Whitman-Hanson Express

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Mitchell pays state ethics fine

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HANSON — Hanson Selectmen Vice Chairman Kenny Mitchell has paid a $5,00 civil penalty for violation of the state’s conflict of interest law, according to the State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson.

Mitchell was fined for “authorizing town payments to the tree service company he privately worked for, representing his private employer in a matter involving the town and acting as a selectman to advance a proposal to remove trees on town land while knowing his private employer would likely be hired to do the work,” according to a press release from the commission.

In a prepared statement,, Mitchell said: “On Nov. 12, 2021, in order to immediately end complaints made about me to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, I executed a ‘disposition agreement’ and paid a fine. I did so because I recognized that it would not be in the best interests of my family or the Town of Hanson to allow the proceedings to drag on. I fully recognize that I must be very careful to not allow my position as Selectman to conflict in any way with my position as General Manager of Newcomb’s Tree Services, LLC, or for there to even be an appearance of a possible conflict. I would like to thank the many residents of the Town and my family for supporting me throughout this process.”

Neither Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer, not Town Administrator Lisa Green would comment on the fine.

A selectman since 2014, Mitchell is the general manager of Newcomb’s Tree Services LLC. The commission alleged that, from 2016 through 2019, Mitchell, as a selectman, signed 23 warrants authorizing town payments to Newcomb’s for tree cutting and removal. 

Also, in 2019, when a Town Meeting warrant article was proposed by the Hanson Recreation Commission for removal of trees at Camp Kiwanee — at an estimated cost of between $10,000 and $20,000 —Mitchell acted as a selectman to both move and vote to place the article on a special Town Meeting warrant. When another selectman made the motion for voting on the article at the special Town Meeting — at a cost of $25,000 — Mitchell seconded the motion, according to the Ethics Commission.

“At that time, Mitchell knew the town would likely hire Newcomb’s Tree Service to do the work,” the commission’s release stated. “Mitchell’s actions violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against municipal employees participating in matters in which they know they or their employer have a financial interest.”

The commission also found that Mitchell violated the conflict of interest law in 2016 and 2017.

The town had asked Newcomb’s to remove dead trees from a main road, which required access to private property. When the private property owner accused Newcomb’s workers of damaging a water line, the commission found that Mitchell represented his employer and the town as well.

“By doing so, Mitchell violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against public employees acting on behalf of someone other than the municipality in connection with a matter in which the municipality has a direct interest,” the release stated.

Political memoir aims to heal a divide

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In the last few years, there have been scores of books written about healing the political divide in the United States – including “Uncivil Agreement,” by Lilliana Mason, “Why We’re Polarized,” by Ezra Klien and, notably “Trust: America’s Best Chance,” by 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.

Most of these volumes focused on the national political picture, but as Buttigieg was known to point out, the presidency is not the only office that matters. We are also divided at the state and local level, he says and one former state official agrees.

Enter former state Rep. Kathleen Teahan, who’s new book – “For the People, Against the Tide: A Democratic Woman’s Ten Years in the Massachusetts Legislature – seeks to address that.

What’s one way to help build that bridge?

It takes everyone mending fences and working together, as Teahan puts it.

“I didn’t write it to make a profit,” she said with a laugh. “I wrote it as a gift and I self-published it. I just hope it makes a difference in the future.”

The self-published book is available on Amazon. She also has a website KathleenTeahan.com to further her mission of fostering a more civil political discourse while encouraging more women to seek office.

“I started it in 2009,” Teahan said in a phone interview last week from her Harwich home. “One reason is I want to leave the world a better place for my children and all children, and seeing the dysfunction of our government, on the federal level – and somewhat on the state level – and seeing the condition our country was in with the racism and divisiveness, lack of respect and honesty – I just had to get out what my experiences were, hoping to inspire courageous and caring candidates for political office and to get everybody to pay attention and vote.”

In 1995 Teahan lost her first campaign for state representative by 75 votes because many voters wondered if she was “too nice” for politics. Her memoir shows that “Nice” and “Courageous” are not mutually exclusive qualities. One of the 219 women compared to the over 20,000 men who, to date, has served in the Massachusetts State Legislature, Teahan, won her subsequent five elections with persistence and hard work. She loved every day working for the people of Abington, Whitman, and East Bridgewater and being a “voice for the voiceless.”

Before moving to the Cape 13 years ago, Teahan had lived in Whitman all her life. She has volunteered in political and other organizations in both places. Her connection to Whitman families, classmates, and friends remains strong no matter where she lives. Both her books; The Cookie Loved ‘Round the World, the story of the Toll House chocolate chip cookie and For the People, Against the Tide will be available at the Whitman Mother’s Club Candy Cane Craft Fair, on Saturday, Dec. 4.

She said her personal views and experiences lead her to never give up hope things will get better because she has seen the progress made since women’s sufferage 100 years ago.

“There’s a lot of hope, and I think a lot of it comes from women,” she said. “Even as I finished this memoir this year, I was one of only 219 women ever to serve in the Massachusetts Legislature in the history of it and there have been over 20,000 men.”

The “next chapter,” if you will, of her life is an effort to encourage more women to seek public office.

“Women bring a different perspective needed to balance out things,” she said. “Just like when you have any group, you need to have everyone to have a seat at the table to have it be the best it can and get a lot of different ideas.”

Getting out the vote is a key aspect of realizing that kind of representation, according to Teahan.

“Every one of us needs to be involved to keep democracy alive and bring it closer to the dream it was meant to be – the way we’ve always thought of it,” she said.

Teahan said the book “reads like a story” because, when she started it in 2008 she had talked with a couple writing agents, one of whom said she needed to put more of herself in the book. The other agent said memoirs are not that popular. That person’s suggestion that Teahan concentrate on writing about the Toll House cookie led to her first book – a children’s book titled, “The Cookie Loved ‘Round the World: the Story of the Chocolate Chip Cookie.”

“Now they are popular,” Teahan said of memoirs. She has held a book launch for “For the People, Against the Tide” (the title comes from an award she received from Healthcare for All when she was working on children’s oral health issues) in Harwich, but touched base with the Express to reach the people in the Whitman area.

“They’re the ones who sent me to the State House and I loved every minute of it,” she said. “It was quite an honor and I know there are many young people, especially Gen Z, who are passionate about making a better world and they are working hard.”

Teahan said writing it was her small part in helping young people, especially, learn how to do it and what needs to be done to attain elective office. One group she has already been speaking to is ActOn, one of whose goals is more transparency in government as well as more equalized power in the legislature, so the Speaker’s Office wields less control.

“I’m going to do what it takes to bring changes about,” Teahan said.

She’s hoping to “hit the road” to make library appearances and the like, to support the book and it’s message.

Former governors, Michael Dukakis and Deval Patrick, former Mass. Commissioners of Public Health, David Mulligan and Dr. Howard Koh, and seven others she worked with provide endorsements for this political memoir.

For the People, Against the Tide is available in paperback to bookstores and libraries through the book vendor, Ingram Publishing, and is for sale online through Amazon.

DPW building back in consideration

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen is planning a joint meeting with the Department of Public Works Commissioners and superintendents on Tuesday, Dec. 7 to discuss the town’s need for a new DPW building.

Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman told Selectmen on Nov. 9 that he had received the feasibility study for a new structure from Environmental Partners, which was funded by a Town Meeting-approved appropriation, examining the need and likely cost of a new DPW building.

“Certainly the board knows the condition that that building is in,” he said of the study. “It identifies an amount of $11 million in order to have a new DPW building.” 

Heineman also met with DPW Commission Chairman Kevin Cleary and the department’s two superintendents the week of Nov. 1-5 to discuss what the plan is going forward and how the town can envision the needs for the facility with the feasibility study in mind.

“I think it would make sense to have a joint meeting of the DPW commissioners and the Board of Selectmen to talk about the desirability of what’s before … the town if this is the project the town wants to pursue at this time and, if so, what the timing of that would be.”

Heineman’s preliminary recommendation is to pursue it in two pieces — seeking 10 percent of the cost at the May 2022 Town Meeting to fund clear architectural drawings and, at a future date, attempting to obtain the remainder of funds needed to actually build it.

“That would almost certainly require an operational override at that time,” he said. “The other key thing to think about, in addition to is this the building that the town wants and what the timing might be in achieving it, I think another thing to consider is whether at Town Meeting, or as an appointment from this board… is whether or not to have a building committee for the [project].”

As discussion of the issue progressed, Selectman Brian Bezanson broached the idea that perhaps the town could seek funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, Nov. 5 — and signed Monday, Nov.15 — to help reduce the financial burden of the project on the town.

“It’s a hazard down there,” he said, noting that earlier in the meeting they had been praising the DPW crews for the work they did during and after the recent nor’easter. “In the next breath we’re trying to figure out how to make their life safer, so we need to work on this and convince the citizens that this is an important part of going forward.”

He noted that, while he had not looked into it deeply as yet, it could be somewhere the town could look to “get something to help” because there was a lot of gray area there.

He suggested that the town’s representatives in Washington be asked to look into.

According to the White House’s updated state fact sheet for Massachusetts, the act includes $4.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $1.1 billion for bridge replacement and repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years for Massachusetts. Another $2.5 billion over that span is devoted to public transportation, $63 million for EV charging stations, $100 million for broadband coverage across the state, $5.8 million for wildfire prevention and $15.7 million for protection against cyber attacks. Another $1.1 billion is aimed at improving water infrastructure to remove lead pipes from water supply lines in Masschusetts, and $244 million for airport infrastructure.

Bezanson reminded the board that, if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration became involved with the building, the town would be in “deep trouble.”

 “The longer we wait, the more expensive it’s going to get,” Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci said, noting it had been estimated at a similar price tag for “top line” buildings, or a less extensive one. “Eventually, we’re going to need a new building, and the people have to understand that.”

Selectman Randy LaMattina said he was among those voting against the previous DPW building request because he felt at the time that the need hadn’t been adequately proven to residents.

“It wasn’t sold properly to the town,” he said. “I certainly wasn’t convinced, sitting in the crowd that night… we were kind of presented with ‘vote for it now, or you know what? The price is going up.’”

He said, sitting in a different role right now, it is one the town absolutely can correct now what was then seen as a mistake. Already serving on the Whitman Middle School Building Committee, LaMattina said a DPW Building Committee was a good idea, but he did not want to be on it. 

“I would hate to think we’re trying to rush this for a May Town Meeting,” he said, arguing that Heineman’s two-phase approach would be a better approach.

Counsel named for ZBA probe

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HANSON — Hanson Selectman unanimously voted on Tuesday, Nov. 9 to hire Hull Town Counsel Jim Lampke to conduct an investigation of alleged ethics conflicts on the part of Zoning Board of Appeals members.

Town Counsel Katherine Feodoroff reported her research into such an appointment to the board, and available investigating attorneys at the meeting.

She said she reached out to six or seven people.

“Unfortunately, the timing is such that a lot of people turned me down as procured (or already contracted elsewhere),” she said. “We were able to get two proposals.”

Jim Lampke, who is also president of the Mass. Municipal Lawyers Assoc. (MMLA) and former member of the state Ethics Commission Jeanne Kempthorne were contacted for proposals. 

Lampke does “quite a bit of special counsel work” regarding ethics issues where other town counsels have conflicts, Feodoroff said. She knows Lampke through municipal law circles, but has no prior working relationship with him. His proposal, for all work including review of documents and interviews with witnesses, involves a $200/hour fee.

The second proposal was received the day of the Selectmen’s Nov. 9 meeting, referred by one of the contacts that were unable to make a proposal.

Kempthorne, who is also a former assistant attorney general was seeking a fee of $250/hour, with travel time from her home on the North Shore included in her bill. 

“Have checked references for these people to make sure that they are capable of doing the tasks we are asking them to undertake?” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked.

Feodoroff said she knows Lampke to be a very competent lawyer, having worked with him in the past and Kempthorne was recommended by a judge, who was referred to Feodoroff through a colleague in her law office, but she said she did not have the chance to check their references herself.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell asked if either had provided any indication of how long an investigation might take or the total cost.

“I told them I needed this to be a fairly quick turnaround, so I’d like a month, maximum,” Feodoroff said. Neither had provided a cap figure.

Mitchell and FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if the board could set a cap or establish a time period for them to report back to determine if more time was needed. Mitchell said he would defer to Feodoroff to suggest a fair price cap.

She said $7,500 was reasonable.

“In my mind, I’d start getting a little anxious when we got to $10,000,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Selectmen Jim Hickey noted that $7,500 at the hourly rates quoted was about 37 hours of work.

“That’s really a lot of hours to work on this,” he said. “I’d think it would come in under the $7,500.”

Feodoroff said every building and electrical permit pulled by the two members of the ZBA who performed the work in question is part of the scope of the investigation. But she is uncertain about proving residency problems.

“I know there are people who have documentation and complaints have been filed, so those things would be provided [to the investigator] automatically anyway,” she said.

“I’ve got so many questions and I’m struggling with have we defined the scope of this investigation?” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Are we all clear on what we’re looking for, so that we’re clear with the person we’re hiring what we’re looking for.”

She said she doesn’t want there to be any misunderstanding that costs the town money and fails to provide the information the board needs.

Feodoroff said she couldn’t predict who might be interviewed, but did say if she were the investigator, she would want to interview the complainant, but that was up to that person to dictate.

Hickey asked if Town Administrator Lisa Green would be expected to sit in on interviews, noting that she wouldn’t have that kind of time to spare.

Feodoroff, again putting herself in the investigator’s place, said she wouldn’t want that, because the questions asked might not be answered with complete candor.

“It would also put Lisa in a very weird political position and would distract from the time that she’s got,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Mitchell asked if a report of findings, which would be expected should wrongdoing be discovered, would appear before the board to make a report if no evidence of wrongdoing were found.

Selectman Joe Weeks flagged inaccuracies in the letter sent out to potential investigators — naming only three ZBA members instead of the entire board and mentioning a focus on conflict of interest surrounding the 40B application for Spring Street.

“I want to make sure we’re not inadvertently going down a path that we’re not supposed to,” he said, expressing a concern about future lawsuits or being set up for the investigation to fail.

“We don’t even want to hear about the 40B,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. She expressed specific information on situations where members should recuse themselves from dealing with applications where conflicts of interest might arise. Weeks said he would also like to see an examination of the ZBA members’ votes while on the board.

“I’d really like to see some probing,” she said. “The net is going to have to be cast beyond just Hanson. I don’t know how far.”

Familial relationships between board members and applicants as well  financial ties that could create a Section 19 conflict are key issues Feodoroff said, cautioning that, if engineers are included, the investigation could end up like a search for needles in a haystack.

She said if there were familial relationships, it needs to be determined if proper disclosure forms were filed.

“I’m not mentioning specific names at all,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “This is an equal-opportunity employer. … I don’t know any of these people. I’m looking forward to the results of this investigation and putting this to bed.”

Feodoroff said the applications before the board being investigated are the triggers for potential ethics violations, and said she could clarify that any applications be reviewed.

“It’s about faith in the [ZBA],” Weeks said. “We have to give them a list of whatever we want them to investigate.”

Resident Tom Constantine asked if the board had considered next steps if an interviewee declines to answer questions on advice of legal counsel during the investigation.

Rec Panel reviews Kiwanee use

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HANSON — The Recreation Committee will be fine-tuning its policy for fundraisers — as well as its continuing amending of other policies — at Camp Kiwanee’s Needles Lodge after some issues had been raised about programs planned by the South Shore Children’s Museum — a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit —founded by former Recreation member Juvelyn Hartwig.

No vote was taken on the issue during the Monday, Nov. 15 meeting.

Initially, concerns had been raised about unpaid bills, which have since been paid, a point verified by the town’s treasurer/collector. For that reason, new Recreation Chairman Frank Milisi did not allow discussion on that point.

Member Brian Smith had expressed concern over a fundraiser apparently approved Sept. 29, but was not brought before the committee previously.

“I’d like to know who these folks spoke to,” he said, also asking why it was presented as a private party rather than a fundraiser, for which the Camp should have been paid 20 percent of receipts. The 7 p.m. To midnight schedule also requires late hours for staff doing cleanup. He also questioned the handling of the liquor license and deposit check for the comedy night set for Nov. 19.

“We’re in a financial hole,” he said. “What are we doing?”

The paperwork had been received Monday, Nov. 8, but Camp Kiwanee Administrative Assistant Dori Jameson said she had received a call months ago from a museum representative Leah Snowdale. Selectman Jim Hickey said he took the liquor license application and check over to Town Hall for Jameson to offer a hand because he was going there anyway.

Vice Chairman Audrey Flanagan said the event had been on the calendar for quite some time, but had originally been planned as a drag show – which was not planned as a fundraiser. It was later changed to a comedy night fundraiser.

A security deposit for the prior event was rolled over to the fundraiser.

Fundraisers held at Kiwanee are supposed to be charged a fee, according to Recreation policy.

Hartwig stated to the Express, the fundraisers are vital to finding a new location for the museum.

“I’m not at all thinking there is anything deceptive about this, but it is completely unorganized,” said former Chairman Diane Cohen. “As far as the pricing, we need to raise our rates [and] I believe that is something the commission is going to be working on.”

Milisi said the rate discussion is “absolutely valid.”

“That’s something that needs to be addressed in the future so that, when a situation like this comes up, there’s a proper policy to protect both parties involved,” Cohen said.

Hartwig did contact The Express, after the meeting – and had spoken to the Committee, about the timing of the discussion. The meeting had been moved up to 6 p.m., despite her explaining to some members in advance, that she could not attend until 6:30 p.m., because of work commitments.

Dollars For Scholars Taking Orders For Gift Cards

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Whitman & Hanson Dollars for Scholars will be processing orders for gift cards this holiday season as part of its fall fundraising drive. Interested individuals will be able to order gift cards from over 300 nationwide merchants. DFS will receive a commission for selling the cards while the recipient will receive the full face value of the gift card. 

A Dollars for Scholars representative will be in the Community Room of the Whitman Public Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 4, and in Training Room of the Hanson Police Station from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 5, to answer any questions. Orders may be placed at those times. All gift cards ordered are expected to be delivered by Dec. 11. Payments should be in the form of a check or cash. Currently, DFS places gift card orders every other month for its board members. Members use the gift cards as gifts for family or friends or toward everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, prescriptions, and restaurants.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit graduating high school seniors in the form of scholarships at the end of the school year. For more information on the gift card ordering program, please contact Mike Ganshirt at 781-252-9683 or visit www.WhitmanAndHanson.DollarsforScholars.org.

Whitman nor’easter response lauded

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WHITMAN — The town’s public safety crews received glowing praise for their work in response to the nor’easter that plunged the town into darkness Nov. 3. At the same time, Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman said there were lessons learned — on both the positive and negative sides of the leger — to help improve response to the next weather emergency.

“Obviously that was a really big event and affected everyone in town and certainly the town departments quite a lot,” Heineman said. “I certainly wanted to commend [and express] deep appreciation for the police department … fire department … and the DPW. Both the water and sewer departments and the highway, grounds and parks. They really did an amazing job.”

The cleanup and work done to ensure water and sewer services continued to function despite no power was lauded, as well as the quick cleanup of down trees and branches and leaf-covered streets.

Positives that Heineman said he would like to continue during any future power outages included Clancy’s efforts to keep the pressure on National Grid to hasten its response.

“We certainly fared a lot better than some of our surrounding communities … with a very similar level of damage, we certainly got our power back a lot more quickly than a lot of our neighbors,” he said. “A lot of it is in no small part due to his persistence with that.”

The decision to expand the use and hours of warming and charging stations at Town Hall and the Senior Center was also popular with residents, especially in view of the failure of cell service.

“That was really well-received, from what I heard, and that’s certainly something I’d like to continue in the future, particularly when it’s cold,” Heimeman said.

He also said he plans to speak with DPW Superintendent Bruce Martin about having a brush pile so residents have a place to get rid of felled branches.

Proof of residency would be required to deposit brush there.

Lack of responsiveness from National Grid and cell phone communications failure were pointed to as glaring negatives Heineman wants to see rectified following a storm recap meeting Thursday, Nov. 4.

“Some things are outside of our control,” Heineman said. “National Grid was not very responsive in terms of getting downed wires out of the road quickly so that [they could be] cleared in timely manner.”

Ultimately that could be a statewide issue, he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to solve it locally, but I wanted to make folks aware that was a very real challenge,” Heineman said.

Cell phone communications badly affected.

“That is a pretty new phenomenon,” he said pointing to a lack of back up generation for power at cell towers. “It was a real challenge for the town and for public safety folks.”

“I think it’s clear that because of the difficulty we had communicating without phones, if we didn’t have Josh McNeill it would have been more of a  disaster,” Selectman Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said. He suggested that future budget planning should think seriously of getting some backup for him. He also lauded the Town Hall custodian Todd DeCouto, particularly in the setting up and assisting people at the charging station.

“The team came together,” Kowalski said.

“It’s the people who work behind the scenes that you don’t see that don’t get the recognition [they deserve],” Selectman Dan Salvucci. Heineman added kudos to the CERT team for their disaster respons

Heineman said it might be time think about targeted capital items to make town more resilient, including digital radios in case of future cell communications failures as well as more wood chippers and generator upgrades at sewer treatment plants.

Selectman Justin Evans asked how the streetlights fared in the first real test since the town took over maintenance responsibilities.

“We did not have any major loss. We may have lost one or two,” Heineman said.

Whitman plans Asst. TA process

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen will soon have the opportunity to interview finalists in the search for a new assistant town administrator.

Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman reported on Tuesday, Nov. 9 that the search for applicants has so far generated 35 résumés, and the opening will be posted until Nov. 23.

Selectman Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski, Selectman Justin Evans and Heineman will meet to review the applications to winnow the field for the subcommittee to agree on five or six people to interview. At that point Executive Assistant Laurie O’Brien would take part in process as an observer during the interviews with semi-finalists, as she would also be working closely with the person hired.

“I think including her in this is a great idea,” said Selectman Brian Bezanson. “It makes a lot of sense to have her in the loop on this.”

“You’re probably looking at January for the whole process to be done,” Kowalski said. 

The full board would interview the two or three finalists recommended by the subcommittee. Only finalists’ names would be made public.

COVID update

Heineman said he was heartened to see town has reached the 60 percent threshold on people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Fire Chief Timothy Clancy’s weekly updates.

“The vaccination rate is going up slightly each week,” Heineman said. “A week ago the vaccine was approved for those ages 5 through 11, so obviously, there’s a lot of parents who are making that choice about whether or not to vaccinate their children.”

He also reported that OSHA issued its long-expected regulation on COVID Thursday, Nov. 4, but added that Massachusetts is “completely unique” in a law that references the agency’s rules but does not have a plan to apply them locally, according to town counsel on whether the regulation applies to municipalities here.

Counsel expects guidance from the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to help clarify the issue later on this week.

In the meantime, Clancy and the town’s clinical coordinator are working on scheduling booster clinics.

“Those are set up,” Heineman said. “Any resident of Whitman is welcome to go on our website, where [the information] is front and center, to sign up for a booster if they are already fully vaccinated.”

Boosters are administered six months after a person is considered fully vaccinated – two weeks after the second injection.

There are still slots open on Nov. 17 and 18 and there will be another session early in December.

Heineman also reported that he spoke with the president of the Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra, for which Selectman have approved use of Town Hall Auditorium for a Dec. 5 holiday concert, as well as an April 24 concert. Both events are funded by the Whitman Cultural Council.

Selectmen voted to honor the request.

Similar to a recent concert by the Brockton Symphony, the SPO president requested that the audience be required to wear masks to attend.

“It’s a benefit to the community and if they’re policing their own requirements, I don’t see a problem,” Evans said.

“We affirmed the Brockton orchestra’s desire to have the audience wear masks,” Kowalski said. “I see this as giving this organization the same respect … it would also be in the interest of courtesy as a host.”

“I believe this is about choice, and they chose to ask,” Bezanson said. “If you want to go, wear a mask.” But he did not see the need, at this point, to extend that to April at this time.

Strategic plan

Mission, Vision and Values statements drafted at the Oct. 23 retreat meeting with town boards and citizens’ representatives were approved by a vote of 5-0. Heineman said that consultant Ann Donner had agreed that, if the board is ready to do so, it would make sense as the policy-making board of the town adopt the statements.

“The next steps, in speaking with her yesterday is to … firm up a little bit of the draft five-year strategic priority document and then to have a department head meeting to discuss the implementation of those initiative,” he said of a meeting he would have with Donner. “Obviously, we’re still moving toward having a draft prepared by her and ready in December and a final by the end of December.”

Selectman Randy LaMattina thanked all participants of the workshop.

“I thought it was a worthwhile exercise,” he said.

“It was a good day,” Kowalski agreed.

Towns thank our veterans

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As one town seeks to start what they hope will become an annual way of honoring veterans, another was finding that its established tradition was different after COVID.

Whitman kicked things off Thursday, Nov. 4 with its inaugural Veterans Breakfast, catered by the Cast Iron Café and served up by Senior Center staff, Whitman Veterans Agent Sara Lansing and state Rep. Alyson Sullivan, R-Abington. Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman stopped in to say hello and speak briefly to veterans and their guests.

In Hanson, Selectman Jim Hickey was the lone town official able to interrupt the workday to join veterans at the annual event on Monday, Nov. 8. Planned by Hanson Veterans Services Agent Timothy White, the event was held at the Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center and staffed by the Friends of the Senior Center.

More subdued than previous years, White noted the country’s — and region’s — losses during COVID and led a moment of silence for those lost to the pandemic as well as those service members killed or missing in action during wartime.

“It’s been two years since we last gathered here for a Veterans Day brunch,” he said, noting that nearly everyone’s life had been impactedby COVID. “It’s really altered our lives for the past couple of years — public gatherings, public places, whether you’re wearing a mask or not and all the things that we’ve been through.”

He said he is personally working with dozens of veterans and surviving spouses and has seen scores of people in and around the Hanson community be affected by the virus ad reminded the gathering that, to date nationally, more than 750,000 Americans have died from COVID.

“The sadness is, they died alone, and there’s a lot of pain there,” White said.

Whitman Senior Center Director Mary Holland, who came on board during the COVID shutdown, introduced herself and the speakers for Whitman’s event.

“I appreciate your service, as does everyone in this community,” Holland said.

“I want to thank all of the veterans who are here today,” said Lansing, an Army veteran of the Iraq war, was also hired during the COVID months. She asked veterans of each service branch to raise their hands for recognition.

Lansing also hosts a twice-monthly coffee hour at the center.

“I’m so honored to be here and see so many familiar faces,” Sullivan said. “We definitely have a long line of veterans in our family.”

She spoke of her grandfathers, one who served in the Marines during WWII and another who served in the Navy, and her sister who served in the Army.

“She joined the military because of [her Marine grandfather’s] service and hearing his stories,” Sullivan said.

She said veterans don’t hear the words “thank you” enough and encouraged people in the community to thank veterans and active duty service members for their service.

“It goes a long way,” she said. “The service that you gave, and your families gave, made an impact on my generation and generations to come.”

Heineman also extended gratitude for the veterans’ service to country.

“This is a great tradition to start here,” he said.

Hanson’s event featured only White as a speaker. He read the governor’ proclamation on the observance of Veterans Day, and a proclamation by the Board of Selectmen in recognition of Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day.

He also shared a Cape Cod Times story written earlier this year, about a Korean War soldier whose remains were repatriated after nearly 70 years to Massachusetts for burial at the national military cemetery in Bourne.

The soldier had already served for the final year of WWII and had been discharged, but re-enlisted in 1948 and was killed in 1950 during fighting at the Chosin Reservoir.

“It gives us an opportunity to reflect on somebody being repatriated and is back home,” White said as he stressed the importance of remembering the POW/MIA troops still unaccounted for.

White concluded with information on how veterans with “unseen injuries” such as concussions or other traumatic brain injuries that do not always qualify them for Purple Heart honors.

“Their Humvee was hit, or something like that, and they’re injured at the time, but they still maintain the mission,” White said. “They’re just following orders to ‘shake it off’ or something like that and, if they don’t see a corpsman or a medic at the time … it’s never recorded and they’re never reported as being injured. It’s just something to be aware of.”

He urged those attending the breakfast to make sure people they know in their friend and family circles that may be dealing with such situations should contact a veterans agent for assistance.

He concluded the program with the reading of a poem about the flag, before the senior center chorus — the Swinging Singers — performed patriotic songs.

Hanson’s storm response lauded

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen offered kudos at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 2 to the first responders and town officials who helped with the storm response and cleanup last week.

Town Administrator Lisa Green said the storm was worse that expected.

“I want to do a shout out to all of our first responders, the Highway Department, the Water Department and everyone who has been involved with the storm — police, fire water, highway — Lisa on the phone making sure everything is going right,” Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer said. “We were really hit.”

Town Hall was closed for two days last week, although a few town officials had reported to their offices on Thursday morning after the building was powered by a generator, which led some residents to question why it wasn’t fully open. Dyer said the computer servers had also been down, which severely limited the work that could be accomplished.

“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone,” he said, noting the cleanup was still ongoing.

Selectman Joseph Weeks was among the volunteers sawing up and removing the trees felled by last week’s nor’easter at Camp Kiwanee on Sunday, Oct. 31. The damage forced cancellation of the planned Halloween event planned for the camp that afternoon.

“We found ourselves in new territory,” Green said. “We know what we need to improve before the harsh winter moves in.”

She said the normal practice when storms are forecast is to watch weather reports and meet with department heads to go over response plans.

“This storm — I don’t think anybody thought it was going to be what it was, or it was worse than many people expected,” she said. “Nobody expected 100-percent power outages in this entire area to the Cape and islands.”

Green and IT Director Stephen Moberg did the best they could with what they had available, she said. She had charged both her phones, and when she lost power at 4 a.m., Green began working the phones trying to get messages out about Town Hall.

“Unfortunately, with cell service not running, some people didn’t get messages, they didn’t get text messages.”

Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan and Police, Fire and Highway departments had “excellent response” to the situation, Green said. By the time the Town Hall generator kicked in, the computer servers had gone down and emails were bounced back when sent out.

“I’m really hoping that going forward, we could try to do a better job of a consolidated message of library, senior center, what the fire and police have got to say, through the town website and Facebook page,” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said, noting it was not meant to criticize Green. “I just am hoping that prospectively we do better.”

Green said a storm-specific plan is being formulated, including a broadcast text message to all employee cell phones to get the word out without draining her phones.

“I was trying to limit my phone use to keep my batteries alive,” she said. “But we’re well on our way to fixing that and being ready for the next storm.”

Maquan insurance

The insurance carrier has informed the town that premium for the Maquan School has gone up “substantially,” according to Green. The one-year premium to insure the vacant building is now $38,029. The budget provided $30,000 for that bill. Selectmen voted to request a reserve fund transfer from the Finance Committee of $8,029 to make up the difference.

Green said a letter from the insurance company explained that the longer a property is vacant, the chances of severe damage increases, which increases the premium for coverage. She said there is a bidding process for insurance coverage and would have to look into whether there is any option for shopping around for better coverage.

“We’re going to see the premium rise as long as we hold onto this building,” Green said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett spoke about the intent to use the building as affordable senior using, but after that original objective was agreed to the town has seen a lot of housing units for the over 55 population that are not affordable, but target the same demographic.

“As a committee [the Maquan Reuse Committee] felt the timing wasn’t right to do affordable housing there,” she said. “We probably need to look at it being used for the library, the senior center or some kind of recreation for the town. We’re still looking for a reuse. It was never our intention to still have that building standing and not reused, but we are working on it.”

 She asked if there was anything the town could do to bring the premium cost down. The premium last year was closer to $25,000.

“Their main focus is the building is vacant,” Green said, noting she would ask the carrier if there was any kind of security measures the town could take to bring the cost down.

Despite the challenges of asbestos that needs to be removed, it is not ADA compliant and lacks fire suppression, “the bones are really good,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, indicating grants may be available to help make the building useable for the library or other such purpose.

If it is more cost-effective to tear it down, the committee would favor that, she said, but cost-effective reuse is preferred.

Tax classification

The Board of Assessors met jointly with Selectmen to set the tax classifications for fiscal year 2022. Assessors recommended and Selectmen approved, that a uniform tax rate for residential and commercial tax rates in town be continued. The tax rate has been calculated at $15.09 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Personal property makes up 93 percent of tax revenues with commercial/industrial makes up 7 percent.

Selectmen also accepted the assessors recommendation against a residential tax exemption, typically used only for communities with a high number of rental properties, or a small commercial exemption, used typically for businesses that own their own property. Any reduction in the tax would not be guaranteed to reach businesses that rent their property. Only eight businesses in town would qualify to benefit the small commercial exemption.

The excess levy capacity for 2022 is $14,241.73.