The Plympton Board of Selectmen heard a presentation for a proposed new special education stabilization fund for the Dennett School at their meeting on Monday, June 5. Dennett School Committee members Jon Wilhelmson and Jason Fraser discussed this newly allowed reserve fund with the board.

Wilhelmson and Fraser explained that Section 24 of Chapter 218 of Massachusetts’ Acts of 2016 allow municipalities to establish a savings account for special education. John Wilhelmson said the law limits the amount in the stabilization account to 2% of the school committee’s operating budget. He went on to say, “This is a chance to put away roughly $70,000 (for IEP support).”

Last year, the Dennett school committee was able to return somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 from its operating budget to the town. Wilhelmson emphasized however that the special education line on the budget fluctuates from year to year more than any other part of the budget.

He added that a student requiring an IEP (individualized education plan) could cost equal to and in some cases, more than the estimated $70,000 allotted by this reserve fund. A child or children who need special education services could be added to the school population at any time, which increases the special education budget. Wilhelmson said that this is essentially a fund to help even out unanticipated budgetary situations and help a student who needs it.

According to Jason Fraser, the account has the ability to roll over from year to year, but once the 2% threshold is hit, more money cannot be added to the account. He also said that establishing this fund requires a majority vote from both the school committee and the local legislative body.

The presentation initially said that a Board of Selectmen’s vote would cover the legislative approval. Selectman John Traynor and Town Accountant Barbara Gomez both expressed their beliefs about the legislative body of Plympton in the Annual Town Meeting.

Wilhelmson asked Gomez and the board if it could be established with a special town meeting. Gomez said the fund could be established at a special town meeting, but could not be funded until a vote at next year’s Annual Town Meeting.

Traynor said that the fund seems like a good idea, but the Board will have to look through the details with this being a newly allowed stabilization fund. He also said that with Annual Town Meeting having the largest legislative audience, it’s the appropriate forum for the account to be voted on. Jason Fraser agreed adding, “We have a moral obligation to the children and to the tax payers.”

Goals and Grants

Selectmen continued to explore ways to accomplish goals they’ve set for the rest of 2017. At the selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, May 30, the Board established areas they wanted to focus on for the remainder of the year, including: hiring a town administrator, the public safety building project with the new police station, financial management, technology, grants, and volunteerism.

This meeting focused the discussion on the grant aspect. Selectman Traynor told the board that former Selectman Chair Colleen Thompson had referred him to a grantwriting professor at Northeastern University. Traynor said, “I saw her lectures online and she’s the real deal.”

Traynor also mentioned that this professor assigns actual grant projects to her students. The board believes there is potential here to help the town have grants written at low or possibly no cost.

Selectmen Chair Christine Joy said that both the town and students can get something out of a relationship like this. Selectman Mark Russo added, “It’s too good. I love the educational aspect.”

Other News

There was some discussion on the Board wanting more regular updates to the town website from other boards and committees. Selectmen John Traynor referred to the state of the website as “embarrassing.”

He said that some boards and committees have not updated their respective sections in over a year. The site includes wrong information about board members and meetings and some information is not updated at all.

The next Board of Selectmen meeting is Monday, June 12, 2017 at 6 p.m. There is expected to be a presentation from a firm regarding the hiring of a town administrator.

Halifax gathered Memorial Day morning to assemble its parade at the Halifax Country Club.  Umbrellas came out and the marchers made their way up Route 106 to the Town Hall where their Memorial Day ceremonies began.

Opening remarks were given by State Representative Thomas Calter, followed by the invocation by Reverend Michael Hobson of Our Lady of the Lake Church.

After singing the National Anthem, Memorial Day essays were read by students at the Halifax Elementary School.

The youngest, kindergarten student James Townsend, got an assist from an old hand at public speaking, Town Moderator John Bruno.

Fourth Grade awards were given to Lyla Dooley, Mackenzie Kearney, and Joseph Lafond.

Pyper Goguen won the fifth grade award.

Sixth grade award was won by Sean Griffin.

Steve Littlefield, Honorary Assistant Veterans Agent, was the guest speaker..

Veterans’ Agent Wil Corey read the Proclamation from the Governor.

Wreaths were placed at the Halifax monuments by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boy Scouts, Wil Corey, and Troy E. Garron.

The Halifax Police Department offered the salute.

Reverend Michael Hobsonn, Our Lady of the Lake Church, gave the benediction and John Bruno gave closing remarks.

The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts lowered and raised the flag in honor of the veterans.

Refreshments following the Memorial Day ceremony, were provided by the Girl Scouts.

Plympton’s selectmen reorganized their board on Monday, May 22, naming vice-chairman Christine Joy chairman and John Traynor as vice-chairman.  Saturday’s May 20 Town Election saw Mark Russo elected in what can only be referred to as a landslide, with 203 of the 250 ballots cast naming Russo in his write-in campaign for selectman.

Russo had previously served on the board from 2013-2016. After taking a year off, Russo says he’s excited to be back.

Russo also served as a member of the Finance Committee from 2011-2013, is the current chairman of the Community Preservation Committee, and a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.  After reorganization of the board of selectmen, Russo will serve as its clerk.

Colleen Thompson, who chose not to run for re-election, will still have a role as appointed by the board, continuing as its representative on the Public Safety Building Committee. Mark Russo will also attend meetings and work as the Selectmen’s liaison.

Eagle Scout Project

Frank Perfetuo Jr., a member of Plympton’s Boy Scout Troop 53 and a junior at Silver Lake Regional High School, presented his Eagle project proposal to selectmen.

Perfetuo’s plans to create a picnic table and benches out of recycled plastic for the town green. “The table will be wheelchair accessible,” Frank said, and will be light, moveable, and durable for the winter.

Selectman Russo said he’s happy the picnic table is moveable so the grass can be mowed. Joy added that having the table and benches moveable makes it more flexible for events to take place on the town green.

Perfetuo said the table will cost approximately $800 and the benches are around $260 each. He plans to hold a fundraiser to pay for them.

Selectmen approved the plan, pending approval from the Historical Commission and the Highway Department.

Other News

The Board of Selectmen discussed how they want to go about hiring a town administrator. The funding for this position was approved at the Annual Town Meeting.

Though other options are being explored, the consensus of the board was that the Collins Center is most likely to be the firm the town uses.

Selectmen John Traynor said, “I like the idea of the Collins Center’s process.” He added that he likes how the Collins Center helps identify what the town is looking for in a candidate and Plympton’s values.

Chair Christine Joy mentioned that the Plymouth County Commissioner’s office also offered to help by sitting in on interviews or a screening panel. This is something the town may still explore in addition to the Collins Center or another firm.

Traynor and Joy took some time to review the Annual Town Meeting and make sure new board member Mark Russo was up to speed. Russo said, “This was probably the quickest and smoothest town meeting.”

Plympton was awarded a Community Compact Grant intended to upgrade their exchange systems and technology at the Town House. Originally, the town was seeking $49,000. However, the grant awarded them $16,000.

According to the Board, the grant can be used at the Board of Selectmen’s discretion as long at it’s used for technology. John Traynor said that Town Clerk Tara Shaw’s request for her public records software is already covered by approved appropriations at Town Meeting.

Other Restructuring

• Selectmen Clerk Mark Russo was voted the signatory for warrants at Board of Selectmen Meetings. Russo was also voted to represent the Board on the Mayflower Muncipal Health Group board.

• Joy was confirmed as Plympton’s representative to the Plymouth County Advisory Board.

The next selectmen’s meeting will be Tuesday, May 30, due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday.

Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor has published the certified results of the Halifax town election last Saturday.  Only 15.3% of Halifax’s 5,557 registered voters came out to cast their ballot with 852 total voters.

While there were few contested seats, R. Steven Hayward won election to the position of Highway Surveyor with 667 votes.  His opponent, Michael J. Schleiff got 168 votes.  There were 14 blanks and three write-ins.

Schleiff was also a candidate for Park Commissioner, but lost to incumbent John D. Campbell.  Campbell won 597 votes to Schleiff’s 182.  There were 72 blanks and one write-in.

Schleiff was also a candidate for Selectman, a position he had formerly held, this time running against incumbent Troy Garron.  Garron won the contest with 627 votes to Schleiff’s 179.  There were two write-ins and 44 blanks recorded.

The Halifax Elementary School Committee was looking for two candidates to be elected, from a field of five.  Alison Vance got the most votes with 456, and second highest vote was Robert W. Johnson with 368.  They will join the school committee at their next meeting.   Alexander J. Meade won 207, Edward J. Bryan tallied 177, and John P. Sexton won 119 votes.  There were 374 ballots that left the contest blank.

John J.R. Shiavone was unopposed in his re-election to the Board of Assessors, winning 670 votes.  Blank were 174 and there were also seven write-ins.

John Delano won re-election to the Board of Health with 645 votes cast for him.  There were 202 blanks and five write-ins.

Paul A. Delaney won election to a two-year term on the Library Board of Trustees.  There were 202 blank and three write-ins.

Ralph W. Goodwin Jr. and Meredith M. Goodwin were elected to two three-year terms on the Library Board of Trustees with 629 votes for Meredith and 587 votes for Ralph.  483 were blank and there were five write-ins.

There were no candidates seeking election to the four-year term on the Halifax Planning Board.  There were 814 left blank and 37 write-ins.  If any are interested in serving, let Town Administrator Charlie Seelig know. 

Gordon R. Andrews was unopposed in his election to the five-year term on the Planning Board, winning 640 votes.  There were 203 blanks and nine write-ins.

Edward W. Desharnais, Jr., won re-election to his seat on the Silver Lake Regional School Committee with 621 votes.  Blank were 227, and there were also four write-ins.

Richard A. Clark was elected to the Board of Water Commissioners with 651 votes.  There were 198 left blank for that contest, and three write-ins.

The town’s vote turning down a debt exclusion to purchase a fire suppression system for the Halifax Elementary School, didn’t matter. The vote at Town Meeting to allow the project to proceed within the town’s budget made the question on the ballot irrelevant.  The ballots were printed weeks in advance, so the question had to appear.  Had Town Meeting turned down the article to finance the school’s sprinkler system through the regular budget, the vote would have been necessary to finance the project.   Halifax Elementary School will have its fire suppression system financed within the town’s regular operating budget.

Courtesy of

Hanson Police

    It was quite a chase early Thursday morning, May 11, as police from Hanson, Pembroke, Hanover, Whitman, Carver, Halifax and Plympton, as well as the Plymouth County Sheriffs finally brought Daniel Egan, 36, of Plymouth, into custody.

    At 1 a.m. Hanson police encountered a 2010 Chevy Malibu heading north on Route 58 at a high rate of speed.  When it failed to stop at the stop sign a Indian Head and Liberty streets, Hanson officers attempted to stop the vehicle which fled north, turning off the vehicle’s lights.

    The Malibu fled to East Washington St., to an area near the Hanover/Pembroke town line.  Officers pursued the vehicle back into Hanson Center, through Winter Street, back onto Route 58, traveling south.

    The Malibu struck a cruiser and attempted to force it off the road in the area of Latham Street.  The cruiser suffered minor damage.  Officers deployed tire deflation deices in the area of Route 58 and 106 causing the vehicle to eventually stop on Route 58 in Halifax.

    Egan fled the scene into a wooded area. Officers attempted to take him into custody but he managed to escape. Eagan then got into and fled in a marked police cruiser.

    Officers from Hanson, Halifax, and Pembroke attempted to stop Eagan as he fled in the cruiser on Route 58 south. Plympton police officers deployed tire deflation devices on Route 58 and disabled the cruiser.

    At approximately 1:15 a.m. the cruiser was stopped at the Plympton/Carver line in front of Tractor Supply. Eagan refused to come out of the vehicle which led to a standoff that lasted approximately 20 minutes.

    Efforts to convince Egan to exit the vehicle were unsuccessful. Officers used bean bag rounds to shoot out the windows of the cruiser. Mr. Egan eventually exited the vehicle and again refused commands to surrender. A K9 from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was used to subdue Mr. Egan. He was transported to the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth in the custody of the Hanson Police by Plympton Fire. He suffered an injury to his hand.  He was later transferred to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston.

    Egan is being charged with operating to endanger, failure to stop for a police officer, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, assault and battery, larceny of a motor vehicle, and numerous other motor vehicle violations. Bail has been set at $25,000.

    Police Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies on scene showed great restraint and patience during this entire incident, according to Hanson police.

    HPD would like to thank the Whitman, Hanover, Pembroke, Carver, and Plympton Police as well as the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance during this incident.

Townspeople in Halifax will consider 50 articles at Monday night’s Annual Town Meeting, with various issues, ranging from Marijuana Establishments zoning, Marijuana tax, to adding a Foreclosed Properties by-law.

Article 48 asks if the town will amend the Code of the Town of Halifax, Chapter 167 (Zoning) to define marijuana establishments as a marijuana cultivator, marijuana testing facility, marijuana product manufacturer, marijuana retailer or any other type of licensed marijuana-related business, as is defined by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 94H.

This article would allow marijuana establishments by special permit in the Industrial District and will not be allowed within 500 linear feet of any school or child care facility or where children generally congregate, or any other marijuana establishment or any business licensed to pour alcoholic beverages.  The distance will be measured by direct calculation of a straight line from the nearest property line of a facility to the nearest property line of the marijuana establishment.

The hours of operation may not include any time between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Any permit applied for and/or issued for a Marijuana Establishment must  comply with all state laws and regulations concerning Marijuana Establishments.

Article 49 asks to allow the town to tax each sale of marijuana at an amount not more than 2%.

Article 50 would amend the Code of the Town of Halifax by requiring the registration and maintenance of foreclosed properties, and the security of foreclosed properties, to help prevent blighted and unsecured properties.  The article would require that owners must register the property with the Halifax Building Commissioner and if the owner is out-of-state it must appoint an agent within Massachusetts to act in the owner’s stead.

In addition to the usual finances of the town, its employee salaries and department expenses, the town will also be asked to fund

• $205,000 for a large dump truck for the Highway Department

• $50,000 for a security system and other items for the Halifax Elementary School

• $2,000,000 for renovations and addition to Pope’s Tavern Senior Center

• $70,000 for architectural and building plans for repairs to Pope’s Tavern

• $49,000 to purchase and equip a new service truck for the Water Dept.

• $80,000 to purchase and equip two new marked police vehicles

• $16,000 to purchase and equip two new ATVs to be used for patrol

• $5,000 to purchase and maintain communications equipment for the Fire Dept.

• $10,000 for new turnout gear for Fire Dept. personnel

• $280,000 to purchase and equip an ambulance for the Fire Dept.

• $27,145 to replace apparatus bay door openers at the Fire Station

• $9,000 to update the phone system at the Halifax Fire Station

• $10,000 to purchase IV pumps for the Halifax Fire Department

• $12,500 to repair chimneys at the Museum of Halifax, Old School House, Blacksmith’s Shop, and Pope’s Tavern

• $7,000 to replace light fixtures at the Town Hall with LED fixtures and wiring over the next two years.

• $9,500 to replace two furnaces as part of completing phase 2 of the furnace replacement at the Town Hall

• $7,200 to replace the Recycling Center’s two rear garage doors with new hardware motors, one section of panel with glass windows, and the other three sections with insulated solid panels

• $12.000 for the Assessors’ Triennial Revaluation Account

• $7,500 for additional hours for the Conservation Commission Secretary for wetlands protection work

• $5,000 for improvements to the town’s boat ramp

• $6,500 to refurbish the doors and replace the lock system at the Halifax Town Hall

• $28,100 for new computer servers at the Halifax Town Hll

• $3,500 to support South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.’s free legal services to elders, low-income families and their children

• $3,500 to support South Shore Women’s Resource Center for domestic violence intervention and prevention services

• $70,000 for the second year principal payment of the water tower painting and repair debt and $5,989 for the second year of interest on the same debt

Town meeting warrant will also be asked to

• vote to accept  Bourne Drive and Danson Road

• vote to accept Heron Road

• vote to revise the listing of delinquent taxpayers

• vote to amend the Streets and Sidewalks section of the Code of the Town.

Plympton Selectmen met Monday, April 24, with the Finance Committee to hear a presentation from Dick Kobayashi from the Collins Center. The Board is considering using the Collins Center’s services to assist in hiring a town administrator.

The UMASS Boston based Collin’s Center was established by the state legislature in July, 2008, to focus on improving public management, particularly at the state and local level. The Collins Center offers a variety of services, including staffing.

Kobayashi began by highlighting the experience of the staff at the Collins Center, saying that although it’s part of UMASS Boston, all of the people that work at the Center have worked in towns. Kobayashi says, “No students and no academics are used.”

Kobayashi then went through the process the Collins Center uses to assist filling public roles. He said they start by interviewing members of the Board of Selectmen in a one-on-one setting. They also will interview members of the community who are active in the town, as identified by the Board.

According to Kobayashi, the purpose of these individual interviews is to determine the values of the town and what they are looking for in a candidate.

Selectmen then set up a screening committee to work closely with the Collins Group to examine the pool of candidates. This committee will screen and narrow down the list of potential candidates to about ten to twelve members.

These final candidates will be brought before the board for interviews during open session, as required by Massachusetts General Law.  Kobayashi told the board, “It’s important the committee represents the board and town’s values.”

Members of the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee had several questions for Kobayashi. Selectmen Clerk John Traynor asked how big these screening committees typical are. According to Kobayashi, they usually consist of five to seven members.

FinCom members asked where the job postings would be placed. Kobayashi answered the advertisements will be placed online with the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and International City Management. Brochures would also be posted with the ads and in print.

Finance Committee member Susan Ossoff questioned the need for the brochure if the advertisements are placed online. She described Plympton as a frugal town and the cost of putting the brochures into print, she was unsure there was value there if applicants are coming from online databases.

Kobayashi says that the brochures tell the story of the town and it may be a good idea to have some around the town hall. He did say that brochures could potentially just be put on the online profile and not printed, but they typically print them.

The cost of service is a $14,000 fee from the Collins Center. This however does not include the university’s fee, and the costs of advertising and travel. The total cost could be north of $17,000 if the town decides to pursue this option.

Review of Town

Meeting Warrant

Article 29 was removed from the Town Meeting Warrant. This article would have limited the size of temporary signs. In particular, political signs would have been affected if passed. The article was removed due to it potentially being unconstitutional by violating the First Amendment.

An article to provide dental insurance for town employees was also dropped from the warrant. Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Thompson says the cost were higher than anticipated due to a miscommunication.

One last article was removed because of a legal technicality. What was to be Article 10 reads, “To see if the Town will vote to accept provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 258 section 13 which provides that the town shall indemnify and save harmless municipal officers, elected or appointed, from personal loss and expense including reasonable legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed one million dollars, arising out of any claim, demand, suitor judgement by reason of any act or omission except an intentional violation of civil rights of any person under any law, if the official at the time of such act or omission was acting within the scope of his official duties or employment or take any other action relative thereto.”

The Board of Selectmen learned via legal counsel that this type of action has to go forth as a ballot question rather than an article at Town Meeting. The Board still wants to see this voted on, it just cannot legally be done at Town Meeting.

Selectmen closed the Special Town Meeting Warrant. Most of the details were hammered out previously, so Monday night’s meeting was mainly a procedural discussion, with Selectmen deciding who will speak and move each the articles at Town Meeting.

Town Meeting Notes from the Financial Committee

The Finance Committee plans to reduce the equipment request from the Fire Department by $12,000. FinCom Vice Chairman Eric Hart said there was confusion about the need for several of the equipment requests from the FD, so he discussed them with the department.

One request was for new pagers which Hart says are failing. He agreed with Chief Warren Borsari and his Fire Department that this is a safety issue and this needs to be addressed.

Some of the disconnect was on the cost of uniforms and turnout gear, which Hart said was also in their budget line and for equipment thatcould fail.

Hart said, “We don’t want to budget for anticipatory breakage.” If emergencies come up, the Fire Department can come to the FinCom to request reserve funds.

Other News

Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Thompson made a request to improve the identification of Area 58 broadcasts of meetings at the Plympton Town House. The Board is asking Area 58 to either take old meetings off the air or time stamping them to avoid confusion.

Thompson said they are broadcasting old meetings on television without time stamps, and there’s nothing to tell a town citizen that itisn’t current news. This is already being done for televised school committee meetings.

The next Board of Selectmen meeting will take place on Monday, May 1, 2017.

Open session will start at 6p.m.

PLYMPTON – There are not many candidates to populate this year’s local election, according to Town Clerk Tara Shaw.   

With election on Saturday, May 20, the ballot has a lot of empty spaces.

No candidate seems willing to run for selectman, finance committee (3-year term) or planning board.   There are also no contests on the ballot that currently shows the following, unless any candidate withdraws before the April 20 deadline:

Assessor – 1 position:  Ethan Stiles for a three-year term, candidate for re-election.

Board of Health – 1 position: Brad Cronin, for a 3 – year term.

Constable – two positions: David E. Smith, candidate for re-election and Douglas Reese, both three-year terms.

Finance Committee – two positions for three-year terms: Lisa Hart, candidate for re-election is the only candidate.

Finance Committee – one position for a two year term: Steven Lewis is the only candidate.

Library Trustee – two positions for three-year terms: Louise Cosato is the only candidate.

Planning Board – one position for a five-year term: there are no candidates.

School Committee, Dennett Elementary School – two positions for three-year terms: Jason Fraser and Jon Wilhelmsen, both candidates for re-election.

Selectman – one position for a three-year term: there are no candidates.

Silver Lake Regional School Committee – one position for a three year term: Jason Fraser, candidate for re-election.

If any registered voter in Plympton would like to mount a write-in campaign for any position on the ballot, the Town Clerk’s office has all of the rules a candidate needs to follow in order for the election to be official.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday April 11, 2017. The meeting included a hearing about Heron Road potentially gaining its status as a public street.

Real estate professional Rick Springer from Century 21 Classic Gold in Carver, MA presented the case for the roads approval to the Board of Selectmen. Springer spoke with the Halifax Planning Board. He says, “The roadway and the drainage was built according to the plan, and the Planning Board has accepted it as built.”

With the Planning Board being satisfied with the completed project, Springer wants Selectmen to certify Heron Road as a public road. He told selectmen, “It was always intended to be a public town road when it was first proposed. It’s now complete and time for it to be a public road.”

Selectmen Chair Troy Garron says he has no major issues with the Herron Road project.  He did however express one concern.

Garron said, “The only issue I have right now is that the neighbors or residents of the neighborhood weren’t notified because you were out of town.” Springer said he has the abutters’ list and will be sending out certified mail notices before the next hearing on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.

One abutter who attended Tuesday night’s meeting voiced some personal concerns, stating the sidewalk in front of his home was not depressed to the same level as his driveway, making the transition coming out of his driveway to the road not smooth. He wants the project to take the time to lower the sidewalk first to improve the transition onto the road. The Planning Board voted 3-1 to approve the road and this resident would like the situation to be looked at again.

Garron told the resident there will be two more opportunities to present his case; there’s another hearing for Herron Road on Tuesday April 25. Garron said there will also be an opportunity to present the case at Town Meeting.

Beautification Committee Appointment highlights plans for memorial garden and Clean-Up Day.

Selectmen also met with the town’s Beautification Committee, who introduced Greg Cowan, their choice as a new committee member. Selectmen voted to approve his appointment.

Cowan has volunteered on several Beautification Committee projects in the past, including last year’s Town Clean-Up Day. He’s also volunteered with the local Boy Scout troop.

The vacancy on the committee is a term that expires in June, 2017. Selectmen Clerk Kim Roy says this is just procedural though and Cowan’s term will be renewed in June.

After confirming Greg Cowan as a new member, Cowan spoke to the Board about the Earth Day town clean-up event being sponsored by the Beautification Committee.

Cowan said that last year, the participation in the annual event was largely done by the Boy Scouts. He wants to not only expand this, but include education for the town about not littering. Cowan said he wants their clean-up efforts to be sustainable over a longer period of time.

The Earth Day Clean-Up Day will take place on Saturday April 22, 2017 from 10-11:45 a.m. This is a rain or shine event. Pizza will also be provided at the Halifax Town Hall at noon for all participants.

The Beautification Committee recommends anyone who participates wears long pants, long sleeves, and brings rubber gloves. Trash bags will be provided. Please remember to use safety precautions when picking up trash. If needles are found, the Beautification Committee said to call the Fire Department.

The Beautification Committee also presented plans for a garden to be built on the green of the Town Hall. The garden is a memorial for Margaret Fitzgerald and will be privately funded by family and friends.

Selectmen said the funds donated to the Town of Halifax will then be appropriated to the Beautification Committee. That’s the legal procedure for using privatlye donated funds for a public project.

Though still in the planning phase, the Beautification Committee is moving quickly on the project and close to deciding what types of flowers and trees will be in the garden. The plan is to have the garden ready for Memorial Day Weekend.

Other Town News

Cemetery Superintendent Robert Badore sent a letter of resignation to the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen Vice Chair Thomas Millias says that Bob served the town for 46 years.

Selectmen Clerk Kim Roy said she met with the Finance Committee, who were talking about putting the fire suppressant system for the Elementary School repairs under the levy in regards to tax.

Roy says that Town Administrator Charlie Seelig is more inclined to go above the levy. Seelig says this will not cost taxpayers any additional money.

Selectmen also spent time preparing for town meeting by addressing changes to the way Wage and Personnel Board goes about pay increases for town employees.

Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Thomas Millias said the town currently uses merit increases to go about annual reviews. Millias described the current system in place as “hurtfully subjective.”

The Board is considering eliminating merit increases alltogether and replacing them with increases to longevity stipends.

The next meeting of the Halifax Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday April 25, 2017.  Open session will start at 7:30 p.m.