Whitman-Hanson Express

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Holiday trees to aid DFS

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WHITMAN — Selectmen on Tuesday, Oct. 20 approved a Dollars For Scholars request to hold a new kind of holiday fundraiser — Decorate For Dollars — a holiday tree-lighting in Whitman Park.

“We’re trying to make something exciting for the town to look forward to,” said DFS volunteer Michelle LaMattina. “Nice, a little bit competitive, but also socially distanced. … We’re looking for it to be a nice event to brighten everybody’s holidays a little.”

The hope is that the project can be continued year-to-year.

LaMattina has already presented her idea to Bruce Martin of the DPW, who supports it, she said. No details on participation have been released to the public, yet until DFS receives the permission and support of town officials.

“I can’t wait to see what the park looks like with a lot of decorated trees on it,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said, noting Whitman has not had that kind of spirit in the town for a while since WinterFest was discontinued.

“Every year we raise a lot of money for the seniors in Whitman and Hanson through fundraising and door-to-door,” LaMattina said. “Obviously, this year it’s going to be very tough to fundraise because of COVID, so we’ve been trying to come up with some new ideas.”

LaMattina said COVID restrictions have meant it will be a tough year to raise funds for scholarships as many fundraiser events had to be cancelled.

Decorate For Dollars will allow individuals, families, neighborhoods, clubs, organizations or companies to sponsor a tree for $100. DFS will provide the trees and lights, setting them up right after Thanksgiving. Sign-up times will be allotted to tree sponsors to come and decorate the tree to their liking, LaMattina said.

To make it interesting, DFS will be making the display competitive, with the committee voting on which trees display the best holiday spirit. The winners will be able to award a scholarship in their name to a graduating senior at the May awards night ceremonies.

DFS would limit decorating crews to four people within each group, which will be timed, required to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines.

Over the first two weekends in December, from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday, the trees will be illuminated for the public to view.

“Whether you want to drive around, if you want to get out of your car — but we will have DFS volunteers making sure there aren’t groups of people congregating,” she said.

Severe storm fells trees, cuts power

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WHITMAN — Donald and Tracey Enos were dealing with cleanup on Thursday, Oct. 8, following a severe storm that felled a tree — that crushed the front left side of their residence.

She was home with the kids, ages 10 and 8 years old, and received an alert on her phone that a thunderstorm was in the area.

She brought the dog in the house and shut the door behind her when moments later a tree crashed down on their 39 Loring Ave. home.

At first Enos said she thought it was a back tree that fell by the deck but realized she heard water running. The rain was coming through her son’s front bedroom and creating its own path through the bathroom was another branch approximately 18 inches long daggered through the ceiling.

“The ceiling and branches were across his bed and water was pouring inside,” she said when she looked at the damage left behind.

She ran down to the kids who were safe and unhurt and had been playing in the basement.

The neighbor across the street called 911 and checked on her. She stayed inside unsure if wires were across the house.

The kids study from home and Donald Enos said they were at their grandparents where they could study online since they were unable to enter the house.   

A car was covered in tree limbs on Temple Street at the Alegro home where a man could be seen checking out the damage in his yard. Following the quick moving wind storm on Oct.7  power was also  knocked out to parts of Whitman and Hanson for approximately 24 hours.

October is National Crime Prevention Month

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WHITMAN — As part of National Crime Prevention Month, Chief Timothy Hanlon and the Whitman Police Department wish to warn the public about common types of scams.

October is National Crime Prevention Month. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that in 2019 consumers lost more than $1.9 billion to fraud with nearly $667 million lost to imposter scams alone.

Chief Hanlon warns that residents should NEVER give personal information, social security numbers or credit card numbers to people through social media, or to people who call their homes or cell phones unsolicited.

“It is important for residents to be able to identify the various types of scams that are out there,” Chief Hanlon said. “For example, residents should always verify the legitimacy of a caller before giving out any personal information, and should never pay for an item with a gift card.”

Common scams that target residents – specifically senior citizens – include:

• Social Security Scams: Scammers pretend to be from the U.S. Social Security Administration and try to get your Social Security Number or money.

• IRS Scams: Scammers call, pretending to be from the IRS, and say they’re filing a lawsuit against your back taxes.

• Phishing Scams: Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.

• Fake Check Scams: Scammers ask you to deposit a check for more than you are owed and send some of the money to another person.

• Utility Scams: Scammers pose as bill collectors from utility companies and threaten to shut off service if you do not pay.

• Sweepstakes: Someone calls to notify you that you have won a contest or sweepstakes and must send money to collect any winnings.

Often, the scammer will demand payment via electronic money order or pre-paid debit card. This should be an immediate red flag. No legitimate vendor will ever demand money via these means.

To prevent similar scams, the FTC recommends the following:

• Do not take calls from unknown numbers. Caller ID is not always accurate. A call from a “local” number might not be coming from a local person or organization.

• Do not share personal, identifying information like your Social Security Number, account numbers, or your mother’s maiden name.

• If a caller claims to represent an organization and you are doubtful, hang up and contact that agency to verify whether the call was truly from a representative.

• Never pay a caller with a gift card.

• Telemarketers are required by law to state that they are making a sales call. They are mandated to say the name of the seller and the product before pitching their sale. If this does not happen, hang up.

• Be wary of callers who talk quickly and pressure you to make a decision quickly.

• Do not buy a product or service because of a “free gift.”

• Get all information in writing before making a purchase.

• Verify the legitimacy of a charity before donating.

• Before making an investment that a caller or emailer is offering, check with your state securities regulator to make sure the offer is properly registered.

• Do not send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer. If you pay for a product or service with cash or a money transfer, you run the risk of losing the right to dispute fraudulent charges.

• Do not accept an offer that requires a registration or shipping fee to get a prize or gift.

• Beware of offers to “help” recover money that you already have lost. Scammers sometimes pose as law enforcement officers who will help get money back for a fee.

•   Report rude or abusive callers, even if you already sent them money, by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or by visiting ftc.gov/complaint.

If anyone has any questions or feels that they have been victimized, they are encouraged to call the Whitman Police Department.

Lt. Casey named Dpty Chief

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HANSON — Two new officers were appointed, and Lt. Michael Casey was appointed deputy police chief effective immediately on the Hanson Police Department during the Tuesday, Oct. 13 meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

Police Chief Michael Miksch said the department had been functioning with a lieutenant as second in command for several years.

“What’s been happening in the area … is departments are renaming their number two officer,” Miksch said. “Their executive officer is the deputy chief.”

Besides the history of that position having been a lieutenant, Miksch said he hadn’t had the right person in the position to necessarily fill the title.

“I’m impressed with the amount [of knowledge] he has picked up, I’m impressed with his enthusiasm, he has a great way of dealing with the officers … he’s just been doing an outstanding job,” Miksch said.

He also noted that Casey has been doing the job, including working on policies and procedures in the department.

“If he’s doing the job, I think he deserves the title,” Miksch said. “That’s all it is right now, is a title. No one is asking for more money.”

The move is a title change to better reflect the job Casey is doing and the responsibility of the job. It also allows better interaction with other police agencies.

“I’m not going to put another person in the lieutenant’s position,” Miksch said in anticipation of that question from Selectmen. “There’s no funding for that. Those badges and the name plate will go on a shelf somewhere.”

But, it would be a good placeholder for future discussion if the right person became evident, he said.

“One of goals, if I leave, is to make sure that you have some choices as to whose going to be the next chief,” Miksch said. “I think it’s the sign of a very successful organization if they can promote from within.”

Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell said a succession plan is a good idea, and Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed, but expressed concern about potential issues the town’s labor counsel should advise them about.

“Not being a Civil Service community, we’re not bound by any of those laws,” Miksch said, but added he does not have a problem with selectmen consulting labor counsel, if that makes them more comfortable.

FitzGerald-Kemmett argued for either postponing a vote for two weeks for an opinion, or approve it on condition of approval by labor counsel. Selectmen voted to approve it subject to labor counsel OK.

Regarding the new officers Miksch said that, when the 911 communications — which encompassed five civilian positions —were transferred to the regional communications center in Duxbury, he sought an additional four officers to keep the station open.

“[It] still brought me in with less of a budget than I had before [the dispatchers] left,” he said.

One candidate, who was supposed to attend the academy in January, did not meet the requirements and left another position open. He decided to seek a trained officer in another department willing to make a lateral move to Hanson.

“As you know from the news, there aren’t a lot of people banging down the door to become cops anymore, but we got about 30 applicants,” Miksch said. Out of those, only five or six met the requirement of having completed a full-time academy.

They also brought in 10 part-time officers for interviews. One of those, Robert Mansfield, stood out, according to Miksch.

“He grew up in Whitman, he’s a W-H graduate, he worked on the Yarmouth Police Department,” Miksch said. After a short time, he transferred to Oak Bluffs when his wife started a job on Martha’s Vineyard. He attended the Randolph full-time academy and as five years’ experience on the job and can be appointed Nov. 1.

Mansfield is a graduate of UMass, Boston and attended the Mass. Maritime Academy where he majored in emergency management.

Appointed to begin service on completion of police academy were: part-time officers Nick Kanarski and Kyle Barsani.

Kanarski has been a part-time officer in Hanson for more than 10 years, Miksch said.

“He’s another local kid,” he said. “He worked in IT for WHRSD when the previous police chief appointed him as a part-time officer.”

Kanarski has done details, “hanging around to do the training he needs to do every year to keep up” and has been willing to work emergency night details despite also holding down a full-time job, the chief said.

“Nick would be a great full-time and he wants a career change,” Miksch said, noting he would begin the Plymouth Academy Feb. 1. Kanarski has worked for the Secret Service is also a personal trainer and his IT background will be helpful.

“My guys’ idea of fixing the printer is smacking it with something and hoping the paper fits,” Miksch said.

Barsani became a part-time officer in Hanson about six months ago, has been an auxiliary officer in Whitman for the past year and is finishing college, working on a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is also a personal trainer and fitness instructor, at the Old Colony YMCA. He is expected to start the Cape Cod academy Jan. 4.

In other business, Selectmen voted Halloween activities in town.

Mitchell said it should go on as usual, with safety guidelines such as putting candy in bags to hand out.

“I really don’t see cancelling Halloween as a positive,” he said.

“It’s huge,” FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed. “I think people know that they need to be safe. … We’ve got little people who have had a pretty abysmal year, which is the understatement of the year, and this is some little amount of joy they can get before we’re all shut in for the winter.”

“Cancelling Halloween is out of the question,” said Selectman Jim Hickey, who has spoken with younger parents in town, who plan to accompanying their children to ensure social distancing.

“My house is going to be ready,” he said. “So, if somebody comes at 2 in the afternoon, I’m going to be ready. If somebody comes at 8 o’clock, my light’s out.”

Hickey and FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested touching base with the school district to reinforce safety issues with middle school students.

“If you’re at home handing out candy, wear a mask,” Selectman Matt Dyer said. “If you’re out trick-or-treating, wear a mask.”

Early voting set to begin

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Election season begins in Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct 17 with early voting hours at state polling places.

This year, voters have more voting options due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can vote early at any early voting location in your community, by mail, or at your polling place on Election Day.

The deadline for mail-in ballots is Oct. 28 — but Whitman Town Clerk Dawn Varley said there was a delay in receiving them from the state.

“I’ve had about 30 emails asking about them, but I didn’t get them until Oct. 9,” Varley said, noting they are now in the process of being mailed to Whitman voters.

Early voting ends Oct. 30, but absentee voters have until noon, Monday, Nov. 2 to vote.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

When early voting in person at an early voting location for your municipality, the election officials will check you in, similar to the process used on Election Day, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. After voting, you will enclose your ballot into an envelope to be counted on Election Day.

To vote by mail, download the Early Ballot Application and mail it to your local election official.

In-person early voting hours are held in Whitman Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday to Sunday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays until Friday, Oct. 30.

In and Hanson Town Hall, early voting takes place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., on Fridays until Oct. 30.

Voters are asked to follow signs directing them through the buildings and remain socially distant.

Hanson Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan said she expects a lot of Hanson voters to take advantage of early voting, for convenience, among other reasons.

“They feel more comfortable as far as social distancing, instead of having the crowds,” Sloan said. “They’re coming in the front door — we’re probably only going to let four people in at a time — and then they’re going out the side door.”

Varley said early voters in Whitman must enter the Town Hall by the handicapped entrance and exit via the side entrances, but there are no limits to the number of people permitted in the building at once so long as social distancing is maintained.

There will be a poll worker serving as a sort of “hall monitor” to ensure that is the case, Varley said.

Early voting ballots are run through tally machines on Election Day, as are mail-in ballots, according to Sloan.

Vote by mail has already started, and voters who wish to vote that way, but have not yet received an application in the mail, can download a link from their town clerk’s page and return it as soon as possible.

More information can also be obtained by visiting sec.state.ma.us/earlyvotingweb or at iwillvote.com.

6th Dist. hopefuls square off

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Public safety reform, economic recovery in the wake of COVID and the accompanying public health concerns surrounding it, as well constituent services were the focus of a recent 6th Plymouth District candidates’ forum at the Plymouth Area Community Television cable access studio.

State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, and challenger Republican Tatyana Semyrog faced off in the session moderated by PACTV Executive Director Julie Thompson. The broadcast touched on political divisiveness, the immediate pressing issues facing the state – including policing, legislation they would back to benefit constituents, committee preferences and what they have learned about each other.

“This will not be a debate per se, but rather an opportunity for the candidates to let voters know who they are and where they stand on certain issues,” Thompson said.

The candidates were introduced in alphabetical order and had three minutes for an introductory statement before Thompson began her questions on state and local issues.

Formatted in a similar fashion to the presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29, responses to each question were followed by a point-counterpoint opportunity to ask questions of each other. Candidates had three minutes to make closing remarks.

There was no audience or campaign staff present in the studio.

“I really love my job,” said Cutler, who is now serving his fourth term. “I believe in public service. This has been certainly the most challenging, but also the most rewarding term that I’ve served because a lot of people need help.”

Noting his pride in the fact that Massachusetts leads the nation in education, health care, biotech, energy efficiency, marriage equality and veterans’ benefits, Cutler said there is still more work to be done, especially with the public health and economic challenges posed by COVID-19. He serves on the Ways and Means Committee, Telecommunications and Energy Committee and the Higher Education Committee as well as the House Chair of the Coastal Caucus and is leading an initiative on workforce development for persons with disabilities.

An inventor and entrepreneur, Semyrog is also a mother, a widow and cancer survivor.

“All these tragedies that happened to me truly made me a survivor and inspiration to many,” she said of losing her husband in a car crash four years ago as well as her battle against breast cancer. “My family also survived severe persecution in the former Soviet Union for many generations.”

She said an independent district such as the 6th Plymouth should have all political viewpoints represented in the State House.

On the political polarization in the state as well as the nation, Semyrog said it breaks her heart, but repeatedly characterized a July vote Cutler cast for police reform as defunding the police.

“It is painful to watch us being ripped apart — by the media, truly — that is, dividing us up into classes, labeling us certain names that are unfair and I am here to address that and say, ‘This has to stop,’” she said. Semyrog claimed she has been ostracized and criticized by Cutler’s supporters on social media. “If we’re going to say that everyone’s lives matter, then let’s include everyone, including our police, who are being marginalized right now — attacked, dishonored and mocked. That has to stop.”

Cutler said the situation is a tale of two cities with division in Washington, D.C., specifically the White House, with both parties contributing to it; and Boston, where the legislature is Democratic and Gov. Charlie Baker is Republican.

“And yet, we found a way to work together and to build consensus,” he said. “We don’t always agree on every issue, but we work together to try to solve problems. The nation could learn from what we’re doing in Massachusetts, where we have Democrats and Republicans working together to solve issues.”

On the regional level, Cutler said he has worked with Republican colleagues to provide paratransit ride services for the disabled, North River issues and 40B projects in Hanover, and worked with the Republican leader in the House on the Energy Save Act.

“Fundamentally, I believe, in politics this job should be about addition and not division,” Cutler said.

Semyrog replied that, in knocking on 5,500 doors across the district, she has heard residents say they feel “betrayed” and that his record is “lacking in bringing people together.” She did not offer specific examples, other than claiming his vote to defund police has divided the community.

Cutler countered that the chairman of the W-H School Committee, who is a lifelong Republican, supports him, as do GOP members of the Duxbury Planning Board and that people understand that he works across party aisles.

Asked to list three issues they see as most pressing in the state, Cutler termed his the “Three Es” — education, economic development and energy/climate issues.

“I’ve been fighting for school funding and changes in our school funding formula,” he said.

Special education funding and financial assistance to districts struggling with the challenges surrounding COVID-19 resulted in a pledge by Ways and Means that cities and towns would see no cuts to local aid.

Semyrog said her number one issue is public safety, economic recovery was also mentioned.

“I know my opponent doesn’t like to call it ‘defund the police,’ but really, [a bill passed in July] is a bill that will hurt our police officers by taking away their qualified immunity,” she said.

She said raising the gas tax at this time is also “despicable.”

“She’s certainly entitled to her own opinions on this, but she’s not entitled to her own facts,” Cutler responded. He said he voted for an additional revenue source dedicated to police training as well as other bills funding needs of local departments.

“There’s a broader issue at play here,” he said of national debates surrounding policing. “I would agree in one respect, I think our law enforcement does a fantastic job here. … I think there’s also a need to look at policing reform and accountability.”

He noted that Massachusetts is one of only four states lacking a licensing certification for police officers and the legislation sought to address that. Cutler said he does not favor defunding the police nor ending qualified immunity and is “disappointed that my positions are, frankly, being misconstrued.”

Semyrog said she has been unanimously endorsed by police unions in Pembroke and Hanson, as well as the Mass Cops union and asked if the vote wasn’t for defunding, why do police officers feel that it is.

“I feel this is a very important matter that you need to own,” she said.

On legislative goals to help constituents, Semyrog said the next two years must focus on economic recovery, vowing to introduce bills to help small business and expanding Chapter 70 funds for schools and to help first responders.

Cutler said he would continue to do just those things, as he said he has done since being elected to the seat, as well as fighting for local aid and leading on issues of climate, preventing abuse of the disabled and again stressed he supports the police and also has a string of union endorsements, as well as one representing nurses.

“Everything you’ve accomplished is your job,” Semyrog replied.

Cutler also said continuing to serve on Ways and Means, which works on crafting a state budget, remains his priority. He stressed that the committee, even amid COVID, has committed to hold harmless to any cuts in Chapter 70 and lottery aid, protecting local aid to cities and towns. He also hosted a Ways and Means hearing in the district for the first time.

Semyrog also said she has an eye on the Ways and Means Committee, asserting she would “do more.” She also has an eye on the Public Safety Committee and the Community Development and Small Businesses Committee. Cutler said those were good committees to aspire to and that he has served on the Community Development and Small Businesses Committee and has been endorsed by the chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

Semyrog said she knew nothing about Cutler before running, and her canvassing has led her to feel constituents want new representation.

Cutler said he does not know Semyrog well, but looks forward to get to know her better and was dismayed that she chose to take such a divisive position.

About the candidates

Cuter grew up in Duxbury and now lives in Hanson. The Skidmore College and Suffolk Law School graduate owns a small business in Hanson and is the former owner of Clipper Press, which published the Duxbury Clipper and Whitman-Hanson Express before those newspapers were sold in 2013 before he ran for office. He also earned a master’s degree in environmental policy from UMass, Dartmouth.

His previous governmental experience includes three years as a Selectman in Hull, four years on the Duxbury Planning Board and on that town’s Alternative Energy Committee for 10 years. He currently serves on civic or business associations in all three district communities.

Semyrog’s family emigrated to the United States when she was a little girl in 1988. She has seven siblings settling in Springfield to start a new life. Her family’s Christian faith made them a target for persecution in the USSR, she said, explaining that her grandfather served 28 years in a labor camp and two of his brothers were summarily executed for possessing bibles.

“I was reborn in this country,” she said.

She said she graduated with a degree in political science and has worked for a few members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass.

To watch the complete broadcast visit: https://youtu.be/06kyACQvVcA.

Hanson makes short work of special TM

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HANSON – In a special Town Meeting lasting less than 14 minutes, Hanson voters approved a short warrant of 16 articles, all without discussion.

The session was held Saturday, Oct. 3 in the WHRHS gym, at desks already set up for socially distanced school lunches. The reduced quorum of 50 people were required to wear masks and asked to fill out contract tracing forms, including information as to which row and seat they sat in so the Town Clerk’s office would have information “if something undesireable happens,” according to Town Moderator Sean Kealy.

After being joined by two children in leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Kealy honored town officials lost since the July annual Town Meeting — Les Wyman, election official Debbie Clemons and transfer station employee Keith Fontaine.

Article 1, to transfer $294 from free cash and $464.59 from recreation enterprise fund retained earnings to pay seven unpaid bills from prior fiscal years, was approved. A 9/10 vote margin was required.

Article 2, to raise and appropriate $111,100 from taxation to supplement the six appropriations in the warrant (previously voted in Article 6 of the July annual Town Meeting), was approved.

Article 3, to transfer $532,50 from free cash and $61,000 from ambulance receipts reserved appropriations to pay for nine items listed in the warrant, was approved.

Article 4, to transfer $2,335 from free cash and $84,378 from Article 11 of the May 2019 annual Town Meeting to pay for WHRHS capital projects, was approved.

Article 5, to appropriate $30,410 from the Community Preservation Committee’s fund balance reserve for open space to pay for the local share of a state matching trails grant, was approved.

Article 6, to transfer $14,000 from free cash to fund an operational and comparative audit of the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, was approved.

Article 7, to transfer $30,000 form overlay surplus, access allowance for abatements and exemptions, to pay for fiscal 2022 recertification year adjustment and the commercial, industrial personal property cyclical recertification of the town’s real estate and personal property values as required by state law; was approved.

Article 8, to transfer $35,000 from free cash to pay for the engineering costs of a park to be located at the former Plymouth County Hospital site, was approved.

Article 9, to transfer $20,000 from free cash to pay for stump grinding and removal and related improvements at Camp Kiwanee, was approved.

Article 10, to transfer $7,500 from free cash to pay for repairs to the parking lot at 225 High St., was approved.

Article 11, to transfer $55,000 from free cash to pay for five new compactors at the transfer station, was approved.

Article 12, to transfer $10,000 from free cash to replenish the Conservation Fund for Open Space Management and related conservation purposes, was approved.

Article 13, to raise and appropriate $25,000 from taxation to be added to the towns other post-employment benefits trust fund, was approved.

Article 14, to transfer $55,000 from free cash to be added to the town stabilization fund, was approved.

Article 15, to transfer $25,000 from free cash to be added to the regional schools capital stabilization fund, was approved.

Article 16, to make the office of tree warden an appointed position under the authority of the Board of Selectmen, was approved.

School panel looks at strategy

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School Committee members rated the panel’s community engagement as weak or in need of improvement, with the School Committee at the Wednesday, Sept. 30 meeting during discussions about the issue.

“I think it’s poor,” Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said of the committee’s track record. “I don’t think these meetings allow engagement of the community unless it’s a hot topic. I would like to see it better.”

Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven said he doesn’t know what more the committee does to engage the community other than posting the meeting.

Chairman Bob Hayes was unable to attend due to a prior commitment and Committee member Fred Small participated in the meeting remotely via telephone.

“I understand that there’s got to be more than just community involvement for the stakeholders,” said committee member Steven Bois.

“We have to get more information out to the people when they need it,” agreed member Dan Cullity. “We have to start educating them much better. …Sometimes it falls on deaf ears with some groups out there.”

Member Fred Small suggested structured time within meetings to answer questions that citizens submit could help get people more involved. Members Dawn Byers and Hillary Kniffen termed the effort ineffective and member Michael Jones graded it weak.

Member Christopher Howard,, who led that discussion agreed.

“We have limited participants and it was even worse pre-COVID, as we would only have a handful of people attend the meeting,” Howard said. “It’s not their problem to fix, it’s ours.”

Howard asked each committee members to list three ways the committee could improve engagement.

Committee member David Forth suggested establishing a community relations subcommittee, or use of a Zoom session through which community members could dial in and ask questions as well as liaisons to PTOs and a student advisory council.

Scriven favors a subcommittee approach, but wanted members to submit ideas for that by the next meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Forth and Jones also liked the idea of pop-up meetings, and social media efforts as well as shortening meetings.

While she said a public comment opportunity “needs to happen,” Kniff said a Zoom call might not be the most effective avenue for it. She said being visible in the community might be more effective and liked Jones’ idea of appointing a point person for social media.

Szymaniak said the Zoom call for public comment could potentially be in place by the next committee meeting. Cullity said the chairman controls that aspect of the agenda in any case.

“Yes, people are going to be out on social media and they’re going to have their own opinions, but we can state the facts,” Byers said. “It’s best if you can point them right back to a district documents and then turn off those comments and notifications and just leave it there.”

Byers also suggested School Committee members could attend PTO meetings as “ears” and report back on things PTO members wish to tell them.

Szymaniak said the public comment idea gives an opportunity to speak at a specific point in a meeting, with people sometimes required to sign in as guests to do so ahead of time, which can also give the opportunity for members to research their question. He also found value in attending PTO meetings and having a public relations professional to direct a social media effort. He also suggested committee members should feel free to use the “Principally Speaking” column space allotted to the School District in the Whitman-Hanson Express as a way to communicate directly with residents.

The Mass. Association of School Committees does not permit committees to operate Facebook pages.

“I never want to engage in any argumentative or controversial [discussions] or I never speak on behalf of the committee on social media — just giving our effective information,” Byers said, noting she has had informational posts removed from community Facebook pages in the past.

Both Kniffen and Forth said they use personal Facebook pages to post factual information and meeting recaps about School Committee activity, which are permitted by the MASC, and not opinions. Small voiced concern that such recaps are more akin to non-approved draft minutes. Forth said he ran his intention to recap by MASC, but Kniffen suggested that Forth go into a bit less detail to address Small’s concerns.

Bois agreed that her posts have been effective in getting the facts before the community.

Howard said timeliness is a problem with social media. If one is not on it all the time, one could miss a timely opportunity to correct errors or misinformation.

“I’m an admitted dinosaur when it comes to social media,” Scriven said. I don’t engage in it — hardly ever. … From my perspective it presents more challenges than [benefits].”

He argued it is especially true for a school committee, which is bound by policies and restrictions.

“I think it’s important for us to speak with one voice as a committee, and not have the off shoots,” Scriven said. “I don’t know what that looks like. I just have those concerns.”

During the three-hour meeting, committee members also pointed to the length of meetings as a turn-off for residents who might otherwise attend.

Red flags over brownfields

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WHITMAN – In a frequently tense discussion, the Board of Selectmen voted to again table discussion on the fee agreement for environmental site work during its Tuesday, Oct. 6 meeting. The delay allows time to invite state DEP officials to schedule a visit to the board to discuss the issue.

“The issue at hand is whether the town should be looking at and assessing the conditions for the property at 602 Bedford St., which we know to be contaminated, and we know has a substantial file at the DEP,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam.

The town sought a grant from MOBD to fund a Phase 2 assessment of the property in order to identify and ascertain the level of contamination, what the contaminants are and what would be involved in moving to the next step — estimating the cost of returning the property to useful condition.

“It would help us to put the property back on the tax rolls,” Lynam said, making it clear that, unless Selectmen decide otherwise, the town has no intention of taking ownership of the property. “The tax title action, which was advertised a few weeks ago, is a lien mechanism that has to be employed by the town in order to ensure its right to collect the taxes that are unpaid on the property.”

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green prepared a proposal to represent the town in that request through the courts. Green noted that the fee agreement covers the Regal property on South Avenue as well. A previous court action allowed access to Regal for only 180 days and a refilling is necessary to continue a Phase 3 site assessment there.

Tracey Costa, a licensed site professional with Ransom Properties and who has worked with the town before, but is not currently under contract with Whitman.

“The timing is really something to consider because we really don’t know next year what the Mass. Development funding mechanism will look like,” Costa said, noting there is also an opportunity to apply for an EPA Brownfields Communitywide Assessment Fund. “You really want to be able to attract developers to the site.”

The assessment would not only determine the level of contamination, but also would outline cleanup options, according to Costa. But in conducting an assessment, the town is obligated to cleanup the site if imminent hazards are found.

While that is not likely, she said, it is built into the language of the fund.

Finance and Building committees member David Codero, who has an environmental background, has brought up concern that the town may by moving forward in a manner that flies in the face of state and EPA guidance in terms of future cleanups.

“What they are proposing is to do an investigation on a property we don’t own, and my concern is that is opening the town up for liabilities if they don’t put mechanisms in place through the attorney general’s office and through DEP in order to protect themselves from any liability,” Codero said. “What type of liability does a non-owner have when going onto somebody else’s property?”

Costa said that access would have to be acquired through an administrative warrant. Codero said that must be done upfront to avoid full liability.

“What we are voting on is a fee agreement with a law firm that will take are of the issues that David is concerned about, am I misunderstanding that?” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

Green agreed that was the issue at hand.

“It is to motion the land court to allow the town access to the property to conduct the site assessment,” Green said.

Selectman Randy LaMattina disagreed.

“There are some people trying to get something passed that clearly don’t have an idea of what they are doing,” he said. “I’m not speaking of Ransom, but I’m speaking about liability issues on this town — the property — we’ve been given misinformation as a board and I’m going to take an opportunity to clear it up.”

LaMattina noted there are two purposes for cleaning brownfields — reuse and redevelopment — and a team should be in place to handle it as the projects are started rather than “randomly start poking holes in property you don’t even own.”

He countered Green’s response to an email from Codero that brownfields grants cover legal fees. They are, instead, a specialized area of contaminated site cleanup that are highly litigious and involve a tremendous amount of legal work, LaMattina said.

“Those will not be covered under any brownfields grants,” he said. “That’s a cost that this town better be prepared to absorb. …We have no plans for reuse and redevelopment.”

He also said that, while heirs to the property have not taken title to the property, they have never renounced ownership of it. It also has a handful of liens and judgments against it totaling more than $5 million.

“Before this town saw any money, that’s where the money would go,” he said. “There are liability issues. We can’t overlook them for the fact that this sounds good, and unfortunately I think that’s what we are doing.”

He moved that the issue be tabled until the DEP can come meet with town officials about it.

Green countered that she has done a lot of research and did not go forward with her response to Codero’s email without doing so, granting that she is not a brownfields expert.

“She’s doing it wrong,” LaMattina said, occasionally cutting off others. “Plain and simple, she’s doing it wrong. … This is not the way brownfields are supposed to be handled.”

Green said Mass Development has never told her she was pursuing the grant incorrectly.

Selectmen voted to allow Green to pursue the grant a couple of months ago and are now looking at a fee agreement to complete that.

Lynam said the EPA spent $1 million on the Regal property to make it accessible for development before running out of money, noting LaMattina made some points well.

“You can’t have a development plan unless you know what it’s going to take to develop that property,” Lynam said. “One of the things that comes into play is, what is it going to cost to clean it?”

He said this was the first he had heard that DEP is willing to come talk to the board.

“I think we ought to say, ‘Thank you, and come on out,’” Lynam said.

COVID update

In other business, Lynam discussed Gov. Charlie Baker’s new guidelines for the continued reopening of state businesses.

“The only concern I have is that, as we start opening up, we’re seeing the numbers climb pretty much every day,” he said. “Today was low with 340-something, but I’m just hoping that people hold it together and do what they need to to keep it under control, because it would be a shame to move backwards.”

He said he met with the VFW and Board of Health during which an agreement was reached to halt meat raffles and motorcycle poker runs until further notice in the interest of public health.

Bezanson asked whether Selectmen or the Board of Health would be taking a position about Halloween activities.

Lynam said that would be up to the Board of Health, which will be issuing an advisory on it.

“The [state Department of Public Health] DPH has been emphatic in recommending that there be no door-to-door trick-or-treating and, while we technically can’t restrict that activity, we can certainly issue an advisory that we don’t think it’s in the best interests of the town to conduct that activity,” Lynam said.

Hanson mulls YMCA proposal

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Sept. 29 continued discussion on a request by the Old Colony YMCA to lease of Needles Lodge at Camp Kiwanee for use as a learning pod for children whose parents have to work during remote learning days. [See related story below.]

“I’m supportive of this, but the devil’s in the details on the agreement we enter into with them,” said Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff said she adjusted language in the request to refer to it as a license rather than a lease.

“The interesting part about it is that what they are intending to do is set up a place for remote learning,” she said. “This is allowed by executive order of the governor.”

Towns must appoint someone to inspect proposals, including running CORI checks on all employees, as well as certification that health requirements are being met among other responsibilities.

FitzGerald-Kemmett questioned whether the town should be responsible for such employee background checks.

“I don’t want to minimize the burden on the town, but there’s a burden that’s been placed on the town by this executive order,” Feodoroff said. She noted that the town would have the same inspection responsibilities for private organizations offering the service on public property.

“We do have a private business in town that just got approved for the same exact thing,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, referring to the Boss Academy learning pod. “I don’t know if we fully appreciated that there was a liability that flowed to the town.”

Boss Academy worked with town inspection boards to ensure that all necessary documentation was in place, she said. It also received approval from the state’s Department Of Early Education and Care (DEEC).

“I don’t think it’s a liability, I think it’s just an obligation — an additional task,” Feodoroff said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said Boss Academy already does CORI checks on its staff, but Feodoroff said the town is supposed to fill that role for learning pod approval.

“I thought it was a strange, strange thing myself,” Feodoroff said Selectmen could approve the lease request contingent on her speaking to the DEEC about potentially outsourcing CORI checks as was done with the other business.

Selectman Chairman Kenny Mitchell said he was not comfortable voting on the request until more information is available.

“We could do it as quick as Saturday morning if we get all our ducks in a row by then,” Mitchell said.

Selectman Matt Dyer also voiced concerns about the dependability of the internet connectivity at Camp Kiwanee and whether Hanson students would get preference in enrollment.

“We have other vendors up there that are there throughout the week,” Dyer also noted. “Are we pushing current vendors out? Are we displacing them?”

Mitchell said the yoga program is looking into using space at the library.

Dyer also said compensation concerned him — $2,500 per month plus 25 percent of the enrollment fee, while the town charges $5,000 for a wedding, which only uses the space for four hours. He also urged calculation of utilities costs to determine if the Y program will enable the town to break even.

“They’re going to be there in the winter, when we typically don’t have the heat going full-blast five days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “That’s going to be a significant cost. … I’d be surprised if $2,500 per month is even going to cover our heating costs during the winter.”

She said she wasn’t against the proposal so long as the YMCA covers the cost of the additional fiber optics installation and winter heating expenses and the $2,500.

Selectman Jim Hickey said the $50 per child cost could bring the YMCA as much as $50,000 a month.

“They’re going to pay us a drop in the bucket,” he said. “There’s a lot of questions.”

In other business, Selectmen discussed the Finance Committee’s vote against recommending an article to change the tree warden from an elected to an appointed position could lead to more costs down the road in view of the need to hire an experienced certified arborist.

Mitchell said that was a concern he shared and suggested more research on the issue was needed.

The position can remain elected until the next election and can also be raised again at the May Town Meeting, Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan said.

Selectman Matt Dyer suggested placing the duties under the purview of the Highway Director.

“I really like that,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It addresses FinCom’s concerns … we have a unique opportunity, right now, to modify what that job description is.”

For that reason, the board let the article stand.