COVID-19 Updates

The Halifax Board of Selectmen held a remote meeting on Tuesday, May 12. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig addressed the necessary steps the town would have to take to begin reopening per the state’s guidelines. Seelig described it as a “slow opening” and said it would begin with the recycling center opening on Wednesday, May 20.

Seelig also credited library Director Jean Gallant with developing a plan for the opening of the library. He said he plans to share it with the other departments. Gallant, who said she had recently spoken with other SAILS directors, said that the library would also be ready to begin curbside pickup and returns at the book drop beginning on May 20. Phase 2 of reopening would include having patrons in the building. Selectman Chair Troy Garron said to Gallant, “I love your initiative.”

Council on Aging Director Susan Lawless was also at the meeting and expressed that she was unsure what steps to take to get her drivers back to work. Currently the drivers, who do not have benefits such as vacation time, have continued being paid despite not working. Lawless asked if drivers not comfortable returning to work in the next week or so should continue to be paid.

Both Garron and selectman Tom Millias said that they believed payment should be stopped in such a case. Millias explained, “The cold hard fact is we can’t pay them and pay somebody else to do their job.” Adding to the complexity, Lawless said that there may only be limited hours available and asked if drivers should be compensated only for what they work or for their normal workloads. Seelig said a meeting between the selectmen and the department heads would be scheduled soon to hash out such details.

Seelig acknowledged that the town hall is not yet ready to be opened. He explained, “My first priority in all of this is the protection of the employees that are working in these buildings and also the protection of the residents and visitors who come in.” Seelig also said that he wouldn’t want to see employees in the vulnerable population return to work if it was contraindicated for them to do so. Millias said he would like to begin by determining which employees should come back first saying they, “should start functioning with our staff first before thinking about opening our doors to the public.”

Potential Official Town Facebook Page

Seelig said that some interest had been expressed in the creation of a town Facebook page. He said that approval would need to go through the selectmen so they could setup the terms for use. Seelig said, “Right now, given the circumstances, I don’t think anyone has time to do this.” He also said it could be a duplication of efforts as many already get information from private Facebook groups and those not on Facebook are able to get information from the town website. Selectman Gordon Andrews said he wasn’t opposed to the idea but said that he would recommend that commenting not be enabled. Garron said that given Seelig’s full plate it would be best to back burner the idea and all agreed.

Cranberry Drive Sidewalk

Seelig said that a Cranberry Drive resident requested that a sidewalk be placed along the shoulder of Plymouth St. Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward had received an estimate of $125,000 a few years ago for the work. Seelig said he was, “certainly for it, it’s just the cost consideration that is the problem.” The selectmen agreed saying they were in favor of the idea conceptually but that the money posed a problem particularly given the uncertainties of the present day. Seelig said he would ask Hayward to provide a new estimate and suggested that money may be available in the form of a grant. Seelig said there was potential for residents to put an article into the warrant for town meeting next year.

Abandoned House on 4 Upton St.

Seelig said that due to the abandoned house on the town owned lot at 4 Upton St., the property is classified differently since the structure is not part of the town’s operations. As a result, it has a separate insurance policy for $2,500 to cover the property as well as general liability. Seelig explained the various options for selling the property. As-is, Seelig said it is not considered a buildable lot and therefore would only be of interest to abutters. Seelig explained that this option is not desirable since if the offer was too low it likely wouldn’t cover the insurance or amount of back taxes due. The other potential option would be to work with the Planning Board to get a new bylaw in the zoning bylaws that would allow for abandoned properties to be used by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) by a special permit as a single family only. Garron inquired as to the cost to raze the building and Millias estimated anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Andrews also said he would be in favor of razing the building if the town is unable to sell the property. Seelig agreed to get bids first to gather a clearer picture.

Town Meeting and Town Election

Seelig said that town meeting is still scheduled for June 15 and that the warrant would be going to press shortly. According to Seelig, there are two hurdles that must be overcome in order to move forward with town meeting on that date. The first of which is that the town doesn’t currently have an idea of what state aid is going to look like. Andrews said that the state had authorized themselves to have until June 30 to present a budget. He also said that from what he knew, both Kingston and Plympton were moving forward with their scheduled town meetings despite not having knowledge of state aid. Both Seelig and Andrews expressed confusion about how the towns planned to proceed without the information. The second hurdle to holding the meeting is the physical logistics. Venue as well as safety protocols would have to be considered.

Seelig said the town clerk’s office is moving forward with the assumption that the town election will be held on June 20. They are working with the school to figure out the physical logistics for in person voting. Seelig said that while in person voting will occur, mail-in voting would be encouraged.

Budget and CARES Act

The town budget remains in flux though the Finance Committee planned to have their recommendations in by the end of the week. Seelig said he was yet to hear anything from Plymouth County regarding the $90,000,000 in federal funds to be distributed to municipalities by the county. Seelig said while he awaits word, he will move forward with speaking to the various town departments regarding their needs. Seelig said that the town needs to think about equipment and supplies that will be needed in the coming months.

Beach Stickers for Nonresidents

Back in the winter, the issue of beach stickers for nonresidents was introduced. Seelig said he checked with both Kingston and Duxbury and discovered that neither town is issuing beach stickers to anyone due to COVID-19. Andrews said that if the town’s beaches remain closed, it doesn’t make sense to issue stickers. He did say, however, that should they open he would be in favor of a $25 fee for nonresident beach stickers. Millias asked if the offer would be extended to anyone or only those in abutting towns. The selectmen agreed to put off making any decisions to a later date so they could put more thought into their decision.

Other News

Seelig said that while the Board had previously voted to cancel regularly scheduled Memorial Day events, the VFW was moving forward with putting up flags on the town green. He also said that there could potentially be some low-key activities planned with social distancing protocols in mind.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) held a meeting last Wednesday for Chapter 40B on Country Club Estates but have postponed the hearing until June.

Halifax Health Agent Cathy Drinan will be retiring in June. “Obviously it’s unfortunate we’re losing Kathy especially at this time,” Seelig said.

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met on Tuesday, May 12 during which time Superintendent Jill Proulx and the administration team presented nearly a million dollars in proposed cuts to the budget. A copy of the presentation can be found on the Silver Lake homepage. The Committee met again on Wednesday, May 13 to vote on the proposed cuts.

The cuts were categorized as either tier one or tier two. In addition to the elimination of freshmen sports and some expanded transportation, many positions including professional status teachers were included on the lists. Due to contractual obligations, some staff potentially facing a layoff must be notified by Friday, May 15. To vote in favor of cuts presented does not mean they will come to fruition. Instead, when preparing the budget, the list will be drawn upon when in need of cuts. Silver Lake Regional School Committee Chair Jason Fraser explained, “Tonight is not the end of the budget, tonight is the beginning of the development process. There will be some time for us to consider all of our options as we move forward.”

Proposed tier one cuts at the high school include the elimination of several paraprofessionals and the full-time wellness teacher. Tier one cuts at the middle school include a full-time special education teacher, a full-time science teacher, and the reduction of a librarian position.

Potential tier two cuts at the high school include a Latin teacher, a full-time tech ed teacher, a full-time computer teacher, a full-time special education teacher, a full-time ELA teacher, and a full-time adjustment counselor. Tier two cuts at the middle school total $144,000 and include a full-time math teacher and PE teacher as well as the remainder of the librarian position among others.

The presentation also included a few items where there will be savings this year that could potentially offset the need for as many cuts. With school closed since mid-March, expenditures for buses, utilities, and substitute teachers have been reduced.

Fraser began Wednesday by laying out the ground rules for the meeting which was being held virtually and boasted over 150 participants. Each committee member would be offered one opportunity to speak on any comments or questions they had developed since the previous night’s meeting.

Committee member Eric Crone noted, as did many others, that he was against many of the proposed cuts. Crone also said that when moving forward with the budget, he would like to see some new areas considered for cuts including technology costs and administrative costs. Committee member Laura Tilton said, “This is a really painful process… but the bottom line is we’ve been asked by the town to come in with a budget that is lower.”

Leslie-Ann McGee offered, “I think it’s a very difficult process to consider essentially gutting education as we know it at Silver Lake.” She added, “I just don’t want anyone to think that my yes vote tonight means that I’m in favor of all of the components of this package.” McGee noted she was only voting in favor of the package due to time constraints.

Committee member and Halifax Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if the teachers potentially facing layoffs were informed prior to the meeting the night before. Fraser assured him that they had been notified by their building principal and/or other administrators. Andrews also asked, “At this point in time, no other staff members could be let go that are under the union contract that do not get notified tonight?”

Proulx answered, “My understanding is that the notices go to the people who are currently in the position but some of those people who would be notified could, in fact, bump other people in their bargaining unit which could set off a need to notify other people.”

Committee member Michael Antoine asked, “I would like to know if the administration has looked at their own area as far as the contracts, we have going forward with them, if there’s been any talk of salary freezes or voluntary reductions in pay.” Proulx responded, “There has been discussion but no formalized decision regarding the freezing or reduction of salaries; that is certainly something we have discussed and considered and would consider.”

Before moving forward with a vote on the proposal, Fraser said that if salary modifications were considered, he would like to see it be across the board and not on the backs of any particular group.

The Committee proceeded to vote with the necessary two-thirds majority to approve both the tier one and tier two cuts as presented.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Thursday, April 30 as they have been doing each week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy gave an update on the town’s plan to deal with the virus. Dennehy said that the town is following the Governor’s guidance to extend the stay-at-home order to May 18.

Town employees continue to work remotely whenever possible with only a select few continuing to go into town buildings in order to complete essential services. The town has also begun implementing virtual tours for inspection processes. Dennehy also said that everything is continuing to go smoothly with the Police and Fire Departments and that the town currently has a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Emergency Management team has met to discuss logistics for reopening. Dennehy said they have discussed such necessities as face coverings as well as structural changes to buildings. The possibility of installing plexiglass to reduce contact was a potential option mentioned. Dennehy said the team is “trying to get an idea of the best path forward.”   

Dennehy and the Selectmen also discussed how best to handle the town’s Memorial Day events. Dennehy said that many surrounding towns have postponed those events to Veteran’s Day. Both Kathy Ferguson and Briggette Martins, who are both on the Memorial Day Committee, were receptive to the idea. Selectman Mark Russo said, “I’m in total agreement that it needs to be postponed. My only concern is that we wait a week to put it on the agenda in case there was opposition.” Selectmen Christine Joy and John Traynor were in agreement.

Dennehy also told the Board that she had been in touch with the Co-Chair of the Open Space Committee Linda Leddy about extending the bid date for the three lots on Prospect Road. The new due date for offers is May 20, 2020 by noon at the Plympton Town House.

The town received word from energy provider Eversource that there was a problematic tree down on the town green. Dennehy said that due to COVID-19, Eversource was asking either herself or Joy to sign off on the removal of the tree. “I took a ride down there and the tree is practically coming down now; It’s dangerous,” Traynor said. He continued, “I wonder if they could do it with a provision that they grind the stump since it is on the town green.” Russo agreed and asked that it be put on the following week’s agenda to enable anyone who may be sensitive to such issues to attend the meeting.

In other town business, Traynor made a motion to send the codification warrant article that would change the bylaws to the Planning Board. Traynor said that it would be necessary to have a clear date for doing so before going to the Attorney General’s office. Dennehy also said that she had received correspondence from a town solar project stating the need to do an electrical crossing on Ring Road.

Traynor also had a rave for the week. He commended the Russos (Mark and family) for what he referred to as “Friday night cooking” during which meals would be given out to as many as 40 families.

During the Halifax Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, April 28 town administrator Charlie Seelig said that as of right now, the town is operating under the assumption that there will be a town meeting on June 15. He noted, however, it is all subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions. Based on that assumption, the town is required to get the warrant out to residents. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if the town was bound by legislation to hold town meeting in June. Seelig said that they would need to do so as a starting point even if in June it is decided that it will need to be postponed another 30 days.

Seelig also questioned the need to spend several thousand dollars printing and distributing warrants to every household in Halifax. He suggested, instead, printing less copies and making them available at a few public locations throughout town in addition to posting it online. The bylaws regarding the requirements for the distribution of the warrant would need to be changed first.

Seelig pointed out that they are printing approximately 3,500 copies of the warrant yet only 100 or so households are usually represented at town meeting. He did, however, say that he was in no way trying to discourage participation.

Andrews suggested the possibility of sending a postcard to each household in town letting them know where they could pick up a copy of the warrant. Both Selectmen Chair Troy Garron and Selectman Tom Millias were on board with the idea.

Planning Board member Amy Troup was in attendance and made it known that she was adamantly opposed to the idea of not sending warrants to all individual households.

As of now, the town election is still scheduled for late June. Seelig said that they are currently reviewing the final proof of the election ballot.

Seelig said he would encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of early voting and mail-in voting.

Seelig relayed that town clerk Barbara Gaynor proposed reducing the number of hours that the polls are open from 10 am to 6 pm to 12 pm to 4 pm. Millias said, “I’m not sure I’m comfortable shortening the hours.”

He continued, “I want to be sure everyone gets their chance.”

Seelig and the selectmen were unsure whether shortening the hours would reduce or increase exposure for residents and poll workers. Shorter hours would mean less time being in contact with others, but it could also result in greater crowd size. Garron said, “I’m not sure. six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Seelig said he would speak to Gaynor about the Board’s concerns.

COVID Leave Policy Re-examined

Seelig said that back in March, the town had decided to continue paying those who weren’t allowed back in their places of work but were unable to work from home. A few of those employees have been temporarily transferred to a department that could utilize them. For others that are available to work but unable to be transferred or work from home, Seelig said they would have to either take a leave option or be furloughed until they can be put back to work. Millias said, “This whole thing has opened up a lot of inequities… I would like to give this a little more thought, myself.” Seelig said the Board could delay making a decision until their May 12 meeting.

Budget Discussion

Seelig said that himself and town accountant Sandra Nolan met with the Finance Committee on Monday, April 27 and made some progress regarding decisions about line items in the budget. Seelig also said that he was waiting to hear back from the schools regarding their budgets. He acknowledged that everyone was waiting to hear about changes to Chapter 70 funding and unrestricted local aid from the state. Andrews pointed out that were the state to change their numbers, it could potentially have a negative impact on Halifax’s assessment for Silver Lake.

Seelig said that there would be a possibility that they would have to do a 1/12 budget. Seelig also said that while there wasn’t money for general wage increases across the board, there would most likely be step increases for union/non-union and school and non-school employees. Troup, again, took issue with Seelig and the Board’s proposal saying, “Raises for people should not even be considered right now… taxpayers are losing their jobs…we need to unite and come together as a team like we used to.”

After what was, at times, a heated debate between some of the selectmen and Troup, Garron replied, “We do the best we can with what we have to work with.”

CARES Act Distribution

On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was signed into law, establishing a federal fund of $150 billion to help cities and towns cover costs related to the coronavirus pandemic. Plymouth County received $90 million from that fund which the Plymouth County Board of Commissioners elected to distribute to towns and cities within their jurisdiction themselves rather than having the state administer the money. Aside from the city of Boston, all other local governments opted to have the funds funneled through the commonwealth.

Seelig said that the three Halifax agencies that are in greatest need of the funds, including the Board of Health, have yet to receive any word from the County. Seelig also said that on April 30 a Plymouth County Commissioner’s meeting will be held via Zoom with one participant allowed per city and town. Garron volunteered to sit on the call saying, “I’m not too pleased about it that they didn’t notify anybody about this, especially the advisory board.” Andrews and Millias were also displeased with the County’s decision. The Selectmen voted to have Seelig draft a letter stating their preference that the state handle the allocation of the funds.

Suggestion to Honor Graduating Seniors

Seelig told the selectmen that a suggestion was sent to him to hang congratulations signs on the town utility poles for the individual graduating seniors from Halifax. Seelig said that doing so could be difficult as there are only 10 or 12 poles with the necessary clips. The Highway Department would have to be involved as well. Seelig proposed a logistically simpler idea of placing signs along the roadway, potentially on Plymouth St., to represent each of the roughly 90 students. The selectmen agreed that they would like to figure out some way of honoring those students. “I think if we could do something it would be a really nice gesture,” Millias said.

Official Declaration Made

Seelig also asked the selectmen for their opinion on declaring May 1 to May 7 Children’s Mental Health Week in Halifax per a request that had been received. Regarding making such declarations Andrews commented, “We don’t do this a lot.” Millias said, “It is a little odd, but I don’t see any harm to it.” The selectmen voted to approve the request.

Odds and Ends

A Planning Board hearing is scheduled for May 7 at 7:15 pm.

The three items on the agenda include updating the zoning bylaws regarding floodplains, allowing marijuana establishments in the commercial district, and potentially updating the multifamily bylaw.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a remand on May 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm for Amanda’s Estates. The Zoning Board of Appeals will also hold a public hearing on Country Club Estates on May 6 at 7 pm.

Mosquito control

Seelig said that while it is too early to begin other mosquito control measures, the town has administered larvicide to swamplands, etc.

Memorial Day Parade

Assistant Veterans Agent for Halifax, Steven Littlefield, told Seelig that he couldn’t see how the Memorial Day Parade could be held given Governor Baker extending the stay-at-home order through May 18.  The Board agreed to hold off on making a definitive decision regarding the parade though Andrews said, “I think, personally, we are going to have to cancel it.” The Selectmen had previously voted to allow flags to be placed on the town green several weeks in advance of Memorial Day.

Condolences to

Halifax Nova Scotia

The Selectmen voted to send a letter of condolences to Halifax, Nova Scotia following the mass shooting that took place near there on April 19. It was the worst in Canada’s history.

The selectmen voted to do so due to their shared name.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Thursday, April 16 to discuss ongoing developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the weekly selectmen meetings, Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy has also been having weekly conference calls with the townhouse staff.

Dennehy told the selectmen that the most recent guidelines from Governor Baker’s office have granted municipalities the ability to postpone tax payments and waive interests on late payments through June 29. Dennehy said that Plympton Collector Colleen Morin has recommended keeping the May 1 due date but asked that the Selectmen take a vote to waive any interest through June 29 on late payments for tax bills due May 1. The Selectmen unanimously voted to pass this motion.

Governor Baker’s office has also moved the 2019 state individual income tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15.

On April 16, the Plympton Fire and Police Departments participated in a drive-by parade at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth to show appreciation to all the healthcare and essential workers there. Many local public safety organizations were also part of the parade. “That was a nice event that made people happy and spread some joy,” Dennehy said.

According to Dennehy, after some bumps in the road, the transfer station is now operating smoothly. “Now we’re in a spot where the employees have adequate personal protective equipment, they’re following all of the social distancing protocols, and they’re doing a wonderful job keeping the facility open. I think that everyone feels more confident now that they are being properly protected as well,” Dennehy said.

The town of Hanson loaned Plympton an electronic message board that has been used to reflect the new hours of the transfer station. Selectman John Traynor, who said he had been to the transfer station that day said, “I would like to reinforce that as well… very well done.”

Dennehy told the selectmen that there were initially some logistical issues distributing brown bag meals to the Woodlands. Council on Aging Director Joy Marble has found a way to streamline the process, however, while keeping everyone safe.

New measures include placing tape on the floor to ensure workers and patrons stay six feet apart. “Joy deserves to be commended on that; she’s put an enormous amount of time into getting these meals out to people,” Dennehy shared.

Plympton was called upon to see if they could also deliver meals to facilities in Carver and Marshfield. “Right now we’re kind of working on that. We don’t want to overextend ourselves and take on more than what we can reasonably handle but we are trying to be helpful to other communities,” Dennehy said. She also said that Jim Mustacaros, who handles transportation for the Council on Aging, had delivered meals to the facility in Marshfield. “Trying to be mindful of our own resources and of Joy and Jim’s time and also the Fire Chief’s time…we want to be sure that Plympton seniors and Plympton residents are being served first with the limited resources that we have,” Dennehy continued.

The Plympton police and fire departments have also been continuing with their disinfecting protocols. Scott Materna, the Director of Building Maintenance for Halifax, has been periodically disinfecting both buildings and has also loaned equipment to the fire department that enables them to fog the ambulance used for COVID-19 related runs.

Inspections and permits continue

Dennehy said that she had received several questions from the public regarding protocols for inspections and permitting. Plympton has been following the same protocols as most of the state, allowing outside inspections and inside ones for new construction only. Chair of the Board of Health Art Morin said that exceptions are being made for emergencies.

Selectman Mark Russo expressed concern for those residents who find themselves mid-project asking, “If this is going to drag on, is there no way of finding a way to keep the permitting process moving so people aren’t stuck in the mud for month after month?”

Morin agreed saying “We have to adapt and come up with different and creative ideas.” Morin went on to specify that he meant this in regard to individuals and realtors as well as the town.

Russo also said, “When all of this settles down, I think we should look at a way for online permitting options… to offer more options to our residents for doing some of these transactions.”

Morin also told the Board that Plympton has brought on Kevin Forgue as the health agent. Forgue, who is a registered engineer, is also the health agent in Carver. Morin said, “We are fortunate to have Kevin on board now.” Morin also said that Halifax health agent Cathy Drinan had stepped in during the interim on several occasions.

Schools report on distance learning

Plympton School Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen provided an update on the status of the schools following the second full week of distance learning. Administrators sent a survey to parents, staff, and secondary students in order to receive feedback. Wilhelmsen said that the greatest obstacle thus far has been the wide spectrum of needs throughout the district. Wilhelmsen said that despite hundreds of chromebooks being loaned out, there are still some students who are unable to access technology for one reason or another. According to Wilhelmsen there are students on either end of the spectrum ranging from those struggling with remote assignments to those wishing for more work. “The whole public-school system is setup to provide equal access to all students and you cannot provide equal access in this environment,” Wilhelmsen explained. He also said that Superintendent Jill Proulx deserves a lot of credit for the efforts made thus far.

“This likely is going to continue for this school year and we’ve had a number of conversations with the administration that we need to prepare for the fall,” Wilhelmsen said. Governor Baker officially canceled school for the remainder of the year in the Commonwealth on Tuesday, April 21.

“We need to think forward and I would encourage all of us to think of creative options to keep things moving,” Wilhelmsen continued. Board of Selectmen Chair Christine Joy agreed saying, “We need to learn to do things differently and be more efficient.”

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee began their virtual meeting on April 9 with a public hearing on whether to accept school choice for next year. Despite an option for public participation by joining the Zoom meeting, there was no one from the public wishing to speak on the matter. The Committee did discuss internally.

Before her retirement, former superintendent Joy Blackwood had said that the Committee might consider it for some of the grade levels with lower enrollment. The consensus seemed to be, however, that most grades are trending toward higher class sizes particularly with the loss of two teaching positions at the middle school level. Committee Chair Jason Fraser explained that the district could specify the number of seats as well as what grade levels would be open for school choice. Although voting in favor of it this year wouldn’t require Silver Lake to do so again, they would have to see the students accepted through until either their graduation or their decision to take themselves out of the district.

School Committee member Edward Desharnais brought up the possibility of having to take on students that have been expelled from other schools and said, “it’s a slippery slope and once you start it, it’s hard to back off from. I would hate to sacrifice the quality of our school.” Committee member Gordon Andrews made a motion not to accept school choice. The decision was unanimous.

Another major discussion during Thursday’s meeting was whether to honor April vacation this year or continue with remote learning in its stead. Monday, April 20 is a non-negotiable day off as it is Patriot’s Day. School Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee was in favor of eliminating the break this year as she said it would allow them to shave days from the end of the year. Desharnais said he was against cancelling April vacation as he said he had spoken to several teachers and felt that they were stressed out and in need of a break.

Fraser invited a father from the public who had reached out with concerns about remote learning, to speak at Thursday’s meeting. The father, a Halifax resident, said he had experience teaching in both private and public tech schools.

He described his family’s situation saying his wife was home-schooling an elementary aged child while also caring for a toddler. He said that they were experiencing some technical issues while trying to practice remote learning.

“April vacation might be a good chance to break and fix some of the technology problems,” he explained.

Committee member Christopher Eklund said he could see it both ways. Ultimately, the Committee voted not to cancel April vacation with McGee being the lone holdout.

The Committee also discussed what kind of help could be given to students who have high stakes testing. On April 10, just a day after the Committee met, Governor Baker signed a bill that waived the MCAS test-administration requirement this spring. The ACT test has also been postponed from April 4 to June 13. Proulx said that a number of online resources are available to students who wish to have help preparing for the ACT or the Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Silver Lake Regional Principal Michaela Gill said that the College Board has been hosting live tutorials daily for students wishing to prepare for their AP tests. Gill also said that the format of the AP tests have been modified and will consist of a 45 minute free response portion only.

The remote learning experience thus far was also discussed at length. The first few weeks after closing both the middle and high schools on March 16 consisted solely of voluntary learning with teachers and students electing whether or not to participate in a number of different enrichment opportunities. Beginning Monday April 6, however, the expectations were changed based on guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The administration and Committee were in agreement that having only one week of data at their disposal made it difficult to troubleshoot and make changes as necessary. Proulx stressed the importance of flexibility as they navigate what is brand new territory to all involved. “I think that the teachers have done a great job of reinventing the way that they deliver and develop a curriculum.” Proulx said. Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch, who had met with Department heads regarding remote learning, agreed saying he was, “Very impressed, big picture, to watch us transition how education has been done for probably a thousand years.” Proulx and Lynch said that one of their goals is to start to think about ways for sharing out best practices for distance learning as they emerge.

Administration and Committee members discussed the difference between continued, maintenance education versus new learning. Fraser pointed out that in many private school settings, they are pushing forward with new learning. Proulx spoke at length about equity and the importance of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Proulx also acknowledged that some families are already overwhelmed and struggling with the remote learning. She also said that in their efforts to provide variety and choice to students, it may have been overwhelming. Desharnais said he was hearing estimates that nearly 20 percent of students were not participating in the credit/no credit remote learning that had been established. The Committee asked what could be done to reach those students. Proulx and Lynch said that the first step would be to reach out to the families themselves followed by a counselor or an administrator. Proulx said that they are trying to avoid scenarios where children don’t have access to learning because there are things going on in the home that prevent them from participating. After establishing the continuation of the free and reduced lunch program assuring that students had access to chromebooks was high on the priority list. Lynch and the technology team provided over eight opportunities for families to pick up chromebooks with over 700 devices distributed.

Gill said that while there has been a learning curve across the board, the response from teachers has been a mostly positive one. Middle School Principal Jim Dupille said, “I really give a lot of credit to the flexibility and hard work of my staff.” Dupille said that his staff has been making all necessary preparations for “step up” day despite the uncertainty of whether it will be able to be held. Logistics had to be worked out as well including how many students could be managed simultaneously on a Zoom call.

Eklund brought up the number of states that have already cancelled school for the entire school year. As of April 14, nineteen states had made that decision. Fraser, who also serves on the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) Board of Directors, said that MASC is advocating that if Governor Baker extends the closure past May 4, he just cancel school for the remainder of the year in part due to the stress caused by the uncertainty.

The father in attendance proposed the idea to extend the academic year to 900 hours bringing the last day of school to the very end of June. He said, “I have a child with an IEP and it is definitely difficult to get her to focus in general. Getting them back into the school longer is better than this experimental untested curriculum.” Fraser said he was unaware of any other district contemplating extending the school year. Andrews questioned the possible financial implications of pushing school to June 30. Director of Business Services Christine Healy said that it would likely mean finding $300,000 to $400,000 that they don’t currently have. Committee member Eric Crone was concerned with the levels of anxiety in people’s homes saying, “Asking them to continue for another week or two could be problematic with the levels of anxiety people are dealing with. Personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Eklund said he was a fan of more learning hours and was concerned with kids not being ready to progress to the next grade. “If we can get more time out of the teachers and not punish ourselves financially, I’m for it,” he told the committee.  Eklund, who is part of the negotiations team, offered to bring the idea to the teachers with the Committee’s backing.

The Committee asked Proulx and Lynch to come back to them with further data based on the first two weeks of official, remote learning including feedback from building principals and curriculum coordinators. The Committee agreed to hold a meeting on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. with Union 31 and all school committees to discuss remote learning and adjustment of practices. The public is encouraged to attend.

A brief conversation was also held regarding the budget. Fraser said that Silver Lake will need to adjust their budget once the new numbers are received from the state. Healy offered some good news saying that there will be a savings of $99,000 in next year’s budget thanks to the bus contract coming in far lower than estimated.

As of April 8, there are 15,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts with 1,194 of those in Plymouth County. According to data received on April 7 there have been 356 deaths in the state as a result of COVID-19. The state is releasing the number of confirmed cases and deaths by county only citing privacy concerns as the reason for not releasing statistics by city and town. According to Mass.gov, “To protect privacy and confidentiality of individuals who test positive for COVID-19, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health only publicly reports positive case counts and deaths by county. The decision to share more detailed case counts by community rests with each city or town, based on the assessment of the situation in their own communities.” Local communities have made varying decisions regarding whether to share this information with residents, but Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton have all elected to share information regarding town-wide cases on their town websites.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Halifax was reported on March 20. Since that time, the number of confirmed cases has increased to 10. According to town administrator Charlie Seelig, the numbers are continuing to increase incrementally.

He explained, “Because of the small population in Halifax, there’s some randomness in that the town may not have any for a couple of days, then have two cases on a particular day.”

Seelig said that he believes residents are adhering to social distancing guidelines. “They are being creative about trying to get together while following the guidance on social distancing.

For instance, having “birthday parades” where friends and family will pass by a child’s house in cars with noise and greetings to celebrate the child’s birthday,” he explained.

When asked why the town has elected to share the town-wide numbers, Seelig said he believes it is about both transparency and trust. “If the town is giving out information, then our hope is that the residents trust that the information given is accurate. Part of that trust is based on transparency, such as providing the number of positive cases.

We’ve not provided any other information (demographics, geography) because, especially with a small town, residents may try to use that information to identify the individuals.”

Seelig was clear to state, however, that short of a sudden increase by several magnitudes, the number of cases in town should not be cause for a change in behavior. “Residents should follow the social distancing protocols and practice good hygiene. That’s what will be most effective,” he said.

According to Seelig, one of the most persistent requests coming into the town is for information regarding the recent whereabouts of those with confirmed cases. It is the public health nurses, rather than the Board of Health, who are responsible for contact tracing. Those with close, sustained proximity to the infected are then given recommendations for how to proceed.

Seelig said that giving too much information as to the infected person’s recent activity could jeopardize their privacy. “If someone wanted information such as “On Friday, Individual X was at 10 Main Street from 8am to 4pm, then went to the Acme Grocery Store from 4pm to 5pm, and got take out from Generic Pizza at 5:15pm and then went to 100 State Street for the rest of the day” it would almost certainly end up in the identification of the individual,” he explained.

Like Halifax, the town of Kingston has also elected to share updates on their town website including the number of confirmed cases in town. As of April 7, the number of confirmed cases in Kingston has been holding steady at nine since March 30.

Chair of the Board of Selectmen Joshua Warren said, “Although it is impossible to quantify if or how the Town’s proactive approach to closing public buildings, parks and playgrounds weeks ago has contributed to our number of cases remaining at 9, we are confident that everybody’s ongoing efforts to stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary, and to maintain social distancing guidelines and proper sanitation practices has only helped to keep Kingston’s number of confirmed cases at 9.”

Plympton, who has a much smaller population than Halifax and Kingston, has two confirmed cases as of April 7. Chair of the Plympton Board of Health Arthur Morin said it is the responsibility of the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) to perform an interview with infected individuals and perform contact tracing.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen used the platform Zoom to host their Tuesday, March 24, meeting in accordance with the Attorney General’s open meeting law revisions due to COVID-19. Members of the public had the option to call-in as well using Zoom from their home devices.

Town administrator Charlie Seelig said that the town was still trying to sort out the essential and non-essential employees based on Governor Baker’s directive. Seelig said that everyone was being paid regardless of whether they were working on site, from home, or not working at all. He also said that they would notify everyone should that policy change, but the intention right now is to pay everyone.

Seelig, town health agent Cathleen Drinan, Fire Chief Jason Viveiros, and Police Chief Joao Chaves are having daily calls regarding COVID-19 and the myriad of issues the pandemic has caused. Seelig said that Sysco had offered to donate surplus food to help Halifax families in need. The free and reduced lunch program through the school is also up and running and anyone finding themselves in need of these services as a result of COVID-19 should contact the Silver Lake food services director.

As a result of the pandemic, the Annual Town Meeting will be rescheduled from May 11 to Monday, June 15. The Annual town meeting will be held at the Halifax Elementary School with a special town meeting to follow at 8 p.m. on the same day and at the same location. Seelig said that the June 15 date will give them a little bit of breathing room prior to the close of the fiscal year on June 30. Additionally, the Annual Town Election has been rescheduled from May 16 to Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. also at the Halifax Elementary School. If needed, the dates will be rescheduled again depending on the Governor’s orders. Currently, Halifax does not have any provisions for remote voting.

Regarding the town’s budget, Seelig said that he was hopeful that the State House would still present a budget by the end of April so that Halifax can create one based on the new financial realities. Seelig said that it remains to be seen how far the economy will fall and how long it will take to get it back up.  “Things are uncertain, and we can’t make commitments right now that we won’t be able to honor later on,” Seelig said.

Seelig informed the Board that he had received a letter from friends and family members of a resident thanking Halifax police officers Michael Schleiff, Michael Boncariewski, and Herbert Wiltshire for going above and beyond during what was described as one of the worst moments of their lives. Seelig asked the selectmen to vote in favor of a commendation for the officers. Selectmen Tom Millias said, “Absolutely, I’m proud of all of them.”

The selectmen and Seelig also discussed the possibility of filing legislation to allow mobile homes to count toward Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing law. The Board discussed presenting an article at town meeting asking for permission to file such legislation. Seelig said that it would probably be unlikely that the legislative delegation would act during this legislative session. Seelig said he would first have town counsel Lawrence Mayo draft applicable legislation before sending it to Senator Michael Brady and Representative Kathleen LaNatra. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked that the legislation be drawn up with both a statewide option as well as one specific to Halifax. Millias was in favor of the state-wide approach as he felt it would have the best chance of passing if there was a concerted effort by enough communities. Seelig said he would talk to colleagues in communities with mobile parks in order to garner support.

Andrews, who was recently named Chairman of the Committee, said that the Building and Facilities Needs Committee has had to postpone their planned site visits to the various department buildings. The Committee, that is responsible for assessing and prioritizing the needs and potential renovations to various municipal buildings, had planned to review paperwork submitted by department heads and do on-site visits to assess for themselves.  Chief Joao Chaves is having daily calls regarding COVID-19 and the myriad of issues the pandemic has caused. Seelig said that Sysco had offered to donate surplus food to help Halifax families in need. The free and reduced lunch program through the school is also up and running and anyone finding themselves in need of these services as a result of COVID-19 should contact the Silver Lake food services director.

As a result of the pandemic, the Annual Town Meeting will be rescheduled from May 11 to Monday, June 15. The Annual town meeting will be held at the Halifax Elementary School with a special town meeting to follow at 8 p.m. on the same day and at the same location. Seelig said that the June 15 date will give them a little bit of breathing room prior to the close of the fiscal year on June 30. Additionally, the Annual Town Election has been rescheduled from May 16 to Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. also at the Halifax Elementary School. If needed, the dates will be rescheduled again depending on the Governor’s orders. Currently, Halifax does not have any provisions for remote voting.

Regarding the town’s budget, Seelig said that he was hopeful that the State House would still present a budget by the end of April so that Halifax can create one based on the new financial realities. Seelig said that it remains to be seen how far the economy will fall and how long it will take to get it back up.  “Things are uncertain, and we can’t make commitments right now that we won’t be able to honor later on,” Seelig said.

Seelig informed the Board that he had received a letter from friends and family members of a resident thanking Halifax police officers Michael Schleiff, Michael Boncariewski, and Herbert Wiltshire for going above and beyond during what was described as one of the worst moments of their lives. Seelig asked the selectmen to vote in favor of a commendation for the officers. Selectmen Tom Millias said, “Absolutely, I’m proud of all of them.”

The selectmen and Seelig also discussed the possibility of filing legislation to allow mobile homes to count toward Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing law. The Board discussed presenting an article at town meeting asking for permission to file such legislation. Seelig said that it would probably be unlikely that the legislative delegation would act during this legislative session. Seelig said he would first have town counsel Lawrence Mayo draft applicable legislation before sending it to Senator Michael Brady and Representative Kathleen LaNatra. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked that the legislation be drawn up with both a statewide option as well as one specific to Halifax. Millias was in favor of the state-wide approach as he felt it would have the best chance of passing if there was a concerted effort by enough communities. Seelig said he would talk to colleagues in communities with mobile parks in order to garner support.

Andrews, who was recently named Chairman of the Committee, said that the Building and Facilities Needs Committee has had to postpone their planned site visits to the various department buildings. The Committee, who is responsible for assessing and prioritizing the needs and potential renovations to various municipal buildings, had planned to review paperwork submitted by department heads and do on-site visits to assess for themselves.

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 8^th 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.”

Employees of Express Newspapers joined thousands of workers all over the country who packed up their offices and brought them home to work there while they wait out the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those who need to contact the Express should use email.  If you have a news story, subscription concern, or legal notices, contact [email protected].

To contact the editor of the Whitman-Hanson Express, email [email protected] and Tracy Seelye will respond.

Our printing company has  assured us that they will be able to print our paper, and the company that processes our online newspaper edition has taken on additional capabilities to get ahead of the anticipated additional demand for online news.  They have been closely following what has happened with their clients in Europe and Asia, and predict that increased online demand will follow here in the United States.

As we all voluntarily shelter in place, and respect each other’s personal space, please be kind and helpful however you can.