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Grow facility gets nod: Board OKs letter of support for medical marijuana

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Tyler W. Stearns
Express correspondent

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Jan. 10 unanimously decided to allow Mission Massachusetts to open a medical marijuana grow facility in Whitman.

The vote provides the company with a letter of support, the next step it must complete toward obtaining a Department of Public Health license.

Selectmen first discussed the issue in a Nov. 15 meeting continued to Dec. 13 in an effort to provide residents a chance to comment. The number of residents who attended the Dec. 13 meeting prompted Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci, who chaired that meeting, to schedule Tuesday’s session for the Town Hall Auditorium to permit a larger crowd to attend.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had also said he needed to research some of the questions that were raised Dec. 13.

Since the Dec. 13 meeting, Mission Massachusetts has held a public informational seminar to discuss project details and the professionalism of their company at the Whitman Public Library on Jan. 5. Multiple members of the company’s team went to each meeting, but the Jan. 5 session on was their opportunity to educate the public about their intentions, representatives said.

“We want to professionalize the industry,” various members of Mission Massachusetts have said throughout this process, including its CFO Ben Smith.

The Jan. 5 meeting did not appear to quell anxieties, as some opponents again spoke out against it Tuesday night.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had expressed concern that opponents were mistakenly describing the facility proposed for 233 Bedford St., behind Sweezey Fence.

Not a dispensary

“We’re recognizing this is a product no different than a drug company manufacturing oxycodone here,” Lynam said. He, and the board, continued to reiterate that they are “not interested in a dispensary.”

Because Mission Massachusetts is already in the licensing process, company officials said in November that they qualify for the pool of applicants for a recreational marijuana license, but are now solely focused on the medical-use growing facility they hope to locate in Whitman.

Town officials have remained adamant that they would permit no recreational use dispensary in the town.

“We’re not confused, we’re concerned,” one Whitman resident said Tuesday night.

“Just because something is legal does not make it right” said another, to applause from some in the crowd.

Contrary to previous meetings, several residents spoke in support of the facility Tuesday night. One asked, “Would you have a different opinion if we were talking about a distillery?”

A young resident argued that this would be a positive change for the town, and that younger professionals would be inclined to move to town  with it in place. They argued that most of the younger generations do not have a negative attitude toward marijuana.

“I didn’t come to the realization that I would vote for this until I saw the Brockton Facility,” Chairman Carl Kowalski said. He also noted that oipiod abuse is a greater concern as there are “four opioid deaths a day in Massachusetts.”

Voices heard

Many residents also voiced their anxieties about Whitman’s reputation.

“Why Whitman?” was a question asked by some attendees.

Mission’s Jan. 5 presentation listed towns such as Georgetown, Plymouth, Franklin and Brockton as municipalities with cultivation sites. Only Brockton stood out to one resident, who asked, “Why do we want to be like Brockton?”

Police Chief Scott Benton has toured the Brockton facility and said, “Not only is it run well and secure, it’s a business. Whether we like it or don’t, the voters (62 percent in Whitman in 2012) have spoken and this has been legalized.”

Benton has opposed dispensaries locating in Whitman.

Some opponents were concerned that their voices were being ignored by the board, but Selectman Brian Bezanson countered that, “We are bound to act on behalf of everyone, not 50 or 60 … We are here to make the best decision for everyone.”

“It is hypocritical to want medical marijuana in state but not in our town,” said Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci, referencing the 62 percent of Whitman voters who favored the medical marijuana bill in 2012.

“There is a need for medical marijuana,” said Board member Scott Lambiase before the votes were cast.

Hearing the Board of Selectmen speak in favor of the facility and of medical marijuana, half of the crowd had already left before the vote.

Tuesday night’s meeting lasted nearly two hours, with the vote occurring at 8:47 p.m.

Mission Massachusetts has also discussed their commitment to working with local communities and their desire to hire locally. They estimate 15-20 jobs, but also commented that this is a low estimate to make initial expectations reasonable.

confusion

The legal distinctions between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana has been a topic of confusion over the course of these meetings. This was complicated when state Rep. Geoff Diehl spoke at the Jan. 5 meeting with information that only pertained to recreational laws, according to Lynam.

Lynam said Friday, Jan. 6 that Diehl provided misinformation to the group, including that there are three ways to prevent the grow-site from happening.

“Unfortunately the information he provided applied to recreational marijuana, not medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said, noting that he had tried to correct Diehl during the meeting, but Diehl had disagreed at that time.

He called Lynam at home after the Jan. 5 meeting to admit his mistake. He also contacted Mission Massachusetts.

“He contacted me later to acknowledge that, in fact, his comments did not apply to medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said. “I don’t know what difference it would have made to the members present, but there appeared to be a small vocal group of opposition.”

Some of those opponents “demonstrated an unwillingness to listen and an intolerance for any position other than their own,” according to Lynam.

(Express editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.)

A true public servant: Whitman mourns former state Sen. Ned Kirby

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WHITMAN — Town officials and others who  knew former state Sen. Edward “Ned” Kirby well are mourning one of the last of those government officials who respected and worked well with those on the other side of the political fence.

“He’s got quite a history of helping the citizens of Whitman and Plymouth County and he’ll be greatly missed,” said Selectman Brian Bezanson, the chairman of the Whitman Republican Town Committee. “Back in the day, you could disagree on policy and still be cordial and respectful of each other and that seems to be a lost art now.”

“He was a terrific public servant to the town of Whitman — he loved Whitman and we loved him in return,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski, a member of the town’s Democratic Town Committee. “He leaves a big hole. Legislatively, his shoes have been filled for a while, but he was a presence in town and I liked  him a lot — in fact, ‘liked’ is probably too mild a word — and I will miss him.”

A staunch Republican, Kirby was a state representative for three terms — the youngest on Beacon Hill when he was first elected in 1961 from the old 5th Plymouth District — a Plymouth County Commissioner for eight years and a six-term state senator. In the state senate he served on Ways & Means, Transportation and Judiciary committees and held the post of assistant Minority Leader. He was also appointed Administrative Law Judge during the Weld administration and was an Appeals Judge in Workers Compensation. [See inset, page 2]

“He was a true statesmen,” Bezanson said. “He wasn’t just a politician. He was a true gentleman, he was an inspiration.”

“The last of the gentlemen,” agreed Town Administrator Frank Lynam. “Ned had a robust history with the town of Whitman … and has applied his sense of commitment to community into pretty much everything he did.”

Kirby was also a faithful member of the Holy Ghost Church, where he met many current town leaders as they first moved to Whitman.

Lynam was one of them, as was Kowalski.

“When I first moved into town I went to church at Holy Ghost and met him there — he introduced himself and welcomed me,” Lynam said. “He was an all-around good guy.”

“He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Whitman 45 years ago,” Kowalski said. “I came out of church and I met this guy and we started talking. He was just very welcoming.”

Before he knew it, Kowalski was serving as a lector at the parish, and later served on a Jewish War Veterans’ scholarship committee with Kirby. Lynam noted that Kirby served on the Holy Ghost Parish Council and the Parish Finance Council, on which Lynam also served. Kirby also supported community groups including the Whitman Food Pantry and the senior center.

“It’s so sad,” said James Davidson of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. “He was such a nice guy.”

Davidson said Kirby was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for about nine years and was always willing to help do “whatever he could to help those less fortunate in town.”

“He was a very sincere, very generous guy,” he said. “They don’t make them like that anymore.”

“Ned was a true gentleman and a scholar — a class act all the way,” Kowalski said. “He and his wife Mary Alice were always very kind to my family.”

A Whitman resident since 1960, Bezanson recalled being a member of the Jaycees in the 1980s and, after a period of inactivity in civic affairs, he said Kirby encouraged him in his interest in joining the Republican Town Committee in 2002.

“He took me under his wing and mentored me. What I thought was community service and what I had done, really was just the tip of the iceberg,” Bezanson said. “He taught me how to stand by your beliefs, to serve the community and treat people with respect. Forever I’ll be thankful for his making me a better person and a better selectman.”

State Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, tells a similar story of reaching out to Kirby and receiving support and political counsel.

“Before I made the final decision to run for State Representative, KathyJo and I went to Ned and Mary Alice’s house to ask for their support,” Diehl recalled last week. “Ned showed me around his home office and explained to me some of the goals he set and achieved. Mary Alice, who was also a big part of his political life, filled us in on much of what we needed to know for campaigning.”

Diehl said it was such an honor to have their support and that he highly doubts he would have been able to get elected without all the help the Kirbys provided over those early years.

“In his final years, Ned was not only having a hard time hearing people but also remembering names and conversations,” Diehl recalled. “But that never stopped him from proudly wearing his Army uniform to attend Veterans functions and town events. He remained, to the end, very proud of being able to serve his country, the state of Massachusetts and his home town of Whitman.”

Lynam said Kirby also had strong political opinions as a conservative Republican, noting that his position on gay marriage might have ultimately cost him his state Senate seat, as Therese Murray defeated him after redistricting.

Times are changing at COA: New schedule, passport services at Whitman center

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WHITMAN — Heavy rain may have prevented some residents from attending, but the Whitman Council on Aging held an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5 to highlight the center’s new hours and the programs it offers.

The COA will now be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and  from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, “regular” hours of from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will still be in force on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The senior center will also be the town’s new location for processing passport applications.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam, who stopped by with Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green for the event, lauded the change in hours.

“I think it’s wonderful that Barbara is reaching out to the community and offering our services for people seeking passports,” Lynam said. “Obviously, the intent is to serve the public, but also to give an opportunity to showcase our lovely facility and invite people who are young seniors to become familiar with the building.”

The open house, and a growing list of Tuesday evening programs are intended to demonstrate the benefit a senior center can provide — and there is some thought being given to change the name of the Whitman Council on Aging.

The Toll House Center has been suggested, but is not popular with some town officials. Barbara Garvey, Whitman’s Council on Aging Director Garvey and Green jointly suggested Tuesday that the Town Park Center might be an option.

In the meantime, upcoming Tuesday evening events will feature meet and greets with Police Chief Scott Benton and Fire Chief Timothy Grenno on Jan. 10 and a program on real estate tax exemptions with Assessor Kathy Keefe on Jan. 31. In February, a chowder supper is among the programs planned.

Both Garvey and Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center Director Mary Collins have noted the difference in the way Boomers approach aging — and, according to statistics, 10,000 of them have been turning 65 every day since 2011.

“It’s a huge problem,” Garvey said recently. “We’re trying to capture the Baby Boomers, the young seniors. They’re working, they’re caring for their grandchildren, they’re playing golf. It’s a different lifestyle than their parents led.”

She said it appears that Boomers view senior centers as a place “for very old people, and that’s not them.”

First time

One of those seniors with a younger, independent outlook stopped by the Jan. 5 open house for a tour and review of services offered — and made an appointment to discuss legal concerns during attorney Ronald Whitney’s monthly legal advice sessions at the COA.

“I just didn’t think it was time yet to come to the senior center,” a 76-year-old Whitman resident said as she enjoyed refreshments from Trio Café. “I thought I should see what’s going on, see if there’s some programs that I’m interested in.”

She had looked it up on her iPad to see what was offered in case she might someday need the services and decided to attend the open house. The weather almost dissuaded her, but she kept to her plan.

“I think this is a great idea,” she said of the open house. “Uusually I don’t even bother to go out on a rainy night, but I said to myself, ‘Get out, go. You said you were going to go over there.’ So I made myself come.”

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), 70 percent of senior center participants are women, half of those live alone. They also have higher levels of health, social interaction and life satisfaction, but have lower levels of income. Their average age is 75 and they visit their center one to three times per week for and average of 3.3 hours per visit.

Retiree Edward Dinardo is one such frequent visitor to the COA. He stopped by the open house to see what it was all about, and gave the idea high marks.

“It’s a good idea for people who have to work and can’t make it here during the day,” Dinardo said of the new Tuesday evening hours.

He said he likes the monthly “brown bag” food program, which supplies a bag of groceries to seniors, helping them stretch their food budget, and has enjoyed playing bingo and cribbage tournaments there in the past.

“We’re trying to change our programming so that it will interest younger people,” Garvey said, noting that a recent evening program on Medicare aimed at people approaching retirement was very well attended, including  those who had not been at the center before.

“We haven’t been open in the evening, but I’m thinking about maybe rearranging hours so that folks that aren’t available during the day would be able to participate and benefit,” Garvey said.

Services

Aside from a social outlet, senior centers connect older adults to services that can help them stay healthy and independent, and according to the NCOA, more than 60 percent of centers are focal points for services through the Older Americans Act. Those services include health, fitness and wellness programs; public benefits counseling; information and nutrition programs among others.

Garvey said events such as paint nights and the possible development of a bocce court are being considered at her center, and Whitman is one of the first towns in the area to offer pickleball, which lost some of its participants when the Abington Senior Center built three new pickleball courts. An Eagle Scout candidate, however, conducted a project to improve the Whitman pickleball courts adjacent to the Police Station last summer.

I see bingo attendance declining,” she said, but new games being offered have begun to draw interest. “Craft classes are well attended, I’m just trying to hone in on what’s successful and what’s not.”

A questionnaire about programs people would like to see is in the works. Every resident 60 and over also receives the Whitman Council on Aging newsletter.

SSVT rolls out FY ‘18 budget

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HANOVER — The South Shore Regional Vocational-Technical School District is seeking a 3.73-percent increase in its fiscal 2018 budget proposal.

The $12.9 million proposed budget, rolled out at the Wednesday, Dec. 21 SSVT School Committee meeting, incudes an increase of about $464,860. That increase reflects a half-dozen capital projects totaling about $367,000 — including $80,000 for equipment needed for a new horticulture program, $96,239 for three new staff members, guidance outreach hours and a one-time expense to cover a transitional hire to over a retirement in the payroll office; and covers an 11-percent increase in health insurance costs for active employees.

Enrollment among all eight towns is relatively stable. Hanson’s, for example is unchanged as of Oct. 1, while Whitman is up by one student.

Some of the impact on member towns may be offset by an increase of $140,000 in nonresident tuition to lower assessments.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey stressed that the zero-based budget helps the district control costs, requiring detailed funding requests that are reviewed in November and December.

Hickey said he does not expect an increase in Chapter 70 funds.

“I think, going into this year with a stable enrollment — barring some inflationary increase — we shouldn’t bank, we should never bank, on that Chapter 70 money being higher,” he said. “We’re going to assume level.”

A public hearing on the budget proposal is slated for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the Brass Lantern restaurant at SSVT.

“We build a budget from zero,” Hickey said. “I think this budget accomplishes several things.”

In addition to curriculum and technology resources, the need for expanded instruction and transportation are addressed in the proposed budget, Hickey said. While capital plans for security, facilities and vocational-technical programs are planned, investment in a stabilization fund for building renovation is also continuing.

“We continue to chip away at things we consider a priority,” Hickey said. “We’re not sitting and waiting, blaming anyone else for what needs we might have.”

Future plans

An MSBA statement of interest submitted in April 2015 seeks support for building renovation to address the school’s heating system, lack of classroom space and small science labs, an aging modular unit, need for vocational program expansion and inadequate weight room and locker facilities. If SSVT is accepted into the program, the school will need to obtain towns’ approval and feasibility funds within 270 days.

That’s where the stabilization fund comes into play.

The fund now has a balance of $325,000 with an additional $50,000 sought in the FY ’18 budget. Hickey’s long-range goal of $500,000 in stabilization would avoid a spike in assessments or a draining of the excess and deficiency account.

“We focus on long-range planning and keeping the surprises to a minimum,” he said. “We’re very aggressive in applying for grants … our industry connections provide us with vocational equipment donations.”

Unlike other school budgets, SSVT must also provide some costs that towns would otherwise fund — health insurance, retirement contribution, payroll taxes, debt service, unemployment and snow removal, for example — total $2,138,573. That is 16.6 percent of SSVT’s total fiscal 2018 budget.

“This is true of all regional school districts,” Hickey said.

Goals for the next fiscal year include ongoing efforts to narrow the proficiency gap in math and science; growth in English language arts scores; career planning, cooperative education and work-based learning as well as increasing educational space and programs to assist traumatized students.

One of this year’s new programs is an online math enrichment course for all freshmen and sophomores, which is included in the math and science proficiency goal. The addition of a horticulture and landscape construction program and the inclusion of plumbing in the HVAC program are also planned next year.

Hickey also included an overview of the school’s accomplishments over the past year including a North River Collaborative project with the collision repair technology shop, completion of the boiler project, continued improvement of employer connections and curriculum improvement, development of post-secondary partnerships, security improvements and returning a soccer program to the athletics department.

Curriculum changes have involved a required civics course in the social studies department and development of a Design and Visual Communications — providing two possible career pathways on graduation — and Engineering Technology shops under Chapter 74 approval.

Top student

In other business, senior automotive student Jack Perkins of Hanover, was recognized as the student of the month for December. A student-athlete who plays ice hockey and lacrosse, he is “known to be a tremendous worker and a hard-nosed player” at work and in sports, Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner said.

“His teachers tell us he is a perfect representation of what SSVT is all about,” she said. He plans to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy next year.

Teacher honored

Computer technology teacher Stanley Zavatsky was honored as staff member of the month. Students nominate faculty and staff members for the award, which Assistant Principal Mark Aubrey presented Dec. 21.

“Mr. Zavatsky is not only a leader during the school day, but his dedication to our students extends beyond the school bell,” Aubrey said, noting Zavatsky is an advisor to the school’s Business Professionals of America Chapter which is active in community projects, and teaches two dual-enrollment classes at SSVT.

…But is it safe?: Officials urge caution on ponds, prep for new snow

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After several days of frigid weather, people have been venturing out on ice-covered ponds and bogs to play hockey, figure skate, fish or run all-terrain vehicles. While ATVs are generally not permitted on public land in any weather, local fire chiefs warn that outdoor ice is never “100-percent safe.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) agrees that “the only ‘safe’ ice is at a skating arena” because frozen bodies of water can be dangerous.

“With the cold weather we’ve had, a lot of people want to get out on the ice,” Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson said Tuesday morning. “We get a lot of phone calls [but] we can never say that the ice is 100-percent safe because there’s several factors like currents, waterfowl being on it or fish  or stumps … all kinds of different things can affect it.”

“There’s always a concern for ice thickness,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno. “There’s many areas that have open water.” Like Hanson, Grenno’s department does not make general statements concerning the safety of ice on ponds in town.

“We just tell people to use their best judgment and, if there’s open water, then the pond should be deemed unsafe.”

Thompson referred to MEMA’s ice-thickness guidelines that suggest four inches of ice for fishing, five inches can hold a snowmobile and eight to 12 inches a vehicle and 12-15 inches for a pickup truck. His department does not check ice thickness on area waterways.

“You need to keep in mind that, just because it’s eight inches in this spot, it might not be eight inches in that spot,” Thompson said. “We recommend if you do go out, you don’t go it alone. You should always have somebody with you and you should pay attention to your surroundings.”

Generally, ice that forms on moving water (rivers, streams, and brooks) is never safe, according to MEMA. Ice freezes and thaws at different rates and the thickness of ice on ponds and lakes can vary depending on water currents, springs, depth, and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. It can be a foot thick in one area and just inches thick a few feet away. Daily changes in temperature also affect its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely safe.

MEMA offers the following tips to follow before venturing out and what to do if you or someone you are with falls through the ice.

Before going
on the ice

• Look for slush, which can indicate that the ice is no longer freezing so you face a greater risk of falling through.

• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow can hide weak and open ice or cracks.

• Test the ice strength. Use an ice chisel to chip a hole through the ice to determine its thickness and condition. If it is two inches thick or less, stay off.

• Never go on ice alone. Another person may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through.

• Keep pets on a leash when walking them near bodies of water so that they don’t run onto the ice.

If someone falls through the ice

• Do not go out onto the ice to try to rescue a person or pet.

• Reach-Throw-Go: Try to reach the victim from shore. Extend your reach with a branch, oar, pole, or ladder to try to pull the victim to safety. If unable to reach the victim, throw them something to hold onto (such as a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or life preserver). Go for help or call 911 immediately.

• If you fall in, use cold water safety practices: Try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, moving forward by kicking your feet. Once back onto unbroken ice, remain lying down and roll away from the hole. Crawl back toward land, keeping your weight evenly distributed.

• If you can’t get back on the ice, use the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP): Bring your knees up toward your chest. Cross your arms and hold them close to your body. Keep your legs together. Try to keep your head out of the water. Do not try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or shore is close by. Swimming in cold water cools your body and reduces survival time.

Helping a victim when out of
the water

• Get medical help or call 911 immediately. The victim needs help quickly to prevent hypothermia.

• Get the victim to a warm location.

• Remove the victim’s wet clothing.

• Warm the center of the victim’s body first by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing.

• Give the victim warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to drink.

• Place the victim in a warm shower or bath with their arms and legs out of the water to warm the core of the body.

Thompson said his department has not had to yet deal with burst pipes or other frigid weather problems, even as they responded to a Mutual Aid fire call in Pembroke on New Year’s Day.

Heavy turnout gear keeps firefighters warm on cold-weather calls, but there is also a rehab truck available through the Department of Fire Services to provide a heated area in which firefighters can warm up. The Highway Department can also be called in to sand and salt, helping to reduce the likelihood of falls on the ice.

Towns are also keeping an eye on weather forecasts to determine how they should approach a severe winter storm forecast for Jan. 4.

“We’re just keeping an eye on it because the weather people don’t know what it’s doing yet,” Grenno said Tuesday. “If it’s going to hit us with wet snow and high winds then we’ll ramp up here and be ready to take on whatever it deals us.”

“Right now, they still don’t know what it’s going to do,” Thompson agreed. “I’m sure that MEMA will be giving us some updates as we get closer. We check our equipment daily, so we’re all set.

“It there’s the possibility that it will be a significant event, myself, the police chief, the other department heads, the Town Administrator, will meet to discuss it — we always have the schools involved in that — and based on the forecast, we may put on additional personnel,” he said.

Fire departments also work closely with senior centers to obtain lists of elderly residents who may need assistance in weather emergencies.

Bid accepted for PCH demolition work

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 20 voted unanimously to award the Plymouth County Hospital demolition contract to low-bidder J.R. Vinagro Corp., of Johnstown, R.I., which bid $989,450 for the project.

Engineering costs must still be calculated on the project and the approval is conditional on the “successful fulfillment of any additional required submittals and certifications,” Town Administrator Michael McCue said.

“I think it’s great news,” said Selectman Kenny Mitchell.

All bidders provided complete submissions, including the required bid bonds. Bids ranged from Vinagro’s low of $989,450 to a high bid of $2,429,450.

Voters at Town Meeting appropriated $1.8 million for the demolition work, of which $300,000 was from free cash.

“Based upon the criteria stipulated in the bid documents, Vinagro is a qualified and responsive bidder,” Hanson’s town engineer Alan Hamscom wrote to the board on behalf of Beta Engineering, of which is vice president. “Based upon our involvement with Vinagro on past demolition projects, we recommend award of the subject contract to J.R. Vinagro Corp.”

McCue, too, said he has dealt with Vinagro on a similar demolition project when he worked for the town of Avon.

“I had no issues [with them] and was very pleased to pass that along to our engineer,” he said. “They do have a track record both with our engineer and myself.”

Selectmen Chairman James McGahan said there were 10 bidders for the contract. McGahan asked why there was such a wide range of bid prices. McCue said a lot of it has to do with the companies’ locations as well as the advantageous timing of the bid process during a slow period for such work.

“They are a local company,” McCue said of Vinagro. “I think they are trying to make further inroads in the business — get some more small projects under their [belt] so that they can continue to be successful and win bids. … It’s not at all unusual to see a wide range of bid prices.”

The next two lowest bids were from Ramco Survey Stake Co. of West Bridgewater at $1,067,000 and American Environmental Inc., of Holyoke at $1,078,850.

The demolition project at the former Plymouth County Hospital site involves tearing down the main hospital building as well as all the out buildings behind the Bonney house and near the water tank as well as the old paint shop behind the food pantry building and a trailer in the woods, according to Selectman Don Howard.

Selectmen also approved, by a 4-1 vote with Selectman Bill Scott in opposition, a request for a waiver of the rental fee at Camp Kiwanee for an event sponsored by the Hanson Business Network to benefit nonprofit school groups.

The St. Patrick’s-themed event — with corned beef and cabbage dinner and Irish entertainment — from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., on Friday, March 17, 2017 is a fundraiser for Panther Education Trust and the Hanson PTO, both 501 (c)(3) organizations. The event is a way of “giving back to the community,” HBN representative Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett wrote in the waiver request.

Mitchell and Selectman Bruce Young both pointed out that the Hanson Has Taste event McGahan hosted to supply ChromeBooks for the Middle School was a similar use of the facility.

“The precedent has been set,” Young said, indicating FitzGerald-Kemmett’s request was also in compliance with camp policies and procedures.

But Scott was concerned about why a school group was not sponsoring the event.

“Why is the business network applying for [the waiver]?” Scott asked.

In other business, selectmen tabled a discussion of properties at Lakeside Road and Brook Street with the Conservation Commission because of “a mix-up on the agenda.” Conservation Chairman Phil Clemons, who had asked for the discussion, was not notified it was being included on the agenda, McGahan said. Area residents had also expressed interest in attending any discussion on the subject.

A discussion and potential vote regarding animal control services was also held over to Jan. 10 because a planned arrangement was not finalized and a secondary plan is being sought, McCue said. Whitman has agreed to cover Hanson under the regional agreement from which Hanson is withdrawing until a new plan is in place.

A visit with … Whitman ATA Lisa Green

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WHITMAN — When Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green moved to Whitman 15 years ago,with her husband Ed, who works for Shaw’s markets, and now-16-year-old son Jason, a member of the WHRHS baseball team, they felt they had found a hometown, and she became involved in the community.

At the time, Green had no inkling she would be helping administer town government, but that’s where her road led. Perhaps a journey is the most apt metaphor for this public servant who began her working life as a travel agent, which she did for about 20 years before going to law school.

Green grew up in Brockton, but as her father is a good friend with James Reed from Reed’s Automotive on Temple Street, she was in Whitman a lot growing up.

“Travel was kind of going in a different direction because of the Internet,” she said of her change in career direction. “Travel agencies were kind of a dying breed … it was very much a changing industry.”

She initially went back to school with the idea of becoming a paralegal, and continued to obtain her law degree. Before beginning her new position of assistant town administrator, Green had been an adjudicator for the federal Social Security Administration.

She stepped down from her seat on the Board of Selectmen in October to meet the separation requirements involved in applying for her new post — and received the vote of all four of her former colleagues on the board to win the job.

The Express sat down to talk with Green in her Town Hall office Thursday, Dec. 8.

Q

: What drew you into public service?

A: “Social Security is considered public service. I worked there for eight years and I was also very heavily involved with the [Whitman Baseball and Softball Association] WBSA. I worked on getting scoreboards for some of our baseball fields and was successful in getting two. I liked that a lot and decided to run for selectman when I saw there was a seat open. … I enjoyed the five years of being a selectman and really learning about Whitman.

“Being a selectman really taught me about the inside — the government and running a town. I heard that [former Assistant Town Administrator] Greg [Enos] was leaving, I had given it a lot of thought and resigned from the board and applied for the position.”

Q: Is this something of a dream job — working in the town in which you live?

A: “It is. It’s funny, when people say to me, ‘What a commute you have — a five-minute, commute,’ I think I’ve paid my dues. I worked at the airport, so I traveled from Brockton to Boston every day and then I worked in Dedham when I worked at the travel agency, and then worked in Boston again — Quincy, Braintree — with SSA.

“Actually, when I became a selectman, I never thought it would lead to a full-time career in municipal management, but here I am today, and very excited to be here and very motivated.”

Q: It must have been gratifying to have the support of all four of your former colleagues.

A: “Yes, it was. I was very grateful to them for having that kind of faith in me. Sometimes you don’t know if you’re doing a good job, a bad job or an OK job — you’re not really sure. But when they all voted for me it was very gratifying. I was overwhelmed and can’t thank them enough for placing me in this position.”

Q: How is this job different from working for the SSA, other than the level of government?

A: “I mainly worked in disability, in the law end of it in the general counsel’s office. That’s where they defended Social Security against lawsuits filed against them. When I was promoted to an adjudicator for the disability applications, that’s an important job because you’ve got people’s life in your hands. … They are relying on you, basically, to help them live with disability. It was a demanding job. We were given a certain amount of cases every week and we had to make quick decisions so people weren’t waiting a long time.

“Coming down to this level of government, I’m now working for the town. It’s a small town and people are very comfortable coming in and talking with you about concerns they have, complaints that they have and I think it’s important that people know they can come to us and talk to us.”

Q: Does your SSA background help at the town level?

A: “I can answer some questions regarding retirement, but that wasn’t really my expertise … I was more involved with disability. But I can certainly put my legal and Social Security background to work to benefit the town.”

Q: What do you like best about living in Whitman?

A: “It’s a small town, which I love. It’s a pretty town. There are a lot of dedicated people who live here. They put their time into the town. The WBSA — everybody there is very dedicated to the kids — football, soccer, there’s a lot of small-town activities that go on here. Businesses support Whitman. You get to know so many people in the town. That couldn’t happen in Brockton.”

Q: How do you envision your new role?

A: “I want to make sure that I am looking into any grants out there that will help improve Whitman, either infrastructure, the environment or human services. I’m going to be taking a grant-writing course — my writing expertise is in legal writing, but I have that talent because I’ve had training — so now I want to focus that writing ability toward grants. You need to be versed in budgeting … and I need to learn what people look for [in a grant application].

“Greg was successful in getting Whitman recognized as a green community. I want to make sure I continue that, because there are a lot of grants out there for green communities … funds for the food pantry, animal control and things like that.”

Q: What’s been the biggest surprise about the job so far?

A: “I’m very touched by how welcoming everybody has been … within Town Hall and by all the town employees in Whitman. Sometimes, when a new person comes in, some people can have a little reservation toward them. I’ve had a presence as selectman for five years so they knew me a little bit. It’s a complex position, there’s going to be baby steps, Frank is a great mentor and is very patient in teaching me different things.”

Hanson mourns a ‘real lady’

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HANSON — The community is mourning the loss of Hanson Public Library Director Nancy M. Cappellini, a loving person who made friends with colleagues and made her friends feel like part of the family.

Cappellini died at home Sunday, Dec. 18 after a long illness [see obituary, page 13]. The library was slated to be closed Thursday, Dec. 22 to permit the staff to attend her funeral.

“Nancy Cappellini was a positive, welcoming presence for everyone who came to the library,” said Library Trustees Chairman Jennifer Hickey. “She was a joy to work with. Everyone liked Nancy and the energy that she brought to every interaction.”  Hickey said to Cappellini, running the library was more than a job — she truly cared about the patrons, staff, Trustees and the Foundation.

“She will be sorely missed,” Hickey said. “Nancy became a good friend to me over the years, and I am heartbroken at losing her.”

The Board of Selectmen also honored Cappellini, observing a moment of silence in her memory Tuesday night.

“I know she’s had a great impact on a number of people — seniors and our kids in our town,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan. “I know that she’ll be sorely missed.”

Many of those who knew and worked with her in town government echoed that sentiment.

“She was such a special, uplifting person,” Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan said. “It’s such a loss. She was such a presence in that library and even in Town Hall when she was here.”

Administrative Assistant to the Board of Selectmen Meredith Marini said she will remember Cappellini as a pleasant person with a ready smile.

“She had a great outlook on life,” Marini said. “It’s heart-breaking, she’s definitely too young to be gone.”

Those who worked closely with Cappellini were deeply shaken by the news of her passing, said Senior Center Director Mary Collins, whose facility shares the same building as the Hanson Public Library.

“It was a very family-like atmosphere,” Collins said of the library. “Each one of them (staff members) said to me that’s because she created that.”

Collins spent part of the day Monday with the library staff.

“It’s so personal,” Collins said of the loss. “I just feel truly that she was a woman of integrity and compassion and she always had what was in the best interest of the patrons in mind.”

Cappellini was always looking for ways to improve the library’s services and involve more people in programs, including the founding of the monthly Book-to-Movie group. She was also an advocate of agriculture, including a farm babies petting zoo in the annual summer reading program kickoff events and working to help form the town’s Agriculture Committee, on which she served as its clerk. She also served on a past reuse committee for the Plymouth County Hospital site.

“I think she was one of Hanson’s treasures, and hopefully people had an opportunity to know her,” Collins said.

Library friends and colleagues also spoke of their friend.

“I worked with Nancy serving as Library Trustee for five years, and I always admired her grace, humor, and patience,” said Trustee Helen Levesque wrote on Cappellini’s condolence page at the Keohane Funeral Homes website.

Library staff and trustees in Whitman were also saddened by Cappellini’s loss.

“Nancy was a wonderful woman,” said Whitman Public Library Director Andrea Rounds. “She was really well-respected in the library field and we’re so sorry to hear about her passing.”

Rounds said her Hanson counterpart will be truly missed.

“She was one of the most welcoming people,” agreed  Michael Ganshirt, administrative assistant to Whitman Town Clerk Dawn Varley and a Whitman Library trustee. “Every time you went in the library, she always came out and said hi and spent some time with you. The town is going to miss her greatly.”

Ganshirt, who is also president of Whitman and Hanson Dollars for Scholars, said Cappellini was supportive of that cause and “anything that anyone else did,” he said.

Whitman Public Library Senior Library Technician Mary Casey said Cappellini  had the remarkable ability to make one feel part of her family.

“She exuded such grace, compassion and warmth,” Casey said. “She met everyone with her radiant smile and had the ability to put everyone at ease.”

Casey recalled a Mass. Library Association conference dinner in May, during which Cappellini just happened to sit next to her.

“I had an extraordinary evening with her because … she was just a fun person, a very down-to-earth person, funny and just very graceful,” Casey said. “She was just a real lady.”

A gift to those who gave all

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HANSON — A traditional English Christmas carol celebrates preparation for the holiday as people “deck the halls with boughs of holly,” but Marc Benjamino, a junior at WHRHS, had a more meaningful decoration job to do on Saturday, Dec. 17.

On the strength of his private fundraising effort in support of the Wreaths Across America program, for which he raised $3,000 to pay for Christmas wreaths to decorate the graves of fallen military, Benjamino was invited to participate in placing 250,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery.

Benjamino found the opportunity to be very moving,

“It was an experience, let’s just say — words can’t really describe it,” he said Monday, noting that there were thousands of others who also made the journey to ensure the nation’s fallen servicemen and women are not forgotten at the holidays.

“It was a very honorable experience,” he said. “I would say that it was just awe-inspiring. It hit very close to home. It was a shame to see that all of these people have died for our country, however it was very nice to see that everyone came out … and our country gives them the respect they deserve. There’s a monument for every single one of them.”

A cadet with the Forest Hill Military Army Cadet Corps in Kentucky, and as a person with veterans in his family, Benjamino said he understands the service and sacrifice made by Arlington’s fallen and encourages others to volunteer with Wreaths Across America.

“It was a really emotional and honorable experience,” he said.

While he is not entirely comfortable with the attention his gesture has received, Benjamino is committed to paying the fallen the respect due them.

Closure

“They need to be honored and they need to be remembered,” he said, describing the experience as a warm feeling that brings closure as the nation remembers that these servicemen and women sacrificed their lives for the rights all Americans enjoy.

His family and school community are just as honored by Benjamino’s fundraising effort on behalf of the Wreaths Across America cause.

“As Marc’s teacher, when I heard he was taking his time out to do this to recognize the men and women who dedicated their lives [to country], I just thought it was a must that he be recognized for this,” said Chris Googins, who is also WHRHS dean of students. “I know he’s probably upset about that, because he’s such a humble kid, but he’s an exceptional kid and he’s one of the best kids I’ve taught at W-H in my 20 years here.”

Googins said Benjamino’s passion for history helped spark his interest in the project.

Benjamino is taking an elective course on WWI, and is a member of the W-H History Club, which has also received a gift of about $500 from Wreaths Across America.

“I respect the fact that he is going above and beyond to make our community better and I’m proud to have him in class,” he said.

Founded in 1992 by the Worcester Wreath Co, the Wreaths Across America project aims to distribute holiday wreaths to graves of deceased soldiers at various cemeteries across the country, but focuses attention on Arlington.

The wreath-placing Dec. 17 followed a remembrance ceremony “so that we may pause to think about what these soldiers have given us and to remember them and honor them during this holiday season,” Benjamino wrote of the event before departing for it.

giving back

“He did this on his own,” Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak told the School Committee Dec. 14. “It wasn’t a school-funded thing. He did raise some money for the History Club, but [this is the] kind of social programs that we give back during the course of the day here. People don’t know it, but we have some wonderful, wonderful, wonderful kids here.”

Benjamino raised the $3,000 as an independent fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, going to parent-teacher conference night, Veterans Day parades and various companies and organizations to discuss the program and ask for wreath sponsorships.

He said Wreaths Across America welcomes anyone who wishes to help place wreaths, but the organization encourages fundraising first to help purchase the greenery.

Schools look to 2018 budget

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The W-H School Committee will likely be seeking a full-day kindergarten program again for fiscal 2018, this time armed with annual cost estimates beyond the estimated $500,000 start-up costs.

Budget discussions will begin at the committee’s next meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 11 in preparation for the official budget rollout on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend both sessions.

“Starting in January would be a good time to recruit people and show what you support to this committee so we can make our decision moving forward into the next budget year,” said Chairman Bob Hayes at the Wednesday, Dec. 14 meeting. “We have no problem putting in extra seats. We will do that and we’d love to have everyone here.”

Tuition-free full-day kindergarten was part of the $3-million Student Success Budget that failed an override in May.

“I’ve been for this since it first came up, so I say keep going for it,” School Committee member Robert Trotta said. “I think it’s important — we all know it’s important— and it’s a big budget item, but eventually I think we need to get all-day kindergarten into our budget.”

Part of an expected cost reduction after the first year is that a mid-day bus run would not be needed, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said.

She pointed out that, while the override failed, more parents were convinced of the benefit of full-day kindergarten and enrolled their children. But, educators cautioned the limited number of scholarship slots available creates a “have and have-not” situation, in which some children miss out on the benefits because their parents cannot afford it.

“We’re part of the shameful low part — probably 70 districts — that doesn’t fund kindergarten, Committee member Dan Cullity said. “The state’s already looking to do pre-K, so we’re so far behind, it’s ridiculous.”

“The criticality of this is we can’t have those students starting behind,” agreed Committee member Chris Howard.

Cullity said the South Shore is the only region of the state where most districts do not mandate full-day kindergarten.

“It takes them two to three years to catch up,” he said.

“Sometimes they don’t,” Gilbert-Whitner added.

Cost details

Hayes asked Business Manager Christine Suckow to research second and third-year costs of full-day kindergarten to provide more information for town officials and voters.

“That’s the number one question I’ve had asked from the finance committee standpoint,” he said.

Gilbert-Whitner also said the state bases Chapter 70 funds for full-day kindergarten as a whole child, where half-day program reimbursement is based on “half a kid.”

“Clearly state aid should go up,” she said. “But that’s not a ‘will,’ that’s a ‘should.’” The district’s status of being short of target share will also have an effect on Chapter 70.

On the other end of the K-12 curriculum, the committee also heard a report on the after-school programs at the high school, now funded by a renewed 21st Century Grant, which the district will soon have to fund.

“Grants are seed money and we are then supposed to move forward,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Student support

The grant has been in place for seven years, initially an annual $105,000 grant for three years which has been renewed once already, according to WHRHS Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak. The district has received more than $700,000 over the seven years, using it to fund after-school programming and transportation.

“For me as a high school principal, sending kids home without parents before 2 p.m. — kids who are at-risk or kids who need support — that’s challenging,” Szymaniak said. The high school day was pushed ahead, ending at 1:40 p.m., to permit a cost-saving bus schedule five years ago. He said the grant-funded programs have provided effective programs for the at-risk population and “kids who need to find a niche after school.”

Szymaniak credits the program for helping bring the dropout rate down to .2 percent from 3.9 percent in 2009.

“That’s our goal here — to graduate kids,” he said. “We’re hoping to renew the grant, but if they don’t fully fund it, I don’t want to cut programs.

After school enrichment program coordinator Maureen Leonard said 40 students take part in academic and emotional support and enrichment programs and she also works with their families. A credit recovery program is also featured for students lacking the credits to graduate in four years.

A success plan is established for each student in the program.

Participant Olivia Affannato spoke of her experience.

“I used it, at first, as somewhere to do my homework because, when I’m at home, I don’t really want to do homework,” she said. “I quickly realized it’s more than just that.”

Affannato said the program had helped her learn to advocate for herself and build relationships with peers and faculty, along with providing her to work with outside groups in regard to her concern over the ongoing opioid crisis.

“Programs like this probably should be highlighted even more,” Trotta said. “People need to know that schools do have special programs like this and students can become very successful.”

Szymaniak said there is a team approach at W-H to support all students.