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Only 7% vote in Halifax election

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HALIFAX– With 15 elected positions open, only 384, or 7%, of 5,344 registered voters took to the polls in Halifax on May 14.

Only three races on the ballot were contested, and no candidates filed papers for several of the seats, including both three-year terms on Holmes Public Library Board of Trustees, a five-year term on the Halifax Housing Authority and four-year and five-year terms on the Planning Board.

Thomas Millias, of South Street, who also is about to begin the second year of his first term with the Board of Selectmen, was re-elected to the Board of Assessors against Michael J. Schleifff, of Paradise Lane, 238-118.

Schleiff,  who received 144 votes, also lost his bid for Constable, the two seats being won by Thomas Hammond, of Paradise Lane, and Thomas Shindler, of Ninth Avenue, with 227 votes and 168 votes, respectively.

Schindler was also re-elected in an uncontested race as Parks Commissioner with 291 votes. John L. Weber, of Cranberry Drive, was re-elected, in an uncontested race, to the Board of Health, with 286 votes.

Kim Roy, of Plymouth Street, was re-elected as Selectman, unopposed, for a three-year term, her third term on the board.

Kimberly Cicone, of Highland Circle, won a three-year term on the Halifax Elementary School Committee, 203-108, besting Robert Baker of Holmes Street.  Paula Hatch of Oak Place was re-elected for a three-year term to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee.

Patricia McCarthy, of Parsons Lane, was elected to a four-year term on the Halifax Housing Authority, unopposed.

Karlis Skulte, of Rye Meadow Lane, won a four-year term on the planning board with 17 votes, but the seat for a five-year term resulted in a “failure-to-elect” sitation where no candidate is elected.

Robert Baker, of Holmes Street, and Madeline Flood, of Twin Lakes Drive, were both elected to the Board of Library Trustees for three-year terms as write-in candidates, but two open Planning Board seats resulted in  “failure-to-elect” situations, leaving them vacant.

CPA survives town meeting challenge

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PLYMPTON – Voters at Wednesday night’s Annual Town Meeting voted to keep the Community Preservation Act in Plympton, despite an attempt to put the question on the ballot in the next town election. 

Citizen’s Petition Article 23 could have put the end of Plympton’s involvement with the  Community Preservation Act by putting it on the ballot in November for Plympton voters to reconsider.  While the printed warrant which meeting members were mailed and/or given Wednesday night had one date, John Henry, speaking to the article, made the motion with another date. This prompted much confusion as to when the motion would ask voters to vote – 2016 or 2017?

Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo noted that of the 160 cities and towns in the commonwealth that participate in CPA, none have ever left. The Finance Committee also noted that CPA often undertakes projects in the town which would not likely be funded in the regular budget, thereby saving taxes.  Voters who were concerned about the surcharge and lowering taxes were reminded of the various exemptions in place and the help for qualifying mid to low income senior citizens and individuals. The article failed.

Of the 10 Citizen Petitions on the warrant, only two prevailed.

The lengthy warrant of 40 articles was completed in one night.

Moderator John Traynor stated at the beginning of the meeting, “We’ve come here as friends and neighbors and we’ll leave as neighbors,” to laughter from those gathered. While some controversy was apparent throughout the evening, the meeting was quite civil.

Selectperson Colleen Thompson began the meeting with a tribute to outgoing Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo, who also spoke a few words, saying that he had been thankful to have had the often thankless job of being a selectman, and pleaded with voters to think about the medium and long-term trajectory of, “the town we adore,” when they vote.

The Finance Committee presented an operating budget with a 1% increase, noting that savings were found in the Vocational and Special Education budget requests from the Silver Lake Regional School District, but that those numbers can’t be counted on year to year as students requiring these services move in and out of town. They also noted a 15% health insurance rate increase for the town.

Most, but not all, employees received an overall 2% increase in salaries, and the FinCom says they tried to level fund all departments. Voters Jack Doyle, of Main Street, and Maureen Springer, of Granville Baker Way, were frequent voices of even further fiscal conservatism throughout the evening.

Doyle questioned why there was a 20% increase in assessors’ expenses (maps are being updated this year), and Springer several times questioned why various employees were receiving more than a 2% wage increase.

Other than a few similar questions, the approximately $9.8 million dollar budget passed with a super-majority.

All of the STM articles passed, except for Article 8, which would have authorized the Board of Selectmen to enter into a “payment in lieu of taxes” agreement with a solar company. These PILOT agreements allow the company to spread their property taxes evenly over a 20-year period, rather than paying diminishing taxes over time, which provides a steady revenue source for the town. Several other PILOT agreements were authorized in the STM, but voters were concerned with this particular project as the details have not yet been negotiated.

The Fire Department requested Article 14, which generated some controversy. The department asked for $8,130 to be appropriated for energy efficient upgrades to the lighting in the aging station. Yet this did not go over well with voters. Stephen Bentley, of Annasnappitt Drive, asked if this was a safety issue. Chief Warren Borsari hedged on committing to an answer. Jack Doyle, of Main Street, said he did not support, “putting a dime,” into the old station, saying the town needed a new one. The article failed.

The voters passed Article 15 unanimously and passed Article 16 by majority, both of which fund the Community Preservation Committee and its activities, then later heatedly debated a citizens’ petition to place a vote to not participate in the CPA at all on the ballot in November, 2016, Article 23 chich failed.

Article 20 was passed over, which involved a potential land-sale from the Silver Lake High School campus to the Town of Kingston for the purpose of building a new Kingston Police Station, due to last-minute legal hurdles with the sale. Maureen Springer, a Silver Lake School Committee member, stated that the article would be back for a  town meeting to consider.

Next came the ten citizens’ petitions, which prompted Selectmen Chairman Russo to plead with voters to be cautious, asking them to allow their town government to work through proper processes. “Citizens’ petitions are a risky prospect,” he said, noting that there are elected officials for a reason. This apparently caused some voters to bristle, with Dawn Hastings of Ring Road, noting, “Our voices matter…and they can be taken away…”

Article 21, a citizens’ petition, would have made required special legislation to change the way the Capital stabilization account funds authorized to be spent.. The article failed, 37-105.

Article 22, also a citizens’ petition that would have funded planning, design and construction of a police station, was passed over, as this is being, “handled in a different way,” according to Art Morin, of Granville Baker Way.

Articles 24 and 25 would have changed the demolition delay by-law used by the historical commission to encourage preservation from 18 months to 6 months. Article 24 failed, leaving the by-law as is, and Article 25 was passed over as it was closely related.

Two non-binding articles, again both citizens’ petitions, asked voters to vote to ask the selectmen to put a non-binding referendum question on the next ballot regarding Jeff Randall’s proposed Ring Road marijuana grow facility and the second to instruct the Board of Selectmen to wait until current legislation modifying Chapter 40(A)3 agricultural zoning regulations at the state level is settled before making any decision on whether to not oppose, support (or oppose by taking no action) the grow-op. Both closely passed– Articles 28 and 29.

A more far-reaching marijuana related by-law change did not pass, as Town Counsel noted that it would be non-binding and unenforceable and it would usurp power the state has granted the selectmen, not Town Meeting. Ethan Stiles, of West Street, stated that the town had updated its marijuana by-laws in 2013 and didn’t see the need to change anything at the moment.

Article 33 passed, and the “Highway Surveyor” position, if the state grants the home rule petition, will be appointed and not elected in the future.

Article 34 passed, and created, but does not fund, a future Town Administrator position, with more responsibilities than the current Town Coordinator position.

Article 35 passed, paving the way for the town to acquire land adjacent to the current municipal campus for a future public safety complex or other municipal needs. Article 36 passed and funded a sum of $125,000 for a consultant for initial plans for the complex.

Finally, the Dennett School will receive $30,000 for a high-tech security system, which the police and fire department, as well as the school committee, feel is extremely important, according to both chiefs.

The meeting concluded at about 11:30 p.m.

Verizon strike hits home

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HALIFAX– Jamie Fitzgerald of Halifax and Jerry Hunter of Whitman, both unionized Verizon workers (IBEW Local 2322), joined in solidarity by Dennis Desmaris, of another company and union, were seen picketing on the sidewalk in front of the new Verizon Wireless store on Plymouth Street on Tuesday, May 10, with a steady stream of cars honking their support.

The men claimed that Verizon was attempting to export jobs, such as those in call-centers, to foreign countries, including Mexico, India and the Philippines. Hunter says that Verizon doesn’t have to pay foreign employees as much as Americans. “They are stealing our jobs. We have to fight back,” he said.

Fitzgerald mentioned that Verizon was trying to create a more mobile workforce, moving workers from their normal workplace for up to two months at a time without any extra compensation or any longer commute. He said that this was for non-emergency work.

They both also complained about the increasing use of contractors by Verizon, who they say don’t have to be compensated as much as union workers nor do they have to provide benefits.

Yet the store being picketed by the union members was not even a company-owned store, but a franchised retailer. Why were they picketing in front of the Halifax Verizon Wireless store?

According to Hunter, while it’s not the major focus of the strike, some believe that Verizon is franchising more stores, and closing company-owned stores, with cost-cutting in mind. The employees of a franchised store work for the franchisee, not Verizon, which they say is another form of outsourcing.

They were quick to note that they were not blocking any access to the store, and were not personally upset with the store’s owner or workers, just at Verizon.

The striking workers are part of a larger union action against Verizon that has been going on for a month, involving about 40,000 workers and the two unions that they are members of, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Randall tells BOS: Grant my ‘grow-op’ or I make a 40(b) development!

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, May 9, Plympton selectmen met briefly.

Jeff Randall of Ring Road appeared before the board with his attorney, Stephen McLaughlin, this time stating he will turn his bogs into a Chapter 40(b) low-income development if the board does not approve his stalled request for a municipal letter of non-opposition or approval for a medical marijuana grow facility, which he says he wants to locate on his farm.

Randall said, “I don’t want to do this,” but then he and his lawyer went on to describe his intentions to build low-income housing on the site of his current cranberry bogs, which he claims are gravel bogs and therefore buildable if filled in, not wetlands. Randall’s attorney claims that Plympton is short of its state-mandated affordable housing units, and therefore, “there is nothing the town can do to stop this [project].”

Chapter 40(b) waives most town local zoning requirements and permitting processes for affordable housing, including, as Randall’s attorney noted, density. He stated there would likely be both duplexes and single-family units, should the project move ahead.

Attorney McLaughlin went on to say, “This can be devastating to towns with a small tax base.”

Randall stated that other towns are competing for his grow-facility and that he is pursuing other options.

“The first town gets it,” he said.

Sharon Housley, of Ring Road, complained that she was seeing four to five trucks an hour of dirt being moved on to Randall’s property. While Randall stated that it was for composting, Housley apparently believed it was for a different purpose.

“The landscape has already changed!” she exclaimed.

This prompted a verbal spat between Housley and Randall’s wife, Lisa Randall, who asked how Housley would be able to see any changes to the landscape if she wasn’t trespassing, even mentioning that they’ve had to report her to the police.

Mark Russo, Selectmen Chairman, quickly brought the meeting back under control, but not before Dawn Hastings of Ring Road stated that she wanted to be on the record supporting a 40(b) development. “It’s better than the alternative,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get some diversity in town.”

Upcoming dates:

• The Plympton Board of Selectmen will not meet on Monday, May 16, but will meet on Monday, May 23.

• The Plympton Annual Town Meeting and a Special Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at the Dennet Elementary School, 80 Crescent Street.

• The annual Town Election will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Town House, 5 Palmer Road.

New Kingston Police Station put on hold

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KINGSTON/SILVER LAKE– A plan to build a new police station for Kingston on the main campus of the Silver Lake Regional School District (SLRSD) has run into last-minute legal problems, and is now up in the air.

Kingston had plans to build the station on a 5-acre parcel on Route 27, carved out of land owned by the regional school district. The district had previously received legal counsel that it could sell the parcel, if all of the towns composing the district agreed to the sale of the land at their respective town meetings.

Kingston, Halifax and Plympton had planned to split the proceeds of the agreed-upon $250,000 sales price proportionally according to the percentage of students they send to the district, and Kingston had agreed to donate their proceeds back to the SLRSD for capital expenses.

But over the last few weeks, legal questions began to emerge over the process, according to Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig, culminating in a last minute decision to scuttle the town meeting articles that would have supposedly set the sale process in motion.

Halifax, the first district town to vote on the article, passed it over on Monday.

Kingston Town Administrator Robert Fennessy wrote in an email Thursday evening, May 5, that a legal opinion originally given to the district was revised. Apparently, according to Halifax Town Administrator Seelig, the district only has the statutory authority to buy land, not sell it, as this was not in the original agreement among the towns that formed the regional school district more than 50 years ago.

Fennessy went on to note that because of this lack of statutory authority to sell land, special legislation from the state must grant the district the authority to sell the land if Kingston does want to move forward with the project at that location.

The e-mail further says that Kingston will not have the article on their Annual Town Meeting warrant and suggests that Halifax and Plympton pull it as well, although due to the timing Halifax did pass-over and Plympton will have to pass-over the article.

“Clearly this was understandable, yet disappointing news to our town committees. We will now look at the available options to move forward,” he wrote. A source confirmed that Kingston officials have reached out to their state legislators for assistance.

The plans for a new station have been long in the works. A committee was formed to study the needs of the Kingston Police several years ago, and plans and renderings have been drawn up for the proposed station.  According to a previous interview with Kingston Police Chief Maurice Splaine, renovating the current station on Main Street is not an option as the early 1980’s era building is in a state of deterioration. The current building is about half of the size of police stations in similar towns with similar populations and numbers of officers.

Halifax ATM: One and Done

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HALIFAX– On Monday, May 9, Halifax voters gathered at the Halifax Elementary School for the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting.

The meeting began promptly at 7:30, with an initial turnout of 129 voters, according to Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor. John Bruno, Town Moderator presided over the meeting. All warrant articles for both the ATM and the STM passed except for three that were passed over (not voted on). Two articles warranted enough controversy for a standing vote. Discussion was centered on a handful of financial questions, although as the hours progressed and citizens seemed to get tired, questions and objections quickly died down.

Wage and

Personell

Debate began almost immediately, on Article 2, which had six sub-sections. Curt Maclean of Holmes St. objected to the first section, regarding cost-of-living raises for non-union personnel. The Wage and Personnel board proposed the article, which included a 2% increase in wages, and made minor changes to the Building and Maintenance Department employees’ clothing allowance, the sick leave bank, vacation leave and educational incentives.

Maclean stated that Halifax already had the highest tax-rate in the county, and that senior citizens were being “forced out of Halifax.”

Kim Roy, Selectmen Chairman, countered that insurance rates were going up astronomically for employees, and that even with a 2% increase, most would be taking home less than in FY’16. “We have to retain talented personnel,” she said.

The Finance Committee did not recommend the 2% increase, appealing to voters for a 1% increase instead.

The article passed with the 2% increase, and all six sub-sections passed as well.

Budget

Of the 157 line items in the $21,879,275 budget, only seven were held for discussion. Several residents had easily answered questions, and most of the seven holds did not generate much discussion. Two, however, sparked controversy.

The first involved an approximately $2,000 increase in the wages budget for the Council on Aging, which Director Barbara Brenton said was needed to pay bus drivers and could not be funded in any other way. She noted that the CoA uses up less than 1% of the entire town budget. The finance committee refused to recommend the article despite Brenton’s several pleas that elderly residents with no other means of transit were missing medical appointments.

Despite FinCom’s firm stance against transport for the elderly, the voters passed the increase.

The Snow and Ice budget line item also prompted controversy, with Kurt Boettcher of Hayward St. getting into an involved discussion with Town Administrator Charlie Seelig regarding how snow-removal money is appropriated, which is slightly different legally than with money set aside for other purposes– due to the unpredictable nature of the weather. Boettcher said, “The President of the United States tells us that we have global warming,” and essentially argued that since it didn’t snow much this past winter, it would be foolish to set aside the same amount of money this year as for last year. Another resident wanted money to be recouped after the winter, rather than appropriating it beforehand.

The long arguments didn’t convince the voters, and eventually someone apparently had heard enough to prompt him to “move the question”, which is a vote to end discussion and then to vote on the question at hand, which passed unanimously, as did the rest of the Public Works–Highway section of the budget.

Other notable

articles

Articles 7-12 were all passed unanimously, with the exception of Article 8. They fund the collective bargaining agreements with unionized personnel. Article 8 was passed over because negotiations with Halifax’s three unionized public safety dispatchers have not concluded, although selectmen noted that progress has been made.

Articles 18 and 19 help fund local non-profits. Article 18 asked voters to raise and appropriate $3,500 for the South Coastal Counties Legal Service, Inc., which provides legal services in civil matters to the elderly and low-income families. Article 19 asked the voters to raise and appropriate $3,500 for the South Shore Women’s Resource Center which supports victims of domestic violence and prevention programs. Kurt Boettcher of Hayward St. asked if the town could be sued for supporting a center that only assists women (which according to their website, they do not). The answer from town counsel was an emphatic, “no,” as Halifax was not involved in any of the non-profit’s operations. Both articles passed unanimously.

Article 21 bought the Police Department two new marked cruisers, which they typically ask for each year as they retire older vehicles. Jason Conroy of Jordan Road wanted to know if the town could achieve some savings through fuel-efficiency by using sedan-based cruisers. Police Chief Edward Broderick said that having a fleet of vehicles that were all the same achieved efficiencies, and that it would be going, “a step backwards,” switching from all-wheel drive SUVs to sedans or a mixed fleet.

The Fire Department also received everything on its conservative wish list (Articles 23-27). They annually ask for about $10,000 to replace worn-out gear, but this year they also asked for $5,000 to replace computer equipment that is for emergency medical use. They also asked for and received $45,000 for a new command SUV, to replace the current aging SUV.

Article 34 adopted a state law that gives a yearly $1,000 bonus to the principal assessor for holding and maintaining professional certificates. This is already done for the Treasurer and the Town Clerk. The finance committee did not recommend the article, stating that if the certificates were mandatory for the job, the bonus should be built into the compensation package. The voice vote was too close to call, but the standing vote passed, 39 to 28. Article 35 raised and appropriated the $1,000, which passed by majority, as well.

Article 37 was passed over, which would have “accepted” two roads in a development. The developer has not completed work that the Water Department requested, therefore, the roads cannot be accepted.

.75% Meals Tax adopted

Article 39 passed by majority, with no discussion, implementing a .75% meals tax on restaurant meals.

Article 44 was passed over, which involved a potential land-sale from the SLRSD campus to the Town of Kingston for the purpose of building a new Kingston Police Station, due to last-minute legal confusion over the sale. (See accompanying article).

The marathon meeting ran quite smoothly, and concluded shortly before 11:30 p.m.

Cicone runs for HES school seat

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Dear Halifax Residents,

My name is Kim Cicone and I am running for Halifax Elementary School Committee.  I am running for School Committee because I am a concerned parent and taxpayer.

In the seven years that my children have been at HES I have been an involved volunteer at the school. I have spent the past four years on the board of the HES PTO.  I spent two years as the President and the past two years as the Vice President.  During this time I have worked closely with the administration and have a good idea of how the school is run.  I also have a close relationship with many of the teachers and students at the school.  In addition, I have been the Secretary of the HES School Committee since August 2015.  Prior to my involvement with the PTO I was on the Board of Trustees of the Holmes Public Library for four years.

I hope to add the voice of a parent to the School Committee (currently only one of the five members of the committee has children in the school).  I would like to look out for the best interests of our students and teachers while keeping an eye on the budget.  In attending the School Committee meetings over the past year it seems that not all of the Committee members have the best interest of the students in mind when making decisions. I sincerely hope that adding my voice to the committee will change that.

Thank you for your time and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at kimander@yahoo.com. Also, please keep an eye on the election news so you can make an informed decision on Election Day, May 14, 2016.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Cicone

Parks Opening brings 100+

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By Alan Wheelock

Special to The Express

Despite some damp weather, more than100 people turned out  on Saturday afternoon, April 23, for the official opening and celebration of Plympton’s new parks. Visitors wandered throughout the network of trails and marveled again at the 600 foot long boardwalk that carried them comfortably across the wetlands surrounding Jones River Brook.. Since the trails, boardwalk and park benches were completed late last fall, the Parks have received steady use and drawn consistent praise from the townspeople who visit and see the beauty of Churchill Park, the impressive contours of Cato’s Ridge, and the expansive, picturesque views in the O’Neil Marsh.

The event started at noon. Residents gathered in what is known as the old gravel pit area, where a flatbed truck served as a stage for the The Keepers, a local acoustic bluegrass brand who provided entertainment. Children in attendance were excited to go off on a scavenger hunt (designed by Alison McSweeney and town librarian Deb Batson) that helped them learn about many of the natural features to be found throughout the park.

At 1 PM, Open Space Committee Co-chairs Vicki Alberti and Linda Leddy asked about 25 people who have been especially important to the Parks’ creation to join them up on the truck bed. Alberti kicked off the ceremony with an enthusiastic welcome to all the attendees, thanking everyone for their support these last 4 years, and reminding them that these 105 acres were acquired by the town for $20,000, thanks to Community Preservation Funds.

She then introduced Leddy, who began with a tribute to the late Gail Briggs, a Plympton Open Space Committee member whose forward-looking vision was the inspiration for the Parks creation. Leddy then introduced several individuals who made key contributions to the Parks’ creation. The first of these was Beverly Messinger, who worked with the town to ensure their family lands on Main Street would become a park.  The Messingers are descended from one of Plympton’s founding families, the Churchills.

Leddy then reiterated Plympton’s gratitude to Congressman Keating for his crucial help early in the project, when he facilitated solving an unforeseen issue with the IRS. The Congressman noted that the Parks were an outstanding accomplishment, especially for a town as small as Plympton, and that he was very proud of what a dedicated group of citizens had accomplished. He also spoke about the importance of conserving land, giving families a place to enjoy the outdoors and leaving a healthy environment for future generations.  Hearing children in the distance playing and laughing on the scavenger hunt, he remarked “That’s what it’s all about!”

The Wildlands Trust and the Compact of Cape Cod Land Trusts both received warm thanks for their ongoing technical services to help the town acquire and manage the Parks. Mark Robinson, Director of the Compact, commented “I am very jealous of Plympton.  You managed to create a 105-acre park for $20,000, and I cannot believe you have done it all with volunteer labor.  I work on the Cape where we recently spent two and half years raising $1.8 million to preserve 19 acres!”

Fieldstone Farms agreement re-do; MWA toxin warning

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HALIFAX– On Tuesday, May 3, Halifax selectmen met after a long break, and discussed two major issues in Halifax: the horse shows at Fieldstone Farms and modifications to the legal agreement that governs them, and a presentation from the Monponsett Watershed Association regarding the potential dangers of cyanobacteria in Monponsett Lake.

Fieldstone Farms

legal agreement

Scott Clawson, proprietor of Fieldstone Farms, accompanied by his son Shawn, came before the board for a public hearing regarding changes that he would like to make to the more than 20-year-old legal agreement between the farm and the town that governs the horse shows he puts on throughout the summer.

Clawson, who set off red-flags among town officials by advertising more shows than were allowed in the agreement this year, managed to turn the verbal chastising he got from the board for that transgression into a full-blown discussion about changing the contract.

This was the latest of several meetings where Clawson, his attorney and the board tried to painstakingly work out the details of changes that Clawson would like to see. Clawson was not accompanied by his attorney on Tuesday, claiming that both were not aware of the date.

Clawson was present at the meeting, as was his attorney, when the date for this public hearing was set, and several neighbors of the property were there to express concerns and ask questions.

Some of the many topics debated were the definition of a “warm-up day” for the horses, increasing the maximum number of show days, raising the maximum number of horses allowed for various shows, provisions for signage and shrubbery, allowing more RVs to house security staff on-premises, whether radios and open fires could be used, and changes to the type and number of vendors. Alcohol, and previous violations were also part of the discussion.

None of these issues

was resolved.

While Selectmen Troy Garron and Tom Millias observed most of the hearing, Selectmen Chairman Kim Roy presided over the hearing, and Town Administrator Charlie Seelig was quite vocal, frequently speaking back and forth with Clawson.

Neighbors were not shy with their suspicions of changes to the agreement because of their concerns regarding traffic, noise, and litter.

Roy wrapped things up after more than an hour of discussion, telling Clawson to come back with a new draft agreement, that addresses the concerns, and they can then pass them along to town counsel– again.

The original agreement came into being when the Halifax Building Inspector took action against Fieldstone Farms 23 years ago.  Following litigation, a settlement was reached with the town.

The agreement, signed by Clawson, the Board of Selectmen, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Building Inspector, has been in force since then, and changes, if the board agrees to them, will have to be agreed to by the courts.

  Monponsett

  Watershed Association

Paul Collis, president of the Monponsett Watershed Association (MWA), presented scientific information that his organization had discovered to the board. The research shows a correlation between cyanobacteria (also referred to as blue-green algae) toxins, which are found in the lake and may become airborne– to ALS and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The research, conducted by Dartmouth University and the University of New Hampshire, and reported in various news outlets prompted the MWA to release a statement regarding the perceived threat, which Collis read to the board:

“Previously public health authorities warned that physical contact with water containing high levels of cyanobacteria could cause skin rashes, gastric distress and/or respiratory problems.

Now research is showing that the cyanobacteria toxins can become airborne and can afflict people who have no physical contact with the water. Moreover, this research shows a correlation between these toxins and devastating afflictions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s.

The cyanobacteria toxin research has shown that people can be afflicted by the toxins even if they do not live near the water bodies. One study suggests that the toxins have a range of 18 miles. Additionally, studies have shown that crops (lettuce, blueberries) irrigated with algae laden water contain the toxins.

According to the Collis, cyanobacteria thrive in conditions where there are nutrients, warm temperatures and stagnant water.

He faults a cranberry bog on West Monponsett Pond that has the right to take and discharge water from and into the lake, as well as septic systems and storm-drain runoff for these nutrients. This all increases phosphorous in the lake, which helps cyanobacteria to thrive.

“We don’t want to be

alarmist, but this

research is alarming.”

They also, as Selectmen appear to, blame the City of Brockton for part of the water quality problems. Brockton has the right under a 1964 law, under certain conditions, to divert water from Monponsett Lake via Silver Lake into their drinking-water supply.

The MWA blames Brockton as well for artificially manipulating the water levels in the lake in order to meet the requirements for diversion laid out in the law.

Every summer since 2008 one or both of the Monponsett Pond basins has been under a public health advisory from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). In 2015, MDPH tested West Monponsett Pond for 175 consecutive days, June-November, and a public health advisory was issued for 133 of those days,” said Collis.

The MWA has six demands, he went on:

“1) Regular, state funded testing at Monponsett Pond year ‘round;

2) No diversion of water from Monponsett Pond if testing shows an algae bloom above the MDPH guidelines;

3) No diversion of water from Monponsett Pond after May 1 and fully open all gates in the Stump Brook Dam to promote natural water flow and combat stagnant water;

4) Require the coordination of discharges from the Winebrook Bog on West Monponsett Pond and the opening of the gates of the Stump Brook Dam throughout the year. Reports on coordinated discharges must be submitted to the DEP and/or the Central Plymouth Water District Commission

5) Eliminate the use of phosphorus in fertilizer at the Winebrook Bog and upstream bogs that flow into West Monponsett Pond because phosphorus is the prime nutrient in blue green algae growth and is banned from residential fertilizer in Massachusetts; and

6) State funded aluminum sulfate treatments in Monponsett Pond to combat cyanobacteria that exists in the Pond.”

Halifax Health Agent Cathy Drinan has noted in the past that regular testing is done to determine if toxins produced by cyanobacteria are in the air around the lake, and states that they have not been found in the air.

She was also quick to highlight that the preliminary links to disease found in the research cited by the MWA did not necessarily prove causality between airborne toxins produced by cyanobacteria and the diseases mentioned, just a possible correlation.

While the research is certainly cause for concern, the issues surrounding the water quality at the Monponsett Lake are multifaceted, and the public should follow guidelines issued by state and local officials as they are issued.

At this time there is no known danger in breathing the air around the lake, according to Drinan.

Collis ended by saying, “We don’t want to be alarmist, but this research is alarming.”

• The Halifax Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth St., Route 106.

Please don’t take my house!

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, May 2, a new controversy reared its head before the Board of Selectmen. Increasingly, issues in Plympton that the board has no jurisdiction over end up before them at informal hearings, allowing the public to voice their opinions, but leading to little in the way of concrete action.

The major issue before the Board on Monday involved a commercial development project  entirely outside the town limits of Plympton, and it is not clear why Plympton abutters to the Town of Carver appealed to Plympton selectmen, but none-the-less the meeting room was full.

Commercial Development

A developer who own property in Carver, Route 44 Development, has proposed several projects over the past year that would be assisted with state urban redevelopment grant money.  Residents who live near the Plympton/Carver border on Montello Street and Heather’s Path are concerned.

The latest iteration of the proposal, which includes a hotel and a mall, made some residents nervous because, they say, at a Carver Planning Board meeting the words, “eminent domain” were used in conjunction with the project, and 12-16 properties were listed. Eminent domain is when the government takes a property for public use, or in this case, commercial development.

According to residents, a U.S. Supreme Court case involving New London, CT, granted this expansion in eminent domain powers of governments, allowing private property to be taken for commercial development if it benefits the city or town. Although only two Plympton residents have properties which straddle the Plympton/Carver line that were on the original list of properties being considered for seizure by eminent domain, they are fearful, as are their neighbors, that their properties could be the ones selected.

Carver Selectman Alan Dunham was in the audience to allay some resident concerns, and the Plympton board allowed him to address the room. While he noted that the Carver developer has a right to build on his property, he said that 0-3 properties would be considered for seizure via eminent domain. He also noted that Carver would have no power to use eminent domain to take property physically in Plympton.

Dunham says that the project will not include a hotel, and is still in the early stages of planning. As the Carver Redevelopment Authority is providing assistance, the plan must first go from that board to the Planning Board to assure that it fits in with the town’s master plan, and then to the Carver selectmen, who would hold a hearing, and only then on to the state for approval for urban redevelopment funding.

Brian Cherry, of Trout Farm Lane, a candidate for Selectman, asked Dunham whether he was ready to support a project that would take, “half of this man’s property,” referring to one of the two border-straddling residents. Dunham was careful in his response, stating that he couldn’t lock himself in as he hasn’t seen a final plan. He also noted he was speaking personally, not on behalf of his five-member board.

The neighbors opposed the development in general, although from what they said it seemed as if many of them could have accepted living with the original, smaller plans for a two-building distribution facility in their backyards, which they were first notified about in May of 2015, they say.

The scale of the current plan is what appears to have struck a chord with so many, despite Selectman Dunham’s assurances that the current plans are a stretch– although the eminent domain issue certainly looks to be a real fear.

Lisa Maffioli, of Heather’s Path, characterized the project as a “monstrosity,” as well as a, “safety issue.” Jean Winslow, also of Heather’s Path, said she had received a notice from the Carver Planning Board that up to 30-50 trucks would pass through the Plympton section of Montello Street during the construction phase.

Some residents even suggested physically blocking off Montello Street at the Carver line, essentially creating a very long cul-de-sac from Route 58 to the end of Heather’s Path, but Town Coordinator Dale Pleau said that this could not legally be done for safety reasons. He also mentioned a statutory limit for the length of cul-de-sacs.

He did mention that the functional equivalent could possibly be achieved with signage designating the Plympton portion of Montello Street as forbidden to “thru-traffic”.

What began with residents and a lone Carver selectman arguing in the hallway ended in a civilized, if passionate discussion, and residents were respectful to each other, the board and to the visiting selectman.

There was a palpable sense of relief from those gathered that their concerns were being heard, even though the Board of Selectmen has little to no authority over the situation.

As the selectmen were also meeting the next day to finalize preparations for Town Meeting, much of the rest of the agenda was moved to Tuesday, and the meeting ended shortly after the hearing.

• The Plympton BOS next meets on Mondays, May 9, May 16, and May 23 at 6 p.m.