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Budget panel seeks financial review

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WHITMAN — The Override Evaluation Committee on Monday, Aug. 26, will be working with retired Duxbury Finance Director John Madden to review current town finances and plan for the future.

Madden, who started in Hingham before working in Plymouth for 17 years before moving on to Duxbury for 12 years, has 31 years of municipal finance experience. He has also worked in the private sector on converting accounting systems for cities and towns across the Commonwealth. He is currently education coordinator for the Mass. Municipal Auditors and Accountants’ Association, which he has also served as president.

He expects to provide a progress report to the town in a couple weeks. In the meantime, the School Committee has also contracted with the Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) to conduct a review of the school district’s finances including minimum local funding of the towns.

“You guys are my primary focus,” Madden said after outlining past work he has done for the town of Rockland, as well as recurring work in Uxbridge, Woburn and Mansfield. “Budgeting had been the greatest aspect of being finance director. That, and forecasting and projecting — I just love that.”

Madden said when he started in Duxbury the town had been using nearly $1.9 million in free cash to balance the budget.

“Once you begin to use free cash for ongoing expenses, then it’s no longer considered free cash,” Madden said. “Eventually, you run out of free cash and the tenor of conversations generally changes.”

He said he has spoken to Finance Committee member Scott Lambiase about what the Override Evaluation Committee is looking into and that he can bring perspective to the process.

Madden said he anticipates working closely with Town Administrator Frank Lynam and in talking with the town accountant and, potentially, the building inspector, assessor, “and anybody else you want me to talk to.”

“I’d be comfortable going back about six years to see changes … just to get a look back,” he said. “What are your trends? Are there any anomalies in there? What has changed and what have you done with those changes?”

He plans to translate those five years into a picture of the current financial situation, as well as a look forward five years.

“We’re having a hard time meeting everyone’s needs,” said Committee Chairman Randy LaMattina. “We have seen the school district suffer [and] we’ve given them a good chunk of money but it doesn’t seem enough.”

He told Madden that, ultimately, the committee was set up to formulate a strategic plan of where the town’s finances will be in five years.

“If we’re going to fix it, we want to fix it now,” with the help of a new set of eyes, LaMattina said.

“I know we can get there,” Madden said. “I know we can develop a working tool.”

To do that, he said he needs to know information, including practices done from routine but not written down, about the town that is different from his experience.

“It’s the nuances of what makes Whitman Whitman that I need to know,” Madden said.

During the meeting Lynam also reported that, in order to fund this fiscal year, $350,000 of what historically has been excess levy capacity was used to fund, among other things, the increase in the WHRSD budget.

“The concern I had expressed at that meeting is that we were using money that we couldn’t readily identify, but we anticipate would be available, and as an offset we did retain free cash available for appropriation in the event that these numbers weren’t there,” Lynam said.

He asked the town accountant to work through the available numbers and with the Department of Revenue to extrapolate what those numbers would be.

The resulting estimate is that $553,000 will be available in the levy capacity when the tax rate is set, however, the $350,000 already used for the school budget represents part of that figure.

“If all of these numbers are supported, we will have an additional levy of $203,000 when we set our tax rate in late October or early November,” Lynam said.

Lynam and Madden will be asked to formalize how that is done, according to LaMattina.

The UMass, Boston Collins Center will present a capital plan for Whitman at a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Town Hall Auditorium.

Regional pact to face TM challenge

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HANSON — On the eve of the start to a new school year, Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak briefed Hanson Selectmen on district funding calculations, Whitman’s passing over the amended Regional Agreement at the May Town Meeting, and the potential impact of 15 years’ of Whitman billing errors for water and sewer at the high school.

During the Selectmen’s review of October Town Meeting warrant articles Tuesday, Aug. 27, the board added a place-holder article to revoke pervious Town Meeting approval of the amended Regional Agreement.

“If we don’t revoke the agreement we have in place, we could be locked into this right now … especially where it sounds ambiguous, at best,” said Hanson Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan in recommending a warrant article. “Just something to think about.”

“It’s easier to have it on, than not,” said Interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini.

There is no plan to revisit the fiscal 2020 school budget, Szymaniak said.

“One of my goals this year, after I met with School Committee last year, would be to be as up front with the Hanson Selectmen as inquisitive as the Whitman Selectmen have been,” Szymaniak said.

He reviewed how the Regional Agreement was revised in June 2018, and approved by Hanson Town Meeting that fall. Whitman voters, during a “difficult budget process,” Szymaniak noted, passed over the agreement.

“I started asking some questions about why the Regional Agreement was passed over, and the issue around funding came up,” he said.

There are two ways to fund a regional school district, according to Szymaniak. The statutory method is based on the minimum local school contribution and the alternative method, which does not — it is instead currently based on enrollment figures with Whitman bearing the cost of 60 percent of the school budget and Hanson 40 percent. Under the statutory method, he said Hanson might be paying more under the alternative method.

“It could be a substantial swing,” Szymaniak said. “I don’t know if members of the Regional Agreement Committee  knew that the statutory method was going to have an impact on the town of Hanson as drastic as it has.”

The issue was slated for further discussion at the Wednesday, Aug. 28 School Committee meeting.

He sought a recommendation on the issue from district legal counsel on how to proceed without an approved and signed Regional Agreement and was advised that the statutory method would be used until that happens.

The minimum local contribution takes into account inflation, enrollment, wage adjustment, property values, income and municipal revenue growth.

W-H has been funded through the alternative method since 1991, and, despite a 2007 recommendation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that all regional school districts begin using the statutory method, the district did not make that change. He said the 2018 revised Regional Agreement it is inferred that the statutory method be used, but not expressly written out.

Selectman Jim Hickey said he would be interested in looking up School Committee minutes from those discussions to determine why the DESE memo was not recommended at that time.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said it was likely at the time that, while DESE was recommending, but it wasn’t required.

“It seems as time has gone on, it’s a firmer position that DESE’s taking,” she said.

“When DESE usually recommends, that means it’s in effect,” Szymaniak said, adding that he does not see that yet, but noted Dennis-Yarmouth is also grappling with the question.   

FitzGerald-Kemmett also asked about the dollar amount Hanson would be shouldering, noting she had heard it to be about $900,000. Szymaniak confirmed that figure and said Whitman has not yet put the Regional Agreement on any warrant for a fall Town Meeting.

“We definitely appreciate the heads-up,” she said. “We appreciate being told about it.”

Whitman’s Override Evaluation Committee has hired consultant John Madden to conduct and audit/needs assessment, based on where the town could be financially in five years.

Marini said she has discussed the issue with Town Accountant Todd Hassett, who said the statutory agreement would likely be the one that would be used, based on his experience in other communities.

“We really need to know this sooner, rather than later, for planning purposes because that’s a significant amount of money and we have no magical way of making that money appear,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

“This isn’t unique to the W-H School District,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes, a Hanson resident, who attended the Selectmen’s meeting. “This is popping up with Regional Agreements across the state. As you can see, every attorney has a different opinion on it, but it looks like it’s going to fall over on the statutory method.”

He said he expects it to be challenged legally.

In theory, Szymaniak said the agreement could be voided at town meeting and changed to the alternative method, but that the absence of any contract or an expressly worded change, it would default to the statutory method.

The water/sewer bill, discovered by Whitman’s new water superintendent in February, would be split 60-40 without DESE’s involvement.

Since the high school was built in 2004, incorrect bills from the Whitman DPW — said to be caused by human error — have left the School District with not only a $300,000 bill, but no accurate idea of the actual water cost for future budgets.

“That’s a heck of an error,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“A heck of an error and it says human error on the bill,” Szymaniak said. “I have kind of kicked that can down [the road] because of the bigger issue right now.”

The district’s legal counsel is reviewing the situation, but current case law only covers a case of going back about seven years to rectify bills caused by human error.

Hanson Selectmen pick their new executive assistant

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HANSON — One search is over. Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 20 voted to endorse the recommendation of interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini to hire Greer Getzen of Norfolk to succeed Marini as Executive Assistant to the Board. Getzen accepted the position.

“I just want the board to find a fit for them,” Marini said, noting that the Town Administrator Act calls for her as interim to make a recommendation to them as the relevant board. “I felt that the board needed to have part of the interview process. It’s a really close relationship and I’m not going to be here.”

Marini plans to retire in December so long as a new town administrator is in place by that time.

The board was impressed with Getzen’s experience.

Getzen, who also has experience as an interim town administrator in Dover from 2004-09 and as town administrator until 2018, also has 14 years’ experience as an executive assistant to that town’s Board of Selectmen.

Also interviewing with Selectmen Tuesday were Leanne Monaghan, currently part-time clerk with the Hanson Water Department, and Halifax Assistant Town Treasurer Linda Cole. Both may also be considered for clerical vacancies in Hanson’s Conservation and Planning departments, Selectmen said.

The three finalists were all recommended for interviews after Marini, Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett and Selectman Kenny Mitchell independently reviewed résumés of 36 applicants.

“I’ve been told that there’s some concern regarding the posting process,” Marini said before Tuesday’s interviews began. She said that, in compliance with general bylaws, an internal posting was done two weeks ahead of public posting, with preference in the process given to town employees.

Department heads and Marini — in the capacity as town administrator — reviewed the applications before she, FitzGerald-Kemmett and Mitchell made their recommendations for which candidates should sit for final interviews. Mitchell and Marini interviewed five people Tuesday, Aug.13.

“I think this is the first time we’ve ever done this that Laura, Kenny and I went through them — at different times — and all picked the exact same people,” Marini said.

Getzen had begun her career as a paralegal and then worked for Legal Aid, assisting low-income people with applications for federal benefits before becoming an executive assistant with the town of Natick from 1995 to 2004. She took the position of administrative assistant to the Dover Board of Selectmen in 2004, where she worked until leaving to become project/procurement specialist for the town of Westford in 2018.

“I found local government really fascinating and important,” she said. “Over time the selectmen grew to trust [me and the town administrator] and grew very comfortable with us. We were the first administrator and assistant who were there for a long term, before that it was three years and out. We were used as a stepping-stone.”

She admitted her departure from Dover was prompted by a selectman’s campaign platform of “out with the old, in with the new” and she was concerned she would be painted with that brush.

“I’m not sure what the reason was, but I just felt the language was on the wall, she said. Westford was not a good fit, she said, as she was seeking “a real executive assistant position” and the more clerical role she walked into “bored me to death,” Getzen said.

“I have a broad range of skills and experience,” she said.

Selectmen were impressed with both her skills and candor.

“You’ve explained very clearly why you left your current position and you come to us highly recommended,” said Selectman Wes Blauss. “My only concern is I had to go on Google Maps — where is Norfolk?”

He wondered about Getzen’s ability to contend with the commute, especially in winter.

“I am not afraid to drive and I have a good four-wheel-drive vehicle,” she said. “For me, it’s not a problem.”

Marini said that, as long as the board was comfortable with any of the finalists, Getzen got her nod because Getzen has the skills and experience to take the executive assistant position before a new town administrator was chosen.

“We asked her about how she feels about taking the job and not knowing who the boss was going to be,” Marini said. “We asked everyone the same question. It wasn’t going to be a problem for any of them.”

Marini agreed that Getzen came highly recommended.

“I thought all three were excellent,” said Selectman Jim Hickey, who noted he felt unprepared to comment further as he had just met all three candidates, but that he would cast a vote.

Getzen was Mitchell’s front-runner.

“But if you told us you couldn’t take the job, I’d be fine with the other two,” he said.

“I really was looking for somebody with municipal experience,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Perhaps the other two … would be excellent here [for other vacancies]. I don’t want to be in a position where we would want to have another interim town administrator — I’m hoping this is the last time we ever have to do that — but if we don’t, I think this woman could step right in and do the job. That, for me, is compelling.”

A Plymouth resident who has worked at the Water Department since 2013, Monaghan pointed to her knowledge of Hanson and her possession of the skills required for the job as reasons she would be the best candidate. She has also worked for Analytical Balance in Middleborough coordinating the sampling and testing for public and private water supplies, and performed similar duties at GeoLabs in Braintree before that.

Hanson resident Cole said her range of experience working for the town of Halifax for 20 years has prepared her for the executive assistant role. She began work in Halifax in a clerical role for the Town Clerk/Treasurer’s office in 1995.

County man has EEE virus

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WHITMAN — State and local public health officials have announced that an elderly Plymouth County man is the first confirmed human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in the state since 2013.

“Today’s news is evidence of the significant risk from EEE and we are asking residents to take this risk very seriously,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel of MassDPH. “We will continue to monitor this situation and the impacted communities.”

The nine communities now at critical risk are Carver, Lakeville, Marion, Middleborough, Rochester, and Wareham in Plymouth County and Acushnet, Freetown, and New Bedford in Bristol County.

Whitman Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Timothy Grenno and Whitman Board of Health Chairman Eric Joubert reminded residents that the virus was confirmed in mosquitoes tested in Whitman last week.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MassDPH) has confirmed that the EEE virus has been detected in mosquito samples collected in Whitman this year. As a result of the tests, the Mass.DPH has announced that the current risk level for Whitman is high.

Aerial spraying for mosquitoes in Whitman was completed by the MassDPH and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) over the weekend. MassDPH and DAR officials will monitor the area over the coming weeks and plan to conduct a second round of spraying.

At this time, scheduled activities in town are not affected by the EEE test, according to Grenno.

“The Board of Health is monitoring the situation and will continue to keep the public updated,” Health Board Chairman Joubert said Monday in a joint statement with Grenno. “We would also like to remind Whitman residents that there are health regulations in place regarding standing water in yards and unkempt yards which are common areas where mosquitoes breed.”

Whitman’s environmental regulations for mosquito reduction can be found at whitman-ma.gov. EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under 15 or over 50 years of age are at the greatest risk for serious illness.

“Though scheduled outdoor activities are not affected by the results of the tests, taking preventative measures, especially the use of proper bug repellent, is a necessity for any outdoor activities, including sporting events,” Grenno said.

This week Mass.DPH and the DAR announced they would be conducting and monitoring aerial spraying in specific areas of Bristol and Plymouth counties to reduce the mosquito population and public health risk. Aerial spraying began Aug. 8 and is expected to continue throughout the weekend during evening and overnight hours.

Although the scheduled aerial spray is designed to help reduce the risk of EEE throughout the area, residents are reminded that they should use mosquito repellent and consider staying indoors during the dusk to dawn hours to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

In addition to the nine communities now at critical risk, 15 communities in southeastern Massachusetts have been determined by DPH to be at high risk for the EEE virus and 18 at moderate risk.

EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004-2006 and 2010-2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those two outbreak periods with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth Counties.

EEE virus has been found in 227 mosquito samples this year, many of them from species of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus to people.

People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes.

Avoid mosquito bites

• Be aware of peak mosquito hours: The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.

• Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

• Apply insect repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.

Mosquito-proof your home

• Drain standing water: Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.

• Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website.

‘It was … meant to be’

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HANSON — It happened when they were on an errand to buy their daughter a dress in January 2018. Christine and James Guindon found something else that caught their eye that day — the former East Washington Street School in Hanson, which had stood empty and unused for nearly 20 years.

For a couple searching for a location in which to expand an early childhood education business, it was just about what they were looking for, and about a year later workmen began renovation.

Buzz around town began soon thereafter.

“I think it’s been a source of curiosity for a lot of people,” Christine said of the reaction to the activity surrounding the building since the Guindons bought the former elementary school at 195 East Washington St.

“Everybody drives by,” James agreed.

Christine is the owner/director of The Learning Well Early Child Education Center at 91 Copeland St., in West Bridgewater and James is a roofer who also does slate and copper work. They had transformed a former church — in a renovated farm building — into The Learning Well and were looking to expand because waiting lists for the school were becoming longer.

The Hanson location already has a waiting list for infants. Christine Guindon said the aim is to have the main floor ready for inspection and, ultimately, opening in November while James continues finish work on the basement level.

“I just really want the town to be proud of it,” she said. “I want it to be a really neat part of the community, and I want people in the community and the surrounding towns to come and enjoy the programs and to utilize it because it’s so unique.”

She opened the West Bridgewater facility in 2016 after she had run a day care out of her home for 10 years, while her children were small and finding available day care had proven difficult for her.

“It’s an important part of a family nowadays, they’re looking for a place where their children will be safe,”

The Learning Well offers a year-round program serving 60 children in 45 families. On a visit to the West Bridgewater School on Friday, Aug. 2, preschoolers were learning about Oktoberfest and other cultural traditions during a unit on Germany as hand-painted German Flags were strung along one end of the class. Younger students in another class were finishing a unit on France before moving on to Italy.

The Guindons had never been to Hanson before that fateful shopping trip, James said, but both had the same reaction to seeing the building — it was perfect for their plans.

“It had been sitting and all the paint from the ceiling was on the floor,” Christine noted. “You really had to see past the bad condition it was in.”

Their two sons have been working on the renovation and her three daughters are teachers at the West Bridgewater location.

“We have a vision for here,” Christine said, noting she would be able to offer two classrooms for each age group she serves in Hanson, compared with the one for each possible in West Bridgewater.

The Hanson neighbors were happy to hear of their plans, Christine said, and they turned out to support the project at public hearings before zoning officials.

A handicapped ramp will be added on one side of the building, and special-order windows to replace the original windows will be installed — but they had to be reordered when the wrong size was initially delivered.

“We have viewing windows [in the hallways], because I am a firm believer that parents, families and people who are touring can see our programs,” Christine said.

The main floor will be divided by age groups with infants to age 2.9 in four different classrooms and preschoolers in a larger class in the basement, along with a gross motor skills/indoor play area and large bathrooms. Classrooms on the main floor also have bathrooms.

“If you’re not in the field you don’t really understand what goes into making a program that fits all ages,” she said. “I surround myself with great people who know what they are talking about, who have taught me so many things.”

Christine said the financial investment has been “much more than anticipated,” mainly due to abatement, removal of oil tanks in the basement, and installation of drainage and a new five-foot thick cement floor in the basement as well as the handicapped ramp and a wheelchair lift.

“I think it was something meant for us,” James said. “I think history in towns is getting lost. You can go through every single town and see buildings being taken down.”

While this school is not historic, he noted the architectural details such as the huge windows are not common these days.

“When we started this program, the biggest thing to me was trying to keep local people involved in it,” James said. “I thought it was important that the towns around it actually did the work.”

Jeff Shaw, “an excellent site man who didn’t kill me on costs” is a local businessman.

“I hope that the community or the town will want to maybe use this space,” she said, noting the basement room would be good for dance or karate classes — or even birthday parties for children who attend the day care.

James took five months to plan the project and gave priority to Hanson companies for subcontracting work on the school.

“The biggest challenge is the one in front of you,” he said, noting that the project’s standing costs for construction are on-target, but other “soft” cost, such as replacing bricks at the back of the school, were unexpected.

He has done a lot of restoration work, including the roof of the Tremont Street Church in Boston — which had been sold and converted to condos — as well as the Mt. Auburn Street Church in Arlington.

Several people they know, from business contacts to family members had passed the school building in the past, but he and Christine had never been to Hanson.

He also noted that a neighbor on one side of the school used to play football with him at Plymouth State — and they hadn’t seen each other since high school. Another man, now living in Washington, D.C., came to visit the building because he had gone to school there and was revisiting his former hometown.

West Nile found in Whitman sample

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Whitman, Massachusetts.  One sample of mosquitoes collected in Whitman on July 23 tested positive for WNV.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

By taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.

• Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

• Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

• Drain Standing Water – Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.

• Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

W-H looks ahead to FY 2021

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School Committee members on Monday, July 22 began assessing the challenges involved in preparing for Whitman’s planned operational override in the fall, as well as possible approaches to long-term budget planning.

Member Dawn Byers and Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak, fresh from a meeting of Whitman’s nine-member Budget-Override Evaluation Committee earlier in the afternoon, also briefed the School Committee on the organizational and override question structural work done in that session.

The budget panel meets next on Aug. 12 to begin specific discussions on school and municipal budgets.

“I’d say the best I can do is a level-service budget with our increases,” Szymaniak said. “The challenge, and I brought it to the committee, is that I don’t want us to be level-serviced if we’re looking at moving forward and, members of the committee, we’re part of that.”

Szymaniak added that, if the aim is to plan budgets for five years ahead, he wants to make sure the district keeps moving educational services forward.

The School Committee next meets at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28 and will, among other issues discuss the budget implications of where the district wants to be in the next five years. School Committee member Christopher Howard requested that Hanson officials be kept aware of budget discussions with Whitman officials.

Committee member Fred Small asked if the dollar amount lost to level-service budgets from last year to this year could be provided.

“I don’t want to see us go backward from where we were last year,” he said. “I’d also like to see you work on the plan for how we’re going to advance. To just stay still and tread water …”

Szymaniak said he is looking at a close to $2.5 million increase in the budget for fiscal 2021 — $1.349 million if neither full-day kindergarten, nor busing costs for a school start time change, are included.

“We’re having more students than ever go out [of district] through school choice and they’re going out earlier,” he said. “I’m not losing kids in seventh and eighth-grade. I’m losing them in kindergarten.”

Those school choice losses are no longer just to charter schools, Szymaniak added. Parents are sending them to neighboring districts, such as Rockland, that are adding to school budgets, or to online educational programs.

“We’re still bringing in revenue, which is great for us, but the movement is different and, I’m afraid if we don’t continue to move forward …” he said.

“School choice has turned it into a public school that has to be competitive with other public school towns,” School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said. “Public education is going to have to be competitive.”

School Committee member Dan Cullity argued that all-day kindergarten is vital to stem the eventual loss of revenue as more parents send their children to other districts.

“Number two, the state’s going to make [full-day kindergarten] a mandate,” Cullity said. “If they make a mandate, then we’ll really be behind the eight ball, so we should get ahead of it. … before we’re the last ones in the state.”

Szymaniak also said that voters often argue that sports should be cut to lower budgets.

“If I were to threaten to cut sports … if your children were going to be freshmen and there was a threat on the table … and you were nervous about that, you might enroll that child [at another school] and the revenue I would lose would be worth the $280,000 to $300,000 that’s in the budget for athletics,” he said. “Most of our athletic budget is from revolving and gates.”

Changes in technology education also have implications for budgets, where the previous one-to-one device policy is giving way to Chromebook carts as teachers find the use of laptop computers in the classroom.

“They’re not as used as everybody thought they were going to be,” Szymaniak said.

Capital challenges also lie ahead in the district’s antiquated phone system, $330,000 worth of inaccurate Whitman water bills since the high school opened, and the cost of moving district-owned fiber optic wires to new utility poles at a MassDOT project along Bedford Street in Whitman. Bids are now being sought for that work. Gas and electric costs are expected to be up about $83,000 and trash pickup is forecast up by about $7,500.

While the increase in state per-pupil funding was limited to $30, regional transportation funding has been increased to a level of — 82.5 percent reimbursement, a total $75.9 million — in the state budget approved for signing by Gov. Charlie Baker.

“I’m looking at custodial services [SJ Services] up $29,000 for fiscal 2021,” Szymaniak said. “First Student [busing] will be up $41,600. If we want to change our start times, it will be an up-front cost of $440,000 reimbursed the following year.”

If full-day kindergarten in implemented, it is expected to cost $710,000 and the district is looking at an additional $100,000 in curriculum costs wit the addition of an English program and $1.1 million in contracted salary increases, but Szymaniak is level-servicing special education.

“I think special education is going to level off,” Szymaniak said. “My gut tells me that. But that’s a tough number to go back.”

Szymaniak said the fiscal 2020 budget was complicated by the resignation of Indian Head Principal Jill Coutreau, but he hopes the appointment of an interim will save some money. He said he is looking to appoint a retired person so the full salary would not have to be paid.

He was also, through hiring at lower salaries to fill two resignations in other district positions — including the director of technology — to bring back a teacher at Conley School to reduce class size in grade five.

“Sometimes when you eliminate a job, the person applies … for another job posted in the district,” Hayes pointed out. “That position is still eliminated.”

Hiring in-house in those situations saves on unemployment costs, Hayes noted.

Szymaniak pointed out that the assistant facilities director position, who ran school building use, was also eliminated, with a technology department employee taking over a piece of that on a part-time basis. He is also researching a possible change in the fee structure for building use for profit-making leasees to present to the committee in the fall.

“We’re moving into a collaborative operation [with facilities, technology and transportation staff]. … We’re having meetings to talk about job responsibilities,” echoed Assistant Superintendent George Ferro. “We’re having meetings to talk about their own individual goals and the goals of their individual departments — and that has never taken place.”

Szymaniak is also considering an audit of the tech department to determine how the district can operate more sustainably in the coming years.

Dunkin’/Speedway reopens

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HANSON — The Dunkin’ Donuts and Speedway convenience stores at 318 Main St., reopened this week — a few days after the Hanson Board of Health closed the building following the discovery of rodent droppings on food prepared and left uncovered in a cooler last week.

The Dunkin’ location occupies and rents space inside of the Speedway.

After the findings, Dunkin’ was closed on Wednesday, July 10 and Speedway was allowed only to sell gas during the closure and decontamination of the entire structure.

In an update following the reopening this week, Health Board Vice Chairman Gil Amado said that Speedway was primarily responsible as Landlord but Dunkin’ as the tenant was also responsible for the cleanup. There were approximately 20 people working on cleaning the location for two days inside the Speedway convenience store and the Dunkin’.

“The health and safety of customers is our top priority,” the Dunkin’ Brands stated in a Tuesday July 16 press release. “We have stringent food safety and quality standards that we require all franchisees to comply with, and we take great pride in the food and beverages served to our guests every day. The franchisee who independently owns and operates the restaurant, which is located within a mixed use building, addressed the issues noted during the recent inspection. We also immediately sent one of our certified operations managers to meet with the franchisee and inspect the restaurant with regard to our safety and quality standards.

Hanson BOH inspection documents, which were obtained by The Express along with notes filed verbally through an independent inspector, documented the cleanup plan moving forward and her initial consultation with Dunkin’ manager Casey Sorrentino who stated all of the food products that were affected had been removed immediately. Neither Amado nor BOH notes supported or could confirm initial reports that the food had been served despite its contamination.  The BOH inspection stated there were no violations found related to any food borne illness.

The locations have since been in compliance and were declared reopened with recommendation of proper daily clean up and shift required cleaning along with nightly and monthly cleanings. The shared coolers and storage at the back of the building were shared responsibility according to the BOH documents.

Photos that accompanied documents through the BOH were released and clearly showed encrusted floors, and build up of dirt; both near and inside walk-in coolers and refrigeration of the shared use structure.

Mouse traps were placed in the interior of refrigerated cases along with plastic-wrapped bottled drinks as seen in the photos. In cleanup and inspection notations Independent Inspector Kathleen Piemonte stated a problem had been reported two weeks ago for a rodent issue by the manager at Speedway. They reportedly had a pest control company respond as soon as they were alerted by Dunkin’ management.

Back on June 29 through July 5 there were photos and documentation filed to the BOH regarding the rodent issue.

Last week Amado said a rodent-control company was on premises following the cleanup declarations.

“We felt that it needed immediate attention and they were shut down due to an imminent health hazard,” he said at the time.

He said originally the board had received a report that there was open food in the cooler and that it was “being nibbled on by mice and that mice were defecating in the trays. We walked in the cooler and that’s what we saw,” Amado said.

The same Dunkin’ store had been shut down over health concerns in the past, but the independent inspector, contracted by the town, had found no major violations at the location during an inspection a few months ago.

Because the mice move around the whole building, both businesses were ordered to cease selling food, he noted.

“After passing subsequent inspections by both the Health Department and a certified operations manager from Dunkin’ Brands, the store has since reopened and is once again serving our loyal guests,” Dunkin’ Brands stated.

The Express had reached out to franchisee Carol Porter who had no comment and referred to the Dunkin’ brand for media comments.

Hanson health board closes Dunkin’ and Speedway

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Town and store officials work inside the Dunkin’ Donuts/Speedway stores at routes 58 and 27 in Hanson Wednesday after an inspection found evidence of rodent infestation. Both stores are currently prohibited from selling food products, but Speedway may sell gasoline. / Photo by: Steph Spyopoulos  

HANSON — Health officials have shut down the Speedway convenience store — and the Dunkin’ inside — until both stores can prove to the Board of Health that pests are under control and the store has been sanitized.

Health Board Vice Chairman Gil Amado said a rodent-control company was on premises Thursday.

“We felt that it needed immediate attention and they were shut down due to an imminent health hazard,” he said.

He said the board had received a report that there was open food in the cooler and that it was “being nibbled on by mice and that mice were defecating in the trays. We walked in the cooler at that’s what we saw,” Amado said.

He could not verify media reports that employees were instructed to sell contaminated food to the public.

The shut-down order was based on the verified reports of “exposed food, mouse droppings everywhere and, apparently they were told to serve the food,” he said. “I don’t have physical evidence of that [the alleged serving order].”

Amado said Thursday it is not the first time that Dunkin’ store has been shut down over health concerns, but the independent inspector contracted by the town had found no major violations at the location during an inspection a few months ago.

Because the mice move around the whole building, both businesses were ordered to cease selling food, he noted.

“We have an independent food inspector who does all thee food inspections,” Amado said, as the town is currently without it’s own health agent. “We’re required to inspect twice a year and she was on her bi-yearly inspection [when] she noticed a few things kind of way off.”

Amado said the inspector reported in a document submitted to the Board of Health that she had seen evidence of rodent infestation and that “further steps were necessary to take.”

The board discussed the report at a recent meeting and Amado accompanied the inspector to the store Wednesday, July 10 and “after reviewing what she had written in her report and what I saw I immediately proceeded to tell everyone to stop selling food [and] to not let any food items leave the store, that the business is shut down and Speedway is shut down — they can only sell gas,” he said. “No food items are to leave that building.”

Amado said that includes pre-packaged items such as bags of chips or other snack foods.

Dunkin’ told Channel 25 that the employee’s original complaint is being looked into, but that Speedway had not commented on the shut-down.

Whitman Fire promotes 2

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WHITMAN — Newly sworn in Whitman Fire Deputy Chief  Al Cunningham and promoted Lt. Nick Grasso were sworn in during the Whitman Board of Selectman’s meeting in a ceremony held at Town Hall Whitman on Tuesday July 9.

Among family, friends and colleagues Chief Timothy Grenno applauded the careers and advancement of both firefighters and acknowledged the work of retiring Deputy Chief Joseph Feeney in his 32-year career in Whitman.

Lt. Nick Grasso was pinned by his wife Jennifer. He was also presented his new helmet shield as commander of shift four from Grenno.

Cunningham was pinned by his wife Kate Cunningham and joined by his adult daughters Emma and Laura.

Grasso is the first firefighter in his family. He pursued a career and has been with the department nearly two decades.

He expressed excitement and the new responsibilities in a department he has grown with starting as a call firefighter in his college years.

I am looking forward to it. I am very appreciative of the town giving me the opportunity,” said Grasso.

Cunningham echoed that excitement for his own new position and the support of colleagues and family. He will be more involved in fire prevention and enforcement as part of his positional change along with working day shifts versus his decades of overnight shifts.

“I am really proud of the department I work for- going on twenty plus years now. I work with such a great bunch of guys that are so good at what they do both on the fire ground and EMS. We know that we can’t save everybody or every building but if there is a chance – that it can be done these guys will do it. I am proud to be second in command,” said Cunningham.