Dogs, poles and ’thanks’: Hearings dominate Halifax Selectmen’s meeting

HALIFAX– Tuesday, Jan. 12, Halifax Selectmen met for both a dog hearing and a pole hearing, that dominated the discussion of the evening.

Dog Hearing: Dating back to Nov. 18, an incident occurred at 304 Wood Street.  A bicyclist, the victim, was riding his or her bike at approximately 5:05 p.m. when a dog began to chase the bicycle and bite the victim.

Debra Tinkham poses with the Halifax Board of Selectmen and her two certificates of appreciation for her 27 years of service on the Town’s Zoning Board. Photo by Abram Neal.

Originally, the dog could not be located, but Halifax Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan investigated and eventually located the dog at 270 Wood Street. She stated that according to an anonymous neighbor, the dog living at 270 Wood Street is often running loose.

At the hearing, which became quite heated, the owner of the dog at 270 Wood Street appeared with his teenaged son, who was watching the dog at the time of the incident, along with younger siblings. The dog-owner was not home at the time of the incident.

The dog-owner claimed that he simply did not believe that it was his dog that had bitten the bicyclist, despite the fact that the Halifax ACO stated that the description given by the victim matched the dog and the dog was “positively identified.”

He stated that the dog was either on a chain or in a kennel at all times.

This led to a heated back and forth discussion between the ACO and the dog-owner. Noting that all the victim wanted was his or her riding pants to be replaced, the dog owner said he’d be happy to do that and that this situation was causing “a lot of stress for [his] family.”

Selectmen Chairman Kim Roy pointed out that this was not the first such incident with the dog, noting that in 2009 a nearly identical incident occurred with a bicyclist and a hearing was held. The dog-owner said he did not remember that hearing. The Board all in one way or another stated that it was likely not a coincidence that two such similar incidents had occurred.

Roy, along with the rest of the board, asked pointed questions of the dog-owner, and cited the need to further investigate and protect the people of the Town.   Roy continued the hearing with a unanimous vote of the rest of the Board to Jan. 25 at 8:45 p.m.

The Board is hopeful both the victim and the neighbor will come before the Board– as they currently wish to remain anonymous– as well as the dog-owner’s wife. They pointed out to the dog-owner that he was not even home at the time of the incident, so his testimony was of relatively little use.

The dog is currently licensed and vaccinated, although according to records was not in 2009 when the previous incident occurred.

Pole Hearing

In Halifax, National Grid and Verizon jointly own utility poles, but Verizon sets them. The jobs are initiated by National Grid, which is attempting to improve safety in the area by moving guide wires, which help support the poles, from the trees where they are currently anchored to poles they claim are safer.

A Verizon representative came before the board to get permission to do the work. About a half-dozen residents of Lingan Street and surrounding streets in “the avenues”, where several of the new poles for guide wires were slated to be placed were also present.

The Verizon representative had already been researching the area, and was accommodating to the concerns of the Board and the residents. She had already spoken to several residents earlier in the day.

She was quick to point out that no new guide wires were being installed; only existing ones were being moved slightly from being anchored into trees to being anchored in poles.

Residents spoke passionately about how the neighborhood was congested, and contained crowded and narrow streets. They questioned whether the work was needed. Most notably, they were concerned that truck and boat-owners would continue to be able to clear the guide wires, which pass over the street.

Happily, a solution that worked for everyone was eventually crafted.

The most controversial pole, close to 116 Lingan Street, was denied by the Board, to the relief of the residents in the room. The guide wire will remain anchored to a tree. The board did approve a second pole on the street, near 120 Lingan Street.

The others were not as controversial once everyone understood exactly what Verizon was proposing. The Board approved three guide wire poles to be installed, one each on Garden Road, Pratt Street and at Richview Avenue.

Growing Pot in Plympton? Local farmer proposes medicinal marijuana ‘grow-op’ venture

On Monday, Jan. 4, Plympton Selectmen met to discuss what appeared to be a very short agenda. Yet, a surprise lurked in the “Appointments” section of the agenda. Only a resident’s name and “Agricultural venture” gave away any type of hint as to the surprise that would come with the 6:30 p.m. appointment.

The resident, local farmer Jeff Randall, is proposing to build a medicinal marijuana growing facility, commonly known as a “grow-op”, on his farm on Ring Road. The marijuana, according to Randall, would             be grown indoors, in soil in a 60 foot by 180 foot enclosed building. He presented a very detailed written proposal to the Board, detailing the entire licensing process. He specifically noted that he is not proposing a medical marijuana dispensary in Plympton (a place where medical marijuana is sold to patients).

Although marijuana is still considered illegal at the Federal level, at the State level it has been “decriminalized” for recreational use and legalized for medical use with a doctor’s prescription. The Commonwealth has stringent regulations for growing marijuana and selling it to patients medicinally, and Randall noted that he was still early in this    process.

At some point, he needs either a letter of support or a letter of “non-opposition” from the Board of Selectmen. Randall noted that he was quite likely in front of the Board prematurely, but was seeking input from the Selectmen to get a feel for where they stood on the issue.

The responses of the Selectmen were as interesting as the proposal.

The Board had clearly done their homework and asked detailed questions about security, abutters, the licensing process and Randall’s future intent with his property. The Commonwealth requires stringent security, and Randall had already had what he described as a productive meeting with the Police Chief. He stated that he hadn’t spoken to every abutter, but those that he had spoken to were enthusiastic and he has no intention of giving up his other farming activities, which include cultivating cranberries and boarding horses.

Selectperson Christine Joy spoke first when it came time for the Board to express where they stood on the proposal. Joy initially stated that she was opposed and personally uncomfortable with the idea. “I’m not a huge fan. I don’t think it is a good fit for the town … But if the townspeople support it, I support it.”

Selectperson Colleen Thompson spoke next. Typically she appears to listen very carefully, take everything in and ask a few pointed questions. This night was no different. She didn’t have many questions, but she stated that she “was not opposed.” Thompson said that she wasn’t sure if she would lean more towards a letter of support or a letter of non-opposition, but in any case would not stand in the way of Randall.

Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo enthusiastically supported the proposal. Citing that Plympton is a “right-to-farm” community, that he encourages expanding agriculture in town, the revenue such a venture could bring in taxes and his own interest in herbal medicine and noting  that his brother is a world-wide expert on the medical use of marijuana, he was whole-heartedly on board provided the appropriate other town boards approved the proposal.

The Board plans to set aside time at their January 25th meeting to seek public input and hear more from Randall.

Conflict erupts at Plympton Selectmen meeting over petitions

Plympton – Monday, Dec. 14, Plympton Selectmen’s regularly scheduled meeting at the Town House began with former Selectman John Henry dropping off two petitions regarding meetings being filmed by Area 58 Community Access Media to the Board as they adjourned their executive session.  Henry was not on the agenda and this was not expected. The Selectmen also finalized a title for the “employee document” and further tackled various sections. They also announced that the USDA had auctioned off the property at 59 Parsonage Road. The meeting was brief, but dramatic.

Henry presents petition

Selectmen were just closing their executive session when resident and former selectman John Henry handed the Express two petitions he had circulated asking that all Finance Committee meetings between January 1, 2016 and the Annual Town Meeting be filmed by Area 58 CAM. The other asked that the Public Safety Building Committee meetings be filmed, as well.

He also supplied an email dated Dec. 6, stating that many elderly residents in the community could not attend these meetings because they don’t drive at night, that the room where they are held in is too small and uncomfortable, that the busiest meetings for the FinCom happen during flu season and that the FinCom meetings should be moved to a different room.

Selectmen had previously discussed the matter and decided that there was no problem with the current arrangement as the meetings are lightly attended, and FinCom Chairman Susan Ossoff had cited logistical issues in moving from their current space.

When selectmen asked Henry if his petitions were on the meeting agenda for the evening, Henry replied that no, he was just going to hand them to the Board after the meeting had begun.

As the Board broke from executive session, Henry entered the room and before the Board had come back into Open Session presented his petitions to the Board.

The entire exchange happened quickly, as Area 58 was setting up their cameras, so no record of the incident exists. A heated discussion ensued and Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo and Henry exchanged harsh words. The meeting began in open session after Henry left, continuing his tirade with members of the Finance Committee who were standing in the hall outside the selectmen’s meeting room.

Everyone who signed the petition to have the Public Safety Building Committee meetings filmed signed the petition to have the FinCom meetings filmed, but a few more signed the FinCom petition, with 78 unique signatures. Two individuals signed twice and were thus only counted once.

Just examining the FinCom petition, approximately 60% of the petitioners were over the age of 70, according to an analysis by the Express accomplished by crosschecking the names and addresses of the petitioners against birth years provided in the 2015 edition of the annually published “Plympton Street List”. The average age was about 70, and the median age was 72. According to the 2010 US Census, the median age for Plympton is 44.

Of all the petitioners, only four were under the age of 50. Of these four, only one was in his 40’s. The other three were between 30 and 35. The range of ages of the petitioners was from 30 to 90.

The Selectmen agreed to discuss the petition next week.

Sale of 59 Parsonage Road

Several attempts to negotiate Plympton’s obtaining the storied 36-acre property at 59 Parsonage Road for conservation land and other uses, fell through due to the lack of funding on either side for Phase II environmental studies.   The USDA, which owned the property through foreclosure, was finally able to bring it to auction on Friday, Dec. 11, when the property was sold to the highest bidder.

There was no floor on the initial bid. The USDA would not confirm the sale price as of press time, although the popular real estate website Zillow.com indicates a pending sale of $170,000 for that address.

The Chairman Russo wasn’t sure if the buyer’s name had been made public, but he did mention that he was led to believe that the property owner intended to continue to use it for agricultural purposes.

The Express has since learned it was a Plympton resident who made the purchase.

Personnel document progresses

The “personnel document” received a new name – the “Town Employee Policy and Procedures Handbook”.

The Board also settled on disciplinary guidelines, chosen from several other towns and Town Counsel, which were voted on and approved for a ten-day posting period for public comment. Following the review period, it will become part of the handbook.

They also voted on a uniform employment application, which as well will be posted for a ten-day period for public comment.

The Selectmen also discussed a “social media policy”, and were examining several possibilities, from one to eight pages long. The longest policy was recommended by Town Counsel.   The Board decided they needed more time to look over the document.

Furure meeting dates

Future meeting dates:

• The Board of Selectmen will meet next on Dec. 21 and Jan. 4.
• The Public Safety Building Committee will meet next Dec. 30.

Regionalization is key, more  grants available for Plympton

PLYMPTON – On Monday, Dec. 7, Plympton Selectmen discussed the progress of the employee handbook, which is being prepared over several weeks; Selectperson Christine Joy presented a new Community Compact grant opportunity for further regionalization purposes; and the concept of “municipal aggregation,” was introduced, referring to purchasing electricity with other municipalities to get better rates.

Employee handbook

The “employment document,” as it is being called, is coming together as a full-fledged employee handbook. The Board has taken similar documents from other towns, as well as suggestions from Town Counsel, and “cutting and pasting” the best parts.

At this point, a hiring policy, a recruitment policy as well as a CORI policy have been adopted.

Selectmen discussed a disciplinary policy on Monday, although the exact language was not voted. They were referring to a model from the Town’s attorney, and it was based on a model of “progressive discipline,” whereby warnings are given before eventual termination.

Where the Board did not have a comprehensive list of rules to be broken – or followed – this section continues to be a work in progress until they can develop a protocol.

The process has included input from all three Board members, as well as Town Coordinator Dale Pleau, who has been gathering comparative documents from many Massachusetts towns.

Next up: a uniform employment application for all Town positions.

Regionalization Grant

Selectperson Joy notified the board that a new round of Community Compact grants are available.

Plympton just signed a document with the Commonwealth awarding three financially focused grants to the town.

The Community Compact Cabinet is offering a new grant opportunity to help towns study the possible benefits of regionalizing – sharing – certain services.

Board Chairman Mark Russo has been encouraging further discussions with neighboring communities on regionalization for months, but notes the difficulty in getting busy officials from differing towns into the same room. “It’s like herding cats.”

The Selectmen authorized Joy to apply for the grant.

Municipal Aggregation

Though it might sound like “regionalization,” or even combining towns, municipal aggregation is a term that refers to the purchase of electricity for residents in bulk together with other communities to get the best rate.

Joy recently attended a presentation on this topic by the Old Colony Planning Council.

The basic premise is that multiple towns hire a third-party “aggregator” who seeks out the lowest possible price for electricity.  Lower prices are due to the increased purchasing power of a group of towns buying together.

A resident could choose to opt out and no one would see a change in the company that their bill comes from. The savings would be modest, according to Joy, although she mentioned that very conservative estimates were presented by the OCPC.

Several towns in the county have expressed interest, and the Board will continue to explore the matter.

“It’s an interesting opportunity,” said Joy.

In Other News:

• Just Right Farm was issued a Common Victualler’s License. Because Chairman Russo lives at Just Right Farm, he recused himself from the vote.

• The Selectmen will meet next on December 14th and December 21st at 6 p.m. in the Committee Meeting Room.

• The Public Safety Building Committee will meet next on December 16th and December 30th at 6 p.m. in the Committee Meeting Room.