Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express

You are here: Home / Archives for News

Flower and Soul donation buys mountain bike for Police Department

By

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Jonathan Selig remains the sole Selectmen until the Special Town Election on November 8.

Selig said, “We have accepted a $900 donation from Flower and Soul here in Halifax… the Police Department is using this donation to purchase a police mountain bike.” Selig said that publicly thanking entities or people for sizeable donations is standard practice.

Selig gave an update on the Green Communities Grant saying, “grant has a value of $2,000 and will be used as follows: the Water Department will use the money for an air conditioner to be replaced with a heat pump and the oil heat be replaced with electric heat. For the Fire Station, they are going to rework the mini splits, replace the attic insulation and a new unit for the bunk room, for the Town Hall they are going to replace the insulation in the attic with spray foam to try and tighten that up and Building Maintenance will remove the existing insulation to try and save the town money instead of paying someone to do it. For Town Hall, the sewer line from the downstairs bathrooms to the septic system has rotted, a new cast iron pipe will be installed and the cost of that is $1,200.”

Selig also read a report from the Maintenance and School Building Committee. He said that of three condensing boilers, one is having issues, and another is beginning to also have problems.  Selig said that Scott Materna with the Building Department would be looking into it.

Selig read correspondence from Coleen Burgess in which she requested use of the Town Green for Boy Scout Troop 39 for Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a bottle drive fundraising event. Selig approved the request.

Several members of the Halifax Fireworks Committee attended the meeting asking for use of the upstairs at the Town Hall on Saturday, Dec. 3 for a craft fair. Selig approved the request pending availability.

Selig had an appointment with the Beautification Committee to discuss the potential appointment of Diane Salvetti. Selig asked Salvetti the usual questions asked of all appointees. Salvetti said she has lived in town since 1996 but acknowledged that she doesn’t regularly attend town meeting. Selig asked her what she would bring to the Committee. Salvetti said, “I’m a retired high school science teacher and so I’ve lived in Halifax, as I said, for these many years and I would kind of like to get involved with the Town and the Committee and I thought I might start seeing how the Beautification Committee works for me.” Committee member Amy L. Troup told Selig that they interviewed Salvetti for half an hour saying, “We like her.” Salvetti also responded that she didn’t see any time constraints that would prohibit her from making meetings. Selig appointed her to a term ending June 30, 2023.

Andrew Saviano and Jill McKee were appointed by Selig as election workers.

Who’s running for selectmen?

By

Tuesday, Nov. 8, Halifax voters will have two ballots to mark, one for the state election and another for the special election of two selectmen to fill the unexpired terms of Ashley DiCesa and

John Bruno, well known to Halifax service, will run unopposed for the term ending in 2025.

There are four candidates vying for the second seat.   They are, in alphabetical order, Dennis P. Carman, Mary Gravinese, David M. Mascio, Naja Nessralla, and Wiliam J Smith.

Each candidate brings their own special talents to the position.

In an effort to bring these qualifications to the attention of the voters, Selectman Jonathan Selig has invited each to sit in the barber’s chair at John and Son’s Barber Shop – everyone knows all serious politics are discussed there – and answer a panel of questions proposed by the voters of Halifax.   These discussions were videoed by Area 58 and will be available for public view on their website: www.area58.tv.

The Express has asked each candidate to introduce themselves to the electorate in a 300 word synopsis of what they plan to bring to the position of selectman.   These synopses will be published in the Nov. 4 edition of The Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express.

BOS Approves STM Warrant

By

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Monday, Oct. 17.

Tom Millias, who serves as the Inspector of Buildings/Building Commissioner and oversees zoning determinations and zoning enforcement, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Building Department. Selectmen have been continuing the tradition begun last year of inviting various department heads to attend different meetings to get an overall sense of what is going on in the town. “We continue to be quite busy with permit applications… despite the high cost of materials,” Millias explained.

Millais turned things over to Kathy Cannizzo who acts as an Administrative Assistant as well as dealing with zoning determinations and enforcement to elaborate further on zoning issues.  “One item we continue to pursue is signs,” she explained. She said that no sign should exceed 6 sq. ft. of area without a signed permit from the Planning Board. She also said that no property should have more than three commercial vehicles without a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. “We’ve also been dealing with a lot of preexisting houses looking to add on,” she said. “We’ve been dealing with a lot of older lots that have suddenly and recently been put on the market,” Millias added. He said that following the chain of title to determine what needs to be presented to comply with the new bylaws has proven challenging.

“One of the items I would like to touch on… is with dog kennels. We are in the process of putting in some observations and suggestions to the Zoning Bylaw Committee,” Millias explained. He said that the zoning section of the bylaws and the municipal section of the bylaws conflict with one another that presents a problem. Selectman John Traynor asked if they could identify those conflicts and ask the Bylaw Committee to address them. “I’m in total support, Kathy your knowledge of the zoning bylaws just staggers me,” he said to Cannizzo. “Me too,” Millias said concurring with Traynor.

“We are engaged, and we are involved, and we have been dealing with quite a few things,” Millias said of the enforcement. Selectman Mark Russo asked what kind of feedback is received when they speak to residents about enforcement. “A lot has to do with how you approach people; I’ve never been a guns blazing kind of guy – that’s counterproductive,” Millias said. He continued saying that most residents are receptive and do their best to cooperate. He credited Cannizzo with having a pleasant demeanor about her that helps ease the tension.

Town Administrator Liz Dennehy went over the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting that will be held on Nov. 30. Article 1 is for the acquisition of Turkey Swamp. Article 2 is put forth by the treasurer to afford her the ability under Mass General Law to setup payment plans for landowners. Article 3 is for the unemployment line which is budgeted at only $1,000 annually. Dennehy said that the estimated amount needed is $21,000. Article 4 looks to exempt the Fire Chief from Mass General Laws that require he be under 65 years of age. She said the article is to allow him to retain the position through age 70. Article 5 is a housekeeping article for the wage and personnel bylaw. Dennehy noted that it wouldn’t affect anyone’s benefits. Article 6 is from the Assessor’s office to transfer from the overlay surplus fund to reduce the 2023 tax rate. Article 7 is from the Town Properties Committee to replace or repair the roof at the Old Townhouse. The Selectmen voted to recommend the articles. The Selectmen also voted the approval for the posting of the warrant for the Nov. 8 State election.

Also on the agenda for the evening was the approval of the Conservation Commission’s Acceptance of two different deeds for two pieces of land located off Prospect Rd. The lands were gifted by Curtis Shaw and Robert Sarofeen. Chair Christine Joy asked if they abutted Two Brooks Preserve and was told they were in that general area. Dennehy said that the acquisition of the land would help the town in their overall footprint of protected lands. One of the lands is referred to as Cob Fresh Meadow and is 1.5 acres. “The Curtis Shaw land is known as Sampson Fresh Meadow,” Dennehy said. “So, both of these lands are going to help make connections with Two Brooks Preserve,” she continued. The Selectman voted unanimously to accept the land that was gifted.

Among her Town Administrator’s updates, Dennehy said she met with the Finance Committee to discuss some potential changes to the budget process. She said they would be meeting on November 14 to vote their recommendations. She said that at the November 7 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the Town Moderator would be in attendance to iron out the language for the motions at the Special Town Meeting. Dennehy also said that the heat pump system work that was done under the Green Communities Grant is nearly done, noting that it would be able to be closed out almost as quickly as it was opened.

Russo led off the raves with one for the foliage in October calling those lucky enough to witness it “quite blessed.”

Traynor said his rave was similar noting that his grandniece got married outside at Perkins Farm.  “Looking across the pond toward Main St. with the foliage in the background, it was something like you would see in Yankee Magazine, it was beautiful,” he said.  “

My rave is for Liz and Chief Ahl with managing the strike,” Joy began. “This has been so much time and energy around the clock, really managing a very big situation,” she continued. She said her second comment was more of a warning as a coyote went after her and her dog while walking. “You just need to be aware of your surroundings.”

Mayflower Church 15th Annual Craft Fair

By

KINGSTON -…Mayflower Church in Kingston will host its 15th Annual Crafts Fair Saturday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Briggs Building at 207 Main Street. Tables are still available for crafters wishing to participate.

The event is being sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. The Fair features a number of talented crafters, as well as several tables sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. Anyone interested in having a table to display crafts is urged to contact Sue at 781-585-6350 or Mayflower Church at 781-585-3167.

The public is invited to come and join in for a fun day of shopping, treasure-hunting and dining. Admission is free.

Proceeds benefit local, state and global charities. Mayflower Club supports some local projects including an alcohol treatment center for adults, local food banks, and local shelters. On a statewide basis, the Club supports a Christian after-school daycare program, and a two-week outdoor (overnight) summer camp that serves underprivileged children. On a global level, the Club supports an orphanage in Romania (only about ten miles from the Russian border), providing over-the-counter medications, food, and clothing.

Crafters will offer a wide variety of beautiful wares. Also there will be a bake sale. Lunch is available, including hot dogs, chili, corn chowder, chips and beverages.

Fairgoers will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items; and, the Club is also looking for anyone with a product or gift certificate who might wish to donate it to the cause.

The public is invited to attend to see the work of crafters from throughout the region, and purchase any items of interest.

Mayflower Church is located at 207 Main Street, Kingston, MA 02364. Reverend Anton Brown serves as Pastor. For additional information, please call 781-585-3167.

PayT studied for Plympton’s future

By

The Plympton Highway Department will give a ZOOM presentation Monday night, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. telling just how PayT, or Pay as You Throw, trash bags might be in the town’s future.   Faced with rising disposal fees and a segment of the population that just doesn’t care about recycling, PayT might be the only solution.  Transfer station attendant Art Morin says that people throw  recyclables into the trash compacter without a second thought for the cost of their actions.

Morin said that transfer station attendants have no authority to force compliance with facility rules, they can only “politely suggest” that people use the cardboard and paper or plastic and glass recycle bins. Morin said that many times when he would politely suggest that the cardboard or beverage cans dumped in with the garbage costs the town money while if those items were put into the recycling bins it would cost the town nothing, the perpetrator would simply say they don’t care and drive away.

Neighboring Halifax and Hanson both use the PayT system and their disposal bags are available for sale at locations throughout the town, Stop and Shop, for one.  The cost?  A package of five 33-gallon trash bags costs $18 or $3.60 each for Halifax.   A package of five 15-gallon bags costs $13.75 or $2.75 each.   Prices are slightly lower for Hanson PayT bags.

A person who uses three small bags a week, at $2.75 each, would pay $429 per year.  The cost of a transfer station decal was $240 per year for 2022, with seniors over age 65 paying $120.  Most households use more than three small bags of trash per week.   

Colleen Morin, assistant to the Highway Superintendent Rob Firlotte, said that residents can expect a substantial increase in transfer stationsticker prices.  Price changes will need to be approved by the board of selectmen.

The ZOOM informational meeting Monday, Oct. 24, will answer many of the residents’ questions.

Transfer staton agent Art Morin said that Pay as You Throw will make those who use the disposal services most pay the most for the service they are using, and hopefully use recycling more. That would be more fair to everyone.

Questions such as how the system will work and what will happen to our current transfer station and its workers will be considered at Monday night’s ZOOM meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87937535752

Meeting ID:

879 3753 5752

One tap mobile

69313860,87937535752#

US

92056099,87937535752#

US (New York)

Dial by your location

+1 646 931 3860 US

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 309 205 3325 US

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 669 444 9171 US

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 719 359 4580 US

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 386 347 5053 US

+1 564 217 2000 US

Meeting ID:

879 3753 5752

.

Early voting hours in Halifax

By

Halifax Town Clerk Susan Lawless has announced the  schedule for the Nov. 8, 2022 State and Special Town Elections – Early Voting Schedule.

The 2022 State and Special Town Elections are scheduled to occur on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth Street, in the Gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Early Voting Sessions will be held at the Halifax Town Hall, 499 Plymouth Street, in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room on the following dates and times:

Saturday, Oct. 11, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m – 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 25,  10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 26,  10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 27, from    10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 29,  8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Monday Oct. 31, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 a.m.   4 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 2,  8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m

Friday, Nov. 4 – Absentee Ballot Voting by appointment only. Please call the Clerk’s Office at (781) 293-7970 to make this appointment.

For any questions related to Elections, Voter Registration, and/or Early Voting, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office by calling (781) 293-7970 or e-mail ClerksOffice@halifax-ma.org.

Halifax mourns youth softball coach

By

Beloved Halifax youth  softball coach Thomas R. “TJ” Bauer, Jr., was struck and killed early Saturday morning while walking on Route I-495 near Plainville.   

He is believed  to have been walking north when he was struck by a Volvo SUV, just north of Exit 36B.  The Volvo driver was not hurt.

Bauer’s vehicle was found parked in the highwa’s breakdown lane.  Police have not said if they know why Bauer got out of his car.    

Troopers responded to calls at 5:15 a.m. stating a pedestrian was down in the northbound roadway of Rote 495.   In a statement released by the Foxborough Barracks of the State Police, two left lanes of Route I-495 were closed from the time of the crash until approximately 7:30 a.m.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, being conducted by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

Plymouth County District Attorney speaks to TRIAD

By

Linda Redding
Special to the Express

The Halifax TRIAD met on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022  at the Halifax Town Hall.  TRIAD is a partnership between local and regional groups to help inform and educate seniors.  The guest speaker was Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.

Tim Cruz has served Plymouth County as District Attorney since being elected in 2001. Cruz highlighted the role of district attorney,  discussed the outreach programs available through the DA’s office,  and answered questions from the audience.  Informational pamphlets and flyers were also available.. Information can also be found on the Plymouth County District Attorney website.

Halifax TRIAD meetings take place the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.. in the Great Room of the Halifax Town Hall. Upcoming speakers will include a resident talking about his  journey walking the Appalachian Trail and a member of the fishing community  discussing challenges in the fishing industry.

Cranberry harvests throughout area

By

It’s fall and as you drive along Route 106 and pass from Halifax into East Bridgewater there is a beautiful picture of cranberries going to market.

The flooded cranberry bog, the equipment needed to harvest, and the people making it all happen.

What a wonderful sight!!

Photo by

Frederick Corrigan

Halifax

Curriculum subcommittee woes

By

The Halifax School Committee met in-person on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.  A member of the public asked to speak during the public participation portion of the meeting regarding Chair Summer Schmaling’s request during the previous meeting to form a subcommittee to review curriculum. “Isn’t there a position held by someone in the District to work on and understand curriculum?” they began. They continued, “You gave an example of a writing prompt regarding the Christopher Columbus holiday as a reason for you to look at the curriculum. You were aware of the whole assignment, correct? That it was an opinion piece, and the students were able to state their own opinion?” They concluded, “Finally, I am greatly concerned with your statement about School Committee members being on opposite sides of the spectrum – I am not sure what spectrum to which you are referring; I have heard you state that you were one of the more conservative members of the Committee. Please be more clear in what you mean as the School Committee is not supposed to be elected based on your party affiliation.”

School Committee member Karyn Townsend spoke as a parent rather than as a Committee member regarding the assignment in question in which students were asked to write about Columbus Day. She said that after requesting further information about said assignment, she found out that it was a “persuasive essay” and said that samples of writings were provided from those stating that Columbus Day should be celebrated as well as those that felt that it should not. “Just as a fellow concerned parent, I just wanted to make sure that we were aware of what the actual prompt was that was given,” Townsend ended her statement.

A member of the public asked Schmaling if the meetings of the Curriculum subcommittee that was facing so much scrutiny would be publicly posted. She was told that an answer could not be given at that time but that they would try to have one by the next School Committee meeting.

Still another member of the public, who said he has been working in public safety for many years, also asked to address the School Committee, this time regarding school safety and security. He said he is part of a team that creates plans to address things like active shooters. He implored the Committee to read the aftermath report regarding a recent school shooting. He left the Committee with a packet that he said might be best read during Executive Session.

Superintendent Jill Proulx told the Committee, “the Mass. Association of Superintendents has sent out a memo regarding Juul Vape litigation… the case seeks to hold Juul and other companies producing vaping products financially responsible for enticing adolescents to begin vaping and for the resulting harm to young people because vaping impacts the educational environment, the plaintiffs seek damages for school systems in the form of vape detectors and curriculum.” The case is scheduled for trial in San Francisco in November. Participation requires a vote from the School Committee. “Education is always the best way to curb behaviors,” Committee member Lauren Laws said regarding her opinion on participating in the lawsuit. Laws said that while it isn’t really an issue in the elementary school it certainly is in the middle and high schools. She stressed the importance of educating the students starting from an earlier age. Asked if she had an opinion on the issue, Superintendent Proulx said that it was hard for her to say without having access to what the curriculum would entail. After some discussion, the Committee voted to participate.

Reports were given for the standing committees. For Youth and Recreation it was reported that fall and winter basketball will be starting the last week in October for girls and shortly thereafter for boys. The school is looking for two more bids for the tennis courts project. It was also reported that after school programs are at capacity. There is hope that an after-school art program would be starting soon.

Townsend reported that the PTO discussed the continued need for a school psychologist. Another update from the PTO was that the Halifax Teacher’s Association was looking forward to holding the Family Fun Night this year. A representative from the Boosterthon attended the most recent PTO meeting to provide an update on the curriculum. Townsend said that some parents expressed concern regarding the need for more social and emotional learning. She said, “the social and emotional learning for the Boosterthon by the PTO was lessons about gratitude, stewardship, bravery, perseverance, and wonder and then I did ask the Boosterthon rep as well as administration to make sure they shared all relevant materials with parents.” A bookfair will be held in October and the Mingle and Jingle in December.

Principal Kayne Beaudry provided a Principal’s report. He gave an update on the after-school program saying that an art program was “in the works” and that they were also looking to get a S.T.E.M. program up and running as well. Beaudry said that current enrollment is at 561. “We had open house on September 8.  It was a great turnout, we had great weather – lots of positive feedback from families and staff,” he told the Committee. He said that the Boosterthon raised just over $30,000. He also said that October is Bullying Prevention Month and noted that students and staff work on lessons focusing on refusing, reporting, and recognizing bullying as part of the social and emotional curriculum.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch provided an update on MCAS testing. He said that State-wide, math scores were improved while English Language Arts (ELA) scores were declining slightly for Grades 3 and 4 while they were improving slightly for Grades 5 and 6. Science scores were up a little bit. “DESE [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] commented on how much student absenteeism remains a challenge across the Commonwealth,” Lynch said. Regarding Halifax specific results, Lynch said, “58 percent of our students in Grades 3-6, they met or exceeded State expectations.” Halifax performed better than the State average in both ELA and math. Lynch said that the greatest decline in performance for Halifax was in math. Regarding science, Lynch said, “our students did particularly well in Halifax with 67 percent of students in Grade 5 meeting or exceeding expectations compared with 42 percent State-wide.”

Principal Kayne Beaudry spoke to what next steps will be taken to ensure continued improvement in Halifax on the MCAS testing. He said they have tiered supports for literacy that are in the works. He also thanked the Committee for supporting a full-time math interventionist.

Proulx said that principals have been asked to start soliciting input from their staff to build their budgets. She further said that principals have been provided with an outline requesting that they include “an overview of how their requests align with strategies for district improvement and school improvement goals, budgeting priorities for the upcoming year and the rationale, staffing including current class sizes and anticipated class sizes, requests for additional staffing and rationale, if necessary, etc.” Proulx also asked that the School Committee start thinking about their priorities for the FY24 budget. She outlined the budget timeline saying that the budget is typically approved by the School Committee by March ahead of the May town meetings.

Regarding assessments, Proulx said that Halifax’s Silver Lake percentage remains the same for this coming year, but their shared costs assessment has gone down by nearly 2 percentage points.

Before adjourning, Schmaling reminded everyone that November 14 would be the next School Committee Meeting and a joint School Committee meeting with the rest of the District would be held on December 1.