The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 27. The meeting began with a packed house.
Police Chief Joao Chaves awarded Sergeant Michael Boncariewski and Sergeant Patrick Sterling letters of commendation for their heroic actions responding to an emergency Feb. 2. Chaves said, “Had it not been for the quick action of the officers on the scene, the patient would not have survived this medical emergency.”
Sergeant Sterling was retiring shortly after the meeting. Selectmen Chair John Bruno said, “I have had the unique privilege of having been on the Board when Sergeant Sterling was appointed for the first time 29 years ago. I also have the unique sadness to say goodbye though I know you’re coming back on a part-time basis.” The crowded room erupted into rousing applause for Sterling.
Chaves then turned his attention to the appointment of Daniel Chahine. Chaves said that Chahine graduated from the Police Academy in 2022 and worked at both the Orleans Police Department as well as Simmons College. Chaves also said that he has an English degree and worked as a substitute in the Pembroke school system. “He brings a great attitude and work ethic to our team,” Chaves said. Chaheen appeared before the Board. “I’ve been born and raised in Pembroke Massachusetts… it’s always been my dream to become a police officer and I’m lucky enough to achieve that goal. Halifax specifically, the South Shore in general has always been my home; it’s always been the place where the culture and environment is somewhere that I love to be and would like to stay for the rest of my community life,” Chahine said.
Chaves also told the Selectmen that he was recommending Tina Oliveira to serve as Police Matron for a term ending June 30, 2024. He said that she is a Halifax resident who has been serving in that role for the East Bridgewater Police Department. He also noted that she comes from a law enforcement family. Oliveira spoke saying that she also brings a nursing background. The Selectmen unanimously appointed her.
The Selectmen held a joint wage and personnel public hearing with the Finance Committee. Bruno said that they wanted to establish a position of substitute librarian. Library Director Jean Gallant spoke. She explained that she has had to close the building several times due to sick staff. She noted that they have a trustee policy that two employees must be in the building at all times. Town Administrator Cody Haddad said that the position already exists so they could move forward with approving it without amending any bylaws. The Finance Committee and one of the library trustees went back and forth a bit regarding the need to actually create a new position. The Finance Committee’s position was that the library associate position already exists and therefore, they can simply hire more people to fill that role rather than create a substitute librarian position. Before adjourning the hearing, the Selectmen and Finance Committee also reviewed possible updates to the performance evaluations of town employees.
The Selectmen dealt with a request for a letter of support for a solar project at 69 Summit Street. “It sounds to me like what you want to hear in the letter is that it’s a matter of public record that it’s under 51A, it’s a matter of common knowledge that it’s a farming land and has been for generations,” Bruno said. Bruno said that they would draft a letter to be reviewed by the project engineer. Beautification Committee member Jeremy Gillespie said, “I don’t think the Board of Selectmen have anything to do here with this project because this is a private matter on private property. The solar panels aren’t going to be providing the town with electricity. If it’s priority habitat or natural heritage, that’s easy you can look it up online… and if it doesn’t fall under endangered species or possible habitat endangered species or priority habitat, it’s not on the wetlands then he can do whatever he wants.” He said that it falls under the Planning Board and Conservation purview. Selectman Jonathan Selig asked if it should come from the Planning Board but was told that they were also asked for a letter of support.
The Selectmen then dealt with a request from Gillespie to revitalize the Alewife Restoration Committee. “The Committee shall have the primary function of restoring Alewife (herring) to the Monponsett Lakes,” Bruno read. The Committee would be a three-member Committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen. “The ultimate goal of the Committee, is to not have to have the Committee… I think the end game here is to have a free-flowing river that starts at the Monponsett and flows to the Satucket,” Gillespie said. The Selectmen approved the restoration of the Committee and appointed Gillespie as its first member.
Haddad told the Selectmen that Town Accountant Sandy Nolan will be retiring in June. The town posted the position and Haddad said that they did receive several applicants. He told the Selectmen that he would like to put together an interview team to handle that portion of the process. “The proposal is to have the Town Administrator, one Selectmen, one member of the Finance Committee, and the Treasurer/Collector,” Bruno said. He then asked the Board how they felt about a Selectmen being on the Committee since the Selectmen would be the ones ultimately choosing the final candidate. The Selectmen ended up approving the interview team with the Principal Assessor in place of a Selectman.
Bruno said that they received a letter of resignation for Steve Goodman for the Conservation Commission. Selig asked that the Board send him a letter to thank him for his time. Selig said that Representative Josh Cutler recently left his position to take one in the Healey administration. He asked that the town send him a letter of thanks for his years of service.
Bruno said they received a letter from a resident regarding the “incredible work” of the Fire Department. The letter said that several members of the Department went above and beyond when they had a carbon monoxide scare. “My father and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without their help,” the letter read. The letter also thanked the paramedics for their help.
MBTA Action Plan
Haddad provided an update on the MBTA Action Plan. He said that they plan to send an application to the State soon. He also said that the town of Milton approved zoning changes during Town Meeting but that they then went forward with a referendum vote to appeal the decision.
Haddad said that that morning the Attorney General announced that she was suing the town. Bruno said, “I agree with the town of Milton. I think this is heavy handed and really a very bad example of legislative work that should be a democracy but on the other hand we have to keep in mind that that’s the kind of thing that’s going to be happening.” He said that the anger should be directed at “the people that created this mess… the State legislature.” The Selectmen decided to, again, send a letter expressing their frustration.
The Selectmen also approved the use of the Town Green for a Boy Scout bottle drive on April 27 and July 20.