The Halifax Elementary School Committee met on Monday, August 30. The meeting began at the elementary school but was moved across the street to the Town Hall after several meeting participants refused to put on masks and the Superintendent and other school administrators had to leave to avoid being in violation of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) mask mandate. Halifax does not mandate masks in public buildings hence the location change. School Committee member Lauren Laws chose to join the meeting remotely after the move.

Chair Summer Schmaling began the meeting by opening it to public participation. Ashley Gregor of Middleborough took the opportunity to speak. Gregor began, “I’m here because I strongly oppose the masks.” She continued, “I think in the long run this is really going to psychologically affect the kids. They don’t understand, they went all summer without masks now they’re going to step back into the school system and have to put a mask on… I’m sad that there’s not a lot of Halifax parents here tonight. I think that you guys need to be brave and you need to stand up… there’s a big home-schooling community in Halifax; there’s a lot of people that will support you and stand up for you and this isn’t right and I’m just here to stand and say this isn’t right – no masks for the kids.”

Another parent took to the microphone to quote from the Holocaust documentary The Last Days. She read, “People wonder how is it that we didn’t do something. We didn’t run away, we didn’t hide. Well, things didn’t happen at once. Things happened very slowly so each time a new law came out or a new restriction, we said well, just another thing – it will blow over. When we had to wear the yellow star to be outside, we started to worry.” Using her own words, she then asked the School Committee, “sound familiar?” Another woman took to the microphone saying, “I just want to say, my grandchild is in the public schools and I will not allow him to be muzzled because that’s exactly what this is and it is a health risk.” She continued, “It increases your chance of getting sick. The viruses fit through the mask itself so you’re only increasing the risk of getting sick – you’re going to notice a spike in the children getting sick this year. Why? Because of the muzzle.”

Schmaling then addressed those gathered saying, “I just want to make one statement and I want to be very clear as to why we’re sitting in this room right now. I do not agree with masking our children at all and I’ve been very, very outspoken about it.” She pointed out that the School Committee had agreed to rescind the previous year’s masking policy prior to the DESE mandate. She continued, “I was not aware that by holding the meeting in the Elementary School tonight that it would put the license in jeopardy of my Superintendent, my Assistant Superintendent, my Principal, and my Assistant Principal… I agree with a lot of what was said here tonight, and I want you to know that I will continue to fight for our kids.” She said she believed it to be an overreach of DESE and the Education Commissioner to mandate masks. Finally, she said that her reasoning for moving the meeting was to include the administrators and conduct all necessary business.

Halifax Elementary School Principal Kayne Beaudry gave an update on the staff meeting that he described as “a good vibe, good energy, lots of positivity there.” Beaudry thanked the custodians for all their hard work over the summer getting the classrooms set for the school year. “We can’t thank them enough for everything that they did,” he said. He also thanked the office staff for their work over the summer. “There’s a lot that goes into it behind the scenes; I don’t think that people realize it,” he explained. Regarding enrollment he said that it had been in flux right up to the first day. As of that day, the number stood at 564 students. There were four new staff members including a sixth-grade teacher and a new kindergarten teacher. He said there are still two open positions in the school. Beaudry also told the Committee that there are fans and air purifiers in every classroom.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch provided some grant updates saying that they closed out their ESSER 1 grant that was established as part of the Education Stabilization Fund in the CARES Act. Lynch said they had successfully applied for ESSER 2 that allots $106,000 to Halifax for the next year or so with the aim being to support missed teaching and learning opportunities. He said they were looking for input from teachers and staff regarding supports needed by students. Lynch also said that the school was granted a wellness coach by DESE.

Superintendent Jill Proulx touched upon the welcome back day for all staff noting that it was the first time that not only all faculty, but all staff was invited to the meeting. “The focus was on celebrating the efforts of those staff members and faculty members who came together to try to recreate the way that we teach and learn to the best of our ability,” Proulx said.

Proulx provided an update on guidance from DESE and the Department of Public Health (DPH). She reminded everyone that remote learning would no longer be recognized by the State, unlike last year. Proulx said that earlier that week, DESE had granted Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students through at least October 1. After October 1, the mask mandate may potentially be lifted for all vaccinated students and staff if the school meets a certain vaccination rate. Proulx said she was told that rate would be eighty percent. Proulx said they anticipate hosting vaccination clinics at the Kingston Intermediate School in September.

Proulx told the Committee that there are no social distancing requirements this school year. She also said that there will be a test and stay program implemented. “If you are a close contact, you would have the option to stay in school and be tested daily… as long as you are asymptomatic,” she explained. Schmaling asked if a parent opted out of the free testing, would they then have to quarantine. Proulx said they would have to quarantine for seven days from the date of exposure. Students would be sent work that they can complete at home. Proulx read, “close contacts are defined as individuals who have been within six feet of a COVID 19 positive individual while indoors for at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period.” Individuals who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic are exempt from testing and quarantine. Other exemptions include asymptomatic individuals who were exposed but masked and three feet apart as well as those on buses that were masked while windows were open. Another exception is for asymptomatic individuals who are exposed within 90 days of their own positive COVID test.

A member of the School Committee asked what would happen if a student without a viable exception refused to wear a mask. Beaudry said that they would likely have a conversation with the school nurse and himself and if the behavior continued the caregivers would have to become involved. “Hopefully at that point we would come to the conclusion that it’s a State mandate,” he said. Schmaling said, “I personally feel very strongly, I don’t know how the rest of the Committee feels, that if anyone is going to have a conversation with my child, who is a minor, regarding their health or their opinion on something and it’s pertaining to anything medical, I need to be present as a parent so I think that we should, perhaps, entertain a policy.” She went on to say that the policy would stipulate that if any staff members are to have conversations regarding masks, vaccines, etc. that a parent needs to be present.

Committee member Gordon Andrews argued that wearing a mask is a requirement to be in the building and not a medical issue. He argued that anyone in violation of that requirement would have to go through the chain of command, beginning with the teacher and ending with the Superintendent if still not in compliance. Schmaling disagreed vehemently and said, “I do not think that our least vulnerable population should ever be masked; it’s a hindrance to their learning and their education. They’re not effective, they’re not health measures; these cloth masks do nothing for anybody but make their kid have a bacteria filled wet rag on their face all day.” Committee member Lauren Laws who was zooming into the meeting argued that transmission in schools was negligible last year due to the mask wearing. Schmaling loudly countered, “That’s not true. That’s not true. You’re just making things up! You’re making up talking points and it’s not true.” Laws said, “We did not have a lot of transmission in school, that’s a fact.”

Committee member James Keegan steered the conversation back in the direction of whether a policy should be put in place requiring caregivers to be present for conversations regarding mask violations. He said that if those conversations were to take place absent a caregiver, they should not include discussions on health. “I want to make sure that teachers and staff in the school who may have very strong opinions one way or another, do not bring those opinions into the classroom,” Keegan said.

Schmaling brought up an incident in a classroom where she says a teacher asked the students to raise their hands if vaccinated calling it “highly inappropriate.” Laws pointed out that the students at the elementary school are not even yet eligible to be vaccinated. Schmaling raised her voice crying, “thank God for that.” She told Beaudry, “I am like full on Momma bear mode with this issue – full on and I will be pissed if my kid comes home and tells me that they got cornered and felt intimidated, coerced, bullied, discriminated against.” Regarding teacher and administration intervention, Laws said, “if they are enforcing a policy, that is all we are talking about.” Keegan was very adamant that he does not want to see any teachers or staff harassing students. Schmaling claimed to know of a Halifax Elementary School teacher who has been vocal about how she would handle disciplining a child not wearing a mask. Keegan asked if there would be progressive discipline for a staff member who was handling the situation inappropriately.

Keegan appeared confused as to whether the School Committee could lift the mask mandate for their school despite the DESE requirement. Silver Lake’s attorney corrected him and said that option only existed prior to the DESE mandate. Fellow committee member Jennifer Carroll expressed her disapproval of the mask mandate. She said that students would be confused as to why they were allowed not to wear a mask at various venues over the summer only to be told they must wear one while in school. Laws countered that things have changed in the last several weeks citing the more contagious nature of the more dominant Delta variant as one of the things that has changed. Laws said her own family is all fully vaccinated but said they went from not wearing masks to wearing masks indoors again. “Looking at how things have changed and that there is more spread again, I truly believe this is what will keep our kids in school,” Laws said. Schmaling asked Laws sarcastically, “Could you please send me some information on where you’re finding these magic masks that are FDA approved because I can’t find them anywhere. I even looked in my lab; I work in a virology/genetics lab.”  Laws then asked Schmaling why she believed masks were being mandated. Schmaling said, “Because it’s a virtue signal.” Both Keegan and Schmaling then said, “We know why.” Schmaling continued, “That’s silly to even ask that question” to which Laws pressed her to further explain her reasoning. She did not. Carroll then interjected saying that the masks being worn clearly state that they will not protect you against viruses. Carroll said that if masks are being mandated, they should be proper masks and Schmaling added that they would also need goggles and a hazmat suit.

Schmaling also suggested that the School Committee send a letter to the State asking that the power to mandate masks be placed back under local control. Laws asked the attorney if it would have to be signed by everyone and was told it would not but that the letter would be sent if the majority of the Committee voted in favor of it.

Tempers flared at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Halifax Board of Selectmen when Ashley DiSesa, Halifax’s newest member of the board, introduced discussion for a possible vote for the replacement of the town’s various specialty attorneys with the town’s new choice for Town Counsel Brooks & DiRensis.  DiSesa said that there was a lot of confusion on this because certain departments are being told to go to certain attorneys  Brooks and DiRensis, she said, had mentioned at previous meetings that they would like to take over this work so there would be less chance of misinterpretation between attorneys and firms.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said that he was not aware of any confusion and told selectmen that it’s been the policy of the boards for 15 or 20 years that regulatory departments such as the Board of Health, Conservation Commission, ZBA, Planning Board, all have use of Town Counsel, they just have to notify selectmen that they are consulting with Town Counsel.  Labor questions have been answered by Atty. Michael Gillen, who has served the town for perhaps 30 years.  He has his own personnel to handle all of these things.  Seelig asked, at Gillen’s request, for Gillen to have an opportunity to address the board before the decision was made as to who would handle the matters going forward.  After a bit of discussion, selectmen allowed Gillen to speak before them at the Sept. 14 meeting.

Andrews spoke to DiSesa’s request saying that he believes, from his perspective, it makes sense to have one firm handling everything.  Seelig explained that Paul (DiRensis) is Town Counsel of Record, but one of the requirements for appointment as town counsel is that there be backup so he has assigned other attorneys in his firm with aspects of Halifax’s town work.  The discussion was tabled until Atty. Paul DiRensis could be present as he had not yet arrived.

Former Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor asked the board if it was financially wise to have work taken over by the new firm who would have to be brought up to date on these cases that have been going on for four or five years, and now will continue longer and possibly cost the town a whole lot more money.   My understanding is that the new town counsel has charged more than $14,000 to the town.   And YOU, having several cases against the town handled by Brooks & DiRensis, questioned why Andrews didn’t recuse himself on the discussion and vote.  Andrews defended himself saying that he has recused himself in every discussion of his cases and other related issues, saying that the choice of consolidating the legal matters had nothing to do with his cases before the town.  He reiterated that with everything going forward he would like to have one law firm representing the town.    

Attorney Dirensis arrived and explained that he likes to be able to look at the town as a whole,.   as opposed to different special counsels focusing on the different trees in the forest, I can look at the whole forest and get a sense of that’s good for the town so if I see that there’s a problem in a particular area, I could suggest an amendment to the bylaws of the town to fix that problem and if there’s a personnel issue then I can bring that to the board’s attention.  I see myself as like the family doctor; I like to be able to see the whole patient and know what’s going on with the whole patient and figure out the overall health, because if you have a problem with your liver, it may very well have impacts on all kinds of other parts of the body, if you understand that medical reference, the town is being analogized to a body and the lawyer  as the doctor.   

I see myself as the old- fashioned doctor that actually comes to your house and sees you in your own bed and tries to figure out what’s going on and what you need.   If there are things I don’t know about then I can’t get involved with, then I can’t treat the whole patient.”

Ashley DiSesa asked “Do you feel your firm can handle everything else for our town?  DiRensis:  I don’t know what everything is, as I wasn’t here earlier when the board reviewed them.

Gaynor questioned why Andrews could vote on this matter when he has cases with this attorney against the town and should recuse himself from the vote.  Andrews countered that he had allowed her to speak at the public meeting and perhaps should not have.   He didn’t know where she was getting her numbers and it was a matter that the board had not previously discussed.

Alan Dias, former member of the Planning Board and Board of Health objected loudly saying that the decision was made about 20 years ago to go with counsels who specialize in the kind of legal advice needed.   He disagreed with the analogy of the using a general practitioner for all of the town’s needs.  “If I have cancer, I’m going to a cancer doctor.”   The town has been run successfully.  The only reason that you two guys are trying to come up with this is a financial gain for you.  Andrews and DeSesa retorted “That’s not the case.”  Dias argued it IS the case. DiRensis said, I’m with the firm.  I have a labor guy, land use, procurement guys, contract guys, litigators.  I don’t do everything myself.   

Dias spoke again to arguing that the only reason was to put the town in a weakened position in arguing Andrews’ suits against the town.  Andrews said he should not have allowed Dias to speak and requested he be silent.  Dias asked if we were living in a totalitarian government now.

Andrews declared a 5-minute cooling off period.  Gaynor said she still hadn’t gotten an answer to her question. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig asked on behalf of Atty. Gilman asking that he could be heard by the board of selectmen before any decision was made on his cases.  The board allowed that.   

DiSesa moved the question to have all new legal matters except personnel matters currently with Attorney Gilman are to be referred to Brooks & DiRensis going forward and Andrews seconded the motion after Garron said no, he would not second.

COVID-19 policies

Halifax Health Agent Bob Valery spoke to the board regarding the mask policy for the Town Hall building as well as other municipal buildings in town.   “Our COVID numbers are back to where they were last spring.  The data is worse now.  “We had much discussion in our Board of Health meeting and came to a decision.   At this point in time the board was pretty much going along with what the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) was doing.  Then DESE changed its mind.   What we would do as a town as far as municipal buildings is a personal choice.   We had it in place, it worked effectively with no detrimental side effects.  Do we lead by exmample or not?  As for the school, it’s a very controversial issue.  Vaccinations, very controversial.  Testing?   It’s another.  We’re still working on getting funding for testing.”  Valery said it will change but at this point in time erring on the side of caution can’t hurt.

Chairman Andrews, who is also a member of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee, said that beginning Oct. 1, each school with 80% vaccination rate can apply to waive the mask mandate.    Charlie Seelig responded that with Halifax at 44% for the 12 to 15 year-olds and 51% for the 15-19 year olds, we’re not going to make it for the Oct. 1 deadline because we’re only going up by one or two per cent.  Kingston’s a whole lot better than we are, and so’s Plympton.  Plympton’s at 54% for ages 12 – 15, and 63% for ages 16-19.

“The politics are different here in Halifax than those in Plympton.  I think there’s more antivax sentiment here, the result is that the schools those children will be attending will have a mask requirement longer than those whose parents choose to get their children vaccinated,” Seelig said.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on the evening of Tuesday, August 23. Chair Christine Joy introduced Bill McNulty with the Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) to discuss ways to deal with heavy truck traffic in town, particularly on Main St. and Ring Rd. McNulty said originally they were discussing establishing safety zones but have begun looking at heavy commercial vehicle exclusions in order to help mitigate cut-through traffic. He showed a map with two options, one that would look at Main St. alone and another that would involve Ring Rd. and require the cooperation of the town of Kingston.  The OCPC performed traffic counts on these roads back in March. He said that while the numbers were relatively low on Ring Rd., they did include a high percentage of trucks. He noted that “speeds were a little high” as well. Main St. was seeing about 2500 vehicles per day with a high percentage of those being heavy truck traffic. The percentage seen was somewhere between 14 and 16 percent. The heavy truck exclusion as shown on the map would include Main St., Ring Rd., Crescent St., and Upland Rd. McNulty suggested considering adding Center St.  and Maple St.

McNulty said the first step would be for the Board of Selectmen to vote on the traffic exclusion and then to send a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Selectman Mark Russo said he was in favor of the Main St. exclusion as well as Ring Rd. but recommended getting started on approval of the Main St. one while waiting for approval by Kingston for Ring Rd.

Selectman John Traynor asked, “Once we exclude them, what happens if they continue to use it?” “Most trucking firms would avoid it because they know that getting caught… can carry heavy fines,” McNulty explained. He further said that the GPS systems used by the trucking firms would have the updated information regarding the truck exclusions. McNulty also said that approvals from MassDOT are usually fairly quick and completed within a month. The Selectmen voted to seek the heavy traffic restriction zones as outlined by OCPC. They also voted to move forward with getting Kingston’s approval.

Plympton Treasurer/Collector Christine Kelly met with the Selectmen to discuss updated financial policies and procedures. “Basically, I’m just looking to put our procedures in writing per the auditor,” Kelly explained. She said the changes would only effect turnovers to the treasurer and grants. The Selectmen voted to approve the changes.

The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve a few agreements including the Agreement of Services with Habeeb and Associates for the Townhouse roof project. They also discussed the agreement for grant funded services for the MVP Winnetuxet River Corridor Open Space Project with Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). Russo said, “Essentially what this does is give us Bill Napolitano, the trails and watershed manager for another year; Bill is amazing… is unbelievably patient and kind in holding our hand and this is great that we get him for another year.” The Board voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

The Board also discussed issuing a proclamation to designate September Suicide Awareness Month. Joy said they had received correspondence from Plymouth County asking the town to make the adoption. Joy said she sent an amended document to the other Selectmen. “Basically, it just kind of got rid of some of the language that made me think it might be kind of an unfunded mandate…. I thought it was good stuff but it was asking the town to take some action that I didn’t know we are in a position to do at this time,” Joy explained. The Board voted unanimously to adopt the document as amended by Joy.

Town Administrator Liz Dennehy provided an update. She said they are in the process of closing out the latest round of Green Communities grant funding. She said they are hopeful they can purse the boiler project at Dennett Elementary with the next round of grant funding. Dennehy also told the Selectmen that the Hazard Mitigation Grant is also close to being closed out.

The Selectmen provided their rants and raves for the past two weeks. Traynor said his was a “resident rave.” He said he felt there should be a rave for all the signs around town for the graduating seniors. Another rave he had was for two small, book houses or tiny libraries being paid for and soon to be placed throughout the town with the potential for more. Russo said his rave was for the progress on the truck exclusion. His other rave was for the progress made with the appointment process. Joy said her rave was for the great job being done by the financial team.

The Board also took a vote to rescind all prior appointments to the Emergency Management team. The Selectmen voted to reaffirm naming the Town Center Campus Committee, formerly known as the Public Safety Building Committee, to the Town Properties Committee. Additionally, they approved a number of appointments as listed below.

Area 58

Mark Russo, June 30, 2022

Veteran’s Agent

Roxanne Whitbeck, June 30, 2022

Emergency

Management Director

Stephen Silva, indefinite

Historical Commission

Jon Wilhelmsen, June 30, 2022; Jane Schulze, June 30, 2022.

Board of Registrars

Gabe Lundgren, March 31, 2024; Jeffrey Montello, March 31, 2023;and Mary Neckes, March 31, 2022

Bylaw Review Committee – all ‘Until Dissolved’

Dave Alberti, Jean Cohen, Amy Cronin, Linda Leddy, Kim Russo, Ann Sobolewski, Ken Thompson, and Alan Wheelock.

Community Preservation Committee (CPC)

Deborah Anderson, June 30, 2022, Richard Burnet, June 30, 2024; Irving Butler, June 30, 2022; Nancy Butler, June 30, 2024; and Judy Dudley, June 30, 2023; Mark Russo, June 30, 2023; Jane Schulze, June 30, 2024; and Justin Shepard, June 30, 2022.

Conservation

Commission

Richard Burnet, June 30, 2023; Amy Cronin, June 30, 2022, Linda Leddy, June 30, 2024; and Michael Matern, June 30, 2024. 

Council on Aging (COA) Nancy Butler, June 30, 2023; Michele Llanes, June 30, 2022; Dot Martel, June 30, 2022; Mary Lou White, June 30, 2023; and David Zeoli, June 30, 2024

Cultural Council

Heather Sanda, June 30, 2023; Elizabeth Westly, June 30, 2023; Jennifer Zanolli, June 30, 2023.

Harry Jason Jr. Park

Study Committee

Robert Doucette, June 30, 2024; and Jacqueline Freitas, June 30, 2024.

Historic District

Commission

Stuart Chase, June 30, 2024; Charles Nickerson, June 30, 2024; and Jonathan Shaw, June 30, 2022;

Open Space Committee

Vicki Alberti, June 30, 2024; Linda Leddy, June 30, 2023; Gavin Murphy, June 30, 2022; Jane Schulze, June 30, 2022; and Alan Wheelock, June 30, 2023.

Recreation Commission

Jeffrey Haas, June 30, 2024; Amy Hempel, June 30, 2022; Kevin Kaupp, June 30, 2022; Katrina Player, June 30, 2024; and Erik Player, June 30, 2024.

Town Properties

Committee

All serving until dissolved

Nancy Butler, Ross MacPherson, Colleen Thompson, John Traynor Jr., and Jon Wilhelmsen, until dissolved

Wage and Personnel

Dave Bugbee, June 30, 2023; Elyse Lyons, June 30, 2022;  and Alan Wheelock, June 30, 2024.

Zoning Board

of Appeals (ZBA)

Dave Alberti, June 30, 2022 (alternate); Carolyn DeCristofano, June 30, 2022 (alternate); Suzanne Jafferian, June 30, 2024; Ethan Stiles, June 30, 2022; and Colleen Thompson, June 30, 2022.

There is a single vacancy on the Bylaw Review Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, the Conservation Commission, the Harry Jason Jr. Park Study Committee, and the Coordinator of Races.

There are two vacancies each on the Cultural Council, the Historic Commission, and the Open Space Committee. All spaces on the Agricultural Commission are vacant.