HANSON — An article proposed on the special Town Meeting warrant aimed at addressing utility costs at the Hanson Food Pantry has been withdrawn as no longer necessary, according to interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera.
The special Town Meeting convenes at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5 at Hanson Middle School auditorium. A quorum of 100 voters is required.
Because of the Tuesday, Oct. 6 special State Primary, a second day of Town Meeting — if necessary — will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7.
“I wanted to make sure they were aware that the board certainly is in big support of the food pantry and wanted to make sure that the communication between [them and] the town was focused on one or two individuals that would let the town know if there was issues that need to be addressed,” LaCamera said.
He met recently with Food Pantry Board Chairman Paul Nicol and Director Sharon Kennedy. They informed LaCamera that there seemed to be some miscommunication with one of the volunteers about a need for additional funds for utilities, he said.
“They don’t need additional money for the utilities,” LaCamera reported at the Tuesday, Sept. 15 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. The board voted 5-0 to close and sign the amended warrant.
“The lease is very specific. It says that they’re responsible for utilities and the town is responsible for outside of that building.”
Added to the warrant is the proposal from Whitman Amateur Radio Club (WARC) and Hanson Operations Center to use the antenna at the former Plymouth County Hospital property as an emergency repeater antenna.
There were amendments to a few other articles including language changes to one and a funding request change for another.
Two options were available to selectmen regarding the radio tower. One was a license to use, which allows the use with the board reserving the right to rescind it at any time, or a lease. LaCamera said an option for the lease is included in the warrant and selectmen approved that option.
A change to the explanation to an article regarding a water flow study along Main Street, capping the expense at $10,000, was approved.
Selectmen voted at their Tuesday, Sept. 22 meeting to leave a hold on that article as it and Article 11, dealing with a study of Wampatuck Pond would both likely be passed over at the Town Meeting. Selectmen voted 4 to 1, with Selectman Kenny Mitchell opposing, to recommend the Wampatuck study article, however.
Selectman James McGahan said on Sept. 15 that the $25,000 estimate originally quoted for the water flow study “was way too high,” according to engineering firm Environmental Partners.
“At this time, I can’t recommend funding it, but it will be there in front of the people,” McGahan said Sept. 22.
Language in the Wampatuck Pond study article, has also been changed to clarify it as a biological assessment study.
LaCamera reported that free cash has been certified at $1,098,611, “not as much as last year, but that’s still pretty good.”
Selectmen on Sept. 22 also voted to appoint Assonet resident Lisa McKay as regional animal control officer and Whitman resident Joshua Kimball as assistant animal control officer. Both appointments are for the year ending June 30, 2016.
The town of Whitman is the hiring authority for the regional dog officers, but Hanson Selectmen had to vote on the appointment as well. The region also includes Abington.
Owner of The Ultimate Pooch Inc., in Raynham, McKay is an experienced and certified animal control officer and animal inspector, including serving as the dog officer and inspector in Bridgewater as well as animal inspector for Halifax. She is licensed to carry a class A firearm and is certified in defensive tactics.
Kimball is a conservation agent in Whitman and Endangered Species Monitor for the Duxbury Harbormaster Dept.
Both McKay and Kimball will be on-call around the clock.
Veteran’s Agent Bob Arsenault attended the meeting to invite Selectmen to Saturday’s dedication of the Hancock Street Park to the memory of Army Sgt. James F. “Red” Harrington, who was killed in the Korean War. The half-hour ceremony is slated for 10 a.m. Arsenault thanked Highway Surveyor Bob Brown and his crew as well as veterans’ groups and Plymouth County Corrections — which provided an inmate work detail — for their help in preparing the ballfield for the ceremony.
“This is the town coming together to make something happen that has been long overdue,” Arsenault said. “This is what Hanson’s all about.”