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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whitman Field Day to include 5K road race

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

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

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

Volunteers can contact Goldrosen at [email protected].

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

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

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

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

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

July 4th
Celebration

All events are free.

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

• 8:15 a.m. 5K Road Race Begins.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Selectmen tended to fall in that range, as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HANSON — The Hanson Water Department’s ban on outside watering is lifted as of June 11, however water restrictions will now be in effect.

Hand-held hoses only will be permitted between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information,  contact the Water Department at 781-447-1200.

HANSON — Town Administrator Ron San Angelo has been offered the job as town manager in Southbridge, which is located in southern Worcester County near Sturbridge.

The Southbridge Town Council voted 8-1 on Thursday, June 4 to make the offer.

San Angelo was among three finalists — including North Kingstown, R.I., Town Manager Michael E. Embury and Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik.

There had been 22 applicants, seven of which were considered finalists, according to Council Chairman Shaun Moriarty. Of the seven, four were invited to interview, with one withdrawing.

Knapik received the one other vote cast in Southbridge.

“Ron has a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Moriarty said. “He has a proactive attitude and he’s definitely a go-getter.”

The Town Council has heard positive reports about San Angelo, Moriarty reported.

“From everything we heard, he’s a stand-up guy,” he said. “I’m sure each town has their own dynamics.”

Moriarty said the town manager position in Southbridge “has more authority delegated by town charter than in most town administrator communities.”

Both San Angelo and Embury also interviewed as finalists for the post of Brewster town administrator to succeed Charles Sumner, who is retiring after 29 years on the job, according to the Cape Cod Times, which reported Tuesday night that Embury had been offered the Brewster job.

San Angelo had informed Southbridge of the Brewster interview, which took place Monday, as did Embury’s. Brewster Selectmen interviewed Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark Tuesday night before voting to offer the job to Embury.

Ironically, Clark had been Southbridge’s town manager until August 2013, about the time San Angelo was hired in Hanson.

The next step, according to Moriarty, is the contract-negotiating phase.

“He was offered the position pending successful contract negotiations and those negotiations are currently underway,” Moriarty said. “We’ll see how quickly both sides come to terms.”

Southbridge Town Council has already met to discuss its frameworks for a deal and has appointed a negotiations committee to work with San Angelo toward trying to come to terms on a contract.

“Hopefully [that will happen] the sooner, the better so we can move forward,” he said, noting that it is hoped San Angelo could start early to mid-August.

San Angelo’s current Hanson contract includes a 60-day notification before he would leave to work elsewhere.

Hanson Selectmen are in the process of reviewing that contract as some board members see unacceptable differences between San Angelo’s pact and that of former Town Administrator René Read.

San Angelo requested an evaluation and renewal of his contract out of consideration for his family’s security this spring following conflict with the board. He posted a copy of the letter to Selectmen on the Voices of Hanson Facebook page.

“The Board of Selectmen is in a position to immediately offer me a new contract if you believe that I have done a good job for the citizens of Hanson,” he wrote on March 24. “It is my intention to begin looking at long-term options for the security of my family.”

At the same time, he listed more than a dozen accomplishments and stressed his “strong commitment” to Hanson and a wish to remain on the job.

Selectman Don Howard said at a meeting last month that he has “no qualms” about working with San Angelo, the third town administrator he has worked with over seven years.

“He’s from another state, and sometimes he gets carried away because he’s been a mayor and a manager,” Howard said. “As far as what we hired him for as an administrator for the town of Hanson, in my opinion he’s doing his job.”

“I agree the job’s getting done,” said Selectman James McGahan. “I question, sometimes, the way he does it.”

McGahan said there are three specific points in the contract that concern him, including the indemnification clause.

“Under the old contract, if he was guilty of misconduct the TA was dismissed,” he said. “There is nothing of such in this contract.”

In April, Selectmen approved a policy under which access to town counsel by individual selectmen requires approval only by the Selectmen’s chairman or vice chairman. The town administrator would be notified of such requests, but would not have the power to approve or deny them.

That same month, San Angelo interviewed for a town administrator job in Norwell as one of three finalists. Norwell Selectmen hired Braintree Town Solicitor Peter J. Morin by a 4-1 vote.

Selectman David DeCoste voted for Hanson Town Administrator Ron San Angelo. In the end, however, the board decided Morin was a “better fit” for Norwell.

The Norwell Selectmen Chairman Ellen Allen had noted San Angelo was up-front about his history with Hanson Selectmen — both with the board that hired him and the current board. He did not mention it in his final interview.

“With the way he talked about that with the screening committee we all felt comfortable with his explanation,” Allen said. “But he’s kind of taken on that interaction with them in the public in a way that concerns me.”

Southbridge has a population of 16,719 and is one of 14 municipalities in Massachusetts with a city form of government, but which retain “town of” in official names.   The economy of “The Eye of the Commonwealth,”  was driven for many years by the American Optical Company, which closed in 1984.

The Class of 2015 has already made its mark on the world.

During commencement exercises Friday, May 29, Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak noted many of the 260 graduates’ accomplishments both in school and the community.

The weather, as noted in the yearbook —“Remember when school started with a hurricane two years in a row?” — and speeches — also made an impression.

“I think we should take a moment to thank our parents, for not only supporting us but for having us in the year they did, which eventually put us in the senior class of the endless snow days,” noted student speaker Sandra Ford.

“Every class and each senior year have their own unique characteristics, and this class is no exception,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner.  “Not only was your senior year the snowiest on record, you arrived at today’s commencement exercises having completed a school year shortened by nine school cancellation days. You are One Efficient Class! You were able to get it all done in record time.”

But at heart it was a ceremony of pride in the academic and public service accomplishments of some extraordinary young people.

During his commencement remarks — broadcast on Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV and streamed live at whrhs.org — Szymaniak recognized seniors receiving awards and participating in school programs and community service projects.

Class officers, Student Council members, honor societies members, the six students entering the military, as well as the class advisors Brian Dempsey and Kristen Thomas, school staff who organized the commencement event, and faculty members retiring this year, were applauded during the ceremony.

Megan Concannon, Julia Lewis and Madeline O’Brien were saluted for steering the National Honor Society’s annual Miles for Meals fundraiser to a total of $4,200 which was divided between food pantries in Whitman and Hanson. The NHS annual movie night raised more than $600 to support Special Olympics.

Concannon and her fellow members of the Student Environmental Awareness Club, which installed  “No Idling” signs at the school’s driveway and began recycling and composting programs at W-H, were also applauded.

Sports team captains also led a community service day, performing cleanup projects for both towns while collecting more than 2,000 pairs of shoes donated to charity.

Szymaniak also noted that: 73 students qualified for John and Abigail Adams tuition scholarships to state colleges and universities based on MCAS scores; nine students received prestigious book awards from major colleges and universities; five students received major science and technology awards such as the Bausch & Lomb Science Award and the Renssalear Medal; 11 students were winners of music competitions or held leadership positions in the school bands and choirs; senior art students and DECA members of the senior class were recognized as well as those participating in Community Service Learning internships.

The 177 members of the Class of 2015 were also applauded for their participation in W-H sports programs, including 48 senior captains and the senor sportsmanship, All-Star and All-Scholastic honorees were also recognized during the ceremony.

Almost 40 members of the Class of 1965 were also included in the ceremonies, receiving 50th anniversary diplomas.

Szymaniak noted some of the changes the Class of 1965 has witnessed in the world since their high school commencement:

“When you graduated in 1965, you couldn’t download your favorite song on iTunes, but you could blast “This Diamond Ring,” “My Girl,” “Help Me, Rhonda” or “Satisfaction” on your 8-Track tape player,” he said. “A gallon of gas cost 31 cents, eggs were 53, milk was 95 and a phone call — on a pay phone — was a dime.”

College cost $1,000, at public or private schools, for both tuition and board.

In her remarks, Gilbert-Whitner spoke of the value of self-reflection.

“As you reflect upon your graduation from the Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, ask yourself: Who am I? Go beyond your name to expand your answer,” she advised. “What do I believe in? What matters the most to me? Who do my friends, my parents, my relatives, my boss, my co-workers, and my teachers think and say I am?”

Student speeches by Ford, Class President Stephen Gronlund, Salutatorian Krista Anderson and Valedictorian Caroline Mulrey touched on themes of their high school journey of self-discovery.

“The difficult, trying times are the times when we grow, when we are given the opportunity to make something great and happy and beautiful out of our lives. The times when we learn to see the good in every situation and filter out the bad,” Mulrey observed. “I hope we realize that no matter how difficult it may have seemed at times, Whitman-Hanson will always be a part of us.”

“I hope you’ve made memories that you’ll never forget. I hope you’ve met wonderful people and traveled to amazing places and also met some crappy people and traveled to disgusting places because you’ll never truly appreciate beauty until you’ve seen ugliness,” Anderson said. “I hope you’ve felt amazed and terrified and happy and sad and overwhelmed — all at the same time. And if you haven’t, I want you to know that you have the rest of your life.”

“Years from now, when you reflect back on all the memories you have of our time together, you will start to realize how great a class we truly are and how much you are going to miss this school,”   Gronlund said. “I’m proud to say the Class of 2015 is a group of caring people who are poised to make a difference in the world.”

“If there’s one thing I know about my class, it’s that a little bit of each and every one of you makes this world a better place,” Ford said. “You should all be extremely proud of who you have become, and I know you will only become more and excellent as the years go on.”