Kingston officials are projecting the need for a Proposition 2 ½ override of just under $1 million for the fiscal year 2027 budget, according to a five-year financial forecast presented during a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Finance Committee.
Town Administrator Keith Hickey outlined the challenging financial landscape facing the town, which narrowly avoided an override last year by finishing with only $3,000 remaining in excess levy capacity.
‘Fiscal 27 is going to be a challenge, certainly,” Hickey said during the meeting. “We started ‘fiscal 26 when the budgets were approved of excess levy capacity of $1,775. So we spent almost every penny we had.”
The projected override amount drops significantly in subsequent years, with fiscal 2028 requiring only $209,000. The forecast shows excess tax levy capacity returning in fiscal years 2029 through 2031, ranging from $394,000 to $1.1 million.
The town’s financial challenges stem largely from limited new growth due to the recently lifted water moratorium. Hickey estimates new growth of about $1 million for fiscal 2028, maintaining that level through fiscal 2029 before declining in outer years.
“New growth, as I think everybody’s aware over the last couple years, has really slowed because of the water moratorium,” Hickey explained. “We expect that to start to pick back up now that the water moratorium has been lifted.”
The forecast assumes annual increases of 4.5% for state receipts and 2.75% for local receipts. Town wage increases are projected at 2% for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, then 3% for the following three years, with operating expenses increasing 1.5% annually.
School Committee member Jeanne Coleman highlighted additional budget pressures facing the district, particularly the loss of $800,000 in shelter funds that helped balance previous budgets.
“We’re looking at about a $5 million hole that we’re digging out of, to start,” Coleman said, referring to regional budget challenges. “Just knowing that, I think, in good faith, we can say, I think we need to have the honest conversation that in order to have a level service budget, we’re going to be looking at an override this year.”
The school department has already implemented an earlier budget timeline to address concerns about meeting town deadlines. Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey said preliminary budgets from principals were due Oct. 1, with the goal of delivering a votable budget to school committees in December.
“Superintendent Proulx and I met in July to go over the budget timeline and we changed the budget timeline for this year because I knew that timeliness of the budget process was going to be crucial,” Sarah Hickey said.
Board of Selectmen Chair Eric Crone emphasized the importance of early communication about potential overrides, drawing from the town’s experience with previous budget challenges.
“If we do need an override this coming year, it might pass one year, but it’s not going to pass multiple years in a row,” Crone said. “So we’re going to have to look at a potential strategy of putting in enough money that would last just a couple of years or more.”
Selectman, and former Finance Committee member, Carl Pike stressed the need for realistic budget numbers and careful public communication about any potential override.
“I firmly believe that we’ll very apt to have to go to the town for a Proposition 2 ½ override,” Pike said. “But I don’t want to get everybody excited at an unrealistic number.”
Pike noted that while schools might successfully sell a $2 million override, larger amounts would face greater challenges with voters.
The town faces additional departmental requests beyond standard budget increases. Keith Hickey said the police department continues seeking additional staffing to meet community needs, which would require supporting supplies and equipment.
Officials acknowledged the complexity of budget planning given uncertainties in state aid, special education costs, and regional transportation funding.
“There’s so many things we don’t know like the schools,” Crone said. “You guys don’t know what the federal and state aid looks like for anything. Regional transportation, special ed. These things go up and down.”
The school department’s challenges include ongoing contract negotiations with both teachers and support staff, adding another variable to budget projections.
Finance Committee member Marsha Meekins noted the importance of explaining the rationale behind any override request to voters.
“I don’t think it’s just the amount. I think it’s also why,” she said. “I think the why part is probably the most important part of selling anything.”
The town has experienced mixed results with override attempts in recent years. School-related overrides have generally passed, while other municipal requests have faced more difficulty.
Officials plan to continue meeting throughout the budget process to refine projections and coordinate messaging. The forecast represents a living document that will be updated as more information becomes available about state aid and other revenue sources.
The town’s annual meeting timeline may also face scrutiny, as school officials consider requesting changes to budget submission deadlines to better align with state aid announcements and regional district requirements.
Hickey, who recently accepted the Town Administrator job in Fairhaven, emphasized the importance of maintaining communication between the three boards involved in budget decisions.
“I think it’s important for all the three boards to understand what’s happening and have that line of communication be maybe a little bit better than it has been in the past about what the challenges are,” he said.
Resignations Hit Plympton Town Committees
Several key volunteers have resigned from Plympton town committees in recent weeks, creating what one Board of Selectmen member describes as “a bit of a crisis right now in town government.”
The chair of Plympton’s Town Properties Committee, Jon Wilhelmsen, announced his resignation after serving for over 25 years. He submitted his resignation to the Board of Selectmen effective Sept. 8. It was the first announced resignation for a Board of Selectmen meeting that would accept three more.
During the Sept. 3 Town Properties Committee meeting, Wilhelmsen explained his decision: “I’ve always focused on doing what’s best for the town and setting up long-term improvements, not getting caught up in local politics. But lately, it seems impossible to avoid the political side of things.”
Wilhelmsen’s frustration stems from recent debates about a new fire station proposal and ongoing town hall renovations. He specifically called out the leadership style of Chairman Dana Smith, referencing a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. “If this were a paid job, I’d be looking for a new one,” Wilhelmsen added.
Defending the committee’s work on the fire station, Wilhelmsen emphasized their commitment to quality and doing projects right the first time.
Committee member Ross MacPherson weighed in, saying, “We’ve relied on the ‘Plympton helping Plympton’ approach for the station’s design and construction. Without that, we’re left with just what we’ve done so far.”
The committee has voted to appoint Mark Wallis as the new chair, though it would be short lived.
Town Administrator Liz Dennehy announced four resignations during the Sept. 8 Board of Selectmen meeting, noting that “these contributions will be sorely missed.”
The resignations include Wilhelmsen from both the Town Properties Committee and the Plympton Historical Commission, Linda Leddy from the Conservation Commission, Ross MacPherson from the Town Properties Committee, and new chair Mark Wallis from the Town Properties Committee.
Board member Mark Russo expressed concern about the broader implications of losing experienced volunteers. “I, to some extent, think that it’s kind of a bit of a crisis right now in town government to be losing all those people,” Russo said. “So we have, we talk about it all the time, but boy, do we need to be recruiting. And there’s a lot to protect in this town. And it’s those kind of people that do the protection.”
Wallis, who attended the meeting in person, voiced frustration with what he perceived as lack of support for committee work. “Very disappointed in the comments and the support that we were given as a town properties committee,” Wallis said. “I don’t feel that we were… We did a lot of hard work and I don’t think it was appreciated.”
Wallis, who served 30 years on the fire department and worked on the building committee for the library in addition to his town properties role, emphasized his long commitment to the community. “I’ve given a lot of my career to this town,” he said.
The departures leave the five-member Town Properties Committee with only two remaining members. The committee has received expressions of interest from new volunteers, but formal appointments have not yet been made.
Leddy’s departure from the Conservation Commission represents a particularly significant loss, according to Russo, who praised her extensive conservation work. “This seat, which was held by Linda Leddy for I’m not quite sure how long, many, many years, the work that Linda did kind of turned it into a full-time job,” Russo said. “The preservation of several hundred acres in three different parks or conservation areas, largely led by Linda along the way.”
The board appointed Molly Hutt Wardwell to fill Leddy’s position on the Conservation Commission, effective Sept. 8 through June 30, 2027.
Linda Wallis addressed the board about the pattern of resignations. “Being the wife of someone on that committee, realizing the amount of time and effort and energy that goes into looking out for the interests of town property, and having this constant negative feedback that really is demoralizing to the people that are actively trying to make things better,” Wallis said.
She urged the board to investigate the underlying causes when multiple resignations occur simultaneously. “When you have resignations come in, that you make an attempt to talk to those people who are resigning and find out what has prompted that resignation,” she said. “Because to have that many people from a committee resign at the same time is a siren. There’s something going on that needs to be addressed.”
The resignations come amid ongoing discussions about communication challenges between town committees and residents. Board Chair Dana Smith acknowledged that communication has been a persistent issue but emphasized efforts to improve transparency through video recording of meetings.
“Communication and lack thereof between the community not understanding what these projects are, I see things as a great stride by putting these meetings out there,” Smith said. “Now people can see that.”
Recreation Committee and Library Trustee member Becky Archambeault spoke about the challenges facing volunteers in the current environment. “It’s very disheartening when you’re sitting on boards… You’re a volunteer and, you know, when things hash out on Facebook the way they did over the fire station, it can be very frustrating when you’re giving your time and doing that work,” Archambeault said.
She suggested the town consider working with a recruiter to help identify and engage new volunteers. “Maybe we speak to some kind of a recruiter… how do we open up that scope and get more people involved?” Archambeault said.
The volunteer shortage extends beyond the committees experiencing resignations. The board also announced that Dottie Martel is taking a leave of absence from Council on Aging activities, requiring the appointment of Deborah Batson as interim representative to Old Colony Elder Services.
Wallis suggested the board consider scheduling some meetings in the evening to accommodate working residents who cannot attend daytime sessions. “Have you considered doing, you know, like one night a week, a month?” Wallis asked. “Alternating between two and evening ones so it opens it up to more people.”
The Town Properties Committee, which oversees maintenance and improvements to municipal buildings, currently has authority over facilities including the town hall, old town house, and other municipal properties. The committee’s reduced membership comes as the town faces ongoing building maintenance issues, including basement moisture problems at the town hall that require professional testing.
Halifax Approves Paramedic-Only Position at Fire Department
The Halifax Fire Department received approval from the Board of Selectmen to create a paramedic-only position as the department grapples with severe staffing shortages that are impacting emergency response capabilities.
Fire Chief Michael Witham presented multiple solutions to address recruitment and retention challenges during the meeting, explaining that the department has lost 12 people in the past three years. The new paramedic-only position would pay between $26 and $30 per hour at the chief’s discretion, representing a $4 hourly increase from current paramedic pay.
“For the last few years when we just sponsored people, we don’t have the funding to pay them. So now I’m going to ask somebody to give up six months of their life and 240 hours of training or more, 270 hours with everything for $0. There’s not a lot of people interested in doing it,” the Chief said.
The paramedic-only employees would be limited to ambulance operations and cannot respond to fires since they lack Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. They cannot operate pumps, enter burning buildings, or use self-contained breathing apparatus.
“The only function that they would have would be to drive the ambulance, work in the back of the ambulance, and then obviously come back and do the chores around the station,” Witham explained.
The department currently operates with three-person crews, but the chief acknowledged this creates challenges when the paramedic-only position is filled, leaving only two certified firefighters available for fire calls.
The Chief also proposed hiring paramedics and sending them to the fire academy, which would cost approximately $10,000 per person including wages during the 10-week training period and overtime costs to cover their shifts. To prevent new hires from leaving immediately after training, the department would require a two-year contract with financial penalties for early departure.
“The last two that I hired, within 24 hours they went to another department,” the chief said, highlighting the competitive nature of the current job market.
Sign-on bonuses represent another recruitment tool under consideration. Witham suggested offering $5,000 bonuses split between graduation from the academy and completion of the probationary period.
The staffing shortage has significant operational impacts. The department’s recall success rate sits at just 12 percent, forcing reliance on mutual aid from neighboring communities. Last year, Halifax had 90 mutual aid runs, representing approximately $234,000 in lost billing revenue.
“Every time that ambulance goes out with another community, we’re losing $2,600,” he explained.
The department has seen a 200-run increase compared to last year, with projections for an additional 400 to 500 runs annually due to the new walk-in clinic and planned community center development.
“That walk-in clinic, we went there three times the other day,” the Chief said, noting that most patients requiring transport include those with allergic reactions, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cardiac rhythm abnormalities.
Current staffing levels mean that when one ambulance transports a patient, only one crew member remains at the station. Transport calls typically take two hours, including evaluation, transport, and potential hospital wait times.
“By the time you get to someone’s house, evaluate, make the decision to transport, go to the hospital. If you have to get medications, sometimes you’re at the hospital 45 minutes waiting for a bed because it’s so busy,” Witham said.
The chief’s goal involves staffing four members per shift, which would allow operation of both a second ambulance and a fire truck simultaneously during emergencies.
Board Chair Jonathan Selig expressed support while acknowledging financial constraints. “I do think it’s going to take some creativity to try to figure this out, because in addition to your issue, we’re also facing a tough financial year coming up,” Selig said.
The chief assured the board that he would absorb costs within his existing budget until funds are exhausted, emphasizing that hiring the paramedic-only position at the higher rate remains more cost-effective than paying overtime at $60 per hour.
“I can absorb some of it for right now to take the burden off of what’s going on? Yes. But like I said to you, I might pay a little bit of money this way, but if I don’t and there’s nobody there, I’m paying time and a half at $60 an hour,” the Chief said.
The board unanimously approved creating the paramedic-only position with compensation up to $30 per hour at the chief’s discretion. The position will be developed with a formal job description and brought back for final salary determination.
Selig emphasized the importance of competitive compensation. “We have to, as a town, be somewhat competitive, right? I mean, to your point, we’ve had so many positions just open because we can’t attract people because we offer so low.”
The department’s challenges reflect broader regional trends, with surrounding communities like Carver paying paramedics between $29 and $35 per hour, and Plympton offering rates in the $30s depending on experience.
The Chief will work with the Finance Committee liaison to finalize position details and compensation structure before implementation.
Kingston Police Welcomes Comfort Dog, Honors Officers for Heroic Actions
The Kingston Police Department introduced its newest four-legged member and honored several officers and civilians for their heroic actions during the August 26 Board of Selectmen meeting.
Officer Brian Hurley presented Mabel, a 5-month-old yellow Labrador who recently completed comfort dog training through Professional Canine Services in Middleborough. The puppy, born on April Fool’s Day, comes from Pacheco Kennels in Raynham and is related to comfort dogs serving in neighboring communities.
“She is a full yellow lab. Both of her mother and father were yellow labs, Aries and Apollo,” Hurley said. “She’s actually sisters with Pembroke’s comfort dog, Sasha. One of Plymouth’s comfort dogs and as well as Plympton’s comfort dog, Aggie.”
Mabel accompanies Hurley at all times, both at home and on patrol. The department encourages community members to request the comfort dog for events and welcomes residents to interact with Mabel when they encounter the pair around town.
“If you have any events that you think that you may need a comfort dog for it, please feel free to request,” Hurley said. “And if you see me driving around, then feel free to say hello. And you can take pictures with the dog, pet the dog. She loves people and she’s been doing really well.”
As a NASRO-certified officer with the National Association of School Resource Officers, Hurley serves as backup to the district’s school resource officers, allowing him flexibility to visit any school when requested or during routine patrol stops.
Chief Brian Holmes presented multiple Police Commendation Awards recognizing exceptional service during two separate emergency incidents.
On July 30, Officer Potrykus, Lieutenant Skowyra, Dispatcher Odell, and Officer Hurley received recognition for their actions during a high-speed pursuit involving stolen property. The incident began when a resident reported someone attempting to steal a jet ski and trailer from their yard.
“Officer Potrykus observed a truck with the lights off that he turned around and followed the vehicle. A pursuit ensued, which went all the way down Route 3 into the rotary, and then it continued down Route 25, and it ended up terminating in New Bedford,” Chief Holmes said.
The pursuit resulted in one suspect’s apprehension, though a piece of debris from the fleeing vehicle struck the police cruiser’s windshield during the chase.
“Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the department, and maintain the highest traditions of law enforcement,” Holmes read from the commendation. “Congratulations on a job well done.”
The department also recognized two civilians for their life-saving actions during a water rescue on July 21. Harbormaster Tom Taylor and Assistant Harbormaster Glen Cavicchi received commendations for rescuing a distressed kayaker in the Jones River, though neither was available to attend the meeting.
The incident occurred when a kayaker became tangled in fishing line and overturned near Jones River Drive. Resident Tom Conner assisted the person in the water until the harbormaster’s boat arrived on scene.
“Mr. Conner was able to reach the person and help him stay afloat above the water until the rescue arrived on scene,” the Chief explained. “Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the department to maintain the high traditions of the law enforcement, and quite possibly save a life that day.”
Holmes also presented the department’s new mission statement and core values, developed through input from all department members. The mission statement emphasizes the department’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, service, and community partnership.
“The Kingston Police Department, guided by integrity, professionalism, service, and a deep commitment to the community, partners with the public to serve, support, and protect all inhabitants of the town of Kingston,” the mission statement reads.
The department’s four core values include integrity, defined as being “open and transparent in all things that we do”; community, recognizing that “we are the public and we cannot do this job without you”; professionalism, acknowledging that “policing is a profession” requiring education and training; and service, emphasizing their role as “law enforcement officers, dispatchers, administrators, leaders, and public servants.”
The board also accepted a donation from Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, including a life pack 1008ED, wall mounting case, and two NALOX boxes containing Narcan. These items will be provided to the recreation department.
In other business, the board began preparations for hiring a new Town Administrator following Keith Hickey’s upcoming departure. The board approved a position statement and job description for the role, with an annual salary of $180,000 plus or minus depending on qualifications.
The board established a screening committee consisting of two selectmen, the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and HR Manager to review applications. Chairman Eric Crone and board member Donald Alcombright will represent the selectmen on the committee.
The Town Administrator position requires a bachelor’s degree with a master’s preferred, along with experience in municipal government, financial management, and personnel administration. The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong leadership qualities and knowledge of municipal law.
Continuation of Ricketts Pond 60-Unit 40B Hearing
The Plympton Zoning Board held another public hearing on August 27 for the proposed Ricketts Pond Estates 60-unit, 40B development. Suzanne Jafferian, ZBA Chairman, opened the hearing along with her ZBA members, Ethan Stiles, David Alberti, Alan Wheelock, and missing was Lukasz Kowalski. Jafferian welcomed everyone and then turned the proceedings over to Stiles who introduced peer-reviewing principal engineer from JDE Civil, Inc., Gregory Driscoll. Stiles stated that Driscoll had submitted a nine-page review and report about the applicants’ Peter Opachinski of SLT Constructions, storm water management report. Stiles suggested that Driscoll present his remarks to the board, but Opachinski interjected and suggested their civil engineer, Erik Schoumaker, of McKenzie Engineering Group, Inc., be allowed to present the plans for the storm water management design prior to Driscoll’s remarks. Stiles agrees that this was reasonable and the floor was set for Schoumaker to begin his civil site plans presentation.
Schoumaker reiterated that they did, indeed, receive Driscoll’s comments and review letter dated August 20 and that they were going to review said comments and hoped to submit a revision of their site plans incorporating Driscoll’s feedback. The Ricketts Pond storm water management plans were presented to the board and the attending public on large posters set on an easel as well as on a projector screen on the wall. Schoumaker began walking the board through the site plans -starting with a depiction of the site’s current day condition. Schoumaker stated that the entire lot is 24.4 acres and over a million square feet and that the Carver-Plympton town line runs across the southern portion of the property. The frontage road and access to the subdivision would be from Carver but all of the structures to be built would be located on the Plympton side of the town line.
Schoumaker then explained that the composition of the site consists mainly of stockpiles of sand and gravel and access paths that run through the area. He went on to state that the topography of the land consists of undeveloped woodlands and pockets of vegetative wetlands. Schoumaker verified that the land is located in a FEMA Zone x -meaning the site is determined to be outside a 500‐year flood threat and protected by levee from a 100-year flood -thus being an area of minimal flooding hazard. The presented poster map showed that the stormwater runoff flows to a low point, which in this case is a pocket of wetlands that eventually drains into Ricketts Pond. Schoumaker then indicated the marked soil testing holes on the map and reported that they dug in excess of 10 feet down and found nothing much aside from sand and no groundwater. He claims this made their storm water management design much easier.
The next poster showed the current layout with the cul-de-sac road and Ricketts Pond Drive, where an industrial park is located and where a few of the lots were under construction and still needed permitting. Five poster sheets in showed the lotting plan with 25 proposed single-family units, a 40 foot right-of-way and a road that has yet to be named. Schoumaker said that the lots range in size from 15,000 square feet to 50,350 square feet -the largest lot, 17, abutting wetlands. He then showed that Road A will connect with Ricketts Pond Drive and provide a 140 diameter. He assured the board that this was plenty of room for delivery trucks and emergency vehicles to turn around in.
The comprehensive layout plan for the number of duplex units developed was presented next. SLT Construction is proposing 30 duplexes which would be 60 residential units from that type of housing. Each unit would be 1,860 square feet with 24 ft wide driveways and single car garages but with ample room for two cars. The 1,536 ft subdivision roadway would be composed of bituminous concrete for durability and weather resistance and lined with a foot wide Cape Cod Berm -a barrier commonly used in coastal areas to protect from storm surges and flooding. Schoumaker then reiterated that they tried to design structures and roadways far away enough to not disturb the wetlands scattered throughout the area. “One of the decks is 50 feet away from the IVW (isolated vegetative wetlands) and this is our closest disturbed area with that portion of the building,” Schoumaker explained.
The next presented chart showed SLT’s grading and drainage plan for the development. “Our goal was to design a drainage system that complied with the 2, 10, 25, and 100 year storm events,” stated Schoumaker, “We want to attenuate those storms and we want to comply with all the local and state storm water management regulations. So that was our goal for design.” In addition, in pre and post development, a watershed of 23 ½ acres was analyzed to design the storm system in such a way as to use the wetlands as design points to reduce peak rates and volumes directed at those areas in the event of heavy flooding or drainage. This would be done by using a closed drainage system in the street that consists of a series of catch basins and drain manholes to funnel the storm water into said basins and then funnel the water into an infiltration basin. The infiltration basin provides the total suspended solids removal and is intended to rather treat the storm water before it gets infiltrated into the native soil. Schoumaker stated that this was all in compliance with the local storm water management regulations that accomplished the intended water recharge and TSS removal.
The next presented aspect of the development concerned the utility plan for the wells and septic systems for the Ricketts Pond development. Underground electricity for each lot would be sized based on each individual septic system and kept within the legally required buffer zone between wells and septic systems. “We will obviously work in conjunction with Plympton Board of Health as we get further along in development to finalize these designs, but we wanted to make sure everything fit,” Schoumaker explained. The plans showed that each two-family unit will have its own septic and well.
Stiles interjected with a question asking if the leaching field was per well or per lot and asked how that would work. Schoumaker stated that it would drain into a shared septic tank and then into the leaching fields which were calculated depending on the number of bedrooms on the lot -with one leaching field per duplex. Wheelock raised a question asking for clarification on whether the larger lots, particularly the 15,000 square foot lot, would have one septic and two wells or one septic and one well. Schoumaker answered that there would only be one septic and one well for said lot, but that could be subject to change as these plans were all preliminary in nature. Jafferian then asked for clarification about the number of required septic tanks and their sized being based off of the number of bedrooms in any given unit. Schoumaker replied that it is based off of Title 5 regulations, which measure by factoring 110 gallons of waste water per day per bedroom.
The final point of Schoumaker’s presentation was concerning the roadway profile and the drainage structures in the roadway of the Ricketts Pond development. The plans show no conflicting utilities and roadway grades of 1.1%-1.7% with a high point at the Carver town line to divide up storm water drainage. This ensures that the runoff from Carver stays in Carver and the runoff from Plympton stays in Plympton. Stiles again wanted to clarify that the applicant’s plans were designed as one well and one septic per lot no matter the amount of buildings on the lot, to which Schoumaker verified this was correct, but restated that they would be working with the Plympton Board of Health to make changes as needed after soil testing was done on each lot and submitted for review. He also stated that the septic sizes would vary depending on if the lot is servicing single vs duplex housing units.
Alberti then addressed a question about the wells indicated on the plans where, in one area, a single well is shown to service two duplexes -meaning a single well is supposed to service four families. Schoumaker responded, “Depending on well testing, if it’s possible, we would like to do that as shown in the plan. If we have to change up the design because utility plan is preliminary in nature, we’ll deal with that if we have to.”
Stiles followed up with an inquiry on the provided storm water management areas and questioned if they are located in the wetlands or adjacent to the wetlands. Schoumaker concluded that they are located adjacent to the wetlands. “It is an infiltration basin, so it’s really a depression in the ground. We take a portion of the cul-de-sac, we capture the runoff, and we send it to that basin. Luckily here we have sand so we can infiltrate all of the runoff going there. And then we include a small emergency overflow and just direct that at the wetland. But you can see the 100 year storm label on the plan never even makes it up to that emergency overflow. So it’s next to the wetland but I believe we’re about, we’re over 50 ft away with that one.”
Continuing on the storm water management plans, Shoumaker explained that a pre development watershed study was done to determine the flow patterns of the current lot and then determine how much runoff is going to each property line and how much is going into the wetlands. He pointed out that several strategically placed infiltration basins were needed instead of one drainage point to ensure there was no overflowing and to comply with state and local regulations.
Jafferian then asked about previous experiences developing wetland areas. “So, you’ve done plans like this before -for multiple units and this is common for you. Have you seen projects like this so close to wetlands developed successfully?” To which Shoumaker replied that he had and under much less favorable soil conditions. He also relayed that this site was one of the easier to manage and design around due to it being mostly sand.
A question was posed about the development residents all being under an HOA. Brad McKenzie, from McKenzie Engineering responded. “Each lot will be its own condo association. And overarching all of that would be a Homeowners Association because it’s really no different than a single-family subdivision… So again, each lot, whether it be one or two duplexes, would be its own condo association. As the plans are further developed into final construction plans. the legal documents are prepared there will be exclusive use areas, common areas designated on plans to be recorded at the registry of deeds along with unit deed plans and master deed plans.”
Concluding the presentation by Shoumaker, Driscoll was asked if he wanted to respond to anything. He concluded that his responses were very technical in nature and that he did not have questions that were not already included in the review letter that was submitted to the board and the applicant. After deliberation about the appropriate timeline for proposed reviews and responses from the peer review engineer and the applicants engineer for further components of the project, including the traffic study, the next hearing was set to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Following the hearing date, the board allowed questions to be asked by the town attendees. Several local residents in attendance raised questions and concerns about the well and septic systems as well as roadway access and design. Debbie from Forest Street asked for a breakdown of the number of bedrooms per unit and also the septic capability requirements set forth by the Title 5 regulations. The plans previously presented in the hearing were reiterated. Wheelock then mentioned a statement in a previous hearing from Paul Cusson of Delphic Associates, LLC. where the units were predicted to average about 2 ½ residents per unit, meaning the Ricketts Pond project would result in an increase of 150-200 new residents in Plympton. Stiles then pointed out that this increase in population and the demand it would place on local municipal resources like the fire department, school, and police department could not be considered because of the applicant applying under a 40B.
Next, Town Council, Carolyn Murray, asked for clarification about the size and capacity of the roadway and referred to the language in the presentation that it “should be sufficient” for passage and turn-around of emergency vehicles but and asked if a swept path analysis had been done. Shoumaker replied that the measurements were taken out of the regulations for Plympton and that there was also software that could mimic the exact turn radius of a fire truck and that could be calculated and shown on the plans.
After these comments, John Traynor asked about the water supply available beyond what was available on the tanker in the event of an emergency. He asked if there had been discussions with the fire department to perhaps build something underground for water storage that could be used by the fire department, to which McKenzie replied that there had not been any discussions about this but they were certainly open to discussions concerning this matter with the fire department.
Tina Davies then asked how many of the town bylaws were not applicable to the Ricketts Pond Development. Stiles replied that it was due to the project being filed under the 40B law and therefore the applicant is able to bypass many local laws. Lastly, Mary McGrath and Arthur Bloomquist raised concerns about the parking spaces and design of the road to handle traffic flow and emergency vehicles. McKenzie replied that the designs were preliminary and adjustments could be made later on to better accommodate multiple cars for gatherings or emergency and delivery vehicles. The hearing was then adjourned until Oct. 8.
To follow along on this project, please visit the town website for all available public transcripts, maps, presented material, statements, and forthcoming hearings and news.
https://www.town.plympton.ma.us/home/pages/ricketts-pond-estates-proposed-40b
Plympton Selectmen Question $60,000 Historic Door Project
The Plympton Board of Selectmen spent significant time at their August 18 meeting debating a Community Preservation Committee-approved project to replace the front entrance doors at the town house facing Palmer Road. The $60,000 project, already approved by both the CPC and town meeting, would replace deteriorating doors that are currently bolted shut due to weatherproofing issues.
Board Chair Dana Smith raised concerns about the expense, noting that the doors would serve no functional purpose since the building has two ADA-accessible entrances on either side. “It just seems to be a very steep price tag,” Smith said. “It’s still a door that’s not going to be utilized in this building.”
Fellow Selectman and CPC Chair Mark Russo defended the project, explaining that it represents historic preservation work that qualifies for Community Preservation Act funding. “This project was seen as the first step on much, much more that will have to be done up front,” Russo said. He emphasized the thorough vetting process, noting the project went through multiple meetings before town meeting approval.
The debate revealed tension between fiscal concerns and established municipal processes. Selectman Nathaniel Sides supported continuing the project despite cost concerns, stating, “I think the process was there. It was followed. It was followed to the T.” However, he suggested looking for ways to reduce costs by 20%.
Residents Art Morin and Deb Anderson participated in discussion about the town house door project. Morin suggested using Silver Lake vocational students to reduce costs, while Anderson defended the CPC process and emphasized that structural repairs justify the expense. Both highlighted the importance of fiscal responsibility while maintaining historic preservation standards.
Morin’s suggestion involving Silver Lake Regional High School’s vocational program gained support from other board members. “The vocational department has built houses from Metal Fab,” said Highway Superintendent Robert Firlotte, who attended the vocational school. “If you have an architect design it, they can do it.”
Town Administrator Liz Dennehy clarified that most of the project cost involves structural repairs around the doors rather than just door replacement. The doors are currently causing maintenance issues, with the custodian having to repeatedly clean up falling plaster and deal with plastic weatherproofing that blows down.
The board ultimately voted 2-1 to ask the Town Properties Committee to revisit the project “in a more fiscally responsible way and looking at things to be done outside the box.” Russo cast the dissenting vote, expressing concerns about setting a “horrible precedent” by second-guessing approved CPA projects.
In other significant business, the Highway Department received approval for a comprehensive update from Superintendent Robert Firlotte. The department finalized a new waste management contract with an 8% increase after initially rejecting a much higher proposal. Firlotte reported that Waste Management had initially sent “the wrong contract” with “huge” increases before providing acceptable terms.
The board also addressed several infrastructure projects, including catch basin replacement on Colchester Road and culvert work on Winnetuxet Road. Furlong reported that the department’s flail mower was totaled in an accident, with insurance providing $17,000 toward a $40,000 replacement.
Sides, recently elected after serving on the Finance Committee, expressed frustration with the annual line item transfer process. The board approved $139,683 in year-end transfers, with Sides noting that some departments exceeded their budgets by 6-8%. “That didn’t happen overnight,” he said, requesting quarterly budget updates to avoid surprises.
Looking ahead, Dennehy reported that Animal Inspector Brian Kling will retire in January 2026, giving the town time to find a replacement for the specialized position. She also announced completion of the town’s MBTA zoning compliance application and ongoing work to upgrade the municipal website to be mobile-friendly.
Halifax loses grant due to MBTA Communities Non-Compliance
Halifax has lost a $61,608 Green Communities grant due to its non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, marking the first confirmed financial penalty the town faced for refusing to adopt required multifamily zoning, after redirecting a prior Silver Lake Regionalization Study grant to Kingston.
The Department of Energy Resources notified Interim Town Administrator Robert Fennessy that while Halifax was selected to receive the grant for energy efficiency projects in municipal and school buildings, the funds cannot be awarded due to the town’s non-compliant status under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A, Section 3A.
“Awards under this program are contingent upon a municipality being able to certify that it will comply with all applicable laws,” the department wrote in a letter to Fennessy. “To be eligible to receive awards under the Green Communities Competitive Grant Program, the town would need to remediate this noncompliance.”
The grant rejection comes as the state intensifies enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities sent Halifax a formal non-compliance letter stating the town failed to submit a district compliance application by the July 14 deadline.
“Halifax remains non-compliant with Section 3A,” wrote Secretary Edward Augustus Jr. in the letter, which was copied to the town’s state legislative delegation. “As the Supreme Judicial Court held in Attorney General v. Town of Milton, compliance with the law is mandatory and enforceable by the Attorney General.”
Board of Selectmen Chair Jonathan Selig acknowledged the financial consequences were expected but said the town remains committed to its position.
“The town spoke. The Board of Selectmen is clear. We got the message loud and clear,” Selig said, referring to strong community opposition expressed at previous meetings. “We did warn the community that this is a distinct reality. It wasn’t a scare tactic. We just wanted to give those folks some foresight as to what was coming.”
Selectman Thomas Pratt called the grant loss “a formality” and said it came as “no surprise.”
“We kind of knew that’s where we were. We had some choices to make to get an interim compliance and we declined to do so,” Pratt said.
The town continues pursuing legal challenges to the MBTA Communities Act. Fennessy testified before the state legislature in July supporting three bills authored by Representative Ken Sweezey that would modify or repeal the act, though the bills have not advanced from committee.
Fennessy warned that more grant rejections may follow, noting that many applications now include compliance check boxes at the top.
“Unfortunately they know our status right now,” Selig said about the state’s awareness of Halifax’s position.
The MBTA Communities Act requires certain municipalities to create zoning districts allowing multifamily housing as-of-right. Halifax was required to zone for at least 1,750 new housing units but has refused to comply, joining a small number of communities statewide in active resistance to the law.
In other business, the board approved an Eagle Scout project by Paul Beauchesne to refurbish dugouts at the town’s minor baseball fields. The project will include cleaning, repairing, and painting the concrete dugouts, which Selig described as “lovingly referred to as the prison dugouts.”
“Those dugouts are really, really snug and really, really needing some TLC,” Selig said. The $500 project is expected to take about a week to complete.
The board also received an update on a veterans memorial honoring Josh Curtis, a Halifax resident who died in 2025. Veterans of Foreign Wars representative David Walsh said the polished granite bench is expected to arrive by late August or early September, with dedication planned for Veterans Day at 11 a.m.
“On the back it will say Joshua Aaron Curtis. Straight across. 1986 to 2025. Hero in combat. Hero in life,” Walsh said.
The board delayed action on a three-year asphalt rubber surface treatment contract with All States Construction after resident Frank Johnston questioned the lack of a not-to-exceed value in the agreement. The contract establishes unit prices for road work but does not cap total spending.
“I’ve never signed an open contract with no dollar value attached,” Johnston said. “It’s called a not-to-exceed and NTE attached to that contract.”
Board members agreed to table the matter until Highway Superintendent Steve Hayward can provide clarification at the next meeting.
The town received positive financial news with $555,544 in Chapter 90 highway funds from the state, including a supplemental allocation. Halifax also received the first payment of $93,655 from a PFAS lawsuit settlement with 3M, with additional payments expected over several years.
Fennessy said the PFAS settlement money, which could total around $400,000 for Halifax, will likely support ongoing landfill monitoring and maintenance costs.
The board approved library staffing arrangements for when Director Dylan Benoit takes paternity leave in late September. Maria Bumpus will serve as acting director at her previous interim rate, while Jean Gallant will provide substitute coverage at $18.88 per hour.
Halifax continues operating with an Interim Town Administrator while conducting a search for a permanent Town Administrator. Fennessy, who completed his first month in the role, praised the town staff and said he is “very excited to work here with these people.”
Hickey resigns, new TA search begins
The Kingston Board of Selectmen is moving forward with plans to find both an interim and permanent town administrator following the resignation of Keith Hickey, who announced his departure at the Wednesday, Aug. 6 selectmen’s meeting, to take a position in Fairhaven.
Hickey’s contract includes a 90-day notice period, keeping him employed through the town until late October, though the board is considering allowing him to leave earlier if suitable replacements are found. Board members discussed the transition timeline during their Aug. 5 meeting, with several expressing preference for a two-week overlap period between Hickey and his successor.
“I would like to see us work with Keith here to see if we could get to a point where we can, in effect, release him earlier,” said Carl Pike, suggesting a target date of Oct. 1 instead of the full 90-day period. “I would think, from my point of view, that we probably absolutely going to need him for 60 days.”
The board faces the challenge of conducting two separate searches while managing the town’s tight budget situation. Members debated whether to hire a professional search firm, which typically costs $15,000 to $20,000, or conduct the search internally using a committee approach.
Chair Eric Crone expressed concerns about the financial implications given the town’s budget constraints. “We’re literally saying we’ve got $3,000 and then probably less available under the levy,” Crone said. “It’s hard to then say, oh, well, let’s spend the money when we could do it, I think.”
Pike acknowledged the financial reality while noting that finding the money should be possible within the town’s $50 million to $60 million budget. “The town should always be able to find that in a 50 million dollar budget,” Pike said. “I don’t care if you have to cut back some overtime somewhere, or you don’t buy this equipment.”
However, Pike also supported starting the search process internally, suggesting the board could reassess and hire a search firm later if needed. “I absolutely agree that any place we don’t have to spend money in the next eight or ten months, whatever’s left, I personally will be charging forward and saying, hey, do we have to spend that?”
The board plans to establish a search committee for the permanent position, likely including two selectmen and potentially department heads or other town officials. Vice Chair Kim Emberg suggested involving the Police Chief, Fire Chief, or HR Director in the process.
For the interim position, the board discussed a more streamlined approach. Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff indicated that interim appointments do not require the same formal interview process as permanent hires, allowing for more flexibility in selection and timing.
“Kate made it sound like you don’t put interims through rigorous process,” Crone said. “You’re just hiring whoever’s available, whoever’s willing to do it.”
The board expressed interest in finding an interim administrator who could potentially become a permanent candidate, though they emphasized that any interim would need to go through the full application process for the permanent positin.
Donald Alcombright raised concerns about limiting the candidate pool by focusing on interim-to-permanent transitions. “I just don’t want to be in that situation where we’re basically reaching out to three specific candidates that we’re thinking about as opposed to having 30 people apply,” he said.
Hickey offered to assist with the transition, noting his availability to help whoever takes over the position. “I’m a phone call and email or text away, so if I can help whoever’s sitting in that chair, you know, I’m always going to be willing to do that,” he said.
The outgoing Town Administrator highlighted several ongoing projects that will need attention during the transition.
“You know, I guess from my point of view, over the next few weeks, you know, we’ve got a fall town meeting in October,” Hickey said. “I’m working with Kathleen Barrette, our Finance Director. I’ve reached out to the School to try to put together a five-year financial plan.”
The board also discussed gathering input from department heads about desired qualities in the next administrator. Hickey suggested meeting with department heads as a group rather than individually to provide more constructive feedback.
“One of the things I think would be important, whether it be just two board members so there’s not a posted meeting, you know, maybe meet with the department heads as a group,” Hickey said.
Before beginning the search process, the board needs to finalize the job description used in the previous search in 2020. Pike noted that the current description needs cleanup for grammar and duplications, though the overall content remains appropriate.
The board plans to continue discussions about the search process at future meetings, with members emphasizing the need to move quickly while maintaining thoroughness in the selection process.
The Town Administrator position oversees daily municipal operations and serves as the Chief Administrative Officer under Kingston’s Open Town Meeting form of government. The role involves coordinating between various departments, managing budgets, and implementing policies set by the Board of Selectmen.
Ricketts Pond 60-unit 40B project estates heard
The Plympton Zoning Board held a public hearing on July 29 for the proposed Ricketts Pond Estates 40B development. Suzanne Jafferian, ZBA Chairman, opened the hearing along with her zoning board members Ethan Stiles, David Alberti, and Lukasz Kowalski. The applicant, Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction, who is proposing a 60-unit housing development in the Ricketts Pond area, was represented in the hearing by Paul Cusson of Delphic Associates, LLC.
The meeting began with the zoning board recapping that they had selected their peer reviewing engineer, Gregory Driscoll, Principal Engineer at JDE Civil, Inc. and that they anticipated a presentation from the representative of McKenzie Engineering, the engineering group on the development team for the Ricketts Pond Estates, during the hearing per previous discussion at the last hearing. When the floor was given to begin the presentation, however, Cusson explained that there would not be a presentation. He said their understanding was a bit different from the zoning boards requests.
Cusson said they had submitted plans, including a storm water management plan, to be reviewed by the ZBA consulting engineer, Driscoll, and that they hoped to be able to respond to the review as that was the main purpose of the night’s hearing. Cusson also assured that the applicant had made the deposit for peer review by Driscoll, but there didn’t seem to be any point in a complex, detailed engineering presentation because Driscoll had not yet been given authorization to proceed on his peer review report. This meant that the applicant’s engineer from McKenzie had nothing to respond to and therefore the anticipated presentation for the evening would not take place.
Ethan Stiles responded in an attempt to address this discrepancy. Stiles said that he did, indeed, receive the deposit check from SLT for the peer review cost per Driscoll, and that he took it to the town treasurer to deposit into a 53G account, and that the ZBA would review the bills via Driscoll and pay out the deposit amount bit by bit as the bills came in, but he admitted that perhaps this was not how the deposit was supposed to be paid out. Stiles asked town council, Carolyn Murray, to clarify if this was how Driscoll was supposed to be paid for his services, amounting to $15,000.00, rather than paying out the entire sum at once. Murray confirmed that payments were, in fact, to be made from the 53G account for this project as bills came in rather than all at once.
Driscoll then responded saying that he had received and signed the contract from the town but was waiting for deposit money to be paid out to begin the peer review. Driscoll said that he would have his bookkeeper send an invoice to the town to get the process moving along. Murray confirmed that once the contract was signed by Driscoll a portion of the deposit should have been paid to Driscoll so the peer review could begin, but said that having an invoice from JDE Civil, Inc. would be preferable to the town accountant to provide a “paper trail” of the financial exchange. Town Council also clarified that the deposit would be paid out by the building administrator who pays bills on behalf of the ZBA by requesting checks to be cut by the town treasury via invoice.
After the confusion for the process of getting the peer review started by Driscoll was resolved, and a detailed explanation of the forthcoming peer review interactions between both parties was given to the ZBA by Cusson, a motion was made for the intended presentation by McKenzie to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Once the engineer’s peer reviews are completed, both Driscoll and the McKenzie engineer will prepare responses to one another via the peer review document to work out details and discrepancies on the Ricketts Pond project.
The second order of business for the hearing related to the traffic study. Immediate concerns were brought forth by Cusson about the cost of the traffic study review. The ZBA peer review engineer, Driscoll, did not have a traffic engineer on staff so the outside services of an engineer specializing in traffic studies would be needed for this project. Cusson said that their hired traffic engineer, Jeffrey Dirk of Vanasse & Associates, Inc., for the Ricketts Pond project was asked to provide a detailed overview of what the traffic study would entail. Cusson claims their response was submitted to Driscoll on June 10. Cusson also explained that the response as to the scope of the traffic study was lengthy and detailed beyond what it would normally would be.
Cusson then went on to explain that Dirk’s quoted fee was $12,000. Cusson remarked that this quote was a bit higher than normal but within an acceptable range. The discrepancy then came to light that when the ZBA sought a quote for a peer review of the traffic study via Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. Their quote was much higher, at $21,000. Cusson wanted to know why it would cost twice as much for the review of the report as it would to prepare the actual report. Cusson also remarked that he had provided a list of other firms to get quotes from that were likely more reasonable. Kowalski assured Cusson that he had contacted all of the resources provided and that the ZBA was not going to simply go with the cheapest option to accommodate SLT Construction and that Bowman was a very reputable and large company.
Cusson interrupted and said that they would not pay $21,000 for a review of a report that should cost a fraction of that quote and Opachinski interjected that the cost of the review should be a fraction of what he is paying Dirk to do the actual groundwork and study. Kowalski pointed out that the price SLT Construction chooses to pay their traffic engineer is irrelevant to the ZBA. Cusson heatedly responded that it is not irrelevant and that the cost incurred in hiring Bowman was unjustified and unfair. Cusson then asked that the board consider the proposal to seek quotes from other companies instead of accepting the Bowman offer.
Kowalski responded that he had already contacted all the suggested companies and some were completely irrelevant to the project and not options to consider. The only other company that had provided a quote and was a reputable company relative to the traffic study review needed was from Howard Stein Hudson in Boston. Cusson pointed out that he was familiar with this company as he and his clients had hired them before and their high standing reputation was confirmed all around by both parties. The proposal via Stein Hudson was $8,000.00 -a much lower quote than that from Bowman while providing similar services and depth of review. Stiles agreed that this proposal was likely to be more acceptable to SLT and also could move things along quicker than extending the debate on costs of services, but Kowalski interjected with a proposed motion to hire Bowman on the spot for the review of the traffic study.
Stiles asked for the proposals to be shown on screen so all in the room could see them and expressed that he was not insensitive to the concerns of the applicant in terms of the cost of the Bowman review. Kowalski expressed concern that perhaps the proposal from Stein Hudson was lower because they were familiar with SLT and giving them an undisclosed discount, but Cusson pointed out that this was untrue and that in his thirty years of experience with developments they usually only pay between $4,000 – 6,000 for a peer review of a traffic study -a far cry from $21,000.
Stiles agreed that the Stein Hudson proposal seemed adequate in detail and content in comparison to the services Bowman offered and suggested it would be the more prudent approach to go with the Stein Hudson proposal for review of SLT’s traffic study. Wanting to move on from the lengthy debate Kowalski withdrew his motion to hire Bowman and made a new motion to hire Stein Hudson for the traffic study peer review. The motion was passed unanimously.
Lastly, a moment was opened at the end of the hearing for anyone to voice additional concerns and the floor was taken by Eric Donovan of 66 Winnetuxet in Plympton. He expressed concern that the hearings were taking place in the summer when most town constituents were unavailable and on vacation. Donovan stated that his cousin lives almost directly across from the proposed Ricketts Pond development and he, along with many other local residents are very concerned about the legitimate impact this development proposes in terms of population and tax increase. Donovan pointed out that the hearings would be better attended by locals if they were held in the fall once the vacation months are over. Stiles responded that they are guided by the legal response deadline of six months from the time the applicant filed their application for development. Stiles also pointed out that the hearings are being broadcast via the town website on the Area 58 channel and available at all times to the public. Donovan then addressed Opachinski and asked, “How many units do you really want?” He then explained that he is from Boston and is familiar with developments being proposed at a certain number of units but in reality, the developer intends to build many more than is disclosed in their initial proposal. The ZBA assured Donovan that they will get to the bottom of that in time. Jafferian assured Donovan that the public would have a chance to come forward and voice concerns as the hearings progressed as well. Donovan responded that he moved to Plympton because it was a “sleepy little town” and this development would change that. Following Donovan’s remarks the hearing was adjourned until the next meeting in late August.
If you would like to become involved in the proceedings for a project that will have a significant impact on Plympton’s environment -including several wetland areas, population, and taxes, please visit the town website under Town Resources: Ricketts Pond Estate Proposed 40B for the publicly available documents and either attend the next hearing on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town House, 5 Palmer Rd., or watch the hearing live or afterward on the Area 58 Channel -linked on the town website and found under the search: Zoning Board. As a small town, residents should be involved and voice their opinions to preserve the things they love about their little but unique town in an age where it seems every spot of empty land is developed.
A Tale of Two Transitions
The town of Halifax is once again undergoing a significant leadership transition, with Town Administrator Cody Haddad having recently resigned at the end of July 2025 and Select Board Chair John Bruno not seeking reelection last May. This current transition, however, stands in stark contrast to the turbulent period Halifax experienced in late 2022, marking a notable shift in the town’s civic atmosphere.
In August 2022, Halifax was plunged into an unprecedented crisis when two members of its three-person Select Board, Ashley DiSesa and Alexander Meade, and the new Town Administrator, Marty Golightly, all resigned on the same day. This left Jonathan Selig as the sole remaining Selectman, holding biweekly meetings and daily operations as a “one-man band” for 76 days. Selig noted at the time, “It’s a little strange, I’m not going to lie,” but stated he was “starting to get the hang of being a one-man band here”. Procedurally that involved regularly making a motion, seconding his own motion, and voting 1-0 to approve it.
Among the tensions preceding the departures was a proposed renovation to a cranberry bog by Morse Brothers, Inc., that residents believed would overwhelm their neighborhood. Meetings from April to August 2022 grew “increasingly hostile,” with neighbors shouting over representatives fearing potential damage to roads, danger to children, water contamination, and decreased home values. Some even claimed the bog project was a “coverup for a strip mine”.
The resigning officials cited a deeply “toxic” environment. Town Administrator Marty Golightly, who had only been appointed in mid-July 2022, stated it “wasn’t the right fit” for him. He had previously faced “personal attacks and threats” in his role as Director of Public Health in Abington during the pandemic, which made working in his community uncomfortable. Select Board Chair Ashley DiSesa described enduring a “storm of misogyny, sexual harassment, and underestimation by a select group of loud-mouth residents”. Co-chair Alexander Meade reported being “threatened,” “verbally attacked,” and at one point needed to use an alternate exit to evade an “angry crowd” outside Town Hall. He noted the emergence of “misplaced negative rhetoric and a mob mentality”. The emergency meeting where these resignations occurred lasted only about four minutes.
With basic government operations undermined, Halifax relied on a “skeleton-crew government”. Town Accountant Sandra Nolan stepped in as acting top official, despite having “no interest” in the Town Administrator role, simply because she felt it was “in the best interest of the town”. Police staffing was at a “difficult level”, and though candidates were identified Selig opted not to swear them in solo. The remaining town government largely focused on “rubber-stamp items such as paying bills, filling payroll, and ‘making sure the lights stay on’”. Selig acknowledged the “tough times” but expressed pride in how town workers “leaned in” to help.
The crisis concluded with a special election on November 8, 2022, held concurrently with the state’s mid-term election, to fill the two vacant Select Board seats. John Bruno, a former selectman for 15 years and town moderator for nearly a decade, ran unopposed for one seat, and Naja Nessralla was elected to the other, bringing the Select Board back to a full three members for the first time in 76 days. The new board’s “priority #1” was to find a new town administrator. A search committee, including the Town Accountant, Town Clerk, Police and Fire Chiefs, and three citizens-at-large, was formed to screen candidates.
Fast forward to 2025, and Halifax faces a different scenario. Town Administrator Cody Haddad’s resignation is a personal decision as he returns to Dartmouth. This departure is being managed with a clear transition plan, with Haddad giving ample notice and committing to assist during the transition. Select Board members have universally praised Haddad’s two-and-a-half-year tenure, crediting him with bringing “stability” to the town and charting a new course. Selectman Jonathan Selig noted that under Haddad’s leadership, the town shifted from, “putting out fires in the now to thinking down the road”. Board member Thomas Pratt stated he “always felt prepared” and “never surprised” with Haddad at the helm, calling him a “shining star”. Haddad himself noted a positive shift in town culture, experiencing “tremendous” support from residents, contrasting with the “vocal minority”.
The transition is marked by continuity, not chaos. Robert Fennessy, a former Town Administrator in Carver and Kingston with over 40 years of municipal and law enforcement experience, has been appointed as Interim Town Administrator. Fennessy was expected to get “up to speed within a week” and has expressed his intent to support the board and staff without disrupting ongoing operations. He is interested only in the interim position, not the permanent role. The board aims for an overlap between administrators to ensure a smooth handover.
The search for Halifax’s next permanent Town Administrator has already begun, with Haddad initiating contact with search firms for proposals. A new search committee has been formed, composed of citizens, a Finance Committee member, and the Town Clerk. The goal is to have a candidate in place by mid-August.
While the immediate leadership transitions are vastly different, it’s worth noting that Halifax continues to grapple with underlying community issues. For example, the ongoing dispute with Morse Brothers, Inc. over the cranberry bog project and alleged illegal sand mining activities, which was a flashpoint in 2022, resurfaced in 2024 with the Select Board issuing a cease-and-desist order and a $30,000 fine for multiple violations of the town’s Soil Removal By-law. Residents continue to express concerns about truck traffic, road damage, and water quality issues related to the operations. Additionally, the town is still dealing with challenges related to the MBTA Communities Act and discussions about a potential override for the fiscal year 2027 budget due to rising costs. These issues highlight that while the town’s governance has achieved stability, many challenges remain.
The contrast between these two periods highlights Halifax’s journey through challenging times to a more stable and collaborative environment. As the town embarks on finding its next permanent Town Administrator, the experience of 2022 serves as a stark reminder of past difficulties, while the current orderly transition reflects a significant improvement in town governance and community relations. The Board of Selectmen even named Selig chair, succeeding Bruno. This time he chairs the meetings with other members alongside him.
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