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 deb@whphexpress.com.

To contact the editor of the Whitman-Hanson Express, email editor@whitmanhansonecpress.com 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Several of the Plympton town committee meetings scheduled for Monday, February 24 had to be rescheduled due to the town website going down sometime around 10 a.m. Monday morning. Under the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, a public body must give at least 48 hours’ notice (excluding weekends and legal holidays) prior to any meeting with exceptions made for emergency situations.

Towns can elect through a vote at town meeting for the town website to be the agreed upon posting location for such meetings. If that website is unavailable for viewing for six or more continuous hours, the posting is considered insufficient.

Town Clerk Patricia Detterman said that she received an influx of calls yesterday during the outage.

Meetings scheduled included a Board of Selectmen meeting, a dog complaint hearing, a Plympton School Committee meeting and public budget hearing, a Board of Health meeting, Financial   Committee meetings, and a Planning Board hearing.

The selectmen’s meeting has been rescheduled for next Monday, March 2. The new days and times for the other meetings can be found on the town website.

CivicPlus is the platform that hosts the town’s website as well as many towns throughout the state including Halifax and Duxbury. CivicPlus sent an email Tuesday at 2:39 p.m. alerting the town that the problem was related to the load balancer, had been resolved.

A load balancer, intended to increase capacity and reliability, is a device that is used to distribute traffic across various servers. If one of the load balancers fails, a second one becomes active. If both fail or are misconfigured, servers are knocked offline. 

Detterman requested a report from CivicPlus detailing what led to the problem and steps that were taken to resolve it.

Detterman said that she has never before experienced the website going down and jokingly said that you don’t appreciate what you have until its gone.

She was quick to say, however, “We do appreciate it; it is such a powerful tool for this office.”

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee meeting on Thursday, February 13 began with a public budget hearing on the budget for fiscal year 2021. Committee Chair Jason Fraser opened the floor to anyone from the public that wished to speak on the budget.

A member of the public speaking on behalf of the Union said, “Research has consistently shown that the single most important school-based factor in student achievement is teacher quality… that’s why it’s so important that Silver Lake’s budget focuses on attracting and retaining great teachers.”  He continued saying, “the budget as the version 2 was presented seems to be cutting the exact factor that’s most important to student achievement. I would urge the school committee to direct the superintendent to reexamine the budget and make cuts to areas that have less of a direct impact to student success.”

He also read a statement from the 8^th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teachers at the middle school. Those teachers were concerned that one of the proposed cuts included revamping the twenty-first literacy class and integrating it into the 7^th grade curriculum. In the statement, the teachers expressed their concerns that this would remove teachers from their areas of expertise thus lessening the quality of the education the students receive.

Halifax town administrator Charlie Seelig also addressed the committee, beginning by acknowledging the difficulties inherent in creating the budget. “Doing the budget is probably one of the worst parts of the job.” He continued, “ …having to cut back incrementally, piece by piece and taking apart the Silver Lake school system in order to find some happy medium between what the towns can afford and what our students need is a very difficult proposition especially given that almost every single dollar of increase in the budget from year to year right now is a dollar that’s coming from the three communities.” Seelig also stressed the lack of money coming in from the state as well as the competition posed by charter schools. Students attending charter schools from the Silver Lake district increased from 20 in 2013 to 58 in 2020.

“I can’t come to you and say this is a terrible budget, you didn’t cut enough – you cut a lot,” Seelig said. Seelig said that it appeared to him that the assessment among the three communities was around 3.2 percent whereas he was hoping to see something closer to 2 or 2.5 percent. It is worth noting that administrators came up with an assessment number that they say is closer to 2.99 percent. Seelig also pointed out that while on the surface it appeared that the assessment to Halifax was quite low at 1.2 percent, that number doesn’t accurately reflect the true cost to Halifax. According to Seelig there were expenses transferred to shared cost that are no longer reflected in the Silver Lake budget. Additionally, Seelig shared his concerns that Halifax is again being asked to fund their share of the middle school resource officer through an article at town meeting as it is yet another cost to the town that is not included in the budget as presented.

Seelig, who has worked for Halifax for 24 years, said that it would be difficult for him to go to town meeting in May and tell residents to vote against the school budget because of the low assessment to Halifax this year. However, Seelig said he wants residents to understand that several years from now that assessment is going to climb as their share of the school population will inevitably increase. “Compound interest just keeps accumulating and at some point, we’re not going to be able to afford this,” Seelig explained.

Chair of the Halifax Finance Committee Melinda Tarsi also spoke during the hearing saying that while she shared many of the same concerns as Seelig she wanted to focus her comments on the part time school resource officer at the middle school. “We had the conversation last year concerning the structure of the financing and we had hoped that given a year more of talking and development that we would be able to find a way to successfully negotiate an agreement that would allow us to place the cost for the part time SRO into the assessment and to work out a more equitable arrangement among the police departments,” Tarsi said.  “As we understand it, there hasn’t been a significant change in the approach that is being taken and that this is going to be placed as an article, again, this year at the Halifax town meeting,” she continued. Tarsi was quick to point out that Halifax and the Finance Committee are in favor of both the position and the increased safety the position presents, but that they continue to be opposed to the proposed mechanism to fund that position. Tarsi said that Silver Lake shouldn’t be allowed to introduce articles with requests for positions since no other department is allowed to do that.

Chair of the Kingston Finance Committee Carl Pike also spoke to the committee, beginning his comments, much like Seelig did, with an acknowledgment of how difficult it is to create the budget. Pike commended Silver Lake for coming in with a bottom-line increase of 2.91 percent but noted that they were asking other departments to come in lower, at around 2.5 percent. Like Seelig, Pike pointed out that these yearly increases will prove difficult to sustain in the long run. Pike said that the average tax bill in Kingston is $6500 and pointed out that if all departments come in at a 3 percent increase it would mean an additional $200 onto the average bill. “If that happens year after year, it is just not sustainable,” Pike said.

The Halifax Police Department has been awarded a grantEach December, the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) partners with police agencies across the state as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.  OGR recently awarded grants to 125 local police departments, including a grant that reimburses the town of Halifax up to $7500 for extra patrols during the mobilization period of Dec. 11 through Jan. 20, to pay for overtime patrols to increase impaired driving enforcement targeting drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs during the holiday season.

Complementing these efforts was an educational campaign titled Wisdom featuring local cannabis users talking about their personal experiences with, and thoughts on, driving after consuming cannabis, alcohol, or other drugs.  Impaired crashes are not accidents; they are preventable.  Wisdom’s ads serve as a reminder for drivers to recognize the responsibility they have to drive safely and to avoid getting behind the wheel if they are impaired.  Remember – If you feel different, you drive different.

The next mobilization period is March 6-22, the spring speed enforcement campaign, followed by the April 1 – 30 campaign for distracted driving, then May 14 to 31 Occupant Protection/Click it or ticket.  From June 11 to July 5 is the Summer Speed Enforcement mobilization and final period is Aug. 20 – Sept. 8 Drive Sober or get Pulled Over.

The grant will reimburse the town of Halifax up to $7500 dollars for extra patrols during these periods.  The officers on these patrols must document at least 3 stops per hour unless an arrest is made then time is allowed to process the arrest.

During the Monday, January 27 Plympton Board of Selectmen meeting, town administrator Elizabeth Dennehy said that herself and Selectman John Traynor met with State Representative Kathleen LaNatra, Senator Michael Brady, a representative from the town of Halifax, and Francis Gay, the administrator of The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA). Dennehy said the takeaway from the meeting was that applying for membership in GATRA would only require a vote of the Board of Selectmen. GATRA would then vote in February to act on the request. Traynor said that membership would not cost the town any additional money.

College student and Plympton resident Emily Hayes attended Monday’s meeting to speak to her need for available public transportation. Hayes said that she had a brain tumor removed many years ago that resulted in a loss of her peripheral vision leaving her unable to drive. Hayes said, “I don’t really have freedom and I’ve seen the bus go by our street coming from Kingston and it always kind of stings a little because there is my freedom going right by.” Hayes’ parents also attended the meeting and her mother Susan Hayes described her many failed efforts to secure transportation for her daughter. Hayes said she reached out to MA Rehab but was told they don’t offer transportation services. GATRA told her they don’t provide services to Plympton and the MA Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired told them Emily didn’t qualify as she wasn’t visually impaired enough. In the end, the elder Hayes had to leave her part time job of 16 years to assist her daughter with commuting to and from college. Joy thanked them for telling their story saying, “It’s nice to personalize this… It’s very brave of you to come in and share your story.”  The Selectmen voted for the town of Plympton to become a member of GATRA.

Transfer station sticker dispute

A dispute over a sticker on a vehicle for the town’s transfer station took up more than thirty minutes of Monday’s meeting and included a trip to the parking lot to ensure the correct and visible placement of a sticker. The residents insisted that they always had a sticker on their vehicle while the employees of the transfer station said it was either placed in the wrong location or not present on the vehicle at all. The residents insisted they were being singled out and even described their treatment as harassment, something those working at the transfer station vehemently disputed. An earlier incident at the transfer station between those present at Monday’s meeting resulted in the police being called on the resident due to fear for the workers’ safety.

Selectman Mark Russo said, “Public service is difficult and you end up dealing with situations that can get kind of hot and I totally respect the work of our people at the transfer station and I know they have a tough job and I know that sometimes they catch some abuse for doing what their job is.”

Russo went on to acknowledge the confusion surrounding where the sticker was and was not present saying that as long as it is now properly affixed to the car and there are no further incidents, it would be best to move forward.  Selectman Chair Christine Joy said, “Let’s put this behind us and hope that we don’t have to talk about this again.” Russo added, “I would hope that the interactions at the transfer station can be done with dignity and respect.”

Right of First Refusal

There were two public hearings both concerning Chapter 61A right of first refusal. Right of first refusal gives a potentially interested party, in this case the town of Plympton, the ability to purchase a property prior to the seller negotiating other offers. Notice of the hearings were posted in the Plympton-Halifax Express. The first hearing regarded several acres of property on Lake St. and the second was for 17 acres on Main St. The hearings were first opened to those wishing to speak in favor of the town exercising it’s right of refusal and then to those against. There was no one present that wished to speak out for either of the properties in question.

Before heading into deliberations, Russo did let those present know that the selectmen requested recommendations from various town boards and committees including the Open Space Committee, Planning Board, Historical Society, Conservation Committee, Agricultural Commission, and the Community Preservation Committee. The Board did not hear back from any of those groups. The Board unanimously voted not to exercise their right of first refusal in both instances.

Housing Choice Grant for $93,000

Dennehy explained the next step in the Housing Choice Grant contract process to the selectmen. The grant is for $93,000 for a consultant to work with the Town Campus Committee to establish a master plan for the town center and hopefully establish some housing opportunities. Dennehy also told the selectmen that the Town Campus Committee wished to change their name to the Town Properties Committee. The selectmen voted to make the change official.

Traynor told the other selectmen that he would like to see the Board increase their social media presence. Traynor cited the success of the fire department’s social media sites.

More Communication

Traynor also said that he would like to see a meeting between various elected officials to deal with issues that arise outside of the purview of the Board of Selectmen.

Currently Dennehy runs an operations meeting where the major department heads gather to look at the state of the town and ensure communication across the departments.

Joy suggested the possibility of a quarterly roundtable discussion that would include both department heads and elected officials. Traynor agreed saying that he would like to see these meetings have a theme such as customer service. “I think sometimes we miss that the only reason we are here is as a customer service to the residents,” Traynor explained. Russo agreed saying it might also be beneficial to have a de-escalation training to help officials deal with challenging situations that may arise.

Cultural Council members needed

Dennehy addressed the need for members to join the Cultural Council. Dennehy pointed out that without an active Cultural Council, the town won’t receive money from the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. The grants are used to support a number of artistic and cultural projects throughout the town. Joy described the Council as “feel good” and suggested possibly reaching out to people currently serving on some other boards and committees. Dennehy said that she felt that people may be more likely to come forward to join if they realized that the town was in jeopardy of losing the funding.