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.