The Halifax Board of Selectmen met Thursday, Oct. 15 for one of their extra meetings that they have been holding during the pandemic.

Board of Health Agent Bob Varley began with an update saying there have been four new cases recently in Halifax. The cases were reported on October 1, October 2, October 9, and October 10. Varley also gave an update on the state of various restaurants in town saying that a few were currently open for indoor dining. Grille 58, which Varley said is currently utilizing every other booth, could put a 6 ft partition around the booths in a way that complies with the fire code in order to utilize all of them.

Selectman and Chair of the Halifax School Committee, Gordon Andrews gave an update on the school saying that during the last school committee meeting it was agreed that gators are not to be worn to school. Masks are to be at least two layers thick. Neither Plympton nor Kingston allow gators to be worn either with the exception being outdoor sporting events at the high school.

Andrews also told the selectmen that there have been a handful of cases in schools throughout the district including a few at KIS, one at the middle school, and another at the high school. Varley said, “From what I’m hearing… it’s not the activities that are going on within the schools that are triggering these cases, but it tends to be the after-school sports activities or weekend sports activities, specifically hockey.” He said that the Department of Public Health is working on more stringent guidance for the sports that tend to include more close contact including basketball and hockey and possibly soccer.

Andrews also took a moment to thank Seelig for his willingness to work with Halifax Elementary and Silver Lake in securing CARES Act funding. “Our town has really been the only town that has, from the very beginning, tried to include the schools in dealing with COVID and the CARES Act money,” Andrews said.

Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros said the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts is receiving $2 million in PPE which will include an additional 2,000 surgical masks as well as some gloves and other PPE. Viveiros also said that eventually they would like to have dispensers, similar to hands-free paper towel dispensers, that are filled with masks for placement in various municipal buildings.

With the approval of the Halifax Fire Department’s Community Emergency Medical Service, Viveiros said the department is now eligible to setup a COVID testing program. Both a 15-minute rapid test and an antigen blood test would be available. Antigen tests would be $10 and if there was a positive test result, a nasal swab test would be administered at a cost of $140. It remains to be seen if the department will elect to setup such a testing program.

Seelig also shared a letter from current Holmes Public Library Director Jean Gallant. Gallant said that former library director Betsy Randall requested permission to replace the tree that was in front of the library. Work would include replacing the existing stump and planting a new tree. Andrews said that he thought it would be fine as long as the tree was far enough away from any roof lines.

Seelig told the selectmen that up to this point, the State has allowed hearings on land use to be continued indefinitely during the state of emergency. This stance appears to be changing as the State is requesting that land use boards hold hearings even if it needs to be done electronically via Zoom or another platform. Seelig said that since the Chapter 40B hearing for Country Club Estates has already been postponed multiple times due to the pandemic, the Zoning Board of Appeals will begin the hearing on November 18 via Zoom. Andrews suggested that letters be sent to abutters to notify them that hearings are to start soon.

A town employee was recently questioned about political signs on town property. As a result of a Supreme Court decision a few years ago, the portion of the current bylaw dealing with signs is not enforceable. Seelig reviewed the town’s current policy regarding signs on the town’s property. No political signs are allowed on town owned property; this extends to the shoulders/right of ways near municipal buildings, etc. Seelig said, however, that there are a few traffic islands where signs have been allowed.

Seelig said his position is to disregard any anonymous complaints regarding signs in the traffic islands or the right of ways. Seelig said that he has yet to receive a complaint from anyone willing to attach their name to it. He said, however, if he were to receive a signed complaint in writing, he would work with the Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Board of Selectmen.

Assuming permission was granted by the aforementioned groups an announcement would be made giving two weeks to remove the signs from town property or have them removed. Seelig did note that the polling place on election day is a “free-for-all” assuming signs are taken down at the end of the day.

Finally, Selectman Tom Millias said he wanted to acknowledge the retirement of Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Heath who recently retired after 37 years.  Viveiros said he wanted to, “thank him for his service and wish him well.”

With early voting already underway in municipalities across the state, the Express is investigating the statewide ballot question, Question 1, the “Right to Repair Law” Vehicle Data Access Requirement Initiative (2020).

In 2012, Massachusetts became the first state to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act with 86 percent voter support. The legislation required automobile manufacturers to provide independent auto repair shops the same access as dealerships to necessary diagnostic and repair information about a vehicle. The law as it currently stands, however, excludes telematics or “systems that collect and wirelessly transmit mechanical data to a remote server.” The proposed law would affect motor vehicles sold in Massachusetts beginning with model year 2022. Those vehicles which utilize telematics systems would be required to be equipped with a standardized open access data platform. According to the ballot measure, this increased accessibility would be available via a mobile based application.

A “no” vote opposes requiring vehicles with model year 2022 and later to be equipped with a standardized open data platform that would allow vehicle owners and independent repair shops to access data and run diagnostics through a mobile app. A “yes” vote supports the standardized open data platform necessary to access information needed for repair through a mobile app.

The Express spoke with several local, independently owned automotive repair shops. Owner and manager of Dave’s Automotive on the Hanson/Halifax line, Eric Hatch, was concise in his support of the ballot measure saying, “We’re voting yes. All we need to do is vote yes.”

Jack Ferry, owner of Ferry’s Automotive in Hanson, said, “We’re for yes on the question, I know there are pros and cons on both sides, but from our point of view we need it just to keep up with technology down the road.” Ferry said that for the most part, they currently have what’s needed to deal with cars coming in for repairs. He noted however, that once later model years equipped with telematics begin to come into independent repair shops, they won’t have the platform needed for diagnostics without this legislation passing. Ferry compared telematics to Onstar in its ability to access and monitor the vehicle. “Technology has come a long way,” Ferry said. “We just want to be able to keep up with it.”

Hennessey Automotive who has been operating out of Kingston for nearly thirty years, is a family owned business. Owner Ed Hennessey said that he found the proposal to be a bit convoluted in the way it is written but noted that ultimately a no vote was to the advantage of the dealerships. Hennessey, who said he would be voting yes, said, “If it’s good for them, it’s bad for us, that’s the way I look at it.”

The Express also spoke with Frank Perry, the manager of Perry’s Automotive on Monponsett St. in Halifax. Perry said that he hopes that people will vote for the measure in order to ensure that independent shops are able to access the information necessary to perform repairs. Perry was quick to point out that since the initiative begins with model year 2022, it will likely be a few years before the benefits of a yes vote are felt. “In the long run it’s going to help us,” Perry said. He continued, “… In another five or six years when the warranty expires, people are going to need to come to places like me or want to come to places like me and unless the dealers are mandated to sell it, I’ll have a hard time.”

Perry also pointed out the potential future benefit of the measure as automotive technology continues to develop. “When the self-driving cars and all the other fun stuff that they start coming out with are going to really be all part and parcel and basically be in that law already. They have to sell it rather than saying it’s their stuff and it’s proprietary.”

What is the argument against Question 1? Leading the opposition campaign is the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data. As quoted from the website Ballotpedia.org, Conor Yunits, a spokesperson for the Coalition said, “This ballot question will create easy opportunities for strangers, hackers, and criminals to access consumer vehicles and personal driving data – including real-time location. It will put people at risk, without doing anything to improve the consumer experience.” Top donors to the no campaign include General Motors, Toyota Motor North America, Ford Motor Company, American Honda Motor Co., and Nissan North America.

The Thursday, Oct. 1, Halifax Board of Selectmen’s meeting began with a COVID-19 update. Board of Health agent Bob Varley told the selectmen that since their last meeting there were three new confirmed cases in Halifax.

Varley said that the Director of Contact Tracing for the state has made a number of new forms available to assist cities and towns. He also said that the state has started to provide new assistance to towns. They will follow up on individual as well as clusters of cases. “So as fast as we know something, they should know something,” Varley explained.

Varley said he would like to see Halifax take a more proactive approach in combatting the spread of the virus. He referenced a recent incident in another local town where, according to Varley, a restaurant hired a new employee despite that person awaiting a COVID test. That employee began work prior to receiving their results which ended up being positive. Other employees were infected, and the restaurant had to close down. “I’ve been observing a lot of people being lackadaisical, in my opinion, losing the focus on what we need to do by wearing masks and if you think you’re ill, you don’t report to work,” Varley said. He also said that restaurant managers and owners need to have proper policies in place and revisit with their employees what all the standards and expectations are that must be followed in order to remain open.

Varley also noted that for communities with low risk, the minimum number of people at gatherings would be increased per the state’s regulations.  Currently, Halifax is in the yellow zone. Varley explained how easy it would be for a community like Halifax to enter the red zone saying,  “It only takes two to three cases for our numbers to move given the size of our population.”

Varley thanked Town Administrator Charlie Seelig for a memo he sent out to employees of town hall calling it “a very powerful message.” Varley asked to borrow from Seelig’s memo and has since posted a message to residents on the town website.

The selectmen also discussed how best to deal with Halloween. Regarding Halloween, Selectmen Chair Tom Millias said, “I mean, I don’t think we’re going to go out and stop people but I don’t think its something we want to promote.” Selectman Troy Garron said that people that didn’t want to participate would be best served by leaving their lights off. Seelig said that if the Board believed trick-or-treating to not be enforceable, it would be best to leave it up to families and to recommend that people use their best judgement and follow CDC guidelines. “I don’t want to see us policing it,” Selectman Gordon Andrews said. Garron did note that he did not want to see the town closed down again.

The selectman said that they are still awaiting more details about a proposed drive-up Halloween to most likely be held at the Elementary School.

There was, as has often been the case, more debate over whether to issue recycling abatements. Andrews was for doing so while both Garron and Millias were not. Andrews said in the future he would like to see the town move to two separate rates – one for pickup which is more costly and another for drop off.

Millias said the town would need to have some sort of sticker program as was done in the past. Of the current recycling program, Millias said, “Regardless of what you think of the program, my estimation of it is it works pretty good and it’s relatively inexpensive.” Millias did say, however, that he would like to get input from the general public. It was agreed that a meeting to discuss recycling should probably be scheduled.

Andrews, who is also the Chair of the Halifax School Committee, told his fellow selectmen that DESE sent out a survey about municipal contributions for school budgets. He said that the intention is to ask DESE to increase state aid beyond the $30 per pupil minimum. Andrews said that Halifax actually receives more than that, but that Silver Lake Regional is different. “We’re getting subsidized at the elementary level; that money is supposed to be spent at the elementary, but because Silver Lake is not getting more than the $30 per pupil our money is being shifted from the elementary to Silver Lake. They really need to apportion the regional school systems based on the three towns’ affordability,” Andrews explained. He noted that according to his rough estimates from earlier this year, Halifax brings in 45 percent of the state aid while Kingston and Plympton bring in 35 percent and 27 percent respectively. Andrews said, “the way the numbers come in everyone is getting Halifax’s proportionality of state aid.” Andrews asked the Board to vote to request that the state break out the state aid based on the town. The selectmen did so unanimously.

In other school related news, the Halifax Elementary School Committee has received 5 or 6 candidates interested in serving. Interviews with both the school committee and the selectmen will have to be scheduled to select a new member.

A virtual public forum will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to discuss expanding the town’s Host Community Agreement with Bud’s Goods and Provisions. The company, which will be establishing an outdoor marijuana cultivation site on River St., said that they would like to expand the agreement to include both manufacturing as well as indoor cultivation.

Finally, the selectmen voted Thursday to prorate liquor licenses for 2021 to account for the time that local restaurants were closed in 2020.

Millias noted that he was certainly in favor of helping the businesses in this manner.

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Sept. 22 prior to town meeting. Only a few minutes into the meeting, they had to adjourn to reconvene at the all-purpose room across the street at the Elementary School. Maximum capacity for the meeting room at the town hall is only 11 which was exceeded.

Once reconvened, Seelig explained to the Board of Selectmen that under state law, they could lower the number required for quorum to just ten percent of their regular number due to the state of emergency. It cannot be lowered during the town meeting. “I have mixed emotions about it. On the one hand I don’t care to lower the quorum. On the other hand, there’s reasons that are valid to make some kind of adjustment,” Selectmen Chair Tom Millias said. He went on to say, “There’s always going to be controversy about it, but nobody’s preventing anybody from coming to town meeting.”

Selectman Gordon Andrews said, “My thoughts are that I would consider moving it for the financial issues but any zoning or anything else, I don’t think we should lower the quorum on… that brings up the most contentious articles.” His remarks were met with quiet applause from the small crowd of attendees at the meeting. Andrews said that if quorum was under 100, he would like to see the zoning bylaw articles passed over. Millias said that it was his intention to pass over those articles at town meeting anyway. Andrews said, “I would make a motion that we vote to pass over the marijuana article and the multi-family zoning article,” Andrews said.

Town Moderator Dennis Carman said, “At the risk of being overly critical, this town, in the last number of years has developed some significant problems in the way that we conduct our business. To be honest with you, I think everybody is responsible for pieces of it and I don’t think that town meeting is the place where those things are going to get resolved.” He continued, “On the one hand we want a robust quorum, we want a robust participation, but under the pandemic we have to be careful about not necessarily exceeding that and there goes another $6,000 and another reconvening.” He went on to say that he wasn’t comfortable as a resident with reducing the number required for quorum to only 10, calling it “insane.” He recommended reducing it to 75.

Resident Amy Troup spoke to why she was hearing that many residents chose not to attend the continuance of town meeting that was scheduled at the Kingston Collection. Troup said, “The reason that they didn’t show up is that their kids just went back to school and they had crises at home… and they had all these things going on while they’re trying to do a full time job… so by the time it gets dark at night and they have to travel to Kingston… if it had been in Halifax, we would have been able to get a quorum.” She called the decision to hold the meeting in Kingston “bad planning.”

Andrews responded to Troup saying that because of the delay with the budget at the state level, the best option for the town was to initially recess town meeting. He pointed out that they still don’t have official numbers from the state but rather “numbers that they said they would try to make.” Referencing the nearly daily calls that the elected officials in Halifax have had since March, Andrews said, “The Board has been putting in more time than anyone thought.” He continued, “I understand everybody is confused. I’m confused. I wake up, I look at the town’s website and find out what’s going on that day and I try to attend that meeting. I totally understand the confusion and that last week was the first week of the hybrid.” He said that the decision to move it to Kingston was to allow for more space and thus more people. Millias added that they were trying to move ahead as quickly as possible to ensure that tax bills go out.

One resident suggested polling residents in the future to see what day/time works best for them in order to ensure quorum would be met. Yet another resident said that he felt that the selectmen weren’t considering younger residents with families when scheduling town meeting. Selectman Troy Garron said, “The door is open for anyone that can come and I do understand that people have kids and babysitter problems; I sent four kids through the school system while I was doing things for the town so I can appreciate the hardships but at the same time you have an obligation, just like to go and vote, to come to town meeting and stay until it’s over with.” Still another resident said that he felt that quorum shouldn’t be lowered since some of the articles require a two-thirds vote.   

The Board ultimately voted to temporarily reduce the quorum for that night’s town meeting to 75. Carman said, “As a parting statement, there are, from what I’m hearing from some of the feedback here, recognizing there are a lot of other people not here… we probably can improve a lot of the things that we’re doing with some support and help from the townspeople.” Millias agreed saying, “absolutely.”

Following the discussion and vote on lowering quorum, the Board met with Alex Mazin of Bud’s Goods and Provisions. Mazin asked the Board to consider amending the host community agreement he has with the town for his marijuana cultivation facility. He asked that the agreement include marijuana product manufacturing. “There’s a lot of benefits to both us as an operator and the community with that and it allows us to sort of make Halifax our base instead of our initial plan which was to grow here and move everything to Lakeville,” Mazin explained. Seelig said that he would recommend having another community forum on the subject before deciding to amend the agreement. The selectmen agreed to set something up, most likely virtually on Zoom.

The next appointment was with a representative from the South Shore Children’s Museum who was there to speak on two drive thru movie nights at Walmart in the back parking lot.

She said that they have previously held five of these showings in local towns.

“We’re trying to keep in touch with our families until we can figure out our plan b,” she explained. She said the hope was to host a Hocus Pocus themed drive-in on October 16 and October 23. She also said they would be looking for a police detail and noted that they have used a Boy Scout Troop out of Weymouth to assist with the parking. They are looking to limit the number of cars to 60.

Millias advised that she touch base with both the Board of Health and the Fire Department.

Garron asked about the possibility of disruption to neighbors and was told that speakers can be taken away to minimize the noise and cars can listen to the sound on their car radios. Andrews made a motion to approve pending approval from the Board of Health and Fire Department.