Four Daughters Compassionate Care, LLC, has submitted to Halifax selectmen a Host Community Agreement (HCA) as one of the first steps toward the construction of a marijuana cultivation and/or manufacturing facility on River Street.

Halifax selectmen are accepting comments, questions, and concerns about the HCA in time for the Board’s discussion at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the process Four Daughters Compassionate Care will follow, the HCA outlines the Community Impact payments of 3% of the gross wholesales of marijuana cultivated at the premises and 3% of the marijuana infused products.  The first of these payments would be made within three months following the first date of sale of marijuana, and continue on an annual basis.

Up to a 60,000 square foot commercial space is planned for the 45-acre parcel for the purpose of operating a cultivation and/or product manufacturing facility under a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) Certificate of Registration as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Medical Marijuana Program.

The entire HCA can be viewed online at  http://www.town.halifax.ma.us/…/fourdaughtersHCA20180108.pdf)

While the Host Community Agreement covers several subjects, it is not a zoning permit. Any proposed facility would have to obtain a “special permit” from the Zoning Board of Appeals (a public hearing is required with notice to abutters) and approval of a site plan from the Planning Board. A proposal has not been submitted to either Board. Both steps will be publicized here and in other venues

Town administrator Charlie Seelig assures Halifax residents that while there may be concerns regarding noise, lighting, and odors, these matters will not be addressed as part of the HCA; they would properly be part of any discussion of the possible approval of a special permit and site plan for this facility.  The signing of the HCA is just one step in the process.  Four Daughters will need to obtain various zoning permits in Halifax, along with whichever permits the State requires.

November 28, 2017, Halifax hosted an informational meeting in the Town Hall where residents were invited to hear about the Four Daughters Compassionate Care proposal and ask questions at that time.

The presentation was recorded and can be watched on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyirPfa7lYA (forum begins at 26:23 into the selectmen’s meeting).

If selectmen do sign an HCA with Four Daughters and Four Daughters moves forward with this project, then a public hearing will be held as required under state regulations.  Abutters will be notified and the hearing will be publicized.

Numerous potential bylaw and permitting changes were discussed at  Tuesday’s Halifax Board of Selectmen meeting with members of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board, including tying zoning permits to the property rather than the person.

Currently, when a special zoning permit is issued, the permit is issued to the owner of the property. However, if that owner sells their property, Town Administrator Charles Seelig said the next owner has to go through the zoning process again.

Since, the previous owner has the permit, Seelig said that owner has certain rights that the town cannot “unilaterally” take away. He said, “I think we can no longer tie the permits to the person; they have to be tied to the property.”

According to Seelig, no bylaw change is needed to make this sort of change. No changes are being made tonight, but Seelig said he’s willing to set up an appointment for the Zoning Board of Appeals and/or the Planning Board with Land Use Counsel for further discussions.

As far as bylaw changes, the three boards talked about ideas for changes to live entertainment events permits, affordable housing, and multi-family housing.

Live Entertainment Events

As of right now, the town has nothing in its bylaws that specifically allows for live entertainment event special permits. The court case surrounding Mud Fest however, brought about a potential willingness for both sides to allow for these events to go forth with some stipulations.

The Zoning Board of Appeals asks that these events have a minimum lot area of 5 acres. Additionally, a minimum of two events per calendar year was another stipulation Seelig suggested.

Selectmen Vice Chair Kim Roy asked if the Board of Selectmen have a right to say no to an event approved by the Zoning Board. Seelig said the Selectmen would only be able to do this with good reason, that there is a present danger to public safety that was overlooked in the initial approval and that this safety issue cannot otherwise be fixed.

Affordable Housing and Multi-Family Housing

Regarding affordable housing, the Zoning Board of Appeals discussed duplexes as an option. Members of the Zoning Board said that compared to other multi-family homes, duplexes are easier to code for the proper fire zoning.

Changing in-law apartment bylaws to apartment bylaws was also discussed. However, there were concerns among the boards over in-law apartments creating illegal sublets. In-law additions in Halifax are not allowed to have a separate kitchen area for this reason. Seelig suggested tying a periodic inspection to an in-law apartment special permit to ensure compliance.

Seelig said he’d also like to see the stipulation requiring multi-family development buildings to only allow one building per lot. He said he has not heard a good reason for why this exists and that Halifax is the only town in Massachusetts with this written in its bylaw.

Selectmen Chair Thomas Millias described the current law as “arbitrary”.  The stipulation has existed since the ‘90s.

No changes were made on Tuesday as bylaw changes need to be voted at Town Meeting. Discussions will continue at future meetings.

River Street Marijuana Growing Facility Update

Selectmen Chair Thomas Millias said he’d like a draft of a community host agreement for a potential future public forum for the marijuana growing facility that could come to River Street.

The potential facility is not a retail shop, but a growing and processing facility. Millias said he didn’t vote for marijuana’s legalization and doesn’t believe anyone on the Board did either, however the board is considering the facility because of the revenue a community host agreement would bring to the town.

Millias said, “It’s a significant amount of revenue that we otherwise couldn’t replicate.”

Unregistered Vehicle Special Permits

Derek Dowling and Oscar Magnuson came before the Board of Selectmen asking for special permits for unregistered vehicles.

Dowling was seeking a 6-month permit for a 1997 Ford F350 truck he’s working on at his property. One neighbor in attendance said he didn’t have a problem with one vehicle. However, Dowling said this would not be the last time he’d be working on a car.

This raised concerns from the Board of Selectmen and others in attendance that the repairs are commercial in nature. Dowling disagreed, saying this wasn’t for commercial use. He said, “I have five registered vehicles on different properties.”

The Board of Selectmen approved the permit for one vehicle. Millias said that in order to stay consistent with other special permits, Dowling will have to put up a fence so that the unregistered vehicle isn’t visible from the property.

Dowling expressed displeasure with the process saying that the community he lives in isn’t a “white-picket community.” Selectmen Vice Chair Kim Roy said, “That’s a terrible thing to say.”

The Board of Selectmen voted to grant the six-month permit for only this one vehicle and that Dowling must put up a fence. Because of the frost on the ground, Dowling is being given 60 days to put up fencing.

Oscar Magnuson also requested special unregistered vehicle permits, but he asked for two permits. Magnuson said he’s taking two unregistered Ford Rangers and building one vehicle out of them.

Jim Gray, one of Magnuson’s neighbors at Hillside Avenue, said he had no problem with this.  The cars will be in the backyard which neighbors said isn’t visible from the front of the property. The Board of Selectmen approved his permits for 6 months.

Other News

• Scott Materna was introduced as the new building maintenance director. The Board congratulated him, and Roy described the town as a “family environment.” She said, “If you need anything, let us know.”

• The Board of Selectmen voted to disband the Master Plan and Open Space Committees.

• A yard sale for Boy Scout Troop 39 was approved by the Board of Selectmen. It will take place on June 16, 2018 on the Town Green.

The next Halifax Board of Selectmen Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 1, 2018. Open session begins at 7:30 p.m.

After several days of frigid weather, people have been venturing out on ice-covered ponds and bogs to play hockey, figure skate, fish or run all-terrain vehicles. While ATVs are generally not permitted on public land in any weather, local fire chiefs warn that outdoor ice is never “100-percent safe.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) agrees that “the only ‘safe’ ice is at a skating arena” because frozen bodies of water can be dangerous.

“With the cold weather we’ve had, a lot of people want to get out on the ice,” Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson said Tuesday morning. “We get a lot of phone calls [but] we can never say that the ice is 100-percent safe because there’s several factors like currents, waterfowl being on it or fish  or stumps … all kinds of different things can affect it.”

“There’s always a concern for ice thickness,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno. “There’s many areas that have open water.” Like Hanson, Grenno’s department does not make general statements concerning the safety of ice on ponds in town.

“We just tell people to use their best judgment and, if there’s open water, then the pond should be deemed unsafe.”

Thompson referred to MEMA’s ice-thickness guidelines that suggest four inches of ice for fishing, five inches can hold a snowmobile and eight to 12 inches a vehicle and 12-15 inches for a pickup truck. His department does not check ice thickness on area waterways.

“You need to keep in mind that, just because it’s eight inches in this spot, it might not be eight inches in that spot,” Thompson said. “We recommend if you do go out, you don’t go it alone. You should always have somebody with you and you should pay attention to your surroundings.”

Generally, ice that forms on moving water (rivers, streams, and brooks) is never safe, according to MEMA. Ice freezes and thaws at different rates and the thickness of ice on ponds and lakes can vary depending on water currents, springs, depth, and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. It can be a foot thick in one area and just inches thick a few feet away. Daily changes in temperature also affect its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely safe.

Fire Chief Jason Viveiros doesn’t believe there is any safe ice on Monponsett ponds.  Because those ponds are fed by springs, the water temperature varies and ice thickness is affected by underwater currents.  Areas of open water were still evident on Tuesday, despite the record low temperatures.

MEMA offers the following tips to follow before venturing out and what to do if you or someone you are with falls through the ice.

Before going
on the ice

• Look for slush, which can indicate that the ice is no longer freezing so you face a greater risk of falling through.

• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow can hide weak and open ice or cracks.

• Test the ice strength. Use an ice chisel to chip a hole through the ice to determine its thickness and condition. If it is two inches thick or less, stay off.

• Never go on ice alone. Another person may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through.

• Keep pets on a leash when walking them near bodies of water so that they don’t run onto the ice.

If someone falls through the ice

• Do not go out onto the ice to try to rescue a person or pet.

• Reach-Throw-Go: Try to reach the victim from shore. Extend your reach with a branch, oar, pole, or ladder to try to pull the victim to safety. If unable to reach the victim, throw them something to hold onto (such as a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or life preserver). Go for help or call 911 immediately.

• If you fall in, use cold water safety practices: Try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, moving forward by kicking your feet. Once back onto unbroken ice, remain lying down and roll away from the hole. Crawl back toward land, keeping your weight evenly distributed.

• If you can’t get back on the ice, use the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP): Bring your knees up toward your chest. Cross your arms and hold them close to your body. Keep your legs together. Try to keep your head out of the water. Do not try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or shore is close by. Swimming in cold water cools your body and reduces survival time.

Helping a victim when out of
the water

• Get medical help or call 911 immediately. The victim needs help quickly to prevent hypothermia.

• Get the victim to a warm location.

• Remove the victim’s wet clothing.

• Warm the center of the victim’s body first by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing.

• Give the victim warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to drink.

• Place the victim in a warm shower or bath with their arms and legs out of the water to warm the core of the body.

Thompson said his department has not had to yet deal with burst pipes or other frigid weather problems, even as they responded to a Mutual Aid fire call in Pembroke on New Year’s Day.

Heavy turnout gear keeps firefighters warm on cold-weather calls, but there is also a rehab truck available through the Department of Fire Services to provide a heated area in which firefighters can warm up. The Highway Department can also be called in to sand and salt, helping to reduce the likelihood of falls on the ice.

Towns are also keeping an eye on weather forecasts to determine how they should approach a severe winter storm forecast for Jan. 4.

Preparations for Thursday’s storm were well underway on Wednesday, when Viveiros told the Express he had been in several meetings to be sure the town is ready to help its citizens.  If there is a widespread power outage, the Halifax Elementary School will be opened as a warming center where people can go if they are without heat.  Should the power stay out for several days, Halifax and Plympton will go to Silver Lake Regional High School. 

“I think we’re as ready as we can be,” Viveiros said.

“Right now, they still don’t know what it’s going to do,” Thompson agreed. “I’m sure that MEMA will be giving us some updates as we get closer. We check our equipment daily, so we’re all set.

Fire departments also work closely with senior centers to obtain lists of elderly residents who may need assistance in weather emergencies.

Photos by

Chris Thompkins

Chris Thompkins has just completed her 7th year as Salvation Army Kettle Coordinator for the Town of Halifax and is delighted to announce that they have raised $6,557.33 for the 2017 holiday season!

She sends out thanks to all of her volunteers, those who donated, to Twin Lakes Liquors and the Rockland Trust for their patience, and a special thank you to Stop & Shop for graciously allowing their bell ringers and kettles to be inside, out of the cold, this year!

The Halifax Council on Aging will host a volunteer luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Pope’s Tavern Senior Center to say Thank You to the volunteers who made the contributions such a success.  Please call the Senior Center at 781-293-7313 to let them know how many are coming.

In no particular order, Thompkins would like to thank the following: Lynne Towne, Dot and Tom Pease, Pat Farrah, Sharlene Capaccioli and Dylan Capaccioli, Pauline Hughes, Carol Keegan, Carl Faith, Sally Fontaine-Burke, Suzie Fontaine Hopps, Dot Matthews, Cheryl and Jason McCullough, Tanya Little, Diedre Yelverton, Colleen Fiumara, Ashley Seggelin, Jackie Joubert, Susan MacDonald, Sherri Conte, and Jen Olivera.

Also:  Deb Scioscia, Ketti Martin, Gerry Durban, Martin Tuohey,  Tommy Schindler, Kevin Rogers,  Marianne Leighton Moore, Phyl Silenzi, Sue Wilson, Jessica Whalen, Dot Martel, Jo Schofield, Avis Arsenault,  Mary Ann Davis, Jonathan Selig, Stacey Rancourt,  Brenda Pettingill, Ken Vinton, Kerstin Santos, Alicia Salvation, Harley Ann Naphen, Adrienne McDougall, Susan Laidlaw, Kim King, Ashley Bearce and Cheryl Bearce, Brief Margiotta,  Amanda Ransom, Cheryl Balerna and girls and  Gerri Lambert!

Chris says this is a 100% volunteer operation, in conjunction with the Halifax Council on Aging, and helps seniors get out of the house and be involved in the community.

She is now ready for a well-deserved nap!

Jonathan Selig of Halifax, well-known to fund-raising, leant his hand to ring a bell to help bring in donations for the Savation Army’s Good Neighbor drive.

One of Santa’s hardest-working elves, Chris Thompkins, chairman of the Halifax Kettle Drive for the seventh year, got into the holiday spirit with St. Nick himself!

Sue Wilson & Phyl Silenzi team up to collect donations for the Salvation Army.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen reaffirmed its vote on the tax classifications for fiscal year 2018 at last Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

The tax classifications were originally approved at the Board of Selectmen Meeting on Monday, November 27, 2017, but the Board of Assessors wanted to meet with the Selectmen to discuss the classifications more thoroughly. Board of Assessors Clerk Ethan Stiles recommended a single tax rate for all regardless of if its residential, commercial, industrial, or open space property.

There was discussion about possible exemptions for residential and open space properties. Stiles said, “It could take business away from the town if we place the burden on them (commercial, industrial categories).”

The Board of Selectmen voted for no exemptions for residential, commercial, industrial, or open space properties. According to Stiles, all property tax classifications are estimated to be taxed at a rate of $17.52 per $1,000.

Social Media Update

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy announced that after launching only a week ago, Plympton’s official town Facebook page has a little over 300 followers. As of Wednesday, December 20, 2017, that number is now up to 322 followers and 294 likes.

Old Town House Update

The Board of Selectmen discussed a possible renegotiation of the Old Town House’s lease terms between them and the Plympton Historical Society.

The reason for potential renegotiations are about the maintenance of the building. Selectman John Traynor said he wants the town custodian to be responsible for the maintenance of this building rather than the Plympton Historical Society.

The Plympton Historical Society only has one current member, Jessica Kinsman. Traynor said that the Historical Society doesn’t have the resources to maintain the building and believes it’s the town’s responsibility.

Other News

• The Plympton Housing Production Committee’s affordable housing plan for the town is now approved by both the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board and is pending state approval. Suggested changes to the plan were made including showing Cato’s Ridge and Churchill Park as protected open spaces.

• The Board of Selectmen said the Sysco Abatement contract between the Board of Assessors and Integra Reality Resources has been officially signed.

• There were no new updates on Municipal Resource’s study of the town’s fire and EMS operations. The Board said a draft is expected in the coming weeks.

The Town House closes at 12 p.m. on Thursday December 21, 2017. It will reopen for business on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 9 a.m.

The next Board of Selectmen Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, 2017.  Open session starts at 6 p.m.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy presented a plan for a social media strategy for Plympton at the Board of Selectmen Meeting last Monday. However, there was some disagreement about the best way to grow the town’s presence on Facebook.

Dennehy suggested making one general town Facebook page, but believes there shouldn’t be a comment section for it. She said the page should be “informative not interactive.”

Both Dennehy and Town Clerk Tara Shaw, who will both be handling most of Plympton’s social media agree with this notion due to concerns about violating open meeting laws. Dennehy said, “I don’t think the page should interact with other pages or groups.”

The notion of not having a comment section was a belief shared by all members of the Board of Selectmen. There was some disagreement about interacting with other groups, like Plympton Helping Plympton.

Plympton Helping Plympton is a closed Facebook group where Plympton residents and former residents will discuss things related to the town. Most of the time, the discussions in the group are not related to municipal government. Selectmen John Traynor said they can be about things as simple as someone needing a babysitter.

Local government topics do get discussed on occasion and Traynor believes this is a resource the town should be tapping into. Traynor said there are about 2,500 people in the group, Plympton Helping Plympton.

Town Administrator Dennehy, Town Clerk Shaw, and the rest of the Board of Selectmen expressed not wanting to post to the group. Dennehy and Selectmen Chair Christine Joy said they have concerns about open meeting law violations, particularly because Plympton Helping Plympton is not a public group.

Traynor said he doesn’t think there is a violation because his idea is to post the exact same announcement to Plympton Helping Plympton as they would the town website or Facebook page.

Selectmen Clerk Mark Russo said he’s concerned that the town could lose control over misinformation, in a private forum rather than just their own channels. Commenting couldn’t be turned off in a platform the Board of Selectmen doesn’t control. However, Russo remained open to the idea if the posts were the same.

He suggested Plympton creates its Facebook page first and then explore revisiting some of Traynor’s ideas at a later time.  Selectmen voted to start a Facebook page for the town.

According to Dennehy and Shaw, the Facebook page will not be used to replace the website, but bring residents to the town’s official website. Shaw said she already does this from her personal Facebook page within the Facebook group, Plympton Helping Plympton. She doesn’t comment, but will post links to the town website where official information can be found.

Dennehy said, “We don’t want Facebook to replace the website.” She said she sees it as a bridge to the town website.

Electrical Aggregation Update

Mark Cappadona, the president of Colonial Power Group was at the Board of Selectmen Meeting to answer any questions residents may have about the upcoming electrical aggregation service for Plympton. The Plympton Board of Selectmen previously signed a 6-month contract that opts residents into this program starting on January 1, 2018.

Members of the Board of Selectmen said there was some confusion among residents about the service, so Cappadona came in to clear up any questions. However, only one resident attended the meeting.

Joan Harper, the Plympton resident in attendance, asked who she would contact if she opts out of the program, but still sees herself as in it on her electrical bill. Cappadona said she would contact Colonial Power directly and they’d take care of it without any opt out penalty.

Cappadona said there’s no penalty for opting in or out of the program. He described the program as the town giving residents another option that guarantees savings on their electrical bill for the first six months.

Electrical rates for NStar Eversource are expected to increase to 13.175 cents per kilowatt hour this winter. Cappadonna says Colonial Power offers about a 9% savings compared to the standard product.

Eversource is still the electrical supplier for Plympton. Cappadona said this is only a financial transaction and doesn’t affect who to contact about power outages and other issues.

Other News

• The appointment of two new fire lieutenants were approved by the Board of Selectmen. Paul Gallagher and John Sjostedt were both appointments as new members of the fire department.

• Liquor licenses were renewed for Plympton Gas and Convenience, Plympton Convenience Store, and Upland Sportsman’s’ Club. Upland Sportsman’s Club also had its range permit renewed.

The next Selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 11, 2017. Open session starts at 6 p.m.

Plympton’s first town administrator, Elizabeth Dennehy officially began her post at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

Dennehy brings more than 10 years of experience in municipal government. She served as the Community Development Director in Walpole and also spent time as the Planning Director and Environmental Affairs Officer in Fall River.

Dennehy expressed that she thinks she’ll enjoy being a part of the Plympton community. She said, “I feel like this is going to be a good fit. It closely aligns with my background both professionally and personally as far as being from a small town in South Eastern Mass.”

Town Administrator Dennehy will host a meet and greet with town residents on December 11, 2017 at 7:15 p.m. Selectman John Traynor said residents can come in for coffee and meet their new town administrator following the Board of Selectmen Meeting.

Plympton Housing Production Committee Update

The Plympton Housing Production Committee moved closer to completing an affordable housing plan for the town by presenting a draft of its plan to the Board of Selectmen.

Per state requirements, 10 percent of a city or town’s housing must be classified as affordable housing. The state determines the qualifications that deem a residency affordable.

If a community doesn’t meet that 10 percent threshold, a development company can bypass that town’s zoning board with little recourse for the town to take after the fact.

The committee presented a plan to the Board of Selectmen, who approved the plan. There wasn’t much discussion on the details of the production plan itself.  Selectmen Chair Christine Joy said the draft still needs to be reviewed by the Planning Board.

One thing that was mentioned was the housing production plan aims to create affordable housing in a way that doesn’t negatively impact the rural aesthetic of the community. The 10% affordable housing also doesn’t have to be reached all at once. The plan develops ways to raise the amount of affordable housing by .5 percent annually.

Tax Classification Update

Tax classifications for residential, commercial, and industrial properties were not changed from last year per the Board of Assessors meeting with the Board of Selectmen.

The Board of Selectmen took the recommendation of the Board of Assessors and voted that all three property classifications will continue to be taxed at the same rate. There will also continue to be no exemption for residential small businesses.

Other News

• Town Accountant Barbara Gomez’s new contract was approved unanimously by the Board of Selectmen.

• The Assistant Assessor Position is still posted on the MAO website as well as in the employment opportunity section on Plympton’s official town website. According to Selectmen’s Assistant Briggette Martins, only three applicants have applied thus far.

• In a letter of correspondence, Council on Aging Director is requesting a direct phone line for the Council on Aging. Traynor and Selectmen Clerk Mark Russo both said they were in favor of this and want to look at the cost first.

Jessica Zeoli

Express correspondent

The Town of Halifax met Monday, Nov. 20, at the Halifax Elementary School for a Special Town Meeting to discuss and vote on five articles.  As is the custom in Halifax, the articles were chosen for action in random order

The first article to be heard was Article 5 which in part reads: “To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 236, Section 3 (Registration and Maintenance of Foreclosed Properties from the following: 9. ‘Owner’ means every person, entity, service company, property manager, or real estate broker who alone or severally with others has legal or equitable title to any property or has care, charge or control of any property in any capacity …”  stated that foreclosed homes and their surrounding property are required to be maintained by banks or other financial institutions that hold the mortgage deed. The Attorney General’s office had recommended revisions of the description in the by-law in terms of who is the “owner” of the property. The town unanymously approved this change.

Next was Article 4, which stated a change in language of a law previously passed regarding the treasurer providing a list of delinquent taxpayers. The change of language would be the frequency the treasurer is required to provide that list, which was approved by the public to be a yearly list, and with the change in language may additionally be produced whenever the information was required by the town. 

The next article voted was Article 3, regarding the Elderbus Revolving Fund. Previously, there was question whether donations were allowed to be transferred into this fund. Charlie Seelig, Town Administrator, stated “Donations are considered receipts. All receipts are in this fund, therefore the fund may receive these donations.” The crowd all chanted “yes” together which quickly approved this article.

Next, Article 1 was brought forth to be voted. Article 1 states that the money used from the town’s stabilization fund temporarily for the creation of a new playground through HOPS, Halifax Open Play Space, must be replaced after efficient fundraising and grants from the state have been received. The playground has disintegrated, causing a potential threat to children utilizing it. As a result of replacing the money from the stabilization fund, no funding from the town will be applied to the project. The public quickly approved this article following the Board of Selectmen’s expression of gratitude to the members of HOPS for all they have done to help the children of Halifax. This approval acted as the final step to begin this project.

The last article brought before the town was Article 2, which was voting to accept the State statute which gives permission for certain businesses to sell alcohol starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays, the last Monday in May, Christmas Day or the day folowing when Christmas occurs on Sunday. The town voted unanimously to accept the state statute. Currently establishments selling liquor in Halifax open at noon.

A draft of Plympton’s housing production plan will soon be viewable on the town’s website, said Selectmen Chair Christine Joy at the Monday, November 13, 2017 Selectmen’s meeting.

The Housing Production Planning Committee used survey results so that residents could have a say in how more affordable housing should be implemented in Plympton.

According to Joy, 55.5 percent of survey respondents have lived in town for 20 or more years. However, only 27 of the 84 respondents were 65 years of age or older.

Joy said she’s been in communication with Council on Aging Director Joy Marble on how to help senior citizens have access to affordable housing. She went on to address how seniors in particular can be most vulnerable without affordable housing options.

When speaking with Marble, Joy mentioned that Marble could name three people off the top of her head who would be homeless by the end of the month without some sort of affordable housing option.

The Housing Production Planning Committee has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2017. A draft will be finalized for review at this meeting.

Joy said, “We’re going through the plan page-by-page on Wednesday.” The draft will then be shared with the Board of Selectmen. This will give Selectman John Traynor and Selectmen Clerk Mark Russo an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. Once this is done, the housing plan will go to the Planning Board for review.

Fire/EMS Update

The Board of Selectmen said Municipal Resources Inc.’s (MRI) draft findings for the study of the Plympton Fire Department is still on schedule to be done by the first week of the new year.

Last week, Bob Loomer and Bob Craig from MRI visited the Town Hall and met with Board of Selectmen members individually. Certain department members were also updated by Loomer and Craig.

Projector Installed    in selectmen’s    meeting room

A high definition projector was installed in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room last Monday before the Selectmen’s meeting. The projector will be used for presentations at the Selectmen meetings and is visible on Area 58 community access broadcast for the public to see.

Ockers Company, a computer consulting firm based out of Brockton, installed the projector. Ockers met with and started planning the project with the Board of Selectmen back in September of this year.

Selectman John Traynor said he was very impressed with how fast and neat Ockers was with the installation. According to Selectmen Chair Christine Joy, installation and clean-up only took a few hours.

Silver Lake Regional School District Technology Director Steve Pellowe assisted selectmen in learning how to use the projector. Board members described the projector as easy to use and said they were very satisfied with its picture, and with how the projection doesn’t come from across the room, so someone standing partially in front of the board wouldn’t block the entire picture.

Pellowe’s assistance will be called on if needed going forward. The projector is the same model used at Dennett Elementary School.

Other Town News

• New Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy officially filled out her paperwork on Wednesday, November 8, 2017. Dennehy then was taken on a tour of the Town Hall and was introduced to department members and others from the community. She will officially start on Monday, Nov. 27.

• The open Assistant Assessor position was posted on the MAO website. The Board of Selectmen also would like to see the position posted on the town website, but said that’s ultimately up to the Board of Assessors.

The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Monday, November 20. Open session starts at 6 p.m.