WHITMAN — A new logo has been adopted to reflect the expanded membership of the Whitman Will group, formed to combat the growing problem of opioid abuse.

Hanson police, fire, parents and other concerned residents have become actively involved in the group now known as Whitman Hanson Will Coalition. The group is aligned with Rockland and East Bridgewater as a regional coalition addressing the issue and partially funded by Brockton’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Coalition, according to Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski. The regional group next meets June 30 at Whitman Police Station.

“It’s the two towns,” Kowalski said of the Whitman Hanson Will name. “It would be nice if there were more parents involved.”

The logo, a revised version of a design by WHRHS art student Alexa Herlihy, reflects Hanson’s participation.

Students in Christina Maher’s computer graphics, cartooning and illustration classes created potential logo designs for the organization.

“There were many strong designs to choose from,” Maher said of the submissions voted on by Whitman Hanson Will members representing police and fire departments; school administration, central office, special education, staff and guidance; selectmen and parents. “The students should be very proud.”

Elizabeth Ingram’s design earned second place and Amanda Espling was third in voting.

The student involvement in the logo design was an indication of how important the group views school participation in the effort to reverse the tragic statistics seen regarding opioid abuse in recent years.

From July 6 through August, 10 W-H students under the direction of Maureen Leonard will be working with Amanda Sandoval at the Brockton Opioid Overdose Prevention Coalition to produce a multi-media project to communicate how substance abuse affects them, Kowalski said.

This fall, high school students in the freshman through junior classes will be taking part in a Communities that Care Survey, a program funded through the Plymouth County DA’s Office Director of Grants and Sponsored Projects Edward G. Jacobs, in June.

“In 2013 our office began looking at the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in the community, but really began to see the numbers … and realized that clearly there was an opiate and prescription drug problem within this southeastern area of Massachusetts,” Jacobs told the School Committee in May.

That data was from police departments, first responders, emergency room personnel, treatment centers and the Department of Public Health.

Kowalski said last week that Whitman Hanson Will had hoped to conduct the survey this spring, but that it hadn’t received School Committee approval in time.

“This works out perhaps better because next year’s freshmen will be able to be involved in the survey,” he said. “The high school is getting really involved, primarily I think due to the energy of the Athletic Director Bob Rodgers, who’s been an amazing member of our committee.”

Whitman Hanson Will has its own Facebook page and Kowalski suggested the town of Whitman web page might also be used to advance publicity for the coalition’s events.

“People should not only know about the issues that are going on in our community, but they should know of a way by which citizens can try to help make it better,” he said.

Town and police officials were meeting Thursday, June 18 to accomplish that link.

Since Jan. 1, police have seen identical statistics — 23 overdoses and three deaths — in Whitman, according to Kowalski. Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch said his community has seen 17 overdoses with four deaths — three from heroin—  over the same period.

He asked for monthly updates on the overdose numbers with Police Chief Scott Benton’s monthly report to the board.

“What I don’t want to encourage are people calling to find out who it happens to,” Kowalski said. “That’s not the public’s business. It’s our business as a community to be aware that this kind of thing is happening and there are some people here who want to do something about it.”

Whitman Field Day to include 5K road race

WHITMAN — Tradition will mix with some new twists at this year’s July 4th Family Field Day in Whitman Park. While a complete schedule is still being ironed out, Assistant Town Administrator Gregory Enos said the games and bike decorating contests would be back joined by a hula hoop contest and the fun run will be growing.

“The schedule is going to be similar to what it was before, but Beth Goldrosen is going to be turning that little fun run into a 5K,” Enos said.

“If you don’t want to run, we can always use volunteers on the course to help hand out water or help keep runners from taking a wrong turn,” Goldrosen said. “Most of the course will remain the same, we’re just adding on at the beginning and the end to create a 3.1-mile course.”

Volunteers can contact Goldrosen at bsheib@hotmail.com.

Walkers able to complete the course in under an hour are also invited to take part.

Recreation Director Emily Richardson resigned the part-time post on June 12 due to time conflicts with her full-time job, Enos reported to selectmen Tuesday, June 16. Former Recreation Committee Chairman Dan Mason is filling in on an interim basis, primarily to get the summer pool and day camp programs started on time — Saturday, June 20 — and to help plan the July 4 event.

“We have a great park and pool program, but because of different issues, we hadn’t seen the participation last year that we have in the past, and right now we’re not seeing a significant level of registration,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam told selectmen. “It would be a shame if we had to cut back on that program because of lack of interest.”

He suggested part of the problem might be that the director did not get the information to the right people early enough.

“There’s a lot of things this program could be doing, that they want to do, and having a road race and a runners’ club is a direction we want to go into,” Mason said about the July 4 event.

July 4th
Celebration

All events are free.

• 7:30 to 8 a.m. 5K Run for Fun Registration. Runners aged 13-over 50 welcome.

• 8:15 a.m. 5K Road Race Begins.

• 9:30 a.m. Bike & Carriage Decorating Contest.

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Family Field Day. Music and more including dashes, jumps, races and tosses for all ages. Dunk tank participants must be over 18.

• 1 to 5 p.m. Town Pool Open to Residents free of charge.

HANSON — Town Administrator Ron San Angelo tendered his resignation, effective Aug. 14, to the Board of Selectmen during an executive session in the Tuesday, June 23 meeting.

San Angelo signed a contract with the town of Southbridge Monday, June 22 to become that community’s town manager, effective Aug. 17.

“The Hanson Board of Selectmen and Mr. San Angelo have reached a written agreement to resolve any and all matters covered by his employment contract with the town,” Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young read from a joint statement agreed to by selectmen and San Angelo. “The board thanks Mr. San Angelo for his service to the town and wishes him well in his new position for the town of Southbridge.”

San Angelo thanked the board and citizens of Hanson for the opportunity to serve as town administrator.

“It’s all set and the contract’s been signed and agreed to,” he said of the Southbridge job. “It’s just a matter of transitioning from here, working with them to help them transition out and doing some part-time work with Southbridge ahead of that Aug. 17 date.”

The special meeting had been called to discuss results of a citizens’ survey regarding potential re-use of the former Plymouth County Hospital site.

Before going into executive session to continue discussions on San Angelo’s contract status — as well as negotiations with Fire and Highway department unions and an Open Meeting Law complaint — Young asked for a report from Executive Assistant Meredith Marini on the potential need for a search committee and interim town administrator position.

“I wasn’t going to spend a lot of time on this, but the way things are breaking at the current time we may be in need of going to a search committee and interim town administrator,” Young said.

Marini has spoken with representatives of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass, Boston, Municipal Resources Inc., and Massachusetts Municipal Consulting for their guidance on the situation.

The MMA maintains a list of interim town administrators, which they can provide. The list represents retired town administrator who provide their services when a community requires an interim official, according to Marini.

“They all gave me pretty much the same story,” she said. “They will come in, meet with the selectmen, do a full file of the community, see what the selectmen are looking for, then they go out and do the recruitment, advertise — they know all the people in the business — and they go through the applications.”

The firms pare down the list and all mentioned a screening committee would be a good idea to determine a good fit as interim town administrator.

Consulting firms would cost the town from $8,500, which would cover only recruitment to $17,000 to include all background and credit checks needed. The Collins Center would charge $15,000 to do the whole process.

The Open Meeting Law complaint, filed by resident Betty Dahlberg seeking information on evaluations of San Angelo and previous town administrators’ performance evaluations, was also discussed in executive session. Back in open session they voted to authorize Young to issue a letter in response to the complaint as well as the documents requested.

An agenda item dealing with San Angelo’s evaluation was stricken as “no longer necessary,” according to Young.

“It’s important to note that all parties agreed to that,” Selectman James McGahan said.

The PCH discussion was kicked off by Bruce Hughes of the Old Colony Planning Council, as he reviewed the 175 responses to the survey of residents on re-use preferences.

“We wanted to hear the views of the public,” San Angelo said. “we wanted that to be included in the final report.”

The survey showed most respondents preferred the site be used for some form of passive recreation, community center, elder housing or recreation-based commercial use.

Selectmen tended to fall in that range, as well.

Selectman Don Howard urged a recreation facility similar to the one on King Street in Hanover. McGahan agreed, adding that a water park could be a viable commercial venture. He and Young also stressed that some single-family homes, possibly geared toward 55-plus buyers could bolster the tax base and help fund PCH demolition.

“The PCH has been sitting there since 1999, nothing’s been done with it and the biggest problem we have up there is the hospital — demolish it and get rid of it,” Howard said.

Howard suggested that, as the Town Hall renovation bond comes off the tax rolls, the taxpayers might consider continuing a bond of equal value for 15 years or so to fund a tear-down of the former hospital building. San Angelo said a bond for demolition alone could only extend for five years, but noted he and Howard had talked with the town accountant the idea of borrowing $2.5 million over 15 years to raze the building and put $1 million toward developing a park, which lowers the debt payments.

Former Selectman David Soper favors offering a tax credit to a developer in exchange for such a private business to foot the bill for razing the old hospital. He suggested active adult housing, coupled with low-impact commercial development such as IT or a call center could also provide a tax return for the town.

“I’m not looking to change the character up there,” he said. “I don’t think a retail store would be anywhere near feasible up there — it’s off the beaten path.”

Community Preservation funds could be used for demolition if development included open space or affordable housing on the site, according to CPC Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

Theresa Santalucia, speaking for Green Hanson, which favors open space and operates a community garden at the site, and the Housing Authority, said the property is an asset to the community.

She stressed the need for affordable housing in town with waiting lists of 83 applicants for the 68 units at Meetinghouse Lane and 27 families waiting for space in the six units at the L.Z. Thomas Building.

“Nothing can be done about it before we have a Town Meeting,” Howard and the rest of the board agreed.

“I’d like to see three or four non-binding referendum questions on a ballot,” Young said. “Let the people decide.”

By Abram Neal
Express Staff

HANSON —  Will a regional animal control officer meet the town’s need for that service? While there is some skepticism among both Hanson and Whitman officials, they are willing to give it a try for one year.

On Tuesday, June 16 Hanson Selectmen worked quickly through a short agenda without major discussion. The most controversial topic of the evening, regionalization of an animal control officer, was approved by a 4-1 vote.

Selectman Bill Scott was a vocal opponent of the proposal.

At the same time, Whitman Selectmen were voting 5-0 in support of the regional approach on a one-year trial basis.

Whitman, Hanson, and Abington have drawn up an inter-municipal agreement to share an Animal Control Officer and an Assistant Animal Control Officer, who would be a Whitman town employee. Each town would pay a percentage of the salary and operational budget for the tri-town officers. Position descriptions for both the ACO and the Assistant ACO have been drawn up as well.

As Hanson does not currently have a facility to house lost or abandoned animals, and compared to the cost previously of hiring an ACO for the town, this would represent significant savings for the town.

Selectmen Donald Howard and James McGahan were concerned about whether the town counsel had reviewed the contracts. Town Administrator Ron San Angelo responded first that the position descriptions must be legal, as he had copied Duxbury’s ACO contracts nearly identically. He then stated that Abington’s legal counsel had reviewed the tri-town agreement, though the Selectmen remained unconvinced and insisted that Hanson’s attorney must review the agreement. Concerns included liability and workers compensation if the Whitman town employee were injured in Hanson.

Whitman Selectmen expressed concern about the pay scale being offered.

“By combining our resources we can share in the expenses associated with animal control,” Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam told his board. “The concept we’re moving to is responding to calls as opposed to patrolling.”

The towns’ financial share in the agreement is based on population. Lynam said he had doubts about the workability of the numbers, but that his counterparts in Hanson and Abington were more confident and he was willing to try it “recognizing that we may have to tweak some of the budget numbers.”

Whitman already takes a very successful regional approach to veterans’ services with Abington.

San Angelo also reported on two projects underway at the Town Hall. New lighting fixtures and doors both are being delayed due to technical problems – the lights due to pipes in the ceiling that do not allow the lights to be properly recessed and doors that were “made wrong” and need to be rebuilt.

He also reported that the second annual Hanson Day was a great success, with a turnout of about 1,000. San Angelo also presented quarterly budgets prepared by the Town Accountant.

The Chairman, Bruce Young, read into the record reports from the Monponsett Pond Committee, which reported that Brockton had tapped into the pond for five days during May when blue-green algae colonies were at 190,000 parts per million, above the safe limit. As well, status updates on two building projects at the Indian Head and Maquan Schools were read, although nothing major has changed since the last report.

Finally, the Board recognized Shannon Arlin, a South Shore Vocational Technical High student for her gold medal at the SkillsUSA contest in the field of Graphic Communications. Arlin will go on to represent Massachusetts at the National contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Chairman Young read the Board’s citation into the record, although Arlin was not present to receive it. The Board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Joan Powers from the Historical Commission.

— Express Editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.

Operation Swift Response, a two-day drill held in Plainville and Topsfield last week allowed first responders to test their strengths statewide.

Several agencies and technical rescue teams from the South Shore took part in the joint response under one command post in the simulation of an EF3 tornado. The practice drill required the deployment of rescue teams to multiple sites for recovery, rescue and support.

More than a dozen local fire chiefs also participated in area command posts as part of the disaster drill.

“It was a great training exercise, working alongside the technical teams from each county and utilizing statewide  assets — everything from  technical rescues to learning the logistics of area  command,” said Whitman Fire Chief  Timothy Grenno.

Hanson Fire Lt. Robert O’Brien Jr., was deputy director of operations for Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team. They quickly learned that moving personnel was their first priority and on day one of the drill relocated 150 people by aircraft from the Mansfield Airport.

“We had a limitation in what we could move for equipment. We had to come up with a better system in what we moved first,” O’Brien said. “We were able to move six people using the medevac helicopter. In the utility helicopters we were able to move 11-12 person teams.”

With 14 squads participating, the helicopter was repurposed to bring in other resources forcing the “players in the drill” to rethink their strategy and reconfigure their resources.

Mannequins and live victims, portrayed by military personnel, were used during rescue missions and as part of the hands-on medical phase.

Victims who were “injured” but described as walking wounded were airlifted out and the remaining “victims” had symptom cards describing their injuries for rescuers. 

“We now have a better system in place to move equipment and as far as moving personnel it was flawless,” said O’Brien.

Such lessons were the object of the exercise, which tested the overall effectiveness of emergency operations in case of a major disaster.

More than 100 first responders including many local firefighters attended the physically challenging exercise. The teams were moved by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to the drill site.

In press releases prior to the event, Capt. Rob Reardon of Duxbury Fire, PIO assistant coordinator for the drill, said several local and statewide participants were involved: Fire Chiefs of Massachusetts, Technical Rescue Committee, COMTRIST, National Guard, Department of Fire Services, Mass Emergency Management Agency, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, and Plymouth and District 14 Technical Rescue Teams.

The drill was intended as a test in times of disaster and will predict future areas of improvement for all responders.

“It went very well. It took a lot of planning — 24 separate meetings. We had a few small hiccups as part of the learning process but for the most part — it went very well,” said Chief Kevin Nord of the Duxbury Fire Department.   

There were several goals in running the two simultaneous drill sites including the main component of communication between rescue teams and assembling resources to manage an area that was “deemed inaccessible,” he said.

Participants assembled in teams with approximately 90 skilled technical rescue technicians as part of the incident.

Two National Guard helicopters were used; one flying from the north and one from the south to access the drill sites.

The Plainville Fire department doesn’t have its own technical team but they do have members who train on other tech squads. Nord expressed great thanks for Chief Justin Alexander as a gracious host to one of the sites as well as the entire Plainville Fire Department.

Along with the more than 100 participants in the drill there were abundant efforts in coordination, said Nord.

The logistics and planning between sites, central command and communication for a wide area were well coordinated during the two twelve hour days funded by FCAM Technical Rescue Committee, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts National Guard.  Training funding was used for participating agencies, according to the press release.

Teams had great exposure and familiarization working with the National Guard soldiers who were embedded in the event, said Nord.

He also thanked everyone who came together for the drill.     

Gen. Rice was very gracious to allow us the use of the National Guard’s Black Hawks, Nord said. The coordination and positive response of participants was “exceptional,” said Nord.

Gov. Charlie Baker and EOPPS Secretary Dan Bennett attended along with his undersecretary.

The governor was pleased by the show of support of the Commonwealth, said Nord.

HANSON — The town’s firefighters, their family members, town officials and residents gathered for the annual Firefighters Memorial Sunday on June 14, to honor fallen firefighters and former department members who have passed.

“While it is right and fitting that we meet here every year to remember our past heroes — firefighters James Craig, Thomas Lovett and David Grindall — we must also remember that their families have sacrificed, and to let them know that we appreciate the sacrifice that their loved ones made and recognize the toll it takes on them every day,” said Chief Jerome Thompson Jr.,

He also noted that, across the nation so far this year, 42 firefighters have been killed in the line of duty.

“Let us remember the sacrifices that have been made by our brothers and sisters, and honor them by improving our culture and our perspective on firefighter safety and training,” he said.

Members of the Hanson Fire Department marched from the station onto the front lawn to the bagpipe skirl of  “Scotland, the Brave,” played by Don Teague.

W-H student Ainsley Stewart sang the national anthem and the Rev. Kwang Lee, associate pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church, offered a prayer.

“As we join in prayer for those who serve our Hanson community as firefighters, we are mindful of those who have gone before us,” Lee said.

State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, presented Thompson and the Hanson Fire Department with a citation from the General Court honoring the occasion and shook hands with each firefighter.

“Today is a day for reflection,” said Cutler, who represents Hanson. “Our message this morning is a simple one — thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice and thank you to your families for sharing you with us.”

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young spoke for the board, while members Kenny Mitchell and Jim McGahan also attended the ceremony.

“The Hanson Fire Department has a long and honorable history in this town, and has grown from an all-volunteer fire department to the current, first-class, 21st century department for fire and ambulance services of full-time firefighters and EMTs deeply committed to serving the citizens of Hanson,” Young said in thanking the department on behalf of residents. “When we now think of the passing of our firefighters, and think of the names of each, we will also remember their humanity, their courage, their loving dedication to family, to community and to the lives of the citizens they serve.”

Lt. Keith Wilson read the poem, “A Firefighter’s Prayer,” after which firefighter Christopher Harris lowered the flag to half-staff and Lt. Rob O’Brien read the names of Craig, Lovett and Grindall as firefighter  Kevin Mossman rang a fire bell for each name. W-H alum Matthew Paru played taps and Teague played “Amazing Grace” before Harris raised the flag again.

Thompson then presented Lt. Gary Smith with his 35-year service pin.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen have asked Town Administrator Frank Lynam to circulate a questionnaire among downtown businesses to gauge the parking situation and the effect it has on business volume.

Lynam will also be drawing up a list of holiday weekends on which he intends to restrict tollbooth fundraisers due to the traffic tie-ups that hurt business. Both issues will be discussed again at the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, June 30.

“I received some comments about parking,” Lynam said Tuesday, June 16. “We have a number of businesses downtown and, while we have municipal lots, they’re not always conveniently located to the businesses.”

As a result, they find employees using on-street spaces, typically intended for customer use, as all-day parking. Lynam also noted that most downtown business post time limits for parking during their weekday business hours.

“I’m suggesting we consider a two-hour parking limit,” he said. “It should be ample time for anyone to do business downtown, and more importantly, it prevents people from parking their car there all day.”

Enforcement is the main concern with that, as there is no budget for a meter maid, according to Lynam, and parking meters were not an option officials want to consider. Police Chief Scott Benton said the friendly approach would work better than meters, too.

“You’re going to get the people who decide, ‘I’ll pay … I’m good with that. I’ll keep that spot and I’ll pay and have it all day,’” he said.

Parking tickets used by the department would also have to be changed to reflect the time limits and applicable fines.

“From my personal experience, I have never had a problem finding a parking spot downtown,” Benton said. “I don’t own a business there, either. I’m not saying some people don’t experience that.”

Selectman Scott Lambiase said a lack of signs directing people to the municipal lots is also a problem.

“This might not be something for government to get into,” he said. “[Businesses] should self-police it if its their own employees that are … creating this problem and deal with it.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci applauded businesses such as Duval’s and McGuiggan’s Pub that provide off-street parking for employees.

“One of the things we want in Whitman is to be customer-friendly,” Salvucci said.

Selectman Brian Bezanson suggested the questionnaire to determine the extent of concern among business owners and Benton said he will ask his regular downtown detail officers on Saturdays to be attentive to the issue and report to him.

Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski also noted that the complaints he has heard about tollbooth fundraisers’ effect on parking availability stems from tollbooth organizers parking spaces all day, which drives customers away.

The tollbooth restrictions, meanwhile, would apply to holidays when downtown shopping traffic is heaviest such as Easter, Mothers and Fathers days, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“It has a significant impact on traffic and it also hurts the merchants that are trying to do business during those times,” Lynam said of tollbooths on holiday weekends. “I think stores market during those days and putting a group in the center kind of makes it difficult to work.”

The Board asked Lynam to come back next meeting with a new application form listing the excluded holidays he was considering and to post them on the town’s website.

The Knights of Columbus hold an annual tollbooth on Columbus Day weekend as a tie-in with its namesake explorer.

“We might find that there aren’t as many that we would want to decline as we think right now,” Kowalski said.

Benton said the tollbooths are assigned a police detail for safety and that there have been no accidents related to them.

“Traffic is going to back up,” he said. “It kind of goes with the fundraisers.”