Halifax selectmen met Tuesday, July 14, and considered more than 20 agenda items.
The Commonwealth is offering grants for cities and towns to improve “best practices” in a number of areas including cyber-security and capital planning. Halifax may apply for grants in up to three areas. The board will consider if they want to take action at their next meeting July 28.
$200,000 extra
Shortly before he passed away, State Senator Thomas Kennedy secured approximately $200,000 additional funds in the state budget for mosquito control in Plymouth and Bristol counties. Though the Governor hasn’t signed the budget yet, Selectmen expressed excitement if the extra assistance goes through.
The Board approved and heard about several licenses.
Class 1 license for Morgan
Joseph Salters, representing Morgan Power Equipment, at 888 Plymouth Street, applied for a Class I sales license, required by the state to sell small utility trucks. These trucks look like a cross between a recreational vehicle and a golf cart, and are used primarily in industrial settings. They are also used by municipalities and police, for example, for patrolling beaches or parks. The request was approved unanimously.
Beer and Wine at Cumberland Farms?
Cumberland Farms sent a letter of intent to Town Administrator Charlie Seelig making Selectmen aware they will apply for a beer/wine liquor license for their Halifax location. Only two of the five currently available beer/wine licenses in Halifax are being used, and the Board decided to take no action now as the earliest the convenience store chain could apply is January. Selectman Troy Garron expressed his displeasure of the idea of allowing gas stations to sell alcohol. “I don’t like mixing alcohol and driving,” stated the retired police officer.
Appointments and reappointments
Kenneth Vinton, after taking some time to think it over, decided he would like to be reappointed to the Municipal and School Building Committee. He was reappointed unanimously.
Likewise, all election workers were unanimously reappointed.
Selectman Thomas Millias was appointed “special building inspector” for the period of time from July 18 through July 26 to cover for newly hired Building Inspector Robert Piccirilli. He is the former Halifax Building Inspector, before being elected to his Selectman position, and is Plympton’s current Building Inspector.
Recycling revenue might fall
Town Administrator Charlie Seeling reported that nationally, prices for selling recycling to recycling centers are dropping. Part of the reason, he said, is that “more and more people are throwing trash into the very large recycling containers,” so more waste is rejected at the centers. He stated that he wanted to keep Selectmen up to date on why they may see recycling revenue falling.
The Wage and Personnel Committee has requested all updated job descriptions from the Selectmen. Fire Chief Jason Viveiros’ yearly evaluation was filed, as well.
Dog bite
A dog-bite incident in May has prompted the Selectmen to tentatively schedule a hearing for July 28 at 8 p.m. Even though it was an in-family incident, according to Seelig a hearing is “always held when something like this happens.”
Selectman Millias asked the board to consider the future of leaving the door to Town Hall unlocked on Fridays. Since this practice began, it has created much discussion among Town Hall employees and departments, as some are worried about how they are going to budget staying open.
Citizens have been complaining about vans parked on the lawn in front of the Council on Aging during the day. Selectmen appeared to understand that while it might be aesthetically displeasing, it was a practical interim solution to the parking problem. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig will look more into the situation.
Three road cuts, road work by utility companies, were approved unanimously.
Missed deadline
Finally, a frustrated Halifax parent that missed the deadline for a tuition application to send her child to South Shore Vocational Technical High School came before the Selectmen to ask for any assistance the Board could give.
Selectmen Chairperson Kim Roy stated that unfortunately, the board has no jurisdiction over a situation such as this as it is between the school Superintendent and the state. All expressed their empathy, but were firm that it would be inappropriate for them to step in.
Though the student had gained a spot, he was not admitted because the Silver Lake School District would not pay his tuition due to this error. According to the parent, she offered to personally pay the tuition, but she was shocked to hear she couldn’t “because it wasn’t a private school.”