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School budget vote is delayed

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The School Committee on Wednesday, March 25 delayed a vote on the budget for another week.

Chairman Bob Hayes told members that he had received several calls and emails requesting a delay in a vote on the budget until the public could attend a meeting.

“I was shocked at the phone calls and emails I got,” Hayes said. “I’m not saying not to do this, I’m just throwing it out there to see how the rest of you thought about this.”

School Committee member Fred Small said residents could email their questions or written statements to the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant Michelle Lindberg to be read at the Wednesday, April1 meeting.

The “drop-dead” date for a budget vote has changed to April 30.

“We’re stretching it that way,” Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said. “We’re really supposed to get something to the towns 30 days prior to Town Meeting.”

That date would be April 4 if Whitman does not push its meeting beyond the original May 4 date as Hanson has [see related story]. Szymaniak also wants to see what the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is recommending based on legislation Gov. Charlie Baker has filed pertaining to regional schools.

“We can talk budget today, but there is a little more flexibility right now because of where we are with the [corona]virus and things changing so rapidly,” Szymaniak said, noting that the extra time would provide time for the district to consult with legal counsel about the DESE regional schools legislation now pending.

“Where we’re still waiting for some financial numbers of our own, and we’re not 100-percent confident of where we stand, I would think it would be prudent to get the gist of those questions before we move forward to voting a budget,” Small said. “I believe we’ve got to do it, and the sooner we do it the better, but I think we need the answers to those questions, as well.”

Cullity agreed, arguing that taking $100,000 from excess and deficiency to fund deep cleaning of the schools will hamstring the committee’s ability to use E&D for budget shortfalls and for the line item to rebound later.

A level-service budget would mean 37 staff members cut — 48 when the cost of unemployment benefits are calculated into the final number of $65,000 per staff member ina $1.3 million to $2.9 million budget cut. There are 44 teachers and Whitman Middle School alone.

“If we cut 48 it will be like closing a whole building,” Szymaniak said. “It would blow up class size. It would affect every school.”

Hanson members of the School Committee indicated they are still waiting for an update on the work being done to seek a compromise on the assessment formula before they are ready to vote on a budget. Small said he understood that stance, but stressed both towns should be encouraged to continue talking, but time is running out.

“We come up with a budget and, how it’s funded is up to the towns to battle it out,” Small said. Committee member Dawn Byers agreed.

“It’s up to us to set an educationally sound budget,” Byers said.

She suggested a discussion of sports user fees or student parking fees in any decision toward raising revenue. She also urged towns to look at fees for non-mandated school bus ridership.

“The fact that we talked about all along was there would be a compromise,” member Christopher Howard said of the assessment formula. “The fact that it’s looking like Whitman would have that [May 4] Town Meeting would, to me, indicate that we should be at a point of compromise.”

Without a compromise, Howard said he was willing to continue discussions, but his opinion would not change. Committee Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven said that is a reasonable expectation.

Small asked that Szymaniak hold a Zoom meeting with the town administrators to find out where the compromise discussion stands. Szymaniak agreed to do so.

“From what I’m hearing from DESE and our attorney, there is no legal precedent if we don’t get a budget out of committee,” Szymaniak said.

Hanson Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett texted to Hayes that nothing has been discussed recently because town officials have been busy dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. But a conversation can take place in order to update the committee on April 1.

Hanson reschedules Town Election date

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen has followed its March 17 decision to delay the Town Meeting to June 15 with a unanimous vote on Tuesday, March 24 to move the town’s annual Election — from Saturday May 26 to Saturday, June 27.

The last day to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk would be Wednesday, May 6 and to submit them to the registrars is Friday, May 8. The deadline to file nomination papers with the Town Clerk will be Friday, May 22 and to object or withdraw is Wednesday, May 27.

Tuesday, May 26 would be the last day to register to vote in the Town Election.

Gov. Baker’s March 12 declaration of a State of Emergency, allows municipalities to postpone Town Meeting and Town Election due to public safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration also suspends the Open Meeting Law requirement that public meetings be held in an open and accessible location, while encouraging remote meetings so long as the public is able to follow along with deliberations.

The Selectmen’s agenda, posted on the town website hanson-ma.gov, included instructions for the public to join the meeting.

The conference call meeting was broadcast on Whitman Hanson Cable Access and is available for repeat viewing on the WHCA YouTube channel.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook reported to the board that he has compiled a list of all essential and non-essential personnel in Town Hall and throughout the town.

“It doesn’t mean what people do isn’t essential — it has nothing to do with the work that they do,” Stanbrook said. “In this particular situation that we’re in right now … non-essential people do not have to come in [to work]. They’re going to be working from home as much as possible, they have remote access … to the programs that they need to do their jobs and also to answer voicemails from remote locations.”

Social distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing practices are also being followed in town buildings.

Selectmen voted to authorize Stanbrook to sign warrants for the board and provide reports to Selectmen during the emergency.

Selectmen also decided against imposing a temporary ban on reuseable bags as residents have been expressing concern about their use during the coronavirus emergency, according to Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“They are concerned that the coronavirus could be transmitted, could be carried on these and the state of New Hampshire has banned reuseable bags,” she said. “Because I’m trying to be responsible to what people’s concerns are, we put it on the agenda.”

Health Agent Gil Amado said he spoke to Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias that day, who reported that most stores will now refuse to place items in reuseable bags, but will permit the customer to do so. He favored an advisory to the stores rather than a ban on the reusebale bags.

Noting that Shaw’s is likely the only store affected, it would be up to the store to make such a decision.

Selectman Matt Dyer, echoing the rest of the board’s attitude that it does not seem to be a major concern, noted that Shaw’s now has a policy against packing reuseable bags, but permitting customers to do so if they wish.

“I think this really does fall under the perview of the Board of Health,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I’m just putting it on here to get the discussion going and give the Board of Health some idea of where the Selectmen’s heads are at.”

Amado also said the pandemic is pointing to the need to obtain the list of hair salons in town from a hand-written list in a lose-leaf notebook at the Town Clerk’s office.

“I think we have a lot of lessons learned, Mr. Amado,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ll be doing forensic look at lessons learned once we get through this.”

Rainbow connections

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By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor  and Kristy Zamagni-Twomey

With daily routines interrupted or halted due to coronavirus-forced school — and some business — closures, house-bound residents are being offered a variety of coping outlets.

Residents across many local communities are also trying to add a little sunshine during what could otherwise be a gloomy time.

Children are being challenged to create rainbows and hang them in the windows of their home. Then, while safely practicing social distancing, families can go on a rainbow hunt either on foot or from their vehicles.

In addition to rainbows, some have taken to placing hearts on their doors or windows as a way of thanking the healthcare workers and others on the front lines of this pandemic.

Corey Hickey and Brooke Scriven, owners of On Stage School of Performing Arts in Whitman, were quick to respond, temporarily suspending physical classes on March 14 and launching a Zoom site with virtual dance, theatre, and voice classes available to her clients before the start of the next week of classes.

Hanson residents Brett Miller and Anna Dunbar, of 110 Fitness in Rockland, have been using a “Cast Away” theme to keep their clients, especially Parkinson’s patients who participate in their Rock Steady Boxing program, engaged and healthy.

Whitman Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Timothy J. Grenno and Police Chief Timothy Hanlon have shared tips to help residents alleviate any stress and panic surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while people practice physical distancing.

“We’ve gotten such wonderful feedback from our On Stage parents thanking us for staying connected in such a personal way, calling us one of the few bright spots in the past week,” Hickey said of the On Stage offering, which took working 12 to 24-hourdays on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15 to organize. This past week, the staff at On Stage stayed connected with their students by sending technique videos, strength and conditioning classes, and choreography. Sometimes the parents took the classes and challenges right along-side their children.

Starting Monday (March 23), Hickey and Scriven will be adding the live component that will include real-time classes with On Stage faculty, Q&A sessions, and special guest artists from Broadway exclusively to On Stage students.

“We asked some of our Broadway friends to teach virtual classes as a special treat to our kids who were really missing their classes at On Stage,” Hickey said. This will be in addition to the content already posted, which includes story time videos, challenges, sheet music, and vocalizing.

“That means more to us than they will ever know,” Hickey said of the positive parent feedback they’ve received. “In times of crisis, it’s important to keep some normalcy and structure for children. It’s vital to keep a connection with their teachers and friends.”

Help for parents

On Stage Dance Director Jenna Liberty has also added a yoga class as a way to offer parents a self-care opportunity.

Dunbar is also offering remote yoga instruction, said Miller, owner of 110 Fitness.

“We are all being told to stay home and to keep our immune systems healthy,” said Miller, who is also a physical therapist. “Part of keeping our immune system strong is continuing to exercise. Exercise is great for our mental health too as it decreases stress and anxiety by releasing chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine into our bodies. This is why I am adamant about creating and sharing these virtual workouts.”

Cost — especially for those dealing with a job loss or furlough — should not be a barrier, according to Miller.

“I also know that everyone is starting to struggle financially, which is why I am providing these workouts at no cost and anyone can access,” he said. “You do not have to be a 110 member to do these workouts at home.”

Keep Moving

The workouts shared by Rockland-based110 Fitness are for all populations and include boxing, yoga, drumming, high intensity interval training, plyometrics, and strength and conditioning. However, one of 110 Fitness’s largest populations are individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.

“Lack of exercise and isolation along with stress and anxiety will exacerbate their symptoms,” Miller said. “This is why it is crucial for these members to access the virtual workouts by 110 Fitness and to keep moving. We want to keep them connected and we want to keep them fighting back against Parkinson’s Disease.”

Search “110 Fitness” on YouTube to access the free virtual workouts. For more information e-mail bmiller@110fitness.org or call 781-616-3313.

Grenno and Hanlon, meanwhile, have emphasized that the COVID-19 outbreak and fear of becoming ill can cause stress and panic for people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are many ways to manage anxiety and stress about the situation:

• Share the facts about COVID-19 to understand the actual risk to yourself and other individuals. When you share accurate information about COVID-19 you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them. Avoid posting or re-posting unverified information, claims, bogus medical information or conspiracy theories, as it only works to heighten emotions.

• Take breaks from listening, watching and reading the news.

• Tend to your body. Stretch, mediate and take deep breaths. Try to eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.

• Try to do other activities that are enjoyable.

• Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

• Reassure children and teens that they are safe and that it is okay if they feel upset or stressed.

• Be a role model to children and teens. Connect with friends and families while abiding to social distancing standards, including the use of video calling services like FaceTime.

Young named to Regional Agreement panel

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HANSON — Former Selectman Bruce Young has been named to the W-H Regional Agreement Review Committee, with resident Marilyn Webber selected as an alternate.

Webber was also encouraged to run for a seat on the School Committee being vacated by Robert O’Brien Jr., who has opted not to run for another term. The 5-0 votes took place at the Tuesday, March 17 Selectmen’s meeting, the last held in-person until further notice.

All meetings will now be held via telephone conference call with the audio recorded to be available for rebroadcast on Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV. All votes taken in such meetings are conducted by roll call.

In an interview over the phone, Young pointed to his experience, and submitted a resume of his experience in town government for the board’s consideration.

He retired from town government in 2017, with nearly 40 years’ experience in one capacity or another, including three non-consecutive terms on the Board of Selectmen, chairman of the Finance Committee during the Proposition 2 ½ transition and the School Priority Repair Committee.

“We all compromised, and we reached an agreement that we would put together a good repair package to basically get a debt exclusion passed to not only fix that roof on the [Indian Head] school, but also to put the lintels on the back of the building to preserve that building for the immediate future,” Young said of the school repair panel, which included members from both sides of a defeated proposal to build a new elementary school.

“I’ve shown my ability to compromise,” Young said, noting he is also conversant with the assessment formulas in question. “Both towns are going to have to compromise on this, and I know what the figures are, I think I have a good plan in place that I can put forward to help that committee arrive at a compromise.”

Webber said she has been a Hanson resident for more than 40 years and has two grown children who have gone through the local school system. She is also a retired principal, elementary grade teacher and reading specialist.

“I’m certainly ready to lend a hand with any of the negotiating that might have to happen,” she said. “I’ve been involved in budgets, and I consider myself a very calm and cool negotiator.”

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said it was crucial for the representative chosen to approach the work with an open mind and spirit of cooperation.

“The skills we need to have are diplomacy, understanding of the Regional Agreement, understanding of the impact that each choice would have and, I think, those are things that are going to be presented as they start negotiating,” she said.

Both Young and Webber said they were prepared to do that.

“I see all sides of stories and feel I could do that in a cooperative manner,” Webber said.

Vice Chairman Kenny Mitchell said Young’s experience with the schools made him the better choice, but encouraged Webber to consider a run for School Committee.

She indicated she would consider that option.

“I honestly have to say this is one of the toughest appointments we’ve had to make,” he said. “Both individuals are great.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett then suggested appointing Webber as an alternate.

Hanson’s Animal Control Officer Mary Drake was re-appointed to a six-month term. The appointment, which is usually for one year, has been truncated on legal counsel’s advice, as the town is examining a potential regional arrangement with other communities, which may or may not effect her.

Whitman delays Town Meeting move

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, March 24, opted to delay any decision on whether the May 4 annual Town Meeting would be rescheduled until it meets again, via Zoom online conferencing app, on Tuesday, April 7 or April 21.

All other town boards are already using Zoom to conduct meetings. Hanson boards have moved to teleconferencing as well. WHCA TV will continue to broadcast recordings of the public meetings.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam and Selectmen Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci were the only officials attending the meeting in person, with Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and Selectmen Brian Bezanson, Justin Evans and Randy LaMattina attending via telephone.

The town by-laws call for the annual Town Meeting to be held on the first Monday in May and the Town Election on the third Saturday in May.

Lynam noted that Hanson Selectmen have vote to change their Town Meeting to June 15.

“I have discussed our schedule with the chair of the Finance Committee and, individually, with a couple of selectmen as well as some department heads,” Lynam said. “I believe that the town of Whitman is able to meet the May 4 schedule.”

He said the board’s decision would have to be based, in part, on whether they felt it was necessary since Hanson changed its schedule.

“I would think the only thing that would get in the way of a May 4 meeting or a May 16 election is the coronavirus pandemic,” Kowalski said.

Lynam noted that the town of Southwick held it’s Town Meeting that very night — in a parking lot, suggesting that residents car-pool, park behind a school and meet in an athletic field.

“And so, flash the lights once for yea and twice for nay?” Kowalski quipped.

“I guess there’s options other than the usual Town Meeting, but we don’t know now what’s going to happen on May 4,” Lynam said. “We don’t know that we’ll be ready from the social standpoint to meet of not, but one of the features that are being offered … is the ability of the Board of Selectmen to reduce quorum in order to hold meetings.”

The quorum for an annual Town Meeting is 50, but a quorum of 150 is needed for a special Town Meeting, Lynam said, advocating that some articles, that would take effect in the current fiscal year, be shifted from the special to the annual warrant to permit votes on them. Lynam said he is awaiting an opinion from Town Counsel on the proposal.

LaMattina advised a delay in deciding the Town Meeting date until the board’s next meeting to “see how this situation is playing out.”

Lynam said he wasn’t sure it was a decision that had to be made now, but wanted to raise the question for Selectmen to consider and to let everyone know that Hanson had changed it’s schedule. He said a decision on the Town Meeting date could be delayed until mid- to late April. The town needs to provide 20 days’ notice for a Town Election and seven days’ notice to post a Town Meeting date.

“Normally, we don’t utilize that time, but this is an extraordinary time,” Lynam said.

Evans raised a question about absentee voting, noting that current rules permit it only if one will be absent from the town on election day, has a religious obligation or an illness or disability that prevents them from going to the polls that day.

“Is there any movement on the state level to allow us to open that up?” Evans asked.

Lynam said there is also a provision already that people concerned about their health may cast an absentee ballot.

“I expect we’re going to see an extraordinary number of absentee ballots for the election,” Lynam said.

Transitions

In other business, Lynam announced the retirement plans of Council on Aging Director Barbara Garvey and Assistant Collector/Treasurer Michelle Hayes. Replacing Hayes, who retires April 30, is a priority hire, but the coronavirus could complicate the hiring process, Lynam said.

“The position she holds is critical, she is the assistant treasurer/collector,” he said, noting that Treasurer Mary Beth Carter wants to immediately begin to seek a replacement. “I’m a little concerned about trying to develop applicants with what’s going on today, but I also want to make sure we are responsive to Mary Beth’s concerns.”

Lynam plans to work with Carter over the next week or two in an effort to develop a process for beginning that search.

  

Fire damages Whitman Home

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WHITMAN — Chief Timothy J. Grenno reports that the Whitman Fire Department extinguished a house fire on Corthell Avenue Monday morning.

At approximately 10:45 a.m., the Whitman Fire Department received a report of a house fire at 88 Corthell Ave. The house is occupied by two adults and one child and the family will be able to remain in the home.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed light smoke coming from the exterior of the 1.5-story wood frame single-family home.

Firefighters from the East Bridgewater and Halifax fire departments responded to the scene to assist.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and extinguished the fire. Holes had to be cut into the exterior of the building in order to prevent any flames from spreading inside the walls.

The initial investigation indicates that the fire started after a resident turned off an outdoor space heater on a first floor deck and then slid the heater up against the exterior wall. Despite the heater being turned off, the radiant heat it was emitting was hot enough to ignite the wooden siding on the house.

A neighbor saw the smoke and notified the resident and 911 was called.

“Despite this resident turning his heater off, it was still hot enough to start a fire up against the side of the house,” Grenno said. “Always keep space heaters at least three feet away from all walls. Thankfully no one was injured and responding crews did a great job of quickly knocking the fire down before it spread further.”

Budget vote pushed back

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The W-H Regional School Committee on Thursday, March 12 decided to reconvene later this month to set a budget for fiscal 2021.

“We have to make decisions,” said Committee Chairman Bob Hayes. “This discussion that we’ve had, we’ve had the last three or four meetings. Nothing’s changed.”

Committee member Steve Bois had moved that assessments totaling $28,528,937 be divided between the two towns, but it was rejected by a 5-4 vote. Seven votes were required to pass it.

Another meeting was then rescheduled, initially until March 18, but pushed forward this week to Wednesday, March 25 due to concerns over the coronavirus and public safety.

“I’m not sure we can support the required [budget], it pains me to say that, but I can say that because I think we really need to do going forward, is work with both towns for the following year, to do a full restore, which will require an override in both towns,” School Committee member Christopher Howard said. “I am not comfortable moving forward with a budget until I hear the towns have reached a compromise.”

He also said he does not see why a budget has to be set now. Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said the district’s legal counsel has advised that a budget must be set by 30 days prior to the May 4 town meetings.

Szymaniak added that, while compromise is good, he does not know what the towns can afford right now.

“I don’t know what to cut right now,” he said. “I think we gave you a fair budget that’s level-serviced. … We tried not to give you everything.”

He said the committee needs to tell him how much to cut and he would have to find where the cuts must be made.

Whitman resident Christopher George, named this month as a citizen at-large member of a regional agreement committee, said he understands, the assessment formulas, has a level head and that the two towns are close to a compromise.

“What I would say, though, is there can’t be a compromise without a number that we’re working toward,” George said.

Howard disagreed, arguing that the towns have to come to an agreement on how the compromise can be made before numbers are decided upon. School Committee member Dan Cullity advocated that the panel join the discussions between the two select boards and town administrators as they discuss an assessment compromise.

Hanson Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed that Szymaniak and Assistant Superintendent George Ferro would be valuable additions to the process.

She also said that, while she appreciated the School Committee’s position and perspective, she found it troubling that the move to a statutory assessment formula was difficult.

“But if you set the assessment at the place that you just talked about, I can assure you that you’ve left me nothing that I can go back to my voters and the citizens of Hanson with,” she said. “It’s just not going to happen and, in effect, if you set it at that, you’re going to be setting a ball in motion that I am powerless to stop.”

She said it would end up having the state take over.

Hanson is willing to go back and consider a modest override, but anything more would “eviscerate” her town’s finances. She advocated for the return of several educational programs, but warned it could not all be done in a single year.

Howard asked if any compromise had been discussed between the two towns. FitzGerald-Kemmett said the only way for that to be achieved would be to build in a gradual change toward the statutory formula during the revision of the regional agreement.

Cullity agreed it would come back to a compromise in negotiating the regional agreement.

“I’d rather see something like that happen than lose this district to the state,” he said.

Adding back $280,000 for the four elementary-grade teachers laid off last year was discussed as a priority to control class sizes in elementary grades. The pupils would be at Duval and Indian Head as well as science class at the high school. Conley has been OK, but there have been 17 new students move into the district since October and some 200 new housing units will be fully online by the fall.

“Twenty-eight students in a fourth-grade class isn’t where we want to be, optimally,” Szymaniak said. “For grades three-plus, 25 is OK, under that — and we have first- and second-grades of 26 — I’d like that to be 19, and that’s where we can go if we get more staff.”

The teachers had not been included in the original required budget, but were moved up from the recommended budget.

“We have to give principals the autonomy to put people in the right  places. Our job here, in our spot, is to make sure they have the tools, and the tools are their teachers,” Szymaniak said.

“I’m fully cognizant of the fact that we do not, and are not, funding our schools to the level that we should,” Committee member Fred Small said, asking if returning the teachers is a necessity. “That being said, there’s blood out of a stone, and we have to be cognizant of what the towns can afford at this point.”

“I think we think it’s a necessity,” Ferro said. “I think, if you’re a parent of a student in that class, it’s a necessity, I think if you’re a teacher in that class, it’s a necessity. I think if you work at that building, it’s a necessity so, yeah, I think it’s a necessity.”

School Committee member Dawn Byers advocated returning the teachers, as well, noting that the towns have benefitted from increased state aid since the Education Reform Act in 1993.

“When we talk about collateral damage, it is the kids,” she said. “It is the students who have lost time — the kids that are in eighth grade right now and they lost that foreign language learning they had last year and that half-day kindergarten that doesn’t have the opportunity. I don’t see how we can cut anything.”

Szymaniak cautioned that state take-over of the school budget is not the answer to the impasse during a recent meeting to discuss Chapter 70 distribution between town officials and Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) Executive Director Maureen Marshall and member Stephen Hemmand. The cost of de-regionalization and impact of a state takeover of the school budget were also discussed.

Both MARS representatives told local officials that they “might have a conversation about what’s affordable for both communities, potentially, and that might not be what we’re asking for to keep level service at this point,” Szymaniak said. “The two communities have to agree and [Hemmand] said there’s pain to that.”

Hanson officials discuss budget status

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HANSON — Meeting an hour before the W-H School Committee on Thursday, March 12, a quorum of the Hanson Selectmen — Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, Vice Chairman Kenny Mitchell and Jim Hickey — met with Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan for a discussion of the school budget.

“They’ve decided on the methodology of the budget, which thus far has been voted into by statutory [assessment], and tonight, they will be lowering the boom on the budget,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. The School Committee, instead, put off that decision at least until this week.[See related story, page 1]

“This isn’t just a Hanson problem, it’s a school problem, it’s a district problem, it’s a Whitman problem and it’s a Hanson problem,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “This can’t be just Hanson solving this problem.”

She told School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes that, in the spirit of partnership, Hanson officials would appreciate the schools bringing their budget “as far down as you can.”

One question FitzGerald-Kemmett had centered on why $117,000 for technology upgrades that Hanson, as did Whitman, budget as a capital expense was also included in the school budget.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook broke the school budget options into three scenarios — the first, simply the required budget increases Hanson’s assessment by 21.49 percent; the second, which also adds $280,000 to return four elementary teachers cut last year, increases it by 22.58 percent or $2.3 million; if the town also had a level-service budget is a 3.5 percent increase on the town or $1.83 million.

Based on FY ’20 assessment values of $1.29 per thousand, the average annual tax increase for a single-family home [$334,368] would have been $457 if an override had been done last year. Scenario 2 would put the increase at between $630 and $640.

Sullivan said his committee has been working under the idea that the required budget, aimed at providing level-service spending to the schools for fiscal 2021, would be the number with which it would have to contend. Hanson would have to come up with $1.87 million under a statutory assessment formula.

The town is already about $300,000 in the hole with a 4.5 percent budget increase for the town.

“We’ve earmarked some places, already, where we believe the first round of cuts ought to go,” Sullivan said. “We’re looking at every and all options that are on the table.”

Among the scenarios the Finance Committee is considering is a 10-percent reduction across all town departments. With the exception of the library, the town had added back all the positions cut 10 years ago during the recession.

“Our goal is to get this number down to a reasonable level where we would have to present an override to the town,” Sullivan said. “No one likes that override word, but it’s a matter of how much can we cut out of the budget to get it down to a reasonable level?”

Mitchell agreed that the town needs to start thinking that way.

“The only way to get by this [next year] is to increase the tax rate,” Sullivan said.

A Finance Committee member since 2012, Sullivan said he has not seen a deficit close to being this large that the town has had to overcome.

Mitchell also suggested a mediator might help resolve the issue between the two towns.

“Well that is a controversial little theory, there, Mr. Mitchell, and I like it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she was hoping the School Committee would recognize that the situation is not Hanson’s problem alone to solve. She said she personally does not favor an override, but that is a question for voters to decide.

The coronavirus may also have an impact, as FitzGerald-Kemmett said there has been some discussion of postponing town meetings. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has already waived the 180-day school year requirement.

“The School Committee meeting tonight, if it wasn’t an important meeting, I probably would have canceled,” said Hayes, who attended the Selectmen’s meeting.

No ordinary times

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The Whitman-Hanson Regional and South Shore Technical school districts have joined schools across the state suspending classes for three weeks, through Tuesday, April 7 — and as long as a month in some places — to help stem the progress of the coronavirus.

Town halls, libraries, senior centers and any activities that could attract more than 25 people are canceled or rescheduled in light of the state of emergency declared by Gov. Charlie Baker.

Public meetings in both Whitman and Hanson must be “attended” remotely by residents — and, in Hanson, via telephone link by all Selectmen for the duration of emergencies declared in both towns, effective Monday, March 16.

Town meetings will be rescheduled to June 15, but Hanson plans to keep the scheduled date of the Town Election as Saturday, May 16. Selectmen approved the refunding of down payments for planned events canceled at Hanson’s Camp Kiwanee.

Hanson Food Pantry will remain open, but will admit only one client at a time with social distance guidelines enforced, and chairs will be cleaned between clients. Residents have been asked to use food pantry services only in the event of clear need.

“Public meetings will be broadcast on cable access, either live or the next day on YouTube,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam stated in a reverse 911 call Monday.

“You’ll notice we are all socially distanced,” said Hanson Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, as she convened the Tuesday, March 17 meeting, attended in person by only herself, Selectman Matt Dyer, Town Administrator John Stanbrook, Administrative Assistant Greer Getzen, Police Chief Michael Miksch, Health Agent Gil Amado, Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias and IT Director Ryan McGonigle — all at seated at CDC-recommended intervals. Selectmen Wes Blauss, Jim Hickey and Kenny Mitchell, Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., and Town Counsel Jay Talerman attended remotely via telephone link.

“Tonight’s meeting will probably be the last meeting where we will see each other in person because we take this seriously and we want to make sure we’re leading by example and doing the right thing,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We thought it was important to meet tonight, because we hadn’t yet worked out the logistics on the teleconferencing — and time will tell if we actually have worked them out, but we are going to give it our level best.”

Teleconference meetings will be recorded and posted on the town website with videoconference coverage available only for land-use board hearings where hearings can’t be delayed, where maps and other documents need to be viewable, FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Lynam said that, while all town employees were still working, admittance to buildings will be by appointment only. The telephone number for all town departments is 781-447-7600.

Hanson town and school fields have also been closed to any organized sports or activities and will remain closed as long as the schools are closed. Whitman fields and recreational areas are closed to the public until further notice. Updates are available on town websites whitman-ma.gov and hanson-ma.gov. Municipal bills may be paid online or by check or money order deposited in drop-boxes at the town halls.

“We regret that these limitations are being established, but we are doing so to reduce the exposure to the [coronavirus] to the public and it’s town employees,” Lynam said in his message.

Restaurants are limited to carry-out or drive-through food business only.

“I think people shine in moments like this,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “You really see people’s true colors, and we’ve got a truly dedicated group of employees here in Town Hall, Fire, Police, Highway, Water — they’re all stepping up.”

Like Lynam, FitzGerald-Kemmett stressed some of the measures put in place with the state of emergency are for the protection of town employees as well as the public.

Materials can be taken out from the library by calling ahead. Staff will wipe down books and other media and bring it out to residents.

“There will be no person-to-person contact and they will be taking precautionary measures,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Miksch said if the public finds police officers to be a little less friendly or are hesitant to roll down a window to talk, there is a reason for that.

“We have to stress that we’re trying to do our best to make sure the officers stay safe as well,” he said. “I hate to limit people from coming to the police station, but again, unless they physically have to be there, we don’t want them there.”

Firearms ID renewals are being handled online as much as possible.

Schools closed

W-H Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak told the School Committee at its Thursday, March 12 meeting that a conference call for Commissioner of Education Jeff Riley and superintendents around the state had been scheduled Friday, March 13 to discuss the decision.

Regardless of the decision, Szymaniak was willing to take parental concerns into consideration had the decision been made to keep schools opwn. [See pages 4, 5].

“I would like to tell the School Committee and the community, if [parents] feel that school is in session and you would like to keep your child home, you may,” he said. “We are looking at ways … for online learning in the event of that.”

In light of the emergency, the unexcused absences policy has been waived. Students on free and reduced lunch, will be provided for.

“Some of our students get breakfast, lunch and dinner here,” Szymaniak said. “We have to come up with a contingency plan to make sure our students are fed.” Services to students on individualized education plans (IEPs) must also be served according to their plans, he said.

There had been no cases of presumptive or real cases of coronavirus in the W-H community, Szymaniak stressed on March 12. He has been in communication via conference call with both town administrators and boards of health and Szymaniak had already canceled all field trips through Friday, March 20.

Before the decision to close the schools for two weeks, he said the Conley and Duval schools were slated for cleaning over the weekend, which would have cost $8,000 for the work and buses were being cleaned after every run.

MCAS exams are “on the table,” Szymaniak said. “There’s no agenda for this, there might be a closure, I’m not really sure.”

By Friday afternoon, the decision to close the schools for two weeks had been made.

SST Superintendent-Director Thomas Hickey also said his school is out for two weeks, encouraging students to stay engaged in learning through reading and enrichment activities. School officials will re-evaluate the situation at the end of two weeks before making a decision on how to proceed from there.

Teachers will use online resources and work planned based on what they have planned for students to do when school does return, Hickey said. Social-emotional outreach services will also be available to families from school counselors whiles school is out.

“It can be very difficult to ensure equity in lesson plans,” Hickey said of the varying resources students have at home. “Still anything is better than nothing.”

While school is out, few staff will be in the building other than custodians who will increasing the flu-season cleaning protocols already in place since December.

Hickey is also looking to technology platforms such as GoogleVoice to limit the number of staff in the building further — forwarding any incoming calls to their homes.

“One of the things that we’re trying to do is to make sure that there’s an opportunity to continue learning,” said W-H Assistant Superintendent George Ferro. “We have to take into account many different things.”

Access to the Internet for devices is one of those. While 93.46 percent of parents have such access.

“When you look at that, that is not everybody,” Ferro said. Chromebooks owned by the school district are set up for the school network, and some could be made available if parents contact the district.

“We also have to come up with the paper packet for those who do not have access,” he said.

“I would commend your leadership and thoughtfulness in what are certainly extraordinary times,” said Committee member Christopher Howard.

“You guys are dealing with a lot of crazy stuff all at once,” Small said.

School Committee member Fred Small noted the Whitman Public Library has Verizon hot spots. Hanson Library Trustees Chairman Corrine Cofardo said they have many patrons who drive to the Hanson Library to use the Internet from their cars.

“There’s 40 parking spaces there,” she said.

Szymaniak asked for patience from the community as the coronavirus is an “evolving situation.”

“This is a first time for all of us,” he said, noting MCAS and graduation implications have to be taken into consideration.

Hanson Selectmen also discussed the situation at the board’s Tuesday, March 17 meeting with Police Chief Michael Miksch, Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., and Health Agent Gil Amado. [See story, this page]

Selectmen have discussed using their oversight of the W-H playing fields on Hanson property to halt all sports play until further notice.

Hickey noted in the board’s special meeting Thursday, March 12 that the NBA, NHL as well as major league soccer, MLB and the NFL have suspended and/or delayed their regular seasons, the NCAA basketball tournament — as well as state high school basketball championship games — have been cancelled and the Boston Marathon was rescheduled to Sept.14.

“I have seen people posting of social media that they’re concerned and don’t know what to do,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett, who had just canceled the St. Patrick’s Day fundraising dinner slated for Saturday, March 14 to support the Hanson Food Pantry. “There are a bunch of elderly people who volunteer at the food pantry and I can’t have that happening, I don’t want to be responsible for harming people.”

Mitchell also suggested that the swearing in of two new police officers and recognition of Sgt. Eugene Andrews, who is retiring, be postponed. The new officers would be asked to get sworn in by Town Clerk Beth Sloan.

“Then we can do the family gathering … at a later date,” Mitchell said. “We shouldn’t have a room full of people.”

Hanson declares emergency

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HANSON — Town Administrator John Stanbrook and Hanson town officials would like to inform residents that the town has declared a state of emergency in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronvirus (COVID-19).

At this time, there are no known positive or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the Town of Hanson.

The Town has declared a local state of emergency and has activated its Emergency Management Team to follow to this situation closely and provide any necessary updates.

The Town’s Emergency Management Team and the Board of Health will continue to work closely and meet regularly to discuss the latest guidance and determine the actions needed to keep the Town prepared as this situation continues to evolve.

Effective immediately, the following steps will be taken in the Town of Hanson:

•  Town buildings, including Town Hall, Council on Aging Senior Center, Town Library and schools are closed to the public until further notice.

•  All public meetings, except the next Board of Selectmen meeting on March 17, will be cancelled or postponed to a later date and likely for the foreseeable future.

•  All Town parks and fields will be closed to organized groups until further notice.

•  All functions at Camp Kiwanee or Thomas Mill will be postponed indefinitely.

• The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District has cancelled school and school activities until at least April 6, 2020. During this time, each school building will undergo deep cleaning and disinfecting. Whitman-Hanson students that need food services will be able to go to the high school, beginning today, daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the snack shack area which is in front of the Performing Arts center. Grab and go breakfast and lunch meals will be available. Students will need to provide their student ID number and this program will be handled as it is during a regular day. This is the only time a school building will be open to any member of the public.

• The Meals on Wheels program will continue to provide its services as needed.

• All Police and Fire services will continue as usual, however, we ask residents to call the department business lines for routine business and avoid coming into the police and fire stations to limit the spread of the virus.

•  The Board of Health will be enforcing Gov. Baker’s Order banning all on-premises consumption of food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages at the Town’s restaurants and bars effective at midnight on Tuesday, March 17. Only takeout and delivery of food will be permitted until at least 11:59 p.m. on April 5. Any establishment that violates the governor’s order will be subject to applicable license revocations by the Board of Selectmen.

• The Police Department and the Board of Health will be enforcing Gov. Baker’s order banning all gatherings of 25 people or more effective at midnight on March 17. This order is in effect until at least 11:59 p.m. on April 5. All food establishments must implement a plan for social distancing during takeout food order operations. These actions will slow the spread of the virus.

• The Transfer Station will remain open at this time.

These measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution so that the spread of the virus can be minimized and to promote social distancing. Your cooperation in this endeavor will be much appreciated.

Residents can log on to the Town’s website at www.hanson-ma.gov to get Town department phone numbers or e-mail addresses and for the latest updates as it relates to Hanson.

The Town’s public servants stand ready to answer any questions that you may have or to give out more information as it becomes available.

The state has also set up the phone number, 211, to answer questions that residents may have concerning this pandemic.

The Board of Selectmen is confident that together, working in concert with the community, Hanson will be able to help stem the spread of this virus.