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You are here: Home / Archives for News

LaNatra announces five fire dept. grants

April 16, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

State Representative Kathy LaNatra of the 12th Plymouth District announced that the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded firefighter safety grants to 5 fire departments within the 12th Plymouth District. This funding is part of a $25 million bond bill filed by the Baker-Polito Administration that will support firefighter health and safety over the next five years.

“I am thrilled to see this wonderful investment in the health and safety of our firefighters by the Baker Administration,” said State Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston). “Protecting the health and safety of our firefighters is paramount to ensuring that they are able to adequately do their jobs and protect our communities.”

Fire departments in Massachusetts were able to apply to this program for 114 different types of eligible equipment, including personal protective clothing, gear washers and dryers, thermal imaging cameras, assorted hand tools and extrication equipment, communications resources, hazardous gas meters, fitness equipment, and more.

This program represents a comprehensive approach to mitigating modern firefighter health and safety risks.  Firefighters face not only the well-known risks of fire, smoke, and hazardous materials, but also long-term health risks of occupational cancer associated with the exposure to fire by-products and debilitating physical injuries due to the strenuous nature of their work.

Funding to communities in the 12th Plymouth District is as follows:

Duxbury: $15,000.00

Halifax: $12,493.00

Kingston: $14,999.95

Plymouth: $25,995

Plympton: $9,457.96

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Sen. Brady: House and Senate reach agreement

April 16, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

Senator Michael Brady (D-Brockton) announced today, as a member of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, that the House and Senate have reached an agreement to pursue an increase to local aid in the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.

The agreement funds the first year of the Student Opportunity Act and places the commonwealth on track to full implementation by 2027. Signed into law in 2019, the Student Opportunity Act is a landmark achievement for equitable education and constitutes the largest investment in Chapter 70 aid in over twenty years.

“The rapid outbreak of the pandemic caused many important commitments to be delayed,” said Senator Michael D. Brady, “We are working closely with our partners in the House, local school districts, and education stakeholders to ensure we can get the state back on track to ensure all students can receive a high-quality education.”

The local aid agreement includes the following parameters:

• Funds Chapter 70 at its highest level ever at $5.503 billion, an increase of $219.6 million over FY 2021, which fully funds 1/6th implementation of SOA rates;

• Creates a $40 million enrollment reserve fund targeted to stabilize school districts adversely impacted by pandemic-related enrollment changes; and

• Funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.16 billion, an increase of $39.5 million over FY 2021, providing additional local aid support to our cities and towns

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Familiar faces fill Town House positions

April 16, 2021 By Abram Neal, Express Correspondent

PLYMPTON — The Plympton Board of Selectmen met last Monday via Zoom, and took on a few previous items on their agenda, as well as several new ones. A public hearing for a Wine and Malt beverages application was also considered for KKaties Burgers Express Plympton, and two appointments were made, one for Lisa Hart, and another for Tara Shaw.

Hart, the former secretary of the Finance Committee, was appointed Town Accountant.  She said she was, “totally thrilled, and the right person for this job,” noting how much she loved Plympton.

Former Town Clerk Tara Shaw was appointed Assistant Town Treasurer, and mentioned that she had learned many things during her two-year break from Town House, working in an accounting-based University position.

She said that she, “would have regretted not putting into place [the] application… I’m looking forward to starting a new career.”

Mid-meeting there was a “wine and malt beverage” license application for KKaties, a local burger chain with locations in Hyannis, Marshfield and Plymouth. Keith Steiding, the president of the award-winning restaurant company, represented the company at the hearing.

Not long into the meeting, Steiding’s enthusiasm became obvious.

He began to speak, not always answering the questions posed to him, or answering them in a very round-about way, prompting slight smiles from town officials.

“I had a comment…” he said, “This is a malt and liquor license [not a full liquor license] … that’s all we want … [The] other locations have bars… this is not one of those situations.”

Steiding said that it was more of a restaurant where “you could grab a beer at lunch, and then leave,” as opposed to a full bar, as in the other locations.

Selectman Christine Joy had a question, although Selectmen Mark Russo and John Trainer did not have much to say.

Joy appeared concerned that because KKatie’s stated in their application that since they would be using third-party delivery services, they might try to get into delivering alcohol. The answer was a resounding, although round-about, “No.”

The motion for the application passed unanimously, after some discussion.

Finally, Secretary to the Board of Selectman Bri Martins, who phoned into the meeting and traditionally coordinates Memorial Day activities with the Selectmen, reported that the Board of Health had shut down any notion of a parade of any sort this year. There will be some limited activities, she said, but Martins sounded disappointed.

The final selection of limited activities will depend on health and safety guidelines.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

Halifax ATM warrant takes shape

April 9, 2021 By Kristy Zamagni-Twomey, Express Correspondent

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, March 30 for the purpose of going over some budget items for town meeting as well as the warrant articles. Town Accountant Sandra Nolan was in attendance.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig led the discussion on the budget. Seelig said the Finance Committee had already been through most of the line items though he noted that there were several items that they had not provided final recommendations for the warrant.  The Finance Committee is still waiting to find out how much money will be available to account for increases in line items. Seelig said they must first see what happens with the Elementary School budget as well as the Silver Lake Regional assessment as they are such a significant portion of the town’s operating budget. “Things are very tight,” Seelig said, “…the Finance Committee cannot honor all of the requests that came in from all the departments.”

Seelig went over the various articles in the warrant. Article 1 is the report of town officials and committees and Article 2 is the wage and personnel amendments. Article 3 pertains to elected officials’ salaries. As of the meeting, the Finance Committee had yet to make a recommendation regarding wage and personnel or salaries. Article 5 is the operating budget and Article 6 is the traditional list of revolving funds. Articles 7 through 13 are articles for the contracts for both unions and personnel including the fire and police chiefs. “These articles will remain on the warrant even if an agreement hasn’t been made by next week,” Seelig explained.

Much of the meeting was spent going over the appropriation articles. The article for general highway maintenance has been funded at $150,000 for a number of years though the Highway Surveyor, Finance Committee, and Capital Planning Committee have agreed that there is a need to increase it to $300,000. Article A4 is a request from the Highway Surveyor for a bond for $4,000,000 for major roadwork. “Obviously, as most residents know, a number of roads in Halifax are substandard and it does unfortunately take a large amount of money to bring them up even without any engineering costs and such,” Seelig explained. Seelig said that Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward had yet to make a decision about whether or not to have this article on the warrant. A30 is for $135,000 for a new backhoe for the Highway Department. A31 is for $85,000 for a new forklift, also for the Highway Department. Several articles pertain to the Town Barn including an OSHA required mezzanine gate and new overhead doors.  Seelig said he is waiting for a quote on these items from Hayward.

A5 is for the possibility of the Building and Facility Needs Committee purchasing land for future building needs. A6 is for the Assessor’s recertification account. Other appropriation articles include money for new vehicles and a new copier machine for the Police Department. A14 is for resealing the parking lot at the Elementary School. Another article is for $32,000 for the document management system that will allow for e-permitting.

A32 is for $29,000 to replace windows at Pope’s Tavern and A33 is to upgrade the alarm systems at Town Hall, the Highway Barn, and the Recycling Center. Several articles are for work at Town Hall including A34 to appropriate additional money beyond $35,000 to repair or replace the handicap ramp at Town Hall. A35 is to crack seal and repave the parking lot at Town Hall. A37 is for $90,000 to replace the windows at the Town Hall. Seelig explained that replacing the windows at the Town Hall and Council on Aging are especially expensive as they are custom sized windows. Nolan said that there is a chance that that some of the money can be recuperated through Green Communities. An article for a new PA system for the Town Hall was also discussed.

A36 is to repair and replace the roof at the Holmes Public Library for $11,000. A45 is for $2,500 for three new computers for the library, two for the public and one for the staff. A40 is to hold a number of workshops for department heads. A48 is for a fraud risk assessment recommended by the auditors. A49 is a request from the treasurer/collector for $25,000 to be added to the unemployment compensation fund. Silver Lake Regional School requested $36,000 to support a part-time school resource officer at the Middle School. Selectman Gordon Andrews said he would be recusing himself as a selectman as he would likely be presenting the article. Article A53 is a carryover from last year when the Housing Authority was actually mistakenly paying a share of retirement for town employees.

There is also an article regarding a solar property on River St. where an agreement is still being negotiated with the town. The purpose of the article is to allow the possibility that the assessors and selectmen would bring a final agreement to town meeting for approval. Seelig explained that they are waiting for legislation pertaining to taxation of solar fields to go into effect in June before proceeding. The selectmen agreed to leave it on the warrant though they acknowledged it is unlikely that it will actually be ready for town meeting.

Seelig also addressed an article pertaining to an update to floodplain requirements per FEMA. The Planning Board held a hearing on Thursday, April 1 with someone from the state present to answer any questions residents had. It is a requirement for the town to maintain eligibility for the property owners for floodplain insurance. Selectman Chair Tom Millias said, “I would highly recommend to the residents, anybody who lives even close to any water or has had issues with floodplains in the past, to pay some attention to this because it doesn’t become a problem for them, until it’s a problem.”

There are a few petition articles as well including an article to eliminate the sale of nips.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

For the love of books and friends

April 9, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

After a storied career spanning two decades as Plympton’s Library Director and a dozen years before that as a part-time worker at the circulation clerk, Debbie Batson is retiring at the end of the month.

“I’m a little nervous.   It’s going to be a big change,” she said, “but it’s time”. Is she going to miss  all that fun?   “Being the director of a small town library you get to do everything … which is overwhelming but also fun.  It’s different every day – there’s always something different you can do.  People make it.   The people make it good.  They become friends.”

We see them all the time.   When the little kids who came in for story time grow up and are bringing their kids in, “you know you’ve been here a long time.  I will miss that.” Even though we live in a small town how often do we see each other?  I will miss all the people.  But after almost 20 years as director, and 12 years before that at the circulation desk, it’s time.  There are some new faces in the library – relatively new – Chris Stratton from Kingston is at the circulation desk now since Kathy Keirstead retired, and Madelyn Pompei from Carver is in the children’s area.  The library world has changed a lot in 32 years; things move a little faster.  Somebody new will bring new energy and new ideas and I think that will be a good thing.”

What do you look forward to most?  “Being able to get up and do whatever I want.”  I won’t have to worry if the rain is coming in the library.  It will be nice not to have the building as a concern.”   They’ve had lots of critters in the library over the years – a squirrel for several weeks – nobody could catch it.  Finally one day the animal control officer was in the library and threw a net over it and caught it. For a while every spring there would be birds.  “We got so we were pretty good getting them out of here.”  And then there were snakes in the cellar … “not my favorite,” she said.

Was it more stressful to operate a library in the height of the pandemic? “Probably no more stressful than moving the library – all the books, shelves, everything – over to the Town House while the new library construction was underway,” she said.  School kids from Mrs. Bowden’s class, I think, took a day and made a line to pass books from one to the other all the way across to the Town House.   “We spent a whole summer with the library in the Town House working out of boxes.  Then we moved it all back.   And once was enough of that!  One pandemic, one moving a library,” she said.

“I couldn’t really imagine doing this when I started all those years ago at a part-time job, you know?   I had no idea that I would end up being director of the library for 20 years! I truly did not.”

“I can’t believe how quickly it has all gone by.  People always say that, but it’s true.”

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Plympton town-wide cleanup April 17

April 9, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

After a one year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Plympton Garden Club is once again sponsoring a town wide litter clean-up for Saturday, April 17th from 9 AM until noon. This community based effort has been a tradition in Plympton for many years, and residents are encouraged to pitch in and help their neighbors get the town looking beautiful – just in time for the blossoming of all our ornamental trees, shrubs, and gardens.

Given that Plympton has 18 residential streets that comprise many miles of roadway, broad participation is very important. Residents can make a strong contribution just by picking up the roadside trash and litter close to their residence. The Plympton Highway Department will be picking up full bags of trash placed by the side of the road and bringing it to the transfer station.

Street assignments, bags, and general information can be obtained on the morning of the event by stopping at the parking lot of the Plympton Town House. Organizers will be manning a table there. In the event it rains on the 17th, the following day has been designated as the rain date. Thanks in advance for your help!

Filed Under: More News Right, News

XAVERIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER HONOR ROLL

April 9, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

WESTWOOD – Dr. Jacob Conca, Head of School at Xaverian Brothers High School, is pleased to announce that 600 students from 75 cities and towns have been named to the honor roll for the second marking period of the 2020-2021 school year.

The Xaverian Brothers High School honor roll has three designation levels:

• Ryken Honors indicates all marks are A- or above

• First Honors indicates all marks are B or above

• Second Honors indicates all marks are B- or above

Local students are:

Halifax

Panayioti Haseotes, Ryken Honors, 8

 Hanson 

Michael Bulger, Ryken Honors, 10

Whitman 

Michael Kanaan, Ryken Honors, 10

Xaverian Brothers High School is a Catholic, college-prep day school for boys in grades 7-12. For more than 50 years, Xaverian has been at the forefront of Catholic education, challenging young men to become their best; not just as students but as leaders of strong faith and character. For more information visit www.xbhs.com.

Filed Under: More News Left, News

LaNatra announces legislators pass landmark climate bill

April 2, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston), whose district includes Kingston, Halifax, Plympton, and portions of Plymouth, Middleboro and Duxbury, announced that the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the State Senate have passed comprehensive climate legislation, known as the Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill.

The legislation overhauls the state’s climate laws, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, advances the clean energy industry, and prioritizes and protects environmental justice communities.

The passage of the climate bill comes after a joint commitment from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano to quickly refile the legislation following a gubernatorial veto last session. After evaluating Governor Baker’s amendments and recommendations, the legislature’s final provisions include the following:

• Sets a statewide net-zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limits every five years, as well as sublimits for transportation, buildings, and other sectors of the economy.

• Codifies environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law, defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.  Establishes a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code which includes a definition of “net-zero building” and net-zero building performance standards.

• Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind, increasing the total authorization to 5,600 megawatts in the Commonwealth.

• Directs the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the regulator of the state›s electric and natural gas utilities, to balance priorities going forward: system safety, system security, reliability, affordability, equity, and, significantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances.

• Adopts several measures aimed at improving gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations, provisions related to training and certifying utility contractors, and setting interim targets for companies to reduce leak rates.

• Requires utilities to include an explicit value for greenhouse gas reductions when they calculate the cost-effectiveness of an offering of MassSave.

• Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 3 per cent each year from 2025–2029, resulting in 40 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

• A national first, this legislation factors the «carbon sequestration» capacity of Massachusetts› natural and working lands directly into emissions reduction plans.

• Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities.

• Sets benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage, heat pumps and anaerobic digestors.

• Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, and fossil fuel workers.

• Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help them offset their electricity use and save money.

• Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants that requires them to purchase 50 percent non-emitting electricity by 2030, 75 percent by 2040 and “net zero” by 2050.

Representative LaNatra said, “This is significant, forward-thinking legislation that will put us on a path toward lowering harmful carbon emissions, help our green economy, and give our environment the protection that it needs. I am pleased that my colleagues in both the House and Senate worked so tirelessly to bring this bill forward.”

The bill now returns to the Governor’s desk.

Representative LaNatra’s district includes all residents of Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, as well as residents of Precincts 1, 11 and 13 in Plymouth; Precinct 1 in Middleboro; and Precinct 1 in Duxbury.  To reach her, email Kathleen.LaNatra@mahouse.gov or her legislative aide, Chris Jean, Christopher.Jean@MAhouse.gov. The phone number for the office is 617-722-2430. For updates and announcements, please visit Representative LaNatra’s Facebook page, https://bit.ly/2Ura8VR

or her website, https://www.kathylanatra.com.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Plympton PD puts a patch on Autism awareness

April 2, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

April is Autism Awareness month and the Plympton Police are hoping citizens in the area will reach out to buy a special Plympton Police Autism Awareness patch.  The price is only $12 and it shows your support for a noble cause.

The program is sponsored by former Patriots’ player Doug Flutie, whose son Doug Flutie, Jr., is on the Autism spectrum.   

When Plympton Police were invited by the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism to take part in this fundraising for a cause they didn’t hesitate.

Chief Matt Clancy and his department pulled together and designed this beautiful Plympton Police Autism Awareness patch that all the officers will be wearing for the month of April.

How can you get one?  Let Sgt. Steve Teri know how many you would like, make out a check to “The Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism” for the number of patches times the $12 fee, then email Sgt. Steve  at steri@plymptonpd.org to arrange a convenient time for pickup.

All of the money raised goes to The Doug Flutie, Jr Foundation for Autism to help people whose families are impacted by Autism.

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Busy agenda for Halifax BOS

April 2, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

Halifax selectmen met Tuesday night, March 23, in the Great Hall of the Halifax Town Hall to deal with a busy agenda.

As usual, COVID-19 took up much of the evening.  Town Administrator Charlie Seelig told the board that as of March 23 the active cases in Halifax were up to 31, “so I would expect that in a matter of days we will be back into the ‘red zone’”.

Seelig told the board that the state has relaxed restrictions on indoor gatherings, saying that the allowable limits in the All Purpose Room is 10, but the state says it can go to as much as 100.  Fourteen persons are the limit in the Great Hall, with one person on the landing.   Due to the increases in Covid cases in Halifax and the increases in Massachusetts, Seelig and selectmen didn’t think that many people would be a good idea.

While the current state of emergency remains in effect, Seelig told selectmen that Halifax has a protocol in place for outdoor dining.  While the state of emergency lasts, restaurants can obtain temporary permits after working with the Board of Health and the Fire Chief, but if they want to offer outside dining on a permanent basis, they’ll have to go through the regular zoning process for outdoor businesses.   Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if Halifax allows outdoor dining within the current by-laws.   Seelig answered that restaurants with indoor dining are allowed outside dining by right.   Food vendors without indoor dining who wish to offer outdoor dining are covered under the outdoor business and sales and need a special permit.

Selectman Tom Millias said that some of this was covered under the emergency acts and Seelig agreed, “You can do it on a temporary basis.”  Andrews asked, but if they wanted to do long-term, moving forward, we’d have to change … Seelig interjected that no, they just need to go through the process.   Seelig said that he has notified Grille 58, Lakeside Villa, and Rodney’s Kitchen, the three places in town that have any sort of outdoor dining.   Seelig told the board that if the state of emergency ends tomorrow, or next week, or next month, he wanted all to have a process in place.

Resident complaints

Noting that he didn’t know if it was Spring, the warmer weather, or what, but he had a number of complaints about properties in town, only one of which came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen, including

• 0 Monponsett Street  A resident was concerned about traffic safety, the use of the property without proper zoning, earth removal, health safety issues, and conservation/wetlands/endangered species issues.

• 105 Crystal Lake Road.  An unpermitted home business is alleged.

•  70 Oak Street.   An unpermitted logging business is alleged.

• Villiard Tree Service on Carver Street is alleged to be running an unpermitted logging business.

• Cled’s Tree Service, 450 Industrial Drive – an alleged logging business.  Seelig told the board that Cled’s has been contacted and is working on this, and that the Chief had some concerns.

The only item that falls under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen is the earth removal item.  Seelig said that he had referred all other concerns to the appropriate boards.

Selectmen Andrews recused himself from the discussion of earth removal because his mother lodged that complaint.   Andrews left the table and sat in the audience for that part of the meeting.   Millias commented that it was difficult to unravel all of the suits and cross/suits involved in this – everybody has got a conflict of interest if you say anything.    “So I’m going to defer – perhaps it’s under investigation – maybe we can get some information.  I was going to suggest that maybe Mr. Garron could review some of that but the Board of Selectmen is being sued, too.”  Seelig responded that he had no problem, it’s fact material, simply sending a fact sheet and a copy of the bylaw to the property owner, then they would have to apply to the Board of Selectmen for a special permit.”  Off-camera, Andrews said,  “I can do that.”  Millias said that he didn’t see how the board can retroactively prove how much material has been removed from the site.  “I think going forward with what you’ve just suggested is the most obvious thing to do,” Millias continued.  Andrews re-joined the board.

Seelig said he is still gathering information on the financial end for the American Rescue Plan.  There are two checks going directly to the town, however there are some restrictions as to how the money can be spent.  Seelig said he will be getting more information from the US Treasury as it becomes available.   He also said that Plymouth County is receiving a substantial amount of money and “I hope the intention is that the money will be passed along to the 27 communities in Plymouth County.  We’ll see how that works out.”

Working from Home

Seelig told the board that at some point selectmen will have to assess the work from home situation.   With the vaccination program well underway, not next week or next month, but sometime before the end of the year between the state of emergency ending and vaccinations being available, the board will have to work out how they want to handle people working from home during the past year who want to continue.   There aren’t many, but we still have them in a couple of departments.

Memorial Day

Seelig recommended the selectmen approve the proposed Field of Flags on the Town Green similar to the display put on by the Halifax VFW Post last year.  The board unanimously approved the project.  Seelig said he had spoken with David Walsh, VFW Post Commander, about the possibility of a Memorial Day Parade.  Right now, even under the current Phase IV, Seelig said they both agreed that unfortunately “it’s just a little bit too soon to do something like that.  Balancing everybody’s desire to get back to normal and to have events like that, there are also safety precautions for everybody.”  Seelig said they had discussed a similar Memorial Day observance as the one last year with 10 to 20 attendees, with the color guard, and people can drive by and see the observance.

Complete Streets

Seelig said he had a visit from Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward with some possible projects that can be sent to Boston as part of the Complete Streets Program.  There are two projects not included in the list as all the engineering work, for the most part, has been done.  These are the sidewalks between the two lobes of Cranberry Drive along Plymouth Street and Monponsett Street from the Housing Aurhority property north up to the shopping area.   “Those appear to be the easiest to get done at this point,” Seelig said.

“The others on the list do not require engineering to be submitted and so probably in the next week or so we’ll have them sent up to Boston.“   He said he would get the projects list to the board for their comments to relay to Seelig or the Highway Surveyor including the priorities of what order the work should be done.  Andrews commented that he would like to see the sidewalk outside the Town Hall done.

Seelig said he has contacted the highway surveyor and the Buildings and Facilities Needs Committee to see if they wish to pursue bonding for any major projects.  While it appears that there is unlikely to be any request from the Buildings and Facilities Needs Committee, Hayward will be looking for a $4 million bond.  In terms of debt exclusion, Hayward said he would be meeting with the Finance Committee.  Seelig reminded the board that it needed to vote on it in order for it to get onto the ballot.    

Andrews asked if Hayward was looking to hire a crew for the large project.  Seelig said he didn’t know what the Highway Surveyor’s plans entailed but for $4 million “we won’t have the money available unless we go to debt exclusion. So this is  more of a financial issue than a fiscal one.

Andrews said that at a meeting of the Buildings an Facilities Committee the previous week they had discussed whether or not they could hire a crew to do the work on town buildings rather than hire an outside contractor to do the work.  “Somebody should be talking to Town Counsel about that because there are definitely some issues that could arise from that,” Millias said.

The board will meet Tuesday, March 30, at 6 p.m. to review Town Meeting articles.

Seelig spoke about the One Stop Grant Program.   Letters of interest have to be submitted by April 2.  They are looking for large municipal projects, Seelig said, and the redevelopment of properties including the Council on Aging, Municipal Broadband for the town.  Millias added that they had talked about some kind of filtration or pump house for the Monponsett ponds.   “My recollection was that it would be a constant pump that would aerate the water and then perhaps medicate the ponds.  Andrews suggested that they could alternate the ponds year to year.

Mosquito spraying opt out

Seelig told the Board that Halifax can elect to opt out of aerial mosquito spraying.  They would have to give the public notice.  “I wish we didn’t have to spray at all.   If you want to enjoy the outside, put on some sunscreen and go outside,” Selectman Garron said.  Andrews said he thinks the town should have a public hearing on whether the Town of Halifax should opt out of the spraying noting that people with bees and other concerns also don’t want the spraying.  The members of the board agreed.

Cannabis update

There is a host community agreement (HCA) for the 301 Holmes St. Cannabis Green Earth being ironed out with Town Counsel Mayo.  Flower and Soul, LLc, is proposing a Plymouth Street retail store and delivery service.   They will host a community outreach meeting on April 22.  Seelig clarified that the host community agreement does not need to be approved before the outreach meeting.   Flower and Soul, LLc, will contact Atty. Mayo about the HCA.

Vacation time

Selectmen two weeks ago voted to allow up to 80 hours of vacation carryover from FY21 to FY22 for nine union employees.   There is a request to expand that to all other wage earners who may not have had that available to them.   The board agreed that if you allow it for one employee it should be allowed for all.

In other business

• Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor will have mail-in voting but not early in-person voting through June 30.

•  As for the Comcast performance review hearing that was planned for the 13th, the board was notified that Michael Power of Comcast is not going to in-person meetings so the meeting will now be held on ZOOM.

•  The Aldana Road land swap  that is in progress with the Commonwealth. is on its way to completion; there is just some more paperwork and deed work that needs to be done.

• As for Halifax Solar v. Halifax, this is a property tax abatement and there are legal papers being filed.

• The board had an appointment with Alan Dias representing the Board of Health.  Selectmen had requested his presence to ask if his board had any concerns with having their meeting taped by Area 58.  Dias told selectmen that he had discussed it with his members and staff and they have no problems with their meetings being taped.

• Discussions and work continue with National Grid to site one or more charging stations at the Town Hall.   Andrews asked that the placement be discussed with the Highway Surveyor to avoid problems with snow removal.

• Two complaints have been filed against the Halifax School Committee citing them in violation of the Open Meeting Law.   The complaints are in the file and available to the public.

• Selectmen unanimously approved the request of the Council on Aging to place a tent on the Town Hall Green for activities this spring.   Millias said he would ask them to follow proper procedure and let people know when they are planning an event.

• Selectmen voted unanimously to write a letter of condolence to the family of Martha Smith who was active in town affairs, having worked for the Police department and the Council on Aging as well as being an active volunteer,

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

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IN THE NEWS

For the love of books and friends

April 9, 2021 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

After a storied career spanning two decades as Plympton’s Library Director and a dozen years before … [Read More...]

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