By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

HALIFAX – The town has two new full-time police officers: Ryan Simpson and Patrick Deroo.

Selectmen on Tuesday Jan. 13 voted, 3-0, to appoint Simpson and Deroo as full-time officers, on the recommendation of Police Chief Edward Broderick.

They have been in training for four months and are appointed permanent intermittent officers, Broderick said.

“They’re ready to go, ready to go work for us,” he said.

Broderick said Halifax has gotten a waiver from Civil Service for Simpson and Deroo to start working full-time until the next full-time police officer academy, which starts in March and which both officers will attend.

“All that is in place and ready to go,” he said.

Broderick said Simpson and Deroo have rotated through every shift and been checked by sergeants and officers, and he is pleased with their commitment.

“No complaints. They’ve both worked out very well,” he said.

Broderick said the appointments will help Halifax avoid overtime costs and get the police department back to 11 officers on the road.

Selectman Kim Roy said she appreciates Broderick hiring full-timers from the town’s pool of permanent intermittent officers, from among known people, and she is impressed by them.

“We appreciate the way you’ve been managing your budget and keeping these things on target,” she said.

Meeting Notes

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said Gov. Charlie Baker indicated he would release $100-million in Chapter 90 highway aid that had been approved by the state Legislature but withheld by former governor Deval Patrick. As a result, Chapter 90 aid to Halifax will increase from $270,938 to $406,407, Seelig said.

Selectmen accepted a state recycling grant of $6,500 to purchase a new 40-yard roll-off container for plastics and to print and mail educational materials on recycling to residents.

Selectmen voted to sign a contract with Lakeville to use that town’s animal shelter when needed.

Selectmen scheduled a hearing on the way properties are being turned over, bought and sold at Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop, 272 Plymouth St., on the recommendation of Broderick, who said there is an open case regarding stolen items in connection with the pawn shop. The hearing will take place on Jan.26 at 8:45 p.m.

Selectmen voted to send a letter to the owner of USA Fitness, 430 Plymouth St., about the legality under town bylaw of the business’s advertising for and buying second-hand items, sometimes in exchange for time in the gym, that is taking place in the gym storefront.

Selectmen met in executive session for collective bargaining for the firefighters’ contract with Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

Selectmen voted to ask the public to submit a current photo from the calendar year 2014 that has something to do with Halifax for consideration to be put on the cover of the Annual Town Report.

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

KINGSTON — The Silver Lake Regional School Committee and the Silver Lake Education Association on Thursday Jan. 8 ratified a new teachers’ contract.

The three-year contract is retroactive to July and provides pay raises of 1.8-percent, 1.9-percent and 2-percent over the next three years, according to School Committee member Maureen Springer of Plympton, who praised the teachers union members.

“We thank you very much for your patience. We hope we can work together well into the future as we have in the past,” she said.
High School English teacher Kimberly Orcutt, who is president of the SLEA, thanked the community for their patience and support, and said teachers are glad to be back into their regular routines.

“I wanted to thank you all, the community, the teachers, for working with us in the negotiations,” she said. “We’re back together again. Thank you.”

Level-services budget presented

Tuffy presented a draft $23.7-million fiscal 2016 budget that would increase spending by 5.3-percent or $1.2-million over this year. The budget is level-services because it assumes that all of this year’s programs funded this year will continue at the same level of service as next year, he said.
Tuffy said the spending plan would add a Grade 8 math teacher to address student scores and curriculum changes. It would also add funding for an assistant swim coach and freshmen volleyball coach at the high school, as both sports are popular.
The budget assumes that health insurance costs will increase by 5-percent. It also funds the new assessment the district must pay to the Plymouth County Retirement Board, and assumes an adjustment for Medicare costs. There are no adjustments for utilities and shared costs yet figured into the draft budget.
“This is the first time you are looking at it,” Tuffy told school board members. “Please take it home and look at it.”

Capital needs funding approved

The School Committee approved a $619,000 capital needs package, funding it in this year’s budget by drawing from the district’s $1.1-million in excess and deficiency or free cash funds.
“We’re using half of it. That’s conservative,” said School Committee member Mark Guidoboni of Kingston.
The plans includes funding to:

• Add indoor and outdoor cameras: $22,000.
• Set up a new campus-wide, two-way radio system: $22,000.
• Install a new middle school keyless entry system: $5,000.
• Replace the accounting system: $90,000.
• Fund the district’s OPEB liability: $100,000.
• Repair and resurface the track: $120,000.
• Repair and resurface the tennis courts: $30,000.
• Repair parking lot cracks: $11,000.
• Replace the JV baseball backstop: $19,000.
• Build one new athletic storage shed, do prep work for a second such shed: $60,000.
• Build a new middle school storage shed: $18,000.
• Buy additional high school and middle school furniture: $11,000.
• Install an additional 75 high school lockers: $17,000.
• Conduct an exterior envelope evaluation of the high school and middle school: $24,000.
• Resurface carpentry and metal fabrication floors: $40,000.
• Study the feasibility of installing solar generation facilities at the high school and middle school: $10,000.
• Make safety repairs to Sirrico field lighting poles: $20,000.

https://plymptonhalifaxexpress.com/230/

 

Dorothy Ellen (Keach) Lundsgaard, 92 of Halifax, formerly of West Roxbury, passed away on Wednesday September 17, 2014. Daughter of the late Perley A. and Mary I. (Bjork) Keach, she was born on March 23, 1922 in Boston. Dorothy enjoyed traveling, sewing, knitting, and enjoyed spending time at the Halifax Senior Center. She was a thesis typist for Boston University Medical Students, from her home, in the 1960’s-1970’s.

Dorothy was the wife of the late Niels Lundsgaard. She is survived by her daughter Donna M. (Derochers) Lovett of Halifax. Dorothy was the sister of the late John and Robert Keach and the late Arlene Pearce. She was the grandmother of Eric and Marc Derochers and the great grandmother to Ava, Samantha, and Caitlyn Derochers.

Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Homes, Corner Route 14 & 58, HANSON, on Sunday from 2-4 PM followed by a service at 4PM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Cir, Plymouth, MA 02360.

 

Hearing on gravel removal is continued

By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
editor@whitmanhansonexpress.com

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen, following a site visit by members Don Howard and Bill Scott, Conservation Agent Laurie Muncy and a member of the Conservation Commission, will reopen a hearing at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30 on the application of Great Cedar Cattle Feeders Inc. of Halifax for a soil removal permit.

Howard has professional experience with bogs and gravel management, and Scott is a bog owner.

Great Cedar Farm Manager Demetrius Haseotes explained at the hearing Sept. 16 that the work involves removal of 3,400 cubic yards of soil from cranberry bogs at Pierce Avenue and Robinson Street in Hanson for use at the company’s agricultural property in Halifax. The company has already removed 600 cubic yards of gravel from the site.

He aplogized for beginning the work without a permit because he did not know it was necessary. The company’s bog manager Jesus Rivera was unable to attend the hearing.

“We had no idea we were to come before you,” Haseotes said. “What we were doing, we thought, was a routine operation and maintenance of our cranberry bog. We meant no disrespect to the board or any of the neighbors.”

Abutters expressed concern about the effect of the soil removal on drainage in the area, dust and traffic as well as the legality of the gravel removal operation if the project fits that definition. Selectmen all shared concerns voiced by abutters, but expressed the need for more information before rendering a decision.

“This is serious amounts of gravel being moved,” Selectmen Chairman David Soper said. “I ask this board to consider what we have going on here.”

 “Obviously it is a gravel removal operation,” Scott said. “Whether it’s consistent with the farm plan … and may or may not be an exemption to the farm, that may be something to be decided outside this forum.”

Haseotes said the objective for the work is to create a “landing area” for trucks during picking season for safer and easier access to the property away from wetlands and wildlife. He noted that his father had a dangerous car accident on site last winter when his vehicle skidded on ice and ended up rolling over the vehicle in a bog pit.

“That day, when things got settled, we started to look at the bog and how to make things much safer,” Haseotes said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

He pledged to do the work during “normal business hours” and assured selectmen it was not a commercial operation.

Soper said that, from the fenceline, it appears excavation is close to the fence on the Robinson Street side and the operation should be required to truck out soil via Route 27 to control traffic and dust.

“It’s a big dust storm down there,” said Pierce Avenue resident Alan Spera, whose property abuts the bog area on two sides. “The actual excavation area is approximately 120 feet from my property line.”

He said work began in the busy area in August — there are town ballfields, an American Legion Post and Boss Academy of Performing Arts also located on Robinson Street, which forms an “L” intersection with Pierce Avenue.

“The town specifically does not allow gravel removal operations in any zone,” Spera added. “The only exception is if there is an accessory use … [or] related to that use.”

Haseotes argued his work fits that definition, but Spera — while he appreciated the apology — countered that removing the soil from the site is not an accesory or related use.

“I think we need a lot more information before we can support what you want to do — if we, in fact, are going to do that — and you are going to have to supply that information to us,” Spera said.

Robert White, a Robinson Street resident, spoke about the effect of dust and truck traffic.

“It’s lit up when trucks come out of the bogs,” he said of his house. “We have to keep our windows shut because of the dust coming off the roads. … It looks like the Big Dig.”

He said there are people going in out of the bogs at all hours of the night.

Where the dust is concerned, Haseotes said this has been one of the driest seasons he has seen in 25 years of farming.

Indian Trail resident Kim Wilson was chiefly concerned with the effect of the bog work on drainage.

“I’m looking at it not to stop someone from using the property they own but what effect that might have on myself, financially,” she said. “Gravel is drainage.”

Haseotes said he does not think work is close enough to the buffer area to affect drainage, but Conservation Commission Chairman John Kemmett said the company’s farm plan should contain answers to a lot of the questions being asked.

“I think it’s important that the board see that plan so they understand if you’re in compliance,” Kemmett said.

Selectman Bruce Young asked how the farm plan applied to the work being done. Hiseotes replied it would improve access for updating the bogs for increased production as well as improve access roads at other crop-producing properties.

Selectmen requested a copy of the farm plan as part of the continued hearing.

Scott said good relations with neighbors are important for farmers and said Route 27 as an access for trucks and watering down dust would help with that effort.

“If you kind of overdo you exemption rights, that sometimes creates a problem for neighbors,” Scott said. “Try hard not to do that.”

Howard, who also has bog experience, said the periodic sanding of bogs does not require removal of gravel to his knowledge. He also expressed concern about the dust problem.

Silver Lake among districts receiving fake invoices

Fraudulent invoices for unordered supplies are appearing in area schools as the Better Business Bureau issued a warning to schools and districts across the country after the consumer group fielded complaints from 27 states, including Massachusetts.

One such fake invoice has already been received by the Silver Lake Regional School District, where the district’s purchase order system has prevented them from being paid, according to Superintendent John Tuffy.

“We only got one so far,” Tuffy said. “It was from Scholastic School Supply for several hundred dollars.”  Invoices coming in to Silver Lake must match up with purchase orders, which the invoice in question did not.  “We also noticed that the ‘remit to’ address differed from the one we have on file.” He does not rule out the possibility that more fake invoices may still be received, but stressed the checks and balances of the accounting system protects the district.

“If it doesn’t have a P.O. number, we question it.”

In the past few weeks, there has been a rush of complaints filed with BBB against “Scholastic School Supply,” which claim either a Nevada or New Jersey address that turn out to be mail drops.

The BBB has urged that schools not to pay the invoices but to send them to the local Postal Inspector and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as their state’s attorney general or consumer protection agency.

So far, none of the complainants have sent money; however, BBB has no way of knowing if any schools have unknowingly paid the invoice, since they would not have filed a complaint.

“Many of our customers have received invoices from a company calling itself ‘Scholastic School Supply,” read a statement issued by the global children’s publishing, education and media company. “Scholastic School Supply is not affiliated with Scholastic Inc., but rather is a company that is using Scholastic’s name and trademark without authorization. Scholastic recently became aware of this company and its actions, and has demanded that they cease and desist using Scholastic’s name and trademark, which they have agreed to do, but they seemingly have not done so as of the date of this communication.”
In addition, Scholastic stated it has been investigating this company and will continue to do so.

“If we determine that this company is allegedly violating any other laws or regulations, we will take prompt, appropriate action,” a company spokesman stated. “However, in the course of our investigation and through conversations with our customers who have brought this company to our attention, it appears that numerous schools and districts have referred “Scholastic School Supply” to various state attorneys general and the U.S. Postal Inspector in Nevada and New Jersey for further investigation.”

BBB Serving Southern Nevada received its first complaint against Scholastic School Supply on Aug. 20, 2014 and since then has received nearly 70 complaints from schools across the country. The company’s online BBB Business Review has also received more than 3,000 inquiries; there is an Alert posted there so that visitors are able to confirm the suspicious nature of the invoice. The company maintains a mail drop in Sewell, New Jersey, as well as Las Vegas, and BBB New Jersey has received more than 20 complaints so far.

The bogus invoices have been for $647.50 for the bulk purchase of “English-Language Arts Practice Books” or $388.50 for math workbooks (although the amounts and products could change at any time). Complainants have said they cannot reach the company to inquire about the products or amounts allegedly owed, and all have denied ever doing business with the company previously, according to the BBB.

To date, BBB has received complaints from schools in 27 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Due to BBB’s process for handling complaints, which gives a business up to a month to respond, the complaints received to date are still considered pending.

“Contact information available on the invoices was initially just going unanswered, but now email is bouncing and the phone number has been disconnected,” the BBB stated. “BBB has been unable to locate any corporation filings, business licensing, or documentation to substantiate a physical location in Nevada.”

Earlier this week, an agent in New Jersey filed as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) under the same company name, and the BBB there is investigating the connection. The UPS Store in Las Vegas is a BBB Accredited Business and is cooperating with the Postal Inspector and other agencies investigating the scheme.

To find out more about scams or to report one, check out BBB Scam Stopper.

By Mike Melanson
Express Correspondent

PLYMPTON — Plympton as a school district has made a comeback this year.

Last year, the Plympton district fell to a Level 2 status, as defined by the state education department.

This year, the district is back to Level 1, the top rank, according to assistant school Superintendent Joy Blackwood.

The ranking is based on MCAS scores, she said.

On Monday Sept. 22, Blackwood told the Plympton School Committee that the state has released MCAS scores.

Scores were to be sent home in children’s backpacks for elementary school students and by mail for secondary students on Thursday Sept. 25.

Blackwood said Grade 3 students did really well on the exams.

“Plympton did very well,” she said.

School Superintendent John Tuffy said 19-percent of school districts in the state are ranked as Level 1 districts.

Blackwood said the status shows the hard work of teachers and students.

She said the district’s special education needs were identified as a concern, and the town budgeted more money, so that Plympton was able to hire a second special education teacher.

Blackwood said she would do an in-depth presentation on the town’s MCAS scores at the October Plympton School Committee meeting, to be held Oct. 27.

Melissa Farrell, K-6 coordinator, will also discuss the results, she said.

Agreement reached

The School Committee and selectmen Chairman Mark Russo voted, 6-0, in a joint vote to accept an agreement negotiated with the Plympton Teachers Association.

The new contract runs for three years, with raises of 2-percent for the first year, 2-percent for the second year, and 2-percent for the third year, Tuffy said.

The agreement also allows teachers to request to use sick days as bereavement leave, subject to the discretion of the superintendent, he said.

Water treatment

Tuffy said school Business Manager Christine Healy has put together a request for proposals for a recommendation on whether Plympton should use a reverse osmosis, salt or green sand design for a water treatment plant.

The project was approved by Town Meeting for the Dennett Elementary School to deal with a high level of manganese, he said.

The School Committee would choose which system to use, and the consultant would then produce a design and biddable documents for engineering and design, and then would come construction, Tuffy said.

“You will get some information and be asked to make an informed decision on how you would like to proceed,” he said.

Tuffy said the reverse osmosis system is expensive and there is a high maintenance cost.

Fingerprinting

Tuffy said the state is changing a law that requires schools to fingerprint all newly hired employees.

The school district started fingerprinting new hires last school years. The prints are run through a national criminal history database, he said.

The new state law now says that all employees must be fingerprinted, over the next two or three years, although administrators are waiting to hear about a timetable for doing so from the state, he said.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

Tuffy said the fingerprinting is done not by police but by a private vendor. The cost for the fingerprinting is $55 for licensed teachers and $35 for employees without licensure.

Parent volunteers with supervised access to schoolchildren must still be subject to criminal background checks, but for those with unsupervised access, fingerprinting will be required, he said.

Tuffy said he does not see the need to fingerprint parent chaperones on field trips to public places, but an overnight trip would require fingerprinting.

School Committee member Gail Knight said it is hard to get volunteers already without asking them to take extra steps if fingerprinting is required of them.

“It’s a shame it has to be that way,” she said.

School Committee Chairman Brian Wick said the new state law seems well intentioned but not well thought out.

Fundraiser and open house will feature boardwalk planks for sale

By Alan Wheelock
Express Contributor

Friends of Plympton Parks will be hosting an open house and fundraiser on Saturday, October 4th, from 4 PM to 7 PM at Reunion Farm, 271 Main Street, Plympton. The purpose of the event is to help raise the needed funds to construct a boardwalk in the town’s newest conservation area – Churchill Park. The Friends of Plympton Parks have named this campaign “Build a Bridge to the Ridge,” which refers to the fact that the new boardwalk will carry visitors across the wetlands areas of Churchill Park to the beautiful uplands of Cato’s Ridge, a large conservation area contiguous to Churchill.

Attendees will be able buy a plank in the new boardwalk and have it inscribed with their family, pet, or business name, wedding anniversary, birthday, remembrance of a loved one, etc. Donation for each plank is $50. Friends  of Plympton Parks members will be on hand at Reunion Farm to take orders for planks or to provide visitors with order forms.  The open house will feature live music, light refreshments, a bake sale, and detailed information about the project. More information about the “Build a Bridge to the Ridge” campaign can be found at plymptonparks.org.

USDA to be notified it has 30 days to act

By Mike Melanson
Express Correspondent

PLYMPTON — The Board of Health on Thursday, Sept. 18 voted, 3-0, to order that an historic horse farm at 59 Parsonage Road either be made safe and secured, or demolished, within 30 days.

A three story antique wooden barn on the property, held by the USDA, burned to the ground on Aug. 25. 

Board of Health Chairman Arthur Morin said it is up to the USDA to fix the house roof, board up doors, fill the barn cellar hole, and fix trailers on the property.

Morin said he is concerned that children might go in to explore, fall through a broken floor board into the cellar, and break a leg, or come out covered with mold.

The USDA must also put a new roof over the kitchen, to stop rain from getting in. The doors are unlocked and the house is open. Doors and windows need to be secured. Mold needs to be taken out. Trailers need to be secured, but Morin said he would prefer they be taken out. There are pipes underground that go to the trailers that might be part of an illegal septic system, he said.

“It needs to be secured. It needs to be done right away,” Morin said. “This is not a request. This is an order.”

Board of Health member John Doyle said his personal opinion is he believes the USDA will demolish the structures instead of restoring them.

“We are trying to enforce this. This is a bad situation there. It’s been going on for years. It’s getting worse every year,” Doyle said.

The Community Preservation Committee is considering acquiring the property, known as the Pina property.

Last Monday, Sept. 15, selectmen Chairman Mark Russo, who chairs the CPC, said a public safety building could be built on the Route 58 side of the property, and that the old house has a tremendous historical value.

The property, he said during last Monday’s selectmen meeting, could be used for farming, community housing and recreation, and it would offer access to the Winnetuxet River.

Brook Retreat

The Board of Health Thursday also discussed septic system and sprinkler requirements for a recovery house planned for Brook Street.

Brook Retreat, 55 Brook St., is a five- to nine-month residential spiritual retreat dedicated to helping addicts and alcoholics recover through the immediate and rigorous application of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, although the retreat is not affiliated with AA.

It was founded in May by Tom Rielly, Michael Goedicke, and Joe Carroll, all recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of alcoholism and addiction.

Jeraldine Batchelder, administrative assistant to the Board of Health, said the state recommends two people per bedroom. With six bedrooms, there could be 12 people, she said.

Brook Retreat is seeking an occupancy permit for 16 people, said Rielly, who attended Thursday’s meeting.

Doyle said the house would need to increase its septic system, and with a well would need enough pressure to run sprinklers.

“Those are our priorities. Whether you’re qualified to do it or not is none of our business. I’m not expressing a personal opinion,” Doyle said. “We’re just interested in the health aspects.”

Doyle said Rielly and his colleagues should wait for approvals from other town boards, especially with zoning, to make sure they may run a recovery house, before spending thousands of dollars on septic and sprinkler systems, money wasted if no more than four people are permitted to occupy the house. 

“You guys might be jumping the gun here,” Doyle said.

Rielly said the same man who engineered the sprinkler system for the Town House is engineering that for Brook Retreat.

Rielly said he does not want to miss something or miss a meeting, and just wanted to make contact with the Board of Health to see what the applicants need to do.

“Everybody keeps saying you’ve got to talk to these people, you’ve got to talk to these people. I’m just trying to do my due diligence,” he said. “We’re more than confident that it is legal. We do fall under the special regulations that we fall under.”

Rielly said that six months ago, a house in Wenham similar to Brook Retreat called Cross Keys went through zoning in that town, and six months ago, got permission through a federal court to stay there.

“We’re going to do everything we can do to keep moving forward,” he said.

Tobacco regulations

The Board of Health is looking into redoing its tobacco regulations, last updated in 2001, Morin said.

The health board banned synthetic marijuana in March, and plans to look at regulating e-cigarettes, he said.

Board of Health members Thursday discussed a recent presentation by Judith Coykendall, program manager, Tobacco-Free Community Partnership with Seven Hills Behavioral Health in New Bedford; and Sarah McColgan, tobacco control director for the Massachusetts Health Officers Association in Plymouth.

The presentation centered on e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery methods, said Health Officer Cathleen Drinan.

A federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study included in the presentation showed a three-fold increase in the number of youth using e-cigarettes who do not smoke conventional cigarettes. The study also found that youth who have used e-cigarettes are twice as likely to have intentions of smoking conventional cigarettes.

It shows that efforts to create a tobacco-free generation is being undercut by e-cigarettes, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, which in August called on the FDA to regulate e-cigarettes and ban flavorings that are attractive to youth.

“This is serious stuff,” Doyle said. “It blew my mind when I say that stuff.”

Doyle said he had no idea that e-cigarettes had nicotine.

He said anyone can buy an e-cigarette, even a 3-year-old, and someone could walk into the Board of Health smoking an e-cigarette and the board could do nothing about it.

Doyle said he spoke with Plympton DARE Officer Dana Smith about the presentation, and Smith is coming up with a program for the school.

“A lot of parents are unaware of what their kids can buy,” said Board of Health member Kenneth Thompson.

All-boards meeting

Board of Health members Thursday criticized an all-boards meeting called by selectmen and held Aug. 25.

Doyle said he does not think anything was accomplished. The meeting was supposed to be about communication issues, but all people did was just say what their board or department did, he said.

Morin said that former selectmen Joseph Freitas called for another all-boards meeting a few years back, and it was the same thing.

“The communication needs to be handled internally rather than through a big meeting,” Morin said.

“The problem was re-affirmed,” Thompson said.

Board of Health Notes

• The Board of health approved a large event permit and mobile food permit for Sauchuk Farm on weekends from Sept. 20 to Nov. 1 for a corn maze.

• The Board of Health approved a mobile food permit for Relish the Dog, owned by Irene Alden of Halifax, to operate at Billingsgate Farm.

Halifax will apply for grant to study feasibility of water controls

By Mike Melanson
Express Correspondent

HALIFAX — If automatic valves and controls were installed at the Stump Brook Dam to remotely manage the water levels of the Monponsett Ponds, residents might be spared from record algal blooms and forced closures to swimming, fishing and boating.

Selectmen on Tuesday Sept. 23 voted, 3-0, to apply for a state grant to study the feasibility of and produce a conceptual design for using a supervisory control and data acquisition system, or SCADA system, to better monitor and control water levels at the ponds.

The project is estimated to cost $74,850.

Town Meeting appropriated $15,000 as a 20-percent match for the project.

Health Agent Cathleen Drinan is also donating 80 hours of in-kind service, at a value of $2,400, by sharing the progress of the feasibility study, planning, attending meetings and doing outreach.

Halifax will seek a Sustainable Water Management Initiative Grant from the state Division of Ecological Restoration for a feasibility study and conceptual design.

A final report would be ready by June 30, 2015, given a Dec. 22 grant award date.

Drinan and Russ Kleekamp, a civil engineer, proposed the measure Tuesday, and offered selectmen a written statement in support of it.

“A lot of improvements are needed,” Drinan said. “Keep forging ahead. Try to keep going.”

“This application is the first step in an implementation approach,” Kleekamp said.

According to the six-page statement, Brockton draws water from Silver Lake as a drinking water supply. Furnace Pond and Monponsett Ponds are connected by pipeline to supply water to Silver Lake to meet the city’s demand.

Before modifications were made to provide water supply, Stump Brook drained West Monponsett Pond to the Taunton River, and the Jones River drained Silver Lake to the Cape Cod Bay.

To provide water supply and industrial improvements, the Stump Brook was dammed, and the Jones River was dammed in three areas.

Residents surrounding Monponsett Ponds are concerned about algal blooms that have forced closures to swimming, fishing and boating, and are plagued by foul odors and views of neon green blooms, according to the statement.

Hydraulic retreat, due to man-made modifications, of the natural relief formerly provided by the Stump Brook, has idled the waters of West Monponsett Pond, resulting in prime conditions for record algal blooms.

In 2012, the state Division of Ecological Restoration awarded Halifax a $79,346 Sustainable Water Management Initiative grant to develop the Monponsett Pond and Silver Lake Water Use Operations and Improvements Report.

The report, prepared by Princeton Hydro, states that “existing water management practices are not sustainable.”

One of the drivers behind the “mismanagement,” according to the report, is the water level of Monponsett Ponds, especially West Monponsett Pond, which is closest to the Stump Brook Dam.

The Brockton water system uses the diversion to draw as many as 23-million gallons per day from Monponsett Ponds to Silver Lake. The withdrawal allotment from Silver Lake to the Brockton water system is 11-million gallons per day. The surplus 12-million gallons per day is deposited through the outlet of Silver Lake into the Jones River.

The man-made diversion creates a reversal of flows, flooding the Jones River, and putting Stump Brook into a state of drought.

The Stump Brook Dam is in the far corner of the Burrage Pond conservation area, time consuming to access, and has manually operated controls. The dam is neglected because of the time needed to frequently visit it. It is easier to open and control the diversion from Monponsett Ponds to Silver Lake by the pipeline at the East Monponsett Pond, than it is to control the elevations of the Monponsett Ponds from the Stump Brook Dam.

The report recommended automating controls at the Stump Brook Dam and other strategic locations.

Controls and the up-stream and down-stream ecosystem could be monitored and controlled remotely from an Internet ready device such as a smart-phone or tablet computer.

The feasibility study would recommend locations for automated controls, such as the Stump Brook Dam and diversion stations.

It would review available SCADA technology and compatibility requirements with the existing Brockton water supply system controls, and structural modifications to fit new controls at selected infrastructure points.

The study would recommend material and technology suppliers.

It would also determine operational procedures to maintain constant water levels of Monponsett Pond, and reduce excess diversion flows into the Jones River.

The study would produce a conceptual design and cost estimates for final design plan and construction, according to the statement.

Selectman Troy Garron said Brockton has state legislation in the city’s favor in terms of domain of the water supply, and that concerns him.

Halifax would be buying equipment for Brockton, Garron said, and the town should have a say over its use and accountability from the city, Garron said.

“All control goes into their hands. How do we know that they’re doing what they’re supposed to?” he said.

Selectmen Chairman Michael Schleiff said the state grant would get the door open to coming up with a solution. 

“This is a step in the right direction, to get it off and running,” Schleiff said. “You may want to make it vandal-proof too.”

In other action Tuesday, selectmen voted, 3-0, to ask Town Administrator Charlie Seelig to write a letter to Brockton Water Commissioners on behalf of selectmen to request a meeting with the Monponsett Pond Working Group.

Permit Reinstatement

Selectmen Tuesday voted, 3-0, to reinstate a fuel storage permit held by Kozhaya Nessralla in connection with a farm stand at routes 58 and 106 and a farm on Hemlock Lane.

Selectmen in August voted to revoke the permit for nonpayment of taxes.

On Tuesday, Seelig said Nessralla has worked out a payment agreement with the treasurer-collector, and has agreed to pay $8,500 by the middle of November; $1,500 in January; $500 in February, March and April; and $1,500 in May. Then the agreement will be updated with the new treasurer-collector, Seelig said.

“Thank you for following through with these things. I appreciate it,” Garron said to Nessralla.

Nessralla said, “I was under the gun for awhile.”

Eagle Scout project

Selectmen Tuesday voted, 3-0, to approve a request by Robert Veno for an Eagle Scout project to fix up the dugouts at Shea Field behind the Halifax Elementary School.

Veno said the dugouts are in a state of disrepair, and he plans to raise funds to repair and repaint the dugouts.

“I was in baseball all of my life growing up. I thought I would like to give back to the program,” he said.

Veno said the project would cost $1,000 for materials and $200 for other expenses, and would be done in October.

“This is an ambitious project,” Schleiff said.

By Cathleen Drinan

What a horrible year this has been! The West Monponsett Pond looks terrible and has been closed due to cyanobacteria counts since June 25  and since July 15 for the East Monponsett Pond.

At this point, the numbers for the West Pond are lower than the East Pond.

I still am not sure why this change in seeing this Aphanizomenon in such high numbers in the East Monponsett Pond.

In the past, the East Monponsett Pond closed only in the years when there was a summer time diversion to lower the water, that resulted in pulling the algae from west to east.

It is a concern that people still use the ponds.

We, at least, need our own signage at both boat ramps.  The State boat ramp has so much signage, all in brown and white. I think we need to pursue permission from the state to place an educational sign about algae. Ideally, it would be an informational sign board, similar to 4th Ave and Holmes St.

On the Holmes St beach, the sign board is over to the left and, if you ever watched the very dangerous process of someone backing their boat onto that that barely visible ramp, right at that curve in the road, you will recall that they do not walk over and read about the pond before dong so.

I am working with Russ Kleekamp on the next SWMI grant. EPA is working on their WMOST model. The Division of Ecological Restoration is talking about stream gauges.  Many, many people are working on this!

Please encourage people to join the Monponsett Watershed Association.

Thank you, George Zoto, for your reports and pictures!

Stay strong!

Cathy Drinan

More pond reporst next week