Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Halifax will hold a special town meeting on Dec. 16 to address MBTA Communities zoning requirements and other zoning changes. The Select Board set the date during its Aug. 27 meeting, citing the need to comply with state regulations by year’s end.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad outlined a timeline leading up to the December meeting. The planning board is expected to hold a public hearing on proposed zoning changes around Oct. 18, with the special town meeting warrant closing on Nov. 4.
“We would have liked to have had this done earlier…we were able to send it back to the state for kind of a preliminary approval,” said Select Board Chair John Bruno. “We sent it to them and said, well, do you see any problems?”
Haddad noted the state took 97 days to respond with only minor changes required.
“It’s unfortunate we have to wait until practically the 11th hour to hold the special town meeting, but it was beyond our control to do that,” Bruno added. “It also has to be done. We do have to make a vote.”
The town must comply with MBTA Communities zoning regulations by Dec. 31 to remain compliant with the law and remain eligible for many state grants.
Board member Jonathan Selig stated, “Am I psyched that it’s in December? No. But I feel better that we didn’t try to push this through any faster than we can because you really can’t. You have to follow what we need to follow.”
The board plans to review all zoning articles and make recommendations to the planning board at its Sept. 10 meeting. They will also vote to open the special town meeting warrant, set to close on Nov. 4.
A public workshop on MBTA zoning with the Old Colony Planning Council and state delegates is planned for the week of Oct. 8.
The board agreed to mail out the warrant to all residents to ensure widespread awareness of the proposed changes.
“Where you say this is a lot of moving parts, I’m a fan of actually sending it out to folks in advance,” Selig said.
The special town meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Dec. 16, with Dec. 17 set as a backup date in case of inclement weather or lack of quorum.
Haddad also presented a comprehensive update on the town’s goals, highlighting numerous accomplishments.
“I think what you see is we have done a lot in the town in the past year,” Haddad said. “This is a testament to you guys on the board, but really the staff here. You don’t accomplish these things without a really good team in place.”
Key achievements included securing a $75,000 grant for online permitting services, combining part-time positions to create more efficient full-time roles, and adopting a code of conduct for elected and appointed officials.
Selig reacted, “I am floored at how much we’ve done in a year, and kudos to you, Cody, and kudos to the board, and kudos to people here at town hall.”
The board will now focus on developing new goals for the upcoming year. Haddad emphasized the importance of aligning future objectives with the board’s vision for the town.
“This is a good opportunity for us to reflect and pivot,” Haddad said. “As the chief policy makers of the town, the direction that you want to see go in the next year, several years, right? Because this isn’t a yearly document.”
The board approved an agreement with National Grid to install four level 3 electric vehicle charging stations near HOPS Playground. The $296,000 project will be fully funded by National Grid and its partners, with no cost to the town.
Level 3 chargers are “fast chargers”, with charging time measured in minutes instead of hours. The board praised Energy Manager Kathy Stanley for her work on a number of energy initiatives, including these chargers.
The board also addressed the recent elevation of Halifax to high risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Aerial spraying is set to begin in the town, with residents advised to check the Board of Health website for precautions.
“Bob Valery, our health agent, does an excellent job of keeping that updated,” Haddad said.
The Board also met the night before, Aug. 26, with a single focus, interviewing representatives from two law firms as potential new town counsel, exploring options to enhance legal services for the municipality.
They met with attorneys from Clifford & Kenny and Mead, Talerman & Costa to discuss their approaches to municipal law, experience, and fee structures.
Both firms emphasized their expertise in land use and zoning issues, which Select Board Chair John Bruno identified as a primary concern for Halifax.
“Our bigger issue is probably zoning and land use, some general government stuff, making sure that our town meeting runs efficiently,” Bruno said.
The board expressed interest in training programs for volunteer board members, particularly in technical areas like conservation and zoning.
Jay Talerman of Mead, Talerman & Costa highlighted their firm’s commitment to education, stating, “We do all of that. Now, sometimes it doesn’t require curriculum as much as it does like a let’s get around the table and talk about it kind of thing.”
John Clifford of Clifford & Kenny emphasized their firm’s responsiveness and accessibility, noting, “If there’s something serious going on, and it doesn’t happen that often, but when there’s a crisis going on, it’s mainly Jamie and I, we’ll get calls from all the board members on a regular basis, and that includes nights and weekends.”
Both firms discussed their approaches to town meeting preparation and attendance, with representatives from each firm assuring the board they would prioritize Halifax’s annual meeting.
The Select Board is expected to make a decision on new town counsel soon, with board members indicating they would check references before finalizing their choice. Town counsel contract was one of the stated reasons for an executive session at the start of the August 27 meeting.