Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
The Halifax Select Board, at their Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting, discussed the recent Dec. 16 special town meeting, which saw a record-breaking 722 registered voters attending. Town Administrator Cody Haddad commended the Town Clerk’s office and facilities team for their efforts in managing the large turnout.
Haddad also reported that the Attorney General’s office had already contacted the town inquiring about the vote’s outcome that overwhelmingly rejected creating the state’s mandated MBTA multi-family zoning district in Halifax.
“We’ll wait and see,” he said. “I don’t anticipate legal action until the Supreme Judicial Court case comes down with Milton.”
The decision has immediate financial implications for Halifax. Haddad revealed that a recently awarded $125,000 grant for a regionalization study with Kingston now includes a caveat requiring compliance with all state laws, including the MBTA zoning law.
“We were able to pivot and actually give that grant to Kingston because Kingston will be in compliance,” Haddad explained. “The good news there is we’re not going to lose out on that because it was a regional grant approach.”
However, other ongoing grants could be in jeopardy. Haddad mentioned potential “clawbacks” for previously approved grants, prompting efforts to expedite projects and submit invoices quickly.
The town is particularly focused on completing energy projects, with heat pumps already installed at town hall.
In response to the vote, Board of Selectmen Chair John Bruno proposed including a resolution on the spring town meeting warrant instructing local representatives to work towards overturning the MBTA zoning law.
“I think it doesn’t have any legal effect, but at least it makes it clear where we stand,” Bruno said.
The Board also addressed concerns about the Pine Street intersection project. The town had previously allocated $40,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for an engineering study of the intersection, but the highway department has been unable to secure an engineer for the project.
Due to the deadline for obligating ARPA funds, the Board voted to reallocate the $40,000 to cover an overage in the highway barn roof project. However, Board members expressed frustration with the lack of progress on the Pine Street intersection improvements.
“I really do feel like we need some sort of update on what we’re doing with Pine Street,” Selig said. “I don’t want to lose this ARPA money to get back to the original point. That’s silly to give that money back to the state.”
The Board agreed to make the Pine Street intersection a priority for 2025 and requested a written plan from the highway department within 90 days.
As the meeting concluded, The Chair praised the professionalism of the town staff and the progress made in recent years.
“The professionalism that you guys have brought to this, and Cody and Pam and Irma, is just so far beyond expectations,” Bruno said. “It’s wonderful. Congratulations to you guys, and I think the town is really well served.”
Looking ahead, the Board discussed potential changes to future town meeting procedures, including earlier check-in times and clearer communication about start times on meeting warrants.
Halifax is considering a partnership with neighboring Hanson to provide veteran services after Hanson’s Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO) recently resigned. The potential collaboration could ensure continued access to veteran services for residents of both communities.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad informed Selectmen that Halifax is in communication with Hanson regarding the possibility of regionalizing veteran services.
“We’re in communication with Hanson on the Veterans position, doing some potential regionalization there,” Haddad said. “At the very least, we’re going to help our neighbors out in the meantime so that Hanson residents still have access to Veteran Services.”
The Board also learned that Halifax is extending support to Hanson by providing temporary Building Commissioner services. Hanson is currently without a building commissioner, and Halifax has stepped in to assist.
“We are working to assist them in the meantime,” Haddad explained. “I would anticipate probably at your January meeting some sort of agreement with Hanson just saying that we’re going to provide assistance to them. They’ll have to compensate us.”
Board member Jonathan Selig praised the town’s ability to offer assistance to neighboring communities. “It’s great that we are now able to offer other towns assistance and not be on the other end of that situation,” Selig said. “Kudos to Cody and the town to be in this spot.”
Haddad emphasized that while Halifax will be compensated for its services, the willingness of town staff to help neighboring communities speaks to their character.
“It shows that we have a team here that other towns want to look to for assistance,” Haddad said. “But also, we have the individuals in place who want to do it. Ed Bayly, our Building Commissioner, is all for it. Steve Littlefield is all for it. And that speaks to, I think, the character of the people we have.”
The Town Administrator noted that helping neighboring communities will be beneficial in the long run. “It’s always good to help out our neighbors because we never know when we’re going to need their assistance,” he said.