HANSON — What do you do with the town’s trash when recycling becomes an expensive problem?

The Board of Selectmen has begun discussing with the Board of Health ways to salvage its financially troubled transfer station as well as the environment with a two-pronged approach: find a way to make the facility solvent and possibly ban plastic grocery bags, if not polystyrene cups and plastic straws as well.

Town Administrator Michael McCue said the transfer station is two years away from a financial crisis.

“A lot of it has to do with the fact that overseas recycling has been pretty much shut off and the cost of recycling has been that much more expensive,” McCue said. “The transfer station has had to rely on some of its retained earnings and I think a conversation needs to take place of how the two boards think we should move forward to contain the viability, on some level, of the transfer station. … We need to start the conversation.”

Options right now, according to Health Board member Arlene Dias, include continuing current practices, reducing transfer station hours to save money, returning operation costs to the tax base or explore regionalization. Looking to data on when the transfer station is most used can also guide when hours are most efficient.

“Better to start the conversation now, before we reach … the inevitable wall that we might be hitting,” McCue said. He indicated the next steps would include a working session between Selectmen and the Board of Health, along with members of the Finance Committee and town accountant to begin the planning process. A public forum is also planned, and a meeting Selectmen want to see happen first.

Town Accountant Todd Hassett said the facility is “treading water” this year, which includes an $86,000 tax subsidy and  $57,000 drawdown of retained earnings.

“We’re at a point where, in two years, the retained earnings would be completely used up and we’d be looking at closer to $150,000 in tax subsidy to support the overall program,” he said.

China’s decision last year to halt acceptance of solid waste for recycling — due to contamination of materials not cleaned properly before being disposed of — has caused transfer station costs to skyrocket across the United States. Health officials are also concerned about the prospect of Rhode Island waste companies that now take trash from Massachusetts may also halt that one day.

“If we taught people to do a better job [recycling], we’d be better off,” Dias said.

“We’re talking about busy families,” Selectman Jim Hickey said. “That family is not going to rinse out the bottle of ketchup … it’s going to go in the recycling and they’re going to mix it with the plastic syrup container that they used.”

Dias said one of the Finance Committee’s members has advocated just closing the transfer station completely to save money.

Board of Health member Gil Amado said the system does work at the transfer station, and while recycling has changed throughout the world, the problems are cyclical.

“It comes back,” Amado said. “It goes in cycles and I think Hanson is very fortunate.”

While the Health Board members did not have figures at hand on how many residents use the facility, they do have that data and admit that transfer station use had been declining.

Still, there are people who have tried private haulers and prefer the transfer station. Dias said in her case, the one bag of trash she throws away separate from recycling was not enough to justify the cost of a private hauler and she went back to using the facility.

Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell said the town’s pay-as-you-throw program had been sold to the town on the promise that it would eventually become self-sustaining.

“Based on the numbers that I’ve seen — and you can show me different numbers — it’s not,” he said. “It’s going the other way.”

“I hate to reduce hours, because it feels like we’d be reducing service and we’ve got a lot of busy families out there,” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It’s a balance of economics and service. We really have to find the right balance there.”

Selectman Wes Blauss said that recycling efforts need not take as much time as people might think.

“I am a firm believer in the transfer station from when it was a dump up to now,” Blauss said. “You do it for the planet. We’re not going to get China back. We have to keep the transfer station viable.”

Selectman Matt Dyer said the transfer station is a needed service that the town must find a way to fund.

“Recyling is very near and dear to my heart,” Dyer said. “I don’t believe that getting rid of recycling is the way to go, either, because as we all know, we only have this limited amount of resources. … We’ve already messed up our planet enough. We need to suck it up and pay the right price.”

He suggested a town forum to gather more ideas for a solution to the problem.

Amado advocated, “throwing it back on the taxpayers.”

“Financially, I don’t see that as an option,” Mitchell said, noting the town can’t wait two years to arrive at a solution. “What I would like to see is, down the road … not closing it, keep it open a couple days for mattresses and tires, but then have residents be in charge of getting rid of their own trash.”

Health Board member Theresa Cocio said the elderly and people with smaller households that produce little trash and/or can’t afford a private hauler must be considered.

“Recycling is the biggest cost,” she said. It is now almost $20 more per ton than trash.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen moving forward,” said Dias, who is also the town’s representative to the South Shore Recycling Cooperative. “Every town is having the same problem.”

Town curbside pickup is unworkable because of Hanson’s geography, Amado said.

A plastic bag ban, one of the proposed Selectmen’s goals suggested by Blauss was also discussed, but Dias said South Shore Recycling sees the process for treating paper is much more harmful than plastic bags, a contention with which Dyer took issue.

While producing paper bags is polluting, it also does not use the oil from which plastic is manufactured and the lifespan of the products are vastly different.

“Paper bags are going to degrade in a couple of weeks and a plastic bag is going to sit in a tree and kill birds and cats …,” Dyer said. “Plastic bags go from the store to your car, from your car to inside, then they go in the trash. It’s a single-use [item] creating a bunch more waste.”

Almost 90 communities in the state, and most towns on the South Shore, already ban plastic bags, according to Dyer.

“We are the stewards of the Earth,” he said, also advocating the banning of polystyrene cups and plastic straws. “We already messed up the Earth so much, its time to correct our actions and move in a positive direction.”

The door to the U.S. Senate may have just closed on Geoffrey Diehl, but the former state representative says he is now searching for his window to the next opportunity.

Statewide, Warren held a 60-36 margin of victory over Diehl based on unofficial results with Independent Shiva Ayyadurai taking about 3 percent of the votes cast. Locally, the picture was a mirror image for Warren and Diehl, as the Whitman Republican took his hometown of Whitman by a 3,888 to 2,641 margin of 6,776 votes cast. Hanson voters went for Diehl by a larger margin — 3,104 to 1,909 for Warren. Ayyadurai garnered 175 votes in Whitman and 124 in Hanson.

Hanson also narrowly voted to support two town ballot questions — 2,641 Yes to 2,354 No on Question 1 and 2,630 Yes to 2,357 No on Question 2 — that prohibit retail cannabis businesses in town.

Diehl’s strongest bases of support were on the South Shore, central Worcester County and towns southwest of Springfield.

“We left no stone unturned,” Diehl said to supporters Tuesday night at the Whitman VFW. “And I know I gave it my all, but I also know that you gave it your all.” He quoted a 19th-Century philosopher’s dictum that, “If you learn from a loss, you really haven’t lost.”

Diehl said he was very glad to have the chance to debate incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and talk about the issues.

“I’m hoping that she will focus on those issues that are important, whether it’s law enforcement, the fishing industry or the other issues we brought up,” Diehl said. “So, while the outcome is not what we wanted, we’ve laid the foundation for taking Massachusetts back for the working people.”

Warren, making her victory speech after 11 p.m. in Boston vowed to do just that, as well as to continue fighting to empower women.

“Together, women and men, young and old, black and white, gay and straight in cities big and small have built something extraordinary,” she said, telling the crowd they have more power than they ever imagined and “you gotta stay in the fight. … It’s going to be hard, nevertheless we will persist and we will deliver the change our country deserves.”

Warren lauded Diehl for “stepping up” and taking on the hard and expensive task of running for office, thanking him for his efforts along with all others who campaigned for office or supported one.

“You make democracy work,” she said. “Whether you voted for me or not, I am grateful for the opportunity to fight for you.”

Diehl addressed his supporters in a short, gracious concession speech shortly before 9 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6. His race had been called as a victory for Warren shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. — first by the Associated Press and then by other news outlets including CBS. It had been a long day of traveling around the state for last-minute meet-and-greets with voters.

Around the ballot

Whitman supported Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito 5,031 to 1,457 for the Democratic ticket of Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey. Hanson backed Baker/Polito 3,949 to 1,003 for Gonzalez/Palfrey.

Attorney General Maura Healy won both towns, with a 3,897 to 2,699 margin over Republican James McMahon III in Whitman and by a close 2,756 to 2,287 in Hanson.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin received 4,233 votes in Whitman and 3,071 in Hanson to Republican Anthony Amore’s 2,065 in Whitman and 1,820 in Hanson. Green Rainbow candidate Juan Sanchez Jr. got 178 votes in Whitman and 104 in Hanson.

Treasurer Deborah Goldberg garnered 3,639 in Whitman and 2,620 in Hanson to Republican Keiko Orral’s 2,566 in Whitman and 2,186 in Hanson with Green Rainbow candidate Jamie Guerin getting 102 Hanson votes and 183 in Whitman.

Auditor Suzanne Bump held off three rivals, and gained 3,485 votes in Whitman and 2,430 in Hanson with Republican Helen Brady a close second with 2,592 in Whitman and 2,272 in Hanson. Libertarian Daniel Fishman received 212 Whitman votes and 167 in Hanson while Green Rainbow candidate Edward Stamas took 104 votes in Whitman and 60 in Hanson.

Whitman’s Congressman Stephen Lynch, running unopposed, received 5,206 votes in Whitman. Hanson gave U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., fewer votes — 2,470 — than his Republican challenger Peter Tedeschi received — 2,536 — but Keating took the win by a 20-percent margin in the district.

Governor’s Councilor Christopher Iannella won a handy re-election with 4,871 votes in Whitman and 3,547 in Hanson against a handful of write-in votes.

State House races were won locally by Abington’s Alyson Sullivan in the 7th Plymouth District [see related story], taking Whitman with 3,757 votes to Democrat Alex Bezanson’s 2,753.

Hanson state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, was unchallenged in the 6th Plymouth District, taking 3,823 of the votes cast.

State Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, was also re-elected, taking Whitman with 3,698 votes to Republican Scott Hall’s 2,719 and Hanson by 2,656 to Hall’s 2,230.

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz won re-election with the help of 4,111 votes to Democrat John Bradley Jr.’s 2,425 in Whitman and with 3,331 to Bradley’s 1,656 in Hanson.

Robert Creedon, running unopposed for Plymouth County Clerk of Courts got 4,965 in Whitman and 3,619 in Hanson. Also running unopposed, Registrar of Deeds John Buckley Jr., tallied 3,612 in Hanson and 4,984 in Whitman. Unchallenged County Commissioner Sandra Wright won 3,782 Hanson votes and 4,911 in Whitman.

Only state Ballot Question 1 on nursing staffing went down to defeat — by a 2-to-1 margin statewide and with 3,720 No votes to 1,397 Yes in Hanson and 4,833 No votes to 1,759 Yes in Whitman.

State Question 2, seeking a U.S. Constitution amendment to limit the influence of corporate money in elections won by a 71-percent to 29-percent margin — with 4,270 Yes votes to 2,301 No in Whitman and 3,173 Yes to 1,811 No in Hanson. State Question 3, to continue protections of transgender rights won with a state margin of about 68 percent to 32 percent, and with 3,734 voting Yes to 2,906 voting No in Whitman and 2,803 voting Yes to 2,285 voting No in Hanson.

Early call

The Senate race result, and the fast call was met with anger and disbelief by Diehl supporters, including Whitman School Committee member Fred Small.

“How can they call it so fast?” he demanded.

Former sports broadcaster John Dennis, who has become a fixture at Diehl campaign events, also expressed disappointment in the results as he introduced Diehl.

“The results aren’t what we wanted them to be,” he said, noting some people calling him during the evening had asked if he was upset or angry. “I think the word is disappointed, but I want to make it clear that I’m not disappointed in Massachusetts voters — I’m disappointed for Massachusetts voters.”

He said, in his opinion, the state has missed a golden opportunity to be represented in the Senate by “a man of integrity and compassion and commitment.”

But looking on the bright side, Dennis said he made a valuable lifelong friend in the process, introducing Diehl.

Earlier in the day, Small and fellow School Committee member Dan Cullity had predicted a Diehl win that would shock the nation.

“Everywhere I go, everyone I speak to, everybody is voting for Geoff Diehl,” Small said Tuesday afternoon while sign-holding for his candidate. “They just can’t stomach her. … they’ve heard Geoff, they believe in him being able to work for them.”

referendum

Cullity said he saw another Scott Brown surprise, saying polls are rigged and can’t be believed, and said he viewed the Senate election as more of a referendum on Warren than Trump.

“In this area, nobody likes Trump except for crazy people like me,” he said with a laugh.

“I absolutely, positively hate a lot of what [Trump] says at times, but I love what he’s doing in office,” Small said. “This senate race here is going to be the shot heard around the country when it’s all said and done.”

Diehl’s father in-law, Joe Boss, and his friend Paul Brown had also expressed confidence in the day’s outcome.

“I’m feeling very good,” Boss said. “I think he’s worked really, really hard and the conversations I’ve had with anybody — anybody — is that, even if they are Democrats, they’re going to vote for Geoff.”

Cullity and Small had the same experiences with their talks across the state with Democrats they knew and with whom they worked.

Supporters of Democratic candidates were equally certain of their chances, although Whitman Selectman Randy LaMattina conceded that state Rep. Candidate Alex Bezanson faced a tough opponent in the eventual winner Alyson Sullivan.

“It’s guaranteed,” LaMattina said of Warren’s re-election Tuesday morning. “This state has woken up and realized the Blue Wave is here.”

He said early voting and people’s realization of the importance of the election would negate any effect a rainy forecast would have on turnout.

Key issues

Whitman resident Randy Hill echoed voter trends across the country, citing health care and Trump’s policies and divisive speech.

“I want to keep health care the way it is and to stop the Trump agenda going forward and I think we have very qualified candidates who can do so,” Hill said. “I love our chances today. The country has given the president two years to see what he can do and people are not liking the divisiveness that is projected from the president.”

Cameron Thomas, 11, who held a Bezanson sign at the polls, meanwhile said he just plain liked his candidate.

While Question 1 on patient limits was trounced 70 to 30 percent at the polls, Hanson nurse Kathy Sussky spent time in the morning holding a “Yes on 1” sign and talking to voters.

“More nurses are going to equal better, safer care for patients,” she said.  “I think it’s shameful that the ‘No’ campaign has been spreading lies about what is going to happen to ER wait times and people not being seen in the emergency room.”

The similarity in lawn sign design was an indication of that, she said, indicating she saw a tight 50-50 race on the question.

“Nurses will never turn away patients,” she said.

When voters go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6 — if they haven’t already done so under early voting provisions — the state ballot they’ll see is a lengthy one, featuring candidates in 14 races and three ballot questions.

Hanson voters, meanwhile, will see a separate town election ballot with two more questions to determine whether the town will permit recreational cannabis retailers in town.

Polls on Election Day are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hanson voters cast ballots at Hanson Middle School for all precincts. Whitman voters cast ballots at the Town Hall Auditoriums for all precincts.

Cannabis questions

The two Hanson cannabis questions entail changes to both the General Bylaws and Zoning Bylaws, both of which require a “yes” vote to block retail cannabis businesses in the town. Whitman voters have already prohibited such sales in their town.

Hanson’s town ballot question 1 pertains to the General Bylaws and question 2 involves the Zoning Bylaws.

Voters at special Town Meeting Monday, Oct. 1 narrowly approved an article amending the General Bylaws in order to prohibit the retail sale of recreational cannabis products, but failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required by a second article to amend the town’s Zoning Bylaws.

Both will also appear on the Nov. 6 town ballot, but the zoning question is effectively moot — leaving the town to depend on a bylaw approved in May restricting retail marijuana businesses to an overlay district with frontage on Route 27, Main Street and Franklin Street.

“The reason why we have two separate bylaws on this Town Meeting warrant is because there is some question as to whether or not a General Bylaw will serve to prohibit,” said Town Counsel Katherine Feodoroff on Oct. 1. “It’s potentially challengeable.”

She said her firm would do their best to protect the town if a challenge is received.

Opponents of retail cannabis shops cite the potential for adverse effects of marijuana use on teenagers.

“Dr. Ruth Potee, M.D., of Greenfield, recently told an audience in Shrewsbury that last year, for the first time, marijuana use among teens surpassed cigarette use. And that’s a problem because early exposure to cannabis, as with early exposure to other drugs, can harm the developing brain,” the Rev. Peter Smith, recently wrote, quoting a story in the Milford Daily News. Smith is a member of W-H WILL.

“Proponents of legalized marijuana may say that legalization does not extend to minors, but who are they kidding?” Smith stated. “The more it is available, the more its use will spread, and we will all be the poorer for that.”

While proponents countered at the Oct. 1 Town Meeting that putting “another liquor store on the corner it doesn’t make you an alcoholic,” others are not convinced by that argument.

“We need to realize that marijuana and alcohol are not the same thing nor do they affect the body in the same way,” stated Hanson resident Ken Duty of County Road, citing a recent fatal East Bridgewater crash in which the 18-year-old driver was charged with driving under the influence of marijuana — in a crash that killed four other teens. Duty asks what voters would say to the parents of those killed.

“Do you say I voted and welcomed Pot and Edibles to be sold in Hanson? Not me, I want deniability saying I voted to stop marijuana sales in Hanson,” he said.

Patrick Powers of Holmes Street reported, during the Town Meeting, that health department reports in Colorado and Washington both found that marijuana use actually decreased among youth in grades six through 12 after legalization as well as a 6.5 decrease in opioid overdose deaths. He also said children are not allowed in cannabis shops where customers must show ID to enter and wait in a waiting room before they are assisted by a certified employee who has passed background checks.

Joseph Campbell of Woodbine Avenue argued that Hanson would benefit from tax revenue on both the local and state level, noting that similar towns out west have benefits for land-locked towns with slowing growth.

“We have an opportunity knocking at our door,” Campbell said Oct. 1, noting individual moral decisions must take place in the home. “If you have a liquor store at the end of your street, is that going to make you an alcoholic? Probably not.”

He stressed that the Board of Selectmen will retain the right to grant or rescind licenses as well as bestowing the financial “gifts” of taxes from the businesses to public safety and school needs.

The candidates

Topping the State Ballot is the race for U.S. Senator, with incumbent Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., facing state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, and Independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai of Belmont.

Republican incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are being challenged by Democratic challengers Jay Gonzalez, a former Secretary of Administration and Finance under Deval Patrick, and his running mate for lieutenant governor, Quentin Palfrey who served in the White House under President Obama as a senior advisor for jobs and competitiveness, and as a deputy general counsel in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Incumbent Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Republican James R. McMahon III of Bourne.

Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Anthony M. Amore of Swampscott, and Green-Rainbow candidate Juan G. Sanchez Jr., of Holyoke.

Democratic state Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, the incumbent, is on the ballot with Republican candidate Keiko M. Orrall of Lakeville and Green-Rainbow candidate Jamie M. Guerin of Northampton.

For state Auditor, Democratic incumbent Suzanne M. Bump faces Republican Helen Brady of Concord, Libertarian Daniel Fishman of Beverly and Green-Rainbow candidate Edward J. Stamas of Northampton.

Both 8th District U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass., and Governor’s Councillor Christopher A. Iannalla Jr., are unchallenged on the ballot, save for write-in candidate for Governor’s Councillor Erin Johnson. In the 9th congressional district, Hanson voters will see incumbent Bill Keating, D-Mass., is challenged by Republican Peter D. Tedeschi of Marshfield.

Incumbent state Sen. Michael D. Brady, D-Brockton, is being challenged by Republican Scott Hall of Brockton.

Brady is currently seeking re-election for his third term for the district, which represents Plympton, Halifax, Hanson, Whitman, Brockton, and parts of East Bridgewater and Easton. Prior to becoming a senator, he served four terms as State Representative in the Ninth Plymouth District.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Revenue where he has worked to provide funding for the district for education, public safety, infrastructure, seniors and veterans, according to a statement from Brady’s campaign.

“Senator Brady will continue to support and fund and protecting public education, incentives for renewable energy resources, opioid abuse prevention, helping veterans, the elderly, and increasing economic development,” his campaign stated.  “He says that constituent services have always been his top priority and will continue to do so if re-elected.”

State Rep. races

Hanson state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury in the 6th Plymouth District, is unopposed for re-election.

In Whitman, seeking the seat vacated by Diehl in the 7th Plymouth District, candidates Alex Bezanson, a Democrat, and Alyson Sullivan, a Republican are on the ballot. Both are Abington residents in a district that includes all of Whitman and Abington and precincts 2, 3 and 4 in East Bridgewater.

Bezanson and Sullivan met in a WATD political forum broadcast on Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV on Monday, Oct. 8.

A Quincy native, Bezanson moved to Abington in 1987 and owns a contracting business. He has served on the Abington Conservation Commission, Water Commission and Board of Selectmen. He and his wife founded the HUG Foundation that aids families facing medical issues and the Abington Substance Awareness Coalition as a resource for families of addicts and to promote awareness of the problem for students and parents.

Sullivan, a lifelong resident of Abington, and a law student in her final year at the Suffolk University School of Law, has worked as a legal assistant in the U.S. Immigration Court before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Massachusetts District in its victim/witness unit. She is currently a legal assistant in the state’s Executive Office of Administration and Finance.

The WATD debate touched of issues of climate change and the need for renewable energy — which both supported, the importance of municipal experience in the State House; 40B affordable housing issues; business development and challenges to it, public transportation needs; ballot question 2 limiting corporate contributions to political campaigns — which Sullivan opposes as a free speech issue and Bezanson supports, but concedes is not germane to local races; use of state surplus and criminal justice reform.

The debate is posted on the WHCA-TV YouTube channel for streaming.

Incumbent DA Timothy Cruz, a Republican, is facing a challenge from Democrat John E. Bradley Jr., of Plymouth.

Other unchallenged candidates on the ballot are: Democrat Robert S. Creedon Jr., for Plymouth County Clerk of Courts; Democrat John R. Buckley Jr., of Brockton for Register of Deeds and Republican Sandra M. Wright for County Commissioner.

Question 1, regarding whether or not limits should be placed on the number of patients that could be assigned to one registered nurse, has received the most attention.

A yes vote would place limits in, what proponents say is in the interest of quality care. A no vote makes no change to current laws to avoid what opponents of the question see as putting “patient care quality and safety at risk.”

Question 2 would create a citizens commission to promote an amendment to the U.S. Constitution limiting the influence of money in elections and reversing a Supreme Court ruling that corporations have the same rights as human beings.

A yes vote supports such an effort. A no vote would not create such a commission.

Question 3 adds gender identity to the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination in places of public accommodation, resort or amusement. A yes vote retains the current law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity. A no vote would repeal that protection under the public accommodation law.

WHITMAN — Fire Chief Timothy Grenno and town IT Director Joshua MacNeil announced at the Tuesday, Oct. 23 Selectmen’s meeting that Whitman has received a $199,601 state Community Compact IT Grant.

The funds will enable the town to make improvements to radio communication infrastructure to improve coverage for police and fire operations.

Selectmen and Planning Board members also met jointly and voted to appoint Elaine Bergeron and Adam Somerville to the Planning Board to fill vacancies. Both terms expire May 18. The Planning Board will keep résumés of candidates Adele Carew and Jerry Blumenthal on file in case another vacancy crops up. All four were encouraged to run for office in the next Town Election.

Grenno and MacNeil, reporting on the communications grant, said Whitman was among 44 communities receiving the funds for Fiscal 2019 — and was awarded the most cash on the list.

“When it gets into public safety, the fire and police departments’ communication systems are pretty much their lifeline,” Grenno said. Last year he and Police Chief Scott Benton sat down with MacNeil and Town Administrator Frank Lynam to assess the communications infrastructure in town and submitted an article to the Finance Committee to replace the radio systems and network.

“Mine is 11 years old and [Benton’s] have been failing at alarming rates,” Grenno said. “There just wasn’t funding for it last year and we were looking for different options.”

The Community Compact IT Grant provides $2 million to eligible communities with a cap of $200,000 per project, according to MacNeil.

“We’re always looking for ways that we can do better and provide what we can for the community at little to no cost and this is a great example,” he said, noting that a small portion of the work would still need to be added later. But the main goal was to provide full coverage to Whitman Middle School and WHRHS.

“Those two buildings have some deficiencies that are problematic and, unfortunately, public safety — when they’re trying to communicate — receiving communications in those buildings is very difficult at times and has interrupted communications on different incidents,” MacNeil said.

National Grid

Grenno also reported that concerns voiced on gas leaks reported at the intersection of routes 18 and 14.

“I’ll tell you that there was a Grade One leak at that intersection back in September,” Grenno said. “The gas company did respond, they deemed it a Grade One leak, they had crews there that evening and that Grade One leak was repaired in the overnight hours that night.”

He said there have been two or three Grade One leaks since the National Grid lockout started four months ago, but he has not seen any effect on response time to major problems despite the labor dispute.

“It’s a tough time right now, both Columbia Gas and National Grid have a moratorium against them,” he said. “It’s not pretty out there in the gas world, but as far as this town goes whatever Grade One leaks we have had have been handled in a timely fashion.”

Planning Board

The interviews with Planning Board candidates were among the first orders of business before Selectmen Tuesday. Somerville received seven votes, and on a second ballot between Bergeron and Blumenthal — Bergeron then garnered six votes. The new members were then sworn in by Town Clerk Dawn Varley, so they could attend the evening’s Planning Board meeting.

Somerville, has been a gas company sub for 25 years with experience in underground utilities including water and electric as well as gas. He also has construction experience and had owned his own residential building company for about eight years.

“As long as I know a couple of days ahead of time, I could be anywhere at any time,” he said of his availability for meetings.

Bergeron, who interviewed with both boards Sept. 24, has served on the Finance Committee in the 1970s and has been a member of the Whitman-Hanson Scholarship Foundation for almost 40 years as well as serving as an election worker. She is currently a senior vice president director of personal insurance, overseeing a staff of 60 both directly and indirectly, for a large insurance agency. Among her duties are figuring out what houses are worth and how they should be insured.

Blumenthal had to leave the Sept. 24 meeting early, due to a family emergency, and Somerville interviewed this week. He is also a former Finance Committee member. A civil engineer on municipal transportation projects as well as for state and private colleges and universities Blumenthal has been a resident engineer for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, and is retiring next week. He had also served on the School Building Committee that worked on WHRHS, but has limited experience in residential development.