as their symptoms were resolving and they continued to wear a mask for 10-14 days. “I think what everyone needs to know is, they are still symptomatic after day 5, they need to stay out,” Andrews said. Selectman Troy Garron asked whether the town should require proof of a negative test to return, but DiSesa pointed out that the town would likely run out of tests if they did that.

Calouro questioned whether employees who have the ability to work from home should be working while in quarantine. The Selectmen seemed in agreement that they should not be expected to work which prompted Calouro to question why they spent so much money on laptops for town employees.

After much discussion, DiSesa attempted to summarize the policy saying, “So, the policy is, if an employee feels under the weather… they can go to the Fire Station or go to their doctor and get a valid test from a medical professional – not an at-home test. If that test is positive, we will pay them from the day that they tested from their five days out or however many days if they’re still symptomatic. Or God forbid somebody gets a really bad case of it, we will pay them out until they can come back. If somebody refuses to wear a mask after five days, they can’t come back; they don’t get paid. And if somebody refuses a test and is saying they have COVID, they don’t get paid; they have to take the test.”

Andrews provided an update on the budget, telling the other Selectmen that Town Accountant Sandra Nolan had provided the numbers. He said that the numbers for Silver Lake and veteran’s benefits were not included. “We are negative $127,157.65,” Andrews said. He also pointed out that the figure did not include Halifax’s share of the Middle School resource officer that is roughly $36,000. Andrews said that the largest increase for the schools was in special needs tuition and transportation. He said that those two line items plus the elementary school amounted to a $150,000 increase. “I’m estimating that Silver Lake will be at least a $220,000, if not 300,000, increase for just their annual increases that take place within their budget. He pointed out that special education tuition and transportation was out of the town’s as well as the School Committee’s control.

The Board also discussed an update to the process for applying for Host Community Agreements (HCAs). The Board voted to require that companies wishing to apply for an HCA go through the Planning Board first to receive a special permit. The change was made in order to avoid spending unnecessary legal fees.

On the subject of marijuana establishments, Andrews told the Board that Green Earth Cannabis notified the town that due to “unforeseen circumstances” they would no longer be seeking an HCA with Halifax.

Another marijuana establishment, Flower and Soul, was requesting the installation of lights and a pole at 182 and 183 Plymouth St. DiSesa said that as long as the town would be reimbursed for the cost through the community impact fee, she would be in agreement. The lights are being requested for security reasons. The Board voted to approve the request.

The Selectmen met with two applicants who were seeking the two open spots on the Traffic Safety Committee. Both John Sullivan and Steve Littlefield were voted unanimously onto the Committee by the Selectmen.

Interim Town Administrator Ed Thorne said he had a successful meeting with the Chair of the Solar Committee regarding capping the landfill and placing a solar array on it. He said that he had success in doing this during his previous employment. He said that every town in the Commonwealth is moving toward this step and noted that it should provide electrical savings for all town departments including the school. Thorne told the Selectmen that they would be looking to get the RFP completed in order to “get the ball rolling.”

The Board addressed a request to make a proclamation for a specific citizen. Andrews said that while exceptions were made for pancreatic cancer and suicide awareness month, the town doesn’t usually make proclamations. Garron said that while it was a noble cause, it wouldn’t be practical. DiSesa agreed saying that it would set a precedent that could result in many more requests.

The Board discussed two articles for town meeting pertaining to the Water Department. They would be seeking to transfer approximately $53,000 to purchase a new water truck and to transfer $5,520 to fund phase 2 of upgrades at a treatment plant and chemical facility. The Fire Department is also seeking to raise or appropriate funds to purchase a new ambulance.

Before adjourning for the evening, the Board voted to use $16,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds to buy ADA compliant levers and box sets in compliance with the Building Inspector’s requirements for emergency egress.

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Plympton seeks ARPA funds for testing

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The Plympton Board of Selectmen met remotely on Monday, Jan. 10. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy addressed possible uses of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds. There had previously been conversation about using a portion of the funds for HVAC work at the schools. Dennehy said that the town has had a difficult time getting a hold of COVID test kits and noted that some of those funds may need to be allocated toward purchasing those as soon as they are available. She said some funding will also need to be directed toward personnel costs for the Fire Department to disperse the kits. “I don’t think it would be a lot of money from our allotment,” Dennehy said. She further said that $5,000 should cover the expense. “We have a real need for testing capability,” she told the Selectmen.

Dennehy said that she acquired quotes for the appraisal of town owned land located on Brook St. She said the appraisal would cost $1,200. “I felt the amount was fair and I think we probably should go forward,” Selectman John Traynor said. Selectmen Chair Christine Joy said she agreed. Selectman Mark Russo said he did not like the idea of the appraisal but if they were going to move forward with it, he approved of the chosen appraiser. The Selectmen gave Dennehy the go ahead to move forward with the appraisal.

The Board of Selectmen also voted to accept the conservation restriction on a portion of land at 122 Main St. The total square footage of the lot is 186,806. “It’s a way to more significantly minimize the messing up of the environment over there,” Russo explained.

The town’s projects and priorities list were also discussed. Dennehy briefly touched on the COVID-19 response saying she and the Board of Health are in touch at least weekly. Regarding financial priorities, she said they are now turning to budget mode. Dennehy also said that a town meeting article may be considered to modify the bylaw and diversify the membership in the Capital Planning Committee.

Regarding affordable housing opportunities, Dennehy said they are aiming to develop an action plan based upon the Housing Production Plan. She said the Housing Production Plan is also due for an update soon. Dennehy also said that they are continuing to attempt to identify town owned land that would be appropriate for these opportunities.

Dennehy said the implementation of a pavement management plan is in progress. A town meeting article is being considered to fund four speed notice boxes and signage with lights for intersections such as Main St. and Ring Rd. and Winnetuxet Rd. and Prospect Rd. “It seems that our pavement painting does not have the desired effect,” Dennehy said of current attempts to control speed at these intersections.

MassDOT denied the town’s attempt to implement a heavy truck traffic exclusion. Dennehy said the State was not in favor of Plympton’s alternate route which would run through Halifax. She said Halifax would need to provide a letter of support were they to continue to pursue the exclusion. Traynor said he was not sure that it would be a good time to pursue this with Halifax as they currently have an interim town administrator. Russo said the decision by MassDOT was “disappointing.” The Selectmen agreed to wait a few months before pursuing anything further.

Regarding the transaction with Middleborough surrounding Soule Homestead, Dennehy said the legislation is currently in the Senate. She noted that she has not been able to get a definitive answer regarding where it stands other than that it is still in the third reading. Dennehy said she would reach out to Senator Michael Brady.

GATRA transportation services are currently in progress. “It’s been a bit stagnant; they have some turnover at GATRA,” Dennehy told the Selectmen. She went on to say that she has been told that someone should be in touch soon regarding level of service including scheduling and routes.

Under technology, Dennehy said the technology master plan including bolstering websites is currently in progress. Traynor suggested involving Silver Lake Technology Director Steve Pellowe in the conversations.

Issues being looked at by the Town Properties Committee were also discussed. Town Properties Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen said that there were many items ahead of the Plympton hearse in terms of priority but said that its current location is problematic. “It’s being taken advantage of by our little four-legged rodents,” he said. A storage facility is needed for the next few years. Wilhelmsen said that discussions were had regarding the need for a storage building but noted that it was “further down the list.” Dennehy suggested the possibility of a private entity housing it.

They also discussed a town meeting article for a study into the building of a new fire station. Wilhelmsen said, “at some point we are going to have to,” regarding the need for building a new station. He emphasized that the money needed now is for a study into the possibility of building a station, not actually building it.

Wilhelmsen said, “the library has been neglected for a bit.” There are lighting and plumbing issues that need to be addressed. There was a roof survey done regarding replacing the library roof. Wilhelmsen said that they now have a cost for the project. “When is the last time you remember us doing anything for the library at town meeting?” Wilhelmsen asked. “We can get that building back on track in pretty short order,” he told the Selectmen noting he was excluding the roof work in that assessment.

The Town House roof also needs to be replaced. Wilhelmsen said the roof is divided into three sections saying that they are focusing on sections 2 and 3 at the moment. He said they need to go out to bid so they have accurate estimates to bring to town meeting.

Dennehy said they are seeking grant funding to replace the cistern on the Town Green.

Dennehy said that they completed SERVPRO remediation at the Old Town House. She said that samples were taken, and they will need to follow asbestos protocols as a result when considering long term remediation. Wilhelmsen said they will need to look at some form of dehumidification for the first floor of the building to address the mold growth. Other issues needing addressing for the Old Town House are new locks and internet access for the building. The new locks would provide a record of who is going into the building. Internet access will be necessary to have those types of locks. “It’s always a long list at Town Properties,” Wilhelmsen said of the myriad of projects needing addressing in municipal buildings.

Traynor spoke regarding cemetery cleanup for North Plympton. He said that the woman who owns the land finally signed the agreement via email but still needs to sign the more formal agreement on paper. He said it was, “in progress.”   

Long-term items being followed include the Carver Urban Renewal Project, the Rocky Harvest Settlement Compliance, future exploration of shared services, grants, and MBTA communities multi-family zoning requirements.

Russo said his rave was for the opening of the annual and special town meeting. “Essentially, out of that meeting… we, the Selectmen, get our marching orders for the year,” he explained.

Traynor said his rave was for Library Director Michael Slawson and the many programs he is successfully running.

Joy said her rave was for “how beautiful it is in wintertime with snow on the ground and the bogs; what a great part of the country we live in with how beautiful it is.”

Is your cloth mask enough?

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With the rise of the highly contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19, there has been an increased call for better quality masks. With so many options to choose from it can be hard to know what to look for in a mask. The following is a breakdown of the various types and the benefits and disadvantages of each.

NIOSH Approved Respirators

Respirators that are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) meet rigorous US standards. The most common of these is the N95, but others include N99, N100, P99, P100, R95, R99, and R100. Some of those listed may offer even better protection than an N95. When in short supply, as was the case at the start of the pandemic, it is recommended that these types of respirators be prioritized for healthcare workers. N95s are, however, widely available as of the start of 2022.

Note that true NIOSH approved masks will include an approval label that can be found either on the box or in the instructions. There will also be an abbreviated approval marking on the mask.

Fit and filtration are of the utmost importance when selecting a mask or respirator. When fitting properly, N95s filter up to 95 percent of particles in the air. A video demonstrating how to ensure a proper fit can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzpz5fko-fg. While one of the safest options available, they are not meant to be reused and can be costly. Some experts recommend that for those wishing to reuse their N95, they place it in an open paper bag and allow it to air out for at least a week before reusing.

It should be noted that respirators of this nature can generally not be found in children’s sizes as they were created for adult-use in specific fields.

Internationally Approved Respirators

The most common form of an internationally approved respirator is a KN95. While both N95 and KN95 masks purport to filter up to 95 percent of particles from the air, the biggest difference is how they are certified. The N95 is the US standard and the KN95 is the Chinese one. Like their KN95 counterpart, a KF94 respirator meets South Korean standards and an FFP2 Europe’s.

The CDC estimates that approximately 60 percent of KN95 masks on the market are counterfeit. The following link allows users to see if the manufacturer of their KN95 is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfrl/rl.cfm. There are helpful lists on the FDA website as well including which manufacturers were granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in a healthcare setting.

There are a number of KN95 masks available in children’s sizes through retailers such as Amazon though it would be wise for consumers to do their due diligence in ensuring that they aren’t spending their money on counterfeit ones.

Surgical Masks

While not as effective as authentic N95s or KN95s, disposable or surgical masks, which are made from multiple non-woven layers, still offer protection. Like all masks or respirators, the fit is vital. The mask should fit snugly and should cover both the nose and the mouth completely. Masks with nose wires allow the users to customize them for a better fit. The CDC also recommends that wearers fold and tuck in unnecessary material under the edges. Videos on how to do so can be found online.

Cloth Masks

Two years into the pandemic, the variety of options for cloth masks seems infinite. Things to look for in a cloth mask include multiple layers of tightly woven breathable fabric, a nose wire, and a proper fit. Things to avoid in a cloth mask include a single layer fabric that does not block light, exhalation valves or vents, and an ill fit.

In general, the percentage of particles filtered by both surgical and cloth masks differ depending what source you look at though they are always significantly less than both KN95 and N95 respirators. While the quality of cloth masks also varies greatly, it is generally presumed that surgical masks offer better protection. It is sometimes recommended that those without access to KN95 or N95 masks layer a cloth mask over the top of a surgical mask for a better fit.

While many users prefer the comfort and cost savings of a cloth mask, some experts warn that cloth masks alone offer little protection against variants such as Omicron. CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen said recently on CNN Newsroom, “Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There’s no place for them in light of Omicron.” Many hospitals require that patients and visitors swap out their masks for surgical ones.

With all of that said, any mask is preferable to none at all.

New town seal for Plympton?

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Tax Classification Hearing

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met remotely Dec. 20, beginning their meeting with a tax classification hearing in conjunction with the Board of Assessors. Chair of the Assessors Ethan Stiles led the hearing. Mass General Law requires that all municipalities hold a hearing to decide how to tax all real properties from the following four categories – residential, open space, commercial, and industrial. The Selectmen will vote whether to charge a minimum residential factor determining a tax rate shift or single tax rate. Stiles said the Board of Assessors was recommending that the Selectmen select a factor of “1” thereby adopting a single tax rate for all classes of properties for Fiscal Year 2022, as was done in previous years. No members of the public wished to speak during the hearing.  Selectmen voted the single tax class as recommended by the Assessors.

Town Seal Contest

Nathaniel Sides spoke on behalf of the Cultural Council about a design contest for a town seal. “Cultural Council has funds that are available to us to use for a community initiative for promotion of arts and culture in the town. One of the ideas that we had bounced around… was the possibility of sponsoring a contest for the purpose of coming up with some suggestions for a town seal,” Sides explained. He said that residents have expressed discontent with the town’s lack of a seal. Sides noted that there wouldn’t be any expense to the town as they would be utilizing State funds. The contest would be open to professionals and amateurs alike. Selectman Mark Russo said his only concern was who or what would be the deciding authority. Sides said the authority to decide whether to use the winning design would ultimately rest with the Selectmen.

A waiver would likely need to accompany each design submission acknowledging that the designer would not have a monetary claim to the design. “I’m excited about this project,” Russo said.

Joy said her only request would be that they include the original in the options as there may be people who prefer that over the submissions. The Selectmen gave Sides their approval to move forward with the contest.

OBRA Plan

Treasurer/Collector Christine Kelly appeared before the Selectmen to ask them to vote to adopt the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) plan to replace social security for part-time, temporary, and on-call employees. Kelly said it would be a cost savings for the town. Kelly said it was likely to affect 36 employees though she acknowledged that the number is likely to fluctuate. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy and Chair of the Finance Committee Nathaniel Sides both gave their support for the measure. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the OBRA plan which would take effect on January 26, 2022.

Area 58 Discussion

The Selectmen next discussed Area 58. “I’ve been critical of the operation of Area 58 in the sense of it seems that things that we have wanted to take forward, haven’t happened,” Selectman John Traynor said. Traynor listed the TV channel being broadcast with sound but no picture as well as the meetings not getting posted to the Area 58 website citing problems with their service. Traynor said he looked into other providers including PAC TV who service Pembroke, Kingston, Duxbury, and Plymouth. “Duxbury, as I understand it, currently have all three. They broadcast it on a channel live, they have Zoom conferencing availability, and they have the public available to come to the meeting,” Traynor said. Russo commented on the recent glitches including some meetings that were not posted in a timely manner calling it “incredibly frustrating.” Russo said after speaking with Area 58, a new procedure will be in place that should aid in ensuring that meetings are posted within 48 hours. He said that plans to broadcast live are also in the works. He further said that in general, the Selectmen of the three towns are in favor of continuing with Area 58. The Selectmen agreed to have Area 58 come speak with them about some of the changes that they wish to see.

License Renewals and Appointments

The Selectmen voted through a number of various licenses including liquor and scrap metal. They also voted on several appointments. They included Tom Millias and Kathleen Cannizzo as Co- Zoning Enforcement Officers through June 30, 2022, John Canizzo Jr. as Special Police Officer through June 30, 2022, Geraldine Cellini to the Council on Aging through June 30, 2022, and Eliana Mullens and Patricia Gillespie to the Cultural Council both through December 20, 2024.

Town Administrator’s Update

Dennehy provided Selectmen with a Town Administrator’s update. Dennehy said that they were holding steady at over 12 percent for COVID cases. “So that’s not the best news,” Dennehy said. She also provided an update on the remediation work that needs to be completed at the Old Townhouse due to a mold problem. The estimate is $7,808. The Selectmen voted to authorize the work. Dennehy also acknowledged Sunrise Gardens who generously donated the wreaths for the holiday festivities in town including the Santa run.

Selectmen Raves

Traynor led off the raves. He said his wife worked with Cathy Drinan at the school and spoke very highly of her as have so many others. “She was certainly a force and obviously well loved,” he said of Drinan who passed away as a result of a house fire in December. “I do have a couple of people who have come forward and said they would like me to give a rave,” Traynor told his fellow Selectmen. He said that Jim Mustacaros wanted to acknowledge former Council on Aging member Michelle Llanes who worked diligently to find an electric wheelchair for a resident in need. The resident has since passed away and the chair is now being offered back to the town. Colleen Thompson said she had a request from a resident in town who was looking to have the town supply a truck to take away their spoiled food and other debris following a recent power outage. Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte said that it wouldn’t be possible but he and Ben Sarro went down with their own trucks and brought it all down to the transfer station. He also thanked Ken Thompson who recently resigned from his role as Zoning Enforcement Officer.

Russo said, “Cathy Drinan was unbelievably special.” He also agreed about Thompson. “My main rave is kind of the opportunity of the holiday season. Obviously, a time to count blessings and a time of sharing and also a time to kind of slow down and rest a little bit and using that opportunity to reconnect and soften a little,” Russo explained.

Of Drinan, Joy said, “I just found her to be really just a kind soul and really dedicated to the town.” She also wished for people to have some peace and joy this holiday season.

Plympton BoH votes to limit Town House access

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On Dec. 14, 2021, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Plympton Board of Health the following Guidance Order was approved by a vote of 3-0.

Plympton Town House COVID Guidance

14-Dec-2021

As the rate of positive Covid-19 cases has risen in Plympton to over 12%, there is concern about the health and safety of those working in and making visits to the Plympton Town House. The Plympton Board of Health provides the following guidance in regards to use of the building:

• 1. Activities in the Town House will be limited to those necessary for conducting town business. Any non-essential activities or gatherings will be suspended until further notice.

• 2. Only one visitor from the public will be able to access each individual department at a time. Signs will be provided with this guidance.

• 3. The Emergency Management Director will provide lobby personnel to reinforce this guidance and manage access in accordance with #2 above.

• 4. Town Boards and Committees will be encouraged to conduct remote meetings when possible.

Our hope is that visitors will take advantage of the procedures in place to take care of their business remotely. If in person visits are required, visitors will be encouraged to conduct their business according to this Order to protect the health and safety of visitors and town employees.

This guidance will be reevaluated after January 15, 2022 or as appropriate due to new information or changes in State or CDC requirements.

The first priority of all Boards of Health in the Commonwealth is protecting the health and safety of their citizens during this difficult time and the Board of Health will continue to recommend best practices and protocol around social distancing and gathering guidelines, and appreciates your cooperation in adhering to this guidance.

So Ordered Plympton Board of Health

Thorne debuts as interim TA

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The new interim town administrator Edwin Thorne sat with the Selectmen.

Selectmen discussed the proposed agreement with the Lakeville Animal Shelter. They had previously been looking into a possible agreement with Kingston but had not heard back. Selectman Troy Garron said of the agreement with Lakeville, “We’ve had a pretty good relationship.” The Selectmen voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Lakeville.

Inventory lists, budgets, etc. were requested of all town departments. Thorne said, “As part of looking at a budget, we’re also reviewing the current year’s budget to see what our problem area is and what are areas where we are probably going to need to transfer funds to and from… that will be an ongoing process between now and the May town meeting.”

Thorne also said he was asked to look into the solar farm on the capped landfill. Thorne said there was some email correspondence between former town administrator Charlie Seelig and Seth Pickering of MassDEP. Thorne said he knows Pickering from his days working for Green Communities for Southeastern Massachusetts. Thorne said they discussed plans to possibly own the farm as opposed to entering into a 20-year agreement with the company; he further said this is what was done during his time in Pembroke when they faced a similar predicament. He described the plan in Pembroke as, “a payment in lieu of taxes, a lease… and a net savings over 20 years.”

Thorne also told the Selectmen that he sent an email to the Center for Living and Working regarding the ADA plan. He also addressed the Complete Streets Program which he called, “a great program.” He said those were some of the things that he has been working on in his first few days in office.

Selectmen Chair Gordon Andrews said they had received an email from Joan Pierce, the Southeast Land Agent for the Department of Fish and Game regarding the parcel of land on Aldana Rd. that was part of a larger transaction between the town and the state. Andrews said the transaction was completed. Ownership of the land is necessary to pave the street.

Talent bank forms were submitted by Steve Littlefield and John Sullivan to be appointed to the Traffic Safety Committee. There was some confusion as to whether there were one or two seats available on the Committee. Selectman Ashley DiSesa said she would like to have the candidates come and speak with the Selectmen before officially appointing anyone.

The Selectmen appointed Thorne as the ADA Coordinator for non-school departments. They also voted to give Thorne authority to submit the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) application on behalf of the town.

There was a discussion regarding use of ARPA funds to upgrade the Police Department’s network and related equipment. Chief Joao Chaves joined remotely for this portion of the meeting. The current wireless equipment at the Police Department is over 10 years old and was described as awful. The firewall and network security points are also outdated. Andrews asked how much of the funding was being requested and was told that $30,000 would cover replacing and installing all related equipment.

Andrews asked the Chief to speak to the benefits of doing the upgrade now versus waiting for town meeting. Chaves said it would be more of a burden for taxpayers if funds were acquired through town meeting. DiSesa asked if the Board had access to the breakdown of what ARPA funds have been used versus what was still available. She was told they did not immediately have access to that information. Garron expressed some concern about funding the maintenance of the equipment in the future. The Selectmen voted that overall, they are in favor of using the funds for the purpose but said they first want to see the breakdown of funds used thus far from the town accountant.

There was also a discussion on the rate of pay for the Building Commissioner/Inspector of Buildings Steve Solari. The Selectmen voted to approve a rate of $50 per inspection.

An appointment was held with cannabis dispensary company Elevated Roots to discuss the proposed Host Community Agreement (HCA) with them. Elevated Roots first appeared before the Board in late September to introduce the project to the Selectmen and the community. The community forum was held in early November. “We’re ready to move forward with building and begin construction,” the representative told the Board during Tuesday’s meeting. “The residents and the town officials have the ability to go and evaluate how we are actually operating,” he said of their store in Kingston that has been operational since April. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the HCA.

Andrews told those assembled, “We did lose a retired employee this week – Cathy Drinan – a long time Board of Health agent.” DiSesa said, “She put a lot of work into the town.” Drinan was the long-time Docent Art Program Director for the Halifax Elementary School. “She was a very nice person; she worked really hard for our community; she will definitely be missed,” Andrews said.

Amy L. Troup appeared before the Board on behalf of the Beautification Committee. She requested that a donate button be added to the Facebook page. Andrews said it would be a question for the Treasurer/Collector’s office. Troup also said that they were interested in running a vendor fair in the spring, potentially in the gym at Halifax Elementary School. Andrews recommended coordinating with Youth and Rec to find out what days they are not using the gym.

Masks at school are hot topic

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The Halifax Elementary School Committee met in-person on Dec. 6 at the Town Hall. It began with a school attorney providing guidelines for future school committee meetings including that masks would not be required as they would be held at Town Hall instead of a school building. A vote was taken, and the protocols were adopted by the Committee.

The meeting, which was well attended, was open for public participation. A resident said she was having difficulty accessing the meeting times and agendas. Committee Chair Summer Schmaling said that due to the open meeting law, agendas are posted 48 hours prior to the meetings. She pointed out that the meetings are also available on the district website via the calendar.

Another resident who said she is a parent of a student at Halifax Elementary spoke saying she gathered from the agenda that the Committee would be requesting of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that they give authority to local governing bodies to determine what is best for their schools as it pertains to COVID-19. She addressed the Committee with a number of questions that began “What makes you as a Committee think…” She questioned why they would believe that Halifax should have different mandates than the rest of the state as well as why it would be a good time to lift the mask mandate while cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. She asked rhetorically if they conferred with the school nurse, staff and administrators, and parents before deciding to take a vote regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

The Halifax Teachers’ Association made a statement. Elizabeth Antoine spoke on behalf of the HTA saying, “First and foremost we are here to express our goal in building a successful and respectful partnership between the Halifax Teachers’ Association and the Halifax School Committee…as the HTA we would like to address the public comments made at the Selectmen’s meeting.” At this point, Schmaling interjected and said that if they wanted to address comments from the Selectmen’s meeting, they would need to be placed on a Selectmen’s agenda and attend one of their meetings. A member of the audience asked if the comments were regarding the School Committee and Schmaling told her that it was irrelevant if it happened during the Selectmen’s meeting. Much later in the meeting another resident tried to address Antoine’s statement being cut short but was told simply, “moving on” by Schmaling.

Schmaling addressed the letter that she wrote to be sent to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. She said she would also like to see the letter be sent to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Commissioner, Governor Charlie Baker, Senator Michael Brady, and Representative Kathy LaNatra. Schmaling said that the letter was in response to a lack of a response from a letter sent in September seeking information regarding COVID protocols. Schmaling said that the letter was public record and anyone could have access to it at any time.

Committee member Lauren Laws said, “I do agree that some of the information in the letter needs to be clarified but I think some of the reasoning as to why is a little bit not transparent… I agree with a lot of the points of what’s the endgame – how do we get back to more normalcy?” She continued, “At this point with cases rising, I mean, I feel like keeping our kids in school is a top priority and so far there are studies that show that masking works.” Laws further said that she didn’t believe any questions regarding masking or not masking should be kept in the letter. “Let’s not appear to be on one side of the mask issue,” Laws said. Schmaling asked for edits and Laws provided what she would like to see removed from the letter. Schmaling and Laws have notoriously been on opposing sides of the masking debate with Schamling adamantly against mandates and Laws in favor of them. Laws said she didn’t believe the letter should be sent without input from the community. “Take a look at this room and see how many people are masked and I think you might see how our community feels about it,” Laws said. She later stressed that she felt it important to survey the school population and the town regarding the issue.

Schmaling asked for a motion to send the letter to the aforementioned parties. The Committee agreed to send the letter and moved onto a discussion of what that letter should entail. Gordon Andrews, who is not only a school committee member but also a Halifax Selectman, said he felt that he needed more time to think over the contents of the letter and that he would potentially like to see the Committee make a public records request as a public body to gather the information used by DESE to make their decisions. Attorney Dupre spoke up and said that to his knowledge, DESE has not been responding to any school committees that have reached out with questions. Dupre suggested asking the Mass Association of School Committees to request those kinds of records from DESE.

Andrews said, “If we were going to send a letter requesting all the information, I would also be requesting what are they going to do to increase access to all the students who are behind developmentally for the summer and following years… I think if we’re going to send another letter it should be detailed – these are the things that are important to Halifax.” Andrews alluded to masking causing developmental issues and asked what the MASC will do to combat those issues. Laws countered that everything cannot be blamed on the masks as there were other significant factors related to the pandemic that have caused delays, etc. “I think we kind of need to take a bigger picture approach…I feel like there is a lot more to this letter than when are we getting masks off,” she said. Schmaling asked for edits to be sent to her. The Committee voted to table the letter until more details could be gathered.

Schmaling took a moment to acknowledge the retirements of Halifax Elementary School grade 3 teacher Matthew Kaetzer and grade four teacher Robert Dray as well as school attorney Fred Dupre. The Committee members had a multitude of kind things to say about all the retirees.

An update was given on the PTO. A mingle and jingle event was held in lieu of breakfast with Santa. The event included pictures with Santa and a raffle. Youth and Rec also provided a brief update. The basketball program is utilizing the gym 7 days a week. Stem, Game Club, and Art Club are still currently on hold due to COVID.

Principal Kayne Beaudry provided an update. He said that after school programs were all booming and filled to the max when COVID hit. He said they are working toward getting those programs back up and running. He said that a successful lockdown and evacuation drill was run at the school. The turkey trot and food drive was successful despite the chilly temperatures. He said that over 2,000 donations went to the Halifax food pantry as well as over $13,000 in turkey gift cards. Beaudry also said that $13,000 were raised during the PTO book fair. Holiday vacation will begin on December 24 with everyone returning on January 3.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch gave an update on curriculum updates. He said that they have been focusing on how to make progress on their social and emotional learning goal. He said that a student survey on the issue was implemented and nearly 90 percent of Halifax students completed it. It assessed a number of social and emotional areas. He said that teachers will be trained on how to assess the results.

Lynch also provided an update on the three rounds of ESSER funding which is intended to aid in areas affected by the pandemic. He said that the Halifax allocation for ESSER II was about $106,000. Lynch said that the ESSER III funding for Halifax has been submitted but they have yet to receive the confirmation regarding the $225,000 allocated there. Lynch said that a minimum of $10,000 of the ESSER II funding must be spent on social and emotional learning. Schmaling asked what they had planned for ESSER III. He said they just spent money on some assessment programs to identify needs in reading and math as well as English learners. He said that working to make progress toward student supports in social and emotional learning would be high on the priority list as well.

Superintendent Jill Proulx provided a district update. She said that she and other administrators had met with Beaudry to prepare for the budget presentation for January. She went over some enrollment data including homeschool enrollment for K-6. It has gone down in Halifax from 16 students to 15 students for fiscal year 2021-2022. For grades 7-12, across the towns, homeschool has risen by 7 students. Halifax total enrollment has decreased by 5 students at the elementary level and 16 students at the secondary level.

Proulx said the social and emotional learning taskforce will be expanded to include all grades k-12. Included in that is an anti-bullying curriculum. She said it will be expanded to the middle and high schools to ensure a common language within the schools surrounding social and emotional learning. She said that inclusion standards are being implemented to ensure that those on IEPs are not in a substantially separate program unless absolutely necessary. “When we pull students out of the classroom, we tend to find that the gap grows,” Proulx said.

Proulx also talked about growth mindset. She said, “Our expectations, our beliefs in our children and the children’s belief in their own ability to persevere have a profound impact on whether or not they will persevere and have the tenacity and grit to succeed.” She went on to say that we should have troubles and be able to say, “I’m not good at that yet” as opposed to just “I’m not good at that.”

Proulx also addressed the posting of vaccination rates for staff and students. Schmaling said her initial reaction was that she would not want that to happen but said that she wanted to open it up to the Committee as a whole. “The vaccination rates are already public,” Laws said. “I figure since it is public information, why not make it accessible,” she continued. Schmaling said, “I didn’t think it was an appropriate place for it to be on the school website.” Laws suggested possibly a link to where it could be found. Schmaling asked why do it for COVID vaccination status when it isn’t done for other vaccinations. Most of the Committee seemed against publishing the rates on the school website.

The Committee also reviewed and discussed the test and stay program. Proulx said that the test and stay program is intended to allow close contacts to stay in school as long as they remain asymptomatic and receive a negative rapid test each day. They must also monitor for the development of any symptoms. Close contacts exempt from quarantining or test and stay are those on buses, those who have previously been diagnosed with COVID in the last 90 days and are recovered and without COVID symptoms, and those exposed in the classroom while wearing a mask and spaced at least 3 feet apart. Schmaling said that she has been asked if one sibling is awaiting a COVID test, should the other stay home. She said that no, they should not. Additionally, Schmaling mentioned that the test and stay program is intended only for those who were exposed in school. Beaudry said the nurse notifies close contacts that were within six feet but only those within 3 feet qualify for test and stay. It was also mentioned that children who qualify for test and stay are allowed to take the bus.

Schmaling said she has been asked what constitutes an outbreak. She said the nurse said that 20 percent of the student body being out sick with an illness would qualify as an outbreak. Proulx said that thus far there has been no evidence of classroom spread.