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Halifax selectmen plan for COVID-19 business shutdowns and school closings

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, March 17 began with the three selectmen and Town Administrator Charlie Seelig seated 6 feet apart at a very long table.

The first item on the agenda was a discussion of the revised draft from late February of potential changes to the multi-family housing zoning by-laws. Seelig said that Building Inspector and Zoning Enforcement Agent Rob Piccirilli had approached him with specific concerns regarding various definitions. Halifax’s land use counsel Amy Kwesell was also in attendance to advise on the proposed revisions to the by-laws.

Piccirilli stressed that he felt that there should be a definition of both a townhouse and an apartment in the by-laws. Seelig said that a townhouse would fall under the multi-family category as it is simply another form of a multi-family dwelling.

There was some debate as to whether it would be beneficial to include a specific definition of an apartment in the by-laws. Currently an apartment is classified as a subset of a dwelling unit. Piccirilli said that many other towns clearly define what constitutes an apartment in their by-laws. Seelig said, “An apartment in my head is someone is renting it; if you own it, it’s a condo.”

The conversation moved on to in-law apartments as well.  Piccirilli asked, “Our problem with in-law apartments, and I think they are a fantastic thing, but to try and monitor these… when does a single-family dwelling become a two-family dwelling?” Selectman Tom Millias responded with, “immediately.” “In-law is a subject that is ripe for revision, I don’t think anyone is disagreeing with that,” Seelig said. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked, “Can we just note in the multi-family by-law, no accessory apartments allowed?” Seelig said, “I think there’s a worry that somehow, someday, somebody is going to try and glom an additional accessory unit onto one of the condos in the two, or three, or four, and the idea is no, you can’t do that and it needs to be explicitly in the by-law.” Millias agreed saying, “People get creative… we have to get specific.”

There was also a discussion on the differences between two-family homes and multi-family homes. A two-family and duplex are classified as one and the same whereas a multi-family home would have three or more units. Chapter 167, Section 3 provides updates to both the definitions and use requirements for a single two-family dwelling and multi-family dwellings.

Piccirilli shared his concerns over the development of Chapter 40B. Chapter 40B is Massachusetts’ affordable housing law which allows developers to build under a simpler permit process as well as less stringent zoning rules as long as a certain percentage of their units are devoted to low and moderate income families. “I’m not here to say what I want or what anyone else wants; I’m here to do what’s best for the town and the question that’s going to come up at town meeting, that I can foresee, is what kind of breathing room do we have within this to prevent the 40B from coming here?,” Piccirilli asked. Seelig immediately responded with “we don’t.” Kwesell was also quick to respond saying simply, “none.”

Piccirilli was told that cleaning up the by-laws for multi-family dwellings was the first step in incentivizing developers to not go to a Chapter 40B. Kwesell said that the plan was to allow developers to build market-rate units and sell them as market-rate units under the revised by-laws while still providing as much protection as possible to abutters.

Seelig and the selectmen also discussed the ongoing and continually developing situation regarding COVID-19. Seelig addressed the logistics for working from home saying, “If we’re going to both allow or be required… a department head has to make the request of the Board of Selectmen for an individual to work from home.” Seelig also said that the town Board of Health had some money available to pay for laptops for select employees who do not have the required equipment. Town employees working from home are required to provide a synopsis to their department head of how they spent their time each day. Seelig explained, “we need to provide some assurance to the public, to the Board, to the department head that work is actually being done.” “If there are details that need to be filled in, we have time to do that. As with many other things, we’re doing this a little bit on the fly, we’ll smooth out the rough edges as we move along,” Seelig said. The Board of Selectmen voted to approve the framework of the work from home policy.

The possibility of holding public meetings remotely was also briefly discussed.

Since the meeting on March 17, Halifax has actually moved to holding meetings via the platform Zoom with login information available on the town website.

Andrews informed the other selectmen that while 25 percent of students at Halifax Elementary qualify for free or reduced lunch, there was a delay in setting that service up for those still needing it with school closed. He said the delay was due to contract issues within the school system.

The issue has since been resolved. Andrews said that those that are not currently part of the free or reduced lunch program but are currently in need will be helped. He advised that they reach out to the food service director at Silver Lake whose contact information can be found on the town website.

How our families are coping

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The Express spoke with several local families to find out what kind of effects the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 is having on the day-to-day lives of residents. Among those interviewed were Suzy Scott, a Halifax resident and mother to two young boys ages 5 and 7, Stephani Teran, a Plympton resident and mother to four children ages 14, 12, 7 and 2, Lisa Bethoney, a Halifax resident, local business owner, and mother to sons aged 8 and 2, and Plympton resident Heather Sheehan who is a mother of three children 6 and under.

Q.  In what ways has your family practiced social distancing?

Most of those interviewed said they are utilizing grocery delivery or pickup services to avoid having to go to the store and minimize contact with those outside of their immediate family. Scott said that her extended family has also been helping to minimize trips by picking things up for one another while shopping. “We exchange items on the front porch and wave at each other and have quick conversations through the windows.”

Teran, who said that her family has been utilizing online services whenever possible, makes sure to take all the necessary precautions should a trip to the store be needed. “If it’s absolutely necessary we will go to the store, latex gloves (or even sandwich bags) over your hands and quickly get what is needed… and leave as soon as possible. We make sure to sanitize surfaces in the car as well. We also use hand coverings at gas pumps as we hear that is how many people are being exposed,” she said.

Bethoney said that they are having their groceries delivered and simply making do with what they have. “It’s tough but I know it’s for the best. The only way we’re going to beat this thing is if everyone practices social distancing and does not allow this virus to spread.”

Bethoney said that social distancing has also had a tremendous effect on her business, Stencil It, an arts and crafts studio in Carver.  “I was forced to cancel all of the events and parties that I had scheduled to avoid having a group of people interacting with each other. Right now, the business has no money coming in and it’s unclear as to when I will be able to open again,” she said.

Sheehan said her husband has overseen the grocery runs and other errands. “My husband has been picking up the groceries and running necessary errands outside of the home, making sure to stay a safe distance from others and sanitizing carts, handles and gas pumps etc. and we’re all constantly washing our hands.”

While those interviewed said that they are mostly hunkering down at home with their immediate family, there are still exceptions for work or medical related purposes. Teran is currently undergoing physical therapy to regain her ability to walk after sustaining an injury this winter and her husband Brett is a physiatrist who is practicing telemedicine whenever possible but must still travel to work to perform mandatory procedures. “When we are required to leave and go into a medical facility we have to take extreme precautions while there. The employees follow us around and sanitize every surface we touch and also work with us with gloves and some masks on,” Teran said. Once home, Teran said that they are careful to change their clothes and shoes at the door and then wash them with hot water and bleach. “Brett especially, has to shower if he has been doing spinal procedures that day,” Teran continued. Teran acknowledged that should it be necessary, her husband could be called to help with the pandemic saying, “We are supportive as a family in him taking that risk if needed because it’s what his medical oath requires.”

Sheehan’s husband Johnny is the executive chef and partner of two restaurants in Plymouth – Salt & Leena’s Kitchen. “This has affected my husband’s businesses in most every way, beginning with first heavily sanitizing and rearranging the restaurants to comply with social distancing regulations, to having the painful task of having to lay off the majority of the staff to comply with the government’s changing restrictions,” Sheehan explained. “They had to quickly change their business model from full-service restaurants to temporarily closing one of the locations to operate a curbside pickup and delivery service for both out of one location,” Sheehan continued. In addition to wanting to stay open to serve the community, Sheehan said they have also been preparing meals for their staff who aren’t working to pick up and share with their families.

Q.  Have you found ways to safely stay connected to others?

Everyone mentioned various platforms for video chatting friends and family such as FaceTime and Zoom. Many of the parents have even been keeping their young children busy with virtual playdates. Scott said that her boys have participated in virtual get-togethers with their hockey team. Her sons also enjoy having a bedtime story read to them over the phone by their grandparents. “That has definitely helped both my boys and their grandparents stay connected,” Scott said. Likewise, Sheehan said, “We have video calls with our family and friends daily to keep in touch from a distance.” Sheehan has also been keeping up with her cosmetics business virtually. “My team and I utilize video conferencing and messenger to keep in contact, to provide training and connect with our customers.  I’ve also enrolled in real estate courses and am taking them virtually online instead of in a classroom at this time.”

Teran said that her seven-year old daughter’s Irish Step studio utilizes an app that allows the students to see and hear one another. Sheehan’s six-year old daughter has also been able to keep up with her dance lessons thanks to some ingenuity on the part of the studio. “Her dance studio also provided video and music for her to practice at home as well, which is amazing,” Sheehan said.

Q. How have your children reacted to the sudden changes in their daily lives?

There seems to be a consensus that while the children may have initially seen the break from school as a welcome reprieve, even the youngest among them are now starting to pick up on the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding COVID-19.

Scott said that initially she didn’t think her children understood much of what was going on but was surprised at just how much they were absorbing. “When my youngest, who’s 5, heard me listening to one of the press conferences he commented that he didn’t like to hear about the virus and that it scared him. I honestly didn’t know he knew anything about it other than we were staying in to not share germs. I had no idea he had even heard the word virus.” Scott said she is now very aware of what she says in front of them.

Teran, who has a pre-teen as well as a teenager, said, “We try not to talk too much about it around them but the oldest two are old enough to see the news and hear from their friends what is going on. We try to make ourselves available for any questions they have. The hardest one to be asked is also the most frequent: ‘When will this be over?’”

Teran’s oldest son actually traveled to Italy with his 8th grade Latin group in February just prior to the threat of COVID-19 really taking off both here and in Europe. “Twelve hours after he landed back at Logan they declared a state of emergency in Northern Italy,” Teran said. Consequently, her son was forced to quarantine for 14 days while being monitored at home for symptoms. “We are so grateful that our son stayed seemingly healthy after his trip.”

“I am also trying to shield the kids from the media and news stories as I don’t want to worry them,” Bethoney said of her preschool and elementary school aged sons. “They know what’s going on to a certain extent, but I don’t talk about it a lot in front of them. I explain the situation to them and give them only as much detail as I feel is necessary.”

The local schools have done their best to quickly adapt to online learning in order to ensure that students are progressing during this strange interlude. Teran’s older children have been sent homework via Google Classroom as well as hard copies from their school. “Their schools, teachers, and coaches have been incredible in providing resources, learning opportunities, and motivating activities to keep them up to par and engaged in learning -but without rigor as they know these are stressful times,” Teran said. She also expressed her appreciation for the schools’ efforts saying, “I can’t say enough how much I appreciate all the teachers and educators. As a parent I feel very supported by all of them right now.”

Sheehan said that while her oldest daughter is sad to be missing out on part of her first real year of school, she is grateful for the school’s remote presence. “My daughter was enjoying her first year in school in kindergarten and is missing her teacher and classmates, but thankfully the school is very active in keeping in touch and the kids have been able to communicate through the parents.”

Like others, Bethoney said that her sons are missing their usual routines but are resilient. “They are enjoying the extra family time and we are doing are best to mix fun/play time with some academic time as well.”

Scott said that while following a strict academic schedule hasn’t worked for her family, they are making sure that their boys are staying engaged in other ways. “I find all the posts about distant learning to be very overwhelming, so we are doing our best to not get stressed and to find ways to keep them learning while they are playing,” she explained.

With a large family Teran said that it can be difficult to accommodate everyone’s needs while adhering to a strict schedule. “We are using our schedules as a backbone for structure but if we are off one day it’s not a big deal. I also want our kids to take this time to enjoy some down time since during our normal schedule there is very little in our big, busy family.”

Do you have any tips for other families during this difficult time?

If a silver lining is to be found in this trying time, there seems to be agreement that it lies within the extra family time that has come along with social distancing. Scott said, “Like most families I’m sure, we typically have a very busy schedule… especially on the weekends. We have spent a lot of time together doing yard work, playing games, building forts and baking.” Teran shared a similar sentiment saying, “As parents we are doing our best to have daily family walks, a few daily chores, and lots of cooking/baking/board game time together.” Bethoney said that her family is doing their best to put a positive on the situation, “We’re taking advantage of the down time and spending more time together as a family.” Sheehan said that her family has tried to include the children in a fun way in meal planning as well as cooking and clean-up. “They have also been enjoying writing letters and drawing pictures and sending mail to family and friends and putting on performances for us” Sheehan said. She also said that she has found that staying active and listening to music has been helpful for her family as well. Bethoney said that getting outside has been key for her family.

“Things like this have happened in the world before, and they will happen again. The trick seems to be finding a healthy way to respond and then be productive and proactive in our actions. We need to be brave, selfless, and aware. We need our communities now more than ever,” Teran said.

Teran said that her family is “blown away by the strength of health care workers right now but also completely disturbed by the lack of supplies and infrastructure for them and patients.”

“Physicians, my husband included, are begging people to listen to and pay attention to the science, not those offering opinion or biased projections. We will get through this, but the world will undoubtedly be changed by it.”

Difficult cuts predicted as School Committee votes the budget

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The budget for the Silver Lake Regional schools were voted on by the Silver Lake Regional School Committee during their Thursday, March 12 meeting. Superintendent Jill Proulx began the budget discussion saying that before former superintendent Joy Blackwood even introduced version one she had already made $107,000 worth of cuts at the high school level and another $60,000 at the middle school level. Additionally, there was no replacement for a retiring high school aide.

The most recent version of the budget includes cuts in the form of two teaching positions at the middle school. Committee chair Jason Fraser said that he had received a letter from the president of the Silver Lake Educator’s Association (SLEA) stating that they were, “sad, shocked, and disappointed that the committee didn’t speak more about the budget at our last meeting specifically to the fact that the budget as presented included a reduction of two teaching staff members from the middle school.” Fraser apologized if it felt that the topic was glazed over at the prior meeting and said that it would be discussed during the current meeting.

Proulx offered several suggestions for additional cuts including $1,400 for teaching supplies, $1,500 from the library line item, $1,200 from AV, $1,000 for worn out band equipment, $4,000 for new ELA texts, and $2,000 from transportation for events such as music festivals. Proulx also offered the possibility of only offering late buses on two, rather than three days of the week. “The reality is that as you get to some of these categories, there are no good options,” Proulx explained. After some discussion, Fraser made a motion not to accept any of the additional cuts and the committee agreed unanimously.

Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee asked Proulx if they considered any administrative cuts. Proulx said that they did explore the possibility of cutting one position from a 12-month to a 10-month position but were advised against doing so as it was not in the current contract. McGee addressed Kingston’s high assessment saying, “I just don’t see how this is going to happen. I think we need to dig a little deeper, especially on the administrative side maybe.”

Fraser said that during the tri-town finance meeting that was held previously, Halifax made it known how difficult the budget would be for the town while also expressing concern about sustaining these increases into the future. “The goal is always to get all three towns to support our budget even though we can do it with two,” Fraser told the other committee members and school administrators. Fraser said that given the concerns over the number, he couldn’t see how it would be possible to proceed with putting the two teaching positions back into the budget.

Another ongoing issue of concern for Halifax is the proposed mechanism for paying for a part-time school resource officer at the middle school. Halifax has maintained since voting their share of the cost of the position down at town meeting last year, that they believe the position should be in the school budget rather than voted on as a warrant article. “It doesn’t belong in the budget. We have to get Halifax past this issue somehow,” Committee member and Halifax resident Paula Hatch said.

Fraser opened the budget discussion to public participation, but no one elected to speak to it. Fraser also asked the committee if anyone had any desire to either lower the number or add anything back into the budget before proceeding with a vote. The committee unanimously voted for the fiscal year 2020-2021 Silver Lake Regional Schools’ operating budget of $26,698,578. They also unanimously voted the fiscal year 2020-2021 construction budget of $1,515,905 and $766,250 Excess and Deficiency (E&D) funds to fund the 2020-2021 capital plan. The acceptance of the assessments as presented was the only vote not to receive unanimous support, with one vote against. The regional agreement identifies the statutory method as the method used to compute the assessments. The overall increase as voted on was 2.72 percent.

Fraser took time during the meeting to recognize Kingston Fire Chief Mark Douglass for his superior response during the hazmat situation that took place at the high school on Friday, February 7. The committee extended a hearty applause for Douglass. “One thing that I need to make a very clear point on is you don’t do this alone; this requires an enormous amount of help and that help comes from all different areas… specifically the school nurse was absolutely fantastic in handling and managing it,” Douglass said. Regarding the cause of the incident, Douglass said, “There is some degree of, I don’t want to say certainty, but suspicion that it could have been a vape pen.” Douglass said that should they find out the exact cause, they would be sure to pass the information along.

Student Opportunity Act Discussed

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch presented on the Student Opportunity Act. Lynch explained that in order to receive their portion of the funding, they would have to submit paperwork demonstrating the ways in which the funding would be spent by the district to close student opportunity or achievement gaps. According to Lynch, Silver Lake received minimal funding with 85 percent of new funding going to just 37 of 351 districts in the commonwealth. “In a district where we’re not receiving a significant amount of new funding, ours really focuses on the overlap between our current plan and what we’re trying to deepen as opposed to adopting lots of new staff or new programs,” Lynch explained. The population identified as needing additional support to close the gap at Silver Lake include both students with disabilities and students that qualify for Title 1 services.

Lynch said that the plan places a focus on engagement opportunities for families. A meet and greet was originally scheduled for parents to speak with both Proulx and Lynch prior to the concerns over the coronavirus. A survey will, however, go out to all families and will be translated into the language spoken within that home.

New Vape Deviation Program Proposed

Silver Lake Regional High School principal Michaela Gill introduced several staff members who are the backbone of a proposed, new vape deviation program. That staff include assistant principal Katherine Pratt, School Resource Officer Richard Allen, school nurse Penny Svenson, guidance counselor Andrea Cranshaw, school adjustment counselor Leah Wilkinson, wellness teachers Julie Warnock and Marlene Lopes, and Spanish teacher Jessica Drew. Unlike the current discipline-based approach, the LEAP (Laker Education Action Prevention) program would be education-based and would hopefully empower students to make healthy choices.

It is a five-week course and students must enter into a contract in which they agree to complete all five weeks. The program begins with a meeting with the assistant principal and then each week will cover a different topic with a different staff member. During week one, students would discuss the health effects of addiction with the school nurse. Week two would cover the social emotional aspects of addiction and mental health and would be led by a school adjustment counselor. Week three would cover the legal consequences and would include a meeting with the school resource officer. Week four would be a discussion of the ways in which media and marketing have contributed to the rise in use by adolescents. Students would have some flexibility during this week to choose a staff member to work with that they might have an established relationship with. The final week would be dedicated to planning for the future including setting goals and would involve either a guidance counselor or the assistant principal. Students will complete several assignments each week including readings or short videos. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate.

In addition to the proposal, student members of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) have been working on solutions to the vaping problem as well with ideas such as a school-wide pledge.  Students in the Allied Health program at the high school have also been working on a number of initiatives.

Credit for Life Fair a Success

Gill also spoke about the first annual Credit for Life Fair which took place recently at the high school. “Our students had the opportunity to learn how to balance a budget, make financial decisions, and experience what real life financial management is like,” Gill explained. Each student attending the fair was given a career, a salary, and a credit score. Booths were setup with volunteers who helped guide the students.  “Our hope with the activity was that afterward our students would have a better perspective on financial management and that they left feeling better prepared for an independent and financially responsible future,” Gill said.

Students Earn Recognition at METG

On February 29 several Silver Lake students participated in the one act Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) Competition. Eight of the students were independently recognized by the judges. Liz Croteau received an award for Excellence in Stage Management and Technical Direction, Caitlyn Beckwith received an All-Star Award for Lead Acting, Toni Mello received an All-Star Award for Supporting Actor, Keira Nagle received an All-Star Award for Ensemble Acting, and Ava O’Connor, Allyson Peta, Kerry Driscoll, and Sarah Anderson all received All-Star Awards for Stage Design. Gill also thanked teachers and METG advisors Ashley Ferrara, Kim Orcutt, and JennyLyn Berry.

Cancellations Over COVID-19

Middle school principal James Dupille told the committee that the out of state field trip in May to Kennedy Space Center would have to be cancelled. Dupille asked permission from the committee to reschedule the trip for next year without assigning a date for the rescheduling. The committee agreed.  Dupille also said that the Grade 6 parent orientation will be handled virtually as a power point narrated by himself and others until a makeup date could be scheduled.

Dupille informed the committee that a number of students were selected to participate in the Junior District Music Festival that was now cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.  “Please let them know that we’re proud of them nonetheless for making it to that level with their music.” Fraser said.

Halifax seeks grants

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Highway surveyor Steve Hayward spoke with the Halifax Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10,  to get approval for two contracts. The first is a precision weather forecaster that was free for the past year and will cost $1,295 to renew. The second was for a GreenSeal Environmental prioritization plan for $38,000. Hayward explained that the plan would look at all the streets in town, saying, “Any hazard for bikes, walking, any bad intersections, stuff like that, we can get a $400,000 grant but we have to have this program.” The Board approved both contracts.

Grant to Hire New Police Officer

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig also recommended to the Board that they discuss the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) with Police Chief Joao Chaves. The program provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in order to rehire officers previously laid off or hire new, additional officers. Chaves plans to apply for the grant this week.

Seelig explained that every year for three years, the percentage funded by the grant is reduced until at the end of that period, the town is fully funding the position.

The grant stipulates that the town must then keep that position for a set minimum number of years. Seelig said that the town was involved in a similar program 25 years ago.

Resident Requests Earth Removal Waiver

Resident Joseph Peck attended the meeting to request a post permit for earth removal on behalf of his father, John Peck.

Back in 2018, the elder Peck had removed 1200 cubic pounds of soil from the bottom of an irrigation pond, violating the town’s bylaws that limit earth removal to 1000 cubic pounds.

Board of Selectman Chair Troy Garron said that his biggest concern was that there was no change to the contour of the land.

Some abutters attended the meeting after receiving a notice but said that they had no issues as long as the work was already done.

Selectman Gordon Andrews said that he wanted to see a plan showing the current contour of the entire property before signing off on the waiver.

The hearing was continued until 7:45 p.m. on March 24.

Electricity Costs Going Down

Seelig said that natural gas prices are going down and consequently electricity rates are as well.

As a result, Halifax will be going with Old Colony Gas for their municipal electricity aggregation. Seelig said that the new rate would be 10.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) versus the current rate of 10.876 cents per kWh.

Affordable

Housing Option

Seelig said that newly appointed Planning Board member Ashley DiSesa approached him about the possibility of having mobile homes count toward affordable housing. Chapter 40B is an affordable housing program in Massachusetts first created in 1969.

Under 40B, residents must earn no more than 80 percent of the area-median income to qualify.

In addition, developers may be able to bypass certain restrictions imposed on them by planning and zoning bylaws if 20 to 25 percent of their development is deemed affordable.

Seelig said that other local communities have been met with great resistance when attempting to designate mobile homes as low- and moderate-income housing.

Nevertheless, Seelig said that he would reach out to Senator Michael Brady and Representative Kathleen LaNatra to find out their thoughts on the matter.

Building and Facility Needs committee

The newly created Building and Facility Needs Committee met on Tuesday, March 11 for the first time.

The Committee, which includes most of the department heads in town, will be reviewing the various town buildings and facilities and making recommendations regarding whether to renovate, repair, or construct new buildings.

Among those facilities being reviewed are the Police station, the Fire station, and the Council on Aging building.

Changes Coming to Water Restrictions

Superintendent of the Halifax Water Department Keith Swanson informed Seelig that changes are needed to the mandatory water use restrictions bylaw in connection with a withdrawal permit.

All water departments or water facilities need a withdrawal permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and that permit must be renewed every ten years or so.

Swanson must make a judgment call regarding restrictions based on available water and water being used.

Selectman Tom Millias said he spoke with Swanson and was told there is a decent cushion currently between what is available and what is being used.

Selectman Andrews called into question why some communities such as Whitman and Brockton don’t have restrictions on water usage when they are drawing from the same aquifer.

Seelig said that he would speak to DEP to find out what the limits are for Brockton under their water withdrawal permit.

Taking action against COVID-19

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Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 10, to aid in the state’s response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 as it is identified. Baker said, “We will continue planning and preparing to mitigate the spread of this disease…I urge employers and other large organizations to follow our example and limit or eliminate non-essential travel, limit or eliminate large events where possible, and explore telework where appropriate for your organization.”

Older adults and those with health issues are also being implored by the administration to avoid large crowds and gatherings as are those that live with someone in the vulnerable population. As of press time, the number of confirmed or presumptive positives in Massachusetts had reached 91 with the majority of those being linked to a Biogen conference held in Boston in late February. As of Wednesday, March 11 the World Health Organization had declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. What does all of this mean for our local communities?

On March 11 Kingston Town Administrator Thomas Calter posted a letter to residents alerting them of a possible COVID-19 case in a Kingston resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. Later that same day, Kingston town officials leaarned that the patient was negative for the virus during a lengthy call with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. As of press time, there are currently no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kingston or Plymouth County.

The Kingston Board of Health said that thus far they have been following the guidelines provided by the CDC and Mass.gov. They did say that they planned to run a simulated drill with emergency services personnel in town in conjunction with the Board of Health on March 21. The drill is meant to assess the level of preparedness of the town should the worst-case scenario take place.

They also said that they are in talks with a contractor should they elect to do a commercial grade clean of the schools and other town buildings. The cleaning would involve a mist spray made by the same company that produces Lysol.

Other local communities have taken similar measures to help ensure that their schools are being properly disinfected. Whitman-Hanson performed a deep cleaning of all school facilities over the February break and plan to do another this coming weekend. All public schools in Plymouth were closed on Friday, March 6 in order to thoroughly clean and disinfect them. The closing was due to an abundance of caution after a student became ill upon returning from a recent trip to Italy. That student ended up testing negative for COVID-19.

The Plympton Board of Health is referring residents to a letter jointly posted to the town website on March 10 by Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy, Fire Chief Stephan Silva, and Chair of the Board of Health Art Morin. The letter reminds residents of common-sense actions they can take including washing hands, avoiding touching their face, and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

According to the letter, the town is following the advice of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Public Health (DPH). Specific questions, it says, can be directed to Fire Captain Cheryl Davis ([email protected]).

The Halifax town website also provides information on COVID-19 including links to resources such as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health webpage and the CDC’s frequently asked questions regarding coronavirus and another page dedicated to interim guidance for employers. Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig, who advised listening to medical professionals, said, “People should practice hygiene, if they feel sick whether it’s COVID-19 or the flu or a cold or something else, stay home. Obviously, people over a certain age or with frequent health problems are more endangered with this so they should probably take additional precautions.”

Regarding town business, Seelig said that unless specific directives were given by the Governor’s office, business would go on as usual with some obvious precautions taken. “We’re going to continue, until otherwise I would say, operating as normal,” Seelig said.

Seelig did say that maintenance staff both within the schools and other municipal buildings have been taking extra care to disinfect common surfaces such as doorknobs.

Given Governor Baker’s suggestion to avoid large gatherings, Seelig said he will reach out to the administration to find out how best to handle potentially large gatherings such as the Chapter 40B public hearings scheduled for next week.

Seelig’s advice to those in the community is to “Try and maintain, as well as you can, a sense of normalcy given the circumstances.”

LaNatra presents bill for public health services

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Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 10, to aid in the state’s response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 as it is identified. Baker said, “We will continue planning and preparing to mitigate the spread of this disease…I urge employers and other large organizations to follow our example and limit or eliminate non-essential travel, limit or eliminate large events where possible, and explore telework where appropriate for your organization.”

Older adults and those with health issues are also being implored by the administration to avoid large crowds and gatherings as are those that live with someone in the vulnerable population. As of press time, the number of confirmed or presumptive positives in Massachusetts had reached 91 with the majority of those being linked to a Biogen conference held in Boston in late February. As of Wednesday, March 11 the World Health Organization had declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. What does all of this mean for our local communities?

On March 11 Kingston Town Administrator Thomas Calter posted a letter to residents alerting them of a possible COVID-19 case in a Kingston resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. Later that same day, Kingston town officials leaarned that the patient was negative for the virus during a lengthy call with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. As of press time, there are currently no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kingston or Plymouth County.

The Kingston Board of Health said that thus far they have been following the guidelines provided by the CDC and Mass.gov. They did say that they planned to run a simulated drill with emergency services personnel in town in conjunction with the Board of Health on March 21. The drill is meant to assess the level of preparedness of the town should the worst-case scenario take place.

They also said that they are in talks with a contractor should they elect to do a commercial grade clean of the schools and other town buildings. The cleaning would involve a mist spray made by the same company that produces Lysol.

Other local communities have taken similar measures to help ensure that their schools are being properly disinfected. Whitman-Hanson performed a deep cleaning of all school facilities over the February break and plan to do another this coming weekend. All public schools in Plymouth were closed on Friday, March 6 in order to thoroughly clean and disinfect them. The closing was due to an abundance of caution after a student became ill upon returning from a recent trip to Italy. That student ended up testing negative for COVID-19.

The Plympton Board of Health is referring residents to a letter jointly posted to the town website on March 10 by Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy, Fire Chief Stephan Silva, and Chair of the Board of Health Art Morin. The letter reminds residents of common-sense actions they can take including washing hands, avoiding touching their face, and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

According to the letter, the town is following the advice of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Public Health (DPH). Specific questions, it says, can be directed to Fire Captain Cheryl Davis ([email protected]).

The Halifax town website also provides information on COVID-19 including links to resources such as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health webpage and the CDC’s frequently asked questions regarding coronavirus and another page dedicated to interim guidance for employers. Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig, who advised listening to medical professionals, said, “People should practice hygiene, if they feel sick whether it’s COVID-19 or the flu or a cold or something else, stay home. Obviously, people over a certain age or with frequent health problems are more endangered with this so they should probably take additional precautions.”

Regarding town business, Seelig said that unless specific directives were given by the Governor’s office, business would go on as usual with some obvious precautions taken. “We’re going to continue, until otherwise I would say, operating as normal,” Seelig said.

Seelig did say that maintenance staff both within the schools and other municipal buildings have been taking extra care to disinfect common surfaces such as doorknobs.

Given Governor Baker’s suggestion to avoid large gatherings, Seelig said he will reach out to the administration to find out how best to handle potentially large gatherings such as the Chapter 40B public hearings scheduled for next week.

Seelig’s advice to those in the community is to “Try and maintain, as well as you can, a sense of normalcy given the circumstances.”

HES budget approved

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Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch led the discussion on the Student Opportunity Act and what it means for Halifax during the Monday, March 2, Halifax School Committee meeting. The Student Opportunity Act, signed into law in November of 2019, rethinks the allocation of Chapter 70 funding throughout the state per the recommendation of the 2015 State Foundation Budget Review Committee. It has had the greatest impact on state education funding since the inception of the Massachusetts Education Reform Act in 1993.

Lynch explained that districts receiving less than $1.5 million in additional funds are required to produce a student opportunity plan known as the short form while districts receiving greater than $1.5 million must produce the long form. Halifax falls into the former category earning about $30 per student totaling $17,580. Under the Act, 85 percent of the funding was awarded to a small number of districts that were deemed to be the most in need.

Lynch explained that the student opportunity plan is meant to focus on ways in which to close persistent opportunity achievement gaps. “While this is a required plan, it does align with Halifax’s plan and Silver Lake’s plans to really try and support all students across the board,” Lynch explained. The plan is broken into four parts focusing on 1.) identifying which subgroups are not achieving at the same rate as their peers, 2.) Adopting, deepening, or continuing efforts to close that gap, 3.) Ways in which to monitor the plan and 4.) engaging families and stakeholders in the process. Lynch said that students with disabilities, students in the Title 1 program, and English language learners were all identified as needing additional supports to close the current gap in student achievement. Lynch also said that part of their plan includes the adoption of a new, evidence-based early literacy plan for students.

Principal Kayne Beaudry, Assistant Principal Brian DeSantes, and Superintendent Jill Proulx have recommended continuing with a math interventionist position for the fiscal year 2021 budget. The position was previously funded through Title I but won’t be for the upcoming year. A member of the public present at the meeting asked what kind of success the school has seen as a result of the position that would justify continuing with it despite needing to now fund it through the budget. Proulx said that curriculum coordinator Melissa Farrell, who was not present, would be best suited to answer the question with specifics. Proulx did stress, however, the importance of interventionists who can work alongside teachers in an inclusive classroom. “One of the things that we have talked about and focused on is really the need for push in rather than pull out. As research shows us, when we work with students in the classroom as opposed to sending them out for interventions, student achievement tends to grow,” Proulx explained.

Lynch explained that the state asks districts for specific metrics that can be used to measure success. Lynch said that ELA achievement on the MCAS as well as math achievement are two of the metrics that Halifax will be using. Halifax School Committee Chair Summer Schmaling asked that some metrics be used that are not test scores as not all students are good test takers.

Both Lynch and Proulx said that they are eager to find out from families what additional supports they may need. There will be a meet and greet with Proulx and Lynch on March 18 with a session beginning at 3 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m.  The finalized plan must be submitted by midnight on April 1.

A member of the public and father of children at Halifax Elementary attended the meeting Monday to address his concerns over bullying at the school. The father said that he had been a part of a heated conversation on Facebook regarding bullying and “wanted to at least show everyone who I was so I’m not just sitting behind a keyboard.” He also said that he had been encouraged by a recent meeting he had with both the principal and assistant principal. He emphasized how important communication between parents, teachers, and students is to fixing the problem. Schmaling said, “Thank you for coming, there is nothing worse than a keyboard warrior… you’re sending a powerful message.”

Proulx presented a draft of the schedule for next year. Proposed in-service days for teachers would be August 31, September 1, November 3, and February 22. The first day of school would be September 2. February vacation will be from February 15 to February 19. Some school committee members asked about the professional development days all falling relatively early in the calendar year. Committee member Alison Vance, however, pointed out that prior to the current year, there were only two in-service days for teachers and they both occurred prior to school starting.

Proulx led the discussion on the budget addressing the need to fund the math interventionist previously funded by Title I. The amount needed to fund the position would be $30,000. Proulx suggested some proposed budget cuts including building cuts totaling $10,000 and another $7,000 in cuts from reducing Grade 3 textbooks and limiting the implementation of classroom materials such as STEM materials. Proulx also said that she requested cuts from technology director Steve Pellowe. Proulx said that she worked with administrators to provide a list of cuts that would have the least impact on student needs. In addition to shrinking Title I funds, Proulx said that Title II A funds are also being reduced. Title II A is currently the only means of funding professional development services.

Vance said that even without cuts, adding the $30,000 to the current budget would still be level service as it is not a new position. Schmaling was also hesitant to make the cuts proposed by Proulx. School Committee member and Halifax Selectman Gordon Andrews said that he felt that the budget was reasonable as is but that adding $30,000 on top of that would likely present a problem.  “I think it’s the fiscal reality of what’s happening with the town and what’s happening with the state,” Andrews said.

Proulx pointed out that there may be a savings in the budget once the transportation numbers are actual and the bus contracts finalized. There was also some discussion among the committee members as to whether or not it might make sense to ask the town to reallocate funds from the vocational students back to the schools in order to help fund the math interventionist. School committee member Robert Johnson said that he was not worried about the additional $30,000 given that the overall budget totals more than 8 million dollars.

In the end, the committee voted to approve the budget with the additional $30,000, forgoing the additional cuts proposed by Proulx. The committee voted to approve the 2020-2021 elementary regular day and special education operating budget of $5,871,010. They also voted to approve the elementary out of district special education tuition budget of $1,857,409 and the out of district special education transportation budget of $473,800. The final vote was to approve the out of district vocational education budget of $206,500.

How we voted on Super Tuesday

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Voters across Massachusetts headed to the polls on Super Tuesday to vote in the presidential primary.

Voters in Halifax, selected Joe Biden as their preferred Democratic  presidential nominee with him receiving 519 votes or 39 percent of the vote.  Bernie Sanders finished second with 363 votes or 27% of the vote. Elizabeth Warren received 190 votes, 14.3 percent, and Michael Bloomberg received 171 votes  or 12.8%. Bloomberg has since left the race.

Nearly 43 percent of voters in Plympton also selected Biden who received 249 votes. Sanders received 149 votes and 25.7 percent of the Plympton vote while Warren received 73 votes (12.6 percent) and Bloomberg received 64 votes (11 percent).

In Kingston, Biden also received the lion’s share of votes with 1032, or 39.1% of the democratic votes cast.  Bernie Sanders took 704 votes, or 26.7%, and Elizabeth Warren tied Micheal Bloomberg with each receiving 350 votes, or 13.27%.

Plymouth County voted very similarly overall to the Silver Lake towns of Halifax, Plympton, and Kingston. Tulsi Gabbard, who as of press time was still in the race, received very little support from Massachusetts. Biden walked away from Super Tuesday with 34 of Massachusetts’ delegates while Sanders picked up 26, and Warren 17.

Republican voters faced a choice between President Donald Trump or former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld.

Trump easily won the Massachusetts Republican primary with nearly 87 percent of the vote while Weld picked up 10 percent of the vote. For reference, both Halifax (53 percent of the vote) and Plympton (50 percent of the vote) went for Donald Trump in the 2016 general election, despite Clinton winning the state by a significant margin.

Three candidates were on the ballot in both Halifax and Plympton for Republican State Committee Man in the Second Plymouth and Bristol District. They were Incumbent and Halifax Selectman Gordon C. Andrews, former state representative and Whitman resident Geoff Diehl, and Lawrence Novak of Brockton. Diehl won decisively in  both towns with 420 in Halifax to Andrews 292, and Novak 28.  In Plympton,  Diehl won with 187 votes to Andrews 67 and Novak 11.   

Two candidates were also on the ballot for Republican State Committee Woman: Whitman resident KathyJo Boss and Brockton resident Jeanie Falcone.  Kathy Jo Boss won Halifax with 397 votes to Falcone’s 300.  In Plympton, Boss  won 146 votes to Falcone’s 108. The races for Democratic State Committee Woman and Man were uncontested with both Michael D. Brady and Peggy Curtis both up for reelection.

In Kingston, voters chose James R. McMahon, III for Republican State Committee man with 562 votes over Jesse G. Brown, 483 votes, and Sean Patrick Rausch with 36 votes. Jennifer A Cunningham won 593 votes for Republican State Committee woman over Linda M Zuern with 405 votes.  The Democratic State Committee Man in Kingston was Brian R. Dunn who ran unopposed. Democratic State Committee Woman Amy B. Kullar was also unopposed.

Results of the State Committee races were still being tabulated as of press time.

ROCCC increase queried

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Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy gave an update to Plympton selectmen at Monday night’s meeting on the proposed contract with Regional Old Colony Communications Center (ROCCC). The Selectmen had previously met with members of the ROCCC to discuss the large increase in dispatch costs to the town. Plympton paid $50,000 for this fiscal year and the increase proposed by ROCC discussed previously was $200,000 annually. Following that meeting, the ROCCC  has since suggested a fee of $125,000 due by July 1 for the next fiscal year, increasing to $175,000 the following year.

Joy said, “The $125,000 to me, seems very reasonable and I think we should attempt to lock that in given the service that they provide. I don’t know if we want to see if there’s any room to further negotiate the $175,000.” Joy did say that she would want to ensure that if another community were to join the center, Plympton’s rate would be adjusted accordingly. Traynor said that he believed it would cost the town more than $200,000 to handle their dispatch services any other way. Russo, however, was not as eager to agree to the newly proposed rates saying he still takes issue with the formula used to determine call volume.

“My concern right now is that the means they’re using to come up with this allocation is just way off – the number of calls. Us having three times as many calls as a town with three times as many citizens (Halifax) is just crazy,” Russo explained. Dennehy and Russo agreed to have another meeting with the ROCCC.

Roads

The board discussed various roads in town. Resident Bill Manganello of 67 Pleasant St. was represented by Gary James of James Engineering, Inc. in his request to the board for a discontinuation of a county roadway. James said that the right of way in question was laid out back in the 1960s and has been unchanged since. A right of way easement essentially gives someone else the right to use a specific portion of the landowner’s property. Showing the selectmen and Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte a map of the area, James said that their suggestion would be to widen the existing road and utilize that rather than the right of way. James said that the administrative staff at the County Commissioner had indicated that they would need the request to come from the Board of Selectmen rather than a private individual.

Selectman John Traynor asked if it would affect any neighbors and was told that, if anything, it would help them as they would be gaining a bit of land back. Manganello explained to the board that he is trying to apply for a 61A application but has run into an issue due to the parcel being separated.

“So that’s the motivation? To get this into condition where you could go into 61A?,” Selectman Mark Russo asked. Manganello explained, “The main problem that has motivated this whole thing was them charging on the right of way for taxes.” Manganello went on to explain that he was being charged doubly for frontage taxes and that it was not a small amount. His hope is to make it one continuous lot.

Chair Christine Joy asked if there would be any expense to the town and was told no. Traynor said that he didn’t see a drawback, but Russo was more hesitant saying, “I’m just trying to be careful that there are not unintended consequences that we’re missing and there’s a part of me that wonders if we shouldn’t be checking with town counsel just to be sure.” James offered to draft a letter that could be reviewed by town counsel prior to taking up the matter again at the next selectmen’s meeting.

The Selectmen and Firlotte discussed the intersection at Main Street and Ring Road. The intersection has been deemed one of the most dangerous in town and was one of the motivations behind the article at special town meeting which granted permission to the selectmen to create safety zones at designated intersections by lowering the speed limit. Traynor said, “If you’re coming from the town house, it is very hard, especially when all the foliage is out, to get a clear look down there. If you’re going to make a left-hand turn onto Ring Rd., it’s a little dicey.” The selectmen also said that many drivers fail to yield despite the yield sign. Firlotte offered to speak with some engineers and get their feedback.

“My inclination is to wonder if we might try the lowering of the speed limit, the creating of the safety zone which we’re authorized to do based on the special town meeting and just see what happens with that, see if that works,” Russo said. He continued, “The advantage of that is it is really inexpensive, and we avoid any problems with disrupting current property lines. I don’t know if it’s enough, but it would be a start.” Russo also said that the reduced speed limit would be 20 mph. The selectmen agreed to put the discussion of a safety zone at that intersection on the agenda for the following meeting. The selectmen also mentioned that the abutters may want to be in attendance for that discussion.

Dennehy updated the selectmen on the modular home that was declared surplus and put out to bid. The sealed bid opening was held on Thursday, February 6 with a single bid of $8,100. The selectmen voted to award that modular home to the sole bidder, John Mathias.

Colleen Thompson was in attendance to speak to the proposed talent bank form for the town. Traynor said that it was modeled on the one used by Halifax. Thompson and the selectmen discussed possible ways to encourage volunteering including manning a table with the talent bank forms during town gatherings including election days or town meetings. Russo also suggested possibly including it in a town-wide mailing.

Russo asked the other members of the board to authorize him to seek a contract with Colonial Power Group should it prove beneficial to the town. Russo said that Colonial Power Group had informed them that natural gas is at a six-year low. Traynor said that he was fine with it as long as residents were made aware of what their current rate is versus the new proposed rate under Colonial Power Group. Traynor also wanted to make sure that residents understood that they could opt out. The selectmen voted to allow Russo to explore a new contract.

Blue Bird

Dennehy informed the board that a resident had inquired about the possibility of placing several blue bird nesting boxes along the town green and cemetery. The resident offered to donate the boxes but was seeking permission to install them. Joy suggested that there might be a better location for those boxes such as the preserve. Russo, a veterinarian, said, “It’s pretty easy for human beings to well intentionally make a change and change the ecosystem.” Russo offered to look into the matter further.

Coronavirus

Dennehy provided an update on the town’s response to the Coronavirus. “It does sound like they feel that places should be kind of gearing up in the event that we did need to start closing certain things whether it be the Council on Aging, the library, or the town house to get some plans in place,” Dennehy explained. She said she had been in touch with both the Police Chief and the Fire Chief as well as the Board of Health. “They’re very much on top of it,” Dennehy said.

Selectmen review Area 58 contract

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Kristy Zamagni-Twomey
Express correspondent

HALIFAX – Representatives from Area 58 and the Cable Advisory Board met with the Halifax Board of Selectmen Tuesday night to discuss concerns several months before the end of their current contract.

Selectman Tom Millias said that he feels there is a lack of transparency on Comcast’s end, specifically regarding the types of fees on bills. Millias said that the Area 58 fees are included under “franchise fees” and stressed that most subscribers are probably unaware that they are paying for those services. Cable access is available to everyone including non-subscribers who are not paying for it. “It took me a while to figure out that I was paying for it and I scrutinize my bills,” Millias said. Millias also said that he was concerned that there was no option to opt out of paying for the service. The representatives from Area 58 said that they had no control over the way in which Comcast bills for their services. They offered to do a PSA on their channel to make viewers aware.

There were several appointments scheduled during the Tuesday’s Selectmen meeting. The first was with Judith Rakutis and Martha Smith. Both women were appointed to the Council on Aging Board of Directors. The selectmen thanked them for volunteering.

Amber Sadlier, the Race Director for the Ragnar Road Relay met with the Board to request permission for the race to run through the town and use the elementary school as a minor exchange point. The Ragnar Road Relay is a series of 200-mile relay races run in 20 different geographic locations. The Massachusetts’ race traditionally begins in Hull and finished in Provincetown but had to be re-routed in recent years for safety reasons. The race will now end at Smuggler’s Beach in Yarmouth with a stop in Halifax. The race is run on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. It is anticipated that runners would begin to trickle in around 4 p.m. with peak time being 6 p.m. on Friday. Sadlier said that it wouldn’t be necessary for roads to be closed down. Due to concerns regarding heavy traffic in the area at that time in the afternoon, Halifax Police Chief Joao Chaves said he would have a police detail present. The selectmen unanimously supported Sadlier’s request. Sadlier told the Board that the race raised $400,000 for various fundraising campaigns in 2018.

Eagle Scout candidate Ryan McCarthy sought the Board’s approval for his project to create tables near the soon to be built gazebo at the HOPS Playground. McCarthy, who is a part of Boy Scout Troop 39, said that one of the tables would be handicap accessible. Asked how he would be funding the project, McCarthy said that he has several sponsors lined up as well as a GoFundMe page. Selectmen Chair Troy Garron said, “Once again, the Boy Scouts are improving upon the quality of life in Halifax.”

The final appointment of the night was with Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Land Agent Joan Pierce and Plymouth County Administrator Frank Basler. In July, Pierce met with the Board to discuss Fisheries and Wildlife buying an area of Peterson’s Swamp from Halifax. According to Pierce, the Department would maintain the land rather than develop it. Included in the plan is a small parking area to make the land more accessible.

Currently, Plymouth County and Halifax each own 50 percent of the land being referred to as Parcel A and Parcel B. Halifax needs to purchase their share of the land from Plymouth County for $75,000 before selling it to Fisheries and Wildlife for an agreed upon $150,000.

In previous meetings with Pierce, both Garron and Millias have expressed frustration with getting the short end of the stick in their previous deals with Fisheries and Wildlife. To make this deal more appealing to the selectmen and the town, Fisheries and Wildlife will also be transferring a sliver of land behind Aldana Road to Halifax. This land carries value to the town as ownership of it will be necessary to eventually pave the road.

Seelig said that they had Article 97 legislation drafted for the transaction. Seelig said that the Board could vote to request Representative Kathleen LaNatra and Senator Michael Brady to file it. Pierce said that the draft was approved by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A & F), and Fisheries and Wildlife and would now just need the approval of the town in order to be filed.

Selectman Gordon Andrews asked, “What guarantee do we have that we get the sliver?” Pierce reminded him that Fisheries and Wildlife wants Parcel B and without the transfer of the sliver, that can’t happen.  Once the Article 97 legislation goes through there is a swap for no further consideration.

Millias, who called the town’s track record with Fisheries and Wildlife “poor to lousy” said, “My issue all along has been that I have absolutely no confidence in Fisheries and Wildlife and the Commonwealth. Absolutely none and this is not just recently, this has been over twenty years.” Pierce assured him, “We are committed to this. I’m on record, I’m in the minutes, and that’s all I can tell you.”

Andrews made a motion to approve the purchase of Lot A and B from the county for $75,000 as voted by the town at special town meeting. Millias seconded the motion and the selectmen voted it through. Andrews said that he was fine with purchasing the lot but was hesitant to sign the option to sell it to the state without having the legislation filed. The Board voted to have Seelig request that it be filed.

Aside from the night’s appointments, the selectmen and Town Administrator Charlie Seelig took up a few other matters including officially signing the Host Community Agreement with Bud’s Goods and Provisions for the development of an outdoor marijuana growing facility in Halifax. Both Brian Kling and Scott Materna were named to the Building and Facility Needs Committee that also includes most department heads in the town. The committee will hold its first meeting on March 11 at 2 p.m.

The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) is scheduled to meet with the Board of Selectmen on March 10 about possibly having Halifax become a member. Plympton recently voted to join GATRA.