Whitman Middle School eighth-grader Alvin Depina Gomes passed by waving faculty members during the Friday, June 12 events, with his family and two giant balloons in the wind. See more photos, pages 8 and 9.
Photos by Tracy Seelye, right and Stephanie Spyropoulos, below
HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 9 raised issues of exactly where the annual Town Meeting will be held. The question will be revisited at the Tuesday, June 23 meeting.
Town Administrator John Stanbrook said Town Moderator Sean Kealy, has looked at various school venues in towns and capacity to accommodate social distancing for Town Meeting.
“Sean would really like to have it outside,” said Town Clerk Beth Sloan. “I think he was really going toward Indian Head.”
Sloan said her only concern for that location is parking capacity.
Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said she has spoken to the Mass Municipal Association, which has advised that “to the extent you can have it outside, you ought to have it outside.”
She said it helps ensure social distancing and people’s comfort level.
Dealing with residents who do not want to wear a mask, and handling of the microphone are also issues of concern. A recording of the presentation is viewable on the MMA website.
“There’s a lot to work out,” she said. “If it’s outside, then you have to think about do you need a canopy.”
Sloan said the high school would probably be the best location, but then tents and whether to use them would be an issue.
“ADA would probably be the best at the high school as well,” she said. “If you’re going to do it outside, I definitely think we should do it at the high school.”
“The main thing is just saying where it’s going to be,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “You don’t have to say in the gym, or the PAC or the football field.”
Selectman Wes Blauss raised the questions of the size of tent needed in the event of rain.
Selectman Matt Dyer suggested a “drive-in” Town Meeting, as some other communities have done, as well as a streamlined agenda. Feodoroff suggested the consent agenda approach for articles never traditionally discussed such as town reports, could be used as a separate article to be voted on en masse — with the opportunity of placing holds on them before voting in case questions do arise.
For any outside meeting, Dyer argued that any area chosen should be sprayed for mosquitos ahead of time.
WHITMAN — Police Chief Timothy Hanlon and the men and women of the Whitman Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd on May 25.
“Our department stands together in denouncing the actions that led to the death of George Floyd,” Hanlon said in a June 3 statement. “We as police officers take an oath to serve each and every member of our community, and we must never lose sight of that. The actions of the involved officers in Minneapolis in no way reflect the values of the Whitman Police Department.”
The methods used in Minneapolis that killed George Floyd are not part of any police-training program in Massachusetts, including those used by members of the Whitman Police Department. Specifically, police are never trained to place a prone suspect on his or her face or to put pressure on the neck or throat of a person being detained.
The Whitman Police Department believes in treating all citizens, including those accused of committing a crime, fairly and with dignity. Officers are trained only to use the amount of force necessary to ensure safety for the suspect, the officers, and civilians in the area.
“The mission statement of our department clearly states that our officers are committed to working with the entire Whitman community to make the town a safe and desirable place for all, and that we will partner with the community to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is fair, impartial, transparent and consistent,” Chief Hanlon said. “We stand with those members of the law enforcement community who abide by these same principles each and every day.”
WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 9 voted to again move the date of the annual Town Meeting to request that Town Moderator Michael Seele, in consideration of public health and safety, to postpone Town Meeting for another 30 days.
Seele, who had joined into the Zoom meeting, agreed to the request.
Town Administrator Frank Lynam said the board can meet again within that 30-day window to set a specific date for Town Meeting, if the board’s wish is to hold it at the end of July. Hanson has already rescheduled its Town Meeting for July 20.
Whitman Selectmen were leaning toward a Monday, July 27 date for the ultimate Town Meeting date.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed S2680 on Friday, June 5, which would allow communities to hold town meetings outside of their geographic boundaries. Whitman officials have been hoping to move Town Meeting to WHRHS, but — while the school’s mailing address is in Whitman — the building is entirely in Hanson.
“With that legislation in place, the next question is should we hold the meeting on June 22 at W-H,” Lynam told the board. “If we do not hold a meeting until July, the town will be placed on a 1/12 budget.”
He said the town accountant has prepared a budget for July that he will be reviewing “in the next day or two,” which includes all necessary payments, debt, school assessments that normally occur in July.
Selectmen would be required to approve that 1/12 budget.
“As someone who has, by doctor’s orders, been housebound for a long time now — basically, I’m under house arrest and my warden, my wife is also a nurse and she’s fierce about it — I have had real concerns about being able to be at the meeting on June 22,” said Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “It’s not just myself, it’s other people in the town who are vulnerable, too, if we could push it off until July, it would ease my mind a little bit.”
Seele said people should be asked to wear masks and he had joined Lynam at a meeting with Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak about setting up the school’s gym in a way to maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) physical distancing requirements.
“That said, there are people in situations where they cannot wear masks, people with health conditions,” Seele said. “There may be people who do not want to wear masks for whatever reason.”
Seele advocated seating the former group in the Performing Arts Center and linking the two rooms by video and placing an assistant moderator there to recognize people who wish to speak and count votes.
“It would be complicated, but it could be done if people are comfortable with that,” he said.
Selectman Justin Evans noted that, since the School District will be on a 1/12 budget for July because of Hanson’s July 20 Town Meeting and FEMA has moved the deadline for approval of a Whitman flood map vote, he asked if there were any other pressing reasons to have a Town Meeting before July 1.
Lynam said transfers for the remainder of fiscal 2020, most notably about $44,000 to cover veterans’ benefits, but there are other bookkeeping solutions for that.
Selectman Dan Salvucci said he had no objections to keeping the Town Meeting on June 22 because reopening plans are progressing, and Selectman Brian Bezanson had no preference, but suggested July 27 could be an option.
“We’ve made some incredible progress in the last couple weeks … if this progress continues, we may see a better turnout in July, which is the ultimate goal,” Selectman Randy LaMattina said of the town’s COVID-19 response. “I would hate to see people not come to town meeting because, one, for health reasons they couldn’t or just the fear of possibly getting this.”
Lynam also reported that the town is continuing with plans to start engaging the public with activity, focusing on access to fields and baseball.
“That’s going to start happening next week,” he said. “We’ll actually start — if everything goes OK — playing games the beginning of July.”
As for town Hall access, Lynam has ordered a walk-through temperature station for the building entrance as a screening process for the coronavirus. The device should arrive within two weeks.
“At that point, I would like to look at staffing all of the offices and beginning, or at least consider, doing public visits by appointment, but we’ll talk more about that as we get closer to it,” he said.
HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 9 decided to again delay reopening Cranberry Cove and Camp Kiwanee until they see a clear plan, including the financial impact, from the Recreation Comission.
“The financial impact is crucial to this,” argued Selectman Wes Blauss. “There are times when that parking lot is a public menace [even without physical distancing requirements] and requires policing.”
He said he can envision the cove closing again if it does open because of issues at the gate with kid gatekeepers.
“We’re talking young college kids who are going to be dealing with belligerent families who want their people on the beach, now,” Blauss said. “It’s that volatile a situation.”
Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan recommended keeping the cove closed for the season as it is not taking in revenue this year and will require more town financial assistance next year.
Recreation Director William Boyle said, since the cove is fenced in, it falls within regulations limiting attendance for confined spaces to 10 persons at a time, according to the governor’s reopening guidelines.
“I know there is also another memorandum out there about coastal and inland beaches, so right now it’s up for discussion whether or not the Cove is allowed to go to that 12-foot rule between beach towels and no more than 10 persons per beach towel,” Boyle said. “But that would get very tricky very quickly down at the cove.”
Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff, who views the cove as an inland beach said, agreed with Boyle’s summation. She added that unlike the 6-foot distance required for other social settings proper physical distance at a beach is now 12 feet between groups on towels.
“How many groups [are admitted] really depends on your square-footage. … This doesn’t have to be exact,” she said, however, but the beach needs a plan as to how people would be seated.
Matt Dyer said the beach is .3 acres or about 13,000 square feet.
“I think your pretty well above the 10 person limit,” Feodoroff said.
“We need to try to balance the health and safety of everyone with the need for people to have that recreation,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “We’ve got a lot of pent-up demand and a lot of people staying home this year are not leaving to go vacationing.”
Recreation Commission member Diane Cohen said they were waiting for more guidance from the governor as to what phase-in category the beach fell under. Once admission limits are determined they can map out the beach to determine how many people the cove can handle.
“I do want clarification as to what happens when people go in the water, particularly children,” Cohen said, noting younger kids tend to play in groups by the docks.
Feodoroff said she would need more guidance from the state as well adding that enforcement will be hard.
Another issue of concern for Cohen and her commission is trespassing, which has already been a problem. Cohen suggested more control of beach access is possible by opening than not.
“People are swimming there every day,” said Recreation Commission member John Zucco. “I don’t know how you enforce that or what’s going on. … Are you going to tell people they can’t come in because we’ve got people swimming already?”
FitzGerald-Kemmett said the rules have to be enforced once it does open, but hoped an officer will not be necessary.
Boyle said that the loss of season passes and swim lessons, it cost the Recreation Commission $17,000.
Recreation Commission member Brian Fruzetti argued for passing over the issue because the Recreation Commission has not met on it.
“You’ve got a lot of safety things all rolled into one here,” Fruzetti said.
Selectmen said they were not willing to make a decision until they see a plan from the Recreation Commission.
“I think it’s a really tricky operation to try to open up without a social distancing component,” said Selectman Matt Dyer. “I think it’s important for the Recreation Commission to do their best to open it up at some point. I’m a true believer in having a local swimming hole is very important for the health of our town.”
If it can’t open he said it is important to help families come up with other resources.
Fields open
Selectmen also joined their Whitman counterparts in green-lighting use of fields for youth baseball as softball.
Paul Clark, president of Hanson Little League attended to “see what we have to do to get the fields open” for the season.
Feodoroff said state guidelines are trying to prevent close contact such as football, FitzGerald-Kemmett said youth baseball has been the only sport to apply for permission so far.
Selectmen voted to approve the proposal Clark outlined for youth baseball as well as girls’ softball.
Parents will be provided safety guidelines, including bringing their own equipment and physical distancing from the state and youth baseball. No kids will be permitted in the dugout in either stage 2 or stage 3. An email was sent out offering refunds for those who want them and the season has been canceled for the youngest division of play.
“What I was impressed with is the younger instructional teams,” Selectman Jim Hickey said.
Clark said the “games” will be more along the lines of instructional drills.
Anti-racism vigil
Selectmen also approved a request to hold a Resisting Racism vigil from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 19 at Town Hall Green. The event was originally planned for Saturday, June 13, but organizers Dias, Juvelyn Hartwig of the Recreation Commission, and Marianne DiMascio of Green Hanson and the Plymouth County Reuse Committee, have indicated more time was needed for the work of organizing the event.
Police Chief Michael Miksch has asked to be kept updated on the number of people expected to permit adequate staffing.
Dyer asked for more information about it, which Dias said is modeled after Whitman’s vigil held Sunday, June 7.
“We only want to do it for an hour at Town Hall Green and, we would only have speakers and then walk around the green, so it wouldn’t go off-site anywhere,” she said. “It’s just a matter of getting people together to talk about the issues that have come up recently and how we can learn to communicate better and a variety of other things. … To show we can begin to work together and to begin to work toward some changes.”
Dyer asked about physical distancing precautions. Dias said there is plenty of opportunity for distancing on the grounds of the Town Hall Green.
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked about masks and after-event cleanup Dias said masks would be required.
“At this point, in any gathering, you have to be sure to wear a mask,” she said.
Participants would be required to stay on the green, as well.
WHITMAN — Out of hate and brutality has come a glimmer of hope.
Whitman resident Morgan Kerins and Shannon Murphy of Hanson organized a Resisting Racism peaceful protest at vigil Sunday afternoon.
An estimated 300 people from Whitman and surrounding communities gathered at Memorial Field to hear speakers: former Brockton pastor Dave Capozzi and Khadia and Ben, both African-American residents — speak against systemic racism and, in the case of two, their own personal experiences.
“Peace does not exist when there is injustice,” Capozzi said. “Even though we are all standing together, we are not at peace.”
Dorchester native Khadia spoke of her experience growing up in Whitman after her family moved here when she was in the third grade.
“Coming here, I was optimistic about everything,” she said, urging residents to make Whitman a community where everyone feels they belong. “The thing that got me down the most … I’m sure a lot of you have seen it, [is] the Confederate flags in our schools and all around our town. … Every time I see that, I just feel like I don’t belong here, like I’m not wanted here and that’s not right.”
“I stand with you!” a woman in the crowd shouted. “We’re with you!” and “You belong here!” others yelled out.
Through tears, Khadia described daily comments she heard in school because of her race and said that administrators took no action.
“A lot of people will see this as kids just being jerks, kids just being bullies,” she said. “But those kids grow into adults with real money and real power … into the cops that stop us because we look suspicious because of our color. … into the government officials that won’t pass bills against discrimination or police brutality.”
Ben, a resident of Hanson, also recalled the sense of isolation he felt as the only person of color in his class.
“It made it really hard to know who really was my friend,” he said about classmates who would use racial slurs and say they were “just kidding.”
“We can’t stay silent,” he said about speaking up against racism. “Even when it’s uncomfortable saying it to people you are friends with, saying it to family members. … If we want real change, we can’t let this die out.”
While the organizers, and most of the crowd was white, like 97-percent of Whitman’s population, Murphy called the event an opportunity for people to educate themselves as they support African-Americans.
“Just because we’re predominantly white doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a voice to speak and talk about this,” Murphy said, adding she was eager to work with more than a dozen teenagers in town who wanted to take action.
First they put up anti-racism posters around town, but when they were removed, they planned the protest.
“I was frustrated,” Kerins said, noting she expected some discussion of the poster disappearance, but there was no mention of it. “This is part of the reason it’s so important to do it in a place like this. I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this before, which is why we’ve gotten so many mixed responses.”
Murphy said the removal of the posters moved her to action.
“This is not about one man, it is about resisting racism on all levels,” she later told the crowd. “It is about equality and ending racially motivated police violence. It is about standing in solidarity and fighting injustices. It is about humanity.”
People attending had many reasons for showing up.
“I’m here because I’m done being silent,” said a young Whitman woman who gave her name as Lex. “I’m done being part of a complicit system, where I am allowed to go out and I’m OK being with a cop.”
She contrasted that to how African-Americans worry for their lives in the same situations.
“I’m tired of being in a system like that,” she said.
“I just wanted to show up to make sure we have enough support in this town,” said Whitman resident Marshal Ottina, who was volunteering at a voter registration table. “Black lives matter to me and my family and we wanted to show that support today.”
After the speakers, participants circled the field and walked to Whitman Park where they marched, chanting against racism through half the park before returning to Memorial Field for a vigil.
“It’s a difficult time and it’s uncomfortable for people,” said WHRHS counselor Dom Amado of Hanson. “I think the biggest [outcome has been] the unity, the togetherness. People working together for a common goal.”
He said people have to come together and use their power for good.
“If it was someone near and dear to you, obviously, it would matter — it would hit close to home — so I think that’s the kind of mentality that we have to take,” Amado said. “It’s a human race issue.”
Brockton resident Chantelle Boateng, 17, was leading marchers in chants from the sidewalk along Park Avenue.
“It’s bringing people together,” she said. “I think it’s going to change. They’re helping and I really appreciate them, too.”
“I think this moment is different from any other moment,” said Richarson Fong, who moved to Whitman from Weymouth three years ago. “If you look at the crowd, at the ethnicities, it’s mixed up — it’s America.”
Fong said that, while “we love the police officers” because they secure their communities, it is important to recognize there are some bad apples.
Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ activist Dominique, of Easton concluded the speakers’ program before the vigil.
“I am sick and tired of going out everyday and being scared when I pass a police car,” she said before reading a list of some of the names of people killed by police in recent years.
Participants remained kneeling and silent for eight minutes and 45 seconds — the length of time Minneapolis, Minn., police officer Derek Chauvin allegedly kept his knee on the neck of George Floyd.
“This is pretty impressive for Whitman,” Selectman Justin Evans said of the event as residents filled Memorial Field. “It’s a matter of just looking at ourselves. It’s a lot of reflection, a lot of listening.”
Evans said he plans on reviewing state and local use of force policies to determine if they perhaps need updating.
“It’s sobering to hear some of these things,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said. “To hear people still experiencing that today is really heartbreaking. It’s crazy. It’s absolutely crazy.”
Whitman’s Board of Selectmen, meeting Monday, June 1, Town Administrator Frank Lynam said Town Counsel had asked to amend the Regional Agreement amendment due to concerns over clarity of how accurately the process had been outlined.
The proposed amendment provides for a 50-50 split of the W-H assessment for fiscal 2021 only and thereafter moves to the full statutory method.
“That was the problem with the language, because it really isn’t 50/50,” Lynam said. “It’s 50/50 of the difference.”
Lynam said two copies of the agreement — one the original from W-H and the other Whitman’s recommended language received Sunday, May 31 — are posted on the town website whitman-ma.gov.
Language changes allow amendments up to a Town Meeting vote, according to Lynam, providing the ability to make changes if there is no uniform agreement with the school district and Hanson, but enables placing it before Town Meeting for action.
Selectman Dan Salvucci asked if he was precluded from speaking against an item on the warrant, as the amendment is, if he disagrees with it.
“This is not a collective bargaining issue where we’ve entered an agreement and now have to present it for approval after we’ve ratified it,” Lynam said. “This is a proposed amendment. We’re all free to speak as we may choose.”
Lynam said the board’s vote to accept the amendment and the W-H budget are conditioned on whether Hanson accepts the agreement and funds the resulting appropriation. Whitman’s affirmative vote at Town Meeting would accept the “50/50” split.
“I think what our lawyer has done in drafting the language for Article 7, has taken care of the questions that we had last week,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.
HANSON
Hanson Selectmen did not vote on recommending the amendment to the 1991 regional agreement and the override facing the town, but several agreed the town’s hands are tied, financially.
Town Administrator John Stanbrook on Tuesday, May 26 and Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan led a discussion on the issue. Sullivan said his concern centered on the effects of the changing timeline and COVID-19 delays on the standard negotiating window.
“This is the first time I’ve ever experienced this,” Sullivan said. “I’m fearful that this is the best deal we’re going to get, and I hope — at a very minimum — the citizens of Hanson realize that regardless of how we got here or the tempers that are flaring on both sides, there’s a very real possibility that this is the best deal we’re going to get.”
Sullivan said he is working to set up a couple of informational events to advocate for the override, not for the benefit of the school district but for the overall financial health of the town.
“The worst-case scenario is pretty dire, and I think people need to just take that into consideration,” he said. “I’ve never been a fan of an override, but I think this is a unique one-off circumstance.”
Selectman Matt Dyer said he would like to see an additional year of compromise under the post-COVID “new normal” before going to the full statutory formula.
Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said the amendment precludes further compromise, which Stanbrook confirmed.
“I think, at this point, that ship has sailed, said Selectman Kenny Mitchell. “We need the override.”
Mitchell said if the override fails, Hanson faces potential cuts to public safety.
Selectmen Jim Hickey and Wes Blauss favored placing the issue before the voters, but Hickey did not agree with the compromise on balance, based on Whitman’s retaining a 6-4 majority on the School Committee. Blauss argued the board was not obligated to support the compromise because it is Town Meeting and Town Election voters and the state is likely to support the statutory formula.
“Of course I’m going to vote for the override, because I see there’s no possible way for the town of Hanson to move on,” Blauss said. “I’m just infuriated, as are most of us, that we’ve been put in this position.”
He argued that Hanson has always been the less wealthy of the two towns and has practically no commercial base. As a former teacher, however, who educated younger members of the police and fire departments who would be among the first to face layoffs in the event of budget cuts, he felt there is no other choice.
While the early closure of school buildings due to COVID-19 could save some money, social distancing and other safety requirements could take a bite out of the fiscal 2021 school budget, too.
Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak discussed the impact of a 1/12 budget, as was required as of June 1. If a budget is not in place by July1, Commissioner of Edcation Jeffrey C. Riley will impose that 1/12 budget on the district.
Because the town meetings have been rescheduled due to coronavirus concerns, the month of July will begin with a 1/12 budget, Szymaniak said.
Normally, 1/12 budgets — forced by local financial considerations — are few and far between, according to Szymaniak.
“However, this year, 150 [regional] school districts won’t have a budget by next Monday because virtually no town meetings have taken place,” he said. “I will submit [the 1/12 budget] to the School Committee when we submit it to DESE.”
Szymaniak also plans to submit a letter to the commissioner outlining the steps taken to approve a budget and explaining the process to determine an assessment methodology and the compromise amendment under consideration.
If the commissioner approves the amendment and the budget fails the amendment to the agreement would be the way Riley would assess a fiscal 2021 budget. He also must approve any amendment.
Because the School Committee put forth a budget last month, it gives an option the district can present to the commissioner concerning what has been done, Assistant Superintendent George Ferro said.
Szymaniak said his understanding is that a 1/12 budget will be based on fiscal 2020 numbers for all districts because it would be confusing to do something for one district and not the others.
For W-H, that figure is $52,425,738 and the current budget proposed for fiscal 2021 is $55,040,238 — which would require a cut of $2.6 million to make salary for a presumed Aug. 24 date for next year’s classes.
Based on an average teaching salary of $65,000, Szymaniak said staff cuts would require eight reading specialists district-wide ($550,000), five teachers at Hanson Middle School ($325,000), three teachers at Conley Elementary ($195,000), three teachers at Indian Head ($195,000), two teachers at Duval ($130,000), two facilities positions ($120,000), five curriculum directors at the high school would go back into the high school but lost their stipends ($90,000), they are also looking at librarians at the high school and Hanson Middle School ($130,000) as well as four library paraprofessionals ($80,000), staff cuts to the high school after school program for about $60,000, five high school positions ($320,000), the district is projecting no freshman athletics all year next year ($70,000) and still don’t know if there will be any fall sports offered. The remaining $350,000 will be cut from supplies and a non-union administrator. The cuts come to about 39 staff cuts.
“This is a rough estimate, as we don’t know what the commissioner is going to give us for a budget, but we have to notify our teaching staff of the potential cuts by May 31,” Szymaniak said.
“It’s devastation,” said School Committee member Fred Small, asking if unemployment costs were included or if those cuts would be deeper.
Szymaniak said it depends on who the district can bring back. Small also asked about other ideas such as closing on Fridays and adding a little time onto other days to try saving money on transportation and facilities costs.
But such out-of-the-box changes also hinge on the cost of the PPE and devices such a temporal thermometers the district will have to buy — or the potential for split sessions due to coronavirus. Committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., deputy fire chief in Hanson, asked Ferro to call him the following day as he felt that he and Whitman Fire might be able to work with MEMA and FEMA to aid with PPE purchases.
“[Riley] said nurses will look like ER nurses with the gear that they’re going to have to have — the face shields, the booties, the full nine yards — and that’s going to have to be disposable,” Szymaniak said, noting that equipment and training involved in remote learning requirements.
“The commissioner has been very quiet on what a bus may look like next year, too — I’ve heard numbers of eight to 10 kids on a bus to maybe 15, with glass shields up — I don’t know what that’s going to look like,” he added. “Some of our elementary and middle school buses are packed.”
Committee member Mike Jones asked how decisions on teacher cuts were made. Szymaniak said he looked at class size and put everyone between 25 and 30 students. Whitman Middle was already at that level for class size.
Committee member Dan Cullity asked what would happen if the district was unable to obtain enough PPE. Ferro said they were working on purchasing and stockpiling them.
Szymaniak said special education is also a concern as the stress of dealing with the pandemic and regression from lack of a school environment have and effect on students.
“I think the message should be clear to anybody, that we don’t have a pocket of money sitting around,” Small said.
Excess and deficiency as well as circuit-breaker funds have already been visited, he noted and the need for one-use PPE will require medical waste disposal protocols, which will also cost money. Interim Business Manager John Tuffy said he is also not certain how much circuit-breaker money the district will see.
He has heard rumors of cuts of between 10 and 20 percent.
“I’m concerned that, over the next six months, we’re going to be not with quite a few additional expenses that we’ve never seen before and we’re going to have to live through,” Szymaniak said.
He said there is also no guidance on potential exposure of the school population if a student comes to school with a fever.
Both middle schools will hold a car parade for eighth-graders on the morning of Friday, June 12. ChromeBook return will take place June 11 and 12.
High school underclassmen will be permitted to pick up their belongings from Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12.
College students are helping maintenance staff clean buildings for closure June 15 as S.J. Services continues to be on sabbatical from the contract with the district after a family member of an employee tested positive for coronavirus. The cleaning is also intended to prepare the building in the event Gov. Charlie Baker approves in-building summer school and extended-year programs for special ed students.
Szymaniak said S. J. is not likely to return to working in school buildings until July 1.
HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, May 26, voted to defer to recommendations from Gov. Charlie Baker’s office and the Hanson Board of health before deciding on whether to approve a July 31 WHRHS outdoor graduation ceremony at the football field. Town Administrator John Stanbrook said he spoke to the police and fire chiefs as well as the Board of Health, all of whom expressed no problem with the proposed plan so long as they could meet with school district officials to review logistics a few weeks before the event.
Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam received the same request.
Friends and family of graduates would be invited if social distancing restrictions have been lifted by then. If restrictions are still in place, no audience would be permitted and normal distancing would be observed. The press and local cable access would cover it, with the latter providing live coverage.
“I didn’t have a problem with it because of the social distancing,” said Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias. “The kids are going to be out in the field, and people are aware [that] if we can’t have an audience there, we can’t have an audience there, but we didn’t see any issues with it, the way that it was planned out and the way it was explained it was going to happen.”
Because the email from the school district came after the Board of Health’s last meeting, Administrative Assistant Theresa Cocio forwarded the email individually to board members who responded directly to her, according to Dias.
“I don’t know, but I would think most people didn’t have an issue with it,” Dias said, adding that it would definitely be brought up for a formal vote at the next Health Board meeting June 2.
“I’m a little bit wary on this one,” Selectman Matt Dyer said. “I would say defer to the governor and see what he has to say, but I just said no to 10 families meeting for an hour for a story time [at Camp Kiwanee], I don’t think having 400 kids on a turf field is any better.”
Dyer said that, while he would hope students would adhere to the policies, it is a time of celebration and social distancing guidelines may not be observed during that exuberance.
He made a motion to defer the question to the governor’s office and a recommendation from the Hanson Board of Health, which has jurisdiction over high school grounds.
“If things loosen up in the next few weeks and the governor says, ‘Go for it,’ I’m all for it,” he said. “But for now I can’t say no to 10 families and yes to 400 students. I just think that would be unfair.”
Selectman Kenny Mitchell said he had no problem with a ceremony if the seats were set up to observe social distancing.
“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s high school graduation. That field is pretty big, so I think you can socially distance 400 kids, if you had to, on that field.”
Selectman Jim Hickey said he would prefer waiting until after the Board of Health’s next meeting.
“It’s all about information,” he said, noting the state is still only in Phase 1 of reopening. “July 31 may seem like a long ways a way, but it’s not.”
Selectman Wes Blauss agreed with Mitchell in supporting the commencement, while cautioning there is no assurance that a July 31 date will be possible.
“As a board, we’re just saying if it’s possible, I’m for it,” Blauss said. Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed that a binding vote is difficult without guidance from the state and local health board.
“I don’t think that we can grant approval at this point,” she said. “I think we need to know more about what the plan is and to make sure that the Board of Health is comfortable with that plan and that they’ve weighed in on it.”
In providing a general coronavirus update to Selectmen, Dias said she has been on multiple calls with state health officials every day and that the Board of Health is beginning to look at questions surrounding golf courses and outdoor dining a restaurants — which is still not allowed — but right now a lot of work is going into keeping up with new guidance coming along in order to be able to put it into practice as soon as possible.
FitzGerald-Kemmett noted there is a push to help restaurants open again, noting that as the alcohol licensing board would have a say in the matter.
“They’re not allowing sit-down eating anywhere yet,” Dias said, stressing that outdoor dining is included in that.
HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, May 26 asked the Recreation Commission to develop a plan for this year — and potentially for next year, as well — before a decision is made for the opening of Camp Kiwanne, and especially Cranberry Cove.
An early opening before June 15 was ruled out because of the logistical challenges presented by the coronavirus.
Recreation Commission member Diane Cohen reported that caretakers, who are permitted to work only one at a time, have begun returning to work at Camp Kiwanee. Town Administrator John Stanbrook said he was not aware of a need to limit caretakers to one at a time.
Cohen explained that Recreation Director William Boyle was working according to hours previously given according to normal operating times, based on budget and anticipated shortfalls in the budget. Selectmen chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Stanbrook to discuss the matter with Boyle for clarification.
“We’re not sure still about swimming lessons and what that looks like,” she said. “We still not sure what phase we’re in — we did want to open when school ends, but I wasn’t sure how the board felt about possibly opening early, maybe during afterschool hours.”
Because of the recent hot weather and people’s frustration at being stuck at home, Cohen asked that if lifeguards could be hired in time, an earlier opening could be considered, although her intent has been to wait until the actual end of the school year, which is typically in mid-June.
“I had a couple of requests and I wanted to be honest and say I would ask,” Cohen said.
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Board of Health Chairman Arlene Dias for her opinion on the questions Cohen raised.
“I haven’t heard anything from the governor regarding this particular opening,” Cohen said.
Dias said the Board of Health had discussed it at a previous meeting and felt that, if Selectmen voted to open the camp the wanted to be ready for it.
“For us, it would be a matter of testing the water, we would be willing to set up guidelines,” Dias said. “I don’t think the state has issued them yet.”
Dias said a plan for social distancing must be developed, followed by a discussion about how people would be admitted — and how many at one time.
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if the two committees could connect on the issue.
“I don’t think we want to be unilaterally be making a decision to open up the Cove without hearing that there is a plan in place already,” she said of the small area with limited access. “We don’t want to be making this up as we go.”
Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan, meanwhile, said the Cove was only budgeted to open June 15, so opening earlier would mean running out of money. It would also require a larger supplemental expenditure from the town, as recreation retained earnings are way down.
He recommended keeping the camp and Cove closed for as long as possible.
Selectman Matt Dyer said the governor’s recommended 12-foot social distancing at beaches would raise the question of how to control admission — would it be through reserved hours, which the Recreation Department would have to work out. Masks would also be required at the beach.
Selectman Kenny Mitchell said a plan is needed and recommended season passes be off the table this year. Selectman Jim Hickey agreed with Dyer and Mitchell, but added he would like to see a plan by June 9.
“What a logistical nightmare this is,” said Selectman Wes Blauss, asking if a credit-card payment system was available. Cohen said the town does but Internet access and lack of a card reader at the camp is a hit-or-miss proposition. Debit card fees would be prohibitive, as well, she said.
“It’s looking to me that by opening the Cove actually at all — and I’m not saying we’re not opening the Cove at some point,” Blauss said. “But, should we open the Cove I can just see that this is going to become difficult to control, and especially for kids — the staff down at Cranberry Cove are kids.”
He foresees the potential for serious confrontations at the beach, and said any plan to reopen the beach must be self-sustaining in view of the town’s deficit, especially if a Proposition 2 ½ override fails and cuts must be made.
Dyer said it is a good idea to provide information to the public of other cooling centers or beach resources on the South Shore.
Director of Elder Affairs Mary Collins and Library Director Karen Stolfer provided reports to the board on their facilities’ service to the community during the coronavirus crisis.
Collins said that, while the Senior Center’s doors are closed, services have continued throughout the pandemic — specifically Meals on Wheels, which serves some of the most fragile people within the community.
“We have seen an uptick on the amount of people that have requested Meals on Wheels after the pandemic began,” Collins said. Referrals for fuel assistance, home care and assistance with insurance sign-ups (the SHINE program) have also continued.
“Obviously, we are concerned about the population that we serve, they are the most vulnerable, but also have a tendency sometimes to socially isolate, which can lead to other issues down the road,” she said. Serving those clients, along with monitoring Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening phases, are her main concerns right now — with senior centers solidly toward the end of phase three.
“In terms of opening for programming, I think that we will have to hold on, and we have decided to try some alternative types of programming,” Collins said. The Friends of the Senior Center are buying a Zoom program to help with keeping in touch with isolated elders.
Besides seniors who look to the center for recreational and informational programming, the center also operates a supportive day program for elders with cognitive conditions, who Collins described as “in desperate need of returning,” but it is not possible at this time.
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked what Selectmen could do to support her in the way of town resources.
“The folks have been wonderful,” Collins said, noting how Firefighter Tim Royer and Deputy Chief Robert O’Brien Jr., had approached her before the pandemic really took off about how the Fire Department could help some seniors with picking up groceries or prescriptions. She said the Police Department and Stanbrook have also been wonderful in providing resources to seniors for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Stolfer said the library has begun no-contact curbside pickup as part of a four-phase reopening plan, posted on the library website. While the book drop will soon be open for returns, she stressed there is no rush if people are still not comfortable going out. Current due dates are extended to July 9 with late fees waived until further notice.
Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours. Borrowers are limited to in-house materials as the SAILS Network to which the library belongs is still closed.
Phase 2 will permit people back into the building in limited numbers with plastic shields placed at service desks. In Phase 3, the library opens a bit more with some expansion of services and Phase 4 will represent the “new normal.”
“The timing of these later phases is going to depend on the governor’s timeline,” Stolfer said. Virtual programs such as weekly book chats and crafts are being held in the interim.
For more information, visit the hansonlibrary.org.