HALIFAX – Tuesday night, at the continued dog bite hearing, selectmen voted to euthanize a young male German shepherd whose apparently unprovoked attack caused great harm to a young woman who was visiting at Tarawood Kennels with kennel owner Jennifer “Bobbie” Choate.

The victim was present at the hearing, with her arm in a cast and a bandaged foot, as were the dog’s former owners, testifying on behalf of the dog.

Choate told selectmen that she has a person willing to take the dog, a man who works with problem dogs.   This person is out of state, she said.

The people who raised the dog had no incidents, Choate said.  She doesn’t know what triggered the attack.

The couple who raised the dog came to the hearing with their infant son, and told the board that the dog had been raised in their family, with an infant, a toddler, and two other children, and had no problems with the dog being aggressive. 

The Halifax Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan told selectmen that she had seen the dog and would characterize him as an Alpha dog, high energy, appearing healthy.  When asked by Selectman Kim Roy if she thought the dog could be placed, Callahan answered, “I don’t see him being placed with a family.” 

Callahan furthered, “If I was at the site of the attack, I could say more,” but not seeing the attack, the reason for the attack is difficult to discern.

Roy said her biggest concern is for the liability of the town, should the dog attack again.  When Selectman Tom Millias said that any agreement to transfer ownership of the dog would need to be iron-clad in that the Town of Halifax could in no way be held liable.

Roy told her board she didn’t want to spend even a penny of the townspeople’s money to have an attorney draft such an agreement.   “This was a vicious attack.”

Millias asked if the person out of state had actually agreed to take him.  Choate said he did, but that she, too, was concerned about the liability if the dog were to bite again.

Roy asked the victim if she had ever had a dog bite her before, and she answered that she had, but that this incident was unprovoked.  The young woman suffered a broken arm and as many as 29 puncture wounds, and an injured foot.

Troy Garron, selectmen chairman, told the assembly, “You’re playing Russian Roulette … I’ve been around dogs all my life.” Even though he said he didn’t want to see the dog euthanized, he wasn’t comfortable passing the problem to someone else.

Milias said it is unfortunate to ship the dog out of state to then potentially hurt someone else.

Roy moved that the dog be euthanized, but added, “We all feel awful!” 

Town administrator Charlie Seelig noted that there is a 10-day appeal period from March 28, the date of the hearing, which would end April 7. 

Choate said she would not appeal.

The dog is still under 45-day quarantine, which is required by law.

In other business, selectmen:

• appointed Joanne Andrews as a Republican member of the Board of Registrars.

• appointed Richard Gilcoine as fence viewer, effective June 30.

• congratulated Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor for her certification as a Commonwealth Town Clerk.

• signed a one-day permit for MudFest Sunday, June 18, Father’s Day performance. 

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Thursday March 16, 2017. Normally, the board meets on Tuesday nights, however the snowstorm that closed Halifax and Silver Lake schools, also closed the Halifax Town Hall.  The meeting was postponed until Thursday, March 16.

Halifax selectmen spent much of their meeting on a dog bite hearing, which saw Tarawood Kennels, 7 Plymouth St., Halifax, face the board, calling to account for a a serious dog attack took place at the Tarawood Kennels on February 19.

A 14-month old German Sheppard attacked a woman causing serious injuries including a broken arm, a deep laceration to the arm with twenty puncture holes, and a leg injury.

According to the report, Kathleen and Tarawood Kennels owner Bobbi Choate were sitting outside and socializing with the 14-month old German Shepherd. The dog sniffed Kathleen’s arm and then suddenly attacked without any provocation.

Kathleen says, “The dog jumped on me and I pushed him away.” She added that the dog jumped on her again and then viciously attacked her. Since the attack, the dog was placed on a segregated 45-day quarantine where only Choate has had contact with the dog.

Choate told selectmen, “The dog wasn’t socialized with other dogs and not much with people either.” Choate also said she witnessed him show aggressive behavior with other dogs since being at Tarawood kennels.

Kathleen has dogs of her own and says she has been bit in the past, but she’s never been “viciously attacked” like this.” Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron suggested the German Sheppard may have smelled other dogs on Kathleen’s arm which might have caused an instinctive reaction if the dog hadn’t been socialized with other dogs.

The dog first arrived at Tarawood Kennels on January 30, 2017 when Justine and Patrick McCarthy returned him. They said they brought back the German Sheppard because he was too high-strung and could not afford the medical costs to neuter him. Complications can make the normally routine procedure cost as much as $1,200.

The McCarthys did however object to the claims Choate made about the dog not being socialized with other dogs or people.

Justine McCarthy said, “He never bit anyone (before). He was very hyper, but I wouldn’t describe him as aggressive.” She also told selectmen she has two young children as well as another dog, a small Shiatzu.

Patrick McCarthy also added that his father brought his dog over on multiple occasions. They even brought the German Sheppard camping with them.

The board and Choate remained skeptical though. Choate didn’t question that they brought the dog camping, but if it was ever around any other dogs while camping. Her experiences with the dog lead her to believe that the dog was not well socialized with other dogs. At one point, Choate, whose kennel specializes in German Shepherds even admitted she’s sometimes nervous around the dog.

As of right now, all three members of the Board of Selectmen voiced that they were leaning towards euthanizing the dog considering the serious injuries he inflicted and the unknown chances for improved behavior.

Considering the neutering will cost $1,200, the board believed it would be difficult for that expense to be borne by many but a committed owner. Selectmen Vice-chairman Tom Millias mentioned that due to the complications, there may be an issue of the dog over producing testosterone, which would lead to heightened aggression.

Selectmen clerk Kim Roy said, “I’m inclined to have the dog euthanized unless a good reason by Animal Control is given otherwise.”

Justine McCarthy voiced displeasure with these opinions because she claims she was told by the animal inspector the dog could be taken on by a canine officer. There was no record of this at the meeting, however Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan was not able to attend the hearing because she had to leave due to a prior call.

The hearing with Callahan’s testimony will continue on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

Though the dog hearing took up the majority of the Board of Selectmen Meeting, the Board did address some other items. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to reappoint Amy Troupe to the town’s Beautification Committee.

According to the town website, “The Beautification Committee works to improve the landscape of the Town’s properties including the areas around public buildings, along the streets and traffic islands by planting flowering plants, bushes and other vegetation and helping to keep these areas free from litter.”

Selectmen also took time to speak about the upcoming Annual Town Meeting in May. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said he thinks it may be a good idea to put volunteer boards up for vote at May’s meeting.

Seelig said, “We’d have descriptions of committees, we’d have the forms, we’d have the vacancies we have right now. Since these people are interested in coming to Town Meeting, maybe they’d be interested in joining a committee also.” Overall, the idea was well received by Selectmen.

Live Event Permit Granted at Jason Conroy’s fundraiser for Matthew James Adam Hope House for Substance Abuse

Selectmen approved a fundraiser at 21 Jordan Rd., Halifax, owned by Jason Conroy who’s trying to start the Matthew James Adam Hope House for Substance abuse, which he says pending zoning, will start up in Plympton.

Jason Conroy says, “I lost my sixth friend in six weeks to the opioid epidemic.” He wants to do something about the serious problem of addiction running rampant throughout not only the South Shore, but the whole country.

Conroy has reached out to several large automotive dealers to sponsor the fundraising event he’s holding on his property on Friday March 24, 2017 from 7-11pm.

As far as turnout, Conroy is hoping for 150 people and will have a police detail at the event to make sure everyone is having fun and staying safe.

The board wanted to make sure there won’t be a bonfire or fireworks, which Conroy assured neither will happen. The Board approved the event providing Conroy is compliant with all permits he needs. Kim Roy added she has experience working on the state’s Opioid Task Force and thinks this is a worthy cause.

Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday March 28.

PLYMPTON – Saturday, May 6, has been named “Plympton Town-wide Cleanup Day.”  Monday night Selectmen heard a presentation by Jill Palenstijn of the Plympton Garden Club seeking permission from selectmen to change the Plympton Garden Club’s Clean-up Day. “We’re hoping to have a town wide event,” said Palenstijn. As of right now, the event will take place on Saturday, May 6.

The clean-up day involves people from the community working together to pick up trash collected on many of the major streets throughout town.  There’s also discussion of the Garden Club getting the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts involved.

Palenstijn told the board they want to make a giant pile of trash that people can drive by for short period of time and see what Plympton can do when everyone works together. Afterwards, the Department of Public Works will bring the trash to the town’s transfer station.

Selectmen Clerk John Traynor asked Palenstijn if Routes 106 and 58 would be a part of the clean-up. Palenstijn says, “We’re still compiling a lists of streets. We are however open for suggestions for streets to clean.”

In order to make the event safe, Palensteijn also told the Board that the Police Department is already on board. She says, “Chief Dillion has generously donated a cruiser to check in at various spots around town,” during the event.

New Council on Aging Director Joy Marble introduced herself to Board of Selectmen.

Previous Council on Aging Director Chris Maiorano accompanied the new Director as she told Selectmen she was excited to meet the seniors and hoped to fill the shoes of Maiorano as well as possible. “I’m confident we are in good hands,” Maiorano replied.

Marble was the Chair of the Council on Aging in Halifax for ten years.

She said that although she didn’t want the Board thinking this was her main priority as director, she thinks Plympton’s Council on Aging could benefit from some collaboration with Halifax.

Marble said, “I had ideas about collaborating with Plympton before when I was in Halifax.”

On Saturday March 18,  there will be a luncheon for the Council on Aging.  New Director Marble will be in attendance to meet the senior citizens.

Selectmen are considering requiring other boards and committees to broadcast their meetings on Area 58 Television.

Chairman Colleen Thompson brought up discussion about requiring other boards and committees to video tape their meetings for Area 58 Television.

The Board is considering this as a potential bylaw change.

Town Coordinator Dale Pleau believed that some aspects of implementing this bylaw shouldn’t be too difficult.

He said, “This can even be done with a laptop and then updated to the website.”

Pleau and Selectman John Traynor both acknowledged that there may be some push back from some boards and committees.

Traynor asked the rest of the Board if it would be a good idea to send out a memo next week asking the different committees and departments for feedback.

Colleen Thompson and Christine Joy both agreed.

Public Safety Building Update

Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Thompson announced that the Public Safety Building Committee will be at next week’s selectmen’s meeting on Monday March 20.

The Public Safety Building Committee, which is also chaired by Thompson, will present their plans to fund and build a new police station for Plympton. Thompson told the board that compared to where they started a year ago, the committee is in a much better place and is excited for the board to hear the plan.

The next scheduled selectmen’s meeting is Monday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

Halifax voters approved a $7.2 million Proposition 2 ½ debt exemption to repair the roof, windows, doors, and siding to the Halifax Elementary School at a Special Town Meeting held Tuesday, March 7. This question will appear on the election ballot  Saturday, March 10 and will require a majority vote.

Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron declared it a record turnout, and the vote required a two thirds majority to approve the warrant article.

The article read, “To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow, or transfer from available funds, $7,262,124 to be expended under the direction of the Halifax School Building Committee for repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School.”

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig gave a slide presentation explaining the costs and highlighting the dire conditions at the school, showing failing siding, doors, windows and more.  “The roof and siding were put on back in 1993 and some of the doors are older.”

In order to help defray the costs, the Town has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), which, if approved, will pay for $3,456,262 of the cost.

Seelig went on to discuss the MSBA’s work throughout the state, showing work done through the MSBA in 28 school districts and 49 schools in 2016.

The balance of the cost of the repairs will come from a twenty-year bond that will increase taxes by $157.36 for the median value house. However, the surtax will decrease yearly as the bond is paid.

Concerned citizens questioned the cost, and expressed concerns as to how the school has managed their maintenance budget.

Silver Lake Regional School District Superintendent Joy Blackwood told voters that the costs covered in a maintenance budget are for small things like painting, roof leaks, and such. She reiterated that these are major repairs that require capital expenditure. Blackwood further said, “The siding was put on backwards and won’t even hold the paint.” In addition, she said, the repairs needed are beyond any school’s regular maintenance budget.

Other concerns voiced were about what sort of materials would be used and if the roof and siding will hold up for the life of the 20-year bond.

Blackwood explained that although no guarantee could be made about a roof holding past twenty years, and furthered that the Massachusetts School Building Authority has rigorous specifications for materials they fund.

Seelig also emphasized his take on the cost. He says, “The longer we wait to do this, the more it will cost,” citing the expected increase in interest rates over the next few years.

While this warrant article was approved, the school Fire Suppression System was passed over for now.

Initially, this was projected to cost $687,876, but this initial estimate was not accurate. Selectman Thomas Millias told voters selectmen learned the upgrade will actually cost almost a million dollars.

The fire suppression system project budget now is estimated to cost $996,033. The town voted by majority to pass over this repair until more work and thought can be put into it.

In total, there were eight articles voted on by the special town meeting at large. In Halifax, the warrant articles are voted on in a random order, except for Articles 4 and 5.  Article 5 is dependent on passage of Article 4, both concerning the Solar array PILOT agreement between Halifax and SunConnect, at 69 Summit St.  Both articles passed unanimously.

Article 8 asked the town to vote to accept Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 110A. This law says it allows, “Town departments to remain closed on Saturdays or take any action thereon. It passed by unanimous vote.

Article 3 proposed the town amend its current bylaw Chapter 167-7 (C). This law defines what’s considered a business/place of indoor or outdoor recreation and sets guidelines on proper insulation and maintenance regarding noise abatement. Seelig asked that the article be passed over until he can make the language clearer and not impact events like Mud Fest. The town voted unanimously to pass over Article 3.

Article 6 concerns notifying the Silver Lake Regional School Committee on whether or not Halifax will approve the proposed land sale to the Town of Kingston for a police station. Both  Selectmen and the Finance Committee recommended passing over this article until the next town meeting. The town voted unanimously to pass over Article 6.

Article 7 asks to the town to vote on appropriating and raising funds for a provision of a collective bargaining agreement for 2017. This potential collective bargaining agreement is between Local Union 3159 (firefighters) and the Town of Halifax.  It includes a provision that, “The town pay the difference in pay received by an employee in military service and the amount the employee would receive working for the Town or take any action thereon.” Selectmen asked this article be passed until next town meeting. The town  voted unanimously to pass over Article 7.

Tuesday, March 7, Halifax voters will convene at the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth St., Multi-Purpose room, at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a Special Town Meeting.  The warrant, which includes eight articles, two that cover funding for repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School, zoning changes for commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement for a Solar Energy installation on Summit Street, collective bargaining, and a nonbinding vote to voice the approval or disapproval of the townspeople of Halifax regarding the sale of Silver Lake School District Land to the Town of Kingston, among others.

Saturday, March 11, a special town election will be held to approve two questions for repairs to the Halifax Elementary School.  Voting will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If the school repair project or projects are approved both at Town Meeting and at the Special Election, work can be done during the summer months when school is not in session.

The first of the two articles asks for $7,262,124 for repairs to the roof of the Elementary School, windows, doors, siding, and tree work, as well as the architectural and engineering support that the project would need.  Halifax will receive approximately $3,472,607 from the SBA (School Building Authority) toward the project.  The remaining sum will be funded through a 20-year bond that will add .4946 to the tax rate, or about $147.25 to the tax on a median valued house.  This will decrease each year as the debt is paid, and by year 20, will be -0- and no longer included in the tax rate.   In order to do this, the amount needs to be exempted from the so-called Proposition 2 ½.

The second school repair article asks for  $687,876 to work on the fire suppression system (sprinkler system) and security system.  The Finance Committee will make its recommendations at Town Meeting.

The HES roof was last replaced in 1993-94, 23 years ago. 

Absentee ballots are available at the Town Clerk’s office for those not able to vote in person.  For details on how to vote by absentee ballot, call the Town Clerk at 7981-293-7970.

The complete Special Town Meeting warrant follows:

ARTICLE 1:

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, $7,262,124 to be expended under the direction of the Halifax School Building Committee for repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School, located at 464 Plymouth Street, including but not limited to the roof, windows, doors, siding, and trees, including but not limited to any architectural, engineering, and administrative work associated with this project; which proposed repair project would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the Town has applied for a school construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”). The Town acknowledges that the MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and if the MSBA’s Board of Directors votes to invite the Town to collaborate with the MSBA on this proposed repair project, any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant that may be approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town.

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 2: Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, $687,876 to be expended under the direction of the Halifax School Building Committee for repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School, located at 464 Plymouth Street, including but not limited to the fire suppression system and security system, including but not limited to any architectural, engineering, and administrative work associated with this project.

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 167-7(C) (Schedule of Use Regulations) by changing to the following from:

Commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, recreation places, or places of assembly, excluding outdoor movie theatres [See § 167-7D(6)], adult clubs, adult mini motion- picture theatres and adult motion-picture theatres Agricultural-Residential Business Industrial Industrial-2 Conservancy

(AR) (B) (I) (I-2) (C) N Y SP N SP

(6) Commercial indoor or outdoor amusements or recreation places, permitted in the B District and allowable by special permit from the Board of Appeals in the I and C Districts. This excludes outdoor movie theatres. It requires that the building be so insulated and maintained as to confine any noise to the premises and that it be located at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential district.

To:

Commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, recreation places, or places of assembly, excluding outdoor movie theatres [See § 167-7D(6)], adult clubs, adult mini motion- picture theatres and adult motion-picture theatres

Agricultural-Residential Business Industrial Industrial-2 Conservancy (AR) (B) (I) (I-2) (C)

SP Y SP N SP

(6) Commercial indoor or outdoor amusements or recreation places, permitted in the B District and allowable by special permit from the Board of Selectmen in the AR, I and C Districts. This excludes outdoor movie theatres. It requires that the building be so insulated and maintained as to confine any noise to the premises and that it be located at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential district.

And to amend Chapter 167-12 (Density regulations for specific uses) from:

D. Commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, recreation places or places of assembly must be located at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential district.

To

D. Buildings for commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, recreation places or places of assembly must be located at least one hundred (100) feet from a residential district. and to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 4 To see if the Town will vote to provide the authority for the Board of Selectmen (or their designee, The Board of Assessors) to negotiate a proposed Solar Energy PILOT Agreement between the Town of Halifax and SunConnect MA12 LLC on behalf of the Town and to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Assessors

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 5 To see if the Town will vote to approve the Agreement for Payment in Lieu of Taxes for Real and Personal Property (the “PILOT Agreement”) as approved by the Board of Selectmen on February 28, 2017 among and by the Town of Halifax and the solar energy generation company SunConnect MA12 LLC as such PILOT Agreement was negotiated by the Board of Assessors on behalf of the Board of Selectmen and to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Assessors

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 6 To see if the Town will vote to request that the Board of Selectmen notify the Silver Lake Regional School Committee that the Town of Halifax recommends approval or disapproval of the proposed sale of land owned by the Silver Lake Regional School District to the Town of Kingston for a police station in the Town of Kingston and to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 7 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to fund the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement for Fiscal Year 2017 between IAFF, Local 3159 (Firefighters) and the Town of Halifax, including a provision that the Town pay the difference in pay between the pay received by an employee in military service and the amount that the employee would receive working for the Town or take any action thereon to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Board of Selectmen

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

ARTICLE 8 To see if the Town will vote to accept Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 110A allowing Town departments to remain closed on Saturdays or take any action thereon to take any other action relative thereto.

Proposed by the Town Clerk

Finance Committee Recommendation at Town Meeting

Special Election March 11

And on Saturday, March 11, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to meet at the Halifax Elementary School:

QUESTION 1

Shall the Town of Halifax be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued to pay for the costs of repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School, including but not limited to the roof, windows, doors, siding, and trees, including but not limited to any architectural, engineering, and administrative work associated with this project?

QUESTION 2

Shall the Town of Halifax be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued to pay for the costs of repairs and renovations to the Halifax Elementary School, including but not limited to the fire suppression system and security system, including but not limited to any architectural, engineering, and administrative work associated with this project?

___ Yes ___ No

Plympton Selectmen Thursday night, Feb. 16, announced at a special selectmen’s meeting they had reached an agreement with Robert Smith, R&M Realty Trust and Rocky Harvest, LLC, ending years of litigation which has cost the town of Plympton more than $83,000 in legal fees, according to Selectman Christine Joy.

The terms of the settlement agreement were disappointing, not only to selectmen, but also to the few townspeople present. 

According to the new agreement, Plympton will receive $20,000 as a one-time payment for all of the water payments held for years while litigation was pending, and $13,500 per year as an annual fee, beginning January 3, 2017.  So Plympton will receive $33,500 in fees March 1, and $13,500 per year going forward..

John Henry asked the board what happens to the approximately $200,000 in fees over the years which have been held in escrow – “What happens to that?”

Joy answered, “We got what we could.  $20,000 was what we were able to get.”

Henry said that the town should have appealed the verdict of last summer when the town lost a major piece of its litigation.  “I heard that the judge fell asleep twice!”   He also pointed out that town counsel Ilana Quirk, from Koppelman and Page, Plympton’s regular counsel, did not represent the town at this trial and instead sent an “underling” to present the case that was lost.  Henry continued that the agreement is “blatantly unfair to Plympton.”

    Joy answered that she disagrees.

    Selectman John Traynor explained that after losing the case last summer, “what rights did we have?  We weren’t going to win this.”  Selectman Joy further noted that had they appealed that case and lost, “We would have lost everything.”

Traynor explained that the new agreement reiterates the original hours of the Sept. 26, 2002 agreement for judgment limiting the number of tanker trucks to 15 per day, only during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.  There is to be no operation of water sales or tanker truck traffic on Sundays, and 10 federal holidays throughout the year.

According to the settlement agreement, further disputes will be settled in arbitration, less expensive than in court.

Last summer’s lost court case upheld former Selectman Joseph Freitas’ letter on Selectmen’s stationery allowing Rocky Harvest to operate at any hour, even though it was never voted by selectmen. In fact selectmen were only made aware of the letter when neighbors complained about the increasing truck traffic and Rocky Harvest produced the letter as a defense.

Town Counsel Quirk, according to Henry, said that Freitas did not have the authority to write such a letter, and in fact the full board, had they voted on it, would not have had the authority to lift the court’s mandated hours of operation.

In summary:

Plympton has entered into a settlement agreement to acknowledge that Rocky Harvest LLC is a successor in interest to the 2002 Agreement for Judgment and that the 2002 Agreement remains in effect and that Rocky may continue commercial water extraction so long as the requirements of the 2002 Agreement are satisfied and the uses at the 225 adjacent farm are agricultural.

Rocky’s agreed to pay Plympton $20,000 and to adhere to the original hours of operation negotiated in the 2002 Agreement for Judgment – not the hours set forth in the 2008 Freitas letter – and to pay the town an annual fee of $13,500.

  

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met Tuesday Feb. 14, 2017. The board spent the Valentine’s Day evening appointing two new members to the Halifax Fireworks Committee. Selectman Chairman Troy Garron asked Colleen, “How much experience do you have with fireworks? Did you light any when you were younger?”

The questions were casual and conversational. Fiumara laughed and said, “No, just a sparkler.”

Colleen Fiumara is new to Halifax. “We just purchased a home here, and we have two young children who are going to grow up here now.” Fiumara added that she wants to get involved with the town and thinks this is a great way to do so.

Deborah Hogan’s story is much different. She has been a resident of Halifax for the past 23 years. Her children grew up going to the Halifax Fireworks every Fourth of July.

She says, “I’ve loved taking my kids (to the fireworks) growing up. I’ve always loved it and feel like supporting it now on the other end, I have time to do this.”

Selectmen voted unanimously to appoint both Fiumara and Hogan to the Fireworks Committee. Letters will be sent confirming the appointments and they will be sworn in at the Town Clerk’s office in the coming days.

Selectmen also dealt with some issues currently on the agenda, including the flashing traffic light at the intersection of Routes 106 and 36.

According to Selectmen Chairman Garron, there have been several complaints about trees blocking vision for drivers at the intersection. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig and Selectmen Clerk Kim Roy clarified that the main vision problem is when someone is going South on Route 36 toward Route 106.

Selectmen vice-chairman Thomas Millias added, “The biggest problem is coming up to 106; you can’t see.” He also added that the treed area looks to be private property.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig and selectmen decided to have the Traffic Safety Committee take a look at the tree line at the intersection and then proceed after receiving their recommendation.

Once again, Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan attended a dog hearing which had been scheduled for Tuesday night, however, the owner of the offending dog did not come to the hearing.

Animal Control Officer Callahan explained the reported incident. She says, “It appears a dog from 134 Holmes Street escaped from a faulty fence. The dog allegedly followed another dog either biting or scratching the dog in the hindquarters.” She also added that the veterinarian could not determine if the injury was a bite or scratch.

The attacked dog’s owner incurred $300 in veterinary fees and wants the other party to pay the fee. The Board of Selectman agreed to send a strong letter of recommendation urging the dog’s owner to pay for the medical expenses of the attacked dog.

Selectman  Kim Roy said (to the attacked dog’s owner) “Call if the dog gets loose again.” The letter being sent out will also say that there will be strong consequences if an incident were to happen again. Since the incident, the landlord of the Holmes Street property replaced and secured the faulty fence.

Another decision the board made was based around the 2020 census. The federal government wants to have the principal contact for the town’s census declared. For now, Halifax will continue to use Selectman Clerk Kim Roy as their principal contact.

The next Halifax selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Charlie Seelig

Special to the Express

The Town of Halifax will hold a special town meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Halifax Elementary School.

The warrant includes the following articles: two articles authorizing borrowing for repairs to the Elementary School, one for $7,262,124 for work on the roof, windows, doors, siding, and trees, the other for $687,876 for work on the fire suppression system and security system.

The other articles include a change in the zoning by-law regarding commercial indoor or outdoor amusements, two concerning a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for a solar farm on Summit Street, a non-binding article concerning the possible sale of land by the Silver Lake Regional School District to the Town of Kingston for a police station in Kingston, a proposed change, dealing with pay while serving in the military, in the contract with firefighters, and acceptance of a State statute regarding the opening of Town departments on Saturday.

A copy of the warrant is available at http://www.town.halifax.ma.us/Pages/HalifaxMA_Bcomm/Selectmen/townmeetings/20170307stm-warrant.pdf.

In connection with the two proposed articles concerning repairs to the Elementary School, the Town will hold a public presentation concerning the project on Wednesday, February 15 at 7pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Elementary School.

Approval of the two appropriations for the school project is contingent upon approval of debt exclusions for this project. The debt exclusions will be on the ballot at a special town election on Saturday, March 11 from 10am to 6pm at the Halifax Elementary School Gym.

If approved, the Town will receive approximately $3,472,607 from the Massachusetts School Building Authority to help fund the project. The remaining amount, $4,477,393 would be paid through a 20-year bond. The cost of the bond would increase the tax rate by $0.4946 and the additional taxes on a median value house would be $147.25. These amounts would decrease in subsequent years. At the end of the 20-year bond, these amounts would no longer be included in the tax rate.

These repairs have been proposed because of the age of these parts of the school. The roof was last replaced when the last addition was constructed back in 1993-1994. The windows and doors that will be replaced are either older than that or can be significantly improved with modern models. A tour of the outside of the siding will show significant decay. The trees in the courtyard need to be removed as part of the work on the roof. The fire suppression system is leaking in a number of places. The security system needs to be updated to meet the standards set in the other school buildings in the district.

The Town Meeting is scheduled for next month so that if the school repair project is approved, the work can begin this summer. If the Town waited until May to approve the project, then the work would have to wait until the summer of 2018.

ownmeetings/20170307stm-warrant.pdf

In connection with the two proposed articles concerning repairs to the

Elementary School, the Town will hold a public presentation concerning

the project on Wednesday, February 15 at 7pm in the Multi-Purpose Room

of the Elementary School.

Approval of the two appropriations for the school project is contingent

upon approval of debt exclusions for this project. The debt exclusions

will be on the ballot at a special town election on Saturday, March 11

from 10am to 6pm at the Halifax Elementary School Gym.

If approved, the Town will receive approximately $3,472,607 from the

Massachusetts School Building Authority to help fund the project. The

remaining amount, $4,477,393 would be paid through a 20-year bond. The

cost of the bond would increase the tax rate by $0.4946 and the

additional taxes on a median value house would be $147.25. These amounts

would decrease in subsequent years. At the end of the 20-year bond,

these amounts would no longer be included in the tax rate.

These repairs have been proposed because of the age of these parts of

the school. The roof was last replaced when the last addition was

constructed back in 1993-1994. The windows and doors that will be

replaced are either older than that or can be significantly improved

with modern models. A tour of the outside of the siding will show

significant decay. The trees in the courtyard need to be removed as part

of the work on the roof. The fire suppression system is leaking in a

number of places. The security system needs to be updated to meet the

standards set in the other school buildings in the district.

The Town Meeting is scheduled for next month so that if the school

repair project is approved, the work can begin this summer. If the Town

waited until May to approve the project, then the work would have to

wait until the summer of 2018.

On Tuesday January 3, 2017, the town of Halifax officially transitioned their 911 emergency dispatching to the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (R.O.C.C.C.) located within the Fire Department in Duxbury. Halifax became the third town to switch over to the regional dispatch center, joining Duxbury and Plympton.

Previously, Halifax ran their own emergency dispatch out of their police station. Police Chief Edward Broderick is already noticing a positive difference since switching to a regionalized system. “Before, there would be only one dispatcher taking the call at the station. Now, there’s someone assigned to that call while another person also working at the R.O.C.C.C. listens in on the call. Once they get enough information, they are identifying the location where emergency service is needed,” Broderick said.

On average, this delegation of tasks allows police, fire, and paramedics to get to the scene of the emergency 20-30 seconds faster. Fire Chief Jason Viveiros explained, “That 20-30 seconds we save here is crucial. How quickly an ambulance and personal can arrive at the scene saves lives and makes a better service for the people of Halifax.”

Chief Broderick also said the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology has been very helpful so far for his officers. “Officers are able to get better information from the R.O.C.C.C. on the ground based off the mapping technology they have available to them.”

It’s also worth noting, that since switching over from dispatching out of Halifax to the R.O.C.C.C., none of the dispatchers in Halifax lost their jobs Fire Chief Viveiros said, “We had four full time dispatchers before switching to regionalization. Three of them are now working at the communication center in Duxbury. One of them retired, but there were no job losses or lay-offs.”

Duxbury Fire and R.O.C.C.C. Captain Robert Reardon is proud that the Regional Center has helped smooth over that transition in Halifax. He said, “It’s been great being able to get these dispatchers over here at the R.O.C.C.C. I must say we do have very rigorous standards here and those dispatchers must be trained and meet our standards, but it’s gone well and it’s nice to have them here.” Captain Reardon also added that they hired a dispatch supervisor from Halifax as well.

Halifax’s contract with the Regional Old Colony Communication Center will run for five years, until 2022.

Plympton signed their five year contract with the R.O.C.C.C. back in 2013. Previously, Plympton ran their dispatch with the State Police in Middleborough.

Chief Dillon says that three years into the agreement, his initial thoughts have been proven correct. “It’s (the dispatch) a lot more streamlined and safer. It’s allowing us to make more effective use of the technology.”

The technology being referred to includes things like GIS and the use of close circuit security at the police stations. The cameras allow those at the dispatch center to respond at the stations in case of emergency. There was a monitor right inside the control center at the R.O.C.C.C. that showed the front lobby of the Halifax Police Station.

In regards to GIS technology, Plympton Police Chief Dillon is pleased with how the technology helps his officers. He says, “Not everybody marks their house clearly or their mailbox or anything they can see, so that aspect is helpful.”

Dillon said another example of R.O.C.C.C.’s technology gives is the ability to access and enter various amounts of information at once. He said, “If we were to go to a three car motor vehicle accident, what we used to have to do is my officers had to type in each registration plate one at a time.” Now, they call it in and the dispatcher can run and backfill all that information for them.

Captain Reardon also took some time to explain how some of the GIS technology works. He said, “The dispatchers working are often using multiple computers and monitors at the same time.” One monitor uses the GIS technology provided within Google Maps. This allows dispatchers to gather aerial and zoomed in views that help public safety officials in Halifax, Plympton, and Duxbury all do their job in the most effective and safest way possible.

Both towns also expressed there being significant state funding benefits for switching over to regionalized emergency dispatch centers. Both Chief Broderick and Chief Dillon said that regionalizing 911 dispatches is something that states are providing grant money for towns do this.

The state wants towns to get away from localized dispatches in general. In fact, this is creating opportunities for the already existing regional dispatches like the R.O.C.C.C. to continue to grow. Captain Reardon said, “We are absolutely trying to grow. There’s nothing official yet, but we are in talks with Rochester about potentially adding them on to our dispatch.”

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met on Monday, January 23, 2017. Fire Chief Warren Borsari brought to the board’s attention a serious staffing issue currently occurring with the town’s paramedics.

According to Chief Borsari, the Fire Department is having problems staffing ambulances. He says, “We’re having issues retaining certified medics for a number of reasons including there being opportunities for advancement in other municipalities.”

He went on to say that the base pay for a Plympton Paramedic right now is $12.40 per hour. On January 1, 2017, Massachusetts, minimum wage increased to $11 per hour. With this in mind, the current pay Chief Borsari said is causing retention problems.

Chief Borsari says, “The minimum wage at $11 is making this (leaving) an economic decision for our paramedics.” He went on to propose that paramedic wages be in the $16.50 to $21.88 per hour range.

Typically proposals for pay increases are heard before Wage and Personnel rather than the Board of Selectmen, Wage and Personal was involved, but this staffing shortage is serious enough that Chief Borsari feels the guidance of the Board of Selectmen is necessary. The Fire Department is in danger of falling below state mandates for the number of paramedics needed on duty at a single time.

If that were to happen, Plympton would be at great risk. Chief Borsari told the board, “I discussed the risks with you and the risk is that we will have to drop to the basic life support. Most calls today are advanced life support.”

Borsari cited examples of what constitutes basic life support and there weren’t many. Things like a twisted ankle or an abrasion are categorized as a basic life support call. Chief Borsari continued, “Any altered mental status is advanced life support, and that’s dehydration, it could be a sugar problem, or a medication problem.” It’s also worth noting that any chest pain is considered cardiac until proven otherwise.

The board had previously asked the fire chief if any other towns in the area only have the basic life support system. He said that there aren’t any local municipalities without the advanced life support system,in fact, there are just a few communities in Western Massachusetts relying only on the basic system.

Selectmen had been made aware of the issue when the Chief reported to the board last fall, and had begun to run some numbers on what a pay increase would look like prior to the meeting. Specifically, Selectmen Clerk John Traynor took some time to assess the cost. This assessment also took into account raising the wages for basic EMTs who are currently paid $10.40 per hour.

Traynor answered, “If we were to go to a rate of $16.50 and a paramedic to $19…annual cost would be $311,000.” He also ran numbers on rates that more mirror the wages in Halifax. He says, “If we look at something closer to Halifax, it would be $18 for basic and $23 for the paramedic.” That would cost the town $358,000 annually.

This will add cost to the budget and is something the board needs to address. Selectperson Christine Joy also pointed out that there’s a revenue risk associated with falling below state mandates for the advanced life support system. She told her board, “It seems like if we don’t move in this direction and we’re not able to provide service for these advanced calls, we’re going to end up losing money and this will be even more in the red than we currently are.”

Traynor acknowledge that it’s something the boards needs to tackle, but it wasn’t something that could be solved in one night. Finance Committee input as well as more Wage and Personnel input are both necessary.

Selectmen later moved on to updates on some older business. Specifically, plans for handling and complying with the new Public Records Law were considered.

In July of 2016, Governor Charlie Baker signed Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016, “An Act to Improve Public Records,” which became law on January 1, 2017.

The bill sought to improve access to public records by requiring towns and cities to have an electronic system in place where public records can be requested and sent out via a public records officer. The public records officer has ten days to produce the requested material or to give an answer why they cannot be produced within the timeframe and to give an estimate of when the records can be made available.

During the previous Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, January 9, 2017, Town Clerk Tara Shaw presented a walkthrough of the electronic system she had put in place. She was also looking for ways to streamline the process because of the sheer amount of work required by the new law in addition to her responsibilities as town clerk.

One solution that will be implemented is simply putting as much information online as possible. The more information that is there, the less request there should be. Tara Shaw also says this will help with the public records request process because in many cases, sending a requestor a link to something that has already been made public should suffice.

One solution that Shaw and Traynor looked into was software that streamlines the process. According to Traynor, this would be a custom access database that self maintains public records.

Shaw says, “Right now, we are using four different programs.” She also mentioned that using one would streamline the process and make it easier for others besides her to use as well.

Starting this database would require funding. However, Selectwomen Christine Joy says, “This may fall under a technology grant.”

Though she’s using four different programs for this public records process, she did say that the Virtual Town Hall’s features for the town’s website have proven useful.  Traynor suggested Shaw run a class on how to use Virtual Town Hall for the departments and she is willing to do this.

Shaw and the board also made progress on determining some of the secondary records access officers. They will be responsible for the public records for their respective departments.

For the school department, Peter Veneto, the principal at Dennett Elementary School will preside as the secondary records access officer. The police department will use Administrative Assistant Leanne Cashman and the fire department’s records will fall under Fire Chief Warren Borsari.

As far as the concern over needing another public records officer, Tara Shaw acknowledge last meeting there really wasn’t room in the budget for even a part time position. The finance committee was in attendance for some of the meeting though and suggested putting funds in the reserve fund for the Public Records Law rather than hiring new permanent staff.

The Finance Committee discussed financial planning materials from the Collins Center Group that are intended to help with the town’s budget.

According to the Finance Committee, this year’s budget in particular is expected to be tight. There are many capital requests coming in and.priorities  need to be set.

Selectmen said that progress was made on the job description for the position of Town Administrator. It’s making progress but does still need more work.