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.

It’s going to be a busy week between Monday, May 31 and Sunday, June 6. Here’s a glance at the calendar on the wall:

Memorial Day

Whitman veterans will be gathering by 10 a.m., Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at American Legion Post 22, 33 Legion Parkway, setting off to visit all four Whitman Cemeteries starting with High Street. They will then travel to Zion, St. James and Colbrook cemeteries for ceremonies before ending with a ceremony at Whitman Park.

A breakfast will be served at Post 22 after the ceremonies.

Hanson will be conducting a Memorial Day service at Fern Hill Cemetery at 9 a.m., Monday, May 31. The 22nd Mass, Vol. Infantry honor guard, American Legion flag-lowering and Don Teague on bagpipes during the event. Prayers, speakers and Scouts honor the nation’s war dead. The names of Hanson veterans who have died in the past year will be read.

Town Meeting

Whitman’s annual Town Meeting has been changed to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 2 in the Town Hall auditorium as town buildings will reopen to normal pre-pandemic hours on June 1.

Graduations

WHRHS Scholarship Night will be streamed on June 1 over Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV.

W-H Community Evening School graduation is at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 3. It will be held indoors in either the Performing Arts Center or library.

High School commencement, 6 p.m., Friday, June 4. Each student receives six tickets for the reserved seating area during the outdoor ceremony, with the doors opening to general admission at 5:15 p.m.

South Shore Tech’s graduation is slated for 10 a.m., Saturday, June 5 at the school’s football field. The rain date is 2 p.m., Sunday, June 6. Graduates are limited to one car per family and streaming coverage will be available for those unable to attend. Two student speeches and an administrator address are planned.

As with last year’s graduation, students will form a procession by shop to receive their diplomas.

HANSON — Voters will see a proposed $1.8 million proposition 2 ½ override vote on the annual Town Election ballot on Saturday, May 15.

After an often-contentious Town Meeting held at the WHRHS gym on Monday, May 3, which drew more than 200 Hanson residents, budgets that can go into effect with or without the override were approved.

“We need the override to pull us out of a deficit that will not go away,” Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullvan said.

The crowd described by Town Moderator Sean Kealy as “larger than usual” observed a moment of silence for all residents lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barbara Arena was designated as deputy moderator, who with her assistants, helped ensure no one who wished to speak was missed as Kealy was not on a raised dais did not want to miss any resident who wished to speak.

The Town Meeting voted to approve two versions of the fiscal 2022 budget, one totaling $29,508,290 as recommended by the Finance Committee, to take effect if the Proposition 2 ½ override fails and one totaling $31,363,245 to go by should the override be passed at the ballot box.

“We’re voting on two budgets,” Kealy explained. “One budget if the article does not pass and Article 5 if the override does pass.”

Former Selectman Bruce Young advocated an amendment to the budget under discussion of Article 4, based on the argument that the override is necessary because of the schools, not public safety or other departments. He urged moving the budget requests to department request level and take the difference from the school department, where it belongs.

“I can’t sit here in good conscience and support a budget like this, knowing that the reason for the financial crisis … is basically because of the passage last year of the amendment to the regional school agreement that took us from the percentage of pupils method to this year to the statutory, or wealth-based method of assessment,” Young said. “The override belongs in the department where the reason lies. That’s the only reason my amendment is being made.”

Finance Committee Chair Kevin Sullivan suggested people take caution before voting yes on Young’s amendment. He explained that the town had voted for the statutory method last year, despite its not being recommended.

“I don’t like the thought of people losing their jobs. It’s not a pleasant thing,” he said. “We had to make some tough decisions. We went through this budget, given the guidance that the overwhelming population of the town presented us with. We made these cuts, not lightly … I think if we have to cut these public servants, it means trouble for our town.”

But, Sullivan also warned that, if they start changing line items, it opens up a quagmire where it would have to go back to the School Committee and would lead to a 1/12 budget and a super town meeting.

“We carved this budget with care,” he said.

The School Committee can return items that had been reduced if the budget is returned to them.

John Zucco of Glenwood Place, said Sullivan’s statement means the School Committee runs the town.

“The School Committee doesn’t control us, it’s just the facts of belonging to a regional school district,” Sullivan said.

Whitman has agreed to the number, he added.

“We didn’t do this lightly,” he said of the Finance Committee’s recommendation. “Unfortunately, this is where we are. We need this override to pull us out of a deficit that will not go away. It will only get exponentially worse year after year.”

Frank Milisi of Brook Street argued that the regional school district brings “massive amounts of aid from the state,” but agreed that the two towns should have equal representation on the School Committee.

But he also noted that Whitman has to “pay a piece of this bill.”

“To say that this whole situation is because of the school budget is not an accurate representation,” Milisi said. “Did the school budget do something to make this happen? Yes, but it’s definitely not the only reason for this to be happening.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes concurred with the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen. He said it is easy to say the situation is the School Department’s fault or to blame another town, referring to Whitman.

“These two towns have the lowest tax rates on the South Shore,” Hayes said. “I’m not in favor of huge tax rates, either, but if you want to continue services, there’s something of a misnomer that there’s something in this — it’s about a $1.85 million override for a municipality.”

Hayes said the school district has lost tons of employees over recent years, a situation getting worse all the time, while everyone blames the schools for budget problems.

“Police and fire have the same issues,” he said. “We are doing the same job — we service the biggest amount of people in town at 4,000 students roughly, employ the biggest number of people. …We need to continue on supporting all of our services.”

Joe O’Sullivan of West Washington Street moved the question, but Young was allowed to speak again before that happened. If the override passes, he promised to put a vote yes sign on his lawn.

Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell said the town’s bills are $31,366,000 to run the town, there is only $29,516,000.

“The override must go through in order to maintain town services,” he said, urging voters to reject Young’s amendment, speaking as an individual, said there is a possibility of a super town meeting if the override fails and that it require a two-thirds vote of the entire School Committee to pass a budget. The school budget was approved by an 8-2 vote.

“If you watched the meeting, the two opposed wanted, likely, a higher budget,” he said. “The likelihood of a budget coming back to the School Committee and being reduced by $3 million-plus is extremely low.”

The $3 million-plus figure represents the $1.3 million reduction to the operating assessment Young advocated, almost $2 million more in the whole budget would be affected, Howard explained.

Young’s motion was rejected by voters, with the original $29,508,290 budget Article 4 approved.

Article 5 was also passed after another heated debate between Young and Sullivan, with the $31,363,245 bottom line, including the $1.85 million override passes.

Sullivan said the override was aimed to prevent starting the next fiscal year in a deficit.

“Our job is to ensure the financial well-being of this town, looking at where we are and where we’re going,” Sullivan said. “The School Committee made some small cuts — in the grand scheme of their budget, they are small cuts — these cuts may not be there next year, so we looked at setting us off on a level footing for next year.”

Sullivan said the number presented to the town was what the Finance Committee felt was needed to put Hanson on a level footing next year, with any unencumbered balances going into free cash the following year.

Young expressed umbrage that $305,000 was being added to the School Committee’s certified assessment at Town Meeting. He sought to amend it to reflect the School Committee’s certified assessment of $12,646,118.

Town Meeting voters rejected Young’s amendment and approved Article 5 as presented in the warrant.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 27, voted to appoint Katherine M. Feodoroff of Mead, Talerman & Costa LLC as Town Labor Counsel for an indefinite term.

Feodoroff said she looks forward to the added responsibility especially during the “complicated time” Hanson is now going through.

At the same time, the board discussed policy revisions to access to town counsel in an effort to control legal costs. Feodoroff will now review the policy and the board will return to the issue next month.

“Since Leo Peloquin left, we’ve had some issues — I’ll just say it — with labor counsel,” said Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell, who said he has been working with Feodoroff for six weeks on personnel issues.

With interim Town Administrator Lisa Green coming on board, he said some direction is required from labor counsel.

“Kate is great,” Mitchell said. “She gets right back to me. She explains things so you can understand it — in layman’s terms. … I think it’s the right move.”

Selectman James Hickey agreed, citing the marijuana grow facility issue as one she explained in terms that were understandable.

“I understood it because I read it about 10 times, but Kate put that very important question into simpler terms so that everyone could understand it,”  he said. “This isn’t going to come out right, but she doesn’t talk like a lawyer — she just talks like people talk.”

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett concurred, stressing Feodoroff’s responsiveness, but expressed concern that “it’s kind of a one-off appointment.”

There was no search/interview process, as has been the case for other appointments, FitzGerald-Kemmett said of what she was concerned was a Band-Aid approach. The board had also discussed and decided not to retain the same firm for general and labor counsel work.

“I really can’t express how much I appreciate working with Kate, but … do we have a responsibility to do some due diligence around cost?” she asked. “Do we have some responsibility to take a look at fee arrangements?”

Hickey said he views the move as one to get the town through the COVID-19 crisis, and then go through the RFP process for hiring new full-time labor counsel.

“We sat down, we had everyone’s information, and we did those interviews with all the firms we were looking at, and we did do our due diligence and we went trough the entire process — and we still made a mistake,” he said of the last labor counsel hire. “Now, with the way COVID is going, we can’t do that.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she read indefinite to mean “pretty much forever,” but said, if the board’s intention is to revisit the issue as Hickey said, she would be “100-percent on board with this.”

Mitchell argued that Selectmen could look at cost, but that a town administrator’s working relationship with a firm is important.

Green said she became familiar with Feodoroff during sewage negotiations between Whitman and Brockton. Green is also a lawyer.

“Having a town counsel who is very knowledgeable and responsive is always extremely helpful, especially when something comes up where you need help right away,” Green said.

Selectman Matt Dyer said he agrees that for the immediate situation, Feodoroff should be hired in that role.

“We’ve got to have a little bit of direction on this, as far as contacting town counsel,” Mitchell said, noting that past practice has been to go through the town administrator or board chairman, but nothing was on paper.

“I’m not suggesting that Selectmen can’t contact town counsel — I’m not suggesting that at all,” Mitchell said. He wants the chairman or town administrator to know what is being asked so the question and its answer is known by the entire board to control duplication of effort.

Weekends and after hours calls should be limited to the town administrator or chairman, he said.

“We really need to scale it down as far as cost,” he said. “I think, if the policy is broken then the chairman should put it on the agenda for the next meeting and it should be discussed publically. I mean, we’re all adults here.”

If the inquiry is about the board chairman, and there is concern about confidentiality, then the vice chairman and the town administrator should be informed, Mitchell argued.

Hickey and Dyer agreed it was a good idea.

“You can’t have the chairman of the drainage committee contacting Kate about some crazy problem,” Hickey said. “We need to cut our legal costs, big time.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed on most points, but is a bit hesitant about it because the town administrator works for the board and administrators usually have a close working relationship with town counsel.

“You could run into a political situation where you are stonewalled and you’ve got no recourse to do anything to get the legal advice that you need,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, admitting that would be a rare circumstance. She also said she would expect the chair to talk to anyone who overstepped one-on-one, but in a “public, humiliating way.”

Other boards should be required to obtain a vote of the board before consulting town counsel. Mitchell agreed on that point.

“I’d like to see this tweaked a little bit,” she said.

She liked the idea of keeping a log and informing the rest of the board of information sought to limit duplication of effort.

WHITMAN —  Fire Chief Timothy Grenno has submitted a letter to the Board of Selectmen signaling his intention to retire, effective July 9. Selectmen voted to accept the resignation with “utmost regret” during their Tuesday, April 13 meeting. The board also met with the Finance Committee during the session which unveiled the town’s fiscal 2022 budget.

Selectmen also began the process for finding Grenno’s replacement by seeking a fire chief’s list from Civil Service.

Grenno has been with the department since joining as a call firefighter in 1984, full-time since 1992 and promoted to lieutenant in 1999. He became fire chief Sept. 12, 2008.

“I had but two primary goals in being your fire chief — to assure all of  my members go home at the end of their tours and to leave the fire service a little better than when I entered,” Grenno wrote in his letter, read during the meeting by Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “I have fulfilled both those goals … now it is time to turn the reins over.”

Kowalski thanked Grenno for his 37 years of service on behalf of the board. Grenno thanked the board for its support, counseling, mentoring and discussions.

“You couldn’t ask for a better board than the one we have right now and I thank you very much,” Grenno said. “I walk away happy.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci, whose son had been a Whitman call firefighter, thanked Grenno and his predecessor for guiding him.

Kowalski quipped that it was, “Really a pleasure to have a chief who knew how to use punctuation when he was writing.”

Selectman Brian Bezanson thanked Grenno, not only for his career in service to the town, but for the last year and a half in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The town is grateful to have you and your department for the pandemic, and everything that we’ve gone through as a town,” Bezanson said. “We couldn’t have asked for better service and dedication while this tragedy has taken place.”

Selectman Randy LaMattina echoed that sentiment.

“The last year and a half probably was one of the most trying of your career and, without a doubt, you had this town ready to do the right thing by our citizens,” LaMattina said. “I don’t think there’s a doubt in anyone’s mind that we were ready if we were called on and that’s primarily because of you.”

Selectman Justin Evans, as the most recent member of the board, said his work as Fire Department liaison during COVID was eye-opening.

“Seeing all the work you’ve been putting in — and the whole fire department has been putting in — this last year-plus, it’s been trying for all of us, but I’m glad to have [had] you running the department and the Whitman Emergency Management Service,” Evans said.

Budget review

Getting down to budget business, Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman said Whitman, like many area towns has “reentered the red with respect to COVID-19” mainly due to clusters among school children, but that it would have an effect on reopening Town Hall and potentially on scheduling Town Meeting.

The budget includes $1,564,075 in requested expenditure increases over the $41.4 million fiscal 2021 budget, and actions taken to close the budget gap, including $603,300 in reductions to department requests.

The major budget cost-drivers are the $1.2 million school assessment increase, a $197,000 hike from Plymouth County Retirement and a $91,000 increase from increased enrollment at Norfolk Aggie.

New revenue is foreseen as $108,000 in excess overlay revenue and $50,000 in new real estate and personal property tax growth “based on conservative analysis.”

Projected state aid is a bit over $3 million at this point, minus $206,000 in expenses.

“There are funds in here for nominal raises for both union and nonunion staff,” Heineman said, including a slight increase in the salary offered for an assistant town administrator to increase the applicant pool by bringing the salary more in line with the market.

The town’s free cash balance is at 1,058,634, of which $594,000 is being asked to help fund the budget.

“We do not have sufficient free cash available to fund what we want to do in terms of capital [$956,000],” he said.

More of that work could be undertaken if the school district succeeds in using federal ESSER III funds to reduce it’s budget and, thereby, assessments to the towns.

Costs for the three high schools — W-H, South Shore Tech and Norfolk Aggie — as well as pension costs have continued to rise.

He said he was recommending a “semi-consolidated budget,” in which departments present requests by salaries in one line and expenses in another.

FinCom Chairman Richard Anderson said he appreciated the joint meeting with Selectmen, noting they have met with all town departments since last summer.

He said the biggest hurdle was the fact that there was not yet a solid number from the school district, but said that while he has concerns about the consolidated budget approach, his committee has not yet had time to review the budget, which they had just received.

“We’re putting the onus on managers to manage properly,” LaMattina said. Kowalski said Selectmen also need time to digest the budget, stressing no vote would be taken that night on warrant articles.

Members of the two boards noted the budget document needs to be put before residents, and Heineman pledged to post it on the town website.

“It’s a little bit of sticker shock, absolutely,” LaMattina said. “We are providing more information than the townspeople have ever seen. …It’s going to be a matter of getting that information out, making sure people can see it.”

The meeting with the Finance Committee started with Kowalski reading a letter into the record at the request of FinCom member Kathleen Ottina, in which she expressed outrage that he had not ruled LaMattina out of order for remarks at the March 23 budget meeting with the School Department and School Committee.

Kowalski said he regretted that Ottina felt the need to write the letter but said he understood what she was talking about. He also felt the need to permit LaMattina to respond, since the complaint was about him.

LaMattina apologized for putting Kowalski “in the position where you have to feel the brunt of Ms. Ottina’s outrage over parliamentary procedure.”

He also affirmed for the board that “if the time should arise again that I should feel the need to call out a department head for unfactual statements or speak upon untruthful statements by an elected official” he would make every effort to be properly recognized before speaking and would try to make his point in a “less abrasive manner.”

Kowalski said he noted when watching the recording it was apparent LaMattina had raised his hand, but that it was not evident during the meeting.

Kowalski read another letter from the DPW Commissioners about their unanimous vote to proceed with the sewer force main project at an estimated cost of $14,471,950, including all construction costs, restoration of easement and replacement of manhole covers and other ancillary work.

Hanson Town Administrator John Stanbrook has been selected as the new business and finance director for the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, effective July 1, pending successful contract negotiations.

Stanbrook has been serving as Hanson’s town administrator for the past year.

The School Committee, meeting Wednesday, March 31 met with the candidate for the position. Interim Director John Tuffy has been serving the district in that capacity since the departure of Christine Suckow.

Tuffy has worked with Stanbrook before, when Tuffy was business manager at Silver Lake Regional and Stanbrook served on the School Committee there.

Eight candidates applied for the position, with four brought forward to be interviewed by the search committee — made up of School Committee members Christopher Howard and Fred Small, Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak, Assistant Superintendent George Ferro and Tuffy — Chairman Bob Hayes reminded School Committee members.

“I think the elephant in the room is that you currently work for the town of Hanson, so now you’re applying for a position with the district,” School Committee member Dawn Byers said. “To me, that gives the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

She said she has concerns about that relationship and that people on both sides may have preconceived notions and expectations derived from the relationships that are “naturally created from your current position.”

“I don’t think this starts with a clean slate for our district,” she said.

Small asked who she meant by “some people.”

“I think the real problem is that more people are not asking questions about this interview process right now, to tell you the truth,” she said.

Howard said five people conducted the interview with Stanbrook, but if the committee believes it was a waste of time, they could conduct more interviews over and over again.

“I do think there was a process where there was a request for people that were interested in doing the interviews,” he said, noting he offered to give his spot to someone who wanted to be on the search committee more. He also noted there were no other qualified candidates.

“You charged me with finding the best possible candidate,” Szymaniak said. “Sometimes it will ruffle feathers in other districts, other communities.”

He said that Stanbrook was the best candidate from the available pool.

“The piece that came through from [two Hanson Selectmen Szymaniak asked] was character, character, work ethic, character, and numbers,” he said. “He’s a character man, he’s a numbers man, he’s trustworthy and he will work his tail off to do his job.”

Stanbrook said he consulted the Ethics Commission for an opinion and there is a disclosure on file with the town clerk’s office in Hanson.

Two candidates failed to show up for scheduled interviews.

Stanbrook said he was excited to apply for the position and to answer the committee’s questions. Of the two remaining candidates, Stanbrook received the search committee’s unanimous backing, according to Szymaniak.

“We did interview two candidates who were very qualified for the position,” Szymaniak said. “After discussion, the five of us recommended to you John as a qualified business manager who will help us, in my opinion, lead us with a solid business plan for the future — something that I think is desperately needed for this regional school district, something that we haven’t had in my tenure as a principal and a superintendent.”

He said the district has struggled to put forth a plan acceptable to both towns.

“I think John’s qualities in municipal finance, and his passion for school finance … he truly wanted to be a school business manager and, I’m going to say, he ended up on the wrong side of the tracks in municipal finance,” Szymaniak said.

Szymaniak described Stanbrook as a “numbers guy” who he feels very comfortable working with.

“He will support our office well,” Szymaniak said. “He will support his people in my office well and I think he would support this district very well.”

Small said that Stanbrook is a very well-rounded candidate who combines a lot of strong experience from both the school and town sides. Howard agreed that Stanbrook is also strong with numbers and asked him to share how he came to that background.

Stanbrook noted he was finance director in Mansfield where he had also applied for and was a finalist in the search for a school finance post in that community. Before his final interview the Mansfield town manager was let go and he was asked to step in as interim as well as finance director and — for a brief period — town accountant.

“I was going this way when I was pulled the other way,” he said. “That’s what I like to do. That’s where my head is at. … I can do other things, and I don’t mind doing other things, I have other tasks that I could perform, but this is what I like to do. This is why I get up in the morning.”

After dealing with COVID for a year, Stanbrook said he took the time to address what he really wants to do.

“When the opportunity came up, I felt it was important to go for it,” he said.

Ferro said one of the things that drew the search committee to Stanbrook was his diversity and his ability to wear different hats while maintaining a keen focus on the numbers and the mission and vision of where the district needs to go from a financial standpoint. Tuffy said Stanbrook’s experience with school finance as well as town finance would be valuable to the district.

“He’s also been in our chairs as an elected School Committee member in the town of Halifax,” Small said. “He understands a little bit of what we go through.”

Byers asked about Stanbrook’s licensure for the position.

Szymaniak said Stanbrook’s license is ready for review and he had to take tests with DESE to accomplish that, which were not available because of COVID, once he took them he passed both tests. The no-shows were licensed in Rhode Island and Connecticut, respectively, and a third was not licensed.

Byers also asked about the qualifications of the other candidate interviewed by the search committee, but Szymaniak said he did not feel it was appropriate during Stanbrook’s interview.

She also asked what his current staff would say about his work style.

“I’m not a hard-core disciplinarian, but we get stuff done,” Stanbrook said, feeling his staff would support him. “I’m task-oriented but I feel we can do that with a general joie de vivre, you don’t have to be angry all the time.”

He has some experience with the MUNIS accounting system.