The Halifax Board of Selectmen met Tuesday Feb. 14, 2017. The board spent the Valentine’s Day evening appointing two new members to the Halifax Fireworks Committee. Selectman Chairman Troy Garron asked Colleen, “How much experience do you have with fireworks? Did you light any when you were younger?”
The questions were casual and conversational. Fiumara laughed and said, “No, just a sparkler.”
Colleen Fiumara is new to Halifax. “We just purchased a home here, and we have two young children who are going to grow up here now.” Fiumara added that she wants to get involved with the town and thinks this is a great way to do so.
Deborah Hogan’s story is much different. She has been a resident of Halifax for the past 23 years. Her children grew up going to the Halifax Fireworks every Fourth of July.
She says, “I’ve loved taking my kids (to the fireworks) growing up. I’ve always loved it and feel like supporting it now on the other end, I have time to do this.”
Selectmen voted unanimously to appoint both Fiumara and Hogan to the Fireworks Committee. Letters will be sent confirming the appointments and they will be sworn in at the Town Clerk’s office in the coming days.
Selectmen also dealt with some issues currently on the agenda, including the flashing traffic light at the intersection of Routes 106 and 36.
According to Selectmen Chairman Garron, there have been several complaints about trees blocking vision for drivers at the intersection. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig and Selectmen Clerk Kim Roy clarified that the main vision problem is when someone is going South on Route 36 toward Route 106.
Selectmen vice-chairman Thomas Millias added, “The biggest problem is coming up to 106; you can’t see.” He also added that the treed area looks to be private property.
Town Administrator Charlie Seelig and selectmen decided to have the Traffic Safety Committee take a look at the tree line at the intersection and then proceed after receiving their recommendation.
Once again, Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan attended a dog hearing which had been scheduled for Tuesday night, however, the owner of the offending dog did not come to the hearing.
Animal Control Officer Callahan explained the reported incident. She says, “It appears a dog from 134 Holmes Street escaped from a faulty fence. The dog allegedly followed another dog either biting or scratching the dog in the hindquarters.” She also added that the veterinarian could not determine if the injury was a bite or scratch.
The attacked dog’s owner incurred $300 in veterinary fees and wants the other party to pay the fee. The Board of Selectman agreed to send a strong letter of recommendation urging the dog’s owner to pay for the medical expenses of the attacked dog.
Selectman Kim Roy said (to the attacked dog’s owner) “Call if the dog gets loose again.” The letter being sent out will also say that there will be strong consequences if an incident were to happen again. Since the incident, the landlord of the Holmes Street property replaced and secured the faulty fence.
Another decision the board made was based around the 2020 census. The federal government wants to have the principal contact for the town’s census declared. For now, Halifax will continue to use Selectman Clerk Kim Roy as their principal contact.
The next Halifax selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Feb. 28.