HANSON – A little more than a week after following Chief Michael Miksch in the job of Hanson’s Police Chief, Michael Casey was officially sworn into the role during the Tuesday, July 8 Select Board meeting.
Miksch, who had served in the job for 13 years, retired effective July 1, and had recommended Casey, who had come up through the ranks at the department, was most recently serving as deputy chief.
But first, there were two retirements to honor – the first of those being Miksch’s, “who you know loves to have attention paid to him,” Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said, with a touch of irony.
Chief Casey had hosted a retirement party for his predecessor and former boss on Sunday, June 29. At their July 8 meeting, the Select Board presented Miksch with a citation, read by FitzGerald-Kemmett, which saluted his nearly 30-year career in law enforcement, as well as the 12 years he has served Hanson residents.
“I’ve said this before, I really value the leadership you have brought to this town, the support that you’ve given all of us in some very weird moments … and you’ve always been on the other end of the phone, talking us off the ledge and giving us sound advice,” she said.
The Board also presented a citation to Michelle Hughes as she retired from a 32-year career in law enforcement. She had been the Hanson Police Department’s first female officer.
“Thirty-two years, raising kids and giving back to the community – amazing,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’re so lucky to have such dedicated employees … but, it’s more than that.”
Then it was Casey’s turn in the spotlight as Town Clerk Jessica Franceschini swore him in and Casey’s wife pinned on his new badge.
“We want to wish you the absolute best on this new chapter,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “You’re inheriting a force that’s in really good shape and Chief Miksch has laid an amazing foundation and we can’t wait to see what you do with it as you make it your own, and you’ve got a great staff to do it with.”
Casey thanked the Board for honoring him with the position and a unanimous vote.
“I’ve always dreamed it since I got here 30 years ago, and it means a lot,” he said, noting that he and the retiring Michelle Hughes started on the department together in 1996. “I’m excited for a new chapter.”
In other business, the Select Board heard an update on the MBTA Communities issue from Town Administrator Lisa Green.
“We need to wait and see what’s going to happen,” Green said, noting the town would be in compliance until July 13. “On the 14th we may know, or we may not know what action the attorney general’s going to take, because there are [fewer and fewer] communities that are going to be noncompliant,” she said. “More and more communities who were non-compliant, have adopted some form of a zoning district,”
“If we can come up with our own plan, which is compliant. then we maintain control” said Select Board Vice Chair Ann Rein.
FitzGerald-Kemmett also said the Select Board could use some clarity from the Planning Board on the matter.
“Are they planning on reproposing it, or are we going to talk with them about 40R?” she said, noting that board had been looking at 40R regulations before the state received Supreme Jucicial Court,
Middleboro was among a small group of towns that successfully took the 40R route successfully, but FitzGerald-Kemmett said Town Counsel’s opinion is that Middleboro has been successful mainly because they had their 40R program in place beforehand.
She added that Hanson’s Planning Board as already done the work toward implementing 40R zoning in the town.
“I want to check back with them what kind of timing are we looking at and then check with our town counsel – does he feel as though he could have a conversation and influence some outcome there, so perhaps we can use that as some leverage,” she said.
Green said she had already begun a conversation with Town Planner Anthony DeFrias and would check back with him on what further steps are needed for the town to pick up the 40R again. The Board also voted to again sign intermunicipal agreement governing the ROCCC 911 call center so the town’s emergency calls would continue to be answered.
“I know when we originally entered into this contract part of what was extremely appealing to us was that there was a portion of our costs that were being reimbursed by the state,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Of course, that gravy train has stopped and we’re now bearing the full cost of that.”
Aside from that, she asked Green if there were any other major changes. Green replied that there were none. The board voted to re-enter the agreement and to empower Green to do so, as well and to negotiate any changes the Board might seel.