Whitman has another vacancy to fill among its ranks of representatives on the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee, in the wake of member David Forth’s resignation, announced at the Wednesday, Aug. 21 meeting.
The meeting opened with a moment of silence in honor of member Fred Small, who died July 29.
“I’ve known Fred for many, many years,” said Chair Beth Stafford before the moment of silence. “Fred and I were kind of adversaries when I was on the negotiating team for the W-H [teachers’] union and Fred would bargain against the union, so we had many good old – disagreements, shall we say, and also on the board. But we will miss Fred.
“Fred was a voice of the town of Whitman,” she continued. “Fred was a voice for the students. He was always here for them. He even came when he was ill, he would try to make the meetings. I will, personally, miss him because, the last year or so, he was calling me about once a week to update on how he was doing and how he was feeling and other issues that he might have had.”
She also said Small would be missed on the Whitman Middle School Building Committee, on which he served as chair.
“Fred was always the one to tell us what was going on [Beacon] Hill,” she added. “He was always up to date on all that news and that will, again, be missed.”
She also mentioned his service his 15 years of service to Whitman’s Capital Committee.
“Big shoes to fill,” Stafford said. “It’s unfortunate that we have to do this, but I would like to dedicate this moment of silence to Fred from all of us.”
Interested candidates for either vacancy are invited to send a letter of interest and resume to Whitman Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter at Whitman Town Hall, 54 South Avenue, Whitman, MA, by Sept. 3.
The school district is posting the vacancies with applicants given two weeks to post resumes, copies of which will be forwarded to the Whitman members of the School Committee for their review.
The Select Board requested a change from the Sept. 12 joint meeting date during which the candidates would be interviewed by both boards. The request, made by Select Board Vice Chair Dan Salvucci was in deference to a health issue of a Committee member.
“We don’t have an official date right now, but it will either be the last week in September or the first week in October,” Committee Chair Beth Stafford said. The person selected will only serve until May and must run to fill the remaining two years of Small’s term. The May ballot in Whitman will therefore have four seats to fill – two three-year terms, one two-year term and one one-year term.
Stafford then turned to Forth, saying that one of the Committee’s members wished to speak.
Forth then announced his resignation in favor of continuing his education.
“It is most appropriate at this time for the torch to be passed to the next generation of young parent-leaders, who are ready to represent our district and lend their voices and experiences to the next emerging generation,” Forth said. “I will resign as a Whitman representative to the Pre-K to 12 W-H Regional School Committee, effective Sept. 1.”
He plans to pursue higher education to expand his capacity to contribute, and answered a question once put to him by former Facilities Director Ernest Sandland, who asked what Forth had learned as a member of the School Committee.
“The voice of youth that we have had with you on here … has always been true to himself,” Stafford said.
Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak said Forth’s announcement was bittersweet for him as well.
“He’s done a really nice job on the committee, but I’m so happy for you to move into what you want to do, too,” he said. “It’s pretty cool.”
“I don’t know what your next steps are, but you will be missed,” said Committee member Dawn Byers, whom Forth had thanked for urging him to run in the first place and being such a staunch supporter.
Forth said ideology does not guide the School Committee. Personality and life experiences help guide and shape people’s views and empathy has been its greatest asset in achieving results over the past years.
“We should look beyond politics and toward a shared belief that people want an excellent education for their kids, a safe and healthy environment to live in and affordability to choose the life they wish to pursue,” he said – a community-first approach.
“One of my unique experiences growing up in our community, which has guided my decision-making over the last five years was the opportunity to live in and attend both schools in Whitman and Hanson,” Forth said. “As a teenager, when deciding whether to pull nomination papers to run for office, I asked myself, ‘What does it mean to be a leader?’”
He said those internal deliberations brought him to two conclusions.
“I decided that being a leader meant not having to be the most intelligent individual in the room but being receptive and understanding each other’s strengths and utilizing those abilities in the areas warranted when those moments are justified,” Forth read from a prepared statement. “Understanding who is the best fit for the particular situation and uplifting them to be successful in the endeavor will help us to succeed collaboratively as a community.”
Prioritizing the success of the collective over one’s individual needs is what makes a successful leader, he concluded.
His second conclusion, he said, was rooted in his days as a student at Hanson Middle School, where a teacher had already noticed – when he was 12 – that his passion was in the areas of history and politics, long before he did.
“Mrs. Blauss would pull me aside after mock debates in class, asking, ‘Have you ever thought about being a lawyer?” he said, recalling another of her lessons about Cincinnatus.
“The need to evaluate the health of the institution consistently and understanding that any institution dependent on one individual over too long in our democracy is reflective of a failure of those who have been serving it,” Forth said.
“I campaigned at the age of 19 to change our community’s culture,” he said, noting he had offered an ambitious platform of services for the district and sought to empower voices representing those affected my McKinley-Vento, foster youth and students struggling with circumstances beyond their control, understanding the lingering effects of the Great Recession and a pandemic.
Since he first ran, nine out of 10 School Committee members, four out of five Hanson Select Board and three out of five Whitman Select Board members have left office.
“We’ve had a sweeping change of represntation across our community, which is more optimistic, welcoming and supporting of the next generation of leadership,” he said. “Over the last five years, I’ve seen our community’s culture shift in a direction more reflective of our community as a whole.”
Parents have organized, used their voices and helped deliver results that will be felt in the community for generations, such as the expansion of early childhood education and the approval of the new middle school in Whitman, he concluded.
In other business, a donation to the district raised more testimonials to what Small meant to the Committee.
School Committee member Steve Bois made is annual donation of an Acer Chromebook, in Small’s memory, and asked that a letters of appreciation be sent to Small’s widow and children.
When asked if he wanted to say a few words, Bois said, “Sure, here it is,” and placed the boxed computer on the table.
“You know, I told Fred years ago, ‘Oh, good! We’re sitting opposite each other. We can kick a ball back and forth,” Bois said. “You always had to keep it light with Fred because you never knew what was coming next. He kicked my fanny just like he would anyone else’s – but then he’d have some good news for me later.”
He pointed to instances when Small was mentoring Forth, who was still a teenager when he was first elected to the committee.
“One of the proudest things I saw was him talking with David [about] various things, his willingness to help David – and I’m not singling David out …Bois said.
“No, I’m glad you’re sharing this,” Forth said.
“This was a lot on your shoulders as a teenager, turning 20 at the time,” Bois continued. “David, you’re going to continue on in many ways … and you kind of remind me a little bit of Fred. … You’ve got the questions and you know the answers. I know this is about Fred, but a torch is always passed on.”
“Over the last couple weeks I’ve had a lot of time to reflect among a lot of things pertaining to the committee, but specifically toward Fred,” Forth said, sharing some of his own personal experiences with Small that members of the community and committee colleagues might not have been privy to.
Forth recalled that he was a high school freshman with he first encountered Small via a video clip posted online about the School Committee. Later, when Forth began contacting School Committee members to advocate for his fellow students, it was Small and the Committee chair who approached him with their phone numbers, telling him if he ever needed any assistance, to give them a call.
When Forth ran for School Committee and won, Small was one of the first people to reach out to him.
“Over the last few years, of course Fred and I have had our disagreements, particularly toward budget season,” he said. “But Fred has helped me improve as a person. He’s challenged me, he’s helped me think differently, and reflecting, of course, over the last year, I got to see a different side of Fred that wasn’t reflective of the bureaucrat people have tried to project on us who serve in these elected roles.”
They spoke about cars after Forth bought his, about family and different perspectives after exchanging terse deliberations in meetings.
“He’s always been open and honest and he’s treated me with respect and decency,” Forth said in a voice thick with emotion. “Understanding that we may have different objectives or different pathways, but we have the same common goal – trying to improve our community. My experiences with Fred will long outlast my time on this committee.”
Showtime at Marshfield Fair
The Marshfield Fair is the premier event for Plymouth County 4-H members and young people from across New England. The Marshfield Fair offers open youth participation for kids ages 5-19 exhibiting livestock shows, equine events, dog shows and other agriculture opportunities. Young people play an active role participating at the fair including offering demonstrations, interacting with fairgoers, care and maintenance of the barns, and fair planning.
Youngsters learn valuable life skills through raising and showing animals including responsibility for others, public speaking, leadership, and community service. 4-H members and others also gain experience in animal science, local agriculture and volunteer experience.
The Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural Society presents many awards for excellence in scholarship, livestock, agriculture, and country craftsmanship. Among these is the Cave Canem Challenge Cup, honoring longtime Plympton resident Rita LaPointe, volunteer leader, teacher, and friend of 4-H young people. It is awarded to the Junior or Senior 4-H dog exhibitor who earns the highest total combined score in both Marshfield Fair Dog Shows.
Going for gold on the job
HANOVER – What immediately comes to mind when you hear the words “gold medalists?”
If you’ve been among the millions of Americans tuned into the 16 days of Olympics coverage just concluded on Sunday, Aug. 11, you might naturally think of gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ladecky and their contribution to the 40 gold medals among the 126 total medals won by U.S. athletes competing in Paris.
But Hanson’s Sofia Grasso and Rook Sulc of Rockland would argue that you should think of graphic design and visual communications. The two – Grasso graduated South Shore Tech in June, and Sulc will be a senior this fall – won gold medals in the annual SkillsUSA national competition in Atlanta this past spring.
“I really like the creative aspect of it,” Sulc said. “I get to express myself a lot more than in other areas. It’s such a big industry and we do so much because we don’t just do designing. “We also do print production, bindery and finishing – there’s just so much that it can go into. I’m going to probably go to college to get a bachelor’s degree … in graphic design and we’ll see where that takes me.”
Grasso, who starts a paramedic/EMT course at Quincy College in the fall as well as taking a CMTI course online right now, with an eye toward following her dad, Whitman Fire Lt. Nicholas Grasso’s, bootprints to a career as a firefighter, said she was initially drawn to the design program at SST because she had been a good artist.
“I learned and did really well,” she said, noting she was fascinated by screen printing and – at one point – started her own business with a friend, but divergent interests and the time consumed by their different coop jobs at SST, led them to set that aside, at least for now.
“It was so much fun,” she said.
Sulc got their foot in the SkillsUSA door as a freshman when a teacher asked if they were interested in the program.
That four-level competition had entrants in the design discipline designing a safety poster to present to a judging panel, winning second place in the state competition. There were more competitive levels open to them the following year.
Grasso competed in the screenprinting category. To compete, SkillsUSA entrants must take an exam in their shop, with high scorers advancing to district competition.
“Students could take one or more different knowledge tests to figure out which competition they would be practicing or participating in for this year’s district test,” she said.
With 60 different schools within the six districts, which each crown three winners, but only the top two move on to states.
“I did well in the graphic imaging sublimation (GIS) category, so I went to the districts,” they said. That meant another written test, pitting Sulc against the other 12 district schools competing with first and second-place entrants advancing to the state competition.
In the words of the late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, it was a “survive and advance – one game at a time,” he once said of his strategy for the 1983 NCAA tournament.
“It’s pretty scary,” Sulc said of those SkillsUSA exams. “It’s 100 questions and you can’t go back [and change an answer] because it’s on the computer.”
After waiting a couple of weeks, entrants receive their scores, knowing that only the top two scores meant a ticket to the states.
As for their category, graphic imaging sublimation seems complex, Sulc said, but it’s really not.
“It involves transferring printed images onto different products,” they said. “If you’ve ever seen a coffee mug with someone’s dog on it, you know what it is.”
District competitions are conducted at Blackstone Tech, but Sulc competed at Shawsheen Valley Tech in Lowell, where questions focused on OSHA requirements and SkillsUSA symbols and culture questions, but for states, they had to create two projects, including skills such as color separation, register printing and other technical skills.
“States are more difficult than nationals,” Grasso said. “My teachers and advisors got me where I am today.”
At nationals, one adds the pressure of filling up the World Congress Center in Atlanta with the most talented of your peers from vocational schools across the country. There is some downtime for students to see some of Atlanta during the competition week, Sulc said.
But for Grasso, much of that free time was devoted to preparing for the business of the competition.
“At times, it was stressful,” she remembered. “I’d feel like I messed up [on a test], but I kept my head high and believed in myself. … I knew that, if I wanted to get first, I had to work for it.”
Still, the week offered some fun when the competition was over.
“We had so much fun,” she said. “There were so many things to do.”
Besides everything going on at the WCC there was a festival happening that week, as well.
“We didn’t get to head to it, because we were so tired,” Grasso said of the competition which included an employability test as well as a screen printing technology orientation and a written knowledge test.
“It was different at the states than at the nationals,” Sulc said. “It was different products and we had to do different tasks. At states, it’s one day – over four hours. You get everything all at once and you do all of the tasks. At nationals, it’s spread over a few days and you’re given a time slot.”
Competing students had to get through six or seven stations, taking them from the creation of a digital design, printing it on a pair of socks, and transfer three other designs onto a wooden panel, a bag and a coffee mug.
That was followed up with a quality control problem.
Another challenge for Grasso, who uses an automatic press at her co-op job, was the work involved in every part of the printing process, including the muscle strength involved.
“They gave us a bunch of products that had minor defects and we had to find the defects and tell them whether it was something we could sell,” Sulc said. “It was kind of tricky because there were some without any defects and there were some where it depended on how you could see it.”
“Basically, that’s what I do, now,” Grasso said with a laugh. “Ever since I’ve been in the shop, I correct everything.”
The opinion-based nature of that distinction made it challenging, Sulc said. That was followed up by a mock job interview.
Between classwork and the experience of the nationals exercises, Sulc said they are more apt to notice small details in products as a consumer.
“It’s usually small little things that no one else will see,” they said, noting that she noticed a tape mark on one of their projects, but judges missed it.
At the conclusion of the competition, everyone’s work was displayed, giving students a chance to see how well their competition performed.
“I thought that everyone did so well,” they said. “Last year, when I won fourth, it didn’t seem as close.”
There are also design competitions at nationals in photography, graphic communications and advertising design within the Design and Visual Communications umbrella.
“It’s such an amazing experience, even if you don’t medal at all,” Sulc said. “You get to meet people from across the state and the country.”
SST’s focus on professionalism, not only in their shops, where they often produce materials for member towns, but there are job interview projects in English classes.
Whitman OK’s new WHCA-TV contract
WHITMAN –The Select Board on Tuesday, July 23 approved a new contract with Comcast, finalizing contract terms between the town and the cable television corporation, governing the operation of Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV.
Whitman’s special cable counsel William Solomon briefed the board on the contract negotiations during the Tuesday, July 23 Select Board meeting.
He’s worked for the town for about 25 years, starting when the town was transitioning from a company-run program.
“There’s no better program in the Commonwealth,” he said of the current WHCA board and employees. “I work from Pittsfield and North Adams to the Vineyard and there’s no better program than you have here in Whitman-Hanson.”
He also credited Executive Director Eric Dresser, whom he referred to as a “one-person show,” in regard his programming and technical skill, for his contributions to the license renewal process.
“We’re here today, hopefully to get a vote of approval
The facility’s building on South Avenue was owned by Comcast at the time.
Comcast Senior Government Affairs Manager Michael Galla said the 10-year license is what the town and Comcast negotiated – a “normal time period we conduct with all our licenses with our towns.”
Solomon said that, while Galla is a tough negotiator, he has “great insight into figuring out how much does the town care about community television and PEG access and what are those needs.”
“That’s why I think we have an excellent license,” Solomon said, adding that Assistant Town Administrator Kathleen Keefe efforts helped the town obtain a better contract. “There’s a lot of things to do and I know cable isn’t always first.”
There will be public, educational and government (PEG) programming support for the WHCA team – 4.75 percent of gross annual revenues – and Comcast will be increasing the capital dollars that were in the last license to $280,000 over the 10 years – or $28,000 per year to the town as well as a high-definition channel to be provided within the first 24 months.
Solomon also mentioned the improved picture on two of the PEG channels to serial digital interface (SDI), which will require encoders and the hi-def channel, which will also require an encoder.
The Select Board and WHCA would decide together what the hi-def channel would be used for.
“It turns out that there is a strong interest among the towns to have the government channel be the high-definition channel, because when you do your presentations, people at home can read the graph, can read the spreadsheet and can follow along,” he said.
Comcast was looking for some initial funding – $10,000 – for the encoders, Solomon said, adding he has seen numbers ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 for the equipment.
“It’s the major aspects of the contract, which is in Article 6 of the license,” he said. “Those are the main aspects that allow your PEG access to operate.
“I know our community access has grown over the years,” Select Board Vice Chair Dan Salvucci said. “It’s unbelievable, what they’re doing.”
“As a company, we are actively invested in that,” Galla said. “It’s an impressive operation and we’re happy to be a partner of it.”
Extension of cable service, if needed would carry no density requirement, Solomon said, noting all Whitman residents now have the ability to connect to cable.
There will still be a senior discount for those over age 65, Solomon said, stressing that the $2 discount is voluntary on the part of Comcast under the Cable Act.
“Most companies don’t provide it,” he said. “We’re grateful that they continue to provide that senior discount.”
There is a financial qualification, but there are more categories of qualification in Whitman than elsewhere.
Whitman fire officers sworn
WHITMAN –The town officially welcomed two new members to the Fire Department’s leadership with the Tuesday, July 23 swearing in of Deputy Chief Tom Ford and Lt. Brian Trefry.
The ceremony opened the Select Board’s meeting in the Town Hall Auditorium, after which the board recessed, reopening the rest of their session in the Select Board meeting room.
Fire Chief Timothy Clancy noted that Ford had been appointed a firefighter in July 1991 and appointed lieutenant in August 2020 and officially appointed deputy. The top candidate in the promotional process, he holds an associate degree in fire science and is certified as a Fire Service Officer I and II.
He has worked as an acting deputy chief since June and is the only military veteran serving in Whitman’s fire service, having served with United States Army.
“Not to be outdone, Tom has been the department’s SAFE officer for a number of years,” Clancy said. “He has excelled at both the schools and with the senior SAFE program. He has truly helped the children and no matter where you go with Tom, somebody knows [him] from the schools.”
Clancy said it’s quite cool that Ford had that big an impact with generations of children, noting that he.
After Town Clerk Dawn Varley swore Ford into office, his wife Suzanne pinned on his new badge and sealed it with a kiss.
A fire crew had to answer an emergency call the midst of the ceremony.
Trefry was appointed as a call firefighter in 2007 and as a firefighter/paramedic 2012, officially becoming a lieutenant on May 30. 2024. He holds a degree in fire science and was the top candidate for the position.
“Brian is one of the last people to have been on the call department and he’s worked his way up through,” Clancy said, noting that Trefry has a degree in Fire Science and is also certified as a Fire Instructor1 as a Fire Inspector I.,
Trefry’s wife Lindsey and their daughter presented Trefry’s bade during the Town Hall Ceremony.
“He came as a call firefighter, saw a career path and has started put more into being a great fire officer and I look forward to see where he goes in the future,” Clancy said.
Varley recalled that when he became firefighter, Trefry was the first she had sworn in.
“I look forward to what this new leadership brings to the fire department in the future,” Clancy said.
Trying it on for size
HOW DOES IT FIT? — Students who participate in the Whitman-Hanson ESY program at Duval School had the chance ‘kick the tires’ on possible career dreams last week as Whitman Police & Fire Department brought a few vehicles for them to see and explore. They had a great time sitting in the vehicles and speaking with the firefighters and officers. Above a student tries on firefighter turnout gear. See more photos, page 11. Courtesy photos
Positive West Nile sample in Hanson
The Board of Health has been notified of a West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquito sample in Hanson. The test raised the town’s threat level to moderate, according to Health Agent Gil Amado.
Whitman’s Board of Health Administrative Assistant Dina Amado said that town, as well as neighboring Rockland have also raised their risk levels to moderate.
They join the communities of Halifax, Plympton, Kinston, Middleborough, Carver, Plymouth and Wareham on the moderate risk list for WNV. The rest of the state is low-to-remote risk of EE and only a few at low-risk only for WNV at the moment, according to the ma.gov website.
No mosquitoes have yet tested positive for WNV, Dina Amado said.
“Only a small number of mosquitoes are infected at any given time, so being bitten by a mosquito does not mean you will get sick,” the state Department of Public Health stresses. “However, the best way to avoid both of these illnesses is to prevent mosquito bites.”
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are viruses that occur in Massachusetts and can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis.
While the risk of human infections is low, certain steps should be taken to protect yourself.
- Be prepared: Repair screens, clean up to get rid of mosquito breeding sites, be aware of stagnant water on private property (e.g. unused swimming pools).
- Wear mosquito repellent between dusk and dawn;
- Wear long sleeves and long pants from dusk to dawn;
- Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens.
— Tracy F. Seelye
WMS project update is heard
WHITMAN – As the town turns attention to the planning process for a proposed new South Shore Technical High School, the Whitman Building Committee’s last meeting on Tuesday, June 11, discussed current vacancies on their own committee.
The committee had authorized its submission of plan documents to the MSBA at it’s previous meeting, a special session held remotely via Zoom, on June 5. Hard copies are at the district office, according to Assistant Superintendent of Schools George Ferro.
Among those leaving the building committee is former W-H School Committee Vice Chair Christopher Scriven, who also submitted his resignation from the WMS Building Committee.
Scriven opted against re-election to the School Committee in the Saturday, June 18 annual Town Election.
“We also are required to have someone from facilities as part of the committee,” said Chair Fred Small, who also serves on the School Committee. “This was a little bit of an omission. … But, as we get moving, we do need a facilities person.”
Assistant Superintendent George Ferro had been assuming that role on a temporary basis.
“That would be Mr. Driscoll,” Small said.
New WHRSD Business Manger Steven Marshall, it turns out is also a Mass. Certified Procurement Official, (NCPPO), which Whitman is required to have on its WMS Building Committee project, so the panel voted to add Marshall and remove former Business Manager John Stanbrook, who had resigned during the spring, effective June 30, as the start of the new fiscal year began July 1.
The committee voted to remove Scriven from the member roster and added Driscoll.
“Mr. Marshall is starting already,” Small said. “I’d like to welcome him to not only the committee, but the district itself.”
Ferro also suggested the committee welcome Marshall as the new NCPPO, which Small said he thought had been done.
“I know you said he had been an NCPPO, maybe he can be NCPPO for this project,” Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak said.
Although Marshall has been attending meetings regularly of late, but Small requested that he be brought up to speed on “many meetings,’” of business.
Michael Carroll of Colliers, the firm serving as owner’s project manager, also made a report to the committee.
“When we’re talking about new members, we might just try to continue that trend,” Carroll said, noting that the Colliers’ contract had been extended in November or December, when they presented a work plan that had included a project manager. “We took a little time to find out who we thought is the right person for that job, and she’s sitting right here next to me,” he said, introducing Shirley Ng.
She said she has more than 10 years’ OPM experience, holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in architecture from Wentworth University. The committee unanimously voted to bring her on the team and then introduced themselves.
Techincally, the committee is not required to take a vote, Carroll explained.
“We’ve been doing it through this process,” he said. “We want to support the committee and the committee support Jeff and we thought it was proper to bring it to the committee.”
Carroll also provided a financial updates, but said there was new little to report.
“We’re pretty much just under budget here, we’re still on target,” he said.
Small suggested 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 23 as the date for the next meeting at which time there will be a cost estimate update.
Ferro suggested a virtual or combined virtual-in person meeting through Google’s platform, to accommodate any travel plans committee members might have.
The committee voted to hold that meeting virtually.
There were no schedule updates, other than to note the project is 60 percent through construction documents. Adjustments to the site plan were also discussed, including the location of the sports fields’ concession stand, and interior design concepts were reviewed.
SST plans near MSBA deadline
HANOVER – The feasibility phase of the new South Shore Tech building project remains under budget, it was reported during a joint virtual meeting of the SST School Committee and Building Committee on Wednesday, June 26.
“The plans are coming along [with very few changes],” Kevin Sullivan of the LeftField project management team said.
The schematic design, given the green light by the Massachusetts School Building Authority on April 26 is still expected to be complete and submitted to the MSBA by mid-August with a final report due Aug. 29.
“While the School Committee, typically, does not hold meetings in August, and will not have its July meeting until July 24, it is possible that the building committee might schedule a one-off meeting that isn’t a joint meeting,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas J. Hickey. “It’s quite possible that, to get to that August deadline, the building committee might have to have an extra meeting here or there.”
Engineers for all areas of the building project: mechanical, electrical, site, civil, have been working together in building the package of information that’s going to go through three independent process bidders simultaneously.
But they are working independently at first, so that good checks can be made, Sullivan said.
Both DRA, the architects, and LeftField, the building project managers, each receive one.
The late July meetings of the building committee are important for cost and budget reviews.
“It’ll take about three weeks to get a draft, and once we see those three numbers, we get together – in this case, it might literally be in the same room – for a process called reconciliation, so that estimators could quiz each other [on project materials needed],” Sullivan said. “They try to go through and make sure they are seeing the same thing in the same place.”
The building committee will then inform the management team whether they are comfortable with the numbers.
“We all have to live with the numbers going forward,” Sullivan said. “For whatever reasons, you make these comparisons to other projects or what the towns can afford, you want us to reduce the price by accepting some of the alternatives, we can consider that at this time, or … keep them in our back pocket and shoot for this budget … and we have some ability to tighten the budget down the road.”
At this point there have not been many changes to the plans.
George Cooney of Cohasset asked how big a priority is the use of materials made in the USA and asked if it is a union job.
“You could buy a light switch for 19 cents or you could buy a real one and it’s 89 cents,” he said.
“To the best of our ability we are to specify American-made products in that regard,” Sullivan said. “There was a time when lot of steel did come from outside the United States … but ore may come from the United States and get processed in Canada, so where does it really come from?”
While there is the provision to use American-made materials where possible, it’s not a restriction, Sullivan said.
“It’s not literally a union job, but all public works jobs in Massachusetts have to pay prevailing wages,” he continued. “Those prevailing wages are set by the state and they’re generally in accordance with union wages.”
Cooney asked if that restricts whether students can be on the job site.
“There are restrictions in general in regard to students, or the school, doing some of the work,” Sullivan replied. “We want students to be able to do things … but whether the students could literally work with Suffolk Construction, that’s generally not allowed.”
If a student were to get hired by the firm to work as a co-op during the summer, it might be possible, according to Sullivan, but during school they can’t provide free labor to the contractor, Suffolk Construction, as students, even if they are qualified. But he suggested some things could be left incomplete while obtaining a certification of occupancy, leaving those items for students to work on, having been left as instructional opportunities.
Hickey suggested that furnishing items such as storage blocks could be left for students to work on, or landscaping projects, as a learning experience.
“They’ll also see what the prevailing wage could do for you,” Cooney said.
Hickey did say that, even with the 99-space parking option with an exit onto Main Street, the project’s site costs will go beyond the amount reimbursable from MSBA.
But an educated decision on it can be made later in the process.
“If it’s not reimbursable, it’s a decision the district can to 10 years from now,” he said, indicating some non-crucial amenities like that could wait.
After the building committee meeting adjourned, the School Committee portion of the session heard the monthly treasurer’s report and the payment of bills and payroll.
Towns, state offer aid to weather heat
Summer came in with a sizzle last week and, while the heat eased a bit by Monday, the humidity held on – and this is not going to be the last time this season we bake under the sun.
According to the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross, the number of people worldwide exposed to extreme heat is growing due to climate change, with heat-related deaths for people over 65 years of age increased by approximately 85 percent over the last 20+ years. And, it is expected that extreme heat and heat waves will happen more frequently due to the climate crisis.
Statistics from the National Weather Service also indicates that extreme heat and humidity is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. In the heat wave of 1995, more than 700 deaths in the Chicago area were attributed to heat, making this the deadliest weather event in Chicago history. In August 2003, a record heat wave in Europe claimed an estimated 50,000 lives.
But thinking ahead and proper preparation can help prevent such heavy loss of life, and area communities are doing their part.
Hanson officials used the town website to post ways residents could cool off:
Cranberry Cove is open for swimming from 11am – 7pm daily; The Library and Senior Center will be open from 8a.m. To 8 p.m. On heat emergency days. During this past week, the two facilities were open during those hours on, Thursday and Friday, but were closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. Public housing facilities also keep their community centers open extended hours during heat waves for the use of residents.
The Library and Senior Center will begin social media posts with updates during heat emergencies and the Fire Department reminds Hanson residents their business line is 781-293-9571 if any residents have questions or concerns, please ask for the officer on duty.
If you have a heat related emergency, please call 911.
Whitman officials opened the Town Hall auditorium as a cooling center last Tuesday and Thursday and will also continue operating cooling centers throughout the summer if it is warranted by weather conditions.
“We always have plans for both cooling and warming centers,” Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Clancy said. “The cooling plan has two aspects – the first one is we use town buildings such as the Town Hall, Library, and Senior Center during normal business hours. In the event of off business hours, we plan on using the town hall auditorium and staff it with CERT team members. The cooling centers are always dependent on power outages and duration and severity of the heat wave.”
The state is also providing respite from the heat this summer.
“With several straight days of hot and humid weather expected this week, it’s essential that Massachusetts residents make a plan to stay safe – including keeping hydrated, limiting strenuous activity and checking in on one another,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “We encourage people to cool off at DCR’s waterfronts, beaches and splash decks, or check out the cooling centers in your town.”
According to Recreation Director Kathleen Woodward, the Town Pool’s regular hours for public swim are from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m., on weekends.
“If a heat wave arises the Recreation Department is happy to try and extend the evening pool hours if staff is available to cover the additional hours,” she said.
The governor’s office also reminded people of the basic heat precautions:
- Minimize time spent outdoors, especially during the hottest parts of the day
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of cool water every 15-20 minutes and avoiding alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
- Seek out air-conditioned buildings like libraries and community centers to spend time in; Call 2-1-1 to find locations of cooling centers or shelters near you.
- Never leave children or pets in the car alone – the temperatures will rise to unhealthy levels within minutes.
- Check in on neighbors who may need assistance making a plan, including the homebound, elderly, or disabled.
- Dress for the heat by wearing a hat, light-colored, loose fitting, and breathable clothing.
MEMA’s regional offices have made outreach to local emergency management officials to determine communities that will be opening cooling centers and identify health and personal safety concerns related to upcoming Juneteenth holiday celebrations and large events.
“Extreme heat can pose health challenges, particularly for our more vulnerable populations such as older adults, children and those with chronic health conditions.” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Dawn Brantley. “We encourage everyone to plan ahead and take precautions, especially with many outdoor events taking place across the state this week.”
Residents can cool off at the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) 81 waterfronts and spray decks. Certain DCR spray decks are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., during heat waves and lifeguards will be on duty seven days a week at 32 designated swimming areas across the state from approximately 10:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. For a list or DCR’s saltwater ocean beaches visit mass.gov/saltwater-ocean-beaches; for the freshwater inland beaches visit mass.gov/freshwater-inland-beaches and for a list of beaches that are accessible to people of all abilities visit mass.gov/info-details/accessible-beaches. Check DCR’s mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-alerts for any closures of swimming areas due to bacteria and the most up-to-date park hours.
In preparation for the summer season, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has completed a comprehensive inspection and servicing program for its entire fleet of vehicles, helping to ensure riders have a reliable experience during the hottest months of the year. This includes servicing the onboard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to keep the temperature inside vehicles well-regulated. For any concerns, contact their customer support line at 617-222-3200. MBTA riders should consult mbta.com/guides/weather-guide#heat subscribe to T-Alerts and follow @MBTA and @MBTA_CR on social media for updates on weather-related service impacts and call the customer support line at 617-222-3200 with any concerns.
The Red Cross is experiencing a shortfall in blood donations, collecting 20,000+ fewer blood donations in May than needed to support patients. This shortall and the extreme heat impacting most of the country this week leaves people battling sickle cell disease vulnerable to a pain crisis. According to health experts, high temperatures can exacerbate sickle cell disease symptoms increasing the frequency and severity of crises.
The Red Cross also urges people to learn the signs of heat-related illness and what to do: - Heat cramps are an early sign of trouble and include heavy sweating with muscle pains or spasms. To help, move the person to a cooler place and encourage them to drink water. Get medical help if symptoms last longer than an hour or if the person has heart problems.
- Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition signaled by cool, pale and clammy skin; a fast or weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; tiredness or weakness; or a headache, dizziness or passing out. To help, move the person to a cooler place, loosen tight clothing, encourage them to sip water slowly. Use wet cloths, misting or fanning to help cool them off. Get medical help right away if symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour, or if the person begins vomiting or acting confused.
- Heat stroke is a deadly condition that requires immediate medical help. Symptoms include a high body temperature; hot, red, dry or damp skin; a fast or strong pulse; a headache or dizziness; or nausea, confusion and passing out. Call 911 right away if you think someone may have heat stroke. Then move the person to a cool place, and use wet cloths, misting or fanning to help cool them off. Do not give the person anything to drink.
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