Whitman-Hanson Express

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Hanson author writes about Boston El trains

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Hanson author writes about Boston El trains

HANSON — For Hanson resident Lawrence D. Mills, retirement has literally opened a new chapter in his life — several of them in fact — as he recently completed work on a book saluting Boston’s erstwhile elevated train system.

The book [“Main Line Elevated,” Xlibris, 83 pages, hardcover $61.99/large format paperback, $51.99/E-book, $24.99] is not a history, but rather a photo essay of the last years of Boston’s Main Line elevated train.

Hanson author writes about Boston El trains“It describes what it was like to see and use this transportation on one of the heaviest transit lines in the city of Boston,” Mills states in his promotional materials.

The elevated trains also afforded the chance for Mills and his sister to spend hours of locomotive and people watching at Dudley Station from a display window in Roxbury’s Ferdinand’s Furniture Store where his parents met on the job and his father worked again after WWII.

The Charlestown elevated route ended in 1975, followed by the one in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain in 1987, and “there are adults today that never saw it” he said of his reason for doing the book.

“It’s a way to see what life was like in those days because you see everything — the cars, the way people dressed, the ads — the whole business,” he said. “My view has always been that these pictures don’t do any good sitting in a closet. They should be where people can see them.”

While he never worked for a railroad or the MBTA, Mills continued his lifelong interest in railroads and transit systems during his military service, which included postings in Germany, and during a career with the Federal Protective Service, which protects federal buildings, for more than 35 years. His FPS service was largely in Boston and other New England sites.

“I’ve had this as a hobby all my life,” he said of his collection of El photographs. A book he bought about the Third Avenue Line in New York City provided the spur to create his own book.

Most of the photos are his from a personal collection dating back to 1964, except for a half dozen from Rockland resident George Jason, a few from a retired Boston Fire Lt. Jim Teed and some black white photos from Mills’ father Thomas.

“This was something I have been thinking about for years and when I retired, we sat down and [decided to] do it,” he said. His wife Michele, a former librarian, used her expertise and connections to find Xlibris, a self-publishing firm in Bloomington, Ind.

“The quality of the book turned out well,” he said. “I was impressed with that.”

Mills had done all the scanning and layout of photos on his home computer.

“That’s one of the good things about his pictures, he has all the old cars, the old buildings, the old signs,” Michele said. “They’re historic.”

Mills plans to make appearances at train and hobby shows — such as one held in Springfield next month — as his primary merchandising avenue, but the book is also available online via Barnes & Noble and Amazon and at rail museums.

Michele noted that the book will also be in The Library Journal so town libraries and special libraries may purchase it if they wish.

The book provided Mills with a project during last winter’s worst weather. He is now looking toward the next project while he continues interest in trains.

Even his move from Brookline to Hanson hinged on the Commuter Rail service, as his job did not initially include a “take home” vehicle.

“It was a convenient commute and they were building the area up,” he said.

“We worked together on the house,” Michele said. “Larry told me what he wanted and I worked with Jack Conway himself [to design it].”

Conway had been a friend of her family in Cohasset for years.

 

Security cameras eyed for Whitman Park

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Security cameras eyed for Whitman Park

WHITMAN — Police Chief Scott Benton is considering a Town Meeting warrant article calling for the placement of security cameras in Whitman Park. He has been discussing the issue with Town Administrator Frank Lynam, IT Director Josh MacNeil and DPW Parks and Highways Superintendent Bruce Martin.

Lynam urged Benton to bring the idea to the Board of Selectmen so, from a policy standpoint, “We can clear the air and not just surprise people by throwing cameras up there.”

Security cameras eyed for Whitman ParkThe discussion was intended to inform the town and spur public discussion on the proposal.

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Lynam said. “Ten years ago, this was Big Brother watching everything. I think today people realize that [cameras] serve a public and public safety purpose.”

He said cities, such as New York and London, are heavily covered by security cameras, and the trend is coming to smaller communities now. Lynam added that he’d like to see them used downtown, as well.

“There’s always a big debate on do cameras reduce crime? No,” Benton told selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 1. “The long and the short of that is no, but they go a long, long way to solve it.”

He noted that the Boston Marathon bombing, and many other cases including motor vehicle accidents, would not have been solved without video evidence gleaned from security cameras. FBI Academy information Benton cited points to security cameras as “holding more evidence than any other source — more than DNA, crime scene analysis or eyewitness testimony.”

“The need is there,” Benton said, citing past vandalism damage to the park area and town pool. He also stressed that recordings would only be reviewed when there is cause to do so.

“When something happens, people want answers,” he said. “You want to be able to provide those answers.”

Others make move

Many surrounding communities are also making the move to post security cameras. The initial cost is expected to be lower than the cost of maintaining equipment and archiving recordings.

“The ability to identify people who do bad things goes a long way toward deterring other people from doing bad things,” Lynam said. “The concern I have always had is one of infrastructure cost.”

Estimates are being sought on the cost of fiber optic and other wireless systems for a pilot program consisting of a couple cameras as a test, perhaps ahead of a Town Meeting vote.

Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci, who conducted the meeting in the absence of Chairman Carl Kowalski, asked if permission from the Historical Commission would be needed to place cameras in the historic park.

“We have talked about putting cameras in the park in the past,” Salvucci said.

Lynam said the small cameras would in no way alter the park’s appearance.

“In the times that we live in, I think it’s critical,” Benton said. “I think it’s my responsibility to make the board aware — make the people aware. I think we let the people vote, let the people have their say.”

But he stressed the importance of protecting the park as a place of recreation for young families.

“You don’t want to be the guy who’s looking at a family saying, ‘Geez, I don’t have any answers to that,’” Benton said.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea, and I don’t think you’ll have to do a lot of convincing,” said Selectman Lisa Green, citing recent “questional behavior” in the park as well as questionable items left behind.

Selectman Brian Bezanson also voiced support.

“Who knows what’s going to come around the corner and for us to say ‘we should have’ is not good enough,” Bezanson said.

Living Nativity

In other business, the board approved a request by the Rev. Joshua Gray to permit closing off a portion of Broad Street between Washington and Central streets from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20 so the First Congregational Church may conduct a living Nativity program. Refreshments and a carol sing will follow in the church Fellowship Hall.

“It’s just a great community event, [we’re] trying to get people out to remember what this season is about for those of us who are Christians,” Gray said. “Just a fun community event.”

Selectmen review employee policies

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Hanson Selectmen review employee policies

The Board of Selectmen are reviewing updated town policies regarding employee benefits and conduct.

Policies pertaining to domestic violence leave, the Family Medical Leave Act, information technology use, HIPPA practices, social media and municipal vehicle use are being studied. Some are out of date and others, such as the social media policy — which has been urged by Selectman James McGahan — and the vehicle use policy are new.

Selectmen review employee policiesMcGahan said he would be looking at LaCamera’s social media policy draft in comparison with what other towns are doing.

“In looking at some of the town policies that we have, and some that we’re lacking that we should have, what I’ve tried to do is take the ones that really need to be addressed as soon as possible,” said interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera at the Tuesday, Dec. 8 meeting. He will be meeting with town department heads next week to obtain their input.

“I’d like the board to look at these policies and see if [you] have any suggestions for changes or recommendations to improve these policies,” LaCamera said. “Sometime in the first part of January, we’ll take all of this input and revise the policies and hopefully, the board will vote on these policies so they can be implemented.”

LaCamera noted employees are supposed to receive copies of the policies every year, sign an acknowledgement that they received them and have read them.

Town Counsel will also review them, especially new policies or those affecting union contracts.

“It’s better to get them wrapped up now,” said Selectmen Kenny Mitchell.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young also commented on the complaint policy, which calls for complaints to be filed with the board or commission in charge of the person the complaint involves.

“The town administrator should explain the procedures in dealing with a complaint as mandated under the Open Meeting Law,” Young said, particularly if an executive session is in order. “I think that can eliminate potential Open Meeting Law complaints. I just happened to think of that in [light] of recent events.”

One Open Meeting Law complaint— stemming from an incident at Hanson Day last June — has been accepted for review by the Attorney General’s office. He noted three or four OML complaints had been filed regarding town government, but only the one had been accepted for review.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not trying to discourage or encourage anyone to file an Open Meeting Law complaint,” Young said. “But keep in mind it’s serious business, because every elected board or commission is responsible for complying with the Open Meeting Law.”

He noted there is a misunderstanding of what constitutes a violation.

If a quorum of members on any board attend a public meeting, it does not automatically constitute a violation of the Open Meeting Law. They may do so provided they communicate only by open participation.

“They may not deliberate at such meetings,” he said.

One-on-one conversations outside posted meetings are permitted so long as they don’t become “chain letter” conversations with other board members.

McGahan added it is important in filing Open Meeting Law complaints to know exactly what the breach was to avoid frivolous complaints.

“It could basically tarnish your reputation,” Young said. “That complaint is out there … and it may or may not be true. It becomes a public record and stays a public record.”

Tree warden

In other business, the board voted 4-0-1 to appoint David Hanlon of 5 Arthur St., as tree warden, filling a vacancy until the annual Town Election in May. Mitchell, who works for Newcomb Tree Service, abstained. Michael Means of 342 South St. had also applied.

Selectmen agreed both were clearly qualified for the position and encouraged both to run for the office in May.

Both Hanlon and Means work with the Highway Department. Hanlon is an 18-year veteran, citing familiarization with MGL sections 41 and 87, which govern tree warden responsibilities. Means is also a call firefighter/EMT as well as a senior heavy equipment operator at the Highway Department.

“The priority of tree warden, number one is public safety,” Hanlon said, who noted dealing with utility companies is also important.

Means agreed that public safety is paramount. Both have limited experience with grant writing, but Hanlon has retail budgeting experience and has worked with Highway Surveyor Bob Brown on budgeting. Means said he has little municipal budgeting experience.

Both expressed a willingness to obtain arborist training.

McGahan, who said he also reviewed both men’s Facebook posts, said Hanlon’s grasp of state statues made the difference for him.

“This is two good men applying for the position,” McGahan said. “I checked both your Facebook postings and I saw nothing negative toward this board or to any of its members.  I like some of the stuff you guys have put out there — it’s positive — and that means something to me.”

“It’s nice to see you guys step up,” said Selectman Bill Scott.

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Hanson Selectman clarify school budgeting process

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Hanson Selectman clarify school budgeting process as they take issue with budget critics

HANSON — As the town begins work on the fiscal 2017 budget, some officials have taken exception to statements made at a Nov. 18 School Committee meeting on how that budget is formulated.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera reported Tuesday, Dec. 1 that town departments are already submitting budget proposals as the process begins.

Hanson Selectman clarify school budgeting process

Hanson Town Hall

“What I’m going to do before we even get to the point where we distribute the budgets to the selectmen and the Finance Committee is to sit down with each department head and review each budget to make sure what’s being submitted is what we want to be submitted,” LaCamera said. “There will be some discussion with [selectmen] about some of their budgets.”

He estimated the budgets will be ready for presentation to selectmen and the Finance Committee by the end of January.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young noted that it was said at the School Committee meeting that “a couple of people made statements that the School Committee comes before the selectmen and they better make sure they get there soon to make sure the selectmen will give them enough money.”

That statement is inaccurate, according to Young.

“The selectmen really don’t have anything to do with meting out how much money the schools get,” he said.

The budget and assessment are certified by the School Committee, and the assessment then comes before the Finance Committee for a recommendation, Young said.

“I believe the selectmen and town administrator also make a recommendation on that as well, but it’s the Town Meeting that actually votes the assessment up or down,” he said. “The selectmen really have little or no power to cut the budget of the School Committee.”

He also commented on the assertion by teachers’ union representative Beth Stafford that the last successful override was followed in the next year by increased requests from other departments as the increased levy limit went into general funds.

“The only way that can really happen is if the School Committee chose to lower the assessments to the two towns,” Young said. “I realize an override is only earmarked for one year, but unless the purpose of that override somehow goes away … there isn’t leverage in the other departments to fill that gap.”

LaCamera also stressed that both towns must agree on a school budget to adopt it. He reported that he had met during the day on Tuesday with Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam regarding the regional school budget, among other issues.

“The concern in both towns is [that] we have only a limited amount of funds available to spend so, if you’re asking for a million dollars or something, the towns can afford that kind of money,” LaCamera said. “What concerns me is we don’t seem to be part of the process.”

Hanson’s Finance Committee has appointed a liaison to the School Committee, but LaCamera said he and a representative from the Board of Selectmen should also attend budget meetings.

“I think the communication between the School Committee and the towns needs to be worked on,” he said.

Selectmen also discussed town and school department capital improvement plans.

LaCamera and Capital Improvement Committee Chairman John Norton have agreed to “wipe the plan clean” and start over, taking off project proposals on the list that have not been addressed — and may not need to be — after five years. LaCamera has also informed department heads that he will be reviewing submittals, and seeking selectmen’s input, before they are advanced to the Capital Improvement Committee.

He suggested a similar review be conducted regarding the schools’ capital improvement matrix.

“In fiscal 2016 there’s $5 [million] to $6 million that has potentially not been addressed and … somebody needs to tell the board why these things are on the list,” LaCamera said. “If it’s a priority that needs to be addressed, that’s OK, but to say that we’re going to fund $5 million in one year is impossible.”

Many project numbers are estimated pending an engineering review.

In other business, the board amended and approved language for a new posting for the Town Administrator’s job and revisions to the contract under which the new administrator will be hired.

Young also reported periods of rain during the past week have pushed the completion date for the Indian Head roof project to Dec. 6.

South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS

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South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS…for 2016 anyway

HANOVER — As it now stands, South Shore Vo-Tech will again administer the MCAS test as planned in the spring while the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education irons out details of an MCAS/PARCC hybrid exam as the new state standard.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey updated School Committee members on the issue during the Wednesday, Nov. 18 School Committee meeting.

“My gut is why would we change midstream,” he said.

More than half of state school districts administered the PARCC test in spring 2015, while SSVT conducted a pilot PARCC test but administered MCAS.

South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS“In 2016, the test will be MCAS with a sprinkling of PARCC-like questions,” Hickey said. “In 2017, the expectation is that the hybrid test would be real for everybody, but everyone would be held harmless.”

By 2019 all testing is expected to be online.

“Let’s just take one year at a time,” said Hickey, adding he needed to obtain more information on the district’s options for 2016. “As it stands here, the curriculum is what it is. Our math and English departments are perfectly comfortable with the curriculum that they’ve been teaching and they continue to get our kids ready. I have absolute confidence that they will continue to do so.”

He stressed, however, that SSVT must prepare for any future changes.

Whitman representative Dan Salvucci, meanwhile, said delegates to the recent Massachusetts Association of School Committees conference voiced general opposition to standardized testing.

“They feel you need to look at [students’] entire educational experience … and not just if he passes a final exam or MCAS,” Salvucci said. “I had to agree with them, but you also need to be able to test students.”

Scituate representative John Manning said alternatives to standardized tests could be an area where vocational schools have an advantage.

“We have people out in the trades telling us what our students need to know,” he said.

In other business, Kyle Thompson of Hanson, a senior culinary student and football team quarterback, was named Student of the Month for November.

“Every month we introduce different facets of leadership and success,” said Guidance Director Michael Janicki. “Kyle’s nomination came about a s a result of his leadership on the football field.”

Thompson leaves everything out on field and is a role model for his teammates, football coaches reported in their nomination. He is planning to attend college — most likely at Bridgewater State University — where he plans to pursue a degree in teaching or business.

November’s Staff Member of the Month is science teacher Jeremy Shaw. He was not able to attend the Nov. 18 School Committee meeting, but will be recognized next month along with the December honoree.

According to Principal Margaret Dutch, Shaw has been teaching at SSVT since September 2013 has degrees in electrical and computer engineering from WPI and Tufts University.

He has “excited an engineering curiosity” in SSVT students while developing a comprehensive engineering program at the school, according to Dutch. He is also a physics teacher, a senior class advisor and helps out with the cross-country team.

“Mr. Shaw is a good person,” read one student’s nomination. “He is always there to help and is an amazing teacher.”

Molla said he asked that the presentation be made despite Shaw’s scheduling conflict as a demonstration of the committee’s commitment to honoring a staff member in the month they are chosen.

“The committee takes this quite seriously,” Chairman Robert Molla said.

“He was thrilled to have it and thrilled to know that it came from the students,” Dutch said.

School Committee members and school staff alike expressed great satisfaction with the Nov. 14 open house.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve done a couple tweaks of where things are and how we present the school and departments — and we nailed it,” Janicki said. He added that feedback regarding students who attended and their families was universally positive as well.

The school also received good news regarding work students have performed as Habitat for Humanity volunteers, doing electrical work on two house projects on Center Street in Hanover. Habitat is now seeking additional help from SSVT students and teachers for a project in Duxbury.

“Although Duxbury is not in the district, I feel this is an excellent opportunity,” said Hickey. “It comes recommended from the staff.”

Senior students would be working on it only for a couple of shop week cycles into December, returning in the spring to do some finish work, according to Hickey.

Holiday blood donors sought

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Holiday blood donors sought as Red Cross says: ‘Give something that means something’

With the public already familiar with organized efforts to get them shopping and donating to charity around the holidays — Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and now Giving Tuesday — the American Red Cross hopes there is time in that busy holiday schedule for a blood donation.

All one needs to spend is some time.

Winter, especially the holiday season, and summer are the times of most urgent need for blood donors, according to Red Cross spokesman Colin Riccoban. Winter weather and summer travel plans are also often cited for the shortage.

Holiday blood donors sought“Obviously this time of year donations typically decline for a variety of reasons,” Riccoban said. “People are busy, the holiday schedules start, people are traveling and we never know what Mother Nature has in store for Massachusetts.”

Gift promotions such as T-shirts, coupons for coffee in the past and even a serving spoon packaged with celebrity chef recipe cards in November have been offered to help get donors in the door. Permanent donor centers across the state have also planned holiday hours, opening for half-days on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

It’s all designed to meet a need that never takes a vacation or holiday, according to Riccoban.

“Right now, we’re meeting needs of patients in hospitals,” he said. “But we want to remind people that, even though it is the holiday season, patients are still depending on blood donors to roll up their sleeves. What we’re asking people to do is to give something that means something.”

The time involved for whole blood donations varies with traffic at a given blood drive or donor center, but typically takes about 45 minutes with platelet donations requiring about two and a half hours. A new online health history called Rapid Pass speeds up the registration process.

Platelets, the clotting component of blood, must be transfused into patients within five days and are required by hospitals for surgery and cancer treatment. Whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days.

“We want to ensure that the blood supply remains stable,” Riccoban said. “We know people are on the go, but there’s no substitute for a volunteer blood donor.”

December blood drives in the area include:

• Saturday, Dec 5 — 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Phoenix Masonic Lodge, 133 Broadway St., Hanover.

• Wednesday, Dec. 9 — 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Loyal Order of Moose, 601 State Road, Plymouth.

• Friday, Dec. 11 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth, 275 Sandwich St., Plymouth.

• Saturday, Dec. 12 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tri Town Masonic Lodge, 38 Franklin St., East Bridgewater.

• Wednesday, Dec. 16 — 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Social Harmony Lodge AF & AM, 2509 Cranberry Highway (Route 28), Wareham.

• Friday, Dec. 18 — 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Braemoor Health Center, 34 N. Pearl St., Brockton.

• Saturday, Dec. 19 — 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 254 Hancock Str., Abington.

• Tuesday, Dec. 22 — 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Duxbury Senior Center, 10 Mayflower St., Duxbury.

• Tuesday, Dec. 22 — 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Kingston Collection, 101 Kingston Collection Way, Kingston.

For an appointment visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

School budget concern voiced

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School budget concern voiced as the School Committee honored students for good works

As the School Committee honored students for good works in both the classroom and community Wednesday, Nov. 18 they expressed deep concern over the district’s ability to sustain such excellence in the face of dropping per-pupil expenditures within tight budgets.

With several dozen members of the teacher’s union — wearing matching black T-shirts — looking on, an update on the fiscal 2016 budgetary impact evolved into a discussion on the outlook for the 2017 budget.

“Nearly everyone in this room knows that we’re 10th from the bottom in per-pupil expenditure, and every year we have budget presentations in February and in March we certify the budget, and then we are always looking at how are we going to make ends meet,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said.

Additional state funding or the hiring of young teachers, whose salary steps are lower than retirees, has then been depended on to make it work.

“This year we haven’t been able to,” she said.

The state is trying to wean the district from Chapter 70 funds, and the assessment increases from the two towns have thus far not been enough to make up for that reduction. A teachers’ contract is still under negotiation and three other contracts for student transportation, custodial services and Copy Center are all up for renewal, too. Charter Schools are also costing the district $300,000 a year, according to Gilbert-Whitner.

“As a result we have not been able to provide everything this year that we were able to provide last year,” she said. “I’m very concerned about that.”

One of the cuts was to library programs, which raised the ire of a retired teacher who volunteers in the Indian Head School’s library in Hanson.

“I’m not happy with the way the schools are going,” said Peggy Westfield of State Street in Hanson. “My kids are done, so I don’t have a vested interest in the schools right now, but I’m very concerned.”

She voiced concern over the fact that teachers are now working without a contract and that the district has sought mediation after only 84 minutes of discussion between teachers and the negotiating subcommittee. She suggested it might be time to work to rule as a demonstration of exactly what extra services teachers perform.

“I’m absolutely appalled at how little per-pupil expenditure is spent in these two towns,” Westfield said.  “It’s absolutely disgusting. How do we change that?”

School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes said the committee has been trying to get that point across to voters for years, but few people come to meetings to offer opinions or ask questions. Both he and committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., said concerned residents must also attend selectmen and finance committee meetings and follow up by attending Town Meetings.

“For many years, people have said W-H cries wolf,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “I think it’s become very clear that, when you’re 10th from the bottom, you’re probably not crying wolf.”

She said that this year there is a real possibility of W-H sinking closer to fifth from the bottom.

“It costs a lot of money to run a school district, and where we are now is a concern,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Committee member Fred Small agreed with Westfield that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of a teaching staff shrinking from repeated cuts and unfilled vacancies, but cautioned the district can’t write checks that can’t be covered.

“We have a big problem,” he said.

Hanson residents Michael Jones of Elm Street and John Barata of Meadow Lane also voiced frustration over the school budget.

Jones asked for an update on past discussions about forming a committee to work with the towns on a workable budget.

“We’ve not only lost library, we’ve lost a computer class,” he said. “Teachers at Indian Head have over 30 kids in their class. It’s ridiculous. What are we cutting next year?”

Gilbert-Whitner said conversations have begun on a cooperative effort.

“Truth be told, an enhanced budget involves an override,” she said.

Whitman Middle teacher Beth Stafford said she is concerned about what happens to school override funding the year after the override.

Barata reminded the meeting of financial arguments made when a new Hanson school was rejected.

“They said we have to take care of the people and the current schools we have,” he recalled. “Now’s the time to put those people’s feet to the fire, for them to pay that extra money they didn’t want to pay for the new school — which I totally understand — we need them to put that toward our teachers and, in turn, our kids.”

Hayes urged that new state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, and representatives Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, and Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, be asked to attend an upcoming meeting to discuss the state funding formula and hear people’s concerns — and follow up to hold them accountable on the issue.

Community raises money for food pantries

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Community raises money for food pantries at the 43rd annual K of C Thanksgiving dinner

Whitman and Hanson residents, from school children to adults, have dug deep to donate food and funds — and then rolled up their sleeves to give of their time — in sharing the community’s seasonal bounty with neighbors in need.

Community raises money for food pantries

FEAST OF FELLOWSHIP: Panthers John Will and Mickey Martell help School Committee Chairman, and Knights of Columbus member, Bob Hayes serve at the 43rd annual K of C Thanksgiving dinner Saturday, Nov. 21. Auxiliary Police Officer John Cannizzo helps dish out ice cream for sundaes as officer Tara O’Hearn stands by with the chocolate syrup. CLICK HERE to view more photos from the event. Photo by Tracy Seelye.

National Honor Society President Cooper Leonard and Student Government President Erika Badger awarded $4,000 raised through donations solicited from local businesses and sponsored walkers during the annual Miles for Meals fundraising walk on Oct 24 to representatives of each food pantry.

Leo Hurley accepted the $2,000 donation on behalf of the Whitman Food Pantry and Linda Gelinas did so for the Hanson Food Pantry’s $2,000 donation during the Wednesday, Nov. 18 School Committee meeting.

“This just shows you what the excellence of a good student body can do to help people in the town they live in,” School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes said. “I couldn’t be any more proud of our students in the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District.”

He also thanked the pantry officials for doing what they do for the community. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner also thanked NHS Advisor Ellen Galambos, in her first year in that role, for her work with the students on the project.

“The students of the Whitman schools do a terrific job,” Hurley said, noting the annual Conley School Thanksgiving basket project and fundraising at Whitman Middle School. “There are a lot of things going on at the schools that I’m very happy about and I thank the students as well as the parents and faculty.”

Hanson students, particularly through the Builders Club at Hanson Middle School, also actively support their community’s food pantry. Scout troops in both towns have also actively supported the pantries — including a recent donation of nearly 4,000 pounds of food collected by the Whitman Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts during a drive to aid the Whitman Food Pantry.

This year’s Conley School Thanksgiving basket assembly was held Friday, Nov. 20 with students donating 26 baskets containing all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner for families in need. AEW Capital Management LP matched the basket donation of $1,500 to the Whitman Food Pantry, which adds the turkey to the student’s baskets.

Conley students also donated $480 to the animal control officer to feed animals at the pound in Whitman, accepted by Assistant Animal Control Officer Josh Kimball — a Conley School alumnus.

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 21, 14 members of the W-H Panthers football team, along with 14 auxiliary officers of the Whitman Police Department, took part in their annual tradition of serving turkey dinners to seniors at the 43rd annual Knights of Columbus Thanksgiving meal at the K of C hall on Bedford Street.

Auxiliary officer Christopher Powers said it was and opportunity to give back to the community in which the officers wanted to take part, and “back to the future” time for him, as he volunteered to serve as a teenager. He recalled that the seniors were always glad to see them and to ask about their families and future plans.

Senior Center Director Barbara Garvey thanked the K of C and its small army of volunteers on behalf of the diners.

“Every year, I continue to be amazed at how this massive undertaking comes off seemingly without a hitch,” she said. “The Knights of Columbus organization has always been very generous and a good friend to this community and, in particular, our seniors.”

Whitman considers electronic voting

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Officials divided as Whitman considers electronic voting

WHITMAN — Town Administrator Frank Lynam will be hosting a meeting within the first two weeks of December “to conduct a preliminary discussion regarding the possibility and practicality of utilizing electronic voting at town meetings.”

But the device, which resembles a miniature TV remote, could be a tough sell in some quarters.

Whitman considers electronic voting

A CHANGE? Whitman officials are discussing use of this palm-sized electronic device for Town Meeting votes. Courtesy photo

Police Chief Scott Benton and Fire Chief Timothy Grenno have voiced objections to it, and DPW Parks and Highways Superintendent Bruce Martin has suggested the money to purchase the devices could probably be better spent elsewhere.

The devices, for which a quote has been received from Turning Technologies of Youngstown, Ohio, are expected to cost $7,050 for 150.  Their product is heavily used in colleges and by the military. Whitman would look to obtain 300, should they be approved, with renting or borrowing more if more are ever needed.

“I’m going to deal with whatever comes out of it, but I think if they want to zero in on an individual … and they want to zing them, it’s a good way to sit there and hide behind a button,” Benton said.

“There’s more than just us that aren’t happy with it,” Grenno said, suggesting it could change the democratic process of town government. “We have a town meeting that works.”

Lynam sees electronic voting as a way to avoid intimidation at town meeting.

“The biggest challenge is making sure that we have a sufficient number of devices,” he said. “The benefits to a push-button device? It takes the intimidation factor out of voting. People can vote their conscience or their wishes without fear of reprisal, intimidation or scorn from their fellow voters.”

Benton took issue with that.

“We, by the nature of our job, [tick] people off,” Benton said. “So is it to be portrayed that the Police Department has always been funded because I intimidate people?”

Lynam had originally posted the meeting for Nov. 24, but Town Moderator Michael Seele was unable to attend on that date. The session, which will also include Town Clerk Dawn Varley, Technology Director Josh MacNeil, Finance Committee Chairman William Capocci and selectmen, has yet to be reposted.

Varley and Lynam said electronic voting would be more accurate and could remove the intimidation factor from votes on controversial warrant articles.

“Nobody has to know how you’re voting,” she said. “We would do it on all articles, not just the sensitive articles. … It’ll be fair. I think it will be much faster.”

She recalled a past town meeting at which she cast a vote for a school budget. Her mother, watching at home gave her what-for after seeing her vote on TV.

Benton, for one, sees real intimidation problems within electronic voting. He argues the process could allow people to “bully silently.”

“We’ve seen how powerful social media is,” Benton said. “I just think our form of government works.”

“There’s a process in place to have a secret ballot,” Grenno said. “There’s not a problem, it’s not broken and I don’t believe that the town is in the fiscal situation to wastefully spend money on electronic voting machines when there are needs for public safety, there are needs for Town Hall, the DPW and there are needs for tax relief in town.”

Varley, however, sees electronic voting as the way things are headed.

“We’re trying to get interest from the voters,” Varley said. “We scrimp and scrape every town meeting to get 150 people here.”

It will also make her job easier, as all votes will be recorded and saved in a file. The warrant could be produced in PowerPoint for on-screen display during town meetings to help voters follow along.

“You can do cumulative [tallies] so they can watch the votes come in, but that’s not what we’ll do,” she said. Whitman would use a time limit for casting votes before the results are displayed.

While devices carry numbers for inventory control, Varley said no one will know which device an individual voter has, but misuse may have to be controlled by peer pressure.

“Other towns have done it and they don’t find any of this stuff to be a problem,” she said, noting Avon and Belmont use them. Belmont tested theirs in a mock town meeting, trying to alter or change votes and were unable to do so.

Lynam said he was inspired to look into electronic voting after seeing an article two years ago in The Advocate, a municipal paper, indicating some towns were considering it and has been informally discussing it with Varley and Capocci on whether it was viable and how to pay for it.

Hanson is also interested in the devices, perhaps sharing with another community, according to Varley.

Whitman razes blighted house

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Whitman razes blighted house

WHITMAN — A blighted house at 36 East Ave. was torn down Thursday, Nov. 12, to ease the process of auctioning off a vacant house across the street and resolve complaints from neighboring residents of vermin they said were traced to the condemned house.

Whitman razes blighted house

GOING: A worker operates the heavy equipment to tear down a dilapitated house at 36 East Ave., in Whitman last week. Courtesy photo, Frank Lynam.

Selectmen voted on Tuesday, Nov. 10 to authorize Town Administrator Frank Lynam to hire an auctioneer for 35 East Ave.

“This has been something that’s been pending for several months,” Lynam said of the auction. “We have had permission to sell the property for a while, but given the fact that the property across the street is even worse than that and we had voted to take that property down, I wanted to wait until we actually did that before seeking to auction this.”

The presence of 36 East Ave. would have greatly reduced what could be brought in by an auction of 35 East Ave., according to Lynam.

The town received a judicial order to demolish the property.

“Once it’s down and graded I’d like to move forward with the sale of the other property,” Lynam told selectmen.

East Avenue neighbors attended a Board of Health meeting on Sept. 2, 2014 regarding a continuing problem with rats in the East Avenue neighborhood — and the possibility that the two vacant houses on the street were housing the vermin. While there was doubt in some quarters if rats were, indeed, living inside 35 and 36 East Ave., evidence that raccoons nested in one of the houses had been found.

Town officials, meanwhile, saw legal and financial limits to what could be done about the problem posed by the decaying houses.

The town had, by that time, already foreclosed on 35 East Ave., and had to wait until November 2014 [the end of a one-ear waiting period] before anything could be done with it, including trying to sell the property to a developer who would raze the house and build there, according to Lynam.

“We will not move forward without a judicial order, because it puts the town in a liability position,” Lynam said at the 2014 Board of Health meeting. “The biggest question then becomes funding because we have to have funds have to pay someone to take the house down.”

A Town Meeting vote in May of this year provided the funds.

— Tracy F. Seelye