Phase two of the Halifax Annual Town Meeting met Monday night, May 16, at the Halifax Elementary School, All-purpose Room. Interim Town Moderator John Bruno, took the gavel for the evening as Town Moderator Robert Gaynor II was unwell.
Bruno called the assembly to order and in less than an hour the remaining 19 articles were read, discussed, and voted. At the table on the stage, Selectman Ashley DeSesa was the senior member of the board, with newly elected selectmen Alexander Meade and Jonathan Selig seated beside her.
The following warrant articles were acted on:
Article 9 asked the town to fund a 1% wage increase for the Police Sergeants who are in the union. Article passed.
Article10 asked the town for $8,242 to fund a 1% wage increase for the Police Patrolmen who are in the union. The article passed.
Article 12 asked for $150 for the Plymouth County Cooperative Extension Service and its many programs that benefit the Town including the 4-H program. The article passed unanimously.
Article 15 asked the town to spend $110,000 to purchase and equip a new marked cruiser to be used for patrol and a new unmarked cruiser to be used by the Chief of Police. Frank Johnston of Elm St. asked why the town should purchase two vehicles this year because last year they purchased three vehicles, one with ARPA funds. Police Chief Joao Chaves responded that the extra vehicle last year was a pickup truck that would not be used as a patrol car, but to tow various pieces of equipment as needed. Both vehicles that are being replaced will either be passed along to other town departments if needed or auctioned. The motion passed.
Article 16 asked the town for $5,000 to replace six bulletproof vests at $900 each as the department requires police officers to wear them. The manufacturer’s recommended lifespan for the vests is five years. The article passed.
Article 18 asked the town for $66,941 for repairs and replacement parts for the Halifax Elementary School elevator. Two years ago, when the control board was replaced, the school was told that they had the last control board for the elderly elevator. Matt Durkee, the Silver Lake Regional School District Facilities Manager, spoke to the article saying that they need to have a replacement board on hand when the current board fails. Without this replacement board, the school would not have a working elevator. The article passed.
Article 19 asked the town to move $200,000 to purchase a medium duty dump truck, equipped with plow and sander, to replace a 1995 Ford L800 that will be sold at auction. Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward told the assembly that the medium duty truck will be more versatile and very useful, especially in snow. The motion passed.
Article 23 asked the town for $3500 to support the South Shore Resource and Advocacy Center for domestic violence intervention and prevention services. The article passed.
Article 24 asked the town for $850 for a new time and date stamp for the Town Clerk’s office. The Town Clerk is required by law to date and time stamp many documents that come into the office. The article passed.
Article 25 asked the town for $1000 to purchase a new computer for the Holmes Public Library. Library Director Jean Gallant told the assembly that this is the last computer to be purchased in the rotation program, so that all the library’s computers will be running Windows 10. The article passed.
Article 27 asked the town to raise and appropriate $340,000 to purchase and equip a new ambulance for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Jason Viveiros spoke to the article saying that the wait time for a new ambulance is now two years, due to the inability to get chasses. This will replace the 2017 ambulance that will have more than 100,000 miles on it by the time the new one is delivered. The article passed.
Article 30 asked the town for $520,000 for a Phase II project to upgrade outdated and failing components in the Town’s Richmond Park and YMCA Water Infrastructure to keep the plant in compliance with DEP regulations. The article passed.
Article 31 asked the town to fund $36,000 for Halifax’s share of a part-time school resource officer at the Silver Lake Middle School. The article passed.
Article 34 asked for $38,800 for a new intercom system for the Halifax Elementary School. Silver Lake School District Facilities Manager Matt Durkee spoke to the article saying that the current system is old and failing and is a proprietary system that requires the school to use one vendor to make adjustments to the system, such as resetting the clocks for Daylight Savings Time, or after a power failure, at a significant cost to the town. The new system is user friendly, non-proprietary, and will solve a number of problems. The article passed.
Article 36 asked the town for $12,500 for IT as a next step toward centralizing Town-wide IT Communication services to include the Holmes Library and the Water Department. The article passed.
Article 37 would use any remaining funds leftover to pay down the Plymouth County Pension Fund Liability Account. The Finance Committee did not recommend it because if all articles were voted there would not be enough free cash left over to use. The article was passed over at the Finance Committee’s recommendation.
Article 40 asked to remove the Fire Chief as a mandatory member of the Holidays in Halifax Committee. In the past, when fireworks were being used, the Fire Chief was useful in planning the event. Now, with no fireworks, the chief’s talents can be more useful elsewhere. The motion passed.
Article 42 asked the town to change the Board of Selectmen from a three-member board to a five-member board. The article was passed over to allow the new board of selectmen time to further investigate whether it is necessary.
Article 43 asked the town to limit the number of marijuana retailers to two. The finance committee did not recommend it. The motion failed.