Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
KINGSTON – The Kingston Board of Selectmen voted unanimously October 22 to order a dog named Angel humanely euthanized after deeming it dangerous following multiple attacks.
The hearing was held to review three incidents involving the pit bull owned by Rebecca Montgomery of Silver Lake Drive.
Senior Animal Control Officer Joanna Boudreau detailed the first two incidents from April 2023 and April 2024, where Angel escaped her yard and attacked neighboring dogs. The third and most serious incident occurred in September 2024, when Angel broke through a screen door.
“She busted through the screen door and due to the weakness of the [runner] cable it snapped,” said Assistant Animal Control Officer Sonya Buckner, who responded to the third incident. “She attacked the two puppies.”
Torin Jensen, owner of the attacked puppies, described the incident: “Door flings open, dog comes running right out. Jumps on one of my puppies ripping her face, grabbing it very viciously.”
Jensen said his dogs required $8,000 in veterinary care. He also sustained injuries himself trying to separate the animals, stating the combined medical and veterinary bills were $12,000.
“It was one of those moments where you just completely like blackout and shock and just go into like fight mode,” Jensen said.
The board heard testimony from multiple witnesses, including the dog’s owners. Emily Montgomery, Rebecca’s sister, said Angel had never had issues with small dogs before and was “great with kids.”
However, Boudreau recommended the dog be deemed dangerous, citing its history of aggression.
“I do believe that based upon our information, previous incidents, that Angel is a dangerous dog,” Boudreau said. The Board agreed, voting unanimously to deem Angel a dangerous dog.
Boudreau initially suggested several restrictions, including muzzling and insurance requirements. But after deliberation, the board opted for euthanasia given the severity and pattern of incidents.
“This is very difficult to say the least,” said Board Chair Eric Crone before the unanimous vote.
The owners have the right to appeal the decision. If upheld, animal control will coordinate the euthanasia after the appeal period expires.
In other business, the board voted 2-3 against recommending a state-mandated MBTA zoning district, potentially jeopardizing millions in state funding and grants.
The MBTA Communities zoning law requires certain towns to create multi-family housing districts near transit stations. Kingston must designate 50 acres for up to 805 new housing units to comply.
Town Planner Valerie Massard presented a proposal that would concentrate the zoning changes primarily within the Kingston Collection mall property, with some additional areas nearby.
“Valerie’s done an incredible job,” said Selectman Tyler Bouchard. “Our town planner is taking what they’ve done and worked magic with it.”
Bouchard argued Kingston has “the best situation out of any other town” to implement the zoning with minimal impact. The proposal avoids residential neighborhoods and focuses on already developed commercial areas.
However, other board members expressed concerns about state overreach and potential negative impacts on the town.
“I’m an absolute no on MBTA, not because I don’t appreciate all the work the staff has done,” said Selectman Kimberly Emberg. “You guys have done a tremendous job and I honestly couldn’t say enough positive things about the time and effort you’ve put in.”
Emberg warned that approving the zoning could lead to further state mandates. “They’re going to keep moving the goal line,” she said.
Town Administrator Keith Hickey outlined the financial stakes, noting Kingston has received $8.25 million in state grants in recent years that it would no longer be eligible for without MBTA compliance.
This includes $6 million for water and sewer infrastructure related to the Amazon development and $1.6 million for water quality improvements on the Jones River.
Hickey also pointed to upcoming water infrastructure needs, including a $5 million well and $4.5 million water tank, that could potentially qualify for state funding.
“We’re trying to make as positive a thing as we can out of a really lousy situation,” Hickey said.
The town already has 282 apartments at the Kingston Collection mall site, which count toward the 805-unit requirement. Officials said it’s unlikely the full 805 units would actually be built given existing development.
“Could they build 805 units? I guess that’s what would be allowed,” Hickey said. “I think what’s important for people to recognize is that every single property that’s in this district right now is already developed.”
Chair Eric Crone expressed frustration with unfunded state mandates.
“I’m really sick of the state sticking their nose into Kingston and just costing us money, not helping us,” he said. “We haven’t had help. They’ve done nothing but cost us money.”
The board ultimately voted 2-3 against adopting the zoning changes. Bouchard and Melissa Bateman voted in favor, while Crone, Emberg and Donald Alcombright voted against.
According to Crone, State Rep. Kathy LaNatra plans to introduce legislation in January to repeal the MBTA zoning law. However, Hickey cautioned that many communities have already adopted changes.
“The horse is out of the barn,” he said.
The zoning proposal will still go before Town Meeting on Nov. 19. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the issue next week.
If Kingston remains non-compliant, it risks losing access to certain state grant programs. The attorney general has also sued some towns that rejected MBTA zoning.
“It’s blackmail and it’s terrible and nobody likes it,” Bouchard said. “I’m not gonna mince words about it. It is what it is.”
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
In a political forum hosted by WATD, incumbent Democrat Kathy LaNatra and Republican challenger Eric Meschino presented their cases for representing the 12th Plymouth District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The district includes Kingston, Plympton, precincts 1 and 2A in Halifax, as well as parts of Middleborough, Pembroke, and Plymouth.
Immigration emerged as a contentious topic, with Meschino taking a hard line. “First thing I think they should do is stop funding [the migrants]. Simple as that. You know, people have a problem with illegal immigrants in this state, in our district. Kathy’s fault. She voted for that.”
LaNatra, defending her record, emphasized the need for federal immigration reform while acknowledging the complexities of the issue. “We’ve made reforms to the right to shelter law, and we will continue to make reforms,” she said, noting that some immigrants are here legally on protective status.
On affordability, both candidates recognized it as a pressing concern for the district. LaNatra highlighted recent legislative efforts, including a $1 billion tax cut package. “We did that this session. It extended the [two dependent child] cap… That significantly helps families,” she said.
Meschino, however, argued for a different approach. “What makes it unaffordable? Taxes. Everything keeps going up,” he said, advocating for less government intervention and lower taxes.
When asked about the Governor’s recent emergency preamble on the new gun law, Meschino said “Licensed gun owners are the single most law-abiding citizens in this country,” he said, criticizing the underlying bill. “Where’s the emergency? It’s nothing more than a gun grab.”
LaNatra reminded listeners about her vote against the gun law but supported the Governor’s emergency preamble. “Emergency preambles are done quite frequently, so it’s not uncommon that the governor would call that,” adding “if [the repeal folks] want to put it on the ballot, absolutely. It’s their right to do that.”
The candidates also diverged on the issue of auditing the state legislature. Meschino strongly supported the idea, stating, “The state auditor was elected to audit. I think they should open up the books.” LaNatra, while not opposed to audits, suggested an independent auditor would be more appropriate than the state auditor.
On education, the candidates discussed the potential elimination of MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. LaNatra supported the change, saying, “I do think we should eliminate it as a requirement to graduate.” Meschino disagreed, arguing, “We need some kind of standards.”
In their closing statements, the candidates summarized their positions and appeals to voters. LaNatra emphasized her experience and bipartisan approach, saying, “I’m a seasoned leader who listens, acts, and delivers.” Meschino positioned himself as an agent of change, stating, “If you want change, I can be a change agent. If you want the same thing you got now, vote for Kathy.”
The two candidates vying for the vacant 6th Plymouth District seat also squared off on WATD. The district is made up of Duxbury, Precinct 2 in Halifax, and parts of Hanson, Marshfield, and Pembroke. Republican Ken Sweezey and Democrat Becky Coletta addressed topics ranging from the migrant crisis to affordable housing during the hour-long forum moderated by Christine James and Tom Gorman.
The candidates clashed most sharply on the state’s response to the migrant crisis. Sweezey called for a residency requirement for the right to shelter law, arguing, “This is a math problem. There’s no inflammatory language here. It’s a math problem. We cannot afford it.”
Coletta countered that the focus should be on expediting work permits for migrants. “I would work as hard as our governor has been working to get work permits and get people to work. It doesn’t cost money if we have these people working,” she said.
On housing affordability, both candidates acknowledged the challenges facing the district. Sweezey estimated that a “ready to move in” home for $350,000 “doesn’t exist” in the area. Coletta suggested that an affordable apartment would cost around $1,900 per month, but added, “I don’t think it exists.”
The candidates also differed on the MBTA Communities Zoning Act. Sweezey strongly opposed the measure, stating, “This directly changes, and I would say ruins the character of our towns.” Coletta, in addition to criticizing the law, argued that it was itself deregulation “it was a Charlie Baker idea. It was a Republican principle of deregulation. Zoning is regulation of private property use. This was deregulation.”
On ballot questions, the candidates found some common ground. Both opposed Question 5, which would change how tip workers are paid. However, they diverged on Question 2 regarding MCAS testing, with Sweezey opposing the measure and Coletta supporting it.
On the one issue they’d like to be known to champion, Sweezey pointed to immigration, “the immigration issue touches so many things between budget and housing and affordability and everything. So the immigration crisis has to be solved.” Coletta highlighted affordability, “People need to be able to buy homes and live here at all stages of their life so that the communities can continue to be the diverse, welcoming places they have been in our lifetimes.”
The election for both seats will be held on Nov. 5..

The Halifax Elementary School Committee met on Monday, Oct. 7. Chairman of the Ballot Committee to support the Community Preservation Act (CPA), Candy Kniffen, presented to the Committee. She explained, “Halifax is the only town in the region that has not enrolled in the Community Preservation Act… what the Community Preservation Act does is it allows communities to put money aside for specific areas – one is historical preservation, one is open space and recreation, and one is affordable housing.” She said that while there is an assessment that the town pays, there are also “generous” abatements available.
Kniffen, who said that all of her children went to Silver Lake schools and she served on the school committee at one time, asked to speak to the benefit of the CPA for the schools. She said that there are historical projects that could be completed with the funding that would be able to be utilized by the students in town. She also said that replacement of playground equipment or expansion of the existing playground would also be eligible for CPA funding. “Quite frankly, we don’t see a downside to this and when it comes to the schools, we think they could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the CPA funding,” Kniffen explained. She said that there is a myriad of information on their website and Facebook page.
Committee Chair Lauren Laws asked what the 1.5 percent assessment would equal in terms of funds available. Kniffen said that it would be based on the average home price in Halifax of $511,000 and would total around $250,000 raised at the local level, not counting what the State would contribute. School Committee member Lori Costa-Cline said she has heard from critics of the CPA that it was a way to funnel money toward housing projects as ten percent of the funding is mandated to be set aside for housing. She asked who makes the determination of which projects are chosen and was told that Town Meeting would make those decisions. Kniffen said that regarding housing, the CPA gives the town total control of how to spend the funds and said that they also encourage the reuse of existing buildings over new construction.
Laws said that she has also heard that they could build a senior center with the funding. Kniffen said that she was sure that the town would have one by now if they had enrolled in 2000. Costa-Cline said, “I think that the timing is unfortunate because… this is a worthwhile project… but everyone is so tight and stretched and at their limit, so you’re dealing with that… the MBTA Affordable Housing project… there’s a lot of mish-mashed of misinformation and everything getting lumped together. I think that people should look into what the benefits are… I hope people will look at the long view and not look at the short.” Kniffen said that it is unfortunate that there is misinformation confusing the CPA with the MBTA Communities initiative. She also reiterated that the decisions as to how to spend the funding would be in the hands of the town.
Regionalization
Discussion
Laws told the Committee that Costa-Cline asked that a full regionalization discussion be added to that evening’s agenda. “We all consider ourselves part of Silver Lake even though Halifax School Committee is its own separate entity… but I think we all recognize that there needs to be some symmetry in the way that the elementary school committees do things,” she explained. She said that budget season really highlights the need for full regionalization.
Superintendent Jill Proulx said, “so there’s a community compact efficiency and regionalization grant. Last year this Committee voted to support the town of Halifax looking into that grant. Last year, Kingston applied for that grant. Kingston School Committee also voted to look into that grant. What that grant would allow us to do for the town is to look into the pros and cons, the benefits and perhaps, the downsides of full regionalization.” Proulx said that two out of the three communities support looking into full regionalization. “The majority of regionalized school districts are fully regionalized,” Proulx said. Laws pointed out that it felt a bit disjointed to have the schools regionalized for Pre-K, not regionalized for K-6, and then regionalized for 7-12.
Costa-Cline said she would like to ask the town to apply for the grant and also said that she would like to see regionalization be a standing agenda item moving forward. Laws said that she was in agreement. The Committee voted unanimously to ask the town to support the grant application.
Prize Distribution as Part of Fundraising
A member of the Committee proposed a change to policy to stop giving out individual prizes to students based on how much they personally have fundraised. A representative from Boosterthon spoke to the Committee saying that it was his job to tailor the fundraising efforts to each individual community. “Of course, Booster, over the last twenty years have seen that when you do individual prizes and students are motivated to go home and talk to their parents, that’s when the fundraising is at it’s highest level,” he said. Laws said she would rather leave it up to the PTO to figure out the prize piece.
Sub Committee and
Administrative Updates
Costa-Cline provided an update on the Pilgrim Area Collaborative. She said that right now there are 112 students in the day program and a little over 100 in the extended services program. The Executive Director offered a tour to anyone on the Board that is interested in seeing the program. They are applying to be a service provider to students 22-30 years old as right now they are only able to provide services through 21 years of age.
Principal Kayne Beaudry introduced new Assistant Principal Kristy Luperon. He told the Committee she has been doing a great job. He also provided an update on the bus routes since dropping from ten to eight buses. He said that they haven’t seen any changes with the numbers for parent pickup and drop off and said they are comparable with last year’s. He did say that they may have seen a slight uptick in children biking to school. He also compared bus misconduct slips and said that they haven’t seen any more problems as compared to last year. He said the adjustment to new bus stops for families has been the biggest issue. He also provided an update on enrollment saying they were at 532 and the kindergarten class is 82 students.
Proulx provided an update. She said that homeschool enrollment for Halifax for Grades K-6 went up from 11 last year to 17 this year. A decline was seen at the 7-12 grade level. She said the overall enrollment population hasn’t been changing much with a slight increase seen for Halifax at the elementary level.
Proulx asked the School Committee what they would like to see from administration in their preliminary budget. Laws said she would like to see a level services budget as well as potential places in the budget for cost savings. She referred to the cost savings of going from ten buses to eight as she said it had a significant impact on the budget while causing minimal disruption for students. Costa-Kline recommended having a prioritized list of budget wants/needs. Laws said that her priority would be to add back staff.

The Plympton School Committee met on Monday, Sept. 23. Chair Jason Fraser said that they would be discussing budget restoration priorities. “If you were involved in our budget discussion at the end of last school year, there were some cuts that we needed to make. There were some consumables that we took off the table, some computer programs we took off the table; we also currently don’t have a math interventionist in the building… and in addition to that we’ve acknowledged that there’s some areas of need within the district. One would be looking to hiring an ELL teacher here at the Dennett.” Dennett Elementary Principal Peter Veneto said that they currently have a good number of ELL students at eight. Fraser also said that for the past two years, they have identified a need for two more staff members in the Business Office which would be a shared cost.
Committee member Jon Wilhelmsen said, “We can’t just look at Dennett, so we’re going to have to be cognizant of what’s going on at a Silver Lake perspective, especially with the recognition of the budget.” He continued, “There isn’t really going to be any extra money here. We have to look at total costs of the town because there isn’t really any extra money at the town level either because we used that up last year… the last couple of years we have utilized that to help pay for budget shortfall.”
A member of the audience asked, “is there an actual deficit to the need to the budget right now currently as we stand?” Fraser replied that as of right now the budget is “whole.” He clarified that prior to Town Meeting last year the school was asked to trim $100,000 from the budget. “So we just want to make sure as we lean into next year’s budget, we can restore as much as possible but I just want to make sure that we’re prioritizing what we’re putting as the number one thing to restore, then the number two,” Fraser explained.
Wilhelmsen said that he, Superintendent Jill Proulx, and Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey met with Town Administrators from the three towns to gather a sort of state of the state. “As we approach budget season, how things are looking – what do they have for levy limit, what do they have for free cash, what other challenges are they seeing walking into the budget season,” he explained. He said that a meeting to review all these items will take place in December at the Kingston Town Hall. He encouraged everyone to attend.
Veneto provided a playground update. He said that the initial quote they got to make necessary repairs was $5,200, but it had since increased to $5,800. He said that they were able to find a reputable company that would do the work for a third of the cost. He also noted that parts have been ordered. Fraser asked if the playground was still accessible and safe. Veneto said that one small section had been roped off, but the rest was in use and safe.
Regarding capital projects, Wilhelmsen said that they did get an earmark from Senator Moran’s office for $35,000 to replace one of the rooftop units. He said that unfortunately those units are now costing upwards of $75,000 to $80,000. “In order for us to take the… money from the State, we’re going to need to be able to come up with other funds to be able to purchase one of those units and those are six units that need to be replaced over time,” he explained. He also said that they would need to prioritize that unit to take advantage of the earmark this fiscal year.
Veneto provided a principal’s report saying that CASA had their Harvest Fair the previous Saturday. He said that they had a busy month filling vacant roles including the nurse position as the Head Nurse is out on maternity leave. He named a few other leaves and retirements as well. Veneto said that he was able to fill the Title I position. He said the school was holding a “gold boot” fundraiser for kids with cancer. Veneto also said that the school received a $10,000 donation from a donor that wished to remain anonymous.
Jill Proulx introduced Dr. Tricia Clifford as the new Assistant Superintendent for Silver Lake. Proulx said that they had three leadership institutes over the summer where they reviewed the strategy for district improvement. She also said in August they held trainings with legal counsel for Title IX. She shared a reduced version of the presentation that was shared with staff regarding what was accomplished last year and what still needs to be done.
Proulx said that new staff was introduced. She said that in addition to Clifford, they welcomed Athletic Director Rick Swanson, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Brian DeSantes, HR Director Liz Grindle, Integrated Preschool Principal Sarah Chick, Math Coordinator at the Middle and High School Dan Correia, and Special Education Coordinator for K-12 Elizabeth MacKay.
Proulx told the Committee that they plan to expand Second Step, the anti-bullying curriculum into the high school as well as pro social skills. She also said that the principals will be working on ways to improve parent and community involvement

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Residents of Kingston’s private roads expressed frustration at a Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday, Sept. 24, over a new policy that may halt snow plowing on some streets this winter. The board agreed to revisit the issue and hold a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 8, to address concerns about safety and communication.
The policy, approved by the board in August 2023, would stop town plowing on private roads that don’t meet minimum standards, including a 10-foot-wide roadway with 2-foot shoulders on each side. Residents whose roads do not meet these standards were told they would need to make improvements or lose plowing services. Those residents say they were blindsided by letters sent out in early September informing them of the changes.
Several residents voiced worries about emergency vehicle access and the financial burden of maintaining their own roads. “I just cannot believe that I’m even here because I was never even notified,” said Victor Hult of Stagecoach Drive, who has lived on his road for 48 years.
Paul Brokmeier of Stagecoach Drive said he received estimates as high as $28,500 to bring his street up to the town’s standards. “I don’t really wanna hear that they’re not gonna plow my street when I won’t be able to get an ambulance into my home,” Brokmeier said.
Scott Bishop of Main Street, not an affected road, asked, “Why are you stopping services to citizens who pay taxes? What are you doing to ensure that emergency services are going to be available to these people? What are you doing to maintain upkeep of town property on these roads?”
Violet Berry of Meadowbrook Road recounted how town officials promised to plow her street when she moved there in 1960. “Now, when I was growing up, my father was, had his own business.… He never in his life signed a paper or had anybody sign the paper. He would quote a price, they’d shake on it and that was the legal document, so my feeling is, I’d like that honored.”
Berry added “I’d like to be able to continue living on Meadowbrook Road. It would be a hardship for me if I had to start putting out thousands of dollars or whatever to keep the road going.”
Highway Superintendent Paul Basler explained the policy aims to protect town plowing equipment and address a shortage of plow drivers. He said the town maintains about 80 miles of accepted roads and 35 miles of unaccepted private roads.
“We are having a big problem getting these plow trucks in anymore because A, insurance rates are high, the price of trucks is 70 or 80 grand, and nobody wants to put a plow on a truck, or an 80 grand plow truck, and have the transmission blow, or have the truck break down because it hit something on the side of a road,” Basler said.
“We’re trying to save the private plows and trucks from damage,” He added. “We need to keep our old trucks running to serve everyone in town who pays taxes.”
The new rules require private roads to meet minimum width and clearance standards. According to Basler, most issues involve overgrown trees and brush that need trimming.
Board members acknowledged the policy rollout could have been handled better. Selectman Kim Emberg apologized for the late notification.
“I apologize for it not going out until now. We voted it August of 2023. My understanding was that notifications would go out then. They didn’t, so I am apologizing to everyone for that, and we are trying to remedy that in a future meeting,” Emberg said.
The board voted to hold a public hearing on Oct. 8 to further discuss the policy and potential modifications. They also requested updated information on which streets don’t meet requirements and what specific repairs are needed.
“We’re not trying to postpone it and not have it done being closer to November. We’re trying to solve it,” said Chairman Eric Crone. “I mean, I’m telling you, we’re all residents of the same town.”
Emberg suggested the board could consider delaying implementation for a year or making tweaks to address concerns while still protecting town equipment.
“We could keep the policy as it is, not change anything, which I don’t think is fair at this point, given that people didn’t have the notification that was intended,” she said.
“So that leaves us a middle ground, which is either delaying the policy until next year, or figuring out maybe some tweaks for this season to address the concerns about the trucks, but also try to get to as many private roads as possible.”
The public hearing on the private road plowing policy is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Kingston Town House.

The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met onThursday, Sept. 5, for the first time since the school year began. Mark Guidoboni provided a SAFER update. He told the Committee that a Facilities Director notified the subcommittee that there were several HVAC failures throughout the buildings that could result in a loss of heat. “Come budget time next year, we’re going to have to make some decisions on these units and facilities going forward,” he explained. He explained that there may be some available funding sources.
He turned things over to Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey to elaborate. She said, “As you know, there were changes in personnel and Mike Lawless, Director of Facilities, and I pretty much got up and running in January and so the money that was voted for the FY24 capital projects, we weren’t really getting going on spending in the spring and summer and so what I put together for you is a spreadsheet that has the fiscal year of when something was voted, what the project was, what the budget was, what has been expended, and then any balance or shortfall.” She continued, “Mike and I brought an idea to SAFER about having a comprehensive facilities study done and Mark mentioned HVAC repairs… we’re required by law to provide heat.” Hickey said that they were hoping to use the $100,000 for FY25 and the excess for FY24 unspent projects to fund a comprehensive study to guide the discussions of the Capital Committee in the future. She said that any money not spent on the study would go toward HVAC repairs. She added, “One of my big concerns since I got here is priorities of projects and I have to be honest with you, I sort of hit the roof when I found out that we spent a half a million dollars on tennis courts and we have portions of the building where the heat doesn’t work.”
Guidoboni explained, “I would like to vote to use the excess funding from the projects at $42,442.00 and the other revenue… so a total of $142,442.00… for an HVAC and comprehensive study.” Committee Chair Gordon Laws questioned whether it should be voted on as it wasn’t explicitly stated in the agenda. Committee member Jason Fraser said that since it was part of a subcommittee report the Committee could vote to accept the report with the recommended movement of capital included. Committee member Paula Hatch made a motion to reallocate the dollars in the capital plan for a comprehensive facility plan with the remainder of the funds being used for HVAC fixes. The Committee voted in favor of the motion.
Guidoboni also discussed the possibility of moving the administration building. The first of the three options is an $8 million, 8,000 square ft. building. The second option is renting or purchasing an off-site facility in one of the towns for around $1.8 million. The third option is to build a 4,000 square ft. annex adjacent to the existing building.
Guidoboni told the Committee that Kingston recently discussed establishing a school zone as a result of a safety audit that was done. He explained, “we didn’t have authority to have a school zone in the past. High schools did not qualify and our middle school was set too far back from the street to qualify… we went through this when we built the schools almost twenty years ago… the State changed the rules and allows high schools now to have school zones,” he explained. He said that Kingston voted in favor of putting a school zone together in front of the schools complete with a flashing sign. He said that they are looking for different funding sources to pay for the sign, etc. Guidoboni said that the Kingston Town Administrator said he has found all but $10k to $20k of that money. Guidoboni asked the Committee to vote to support a school zone along Pembroke St. in the mornings and afternoons. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of it.
Proposal for EV Charging Stations
The Committee listened to a presentation on a proposal for EV charging stations to be installed on the Silver Lake campus. A representative from Innovus Power told the Committee that they have installed about 1,000 ports in 15 different states. “There is a limited window that is closing on fast-charging rebates,” he explained. He further said that if they just did a station at the high school, they would offer a 20 percent profit share, but if they did one at the Kingston Elementary school as well, it would be 30 percent.
Asked where the stations would be located, they said there were two options. One would be on the corner of 27 and the senior/upper parking lot. The other option would be the first six spots next to the admin building. There was some concern discussed regarding safety issues with random people wandering around the school grounds while school is in session. The representative said that anecdotally people tend to sit in their car on their devices while charging. Asked about cost, it was said that the only potential cost would come with needing to ensure the spaces are free and clear of snow.
The representative said that the application submittal is not obligatory. “We can get you in line, but you don’t have to move forward even if you get an approval… the downside is if we miss the window, we miss the window,” he explained. The Committee voted in favor of submitting the application since it doesn’t bind them to a decision either way. Laws said, “I can tell you from my own personal standpoint… I am extremely interested in fighting even for nickels and dimes in terms of pulling in revenue and free cash flow given what could be… the challenges of our finances at the end of the year.” The Committee voted unanimously to submit an application “pursuant to further diligence, discussion, and final approval of the Committee.”
Potential Cell Phone Ban
Laws told the Committee that a concerned parent wrote to them expressing their desire for a schoolwide cell phone ban as has been adopted in other schools. Middle School Principal Becky Couet said that the policy in their school is that the phones need to remain in the students’ lockers. She said that a new teacher commented to her that he has never been in a school where he has never seen a phone until this one. Couet said that she doesn’t feel the need to have a stricter policy. High School Principal Michaela Gill said that they have a slightly laxer policy that prohibits phone usage during instructional time. Questions were asked regarding Apple watch usage, specifically regarding cheating. Gill answered that the teachers were savvy but noted that if a student really wants to cheat, they will find a way.
Principals’ Reports
Couet listed off some new teachers as well as a retirement. She said that she wanted to call attention to the front of the school and said that Amnesty ambassadors came in August to help organize the opening ceremonies for the school. She also said that she wanted to recognize the custodial efforts over the summer to get the school ready for the year.
Gill also provided a report. She recognized all of the student support and volunteerism that enabled them to do the Freshmen Orientation. She also asked the Committee for approval for an out-of-state spring trip to Carnegie Hall for chorus and band members. The Committee voted to allow the trip. Gill did note that any student who was accepted to perform wouldn’t be denied due to finances.
Gill told the Committee the Silver Lake Hall of Fame Committee reached out about fundraising for and creating a memorial on campus for Buddy Teevens. Teevens, who attended Silver Lake (Class of ’74), was the winningest coach in Dartmouth football history. He passed away last year. Laws said, “If you don’t know American football very well, Buddy Teevans was not just a great coach at Dartmouth, he actually changed the game across America. His practices of how he managed his team to reduce injuries and head injuries and things like that have generally speaking been adopted everywhere.”
Gill also said that an issue of MIAA eligibility came up for students who are now attending a state-sponsored virtual high school. She said that after investigating it they found out that permission could be granted for such instances. A Committee member asked if the same was true for charter and home school students. Gill said that home-schooled children were absolutely eligible to participate in district sports though she wasn’t sure about the charter school issue.
Gill said that the School Resource Officer Richard Allen has made many connections with students who might otherwise struggle to make meaningful connections. She said that he is heavily involved with boxing and several students have expressed interest and even attended the gym where he boxes. As a result of growing interest, the Police Department is looking to establish the Kingston Police Boxing Club which would be open only to Silver Lake students. The Committee voted to approve the request to share the flyer.
Student Representative Carissa Smith addressed the Committee. She told them that the first football game would be the following day. Spirit Week as well as an in-school Student Council retreat and NHS induction are both coming up soon. The main thing she spoke about was Silver Lake hosting the SEMASC (Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Student Councils).
Assistant Superintendent Report
Assistant Superintendent Tricia Clifford addressed the Committee. She said that she has been working on ESSER title grants to fund various things throughout the District. She also said that she worked on new teacher orientation on August 21 where they spent time discussing the strategy for district improvement.
Superintendent Jill Proulx spoke next. She said that in August they had a training with legal on new Title IX requirements. She introduced some of the new staff including Clifford, new Athletic Director Richard Swanson, and new Integrated Preschool Principal Sarah Chick.
SLEA Update
New Silver Lake Education Association (SLEA) President Jessica Drew addressed the Committee. She called their roles as educators more than a job saying it was a “passion and identity.”
Legislative Update
Committee member Jason Fraser said that over the summer he spent considerable time working with the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA). He said there is a bill on the table that would create a blind lottery for CTE admissions. He said that MAVA is staunchly against the bill. “The ultimate goal is to increase funding for CTE programming so every single student in the Commonwealth will have access to a seat in a CTE program if they so desire,” Fraser said.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
HALIFAX – The town will hold a Special Town Meeting on December 16 to address zoning changes, including a proposed MBTA Communities overlay district.
The Zoning Bylaw Review Committee has completed its work after a year-long process, presenting two main recommendations for consideration.
Board of Selectmen Chairman John Bruno explained, “We’re making two recommendations. One is a revision and updating to the current zoning bylaw. It’s very detailed.”
The proposed changes include reorganized sections, combined definitions, and updates to the site plan review process. A new section on accessory dwelling units has been added to match recent state law changes.
“And we added in a section on blighted properties, which gives the town a little bit more ability to deal with properties that have become an eyesore, become dangerous, that type of thing,” Bruno said.
The most significant proposal addresses the MBTA Communities law, which requires towns to establish a zoning overlay district allowing multifamily dwellings within a half-mile radius of train stations.
After reading a brief statement explaining his concerns with the mandate for an overlay district, Bruno described the proposed solution: “What we are proposing then is to place an overlay zone on this area, identifying Twin Lakes development property and certain abutting property to more precisely describe what is already in place.”
The proposed overlay district largely encompasses the existing Twin Lakes Condominiums development, which already supports multifamily housing.
“Since the law does not require that anything new actually be built, and since Halifax already has an area supporting a multifamily development, putting the proposed zoning change in place resolves any issue about compliance with the state decree,” Bruno explained. “I liken what we are proposing to giving a fresh coat of paint to an existing wall. Nothing of substance changes except what it is being called.”
Town Administrator Cody Haddad noted that the state has preliminarily approved the town’s plan, with only minor adjustments requested.
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to submit the proposed zoning bylaw changes and the MBTA zoning bylaw changes to the Planning Board for a public hearing.
The Special Town Meeting on Dec. 16 will provide residents the opportunity to vote on these proposed changes.
Halifax is set to lose approximately $185,000 in annual revenue due to changes in state regulations regarding marijuana dispensaries. Haddad explained that the 3% impact fee the town had been collecting from two local dispensaries will no longer be allowed under new state regulations. “Between the two dispensaries for the last fiscal year was around $185,000,” Haddad said.
The Board voted unanimously to approve a new Host Community Agreement template for one of the dispensaries, Flower & Soul, which removes the 3% impact fee but maintains other aspects of the original agreement.
Haddad noted that the town believes the new regulations do not apply retroactively to existing agreements. “We feel as though the legislation and the regulations that change that 3% are not retroactively applied to host community agreements that were signed prior to that date,” he said.
In other business, the Board interviewed three candidates for a newly formed Town Government Study Committee.
The committee will review Halifax’s current governmental structure and potentially recommend changes.
Sandy Dolan, the recently retired town accountant with 15 years of experience, expressed her willingness to serve. “I have a lot of municipal knowledge, not just of the way municipalities run, but the way the town of Halifax runs,” Dolan said.
Mary Gravinese raised concerns about the committee’s potential time commitment. “Looking at two years of this, I could never commit to that,” Gravinese stated, emphasizing the need for efficiency. She had previously petitioned Town Meeting to increase the size of the Board of Selectmen to five members.
Jim Walters highlighted the importance of public input. “We need to have public meetings, talk to the people out in the town, send out surveys through whatever fashion we want to send out surveys, look for input and feedback from them,” Walters suggested.
Board member Jonathan Selig expressed enthusiasm for the diverse perspectives represented by the candidates. “I think some of the best committees don’t always agree on everything,” Selig noted.
The Board plans to keep the application process open until Sept. 18 and make appointments at their next meeting on September 24. One candidate is already scheduled to interview on the 24th.
Chairman John Bruno stressed the significance of the committee’s task. “This is a big effort. What we’re trying to do is consider reorganizing how government works in Halifax. And it’s not something that we can make a decision on quickly.”

The Kingston Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The Kingston School Committee called a joint meeting with the Selectmen to interview candidates for a vacancy left by Timothy Lewis’ recent resignation. The seat would be filled by appointment until the May election.
Candidates Sheila Vaughn and Ronnie Litif took turns making statements. Vaughn, who has been a resident of Kingston for 20 years, said that she has three children ranging from six years old to a senior in high school. She noted that she served on the School Committee for nine years as well as having served as a Selectman for four. Additionally, she is currently active on the Affordable Housing Trust. Vaughn said that she felt her experience would come in handy, particularly as the town heads into budget season.
Litif told the Selectmen that he has four children with the youngest being just a year old and the oldest being in fifth grade. “Last year, all of the budget stuff was kind of alarming to me, and I started showing up to meetings,” Litif said. “I have probably too many ideas my wife would say.” He said that he is a baseball coach in town and his wife is on the PTO. “Whatever you guys decide is going to be best for the schools that’s what I hope,” he concluded.
The School Committee members and Selectmen then interviewed each of the candidates. Both were asked if they would run for the seat come the election. Litif said he would consider it, but not commit to it. Vaughn, on the other hand, said she probably would run for the three-year seat if she’s going to be on the Committee for the next several months. Vaughn also touted the fact that she was already accustomed to the time commitment, saying it was much more than once a month. Crone asked Litif if he has ever been involved in any kind of committee that followed parliamentary rules. He answered that he had not done anything beyond instructional baseball. Both were asked what their goals were and both answered that saving teachers’ jobs would be high on the priority list.
Selectman Kimberley Emberg said that it was a “tough” choice between new ideas versus experience. School Committee member Jeanne Coleman said that given the difficult budget season they were entering into, she felt that Vaughn’s experience would be invaluable. Both Crone and Coleman said that regardless of whether Litif was selected or not, they would hope that he would continue to be involved and share ideas.
Vaughn was voted in unanimously. Litif left everyone laughing after saying that he probably would have voted for her too. He did let everyone know that he would continue to share his myriads of ideas including potential solar on the roof of the school in exchange for a free, new roof. Many in the room echoed the sentiment that they hoped he would run for a different seat or one of the two available seats on the School Committee come election time.
Town Administrator Keith Hickey addressed some concerns about EEE. “I’ve heard a couple of comments about something the Board of Health may be doing or should be doing regarding EEE. I had a conversation with our Health Agent who has been communicating with the Board of Health. Our Health Agent is reviewing the current status of the EEE situation in Kingston as well as some of the neighboring communities. At this point, fields and outdoor town properties are still open for use. If there is a need to potentially close from dusk to dawn, like Plymouth has recently done, could be a recommendation. That will occur at a public Board of Health meeting,” Hickey said.
Hickey addressed some changes to their agreement with the business Elevated Roots due to changes in State law. State legislation has modified the three percent franchise fee that allowed three percent of the gross sales to be paid to the town. “The town would need to provide expenses that are eligible to be reimbursed by the organization to be refunded to the town… frankly, I believe there have been little to no costs associated with having Elevated Roots here in town… they’ve expanded their business from retail to now growing.” He called them a “good corporate neighbor.” He said they now get a percentage of the sales from growing as well as retail. “Our revenues have increased as a community because Elevated Roots has expanded their business as they said they would,” he explained.
There was a request for several one-day liquor licenses for Forty Second Brew Co. at the Weir Family Christmas Tree Farm for the dates of 11/29, 11/30, 12/1, 12/7, 12/8, 12/14, and 12/15 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The application has been reviewed and signed by the Fire and Police Chiefs and all documentation has been received,” Crone said. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve.
Hickey said that he met with the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Streets, Trees, and Parks, Superintendent, Planning Director, and school staff members to identify a school zone that they believe complies with State law. He said that it was submitted to a traffic consultant and engineer for their review and concurrence. A request to take the costs associated with the project, approximately $59k, from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be made in coming week. Hickey noted that those funds plus just over $11,000 needed for fiber optic improvements would likely be the end of available ARPA money. The Board voted unanimously to approve the $11k and move the approval of the $59k to a meeting at a later date.
The Board also discussed the possibility of establishing a “no jake brake: area on a portion of Main St. He said that despite Mass DOT and Old Colony Planning’s hesitation that such a restriction can be enforced, the Police Chief feels that they could police it through a noise ordinance. Police Chief Brian Holmes read from the law that he believed enabled the Board to make a specific section of the road a no exhaust brake zone. He did note that “jake brake” is a specific brand and not a general type of brake. Selectman Donald Alcombright said that he was against the restriction saying that he believed that driver safety should supersede a noise complaint. Alcombright said, “These are implemented for truckers for a reason and if it’s not breaking noise levels, they should be allowed to use what’s in their vehicle to stop their vehicle.”
Crone said he was in favor of it. Hickey said that the hope was that it would become a “learned behavior” that using a jake brake would not “be acceptable behavior in Kingston.” Emberg recommended holding off on the vote until they had a “full Board” as she sensed that the vote might end up 2-2. The Board agreed to table the vote.
Hickey said that Governor Healey recently passed the Heroes Act that allows local control for communities for additional tax exemptions for veterans who are property owners. He said that the Board of Assessors would be reviewing the legislation and making a recommendation. “It’s important to understand that any monies that are shifted from veterans… its not a reduction in taxes, it’s being shifted to those who aren’t veterans,” Hickey said. He called it a “bit of a balancing act” noting that they would take into account “what the community can afford.”
Hickey said that the Water Commissioners decided not to bring a warrant article forth for the funding of a new well on the Kelleher property. He expressed dismay saying that a lack of new water connections would mean continuing the water ban which would have detrimental effects on residents.
Hickey also said that he and the Conservation Agent met with Brockton’s Mayor about the amount of water that’s being withdrawn from Silver Lake for the city of Brockton. He said that the Mayor said that Brockton had additional repair work that required that they withdraw more water than normal from the lake. Hickey said that the work is now done and the water being withdrawn should be back to acceptable levels.
Longtime Streets, Trees, and Parks Superintendent Paul Basler is retiring. Hickey said they are considering changes to the position, but said if there are no changes, they will post the position as-is soon.
During their meeting, the Selectmen also voted unanimously to declare September as Suicide Prevention Month.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Halifax will hold a special town meeting on Dec. 16 to address MBTA Communities zoning requirements and other zoning changes. The Select Board set the date during its Aug. 27 meeting, citing the need to comply with state regulations by year’s end.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad outlined a timeline leading up to the December meeting. The planning board is expected to hold a public hearing on proposed zoning changes around Oct. 18, with the special town meeting warrant closing on Nov. 4.
“We would have liked to have had this done earlier…we were able to send it back to the state for kind of a preliminary approval,” said Select Board Chair John Bruno. “We sent it to them and said, well, do you see any problems?”
Haddad noted the state took 97 days to respond with only minor changes required.
“It’s unfortunate we have to wait until practically the 11th hour to hold the special town meeting, but it was beyond our control to do that,” Bruno added. “It also has to be done. We do have to make a vote.”
The town must comply with MBTA Communities zoning regulations by Dec. 31 to remain compliant with the law and remain eligible for many state grants.
Board member Jonathan Selig stated, “Am I psyched that it’s in December? No. But I feel better that we didn’t try to push this through any faster than we can because you really can’t. You have to follow what we need to follow.”
The board plans to review all zoning articles and make recommendations to the planning board at its Sept. 10 meeting. They will also vote to open the special town meeting warrant, set to close on Nov. 4.
A public workshop on MBTA zoning with the Old Colony Planning Council and state delegates is planned for the week of Oct. 8.
The board agreed to mail out the warrant to all residents to ensure widespread awareness of the proposed changes.
“Where you say this is a lot of moving parts, I’m a fan of actually sending it out to folks in advance,” Selig said.
The special town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 16, with Dec. 17 set as a backup date in case of inclement weather or lack of quorum.
Haddad also presented a comprehensive update on the town’s goals, highlighting numerous accomplishments.
“I think what you see is we have done a lot in the town in the past year,” Haddad said. “This is a testament to you guys on the board, but really the staff here. You don’t accomplish these things without a really good team in place.”
Key achievements included securing a $75,000 grant for online permitting services, combining part-time positions to create more efficient full-time roles, and adopting a code of conduct for elected and appointed officials.
Selig reacted, “I am floored at how much we’ve done in a year, and kudos to you, Cody, and kudos to the board, and kudos to people here at town hall.”
The board will now focus on developing new goals for the upcoming year. Haddad emphasized the importance of aligning future objectives with the board’s vision for the town.
“This is a good opportunity for us to reflect and pivot,” Haddad said. “As the chief policy makers of the town, the direction that you want to see go in the next year, several years, right? Because this isn’t a yearly document.”
The board approved an agreement with National Grid to install four level 3 electric vehicle charging stations near HOPS Playground. The $296,000 project will be fully funded by National Grid and its partners, with no cost to the town.
Level 3 chargers are “fast chargers”, with charging time measured in minutes instead of hours. The board praised Energy Manager Kathy Stanley for her work on a number of energy initiatives, including these chargers.
The board also addressed the recent elevation of Halifax to high risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Aerial spraying is set to begin in the town, with residents advised to check the Board of Health website for precautions.
“Bob Valery, our health agent, does an excellent job of keeping that updated,” Haddad said.
The Board also met the night before, Aug. 26, with a single focus, interviewing representatives from two law firms as potential new town counsel, exploring options to enhance legal services for the municipality.
They met with attorneys from Clifford & Kenny and Mead, Talerman & Costa to discuss their approaches to municipal law, experience, and fee structures.
Both firms emphasized their expertise in land use and zoning issues, which Select Board Chair John Bruno identified as a primary concern for Halifax.
“Our bigger issue is probably zoning and land use, some general government stuff, making sure that our town meeting runs efficiently,” Bruno said.
The board expressed interest in training programs for volunteer board members, particularly in technical areas like conservation and zoning.
Jay Talerman of Mead, Talerman & Costa highlighted their firm’s commitment to education, stating, “We do all of that. Now, sometimes it doesn’t require curriculum as much as it does like a let’s get around the table and talk about it kind of thing.”
John Clifford of Clifford & Kenny emphasized their firm’s responsiveness and accessibility, noting, “If there’s something serious going on, and it doesn’t happen that often, but when there’s a crisis going on, it’s mainly Jamie and I, we’ll get calls from all the board members on a regular basis, and that includes nights and weekends.”
Both firms discussed their approaches to town meeting preparation and attendance, with representatives from each firm assuring the board they would prioritize Halifax’s annual meeting.
The Select Board is expected to make a decision on new town counsel soon, with board members indicating they would check references before finalizing their choice. Town counsel contract was one of the stated reasons for an executive session at the start of the August 27 meeting.

A public hearing was held during the Aug. 13 Halifax Board of Selectmen’s meeting to determine whether a dog is a nuisance or dangerous dog. The hearing stemmed from a complaint regarding a dog owned by Tabor McSherry.
Halifax’s Animal Control Officer (ACO) testified first. He said that the victim, Robert Wheeler, had a dog run up to him and his dog in his backyard. The offending dog started a fight with the victim’s dog. The dog was taken for a 10-day quarantine.
The ACO said, “from there, I figured the situation was solved and hopefully this wouldn’t happen again. Five days later, on June 24… I got another call… as I was pulling up to the scene I saw two officers… speaking with a female who was the dog walker of Tabor’s dog… I went over to talk to the victim, Mr. Wheeler… I then went and talked to the dog walker.” He continued, “I talked with Tabor on the phone once again and tried to explain to him how two bites in less than a week is a very bad situation to be in.”
The dog reportedly got loose when one of the prongs on it’s collar broke off allowing the dog to get free. The dog was described as a tan and white mixed hound approximately 50-60 lbs. He is also described as being “fairly muscular” and “lean.” Selectmen Chair John Bruno asked the ACO what his impression of the dog was upon handling him. “I could tell that he was dog aggressive… was looking to initiate the fight with the dog… but when I had custody of him he didn’t seem aggressive to me at all, seemed very good on the leash with me… overall was very good with people; didn’t seem aggressive to any of the officers on scene.”
Wheeler described the incidents as a “horrific attack” and said that the dog tried to rip his dog’s face off. He further stated that he no longer likes any dogs and is very fearful of them now. He said that the nurse at the Minute Clinic he went to told him he should go to the hospital due to injuries sustained to his arm.
Wheeler called the dog “vicious” and said it came directly into his living room. Selectman Jonathan Selig asked if he felt the injuries he sustained were from breaking up the fight between the dogs or the dog attacking him primarily. He said, “Either way, I still got bit.” He went on to say that he now stands in his doorway daily worrying if the dog is coming.
Town Counsel showed Wheeler a picture and asked him if it was an accurate photograph of what his arm looked like following the attack. He confirmed that it was.
McSherry, who has had the dog since February, testified next. “On the day of the first incident the dog was with the dog walker and had brought the dog into the backyard – it is a fenced-in back yard… she forgot to latch the gate which is how the dog initially escaped… so my dog went straight down the street and attacked his dog from what I heard. I wasn’t informed about the incident until about 8 o’clock that night,” McSherry said. He explained that on the day of the second incident, he picked up the prong collar from the Police Station. He also stated that he had hired a new dog walker. “Unbeknownst to me… that collar was broken so as soon as he went out the door that collar came right off of him and he took off down the street and attacked that same dog again,” McSherry said. Asked what type of dog he is, McSherry said he was a rescue but he believed he is a pointer. Bruno asked if he was licensed and was told he was not.
Bruno also asked McSherry if he has taken any steps to stop this type of event from happening again. McSherry responded that they have a new protocol now including wearing a harness and using a double-ended leash that latches to both the collar and harness. Selig asked if there were any other incidents regarding the dog and he said that an unleashed dog ran up to his dog and bit him in the face. He cited that since then, the dog has been apprehensive toward other dogs. Town Counsel confirmed that the only people who walk the dogs are McSherry and the new dog walker. Town Counsel also confirmed that the dog is typically friendly toward people, including children.
The current dog walker who was involved with the second incident also testified. She said that the dog was very comfortable with her despite it only being the second time she had met the dog. She said that the collar broke allowing the dog to get free and take off and eventually into Wheeler’s open door. She said that in addition to the double-end leash, she also keeps a leash wrapped around her waist. They asked her about her certifications and were told that she is a dog trainer. Selig said, “do you consider this dog to be reactive to all dogs?” She called him “more dog selective” meaning the dog can get along with some dogs but not others. She was asked in her opinion if the dog posed a risk and confirmed that she didn’t believe it did. Selig also asked her if she was bitten when separating the two dogs and she confirmed that she was.
The Animal Inspector, Brian Kling, spoke next explaining that he is the one who manages the quarantine which he said is strictly to vet for rabies. He said that the animal shelter, where the dog was staying, is akin to a prison for humans and noted that some dogs react poorly to being housed there. He said that it can cause them to be aggressive upon release, but he said he didn’t experience that.
The responding officer to the first incident also testified. He shared photographs he took when responding to the incident. He also shared that Wheeler was in fact bleeding.
Bruno explained they have three options. One, decide that the complaints should be dismissed. The other two options were to determine whether the dog was a nuisance dog or a dangerous dog. According to Bruno, nuisance refers to “activity which arises from unreasonable, unwarranted, or unlawful use by a person injuring the right of another and producing material annoyance, inconvenience, and discomfort.” Town Counsel said that deeming a dog a “nuisance” allows the Board to make a number of determinations regarding actions that must be taken. Deeming a dog a dangerous dog, on the other hand, limits which actions can be taken with the most extreme being that it is put down. Demanding that the dog be kept confined to a structure also falls under the dangerous category. “Nuisance you have a wide range of discretion,” Town Counsel explained.
Town Counsel said that the court would ask that the Selectmen “apply common sense.” Bruno said that his definition of a dangerous dog would be one that can’t live in society without extreme measures taken, up to and including euthanasia. Bruno said, “I think that this particular dog sounds to me that it needs some additional socialization and training.” He further said that he would like to declare the dog a nuisance dog with certain conditions that go along with that, most of which he said are already in place since the incident. Selig agreed with Bruno’s assessment. Selectman Thomas Pratt, however said that he believed the dog should be treated as a dangerous dog due to the two incidents happening in quick succession.
Bruno made a motion that they declare the dog a nuisance dog. Selig seconded it. Bruno and Selig voted in favor of the motion while Pratt voted against it. Majority won and the dog was declared a nuisance.
The ACO said that regarding conditions, he would recommend the double leashing and possibly the waist leash as well. He also said that a muzzle may want to be considered. “I think confining this dog to the property is a little extreme, especially for the type of breed that this is… it needs to be walked… get that exercise,” he said. He also recommended dog-on-dog training to remedy aggression toward some dogs. Kling also spoke again saying he recommended a minimum of a 6 ft. fence in the yard as well as having a backup dog walker that knows the requirements and how to handle the dog.
Bruno said, as part of the order, he would like a written plan for additional training for the dog. He also advocated for the triple leashing as well as a muzzle for a determined amount of time. Selig said his three things were the triple restraint, the 6 ft. fence, and a plan for a trained professional backup dog walker. He said he didn’t see a reason for a muzzle. Kling said, “muzzling the dog while the dog is out in public is a good short-term answer.”
The Selectmen voted to declare the dog a nuisance dog who has to be triple-restrained when off the property, including a muzzle. Secondly, the yard must be enclosed entirely by a secure 6-ft. fence, at a minimum. Thirdly, a written training plan must be submitted by the Selectmen’s next meeting. The dog must also be licensed in the town.