The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, July 25. They continued their on the road summer series, highlighting different departments at their meetings. Chair John Bruno explained that due to difficulties with holding the meeting in the actual Council on Aging (COA), they elected to move it to the Great Hall in the Town Hall. Bruno said that due to the size of the crowd as well as the lack of handicap access, the meeting would have needed to be held outside and since it was raining, it was moved. He turned things over to COA Director Darlene Regan. Regan, who has been the Director since 2021, spoke of the need for a new COA building. “As a community if we band together, bring your thoughts together, I think we can build a senior center and a community center that is conducive to the needs here in Halifax,” she said. Regan said she was hoping to be able to have a feasibility study completed.
“Right now, we serve about 2,033 seniors in the senior center… the majority of our services are in transportation,” Regan explained. She noted that Halifax is unique because they have three dedicated drivers that serve seniors and the disabled. She said that the COA assists with finding adult daycare as well as providing questions regarding MassHealth and Medicare. “Thank you for all that you do; it’s marvelous work that you do over there – we like to have the opportunity to highlight it tonight; even though it’s a quiet organization to a lot of us, it’s very active and busy,” Bruno said.
Noise Complaints at 122 Monponsett
The Great Hall was filled with residents, most of whom were there to discuss noise complaints at 122 Monponsett St. The property is owned by Angel Castro. Castro had someone present to translate for him in Spanish. “He wants to start off by saying that he wants to apologize to the neighbors and to the city for all of the noise and complaints that he has caused, and he hopes today that they can resolve this,” the translator said. Bruno clarified that while you can play a radio, if you amplify it or have live music, you need a permit by the Board of Selectmen. The translator said that Castro believed that the permit he received in March could be used for future parties/events. Bruno asked if it was clear to him now that each individual event would need a separate permit. Castro asked if there was a permit that could be applied for that would cover multiple events. Bruno noted that he was in a residential property and was not a business and therefore would need to apply for individual permits for each event.
“The permits will be issued for that type of entertainment, but they have restrictions on them,” Bruno said referring to start and end times as well as other restrictions. He continued, “He has to understand that he can’t hold large parties and gatherings with amplified music or disc jockeys unless he gets permission to do it.” Castro said through his translator that the events he was holding were for family and friends. Bruno brought up the claim that Castro was charging admission for events. Castro claimed that he was unaware that his friend would be charging admission for the event held in February.
Some residents in the audience disputed this stating their belief that he was aware. Castro assured those present, through the translator, that he was clear that he would need a permit for each event and that he was not allowed to charge admission. Bruno said that he wanted it to be clear that if he doesn’t follow the proper procedures, the Police may become involved. Selectman Jonathan Selig asked for clarification regarding whether the only time a party was advertised for was the one in February. Castro said that he believed two parties were advertised – one in June and one in February. A resident asked if the permit stipulates how many people are allowed to attend a party. Bruno said that the permit process goes through both the Fire and Police Chiefs. Town Administrator Cody Haddad said that the Chiefs had no concerns over the number of people allowed under the permit. Another resident complained about the lights coming in through his windows from cars, etc. in addition to the noise. “I don’t want people in my neighborhood; I don’t know who they are; I pay a lot of money in taxes in this town and I don’t want people I don’t know walking down my street,” another resident complained. Castro pointed out that he also pays taxes. The discussion ended with Bruno saying he hoped that it would be the last time that the issue would have to be dealt with.
Committee and Board Changes
Jonathan Schmaling resigned from the Finance Committee. Haddad said that it would leave the Committee with two vacancies but noted that they had interviewed a candidate recently.
Bruno brought up the composition of the Zoning By-Law Review Committee. He said that Haddad did some research and the Committee had been together a long time and had not met in quite a while. “We tried about a week ago to get the Committee together to get things moving and we couldn’t get a quorum so that tells me that we need to revise it,” Bruno told the other Selectmen. “My recommendation is that we revise… the Zoning By-Law Review Committee… and that what I would do is make the composition five members… one of whom has to be from the Board of Selectmen and that Selectman would be the Chair,” Bruno continued. Bruno suggested four additional members-at-large though Selig recommended giving “strong consideration” to members of boards such as the Planning Board. The Selectmen voted unanimously to reappoint or appoint members to the Zoning By-Law Review Committee to align with Bruno’s recommendations.
Town Administrator Updates
Regarding the MBTA Action Plan, Haddad said, “We have been in contact with our local delegation who has been great in getting us in contact with the Department of Housing and Community Development… Mr. Selig and I actually have a meeting with them on Thursday.”
Haddad said that the town signed a contract with a company to conduct a compensation classification study as requested by the Wage and Personnel Committee. The results will be brought before the Selectmen and Wage and Personnel and any needed changes can be voted on during the fall Town Meeting. Haddad told the Selectmen that they have hired someone to the new position of Zoning and Planning Admin. He said that while they are almost at full staff, they are still looking for a new Building Commissioner. Haddad also said that they are moving forward with receiving bids on the replacement of the roof at the Highway Barn.
Haddad also provided an update on the new trash and recycling program. He specified that it is an opt-in program with an annual fee of $400 that will be billed in two installments of $200. Residents can opt-in by either mailing in the card that was mailed out to residents or dropping it off at Town Hall. There is also an online form available. “We’re really doing everything that we can to get the word out on this,” Haddad said.
The town is hoping to have the cards in by August 16 with the switch to totes being effective on September 4. “You will put the trash in the totes, you wheel your totes to the curb, trash truck comes along and picks it up,” Haddad explained. Haddad said that they will be issuing a frequently asked questions document.
He noted that they have been asked if residents can share totes and emphatically answered that they cannot.