WHITMAN — Pedestrians trying to get safely to Whitman Park will now have a fighting chance to successfully cross Park Avenue in that effort, thanks to a traffic island and sidewalk project now underway on the road.

Thanks to a $363,000 state Complete Streets grant, the DPW is making a change to the traffic island between Colebrook Cemetery and Whitman Park, where work had initially been concentrated, but new sidewalks on the opposite side of Park Avenue are now being included in the project.

“There was never any easy way to cross there,” Parks and Highway Superintendent Bruce Martin said of the traffic island, noting that the old crosswalk was more than 70 feet long, from when the East Middle School was there.

While the actual project is expected to cost about $100,000 more when completed, Martin said Chapter 90 funds and town roadwork money will be used for parts of the project not covered by the grant, such as engineering services.

Quite a bit of money was saved, however, by having DPW personnel tear out the old sidewalk and traffic island.

Removal of the old traffic island and relocating it closer to the park will provide safer access via cement sidewalk on the traffic island.

Traffic cones and barrels have been used to get drivers accustomed to the new roadway.

“You’ll have to come down and take a 90-degree turn onto Park Avenue, where before it was almost like an on-ramp to a highway,” Martin said. The change is intended to slow people down and increase safety for pedestrians.

The Park Avenue sidewalk installation is part of that project.

“We have many sidewalks that aren’t great, but that one was really bad. It was falling, it had big chunks taken out of it, the fact that there’s the church there and they don’t have any off-street parking …” He said curbing had been chunked off.

ADA-compliant curb cuts will be located at each intersection and one from Alden Street to the park. There will also be a “bump-out” in front of All Saints Episcopal Church — where the sidewalk will extend into the roadway about five feet — providing an oasis for pedestrians crossing from the church to cross over to Hayden Avenue where they may have parked.

The competitive grant is one that the state awards to make roads more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

“We actually put in for the grant for, like, four years in a row,” Martin said. “We got denied and then, finally, we got it.”

While the town tweaked their application a little bit each time, Martin said it comes down to the fact that it’s a competitive process, with every city and town in the state putting in for funding that can only fulfill a few applications each year.

“They might have liked our proposal year one, but they might have also liked somebody else’s,” he said.

With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill now before Congress, Martin said he hopes that means money will trickle down to the town, and asked state officials about that likelihood.

“Their answer was they don’t know,” he said, noting it is still too early to say.

Another, $185,000 Shared Streets grant — more tied into COVID funding — received the first week in July, will be used to upgrade sidewalks for greater safety in Whitman Center, according to Martin.

Originally, the town had been interested in upgrading the town parking lot off Washington Street, but that was rejected last year. When the town reapplied this year, the focus was on bump-out areas on all four corners of the Washington-Temple streets and South Avenue intersection to reduce the distance pedestrians have to walk and allow some green space in the center, Martin said.

He admits it might be a little controversial as people are confronted with the change. No parking spaces are expected to be lost to businesses, Martin emphasizes.

“In order to receive the grant, we had to have the work done by December of this year, so we’re scrambling a bit right now,” he said, noting that there is also the usual paving projects and curb work to do as well as the two grant-funded projects.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen, on Tuesday, July 27 voted to propose articles for special Town Meeting consideration to codify services to examine town by-laws and streamline the one-day liquor license approval process.

Town Administrator Lisa Green said there had recently been discussion about the status and condition of general and zoning by-laws and thinking about possibly having a company come in and codify, update and index them, as well as placing them on the town website.

Green said she contacted General Code, a company she had worked with through her former employer.

“I was absolutely pleased with them in the work that they put forward,” she said. “At the end of this process we will have by-laws [in which] the language is correct, there’s no question, there’s no guessing, there’s no dead end, so to speak.”

Green said she has seen some zoning by-laws, especially, that direct you somewhere but, “You get there and there’s nothing there, so it’s anybody’s guess as to what that means.”

Codification will address all that, she said.

General Code’s proposal would cost under $10,000, according to Green. The firm would also keep by-laws up-to-date online for an annual fee of $11.95.

“We can use our best judgment as far as procurement,” she said. “This is probably a two-year process.”

It would have to come back before Town Meeting in 2023 for adoption when the codification process is complete.

“I think this would be a great thing for the town of Hanson to move forward on,” said Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer. “If anyone has gone onto our town website, all our by-laws are kind of different sections, different links that you have to click on, and you can’t even do a control-find and try to find anything, because it’s just a scanned PDF.”

He did ask how the company would work with existing by-law committees.

Green said the firm would probably work through her, and send her a copy when they complete their legal analysis. She would separate and give to each committee the by-laws that pertain to them. The committees could decide how they want to proceed.

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said the codification process could look at existing by-laws for outdated language while the Zoning By-law Committee continues to look at what the town has, not through the lens of existing regulations, but by the feedback from people trying to locate businesses in town.

“It doesn’t make sense [for the Zoning By-law Committee] to start meeting in any material way until this exercise is done,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell also noted there has been a suggestion to bring a name change for the board to Select Board, and asked how difficult that would be.

“There’s a lot of by-laws that would have to be changed as a result of that,” he said, asking if the company could help with it.

“I will say that’s a really easy fix,” Dyer said, noting that a search and replace function on a computer could make that change.

Green said gender-specific language would be changed to gender neutral at the town’s request.

Selectman Joe Weeks asked about coverage for zoning workload.

“The key in that is how are they defining ‘new laws?’” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I presume they are defining that as new state laws.”

Weeks said he wanted to be able to realistically budget for any changes.

“If it’s reasonable, then we just budget for it and it just becomes part of our cadence going forward at Town Meeting,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Green indicated she would obtain information on the cost going forward once the project is complete and the town enters the maintenance phase.

The board also voted to support special legislation that would allow the town administrator to sign one-day liquor licenses.

“[Over] the last couple of weeks, it just seems that us meeting biweekly, isn’t sufficient enough to get one-day liquor licenses signed off on,” Dyer said.

His motion was intended to allow Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff to draft special legislation for Town Meeting to consider, allowing the town administrator to approve such licenses.

I think it’s a good idea, it’s very ministerial,” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “It’s not like we really have a discussion about it. … We get the paperwork from the Camp Kiwanee guys and they’re listing what type of event it is and they’re using a prescribed … bartender. There’s not a lot of variety.”

Selectman Jim Hickey said he thought the idea was a good one in light the recent situations where license were approved after the fact.

Mitchell also suggested placing an application deadline prior to an event to prevent the need for retroactive license approvals for weddings and similar events.

In other business, Police Chief Michael Miksch informed the board that officer Kevin McCarthy is retiring Saturday, July 31m but has agreed to remain as a part-time officer, to help with details and events, as of Aug. 1.

Bridgewater resident Ryan Shaugnessy, an EMT who has put himself through a part-time police academy, has been forwarded to be offered the conditional position as a student police officer effective Sept. 20. Shaugnessy is currently a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department deputy and part-time correctional officer. When the department became part of the regional dispatch center, five dispatchers were lost and put on four full-time officers.

HANSON — Conflict of interest concerns were among the issues surrounding a proposed 40B development, which the Board of Selectmen discussed on Tuesday, June 29 during a review of the MassHousing determination of project eligibility for the Cushing Trails development off of Spring Street.

“The elephant in the room is that the chair of the Zoning Board is also the developer of this and there have been constituents that have raised concern about other members of the board being closely tied to this,” Selectman Joe Weeks said. “To not address that is a little naïve, so I think we have to find a way to have a joint meeting.”

Michael O’Shaughnessy, representing ZBA Chairman William Cushing who is also the project developer, said Cushing is going to recuse himself from the decision to the point where “I don’t expect he’s going to be at any of the hearings.”

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said that, since the ZBA is an appointed board — with an appointment slated for the same agenda — she expects them to “exercise their duties with as much impartiality as possible.” She also said she expected Cushing to recuse, but that other members of the ZBA, who have professional relationships with Cushing will still be participating in the meeting.

Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer also suggested that ZBA members call the Mass. Ethics line to get an opinion on the issue and that the town clerk be consulted to determine that the proper ethics paperwork had been filed.

“It’s not unusual for a developer to be a member of a local board, either,” said O’Shaughnessy. “It happens in every town.”

He said the MassHousing letter is the first step to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals. The state agency has asked the developer to address Selectmen’s concerns submitted during the commentary phase.

One was the board’s request that some units be designated as handicapped-accessible.

“The developer is going to work with whoever has a specific need for an ADA unit … to make sure the unit functions for him or her, and we’ll meet their needs,” O’Shaughnessy said. “Generally, just getting into the unit is the issue.”

Grades and ramps are usually the bigger issues, with interior adjustments such as larger doors and hallways also being accommodated.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked at what point the work would be done and whether the ADA accommodation would be advertised.

“We’re happy to work with your Housing Authority if that’s the best way to make this known,” O’Shaughnessy said. “We’re willing to work with people to accommodate their needs, but we’re not advertising specifically as ADA.”

Selectmen also requested that the developer be more responsive to the local housing needs as identified in its approved 2019 Housing Production Plan, and designate a larger number of three-bedroom units as affordable.

“It kind of ran the gamut as to what your needs are,” O’Shaughnessy said of the town’s plan. “We were focused on providing two-bedroom units and the thought was … some people want to downsize and that’s why we’re pushing the two-bedroom units.”

State and local housing agencies have an agreement that 10 percent of units built must be three-bedroom units and that more were included in the proposal than originally planned because of the Selectmen’s request.

Traffic volume and safety concerns were among the most notable objections to the proposal from Spring Street residents and town officials. O’Shaughnessy said a traffic impact study was filed with the ZBA on Monday, June 28, which he said seems to indicate there will be no impact.

“But it’s a public document,” he said.

Recreational elements the Selectmen requested has been discussed.

“I don’t want to say no and I don’t want to say yes,” O’Shaughnessy said. “I’d like to address that with the ZBA as the permit process goes forward.”

“It seems that quite a few of these things are going to be deferred to the ZBA,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I understand it’s under their jurisdiction, but yet I’m feeling as though we’re not going to have that opportunity to speak to ZBA, so I’m wondering if we could contemplate how we could open up that line of communication with ZBA to make sure our needs and the things we’ve heard from our constituents are being contemplated by the ZBA.”

Dyer suggested a joint meeting with the ZBA. FitzGerald-Kemmett also suggested an independent review might be advisable, especially of the traffic study.

O’Shaughnessy said the ZBA’s comment period, including an opportunity for the Selectmen to express concerns, would provide such opportunities. He said the ZBA hires its own consultant to review traffic impacts.

The developer has consulted with the Water Commissioners, as they were asked to do on the potential to make some improvements to the water line on Spring Street and is waiting to hear back. Drainage concerns regarding drainage impact on abutting properties have met town regulations, O’Shaughnessy said, but stressed he was not involved in that phase of the planning.

A sidewalk on one side of the street plan has also been eliminated to control drainage problems.

Weeks, who chaired the Planning Board when the Cushing proposal was introduced for eight houses, said it was not approved at that point because of water access issues and asked if they had documentation of the Water Commission saying that is no longer an issue. He said storm water management was also an issue with eight units and asked how it could be less of one with 40 units.

O’Shaughnessy said that discussion centered on replacing the line on Spring Street and not tying into the abutting street, but leaving it dead-ended for installing hydrants.

At the applicant’s expense a water line would be installed from Spring Street to the project, where there is currently no line.

O’Shaughnessy said reduction of impervious pavement and handling of all storm water on site should resolve the issue via above ground retention basin, the infiltration system will be below ground.

“Are there plans to have a collegial conversation with the abutters to try to speak to them about what their concerns may be before you go full-bore into it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

“We’re happy to talk, and we’ll see if we can resolve the problem,” O’Shaughnessy said. “If we don’t know about it, we can’t do it.”

Selectman Jim Hickey said, while his knowledge of the drainage issue is limited, the idea of removing one of two planned sidewalks to improve drainage posed the question of why.

“Water runoff would be more of a concern if there was sidewalks on both sides,” he asked. “I’m glad I asked you this question now and not in the hallway [as O’Shaughnessy had suggested residents could do if they didn’t wish to speak in a meeting], because that makes absolutely no sense to me.”

HANSON — The town’s Police Department has seen many changes in the past year and a half, according to Police Chief Michael Miksch in his quarterly report to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 15.

Many of those changes are due to the passage of the Police Reform Act, some of which was passed as emergency legislation.

“The governor signed it and they expected us to have everything done the next day,” Miksch said. “That was impossible. Some of them are being implemented in, but one of the first things that needed to be taken care of was a re-do and review of our Use of Force policy.”

Miksch said the effect of that provision wasn’t that bad for Hanson because the department had an up-to-date policy, meaning only minor changes were needed.

“I never thought I’d have to put into a policy that you can’t choke somebody, but I did,” he said. “I thought it was common sense — something that people should understand in Massachusetts. None of us had been trained that way.”

He said in the more than 26 years he has been a police officer that — choke holds, carotid artery holds — has never been taught to us,” Miksch said. “So, we never said, ‘Don’t do it,’ because you were never taught to do it in the beginning.”

The policy was updated in any case, with Lt. Mike Casey doing a lot of that work.

Grants made available to departments across the country through an executive order by President Biden also carried requirements for certain terms of service and policies, one of which governed use of force. The department had to undergo a state accreditation process to prove they had made such policy revisions.

The department received a letter on June 14 that its use of force policy met both federal and state standards. Miksch said his department also incorporates the policy in training between two and four times a year.

Officers will also need to be certified under the reform act. One effect of the requirement has Miksch busy with administrative tasks and he foresees some budgetary impact in future years, but for now the department is in good financial shape.

Personnel changes have also been dealt with and he thanked the town for approving the override to save officers’ jobs.

“We went to regional dispatch a year ago — last June,” he said. “With that, I lost three very dedicated civilian employees who, I’m very happy to say, have actually found other jobs and are working.”

One was moved to serve as Miksch’s administrative assistant and another was transferred to the police academy.

Sgt. Gene Andrews hired just before COVID hit last year, retired after more than 30 years on the department.

“Normally, we’d bring those people in with their families and thank them and bring in the new officers and swear them in,” Miksch said. “When Sgt. Andrews retired, it opened up a promotion and I was very proud to promote Jared Meegan as sergeant who, of course, is banished to midnights where all new sergeants go.”

Four new officers were hired in order to keep the station open after the civilian dispatchers were let go to regionalize that operation. Officers Corey Arsenault and Mario Thompson, who were present or former part-time officers in Hanson as well as Bobby Mansfield, from Oak Bluffs Police and Rick Bekerian from Hopedale were also hired. Officer Chris Dominguez left the department when he was offered a better salary from Braintree.

“Internally, there’s been a lot of changes,” Miksch said. “There’s been a lot of adapting, but overall, it’s going well.”

On a somewhat humorous note, Miksch said a lock is being installed on the door to the police station for the first time ever.

“There is no lock,” he said. “[It’s a] good and a bad thing. We never needed it — there was always somebody there to say, ‘Hi!’ We plan on keeping someone there to say, ‘Hi!’ but unfortunately, because of the nature of operations within the department, there’s a desk officer when you walk in, now.”

Whitman School Committee member Dan Cullity announced his resignation from the panel, effective June 30, during the Wednesday, June 9 meeting. He had already sent a letter to the committee indicting his intention to resign due to family issues that would limit his ability to devote significant time to the responsibilities of the office.

“It would not be fair to the district if I could not give it 100 percent,” he said, reading from the letter. “It was a tough decision that I was making.”

Cullity said his wife and family are his top priority.

“My biggest regret here is not seeing the fully funded kindergarten and, really, that’s a missed opportunity,” he said noting full-day pre-K is now the focus of lawmakers. “Every child deserves an education, not just the ones who can pay for it.”

He wished the rest of the committee success, hoping they have a great year.

The School Committee was scheduled to meet jointly with Whitman Selectmen on Tuesday, June 15 to discuss the process of appointing someone to fill the vacancy. [See story, page one]

“We know that’s a tough decision and we appreciate your commitment to the committee and we understand,” Chairman Christopher Howard said. “At least, I understand. For me, family always comes first.”

The Regional Agreement contains a provision that explicitly covers this type of situation, Howard said. If a vacancy arises, Selectmen and remaining committee members from the town concerned appoint a member within 30 days who will serve until the next election.

“Our collective charge at this point is to try and make sure that that group comes together,” Howard said, noting he wanted to limit discussion since the issue was not posted on the agenda.

The School Committee recognized Facilities Director Ernest Sandland as the recipient of this year’s Dr. John F. McEwan Do What’s Right for Kids Award, which recognizes an “unsung hero(s)” who is/are a member of the district staff or team demonstrating extraordinary vision, creativity, competence and execution of his or her job responsibilities. Margaret McEwan presented the award.

The award carries a cash award he can use for professional development or a project that benefits his department.

“John believed that a school is not a building, but a community of support that maximizes personal growth and development for all students and staff,” she said. “By providing a safe and protected learning environment to deliver in-person learning for students and staff, by improving the design of air flow with the installation of the I-Wave [ionized air filtration system]… and by reconfiguring classroom and office setup for social distancing during the COVID pandemic, I know that John truly valued Ernie Sandland.”

She said Sandland knew air quality would be an issue as soon as the pandemic began and started to research safe and effective ways to help with the problem.

“Due to Ernie’s early diagnosis, research and persistence, all classrooms and buildings were equipped before students arrived at the beginning of the school year,” she said, as many other school districts faced supply delays. It also helped with the agreement to a memorandum of understanding with the WHEA on working conditions for teachers during the pandemic.

The School Committee approved a new bus contract with First Student, done through a collaborative bid with Abington, according to interim Business Manager John Tuffy. The contracts were drawn up between the bus company and each individual town.

“We went out for a three-year bid with the fourth and fifth years being optional, and solely an option of us (W-H) as to whether we’d accept a fourth and fifth year,” Tuffy said. “That’s a decision to be made down the line.”

The bid process was open for a month, resulting in three inquiries, two organizations asking for bid packages and one bid — from current provider First Student. Tuffy said the package was affordable based on what was budgeted by the district and includes a first year increase of 5.7 percent; and increases of 3 percent in years two and three as well as increases of 3 percent if the district chooses to extend the contract to years four and five. He called the increases in line with what he has seen in other districts and were lower than the rate of increase after the last contract process when the first year increase was 9 percent; the year two and three increases were 4 percent and the last two years saw 3 percent increases.

Tuffy’s interpretation of contract language leads him to believe changes can be made later, if needed.

“I think there will be an additional conversation in the future pertaining to busing, but that doesn’t mean that we can hold off here,” Howard said.

Tuffy said the district is charged for the bus, not the number of runs a bus makes.

In other business, the committee discussed the establishment of a strategic plan working groups to work through the summer in an effort to coordinate budget efforts for next fiscal year. Some sessions would be open to the public.

“If we’re going to put the time in, it needs to turn into action,” Howard said. “It gives us a degree of organization and clarity.”

The first session will be an open meeting from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 23.

WHITMAN — Articles urging a ban on single-use plastic check-out bags and polystyrene food containers and beverage cups, sponsored by petition from students at WHRHS Environmental Awareness Club were approved at the Wednesday, June 2 annual Town Meeting.

The article borrowed from similar efforts passed in Hanson two years ago. The Whitman article provides businesses until January 2022 to prepare and gives the Board of Health discretion to permit more time for businesses up to six additional months.

The Bylaw Study Committee had voted to recommend that the article be passed over for further study to be brought before a future Town Meeting.

Former Town Administrator echoed that suggestion, arguing that it only came to the town 45 days ago. He wanted to give the town more time to research it.

“I want to recognize that a number of students have really worked at this, and I’m impressed with their commitment to their community and to sustainability, but, regrettably I’d like to make a motion to pass over this article,” Lynam said.

There was also some question about whether the students could speak at Town Meeting, but a previous article had resolved that issue, permitting non-voters to speak on articles they sponsor.

School Committee member Christopher Scriven spoke in favor of the article moving forward, asking what specific aspects of the articles were not clear.

“We don’t know what the businesses in town are prepared to do, or how easily or quickly they can make that transition,” Lynam said, also advocating that town counsel review and approve whatever language is used.

Selectman Justin Evans initially spoke for the students, before a point of order on the previous article’s passage opened the door for them.

“It may not seem like a big deal to you because plastic bags have been around as long as many of us can remember, but doesn’t it seem a bit sad that you frequently see the evidence of this problem when trying to enjoy a walk in our town?” Evans quoted from a statement the students wrote. “We’ve all seen a bag stuck in a tree or a coffee cup along the side of the road in a bush … it poses a risk to the natural world around us, one that we don’t feel we can responsibly ignore.”

Resident Shawn Kain made a motion to allow the students to speak, which was approved by the Town Meeting.

“Passing these articles would help improve our environment so greatly, even if we can’t see the effects now,” said Riley Getchel of Whitman, president of the environmental club. She noted that she is constantly reminded of the issue by a plastic bag stuck in a tree near her house.

“By making more environmentally friendly decisions, I’ve had a cleaner conscience, knowing I’m doing my part to protect the planet that provides for us,” said student Sarah Regan, who noted other materials could easily be swapped out for plastic.

Plastic also contaminates water supplies, never completely breaks down and effects 60 percent of towns in the state.

DPW Highway Superintendent Bruce Martin agreed that article is a great idea, because neither the bags nor the polystyrene cups and containers can go in recycle bins.

HANSON — The board of Selectmen, met in a joint session with the Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, June 1, discussing the proposed South Hanson Village Rapid Recovery Program, funded by a grant offered by the Mass Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHC).

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett also serves on the EDC. The full video meeting can be viewed on the WHCA-TV YouTube page.

The committee has been working with Planner Deb Pettey to apply for the state grant, which provided funding to hire Stantech Consultant Phil Schaeffing.

“There’s a lot of talk on social media about  of the Main Street corridor. “I just want to remind everybody, we’re talking about privately-owned property…we do try to encourage compliance.”

She said Stantech was going to boil down all the brainstorming done so far into an action plan, and that Tuesday’s meeting was an update on the consultant’s work so far.

“This is a project,” she said, warning against dreams of a quick-fix. “It’s a process that’s going to require cooperation from the businesses. It’s going to require support from the citizens. This is our first step.”

The grant would cover Main Street to Elm Street and Schaeffing,  who is an urban planner, said the Boston design firm was interested in the basic needs for the area and developing actionable recovery plans tailored to economic challenges.

There are 43 communities involved in the grant program, with Hanson’s centering on the Commuter Rail area. The June 1 meeting was the conclusion of the first phase of the program. It will be followed by webinars, consultations and discussions with subject matter experts before a final plan is presented in September.

Recommendations will be made in the public and private realms, revenue and sales, administrative capacity, tenant mix and the potential role of cultural/arts in town.

“We’re putting together, essentially, a road map that says, ‘Here are the projects, here are the potential funding sources, here are some of the responsible parties for these different projects … and kind of a time frame for it,’” Schaeffing said of the planning grant.

Priority areas for recommendations are: a community events and business resource guide, tech aide and outdoor events to showcase local businesses, with improved pedestrian and bike safety and improving the appearance of vacant buildings and business facades in the long term.

“We gave the overall study area a C,” Schaeffing said of sidewalks as well as crosswalks in the Commuter Rail area where pedestrian safety is concerned. Street lighting, meanwhile, earned an F. Signing also earned an F.

“Some of the key takeaways are a real need to make improvements, particularly to support pedestrian activity — improvements to sidewalks and providing amenities that don’t exist today, like street trees for shade in the summer and pedestrian lighting,” Schaeffing said of a recent survey of business owners and residents of the area.

Commuter Rail costs — $10.50 for a one-way Zone 6 ticket, or $340 per month — was another issue Schaeffing spoke of, especially in light of the potential long-term impact of COVID on business.

“There are a number of businesses — 63 in Hanson Village — it’s kind of hard to tell, because some of them are kind of hidden inside buildings that don’t necessarily have signage,” he said.

A handful of residents attended the meeting virtually to ask questions. One resident, viewing from home, asked how new businesses could be attracted to town.

Schaeffing said that, while different types of businesses have different needs, one help would be in creating the business environment where companies complement or support each other.

“Another is to figure out as a town what do we want this area around the Commuter Rail station to be?” he said. “Do we want sort of main street-type businesses to fill in some of the vacancies here, or do we see this as a service/commercial corridor?”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the EDC has also heard from businesses that some of Hanson’s zoning bylaws “may not be super business-friendly.”

Another resident asked if grant or funding options have been looked into as a method of outreach to businesses to improve exteriors.

“We really need to figure out what we want to see as a town down there,” said Planner Deb Pettey, echoing what Schaeffing said. She said she has looked into block grants, but said Hanson is in a predicament where grants are concerned because of the town’s higher income compared to other competing communities.

Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer suggested that an economic anchor and a New England-themed recreation option are ways that the town — and the Final Plymouth County Hospital Reuse Committee in particular — are examining to draw people to the area.

Selectmen meeting

Selectmen voted to rescind the COVID state of emergency in town, effective June 15 in coordation with state guidelines ending on that date as vaccination goals are met. The board voted to extend outdoor dining permits until Dec. 1, however.

“I try to look for silver linings and in COVID, this was a silver lining, to try to help all these restaurants expand their footprint outside because there’s a lot of people even still who don’t feel comfortable eating inside,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, noting that all restaurants in town said they had benefitted from it.

Dyer said the state would have to pass legislation before the towns are able to do so on a permanent basis.

Selectmen voted to approve a cannabis delivery service at Impressed LLC, meaning a potential additional $7 million, of which the town could impose a 3 percent local option tax, on top of the 3 percent tax the state collects and sends to the town, potentially meaning $420,000 annually for Hanson. The company had written a letter to the board requesting such consideration.

In fiscal 2020, recreational cannabis sales generated $122 million in taxes to the state, of which, $30.5 million was in sales taxes and $14.4 million in local tax options, according to Town Administrator Lisa Green.

“This is definitely a substantial revenue generator for municipalities that we really should consider supporting,” said Green, who said there is no time limit mentioned for the fee, which is on top of the impact tax. The Cannabis Control Commission would still have to approve the company’s application. The company will not be doing direct retail business in Hanson.

“People are going to be allowed to deliver cannabis to Hanson whether we allow Impressed LLC to do it or not,” FitzGerald-Kemmett noted, pointing to state law permitting it.

She also requested that the town seek an updated financial forecast from Impressed LLC.

“It’s a commerce entity,” Green said. “You really can’t stop them.”

Dyer asked about the potential for Selectmen getting a tour of the Impressed LLC business, which Green’s office said has been offered as an invitation to the board.

Selectman Jim Hickey, who had voted against the warrant article at last month’s Town Meeting, changed his position citing the potential funds for the town.

“I was wrong,” he said.

“You weren’t wrong, you just got more educated,” Selectman Kenny Mitchell said.