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Kathy Wilbur, of Seven Hills Behavior Health, travels with an assortment of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, oils, cigars, cigarillos (small, thin cigars) blunt-wraps and other smoking paraphernalia, although she is no smoker nor does she “vape,” as “smoking” a vaporizer is known. They are all props for her presentations on the new fad, which is rapidly becoming popular among youth.
At a Board of Health meeting in Plympton last Thursday, she and a colleague, Judith Coy Kendall, as well as Sarah McColgan, of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, presented a variety of products most of us have never noticed sitting out at the convenience store. They allege these are dangerous products marketed to children, and suggested recommendations that the Board of Health could unilaterally instate to regulate them like tobacco products.
Wilbur and Coy Kendall demonstrated a number of items: an expensive, reusable vaporizer with different nicotine oils (the addictive ingredient in tobacco), small, inexpensive cigars and cigarillos (cigars are not taxed as cigarettes and are thus cheaper). Colorful disposable e-cigarettes, like vaporizers, they produce no smoke but pack in the equivalent of 2 ½ cigarettes’ worth of nicotine, and blunt-wraps, tobacco leaves intended to roll cigars with loose leaf tobacco, but apparently, rarely used for that purpose (something illegal usually ends up in them). All were flavored, with exotic tastes such as “Bubble Gum, Swedish Fish, Chocolate Bliss, or Melon.”
Wilbur and Coy Kendall insisted that these were not being marketed to adults and that no adult would choose a flavor such as “Bubble Gum” for a cigar or cigarillo. These items are packaged colorfully and placed at the front counter in displays at eye level. Their explicit conclusion is that these are marketed to children because, as smoking rates plummet, tobacco companies have to find creative ways to get people to buy their products and only children would buy these.
Colleague Sarah McColgan insisted on reducing access by changing laws. She recommended, as many towns in Massachusetts have done, that the town take this matter into their own hands and regulate these items as tobacco products because the state and federal governments are not taking any type of uniform action, yet. She wanted to start first banning “vaping” in public.
She recommended raising the age for all tobacco products to 21, stating that reducing access to the products was key. She had a philosophy of banning hypothetical scenarios before they happened. For example even though Plympton has only two cigarette retailers and one school, many towns ban retailers from operating within 500 feet of a school. McColgan stated that even if a cigarette retailer wasn’t likely to open within 500 feet of a school anytime soon, it could happen, so why not ban it?
She also suggested raising inexpensive products to a minimum price to make them harder for youth to obtain. Other towns have banned any flavored products containing nicotine from places where children go, thereby forcing their sale into smoke-shops specifically intended for purchasing tobacco and related products.
Another recommendation she suggested was bringing several by-laws up to date with state law, such as the “Smoke-Free Workplace” law and vending machine bans, which according to her, with which Plympton was not fully up-to-date with.
But, even these professionals acknowledged that there is very little science that has been conducted on e-cigarettes, vaping, and the like. No study has concluded that second-hand vapor is harmful, and although the documented rate of youth vaping e-cigarettes has gone up (while smoking rates have plummeted overall), there is no study that says only youth purchase these products. Some, anecdotally, have successfully used e-cigarettes to quit actual cigarettes.
And when questioned, they did acknowledge that there must be a balance between banning things to protect youth and adults from themselves and allowing adults to make decisions for themselves, even if harmful.
In Plympton Monday evening, heated exchanges occurred between Linda Leddy of the Open Space Committee, and former Selectman John Henry. Henry was at the meeting to dispute money being spent on several ongoing projects by the Open Space Committee and the Community Preservation Committee. He frequently sparred with the Board and with Leddy, mainly about the acquisition of a long controversial USDA-owned property at 59 Parsonage Road, for about 45 minutes.
The CPC and Open Space Committee expressed interest in exploring the possibility of purchasing the property which has been used for farming for nearly 80 years. The committees have begun their due diligence as a first step in investigating a possible purchase.
Two years ago at Town Meeting, in Article 18, pre-acquisition funds were approved for this and other projects. This led the CPC and OSC to move forward with environmental studies, and to research possible issues with the property including several trailers on it and how to dispose of them. The committees thought they had authority to move forward to commit to payment for work done within the voted budget and according to what had been approved at Town Meeting, they began their pre-acquisition work.
But, Town Counsel informed the Board of Selectmen that it had to approve expenditures by the OSC and CPC after a concerned citizen who was a former selectman saw contractors on the property that he did not believe had the proper permits.
Thus, Leddy was at the meeting to explain expenditures to-date, have them retroactively approved by the board with one vote, and approve further expenditures in the rest of their budget for pre-acquisition work with a second vote.
Leddy presented the Board with a spreadsheet detailing their budget. Leddy, and the Selectmen, were concerned about a clear and streamlined procurement and acquisition process across the town, so as not to create future confusion. Chairman Russo held this topic for another meeting when it can be discussed as an agenda item.
As Leddy explained her spreadsheet to the Board, Henry asked a dozen or more questions, of both Selectmen and Leddy. Among the exchanges, Leddy and Henry told each other that they were “Sick of each other.” Henry demanded that Chairman Russo recuse himself because as Henry stated, “You’re in on this.” Russo did not recuse himself or respond.
Leddy demanded of Henry, “John, don’t you cross-examine me; you wait until I finish,” and they repeatedly disagreed on whether a Community Preservation Grant was an expenditure to the town. Henry, visible upset, bellowed at Leddy, saying, “Will you get it through your head that Community Preservation money IS town money?”
Henry, multiple times as the Board attempted to vote, would ask for items to be clarified or re-read after it had already been explained, interrupting the ability of the Board to conduct business.
Twice, Selectperson Joy asked the two to calm down, and finally Russo stated that he wanted to narrow the focus down to just the two votes for the Open Space Committee and Community Preservation Committee, and not have to try to answer a larger philosophical question about whether the town should spend money on this property, as that was not at issue.
The votes were on an already approved Town Meeting article, and approving or not the OSC and CPC to spend funds, both retroactively and moving forward. Actual purchase of the property would require a Town Meeting vote.
Finally, the votes were taken, both unanimously approved, and the Board moved on to other business, most notably a brief presentation by Silver Lake School Committee representative Jason Fraser. Appointed in late-January, Fraser told the board of his attempts to liaise with state officials about the way regional schools assess their constituent towns.
Fraser contacted State Senator Thomas Kennedy and State Representative Thomas Calter and invited them to meet with the Board of Selectmen to discuss two areas of concern that he believes are beginning to “pinch” the town budget.
There are two state mandates, the first being the State Foundation Budget for Education. This, each year, is presented to the towns as what the state believes is the minimum amount that should be spent per student to provide an adequate education.
It is common for towns to spend 130%-150% of this amount, according to Fraser, but Silver Lake Regional Schools has dropped from 113% in FY 2006 down to only 104% in the last fiscal year.
Fraser believes this indicates money needs to be invested to improve this low percentage. If the district falls below the base, the towns could lose control of their financial autonomy.
Yet, as Plympton, which has historically troubled finances, improves, and the State Department of Revenue recognizes this, the Silver Lake District assessment would go up as this number is determined by the state with its complicated regional school assessment formula.
Thus, the better the Town of Plympton handles its finances, the more it will be assessed by the Silver Lake Regional School District.
Fraser asked Selectmen for their input, and they agreed to present a united front. They asked Fraser to coordinate a meeting with state officials to see how this issue might be creatively addressed.
The Board finished up quickly after this. Russo stated that the agreement to join Area 58 Television, formally CHAT, the public Carver Halifax Access Television cable station, was being drafted and negotiations with Comcast are in the works.
The Town House will soon begin summer hours, to be announced. All other items were held over for future meetings, including the solar projects, still stalled by on-going litigation, a uniform procurement policy, and how the Selectmen will split up work on the Public Safety Building projects and Department of Revenue report planning.
The next scheduled Selectmen’s meetings will be June 15, June 29, July 13 and July 27, all tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m.
As boil-water orders across the region due to last week’s water-main break in East Bridgewater were cancelled, the controversial issue of Brockton’s water supply resurfaced. The water comes from Silver Lake, which is located in Halifax, Plympton, Pembroke and Kingston, and those towns have long questioned the large amount of water Brockton draws from the lake, the impact that draft has on local ponds, as well as the City’s lack of responsibility for problems it causes upstream.
The pipe that burst last week was one of two 24-inch pipes that lead directly from Silver Lake to the City of Brockton. The incident also brought back to the forefront another fishy issue: if Brockton needs so much water from outside its own borders, how can it be selling off water to other towns?
The story is more than 100 years old. As Brockton’s industry and population began to grow at the end of the 19th century, the legislature gave permission for Brockton to tap into Silver Lake.
Although sustainable at the time, Brockton’s water needs grew, and in the late 20th century it became apparent that it was necessary to keep water levels under control. In 1964, during a serious drought, Brockton was granted legislative permission, as an emergency measure, to divert from East Monponsett Pond and West Monponsett Pond from October through May into Silver Lake and sell water to the Town of Whitman. This diversion has continued ever since, most recently this spring.
Originally, diversion was used during emergencies, but Brockton has recently diverted more and more water, hundreds of millions of gallons per year. They have recently diverted up to 24 million gallons per day!
A once dormant committee, the Central Plymouth County Water District Advisory Board, was reactivated in 2013 to help mediate these disputes and various interests. The Board manages water use in eight towns: Brockton, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Pembroke, Plympton and Whitman.
The Board has recently asked Brockton to present evidence that their diversions do not create health or environmental problems, such as fish kills over the last several months, or the continued problems with water quality in the Monponsett Ponds. Brockton has yet to respond. Brockton has also ignored requests from the Advisory Board to stop transferring water from the Monponsett ponds due to possible contamination.
The Department of Public Health has been testing the ponds for several years now for cyanobacteria, a potentially poisonous algae. The algal blooms have continued to appear at high levels on the West Monponsett Pond and the East Pond has weed overgrowth. While it is difficult to prove definitively how the water diversions affect this harmful situation, the Town of Halifax has continued to have to pay for water treatments of the Monponsett Lakes.
Despite Brockton’s claim of need for water, it has been selling water to neighboring towns. Due to a 20-year agreement with a desalination plant on the Taunton River, Brockton actually has a surplus of water. Brockton has recently tried to purchase the plant. With this second source of water, why does Brockton need more and more from Silver Lake? It does not seem to be needed at all, and Halifax taxpayers are paying the bill.
Because of that 1964 law which allows Brockton to tap East and West Monponsett Ponds and to sell water to Whitman, Whitman benefits from the surplus and buys water from Brockton.
Brockton makes about $2 million dollars a year on this deal, according to a presentation at an April 13 Pembroke Selectmen’s meeting.
With a questionable surplus water situation, quirky laws, aging infrastructure, and uncertain needs for the future, it seems that the Silver Lake water diversion is being abused and only Brockton and Whitman win, while Silver Lake towns lose their shared natural resources.
For a detailed history of the more than one hundred years association of the Silver Lake/Brockton water agreements, see the Princeton Hydro report commissioned by the Town of Halifax in 2013.
Sarah Coady of Halifax Class Valedictorian speaks to her classmates as they graduate from Silver Lake.
Two hundred seventy nine Silver Lake High School students graduated on Saturday May 30, in an outdoor ceremony.
Sarah Coady of Halifax, Valedictorian of the Class of 2015, addressed her peers as she talked about time and the unknown future; although they all share a similar journey, there have been so many different paths along the way. She spoke of choosing colleges, homes, and careers, a reminder of the many challenges and changes she and fellow classmates will face. Cheers of support broke out in the crowd as she fought back tears during her speech.
In the high school newspaper, The Senior Spectacular, she described herself as a “Type A” personality who worked hard to leave her mark on the school, a student who has a drive for higher education and will be attending Harvard University in the fall.
She recalled as a freshmen how many students walked in to the wrong classroom, and described learning pickle ball as the most confusing game ever. She also remembered the hours they had all spent on countless tests and written papers.
“We fell in love and out of love and over the last 18 years we learned to walk, talk and smile,” she said of their journey.
Michael Phan of Kingston, Class President of 2015, spoke to guests and fellow classmates, reminding them of the sheer panic when they first realized they had outgrown recess and told about the funnier things they encountered throughout their school careers. “As freshmen we thought our school would be full of upperclassmen bullies, a school labyrinth with never ending halls.” He created the image of being stranded in a place with no cell phone reception and humorously being swept up by the janitor at the end of the day.
“Then we realized the whole school is basically one big square,” he said the crowd roared with laughter.
“We are here on this stage … we are still growing,” he said. Although we all are graduating together into different lives, I urge you to go into this new chapter of life – serve, learn and grow,” he said.
See more photos of the SLRHS graduation on our Facebook page.
Selectmen in Halifax met on Tuesday evening this week, quickly moving through a long agenda. A new face joined the board that night, Thomas Mellias, who had already been sworn in, and a new member was appointed to the Halifax Housing Authority, Patricia McCarthy, among other business.
Millias, who has served in many positions in the Town of Halifax including Building Inspector, Assessor, Zoning Inspector, and years ago as a School Committee member, brings a wealth of experience to the board. He is replacing Michael Schlieff, who did not run for reelection. Millias’ term will end in 2018.
In the Board’s annual reorganization, Selectman Kim Roy was elected Chairman, Selectman Troy Garron, Vice-Chair, and Selectman Thomas Millias was elected Clerk.
The Selectmen held a joint meeting with the Halifax Housing Authority to fill a vacancy which occurred when a candidate withdrew after the election ballots had been printed. McCarthy ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for the opening.
Despite this, she still showed interest in the position and had the support of the Authority. The joint meeting appointed McCarthy, a 20 plus year resident of Halifax and five-year resident of Parsons Lane, unanimously.
Another appointment was made Tuesday. Robert Badore was reappointed as Cemetery Commissioner through 2016.
Also, the Board discussed the water quality issues at Monponsett Pond, and upcoming treatments scheduled on both the East and West sides of the pond. The treatments are tentatively scheduled to begin May 28th (east) and June 2nd (west).
Selectmen also discussed the impact of a proposed casino in Brockton. Having been contacted by the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency, they learned the casino was expected to use 120,000 gallons of water a day. The Halifax watershed already supplies much of Brockton’s water, while Brockton sells water to other cities and towns.
Also of concern are several recent fish kills around the area, in the past week and at the beginning of spring. Selectman Garron is concerned how the casino would have an impact on both the fish and the watershed, as was the rest of the Board.
Town Administrator Charlie Seelig reported on continuing issues with junk and unregistered cars on properties throughout town. Selectman Roy stated that this has started to become an ongoing issue across town, and the Board decided to send a “strongly worded” letter to the property owner currently at the center of this controversy.
The Board wants the letter to make clear that they will enforce by-laws including one that states that only one unregistered car may be on a property without a permit, and others that prohibit leaving clutter and junk in plain view.
In other business, the Board offered to allow the Boy Scouts to use a “sandwich board” sign several times a year on town property for their fundraisers and approved several standard permits for the Halifax in Lights festival coming up on Saturday, June 27th, including fireworks permits. They also approved several routine “use of town property” permits for various groups.
Finally, the Board went into executive session to discuss wage negotiations with unionized town personnel that had already been approved at town meeting (expected to be on par with wage personnel, a 1% increase.)
The Board will meet next on June 9 at 7:30 p.m.
The 1936 Buffalo Special pumper fire truck made its parade debut after being restored over the winter by Plympton Fire Department Lt. Don Vautrinot and Mike Watts of the Weymouth FD. Photo by Deborah Anderson.
Plympton – The parade, which formed by the Historical Society at the corner of Center Street, had two new notables this year – the Silver Lake Marching Band, who had been absent from the small town for at least a decade, marched and played to the applause of those lining the parade route, and the newly restored 1936 Buffalo Custom fire truck.
Driven by Plympton’s own Lt. Don Vautrinot, with Mike Walsh of the Weymouth Fire Department, the two painstakingly restored this beauty over the winter, showing what the generosity of firefighters throughout the state, and many corporate sponsors, can do when a couple of guys who like trucks get together with a project. The beautiful result will be encouraged to return to many more Memorial Day parades for years to come.
Selectmen, Mark Russo, Colleen Thompson, and newly elected Christine Joy, led the parade and parade marshal this year was the Freitas family, Jackie Freitas, wife of the late Joe Freitas, the longest serving selectmen in the Commonwealth with 36 years of service.
Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Daisies, marched the mile long route to the green, and antique cars, led the Fire Department’s full array of rolling stock. Plympton Police Department’s motorcycle officer Steve Teri and Police Chief Pat Dillon were notables.
At the Gazebo on the Green, Selectman Christine Joy welcomed the group. Selectman Mark Russo led the group in a moment of silence. Selectman Colleen Thompson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rev. Anna “Nan” Eaton Butera gave the invocation.
Dennett School student Geoffrey Cook brought many to tears with his recital of his essay “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” Rick Ducharme read “Flanders Fields” and Natalie Bohmbach recited the Gettysburg Address. Audible gasps were heard when Sydney Adams began her a cappella solo of the Star Spangled Banner on a high note, but she handled a key change like a pro, and finished her song with the same enthusiasm with which she began. The audience rewarded her with resounding applause.
Chief Petty Officer USNR (Retired) Steve Lyons read the Fallen Soldiers List and Sgt. First Class US Army (Retired) Steve Lewis read a list of some of Plympton’s present residents who have served.
Betsy and Wesley Kupic played TAPS.
Wreaths were placed at the Gazebo by Boy Scouts Andrew Adams, Wesley Kupic and Frank Perfetio.
The Honor Guard then proceeded to the First Congregational Church Cemetery to honor deceased Veterans and Fallen Heroes.
Thanks go to the 2015 Memorial Day Committee members Kim Adams, Tricia Detterman, Peter Kupic, Kristen LeVangie, Steve Lewis, Steve Lyons, Chris and Lorna Rankin, and Tim Snow, who co-ordinated all the details, along with the many volunteers who helped on Memorial Day. Special thanks to Plympton’s veterans’ agent Roxanne Whitbeck.
See more photos on our Facebook Page.
Ladder 1, to be retired this year and replaced, flies the flag over Plymouth Street before the parade marches by. Photo by Abram Neal.
Halifax – the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies went off smoothly last Monday in Halifax. As temperatures soared into the 80’s, the morning was filled with ceremony and public displays of celebratory patriotism as hundreds of townspeople lined Plymouth Street and gathered on the Town Green to take in the event.
Beginning before 9 a.m., those marching in the parade began to gather at Shelby Plaza to line up. Representatives of the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scout Troop 39, the Lions Club, the Halifax Police Department, the Halifax Fire Department, the Selectmen, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6258 all participated.
Promptly at 9:30 a.m., with everyone in place, those marching (or in the case of some police and firefighters driving their vehicles with sirens and lights flashing) began a brisk walk to the Town Green. At the Halifax Fire Station, Ladder 1, which is being replaced within the year, a gigantic American flag hung from the outstretched ladder.
Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts threw candy out to the onlookers, who quickly grabbed it before traffic resumed on the busy street.
Once the parade arrived at Town Hall, Town Moderator John Bruno presided over the gathering as Master of Ceremonies, addressing the crowd from the front steps of Town Hall. In the background, the water tower was draped with a gigantic flag, as the Boy Scout and Fire department color guards held their flags.
An invocation was read by Rev. Michael Hobson of Our Lady of the Lake Church followed by the National Anthem sung by student and Girl Scout Sara Slager.
Three students, one each from the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at Halifax Elementary School read their winning essays on what Memorial Day means to them and were awarded a certificate by each of the Selectmen, including newly-elected Thomas Millias.
Guest speaker State Senator Thomas Kennedy addressed the crowd regarding what Memorial Day means to him, his respect for the military, and the three members of his family who have served. One family member even evacuated refugees from Vietnam.
Firing guns in salute was heard next as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Veterans Officer, and Selectman Troy Garron with two Eagle Scouts laid wreaths at two memorials, one across the way adjacent to South Street and one on the Town Green.
Rev. Joseph Wadsworth, of the Halifax Congregational Church, read a benediction
Finally, the Girl Scouts sang “You’re a Grand Old Flag” as the flag was raised and lowered back to half- staff in respect by the Boy Scouts. Master of Ceremonies Bruno concluded with a few final words, and the ceremonies concluded. Refreshments were provided by the Girl Scouts.
See photos of the event on our Facebook Page.
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Newly sworn in Selectmen Christine Joy shared with the Express some information about her background. She has a history of public service in Plympton, serving on the School Committee for a partial term in the late 1990’s as well as two, three year terms on the Board of Selectmen, from 2000-2006. After a break from town politics, she’s enthusiastically back.
What is your background professionally and personally? How long have you lived in Plympton?
My husband and I moved to Plympton in the winter of 1991. I have a husband and we have two children ages 23 and 21. I have been in sales for many years and am currently working in Plymouth.
You’ve served the Town of Plympton for approximately eight years, including two three year terms as on the Board of Selectmen from 2000-2006, as well as on the School Committee (1998-2006.) What has this experience taught you that you hope to bring to your current term as a Selectperson?
I was fortunate to have served with some extremely knowledgeable, insightful and experienced individuals (some are still serving in elected and appointed positions). Listen; learn; make thoughtful decisions; create a respectful environment for open debate; be appreciative of the efforts of others; and by working together, ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.
Why did you leave public service for so many years, and what inspired you to return?
I was burnt out and needed to spend time with my family. When I left office, we did not have a Town Coordinator or an administrative assistant. While I enjoyed serving as selectman, it had become a full time commitment and my family suffered. I have been contemplating returning for the past several years and felt the timing was right to run this year.
What is the most pressing issue that you feel you need to get up to speed on with the Board? Other than Chairman Russo’s vision for the next year, are there any specific issue(s) you plan on championing during your term?
My initial focus, is getting up to speed with our finances. I do not have an agenda, I believe opportunities will become evident as I become more knowledgeable and issues will present themselves through our day to day business.
You’ve been relatively silent during this campaign, I presume as it was uncontested. Do you have anything you’d like to say, now, to the people of Plympton?
Thank you! I truly appreciate you allowing me another opportunity to serve. I enjoy serving as one of your selectmen and will strive to be worthy of the honor you have bestowed upon me.
What would you like to be remembered for in Plympton when your term(s) are over?
I do not think I am remarkable or accomplished enough to be remembered at all.