Whitman-Hanson Express

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Hanson salutes Young’s service

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HANSON — The annual Town Meeting kicked off a smooth outing Monday, May 1 by honoring longtime Selectman Bruce Young, who is retiring from public office this year. State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, attended,  discussing the impact that Selectman Young has had on the Hanson community.

“The gentleman we are here to recognize has served the town of Hanson in many ways, dating back to 1977 as a Finance Committee member, a Historical Commission member, as a Board of Water commissioner and most recently on the Hanson Board of Selectmen,” Cutler read from a ciation he presented on behalf of the Massachuetts General Court. “Be it hereby known to all, that the House of Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Bruce Young in recognition of your many years of service to the Town of Hanson.”

“Josh and I are a prime example of people on opposite political spectrums that get along,” Young said of Cutler. “Everyone is working towards a common effort to move in the right direction for Hanson.”

Young also called the Town Meeting “the purest form of democracy” and encouraged everyone to spread the interest in Town Meetings to those around them for this generation and future generations.

Selectmen Chairman James McGahan praised Young for taking him under his wing, adding that Young has been a big influence on him politically.

The Town Meeting officially began by voting on the articles in the Special Town Meeting, during which, in Article 9, the entire Maquan School engineering condition assessment was scrapped. With this section of the article abandoned, the total cost of free cash went from the initial projection of $78,667 down to $53,667.

Between the Special and Regular Town Meetings there was a brief time-lapse video presentation of the Plymouth County Hospital demolition. It was said that the vacant area will be covered in a field of grass in roughly six weeks.

Marijuana
moratorium

Hanson voters rejected a temporary moratorium on the sale and distribution of marijuana in Hanson during the annual Town Meeting. There was disagreement between the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee, with the Selectmen voting 5-0 to recommend and the Finance Committee voting 5-0 not to recommend.

There was an amendment to this Article, moving the date this moratorium would end from June 30, 2019 to January 1, 2019.

“Our primary focus as a committee is to look at the financial impact and what’s in the best interest, in terms of financial interest, to the town,” Finance Committee Chairman Michael Dugan said in discussing the vote not to recommend. “We looked at this as if a retail location opened in Halifax, or any of the surrounding towns, this would, in effect, have a future impact limiting free trade in Hanson.”

Essentially the Finance Committee didn’t not want to risk future financial gains via taxes from a potential marijuana facility. This moratorium would prevent Hanson from gaining a financial benefit if neighboring towns choose to open a facility before 2019.

One resident asked how much money the town could potentially gain from a marijuana outlet. The Finance Committee said that the town has the right to add an additional 2 percent tax on top of the state tax for marijuana sales.

This close voice vote was challenged by a resident, the lone article among 52 that required a vote count. In addition to a vote count, it also required a 2/3 majority. 62 voted yes while 56 voted no, defeating the moratorium.

Capital matrix

As was the case during the Town Meeting Preview, Article 14 was the primary source of drama for the night. The primary concern, as brought up by the speaker from the Capital Improvement Committee, was the cost.

He said, “It is not up to our committee to second guess the department heads, it is not up to the board of selectmen to decide what the people of Hanson can afford will afford and will pay. We simply put the facts as they’re given to us by the department heads as a point of information to the citizens.”

During the annual Town Meeting, Young was highly critical of the Capital Improvement Committee’s repair matrix in Article 14:

“The purpose of having a capital improvement committee is outlined in the general by-law,” he pointed out, “It’s true the department heads bring their requests to the capital improvement committee each year, but it’s up to the Capital Improvement Committee, as outlined in the bylaw, to coordinate the development of the capital improvement budget within the operating budget in the current fiscal year.”

He explained that capital improvement funds can afford between $800,000 and $1 million, therefore the town shouldn’t have $11 million or $12 million in the capital improvement matrix.

“The committee is charged with prioritizing department head requests into the matrix for the first year and then to the corresponding five years as they see fit,” Young said. “That way you don’t have the department heads dictating and dividing up where the priorities should come, you have an independent board called the Capital Improvement Committee, made up of seven members at large, who possess neutrality on the subject dividing up and prioritizing capital improvement funds.

“If you don’t follow these rules and you just list everything under fiscal year 18 then there’s no sense in having a Capital Improvement Committee, because they’re the ones in charge of prioritizing it and sending it to the board of selectmen for approval,” Young continued. “Thus, if I see a capital improvement matrix that doesn’t follow the capital improvement by-law and I go along with it then I turn my back on what should be done under the general by-law. If we have a by-law, like any other law, it’s supposed to be followed. Why should I go along with a committee that isn’t following the capital improvement by-law?”

Voters nonetheless voted to approve Article 14 even with the Capital Improvement Committee brazenly ignoring the by-law and Young didn’t hide his disappointment over the vote.

Articles 31 and 32, seeking donations to nonprofit organizations were deemed illegal by town legal counsel, because the town is not allowed to give money to an outside organization. The organizations are Health Imperatives’ Violence Intervention and Prevention programs and the South Shore Women’s Resource Center for deomestic violence intervention and prevention. During the Town Meeting Preview, the Selectmen emphasized that they support these organizations but could not recommend them as they must follow the law in this instance.

Hanson reviews TM, trash contract

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 25 previewed next week’s Town Meeting articles.

The rehearsal for the Monday, May 1 Town Meeting was mostly intended as an opportunity for various town officials to discuss articles that will be put before the meeting. Some of the officials came to specifically discuss articles they were representing.

Most of the articles were passed over quickly, without much discussion, but others were more controversial. At various times Selectmen and even town officials spoke out against articles.

Selectman Bruce Young, for example, maintained that town bylaws are not being followed on Article 14 — the Capital Improvement matrix, which totals $12 million — a figure the town is unable to fund. Young maintained the Capital Improvement Committee is not doing its job, because it is charged with producing a matrix the town can afford.

“I’m not going to let you twist my arm in public,” Selectmen Chairman James McGahan said in an effort to restore order to the meeting.

There was also much discussion revolving around the WasteZero contract, recently extended for three years. The extension was signed by Town Administrator Michael McCue.

Selectmen expressed concern over the relevance of a waste disposal transfer station when most people in town are now using various hauling companies for their waste.

Young was concerned about the lack of publicity surrounding the extension, citing that it was highly publicized three years ago at the initial signing with WasteZero. He said that it was previously a “ceremonial signing of the contract.” He offered to show the video to the representative from the transfer station. Selectman Kenny Mitchell agreed with Young, stating that he was there during the last signing and was surprised that it was not done in a similar manner this time.

McGahan said he felt this portion of the discussion was a distraction.

“Regardless of the history, let’s stick to what’s on the agenda,” he said. “I don’t want to go into a violation of the Open Meeting Law.”

McCue wanted to verify his intent in signing the contract extension. He stated, “there’s a misconception that this was a de facto extension” on his part and wanted to make it clear that, if the town eventually wants to move toward curbside trash collection in the future, it would need to start the process at a more adequate time.

“In the interim we need to keep in place what we have now or we’ll have nothing in place,” he said.

Young also wanted to know the number of Hanson residents who have a valid pass for the transfer station and compare that to the number of homes in Hanson to gauge the relevance of the program.  He said that on his street various waste disposal companies are used and wonders how many people truly take advantage of the pay as you go transfer station system. This information was not immediately available.

Selectman Donald Howard defended the transfer station, stating, “Pay as you go has worked throughout this country.”

“We have tried many ways to fund the transfer stations,” Howard said. “Yes, we run at a deficit but eventually we’ll get better at it.”

The representatives from the transfer station were pleased with Howard’s sentiment, and were adamant in their plan to make the transfer station “self-sufficient.”

Mitchell said, “I don’t believe it will ever be self-sufficient.”

The board approved to hire and appoint three women to positions in the Town of Hanson.

Rhondalee Larson will be the new clerk to the Treasurer. The Selectmen spoke very highly of Larson and her 20 years of experience.

“We were quite fortunate that Rhondalee chose to apply to the position,” McCue said.

The town also appointed Mary Drake to be an Animal Control Officer. She has experience providing home pet care and has written a book on a six-week dog training program. McCue praised her enthusiasm and said she has been active as interim animal control officer in the past two weeks.

Lee Gamache, a resident of Hanson for 54 years and an employee of the town for 20 years, applied to be a member of the 200th anniversary commission and was accepted by the Board.

To start the meeting the Board entered executive session for roughly 40 minutes. This was to strategize “in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or contract negotiations with non-union personnel.” These strategies apply to various employees for the town.

Board backs Maquan closure

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By Cameron Myette
Express correspondent

HANSON — Selectmen voted 5-0 Tuesday, March 21 to support the School Committee’s timeline for closing the Maquan School by the fall of 2018.

After a meeting last week concerning the closing of Maquan, members of the School Committee — including Chaiman Bob Hayes — and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner met with Selectmen to discuss the future of Maquan School.

The detailed discussion, which lasted more than an hour, focused on whether to continue to keep the school open for another year or to initiate an immediate shutdown of the building.

Gilbert-Whitner said she  was tasked with organizing focus groups and described the School Department’s research into the issue.

“We really wanted to do an in depth look at what would be the impact … needed to look at the programs, age ranges of students, moving from one program to the other,” she said of a variety of considerations involved. “What would it take to move one facility into another and what kind of retrofitting needs to happen.”

Members of the Hanson Public Schools took an in-depth look at closing the building and potential up-front costs involved [See related story].

Three focus groups were created to brainstorm ideas and create a matrix of sorts into what problems would arise from closing the school. The first focus group was of the building principals. They analyzed space issues, age ranges and potential difficulties with educational programs for students.

The second focus group was special education programs and how these systems would be impacted, in particular compliance with current regulations. Finally, the third focus group discussed pre-school and how it would operate.

One definitive conclusion that was brought about from this third group was that there would never be room for a pre-school if the students were to be moved to the high school. This fact motivated the idea that the closing of the Macquan School in the Fall of 2018 was feasible for the town community.

Selectmen questioned the option of keeping the building open.

This decision would result in concerns with the outdated sprinklers, heating system, and security infrastructure that currently exists in the building.

Selectman Bruce Young raised questions concerning logistical spaces and what the septic system could handle.

Arguments were made that if the school were to be kept open too long, costs would rise in order to maintain the school at an appropriate operational capacity, especially throughout the winter.

Yet students remained at the center of the discussion.

It is important to note that program laws in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have changed over the past 20-30 years, school officials noted. Enrollment designs must be made for today’s world, some members argued.

Before a final decision, another discussion focused on the impact of this decision, including realigning resources, retrofitting classrooms, and what this closing means for students.

Questions raised included:

• What would happen with state wide testing and computer labs?

• Would the budget be based on the state of past town budgets? And even questions on where staff members would park are concerns in this important yet aggressive decision to change the way in which the Hanson Public School system operates.

The future use of the school building, including the gym, was of great concern to the town community.

Some recommended an engineering study of the building to see how it could be used in the future, which would cost approximately $25,000 to $30,000 dollars. Others saw this as an opportunity to rent the building out as elderly housing.

No information from the school’s report was up for a vote. That decision is set for April 12 to permit officials to obtain more information needed concerning funding and potential uses for the school.

Plowing through truck costs

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WHITMAN — Final costs, and the timing of bills, for a new DPW plow truck raised some concerns during the Feb. 28 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

The town of Whitman recently acquired a truck for snow and ice removal, for which the $136,000 price tag has been accounted, but Selectmen expressed concern this week over an additional $25,000 for the plow mechanism that had not been accounted for after the initial purchase.

“The superintendent believed the plow would come in while there was still funds in the account, as a result of timing the bills came in after we entered into deficit spending,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam.

“I was concerned this purchase was being made out of a budget appropriation rather than a capital article,” Lynam said. “Any purchase of that nature should be treated as a capital purchase and should be funded outside of the normal budget process.”

Selectman Daniel Salvucci argued that the town bears some responsibility for the discrepancy.

“This is an item that is not the vendor’s fault — it’s our responsibility — for the vendor to suffer the loss of the sale because someone jumped the gun is wrong,” he said.

Selectmen suggested the situation was likely an oversight by the superintendent and that there was no malice in the deficit spending.

“They were probably looking to purchase a truck at no cost to the taxpayers, out of Chapter 90 money, and the plow at minimal cost because it’s out of the snow and ice that was appropriated at the town meeting, but that’s just a backdoor way of spending,” Salvucci said.

Salvucci said he believed that this should be something that is discussed at town meeting and to allow taxpayers to vote.

The board seemed unsettled by the way the money was being spent, but concluded they did not have much of an option when it came to passing this issue due to the purchase having already taken place.

Paul Street

The citizens of Paul Street, located off of South Avenue, have presented a petition to the town to officially consider the street a public way.

“There is a citizen’s petition to accept Paul Street as a public way and to expend the funds necessary to bring the street up to road acceptance standards,” Lynam said.

Paul Street was initially a private road for a single home, and was approved to be developed as a private way that was not to be built to town standards, according to Lynam.

“I’m waiting for actual estimates for that work, but we anticipate that it’s going to be in the $300,000 to $350,000 range,” Lynam said. “If we vote for this, there will be no Chapter 90 work done in the town of Whitman next year.”

Since the initial planning of the street, multiple new homes have been built there. The original owner of the property is also no longer located there, leaving the new residents on a road in “really bad condition.”

“You can’t plow and them you can’t fix them because they are not municipal roads,” Lynam said. “It is illegal to use town funds to maintain a private road.”

Since this is a citizens’ petition, it must be submitted to town meeting next year.

“The voters at the town meeting will have to decide if they want the town to spend a large amount of money to accept this street,” Lynam said.

Electronic Voting

Electronic Voting Committee Chairman Mike Seele provided a report on his panel’s research into to possibly  using the devices for town meetings. He gathered information from various local towns to determine whether or not this would be useful for Whitman.

The technology would be a remote with a few buttons signaling “Yes” or “No” so that attendees could have their voices heard during meetings when questions or issues arose. It is similar to a technology used in colleges to ask large classes questions and immediately discuss the responses.

“We found that, for the most part, representative town meetings were using this technology as a way to enhance accountability to the representatives” Seele said. “A handful of towns using open town meetings format that we have, they have a history of consistently contentious town meetings that went on for a while.”

A few towns in this area rejected this issue due to cost.

“The cost is 15,000 to 16,000 for 300 handsets,” Seele said. “It’s impossible to determine how many of these you need in advance.”

Seele also added that renting is an option but this would cost $1,700 per meeting for 300 handsets.

“One central fundamental issue that we thought was important was privacy versus accountability; people know where their neighbors stand on any given issue,” Seele said. “We also heard account that people have felt intimidated at town meetings, this was really impossible to find out if this was a real problem.”

This technology allows people to remain anonymous rather than continuing the traditional standing vote.

One initial thought on this issue was that voter attendance would increase if this technology was implemented. However, some towns did not see a notable change since adding the electronic voting. Attendance did not increase and voting projections were not different than expected.

Student saluted for saving dad

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HANOVER — The South Shore Vocational High School Committee’s student of the month award usually celebrates purely scholastic or athletic achievement and student leadership, but an act of heroism also distinguished the selection for February.

James Dwyer of Hanson was honored for his courage outside of school — saving his father’s life by performing CPR. He went in to school the next day and brought his usual positivity according to a staff member. Dwyer is a junior automotive technology student.

“We’re lucky to have a student like James at South Shore Vocational High School,” said a member of the faculty.

The committee also heard an update on plans for a new horticulture program, which South Shore Tech is interested in adding  as soon as the next year.

According to Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas Hickey, this would be a slow-building program, starting with a single instructional hire with a landscaping background. In addition to this, Hickey said that a member of the science faculty would contribute to this program by teaching plant science. This would only be temporary, as once the program grows a second faculty member would be hired and dedicated to the program.

To add a new program, state law requires that SSVT show a demand for jobs in a particular field.

There is a lot of optimism from Hickey that this will happen.

“I saw 23 different companies in a survey that they annually hire 98 to 106. That’s a pretty significant number,” said Hickey

In addition to looking at the labor demand, guidance counselors for incoming freshman asked about their interest in the program, since the program is not listed currently in the brochure.

“Sixty-five percent said they want that on their list” said Hickey

Guidance counselors also asked current freshman if they would have been interested in the program.
“We asked, if they could turn back time would they have explored this program? Over 50 percent of students would have been interested,” he said.

Hickey stated that the only agricultural high school in the area is Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole — almost 30 miles away from SSVT. Hickey said he recognizes this discourages many South Shore students from pursuing agriculture.

Breakfast
for Students

In other business, Principal Margaret Dutch and members of the school committee are currently reviewing new ideas for the breakfast program.

“We want to assure breakfast is available to all students and that the breakfast they are receiving is appropriate for starting their school day,” she said adding that they are currently looking at data to support this initiative.

There are many varying perspectives on how to approach this issue. Dutch points out that students, parents, teachers and faculty view this very differently and that each perspective needs to be accounted for.

Timing, for example, is an issue. It is now unclear if breakfast would be available before classes or take place during classroom time.

Chairman Robert Molla questioned if this would interrupt class time.

“We don’t have enough time for educational purposes,” said Molla

Principal Dutch responded, “If you have someone who’s hungry, are they engaging in the education anyway?”

Dutch also posed an additional question, “Is just eating something a breakfast? Or does it need to be something specific and balanced?”

She said the meal would be required to meet the healthy food standards in the same capacity that the lunch program does.

There are many ways to approach this topic.

“We’ve talked about our bus schedules, if kids are getting off the bus with only a few minutes to spare they might not want to risk getting food,” Hickey said. “If kids are interested in getting food before class, we should consider rolling back our bus schedule.”

Dutch said that they did not expect a small idea like breakfast to grow into such a complex and nuanced issue.

SSVT reviews its regional agreement

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HANOVER — Whether or not Hull joins the South Shore Regional School district with the eight member towns that already send students to the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School, the regional agreement may be revised anyway.

“I want everyone to feel comfortable, because nothing changes in this document unless every single town says yes — or doesn’t say no,” Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey told School Committee members. “This is just the beginning of the marathon for conversation.”

The district now includes Abington, Cohasset, Hanover, Hanson, Norwell, Rockland, Scituate and Whitman. The agreement was last updated with one sentence regarding self-funded programs in 1984 after Whitman and Hanson joined the region in 1982.

The South Shore Regional School Committee met to discuss the issue following a subcommittee meeting on the expansion into Hull on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

“I think what started as a conversation about Hull possibly coming in, and amending the agreement [for that], after looking at it with due diligence we found some other areas to review,” Hickey said after the meeting. “Those are, in my mind, of equal importance as talking about Hull.”

The earliest the addition of Hull could take place would be by July 2018 for students to be admitted for the start of the 2018-19 school year, following a vote by the School Committee and at town meetings of all eight-member communities. The issue would be discussed with selectmen, finance committees and residents before going to town meetings. The commissioner of education then gets the final decision.

“There’s a fast way and a — more likely — slower way to do it,” Hickey said, as the fiscal 2018 budget is the priority. “There is no rush.”

Hull also has a planning subcommittee reviewing the numbers as it works on the question of whether that town joins the South Shore Tech region.

“We’re at the very beginning of the process,” Hickey said. “We’ll work on a figure to get the conversation started and see where it goes from there.”

Hickey also reviewed a proposed revision of the regional agreement proposed by MARS Consulting — former school superintendents and members of the Mass. Association of Regional Schools. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) offers feedback through its legal advice.

Some passages, specific to the process through which Whitman and Hanson joined, or concerning pre-Education Reform Act practices, would be stricken as no longer needed. Other sections would be translated into clearer language, update Massachusetts General Law citations or change required votes regarding financial decisions and withdraw from the region would be changed from unanimous votes to two-thirds. Most proposed deletions involved obsolete language. Financial responsibilities involved in any town’s decision to withdraw would are also covered.

“There are two parallel tracks,” Hickey said. “We are definitely talking about Hull, we are talking about the terms under which this could work, but beyond Hull, there’s also ideas to make changes in this agreement that are good for the district.”

Should both the amendments and Hull’s admission come up for a vote the eight member towns of SSVT would vote on both issues. How the two issues would come before town meetings is still to be determined. They could be a single warrant article or divided into two.

Hull would not vote on amendments to the agreement, but to the terms the committee approves for entering the district.

“Nothing moves unless this committee votes to move forward and amend the agreement,” Hickey said. “This is Step One.”

Rockland School Committee member Robert L. Mahoney wondered if this were not also a good time to open the possibility of joining the district to other communities for the 2019-20 time frame.

“No other communities have approached us like Hull,” Hickey said. “We’re pleased that Hull reached out to us. … My personal opinion is that you are right, but we cannot propose a ‘zipper clause,’ to insert future communities.”

He said that, if the committee wanted to begin a conversation outreach, that could be pursued in the near future.

“We are filling our seats, but we recognize we are the only vocational school district anywhere close to here that has multiple communities close to us that are not aligned with a regional vocational school,” he added.

Whitman representative Dan Salvucci said space was a factor limiting that kind of expansion unless the student quota per town is re-allocated.

“We don’t have the space,” he said.

“We have room for Hull,” said Committee Chairman Robert L. Molla Jr., noting that Hull already sends students to South Shore Tech on a non-resident tuition basis.

Mahoney argued that high schools in the eight member towns were also offering technology programs that reduce the number of students that attend South Shore Tech and “cutting into the Chapter 74 money” received.

“It’s where the parents want to send their children,” Salvucci countered. “I’m very strong on that.”

Where Hull’s buy-in to the district is concerned, Hickey advocated that the School Committee calculate the value of the facility as well as its programs, such as the building, the land and capital the district has in the building as well as Hull’s enrollment and transportation costs.

“There is no statute that governs this,” Hickey said. “An agreed-upon cost, similar to Whitman and Hanson, could be phased in over time.”

The question remains how to do that without “giving away the farm,” as Molla put it.

“You have to make it practical for them to come into the region [compared to paying out-of-district tuition],” Salvucci said.

Maquan repairs discussed

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen discussed updates on the Maquan School repair project, as well as the Whitman Hanson Community Access contract during its Tuesday, Jan. 24 meeting.

With several issues arising over the conditions of Maquan Elementary School, real change needs to occur shortly, town and school district officials agree. The roof over the gym was recently repaired, but that is only a small accomplishment in comparison to many other problems with the building.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes updated the board on a rejected statement of interest in an accelerated repair. This will slow down repairs from February until sometime in the spring.

Next Monday, the School Committee’s Capital Improvements subcommittee will be meeting at Maquan to discuss the issues that have been brought forward. Hayes mentioned the town needs to “appropriate $15,000 to $25,000 to evaluate the entire system.”

Hayes listed electrical problems, an overhaul of the heating system, the lack of a sprinkler system, asbestos removal, and an upgrade of the fold-down lifts as some of the work still to be done at the school.

There is already difficulty in determining the priority of these problems, he noted.

“We have been operating without a sprinkler system since the 60s, I would think the sprinkler system may not be as big a priority as the heating system,” Hayes said. “You can’t be in the building with no heat.”

Selectman Bruce Young mentioned that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) said that the building should have been replaced three or four years ago.

Depending on the evaluation of the school, there may need to be drastic steps taken moving forward according to Hayes.

“If [proposed repairs] reach 30 percent of the assessed value of the building then you need to bring the whole building under every code,” Hayes said.

The expectation is that Maquan will end up being over the 30-percent threshold.

“Every system should be replaced and that is why we will not qualify for the statement of interest (on the accelerated repair),” Young said. “It sets up a paradox between how many systems should we replace, when three or four years down the road you repurpose or you may not use the building.”

In other business, the board again placed the Whitman Hanson Community Access contract on hold.

As soon as the discussion started, W-H Community Access Board Chairman Arlene Dias, raised concerns over problematic language in the contract.

Section 3 Article J states: “The obligation to cablecast these meetings shall remain regardless of funding available to W-H Access.”

Dias and members of the board were confused as to how W-H Community Access could cover these meetings without having the funding to exist at all.

“We should take it back to the attorney to find out what the intent is,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan.

Town Administrator Michael McCue reported that discussions regarding the removal of the Plymouth County Hospital are still in the early stages. Much of the technical details appear to be in the works.

“They need to remove hazardous material before they start,” said Selectman Donald Howard, who chairs the Final Plymouth County Hospital Reuse Committee.

Howard also mentioned that the winter would be the ideal time to start this project, as it would prevent destruction related dust from contaminating the area.

Two structures are planned to remain after this process is over. The communication tower will be auctioned off rather than simply destroyed.

Prior to the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the board’s Wage and Personnel Subcommittee discussed changes to the library director’s job description.

“This change comes from the library trustees, as they feel the current description has become outdated,” McCue said. The last change was made in 2004.

Some of the updates include additional duties such as increased oversight and attending various workshops. Additionally, there is a larger emphasis on education. Minimum qualifications list a “master’s degree in library science and five years of progressively responsible experience public library administrations.”

It also mentions an equivalent combination of education and experience will be adequate. Members of the board suggested that experience can be more valuable than education.