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Getting the lead out at Dennett

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Jon Wilhelmsen, chairman of the Plympton School Committee, brought good news to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on August 5, as he shared the results from the latest water testing done at the Dennett Elementary School.

Wilhelmsen reiterated his theory that the high lead results were likely due to the testing occurring at or around the backwash cycle that is run every 14 days. Water is pumped backward through the filter during backwashing and if the tests were taken the same day as the backwash cycle it would be pulling in the lead that had been filtered out of the water over the previous two weeks.

Wilhelmsen said that the theory appears to be correct as the test results from the end of June show no lead or such a minimal amount that it’s barely detectable. All other levels look good as well. Wilhelmsen said, “The lead issue appears to be figured out and we are going to be putting in some procedures to make sure that they don’t test around any of the backwash cycles.” He added, “I hope to never use the words water and Dennett again.”

Selectmen discussed the MassWorks grant application to explore different design options for the intersection of Main Street and Ring Road. Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy, who was not present at this week’s meeting, submitted the grant application on Friday, August 2.

Selectman Chair Christine Joy explained the purpose of the grant saying “The MassWorks grant is for design services so we’re looking at several options; nothing is set in stone. We’re just looking at the best option for that area to accomplish what we’re looking to do which I think is to slow people down and provide a safer area for people to negotiate on the road.” Vice Chair Mark Russo added, “Let me just emphasize that an integral part of the process will be public input especially input from abutters and neighbors.” The board said that they will begin preliminary discussions regarding the intersection during their next meeting on August 19 and urged concerned residents to attend and share their thoughts.

Correspondence from the Board of Health was shared stating that the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) risk level in Plympton has been raised to high. A dusk to dawn curfew for town owned properties remains in effect. Residents can call Plymouth County Mosquito Control at 781-585-5450 to have their properties sprayed. The notice also included safety tips including selecting a repellent with an EPA approved ingredient, removing standing water from property, repairing screens, wearing long sleeves, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours.

The Board also discussed developments with instituting a campus committee to deal with ongoing structural issues in the town buildings. John Traynor said, “We’ve talked about having the public safety committee transferred to the campus committee and each one has been talked to and each one has accepted.” The appointments will be made official during the next Board of Selectmen meeting. The public safety committee will continue on for a while longer to deal with any ongoing issues. Traynor will serve as a representative on the new campus committee. Russo said, “I think John’s enthusiasm and energy will be really helpful.”

An update was provided on the two municipal lots that are still for sale. The board is hopeful that they will receive some bids now that they have been advertised in multiple sources. Russo described the land as “two beautiful lots on Prospect Road.” Joy agreed adding “with conservation land in your backyard.”

In other town news, Dave Batchelder will join the Council on Aging Board. Batchelder will also work with State Representative Kathy LaNatra regarding issues that affect senior citizens in Plympton. Traynor who said he’s delighted to have him on board said, “Dave, for those who don’t know him, has been in town government for many, many years in many, many positions.” Like the campus committee, his appointment will also be made official at the next Board of Selectmen meeting.

A final note from the meeting – hazardous waste clean-up day is scheduled for Saturday, August 10 from 9-12 at the transfer station.

Mosquito spraying begins!

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After finding positive larvae for both Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus, earlier in the season than is usual, according to Halifax Health Agent Cathleen Drinan, mosquito spraying is being conducted beginning yesterday, and continuing for several nights over Halifax and Plympton. She also notes that the mosquito population infected with both EEE and WNv are expected to grow.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will conduct and monitor aerial spraying in specific areas of Bristol and Plymouth counties which is anticipated to have begun on Thursday, August 8, and continue over several evenings, weather permitting.

So far this year, 22 communities in southeastern Massachusetts have been found by the Department of Public Health (DPH) to be at high risk for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus.

EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. No human cases of EEE have been detected so far this year.

The ability to spray is weather dependent and may change. Not every community in Bristol and Plymouth County will be sprayed, please see a comprehensive list below. MDAR is encouraging residents to visit DPH’s website http://www.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019 for the latest updates on spraying in their specific communities.

• Communities entirely within the spray zone:

o Bristol County: Raynham, Taunton, Dighton, Berkley, Freetown, Acushnet

o Plymouth County: Halifax, Plympton, Kingston, Whitman, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Hanson, Bridgewater, Carver, Middleborough, Lakeville, Rochester

• Communities partially in the spray zone:

o Bristol County: Easton, Norton, Rehoboth, Swansea, Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven

o Plymouth County: Brockton, Rockland, Hanover, Pembroke, Duxbury, Plymouth, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett

For the most updated information on EEE risk and aerial spraying, contact the DPH Division of Epidemiology at http://www.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019 for updated mosquito results, maps and incidence of positive mosquito samples and http://www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito for other information.

Please note that:

1) Spraying will occur over several evenings. That means that it is not known, as of yet, which communities will be sprayed on which days.

2) The spraying schedule is dependent on the weather and other factors.

The Town will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.

The Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project continues to spray areas of Halifax. You can contact the Project at Office: (781) 585-5450 or Fax: (781) 582-1276. The office is located at 272 South Meadow Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360.

The Project is accepting requests for residential spraying. Requests are accepted via fax, phone, walk in or USPS.  It recommends to fax, mail, or come in as they are serving all of Plymouth County and doing their best to answer your requests by phone.

Service requests should include name, address, town, phone, and email. You may request spraying up to 8 times during spray season and you need to contact us ALL 8 TIMES that you are requesting spraying. The office hours are 7:30 a.m-2:30 p.m Monday – Friday.

The product used for town-wide spraying is the same as used for routine requests. From the PCMCP website http://www.plymouthmosquito.org/pesticides.html – Duet-Dual Action Adulticide is a synergized synthetic pyrethroid consisting of 1% Prallethrin (ETOC), 5% Sumethrin, 5% Piperonyl Butoxide, and 89% other ingredients such as mineral oil. Duet’s EPA Reg. No. is 1021-1795-8329. The product breaks down quickly when exposed to sunlight. Therefore, residue on plants and other treated surfaces should be short-lived.

Plymouth County Mosquito Control applies this chemical using truck mounted ULV (Ultra Low Volume) sprayers. The Project uses an application rate of 0.62 fluid ounces per acre.

All spraying is between 2 a.m and sunrise. Please close street-facing windows if possible, to allow a more thorough application.

The spray machines are electric and very quiet – you may not hear the application. Please note the product will drift up to 300 feet.

Halifax Asst. Town Clerk completes Clerks’ Institute

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Halifax Assistant Town Clerk, Susan Lawless, recently completed her third year of studies at the New England Municipal Clerks’ Institute at Plymouth (NH) State University. Year Three is the final year of the Institute program, continuing its emphasis on public relations, parliamentary procedure, decision-making, personal development, management, computers, public speaking and professionalism.

The New England Municipal Clerks Institute is a three-year program, which assists clerks in developing and maintaining the high level of administrative expertise needed for the successful operation of increasingly complex municipal governments. Completion of the three-year Institute program entitles graduates to apply for the International Institute of Municipal Clerks’ coveted Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation.

NEMCI&A is the only program of its kind in the country, run exclusively by and for city and town clerks and their office staff. The Board of Directors consists of two representatives from each of the six New England states and meets year-round with faculty and University personnel to develop the best possible week of intellectual stimulation, personal growth and challenges for attendees.

Begun under the direction of the Rhode Island Department of Community Affairs and the guidance of the New England Association of City and Town Clerks, NEMCI&A has grown from one class with 32 students to the point where it now offers three Institute classes and several advanced Academy classes. Over 500 cities and towns have sent Clerks to the New England Municipal Clerks’ Institute and Academy over its forty-five year history.

Academy is a continuing education program designed for clerks who have completed their Institute training or have already attained their CMC certification. Academy courses are more in-depth and intensive, fostering the development of high-level administrative and executive-level management skills.

Halifax U10 All Stars are division champs!

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Although they trailed big late in the championship game, the Halifax 10U All-Stars rallied — and ended up taking home the crown.

The team hosted and defeated Norwell 9-7 on Sunday, Aug. 4 in the South River Baseball Minor Division Championship game, even though their chances of doing so were slim headed into the penultimate inning of action.

Down 7-2 to start the bottom of the fifth inning, Halifax rallied at the plate. They started things off by drawing a pair of walks and from there, their bats erupted. They knocked in seven runs on six hits and went up 9-7. The team then protected their lead on the mound in the top of the sixth inning to win the game.

“I have been coaching baseball for over 10 years now and have been with some great teams, but not like this one,” Halifax head coach Mike Nista said of this year’s team. “Every kid worked hard through the heat and played there best baseball today. I’m so proud and I’m going to miss it. I can’t wait until next year.”

The Halifax 10U All-Stars finish their season at 12-1. They went 9-1 in the regular season, earning the top seed headed into the playoffs. From there, they excelled. They got a first round bye and in the second round, they trounced East Bridgewater 12-0. In the third round of the tournament, they got revenge on Plymouth North, beating them 8-5. Previously, Plymouth North handed them their only loss of the season.

The championship team this season had a total of 13 players on it. They include: Marcus Wilson, Connor Martell, Jack Lynch, Max McEwan, Robert Crosby, John “JP” Palmer, Samuel “Bus” Laidlaw, Ryan Cyrus, Matthew Martell, Garrett Bodel, Tyler “T-Bone” Schmaling, Owen Graves and Brandon Nista.

In addition to Mike Nista, Scott Wilson and Steve Martell served as coaches for the team.

EEE threat hits local towns

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has announced that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus and West Nile virus (WNv) were detected in mosquitoes collected from Halifax, Carver, and Lakeville on July 22.  Kingston mosquitoes tested positive for WNv.

In response, the Plympton Board of Health, Arthur Morin, Chairman, issued a directive cancelling all outdoor activities on town-owned property between sunset and sunrise when mosquitoes are most active, and Halifax has issued an advisory from Health Agent Cathleen Drinan, detailing what steps Halifax is taking and what steps our readers can take to avoid mosquitoes and their bites.

Drinan says, “July is early for EEE.  We expect it to spread.”  She continues that it is being found in mammal biting mosquitoes, so there is the potential for humans being infected.

While EEE is considered rare, it is still a “dire or deadly” disease, and can kill people, especially young and old.  Those who survive often end up severely impaired.

WNv, Drinan continues, is not as rare as EEE and is usually mild but can be deadly to those over the age of 50.

Halifax will request additional spraying around the school, walking track, and soccer fields.

Due to the recent four samples of mosquitoes testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and five samples testing positive for West Nile virus (WNv) in the town of Halifax, the whole town was sprayed July 29 by the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project. Halifax residents don’t need to contact the Project to request spraying at this time.

Residents may request their property be sprayed by the Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project, PCMCP, up to eight times in a summer. Requests are accepted via fax, phone, walk-in or by mail.  They recommend faxing spray service requests, including resident’s name, address, town, phone, and email.  Phone requests are difficult to handle as they are serving all of Plymouth County.  The fax number is 781-582-1276.  They are located at 272 South Meadow Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, and the office hours are 7:30-2:30 Monday – Friday.

To see a list of the towns and streets to be sprayed, go to their web site, www.plymouthmosquito.org/home then click on “About Us” located at the top of the page, and scroll down and click on “Spray Routes” to see daily the towns and streets to be sprayed and the date the spraying will occur.

PCMCP collects samples of mosquitoes and tests them for viruses between July and September.  In addition to disease surveillance, PCMCP is also monitoring for the Asian Tiger Mosquito, an introduced insect capable of transmitting diseases such as Zika and Dengue.  According to the PCMCP web site, the Asian Tiger Mosquito has been identified in Mattapoisett and Wareham.

Drinan’s Halifax advisory cautions to avoid mosquito bites by considering rescheduling outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, the peak biting time for many mosquitoes.  Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing to help reduce mosquito bites.  Use insect repellent with DEET, (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label.  Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

There are many things to do at home reduce the number of mosquitoes in the yard. It is possible to generate large amounts of mosquitoes with small amounts of water.

Mosquitoes can have many generations in one year and in the heat of the summer they can go from egg to adult in about a week. The best way to prevent mosquito production is to remove any objects that hold water from your yard.

Below is a list of common objects or places that produce mosquitoes.

Tires. Old tires are notorious for producing large numbers of mosquitoes. If you are storing tires, put them in a shed or garage. If you have a tire swing, put a hole in the bottom of it so it cannot hold water.

Gutters.  Rain gutters on houses tend to fill up with leaves and other things that clog the gutters. This material can cause gutters to hold water long enough to produce mosquitoes.

Swimming pools. Any unmaintained pool is large enough to produce ample mosquitoes to bother the whole neighborhood. Keep children’s pools full of clean water and make sure all swimming pools do not become full of algae or leaves.

Tires. Old tires are notorious for producing large numbers of mosquitoes. If you are storing tires, put them in a shed or garage. If you have a tire swing, put a hole in the bottom of it so it cannot hold water.

Flower pots. Old flower pots or saucers underneath the flower pot can hold enough water for mosquito larvae.

Gardening tools such as wheelbarrows or shovels.

Toys left outside can collect water.

Bird baths should be emptied and cleaned once a week to prevent mosquitoes.

Garbage cans and lids.  Make sure there are holes in the very bottom of your garbage can.

Tarps. Frequently people use tarps to cover items such as wood, boats or to make a fort.  Always keep the tarp tight and drain any water that collects in the tarp.

Boats. Any boat, or tarp covering a boat can hold water.  Make sure the plug in the bottom of the boat is open so water can drain from it.

Other. Buckets, soda cans, pet dishes, washing machines, old cars, refrigerators, watering troughs, bath tubs and basements.

For more information about EEE and WNv, see this week’s column by Health Agent Cathleen Drinan on page 8.

Police Chief Dillon feted by Plympton

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Police Chief Patrick Dillon bid farewell to Plympton Monday morning as more than 50 Town House employees and friends gathered to wish him well in his retirement.

Dillon proclaimed his department the best group ever  – on par with his Marine Corps buddies – and said he will miss them dearly.

Dillon had been Chief of the Plympton Police Department for the past nine years, becoming chief in 2010 when then Chief Matthew M. Clancy accepted the position as chief in Duxbury.  In a fortunate turn of events, Clancy, now retiring from Duxbury, will return to take the helm in Plympton as the town looks for its next police chief.

Dillon has been a popular chief in Plympton, so popular, in fact, that the town voted unanimously to build the much-needed police station that had been in consideration for a decade.  That night of Town Meeting in 2017 Dillon’s smile continued well into the next day.  The town was invited to the official Open House of the new police station May 11 as he saw his efforts, and those of the Public Safety Building Committee, come to fruition.

Under his leadership, the police force grew, meeting the needs of a growing community.

He loved his job in Plympton, Dillon told the crowd.  “My officers will tell you I come to work every morning with a spring in my step and a smile on my face.”

What’s he going to do now?  Dillon told his well-wishers, “I’m going fishing!”

Halifax cyclist will pedal for a cure

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Halifax resident Lauren Kizelewicz will be riding this weekend in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). PMC.org describes the event as “…an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other event in the country.” Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has donated $654 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Institute. Riders choose from twelve different routes ranging in distance from 25 to 192 miles. Fundraising commitments range from $600 to $8,000. Every dollar raised by the riders goes directly to Dana-Farber.

Kizelewicz, who moved to Halifax last August with her fiancé, will be riding the two-day 192-mile course starting in Sturbridge and ending in Provincetown.

Kizelewicz grew up playing soccer for Brockton High School and currently plays co-ed intramural soccer at the Bridgewater Dome.

While this will be her first time riding the PMC, she has competed in the Falmouth Sprint Triathlon for the last seven years. The biking part of that event is only 10 miles.

“That’s pretty much the most biking I’ve done. I had never done over 20 miles before I just recently started training,” Kizelewicz explained. Kizelewicz, who works as a physical therapist assistant, said that finding time to train can sometimes be a struggle. Despite working full-time, however, she gets in several rides during the week with a longer ride on the weekend (in addition to some cross-training). She has also had to fight back after a recent setback. Kizelewicz, who said she is feeling good now, said, “I had a lapse in training because I had to have surgery but I started training again about three weeks ago.”

Kizelewicz said she was inspired to participate in the PMC by her friend Alicia Gay, who rode the 50-mile route last year. The friends plan to ride the longest route together this year. She was also inspired by another close friend Anthony DeRienzo who was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt Lymphoma a few years ago. DeRienzo is now cancer-free, but his battle left an impression on Kizelewicz. “That’s part of my motivation for riding. It’s just awesome what can be done for people who are going through that. I figured I would help a little bit.”

The PMC hopes to raise $60 million this year through the fundraising efforts of their riders. Kizelewicz and Gay have committed to raising $5,000 each this year and have already exceeded that goal. The friends were able to raise most of that money through a charity golf tournament they organized and held at River Bend Country Club in West Bridgewater this past June. Kizelewicz said they had about 20 teams golfing as well as several family members and friends that attended the catered event following the tournament.  Several businesses sponsored holes at the “Riding for a cure Pan-Mass charity golf tournament” including Monstah Customs, Dellbrook JKS, Mutual Bank, Jeef Berkey, The Woodlands, Granite City, and Wells Landscaping Inc. In addition to those sponsors, several businesses including the Boston Red Sox and Massage Envy donated to the raffles that were held during the tournament. Kizelewicz said, “The golf tournament was a lot easier than we anticipated and everyone had a blast.” In addition to the money raised at the golf tournament, she also received donations through posts on her personal Facebook page as well as notices hung up at her work. Riders are given through October to meet or exceed their fundraising goals. Kizelewicz’s profile page can be found at http://pmc.org/LK0162 and her donation page can be found at https://donate.pmc.org/LK0162.

Logistically, the start is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. from Sturbridge Host Hotel. From there, Kizelewicz, Gay and others doing the two-day challenge will bike about 109 miles to Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne. Riders have the option to stay in the dorms or find other accommodations. The finish for the longest route will be at Provincetown Monument on Sunday where family and friends are invited to join the finishers for a party.

Asked what advice she would give to future riders, Kizelewicz said, “In terms of training, I would say make sure you get in a couple of long rides of at least 50 miles before you enter into the race day. In terms of fundraising, try to do something that people will have fun at.”

She plans to ride the PMC again next year but with a wedding on the horizon, she says it is a decision that will best be made after this weekend.

Kingston natives to help Harvard football this season

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A pair of Kingston natives are set to play roles on a local college football powerhouse this upcoming season.

The Harvard football team has not had a losing season since 1998 under the direction of Kingston native Tim Murphy as its head coach. For the third consecutive season, he is not the team’s only Kingston connection. Rather, junior defensive back Mike Silva hails from Kingston as well.

Murphy has been Harvard’s coach since 1994 and in that timeframe, his teams have won the Ivy League Championship nine times. His record at Harvard is an impressive 174-75 and overall as a Division I college football head coach, it stands at 206-120-1.

A 1978 Springfield College grad, Murphy got his start coaching at the collegiate level as a part time assistant at Brown in 1979. The next year, he hired on as an assistant offensive line coach.

The following year, he took the offensive line coach job at Lafayette before holding the same job at Boston University for three seasons. From 1985 to 1986, he served as the University of Maine’s offensive coordinator before taking their head coaching job in 1987. He held that post for two seasons before becoming the University of Cincinnati’s head coach from 1989 to 1993. He has been with Harvard ever since.

Meanwhile, Silva, a Milton Academy product who appeared in four games at Harvard last season and recorded a tackle, could see an expanded playing role this time around. After all, the team lost its two starting safeties to graduation following last season: Zach Miller and Cole Thompson. Plus, defensive backs Wesley Ogsbury and Tyler Gray, who each appeared in all 10 games last season, will be graduating. That said, Harvard will look a little different in the secondary and have spots up for grabs.

Harvard’s first regular season game this year will be Saturday, Sep. 21 on the road against the University of San Diego.

Tree massacre on Elm Street

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HALIFAX – There was a great deal of public participation at the Halifax Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, July 23. A public hearing was held regarding National Grid’s proposed tree removal. The majority of the 144 trees to be taken down on town property are located on Elm St. There are several more trees located on private property that have been designated for removal or trimming.

Trees with a blue ribbon are marked for trimming while red ribbons indicate removal; trees with both a ribbon and a notice are located on town-owned property. Trees under 8 inches in diameter are considered brush and are not included on the list of those designated for work. The trees in question are not of a “wire friendly” species and their proximity to transmission lines can potentially cause service interruptions as well as safety concerns.

Several residents were on hand for the hearing to voice their questions and concerns regarding affected trees either on or near their property.

Longtime Halifax residents and Elm St. inhabitants Leslie and Herbert Hawkins agreed that some of the trees on or near their property should be taken down as they have grown up and over the wires, however, they feel that they should not have to incur costs related to replanting.

Mrs. Hawkins said, “I want to know who’s going to do some restitution or take care of my taxes that I’m paying because it’s going to destroy the whole front of my property. Will it be somebody who will come and plant a shrub that will take care of it and deaden the noise like the trees did or is it just something that’s going to be stuck to the taxpayers again?”

National Grid, for their part, believes that since they are incurring costs for removal of trees that they do not own, they should not also have to pay additional expenses such as stump grinding or replanting.  As explained by a contract arborist for National Grid present at the meeting, “As of now, National Grid does not have a tree replacement program in place. We are viewing it as we are laying out the money to mitigate any hazards from the line to maintain reliability as far as any replanting on private properties or town properties that would be the responsibility of the town or the homeowner.” National Grid further stated that nearly all towns and homeowners that undergo hazardous tree mitigation do not bother with stump removal and replanting.

Halifax resident Peter Beals, also of Elm St., expressed his displeasure about having to pay out of pocket to grind stumps and replant trees on top of what he sees as a devaluing of his property. “I’m not expecting you to solve all my problems and I’m not trying to be unconscientious of the need and the fact that there’s a problem here that the town’s got to address,” Beals said. “I’m just saying that it seems to me that in addition to losing what I’m going to be losing in the process, which is quite a lot to the enjoyment of my property, it shouldn’t also cost me money,” Beals continued.

Selectmen Tom Millias, while sympathetic to residents’ concerns, said that the dilemma for him was that the town is always after National Grid to maintain power and restore power quickly after an outage, something the tree mitigation would improve.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said that a possible option would be to work with Highway Surveyor Steven Hayward to use the town’s small tree budget to replant some trees in the town right-of-way. Selectmen Gordon Andrews suggested getting an estimate for grinding down stumps from private property and bringing it to town meeting to be paid.

Regarding a timeframe for the mitigation, National Grid said that work is currently underway in East Bridgewater. Once completed, Pembroke would be next on the list and then Halifax.

The best estimate that could be given was a month and a half once the permit from the tree warden is received. The Board agreed to procure and review a copy of the policies pertaining to the tree removal prior to the next meeting. A motion was passed to continue the hearing to the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting at 7 p.m. on August 13.

The Board also discussed the state of recycling and waste management in the town. After considerable discussion, the board voted to reinstate a committee dedicated to recycling and solid waste as the previous committee had been disbanded many years ago.

Municipal Assistance Coordinator Todd Koep attended the meeting and said that of the 31 communities he represents, nearly all of them have highly active recycling committees. Koep cited Kingston as having a particularly active and effective committee, suggesting that Halifax might benefit by taking a page out of their book. It was agreed that the committee should be comprised of five to seven members and would likely need a volunteer from the public at large.

The goal of the committee would be to review the current trash and recycling program and research alternatives that could be presented to the town. The hope is to assemble the committee as soon as possible so that any proposed changes could be presented to the board by January.

The board also voted to retain the current recycling rate of $50 per household per year for the time-being. Currently, Halifax employs a single stream method of recycling. Koep said that while the single stream commodity is not clean enough in general, Halifax actually does a pretty good job in comparison to other communities.

Among the issues Koep cited with single stream is residents placing their recyclables in plastic bags prior to placing them in the recycling bin as they will end up in the trash. Koep also mentioned that some communities have gone from single stream to separating recyclables.

The final item on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting was a dog hearing regarding an altercation between two dogs on Natureway Circle.  Paula Spaziani of 6 Natureway Circle reported that while walking her shih tzu on June 30, a pit bull belonging to neighbor Roland Florio ran at them biting her dog.

Florio testified that his dog was on a slip leash in his yard when Florio noticed that she had escaped the leash. Florio said that he immediately chased her but was unable to reach and restrain the dog prior to the altercation.

In addition to Spaziani and Florio, Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan, responding Patrol Officer Michelle McIntyre, and a third resident of Natureway Circle also testified.

Both Callahan and McIntyre said that they witnessed no visible wounds such as scratches or punctures on the shih tzu. Spaziani said she brought her dog to the veterinarian following the incident due to “trouble in her left hind leg.” She further testified that the dog needed to be sedated in order to be examined and refused to leave the house for several days after the incident.

According to Spaziani, the veterinarian attributed the limping to a pulled muscle and sent the dog home on medication. Both dogs were up-to-date on their shots but neither was licensed in the town of Halifax although both have since obtained licenses.

A neighbor, Nancy Sheehan, testified as to Spaziani’s state after the incident saying, “To say the dog and Paula were shell-shocked, would be an understatement. She was shaking; the dog looked very distraught.  She felt that the owner really didn’t give her her due as far as the fact that she was very dramatically upset.” Florio testified, “By the time I got across the street she had already picked up her dog, I leashed my dog, and asked her if the dog was okay and then I left.”

When asked by the board what she hoped to come from the hearing, Spaziani said that at the very least she would like Florio to compensate her for the veterinarian bill. Chairman Troy Garron, who said he used to breed shepherds and has dealt with dogs his whole life, shared his opinion saying, “I think it’s a fair asking that you pay the medical bill, but that’s just my opinion.”

Garron further stated that given that there are no reports of any prior incidences with Florio’s dog, he believes that if the dog were truly vicious, someone would have likely been seriously hurt.

Andrews asked McIntyre if she had anything to add. According to McIntyre, “There were no apparent injuries. Bailey, the Shi tzu, was in Paula’s arms when I went into the home; she did seem shaken up and as a dog owner myself, I’d be nervous too. I have a yorkie but I also have an old English bulldog so kind of both ends of the spectrum. When I went to see the pit bull she was very friendly with me. Both dogs were; they were great. Neither dog was something that I would be concerned about with people.”

Callahan reported observing the same things.

Millias said, “I don’t believe we have the authority to force anyone to pay any medical bills. Seelig responded that he “would have to check.”

The only other action agreed upon by the board was to draft a letter from the Board of Selectmen to Florio requesting him to keep his dog leashed.

A variety of other issues were also discussed throughout the meeting including the retirement of the Council on Aging Director Barbara Brenton. Seelig said that the board would have to appoint an interim director upon her retirement as the position likely won’t be filled until late September or early October.

Additionally, an attorney for the Happy Dragon restaurant asked for approval to change management. New manager Lily Mai was referred to as the “heart and soul of the restaurant” and the board voted unanimously to approve the request.

The board also discussed the possible revocation of Davis Automotive’s storage license. Seelig said the business recently brought themselves up to date on their property taxes but still have thousands of dollars of backed motor vehicle excise payments. Millias said, “We obviously want to give them every opportunity but we also want to be fair to everyone else.”

A unanimous vote by the board set the revocation of the license to be effective on August 14. Seelig said that the date was set in order to give the business sufficient time to start making payments allowing the board to rescind their vote for revocation.

Plympton seeks grant for curve re-do

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The Plympton Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, July 22 opened with the final interview for the new animal control officer who will also double as the animal inspector in Plympton. Brian Kling, the current animal inspector in Halifax, addressed the board. In addition to his work in Halifax, Kling volunteers at a number of animal related organizations including the Kingston Animal Shelter where he has served as a volunteer for the last nine years.

Vice-Chair Mark Russo questioned Kling regarding whether or not he would be comfortable deescalating intense situations. Kling responded saying, “I don’t know about the word comfortable, but I’m experienced with it.”  Kling went on to explain his past experience as a first level support for EMC Corporation where he would often have to answer to irate customers upset that their expensive equipment was not working properly. He also spoke of deescalating situations involving dog bites as the Halifax animal inspector. Kling, who will continue with his current position in Halifax in addition to the one in Plympton, was appointed unanimously by the board. He is scheduled to start August 1 and his appointment as ACO will run through June of 2020 while his appointment as animal inspector will run through April of 2020.

Plympton Zoning Enforcement Officer Allan Frasier attended the meeting to update the board. Frasier said that in the last year he has fielded 58 zoning applications, 49 of which were approved and nine of which were denied. Frasier also addressed the issue of in-law apartments as they are illegal according to the Plympton bylaws.

Some realtors have been advertising Plympton homes as having in-law apartments so Frasier drafted some general guidelines on the subject and dispersed them accordingly. While a home in Plympton can have a multitude of kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc., all parts of the dwelling must be accessible to all residents of that home. This means that in-law apartments that are blocked off from the rest of the home (even by means of a locked door) are not legal according to the town’s bylaws.

Selectman John Traynor said that the town may want to explore amending that bylaw as more than thirty percent of Plympton’s residents are over the age of 55. Frasier emphasized that the downside to allowing in-law apartments may come when an inhabitant of that apartment passes away and the owner decides to rent the unit.

Frasier also said that in the last year he has sent out a number of violation letters as well as cease and desist letters. Frasier described some issues with Tractor Supply and said that since the company rents the land, he has been dealing with the corporate owner located in New Jersey. Tractor Supply, who Frasier described as “very accommodating,” must also correct several open trailers for equipment that are in the wrong place.

Another business needing to make adjustments according to Frasier was Winnetuxet River Provide who had some signs on fences without permits. Frasier said he spoke with the owner and offered to discuss what is and is not allowed according to the bylaws.

There were some violations at residential addresses including selling cars without a license that Frasier said have either been corrected or are in the process of being corrected now.

Additionally, a cease and desist letter was sent regarding an unnumbered vacant lot on Palmer Rd. where a non-resident of Plympton has been repeatedly asked to move a large crane and backhoe placed there. Frasier said that he plans to file a criminal complaint since nothing has been done regarding his repeated requests. “There are a few people that I know are not happy with the way I’m ruling on certain things but I do my best to explain to them these aren’t my rules, these are town bylaws; this was written and voted on by the town. If you don’t like what it says, go in and change it.”

Frasier said. “I do feel like we need to be, in some cases, ahead so we don’t get involved after it’s a violation,”

Traynor said. “The thing that attracts people to this town is the rural character of it, the agricultural side, and to the extent we can, we would like to keep that. We can sit down and talk to people about where do we need changes if that is what is needed,” Traynor continued.

The Board also made a number of appointments including town treasurer, town tax collector, and town secretary. There were also several appointments to various positions on the Council on Aging as well as the Recreation Commission and the Historic District Commission. The various appointments will last through June of 2022.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy provided updates on various items including the two open town lots in Plympton that are back out to bid with a noon deadline on August 19. (note:  that date has since been extended to Sept. 3)

Regarding the renovations to the library doors, Dennehy said that the selected contractor has become unresponsive and a new one may have to be selected.

Dennehy also shared that the town is currently receiving assistance in getting a grant application completed regarding possible improvements to the intersection of Ring Rd. and Main St. Traynor, Scott Ripley, and an engineer met to survey the area in question and gather supporting materials for the grant application. The grant would be for both engineering and design services as well as construction. The deadline for the grant is early August. If approved, the first order of business would be to meet with Mass Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and then to reach out to the residents for public input. Dennehy said that the goal would be to have minimal impact on residents while also creating a safe pass-through for all vehicles.

Concerns over safety issues with Plympton’s municipal buildings were also discussed. There are significant water issues and leaks in the Town House.

Additionally, the building has had to be closed twice in the last few months due to problems with the septic system.

The Board has proposed creating a campus committee with the intention of devising a plan to remedy the myriad of issues plaguing the buildings. The Board said that a phased approach would have to be taken with a five to ten-year plan in mind.

Members of the finance committee in attendance were in agreement regarding the approach as all parties agreed that continuing to throw money away on band-aid like fixes would not be in the best interest of the town.