The Plympton Board of Selectmen met Monday, Jan. 30, and much of the meeting was spent discussing the ongoing issues with reporting hours for the Assistant Assessor position.

Members of the Wage and Personnel Board and the Board of Assessors attended and debated the merits of whether or not Principal Assessor Deborah Stuart should be paid as an hourly or salaried position. Currently, Stuart is paid a salary.

Barbara Gomez, Town Accountant, expressed concern that Stuart’s personal payroll reporting is not compliant with town and state protocol. She says that the Principal Assessor’s hours haven’t been reported on the payroll since June 30, 2016.

Deborah Stuart is a state retiree. Gomez said, “Chapter 32 Section 91 (M.G.L.) says a state retiree cannot work more than 960 hours per year.” The Board of Assessors wants the Principal Assessor position to be paid hourly rather than as a salary because it avoids this problem.

Assessors Chairman Ethan Stiles attended and asked for the position to stay as salaried. He believes it makes sense for certain jobs to be paid on an hourly basis, such as an attorney, as he himself would, but contends there’s a certain expectation with other positions. Stiles says, “When we’re dealing with department heads and supervisors and other persons with substantial discretion and authority, at that point salary is important. The way these people are paid is important.”

The Board of Selectmen were generally in agreement with the Wage and Personnel Board. Selectman John Traynor said, “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just do it hourly; it would clear the whole thing up.”

Overall, the Board believed going to hourly makes staying compliant with the hour requirement much easier. The Wage and Personnel Board also believes this was the best way to make sure Stuart is getting properly paid for the hours she works.”

The issue is still not officially resolved. The position looks like it will switch to hourly, with all members of the Board of Selectmen in favor. This may not be resolved before the annual town meeting.

There was also an update on the paramedic shortage and the possibility of Plympton losing their advanced life support license. The Board of Selectmen is taking the issue seriously. Selectman Traynor said, “The town doesn’t deserve to fall to basic (life support).”

Options are being explored including the fact that Halifax and Carver have reached out to potentially offer assistance. This option is in the exploratory stage though and is not imminent. The Board is working with the Finance Committee as well as Wage and Personnel to find the most practical option to ensure Plympton’s ambulance services do not drop to basic life support.

The Board also addressed safety concerns over the wooden bridge at Winnetuxet Road. Highway Surveyor Jim Mulcahy said that the bridge is in need of repairs with two columns underneath needing replacement.

Currently, there are temporary bracings and a weight limit on the bridge in order for it to be safe. Mulcahy proposed putting up a temporary no trucks sign for the time being.

Board Chairwoman Colleen Thompson asked for some clarification. She asks, “When you say truck you mean large, commercial trucks, not a pickup truck?” Mulcahy clarified that that was what he was referring to. He also said there are alternative routes for trucks to take. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to put up the temporary signs.

Selectmen also announced that the Town House panic buttons will be fully installed soon. They said that Police Chief Patrick Dillon said they should be fully installed throughout the building in about three weeks. The police department is also working on getting the library coverage as well.

Jane, a resident of the town attended the Board of Selectmen’s meeting where the Board heard of her dog being attacked. A 40 pound Staffordshire attacked her 70 pound Chocolate Lab.

The owner said that although there was a significant weight difference, the Staffordshire was strong, aggressive, vicious, and very muscular for its size. The attacking dog was unleashed and at first came over in a friendly manner before attacking her dog’s throat.

Currently, that Staffordshire is under a 14 day restraining order, which means the dog cannot leave the owner’s house, or a fenced in yard unless on a leash. The Board of Selectmen will hold an investigative hearing at the Selectmen’s meeting on February 13, 2017.

The Board will next meet Monday, Feb. 6.

The Halifax Board of Health, in conjunction with the NVNA and Hospice will present the Mind-Body Component and the Impact of Psycho-social Support for those affected by Cancer on Monday, Feb. 13, at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Holmes Public Library, 476 Plymouth St., Halifax.

Kathleen Armany, RN, BC-HN, Program Director of The Cancer Support Community of Massachusetts, South Shore will present the program.

The medical community is increasingly aware of how the mind and body work together in our overall health and recovery from illness.  Being diagnosed with cancer doesn’t just have an effect on your body; it affects the entire individual with an impact on thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes.

Making the mind-body connection can have a significant difference in your quality of life and may affect your body’s response to treatment.

Attend this informative presentation and learn the “patient active” concept and the value of a supportive community can ease the distress of a cancer diagnosis.

Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor has announced the following Halifax positions will be on the ballot on the town’s election, Saturday, May 13, at the Halifax Elementary School, Route 106, Halifax.  The polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In order to vote in the town election, residents must be registered with the Halifax Town Clerk before April 18, 2017.

Nomination papers are now available at the Town Clerk’s office for anyone interested in running for any of the below listed positions Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 27, 2017.

Completed nomination papers must have a minimum of 32 signatures confirmed in order appear on the ballot.  All papers must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 27.

Town offices to appear on the ballot in alphabetical order are:

• Assessor, three years, seat currently held by John Shiavone.

• Board of Health, three years, seat currently held by John Delano.

• Highway Surveyor, three years, seat currently held by Robert Badore.

• Holmes Library Board of Trustees, three years, seat currently held by Ralph Goodwin.

• Holmes Library Board of Trustees, three years, seat currently held by Meredith Goodwin.

• Holmes Library Board of Trustees, two years, seat currently held by Paul Delaney.

• Housing Authority, four years, seat currently vacant (unfilled at last election).

• Park Commission, three years, seat currently held by John Campbell.

• Planning Board, five years, seat currently held by Gordon R. Andrews.

• Planning Board, four years, seat currently held by Jonathan Soroko.

• Elementary School Committee, three years, seat currently held by Robert Johnson.

• Elementary School Committee, three years, seat currently held by Cassandra Hanson.

• Silver Lake School Committee, three years, seat currently held by Edward Desharnais, Jr.

• Board of Selectmen, three years, seat currently held by Troy Garron.

• Water Commission, three years, seat currently held by Richard Clark.

The town clerk wishes to note that these entries may be revised due to resignations or other changes.

If anyone has any questions regarding the Halifax town election or how to run for office, call the Town Clerk at 781-293-7970.

Not to say every game is not important, but some games just have a little more meaning than others.

Whether it is the transition from the preseason to the regular season or the regular season to the postseason, games can take on a new meaning at a certain calendar date. Recently, that happened for the Silver Lake girls basketball team (4-3) as they hit the point in their schedule with more league games.

Coming up, the Lakers will face Plymouth North (January 13), Duxbury (January 20), Scituate (January 24), Whitman-Hanson (January 27) and Plymouth South (January 31). The league games have an extra meaning because teams who win their league are guaranteed a tournament spot — although many teams who win their league will have at least the 10 wins necessary for a spot anyways.

In their league action thus far, the Lakers have played well.

In their January 3 win over North Quincy where they outscored their foe, the Red Raiders, 50-40, there was not one standout scorer, but — like it has been for the entire season — a number of players played a major role in win. Three players — Alyssa Nelson, Syd Kehoe, and Holly Reeder-Morning shouldered most of the scoring effort against the Red Raiders, combining for 39 of the team’s 50 points. Nelson led the team with 14 points while Kehoe added 13 points and Reeder-Morning put up an additional 12 points.

It is worth noting Reeder-Morning is a freshman this year and already, she has established herself as someone who receives significant playing time and is a major contributor to the team.

Speaking of youth, the Lakers are one of the younger varsity basketball programs around. Certainly, that helps their chances of future success. There are just four seniors on their varsity roster this season — captain Maddie Gillan, Olivia Macomber, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, Emily Critch and Nina Whidden. Even though the Lakers will be losing quality basketball players, they are fortunate to not be losing more players than they are — as they did last season.

The Lakers next home game is Wednesday, Jan. 24, against Scituate.

Boys’ Basketball

The Lakers split last week, taking a 49-43 win over Pembroke on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and suffering a 54-50 loss to Silver Lake three days later.

Girls’ Basketball

The girls fell 63-37 to Pembroke on Tuesday, Dec. 13, but they would come back strong three days later as they topped Whitman-Hanson, 67-53. In their win over Whitman-Hanson, the girls trailed by 14 points at halftime, but tough defense in the second half change the game.

Boys’ Ice Hockey

The boys opened their season with a 1-0 win over Whitman-Hanson. Colby Gilbert had the lone goal of the game and Alden Maguire had a shutout in net. On Saturday that week, they also beat Franklin, 4-0.

Girls’ Ice Hockey

The co-op with Whitman-Hanson beat Quincy/North Quincy, 8-1, on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Like the boys, they also beat Franklin last Saturday, except theirs was a 6-0 win.

Boys’ Indoor Track

The boys improved to 2-0 with a 58-42 win over Whitman-Hanson on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Girls’ Indoor Track

The girl fell, 63-37, to Whitman-Hanson, on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Boys’ Swimming

The boys swim team fell to Duxbury in their first meet, 76-38, in Duxbury on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Girls’ Swimming

The girls swim team also fell to Duxbury the same day as the boys’ team, 98-78.

Boys’ Wrestling

On opening night (Wednesday, Dec. 14), the wrestling team fell, 42-12, to Duxbury. But on Saturday, Dec. 17, they finished the day 1-1 at a tri-meet with Somerset Berkeley, who they beat, 42-40, and Cohasset, who they fell to, 41-33.

By James Bentley

Express Correspondent

On November 30, the Plympton Public Safety Building Committee met to discuss plans for new police and fire stations. The committee expressed concern that actual cost will exceed the estimated cost the committee was initially given.

Historic Commission chairman Jon Wilhelmsen said, “When you look at the study that was done before, they did not suggest that we were going to build a police station for a million dollars. It did not say anything close to that.”

The committee directed much of the meeting toward addressing these challenges and trying to find a way to overcome them. Wilhelmsen says, “The question is whether the $1  million or $1.5 million that’s being thrown around was ever a realistic number.”

One of the concerns addressed was the cost of the sprinkler system. Because there would be cells in the basement of the new police station, a sprinkler system is necessary there. To save on the overall cost of the station’s system, the committee suggested potentially using one tank for both the police and fire station.

Another option the committee explored was decreasing the overall size of the station. Board of Health Chairman Art Morin mentioned the square footage may need to drop to around 6000 square feet.

Morin said, “We might like to have something, but they might not be practical within cost … It’s not that you’re trying to make everyone work out of a tiny space, cramped space, but there are some things that we are going to have to give up.”

The board discussed some of the items Police Chief Pat Dillon was willing to cut. He thinks the square footage can be brought down to between 7,200-7,500 square feet.

Morin believes the size can be cut more if no fitness center is included in the new police station. He did admit this would probably not be a popular decision.

The committee still has work to do to address these challenges, but they did discuss another plan that has the station at around 5,800 square feet. Options will continue to be explored at the next meeting scheduled on December 20, 2016.

The 23rd Annual Holidays in Halifax weekend will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, with entertaining events from 3:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. through many town buildings.

The weather promises to cooperate with the ice sculptors who would like to see their creations finished before the melting begins.   Last year brought warm, comfortable temperatures for holiday revelers, but turned ice sculptures to puddles.  This year, Bob and Tim Botto and Phil Lambert will turn blocks of ice into art outside the Halifax Town Hall, Route 106.  Put on your mittens, scarf and hat, and cheer them on!

The second floor Great Room of the Halifax Town Hall has been magically transformed into a “Victorian Christmas” scene, with a train set running throughout.  Be sure to see it!  Refreshments will be served.

3:45 p.m.

• Events begin in the Halifax Elementary School gymnasium, when the Halifax Elementary Chorus will perform.

4:15 p.m.

• A Dancer’s World will perform in the HES gym.

5 p.m.

• Be entertained by Magician Dennis Blanchard, again in the HES gym.

• Bring your favorite chili recipe all cooked in your crock pot to see how it to other entries.  Votes will be cast for the favorite, and bragging rights will be awarded at 7:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Worship Band at the Well Church, Rte. 106.

6 p.m.

• Silver Lake Choir performs at the Holmes Public Library, Rte. 106.

7 p.m.

• Worship Band at the Well Church, Rte. 106.

7:15 p.m.

Reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Dick Steele at the Holmes Public Library, Rte. 106.

7:20 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Holmes Public Library.

7:30 p.m.

Firehouse Chili Cookoff winner announced at the Halifax Fire Dept.

Ongoing events and open houses include

The Well Church, in the Rockland Trust Plaza, Rte. 106, will offer refreshments and the Worship Band will perform.

Also in the HES gym, you’ll find face painting, jumpers, balloon animals and magic tricks by Dennis Blanchard – all provided by Halifax Youth and Recreation.   Refreshments provided by Dunkin’ Donuts.

At the Holmes Public Library, 470 Plymouth St., Rte. 106, bid in the Friends of the Holmes Library Silent Auction.

At the Water Department, there will be Campside Christmas and Flag Retirement, and refreshments served by the Boy Scouts.

Council on Aging at Pope’s Tavern will serve refreshments.  There you will find a coat drive sponsored by the Cub Scouts and new hat and mittens drive by the Girl Scouts.

John “Doghouse Dog” Shea will have his fried dough stand in the food area near the library.

Stop in and see The Museum of Halifax Open House.  While they aren’t serving refreshments, they do have many items from Old Halifax on display.

Also see The Brockton Store, where there will be refreshments and letters to Santa, the Old Schoolhouse where there will be refreshments and Halifax Historical Society, where you can find Halifax pottery items for sale – great for holiday gifting!

At the Blacksmith Shop there will be a demonstration by Dean Rantz.

John McDonough’s Clydesdales will be at Vaughn Field behind the elementary school.

The Bible Baptist Church will have a living Nativity and choir.

The Holidays in Halifax Committee would like to give special thanks to the Halifax Water Department, Gerry Elliot, Area 58 Community Access Media, Girl Scouts, Halifax Highway Dept., Halifax Fire Dept., Halifax Police Dept.  Bu Scouts, Ken and Betty Corti, Holmes Library, Cub Scouts, Mutual Bank, Bob and Tim Botto, Halifax Post Office, Mike Fagan, Dean Rantz, Dunkin; Donuts, Cumberland Farms, Highway Safety Systems, Halifax Town Hall, Halifax Historical Society, all of our participants, contributors, and ALL of our wonderful volunteers.

Plympton sisters Emma and Sofia Christensen will dance at the South Shore Ballet Company’s performance of the Nutcracker.  Emma, 10, will dance the lead as Clara.

South Shore residents craving a Nutcracker fix this season need go no further than Braintree where  more than 85 local dancers will bring to life the story of Clara, a young girl swept up in a battle with a mouse king and then transported to the magical Land of the Sweets.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, the ballet includes performances by the Sugar Plum Fairy, featuring guest artist Sayaka Wakita (Royal Ballet of Flanders), to the mysterious Drosselmeyer, featuring SSBT faculty Harunaga Yamakawa, as well as a dazzling array of dancing palace fairies, chocolates and marzipan.

The Nutcracker will run December 17 and 18 with two performances on Saturday, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and one performance on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Thayer Academy, 745 Washington St., Braintree.  Tickets are on sale at www.tututix.com, and are expected to sell out.

Emma is in the fifth grade at the Dennett Elementary School.  This is her 4th year participating in the South Shore Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. She began dancing at 3, but more intensely at the age of 7.    Her sister Sofia is 7 years old and is in the second grade at the Dennett Elementary School.  She has been dancing since she was 3 years old.  This is her second year performing in the Nutcracker.  She will be an angel.

Hanover’s South Shore Ballet Theatre (SSBT), was founded in 2008 by Marthavan McKeon, a twenty seven-year veteran ballet instructor (including ten years with the Boston Ballet School) and former soloist with the Atlanta Ballet.  McKeon heads a faculty that includes former Boston Ballet soloists and faculty Leslie Woodies and Stephanie Moy, and former American Ballet Theatre dancer Nan Keating, who was principal of Boston Ballet School’s (now-defunct) Norwell studio and before that of the Children’s Ballet Workshop, precursor to the Boston Ballet School.

SSBT’s 5700 plus square feet of studio space is equipped with professionally-sprung floors, custom mirrors and barres and pianos for live accompaniment.   SSBT offers pre-professional training as well as recreational ballet for students from ages three to adult.

SSBT graduates have pursued advanced training at American Ballet Theatre, Ellison Ballet, Alvin Ailey/Fordham University, Houston Ballet Academy, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Ballet West, Bolshoi Ballet (CT and NYC), Next Generation, Washington Ballet, Miami Ballet, and Carolina Ballet.