WHITMAN — Selectmen are referring a proposal for a moratorium on recreational marijuana dispensaries through at least June 30, 2018 to the Planning Board for evaluation and public hearing.

After a hearing the Planning Board would return its recommendations back to the Board of Selectmen for possible presentation to a Town Meeting.

The Tuesday, Feb. 14 vote came one month after the board voted in favor of a letter of support/non-opposition to a medical marijuana grow site in town. The moratorium would be based on a West Bridgewater law passed in December, and is designed to provide more time to develop zoning and other regulations compatible with state laws.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had assigned Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green to explore the issue of a moratorium and its legal ramifications. Lynam is also asking the Zoning Board of Appeals to look at potential zoning districts to encompass such businesses in the event the town ever permits them. That, too, would require public hearings.

“I’m going to look at it,” Lynam said of the zoning issue. “We may not do it this year, but a moratorium will give us time to address it before our next Town Meeting.”

He stressed the zoning issue is separate from a moratorium.

“This is not a proposal to bring in dispensaries,” he said. “It’s a recommendation that we look at the reality that they may come down the road, and if they do, we will at least be prepared.”

Green said the town had learned in January that the state Attorney General’s office had approved West Bridgewater’s marijuana moratorium draft.

“That’s where we took a lot of our language,” Green said of the Whitman proposal. “Where it had already been approved by the Attorney General, we didn’t have any feelings that they would not approve our moratorium.”

Green noted both communities are similar to each other.

Selectman Daniel Salvucci asked if the town could vote against permitting dispensaries in Whitman.

Green conceded that, if a medical marijuana grow site does open in town, it does open a door for possible future dispensaries by applying for a permit.

“Medical marijuana is protected by state law and permissive zoning,” Lynam said. “Recreational marijuana requires an approval and the … licenses may be issued, but must be less than the number of medical marijuana licenses.”

Should one medical marijuana grow site actually open — and no others — that would effectively bar any recreational dispensaries.

“Less than one is none,” Lynam said.

“It says it may not be issued as well,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

“This is al still new to the state, as well,” Green said. “The state is still weeding through what it’s going to do.”

Selectman Brian Bezanson pointed out that it took the state quite a while — two years — just to get the medical marijuana regulations ironed out.

capital budgets

Selectmen also heard a presentation on available cash for capital needs, as Lynam recommended limiting the use of one-time funds from a recent personal property windfall to one-time capital projects instead of for recurring costs.

“In the last two years we have been experiencing some unusual types of growth,” Lynam said. “I’ve received a number of calls from people regarding how and why we appropriate and provide money for various town operations, including schools.”

He used a PowerPoint presentation to outline “how we got to where we are today and where I think we’re going.”

Lynam outlined how property valuations over the past four years, with personal property values jumping significantly — from $30,298,858 in 2015 to $98,159,363 in 2016 only to begin declining again by about $4 million in 2017 — based on a National Grid property’s tax status.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Lynam said. “Because it’s personal property, it’s not an asset that continues to grow. Over the next several years, it will be depreciated and depleted on the tax books of the power company, and the results will be that they’re sending us valuations that are dropping anywhere from $5 [million] to $8 million a year.”

The levy limit each year is calculated by adding 2 ½ percent, new growth and any overrides. By 2016 the personal property growth showed up after the budgets had been passed for the year, Lynam said. It ended up offsetting the capital exclusion for technology upgrades in the schools.

Growth decreased from $1,328,292 in 2016 to $261,670 in 2017. Based on that history, Lynam has worked out proforma calculations for fiscal 2018 putting the 2017 levy limit at $23,982,789, setting aside almost $1 million in capital money from amended 2016 growth, then adding $599,570 as the 2 ½ percent increase and $275,000 in new growth.

“We are going to see is the reduction, once again, in the personal property tax,” he said. “This year, I think it will be closer to $6 million.”

By using the entire projected $24,857,359 for the general budget, a problem is created in that the personal property figure is going to continue to go down each year, Lynam argued.

“What I’m suggesting is that we treat the levy as if that money were not available to us … and use the additional $1 million to fund capital needs this year,” he said. “What I see happening is, each year that money’s going to continue to go down. Unless we find a significant source of new revenue, we’re going to have to live with those numbers.”

Salvucci agreed that using one-time money for the regular budget is fiscally irresponsible.

In other business, the board voted to table a discussion on the Planning Board’s request to reduce its membership from seven to five. Any change would require a Town Meeting warrant article to change the bylaw, and perhaps on the ballot since the positions are elected.

Lynam said the board’s chairman had indicated he has had trouble getting a quorum for some meetings and that perhaps reducing the board to five might help.

“But, as I understand it, the board is now at full strength, or certainly will be at the May elections because the vacancy has already been applied for and nomination papers,” Lynam said, recommending the postponement until the Planning Board can discuss it further.

Salvucci said appeals to the public on Facebook has prompted more interest for taking out nomination papers for the Planning Board, making a bylaw change unnecessary.

Taking a ‘serious look’ at costs

Falling revenues and increasing costs may force some drastic changes in the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, School Committee members, residents and officials from both towns have been warned.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said the panel will have to “take a serious look” at how the district operates and may have to consider eliminating high school athletics, closing the Maquan School and consolidating those students into Hanson’s Indian Head School, staff layoffs and double sessions to save money.

“All of those things are on the table,” Hayes said. “This is not ‘we keep coming to you and crying wolf,’ this is serious. Every year it gets worse and worse and worse.”

Hayes said the district is just beginning of the process as a proposed level-service budget for fiscal 2018, that is $2.7 million in the red, was rolled out at the Wednesday, Feb. 1 School Committee meeting. That hole is due to a $1.8 million increase in expenses and a revenue shortfall of more than $800,000. That is a combined revenue decrease of 1.5 percent.

W-H’s per-pupil expenditure of $11,703 is 11th from the bottom of spending among all districts in the state and both towns remain below target share, a figure that the state has looked to since 2011 as it determines Chapter 70 aid levels. W-H now receives 63 percent of its funding from state aid. The state average for per-pupil spending is $14,935

Declining enrollment in both towns can also have an impact of state aid levels, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner.

She said the budget includes a level-service proposal of $48,937,127. The increase in the budget’s bottom line — not to be confused with operating assessments to towns — is $1,857,987 or 3.95 percent.

Gilbert-Whitner said the FY 2018 budget needs to provide the 21st century education students deserve, rather than the education of the 1950s or ’60s, in very challenging fiscal times. Critical thinking, communication and technology skills are part of that.

“We have to come up with an assessment,” Hayes said. “Obviously, some of this [deficit] may get erased with new state funding. It may get worse. We’re going to have to take some serious looks at some serious issues.”

Business Services Director Christine Suckow said assessments based on a level-funded formula, because of enrollment shifts, would see Hanson’s assessment go down $162,000 and Whitman go up by the same amount.

Last year, the committee voted to transfer almost $950,000 out of excess and deficiency, an account intended for emergency expenses not for balancing the budget, Hayes noted. That account has been replenished to $1,246,484 due to end-of-year savings in utilities, insurance and special education.

“When you keep hitting E&D — and we’ve been doing that for several years — it’s a very, very dangerous, slippery slope that you can go down,” he cautioned. “You just pray for the rest of the year that nothing happens.”

State representatives Josh Cutler, D-Hanson, and Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, and Rick Branca, an aide to state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, attended to give an overview of state budget implications for the W-H budget. [See related story]

District health insurance costs continue to strain the budget, Gilbert-Whitner said.

Strategic goals

The district again provided cost estimates for universal all-day kindergarten — at an estimated $400,000. That possibility is among the strategic action plans involving three pillars: healthy bodies/healthy minds; a cohesive PreK-12 curriculum and safe and secure schools; approved by the committee in September.

One-to-one devices such as ChromeBooks and iPads were also part of that discussion.

The action plans were points of discussion proposed for the Feb. 15 School Committee meeting, and have not been totaled into the fiscal 2018 budget.

Parents are now charged $3,200 a year per student for all-day kindergarten, which 82.1 percent of Massachusetts school districts provide at no cost. W-H’s half-day program is free.

There is also a request in the action plan for $300,000 over three years — $100,000 per year — for more classroom sets of one-to-one devices throughout the school system.

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Patrick Dillon argued the devices could be used to continue educating students in another school’s gym if a school building had to be temporarily closed. They can also be valuable as standardized testing becomes more digital, he said.

“I only have three ChromeBook carts in the building for 1,200 students — all through fundraising through the Panther Education Trust,” WHRHS Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak added.

School Committee member Fred Small suggested funding the devices through a capital request to help them survive budget cuts.

Non-mandated busing — transportation provided within 1.5 miles of a school and not required by law — is not reimbursed. W-H has about 1,000 non-mandated riders and 2,000 mandated, according to Suckow.

More than $1 million could be saved by eliminating busing from the budget completely, Suckow said in response to a question from Hayes. The district must provide transportation for homeless students who must stay in out-of-district shelters, however, under the federal McKinney-Vento Act adopted by the state of Massachusetts. The state under-funds that program, school officials said.

Going to all-day kindergarten would pare about $64,000 from the transportation costs by eliminating a mid-day bus run, Gilbert-Whitner said. She also pointed out that hospitalizations of students for anxiety-related illnesses are still rising and social workers provided at the elementary schools are funded by a grant that runs out June 30.

The high school program for at-risk students is supported by a grant that is also starting to go away.

A licensed social worker, who is also the parent of a Conley School student, said she was concerned to see high school sports coaches receiving a $63,000 raise while social workers in the schools are a greater need. The budget only adds about $6,000 for social workers.

Another parent argued social workers lower special education out-of-district costs.

“If you look at kids today, they’re facing a lot different challenges that we just never thought of when we were growing up,” Small agreed. “We’ve got fourth- and fifth-graders cutting themselves. … I know if I hadn’t heard [of] it, and seen it, I’d be oblivious to it.”

The district received $1.6 million in grants for the 2016-17 school year, not including a $20,000 grant recently received for safe and supportive schools. Grants fund nearly 85 positions in the district.

The elementary grades science curriculum is completely funded by a foundation, with the district responsible for consumable supporting materials.

state funds

Added state funding from local legislators’ efforts, which increased per-pupil funding to $55 each in state aid last year, allowed the district to hire four library assistants in the elementary schools. The district posted a job opening for a librarian to oversee them, but have not been able to find a qualified candidate. Retired high school librarian Kathy Gabriel has returned under a stipend to provide professional development for the four library assistants, Gilbert-Whitner said.

In the district-wide budget, the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning position has been cut in view of increased responsibilities for the director of curriculum positions.

Director of Science Curriculum Mark Stephansky argued for more up-to-date teaching materials for state standards that require more hands-on learning, and noted that the current eighth-grade textbook, copyrighted in 2000, has a picture of a space shuttle on the cover. NASA ended that program in 2011.

“That predates three standards,” he said, adding that now only half the curriculum is from a textbook. The other half is online. He advocates a curriculum materials upgrade that includes seven years of online access.

One parent asked that the school committee retain the $200,000 in the district budget so the new textbooks do not get cut.

“Knowing that my son laughs that Pluto is still mentioned [as a planet] in one of his science books, it’s really a concern,” she said. “We will not be able to have our students achieve at higher levels unless we have current information in front of them.”

Legislators offer state insight

State representatives Josh Cutler, D-Hanson, and Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, along with Rick Branca, an aide to state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, attended the Wednesday, Feb.1 School Committee meeting to provide an overview of state budget implications for the W-H budget.

Diehl outlined Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget as it pertained to the district school budget.

Added state funding from local legislators’ efforts, which increased per-pupil funding to $55 each in state aid last year, allowed the district to hire four library assistants in the elementary schools.  They are looking to new legislation as a more permanent solution to the funding need.

“We’d like to replicate that this year, but don’t hold your breath,” Diehl said, noting that this year, Gov. Baker is back to asking for $20. “I think you’ll see the House increase that number and, usually, the Senate tends to have an increase beyond that. The horse-trading has really yet to start.”

Cutler explained that where last year’s success in increasing the per-pupil funding had support from 71 co-sponsors, that is the only way regional schools can obtain Chapter 70 increases.

“I want to credit you for kind of lighting the fire,” Cutler said. “We would have done our jobs anyway, but we understood what a challenging situation it was and we took that message out and spread it through the legislature.”

This year they are going to try to replicate it, but Cutler said they know they don’t want to have to try doing so every year.

That’s were a small language change proposed in the language of MGL Chapter 70 Section 2, would require a $50 per pupil minimum. The temporary House Docket No. is 3156 until the legislation is assigned a permanent bill number in about two weeks.

“It’s not a crazy idea, because it used to be that way,” Cutler said. “Obviously when times are good, we’d like to see that figure go even higher, but at least we’d have that minimum brought up from where it was before.”

Cutler said a good cross-section of South Shore legislators have already signed onto the bill.

Branca said Brady would work on behalf of the bill on the Senate side.

Diehl added that casinos, approved in 2011 and the recreational marijuana law, both passed with the intention of adding funds to the education budget, would not provide assistance for a few more years. The marijuana law won’t even be in effect until 2018.

He explained the hold was placed by the Legislature to adjust tax regulations and address public safety concerns about enforcement, using Colorado as a model.

“I wouldn’t expect them to be a potential revenue savior for awhile, if at all,” Diehl said.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner also expressed concern about transportation costs under chapter 71. Non-mandated busing — transportation provided within 1.5 miles of a school and not required by law — is not reimbursed.

The allocation was already down by $110,000 in the governor’s budget, she said. Subject to appropriation, the reimbursement is supposed to be 100 percent.

“We haven’t seen that since 2007,” she said. “If we did not have to transport students, we would then be able to charge — whether people would like that or not, I don’t know.”

She said it is not unusual at the high school to see, at the second half of the school year, the buses are not full as students earn drivers’ licenses or stay for sports.

“A lot of money goes out for bus transportation for buses that are not full,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Cutler said, while he can’t predict dollars, the House bill will be better. Diehl also cautioned there are also pending 9C cuts.

  

HANSON — The new Recreation Commission officially went to work Thursday, Jan. 26, holding its first meeting to hear a review of work Town Administrator Michael McCue has done as interim director, brainstorm possible recreation events and elect officers.

Serving on the new commission are: Brian Fruzzetti, Rachel Gross and Brian Smith through June 30, 2019; John Zucco and Sondra Allen through June 30, 2018; and Annmarie Bouzan and Diane Cohen through June 30, 2017.

“I appreciate your stepping up to do this,” McCue said. “It’s always difficult to get people to serve on a board, especially one this large. The fact that we actually have a full seven-member board really does say something and is going to make things a lot easier on me, a lot easier on the town and a lot easier on the board itself.”

Bouzan, who has worked as an administrative assistant at Camp Kiwanee about five years ago, was elected chairman, Gross as the vice chairman and Cohen as the clerk.

Selectmen Bill Scott, who also attended the meeting, indicated he would continue, along with a member of the commission, to help McCue interview candidates for recreation director. He had been appointed by the Board of Selectmen to work on the interviews before while there was no sitting Recreation Commission.

“I will still be willing to be part of that if they want me to do that,” Scott said.

“My intention is to still have you do so,” McCue said. “We try to be a team, we’re all pulling in one direction, hopefully.”

Both McCue and Scott left after McCue’s update, and the commission spent more than an hour discussing policies and procedures as well as possible agenda items for future meetings.

Their concerns in that arena involve security protocols, the enforceability of a ban on firearms even for those licensed to carry, billing oversight, the extensive job description for the recreation director, caterers’ responsibilities, use of social media for marketing, cabin upkeep and the event planning process as a whole.

The commission plans on meeting twice a week until the members feel caught up and then will shift to a twice-monthly meeting schedule.

The public meetings are held at 7 p.m. at Camp Kiwanee’s Needles Lodge.

Fruzzetti of 370 Elm St., is an advertising consultant. Gross of 35 Katy-Did Lane, owns an event marketing company and has worked both on weddings and community events for the past 15 years. Smith of 38 Sandy Terrace is a facilities supervisor for Eversource. Zucco of 101 Glenwood Place is also an entertainment specialist, specializing in corporate and social events. Allen, of 188 Elm St., is a life-long resident who has maintained a family pass at Kiwanee and is active in Boy Scouts. Cohen of 767 Pleasant St., is a teacher who moved to Hanson 18 months ago. Her son has taken swimming lessons at Cranberry Cove for about five years.

“Your experience here at the camp and within the town is going to be beneficial in a liaison area,” Gross told Bouzan during the selection of officers. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I would love to review the applications for the director.”

The other commission members agreed that Gross’s professional background would make her a good choice for that role.

McCue provided ethics and open meeting regulation forms and copies of new lodge and cabin rental application forms as well as policies and procedures, all of which were drawn up by town counsel. For discounted contracts, the commission will vote on applications for reduced rates and forward the applications to McCue, who will bring it before the Board of Selectmen for final approval.

The new recreation director will recommend contracts for McCue to sign — as he does with all town contracts.

Rental contracts are more detailed on liability issues that had been a concern in the old contracts.

Selectmen will give final approval to the policies and procedures after the Recreation Commission has a chance to provide feedback.

“There’s an awful lot in there that wasn’t in there before,” McCue said. “What I will consider is some additional information, but by and large, the information you have in front of you — that’s going to stay. … I’m very hesitant to tinker with anything the lawyers gave me.”

McCue also provided an update on maintenance projects at the camp.

He has already done a level-funded budget, including a director’s salary, which was due before the commission met. A part-time employee in the Treasurer-Collector’s office is serving as the temporary administrative assistant to the Recreation Commission.

“I’m taking a bunch of trees down, and it’s not because I don’t like the trees — they’re dead,” he said. “Our fear is … if we get a good enough wind, if we get a heavy snow, they’ll come down and crash on this roof.”

He has consulted with the tree warden and Conservation Commission on which trees should be removed and potential impact on the pond. He also plans for a new septic system for the lodge; caretaker’s cottage and bathhouse have been changed because of the number of trees that would have had to be removed in addition to the high financial cost.

“The beauty of this place, the thing that makes this place unique, is the trees,” McCue said.

The lowest bid had come in $50,000 to $60,000 higher than budgeted so the bids were dismissed. The project is now being approached in phases.

He also plans to have a rotting garage on the property torn down as a liability, possibly within the next couple of weeks. That project, too requires input from the Conservation Commission due to the dry streambed near the gatehouse. A fence between the swimming area and an abutter’s property must also be extended to deal with a trespassing problem on the abutter’s land, but the Conservation Commission must also be consulted on that project, according to McCue.

The Recreation Commission will also have to hire lifeguards for Cranberry Cove in the spring for the upcoming summer swimming season, which starts the day after the last day of school.

“The weddings pay for a lot of things that go on up here, but it has to be a hand-in-hand thing,” Bouzan said. “Why have it here in Hanson for all of us to enjoy if we can’t. I’m really anxious to turn that around and make it so it’s a great place for us.”

Gross said she would like to see farmers’ markets take place at Kiwanee, community pot luck suppers and other community events.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Gross said.

WHITMAN  — Fire Chief Timothy Grenno is again seeking additional firefighters with EMT or paramedic/EMT certification for the department in his fiscal 2018 budget — this time only three — in an effort to deal with steadily increasing call volumes and a staffing level that has not changed since 1965.

Two years ago, Grenno had asked for eight additional firefighters, but the department did not receive the grant funding sought to pay a portion of that effort.

This year’s request, which will cost an estimated $292,700 including benefits for the three firefighters, will enable the fire department to add a firefighter to each shift to increase safety, fire response and patient care outcomes, Grenno argued.

While noting that a part override more than 12 years ago failed, as did the grant application two years ago, Grenno said he is seeking the funding for the new firefighters outside the levy limit.

“All I’m asking for is to let the taxpayers have the final say in this eventually,” Grenno said. Selectmen are expected to vote on Town Meeting warrant articles within the next few weeks.

Grenno is seeking a separate override question if there is a school override put before the voters.

At $292,648 — rounded up to $292,700— he said the tax rate impact would be 19 cents per $1,000 valuation or $56.18 increase in a tax bill on an average home of $291,413.

“I’m not trying to meet national standards, I’m not trying to get the big pie in the sky, I’m just trying to get us so that the majority of people that we see and the majority of responses that we go to are fair and equitable across the board,” he said. “This is a goal to increase efficiency, productivity and patient care.”

Grenno made his presentation to the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 24, a week after his official budget presentation to the Finance Committee.

Selectman Daniel Salvucci asked if the cost for the new firefighters could be funded within the levy limit.

“[It] sounds like a lot of money,” Salvucci said. “But it isn’t a lot of money in one way.”

Budget challenges

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said insurance costs, the school budget and other line items are expected to increase and the only way to meet Grenno’s request is to increase the levy limit.

Lynam said, since Whitman is a residential community with 93 percent of revenues coming from residents’ taxes, people must decide what kind of community they want to be.

“That’s all I’m asking,” Grenno said. “As fire chief, my job is to come before you and present the state of the fire side of public safety in the town. … I’m not in the ballgame to take from other people’s budgets.”

Lynam said all the town’s fixed costs increase each year by 4 to 5 percent.

“The only thing that enables us to keep up with it is the combination of growth and increases in the levy limit,” Lynam said. We’re not expecting to see much support from the state. … This is our job.”

Finance Committee Chairman Michael Minchello said he and Grenno have also talked about that, but there is a concern within his committee about overtime costs.

“I totally understand where the Finance Committee is coming from,” Grenno said. “Their job is money, my job is public safety and we have a very difficult time — and sometimes can’t do it — with five people a shift.”

The Whitman Fire Department became a full-time service in 1965 with five members per shift. In 1973, with an ambulance service added to the department, staffing levels remained at five per shift, where they remain today.

In 1965 call volume for both fire and medical emergencies was 496 runs during the year. Last year, call volume was up to 2,664 runs.

Medical emergencies make up 64 percent of all responses.

When calls come in, priority EMS calls — chest pain, shortness of breath, seizures and overdoses, for example — all five firefighters on a shift respond. For non-priority first calls — such as orthopedic cases — three firefighters respond, leaving two and possibly a shift commander to respond to subsequent calls, Grenno explained.

“We’re pretty good [on national treatment standards] on the first call out the door — four persons, most critical task, at least 80 seconds faster,” he said. “Four people on a priority call is the ultimate. Three is OK, two persons is substantially less. Second EMS calls or EMS calls secondary to a fire incident are somewhere between the three and two-person less effectiveness in patient care.

“That’s where we stand today and, to me, that is unacceptable,” Grenno said. Last summer, the department had to respond to an overdose call with one firefighter aided by police officers.

The cost

In the past three years there have been two house fires that caused $100,000 damage, but Grenno said the damage could have been limited to $20,000 to $25,000 with full staffing available.

Last year, the fire station was empty 18 percent of the time due to call volume, with subsequent calls dependent on mutual aid, which helps but takes from 20 minutes to an hour to get to a call.

Patient demographics have also “changed substantially,” Grenno said, and include Baby Boomers hesitant to call for help until a more serious condition develops, and another group “who call us for everything.”

The call-back system for summoning off-duty firefighters is also a problem due to second jobs, or family demands when a spouse has to go to work.

Minchello asked if Grenno had given thought to sending four members out on priority cases, as required by the national safety standards, instead of five. Grenno said that has been considered, but would break up a two-person engine company, which is also against safety standards.

The department’s current policy is, when secondary calls come in, if personnel have to go by the station they pick up the extra ambulance. Many secondary calls, however, occur in the same area to which the first response was dispatched.

Ambulance funds

Minchello also asked about past plans to fund new staffing from the ambulance account.

Grenno explained that the Governor’s Task Force for Health Insurance, to reduce costs across the state, met recently with the Legislature’s Health Committee without representatives of public safety, hospitals, private ambulance companies invited. Only insurance company representatives were in attendance to look at cutting health insurance costs and are beginning to look at pre-hospitalization services such as ambulance services and walk-in clinics. One of the proposals is to reduce ambulance transport coverage Medicare and Medicaid rates across the board, and the department is losing money in that new practice.

“That would be devastating to our department,” Grenno said.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District scored well on this year’s audits — by receiving a finding of an “unmodified opinion,” which is the best opinion possible, according to audit firm representative Dan Sullivan on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Another report, filed with federal accounting officials found no “significant deficiencies or material weaknesses over financial reporting or of compliance.”

“Having ‘no findings’ is a major accomplishment,” Superintendent of School Dr. Ruth-Gilbert-Whitner said in congratulating Director of Business Services Christine Suckow on the audit results. “This is something to be greatly respected.”

Clifton Larsen Allen, which has performed the district audit for the last three years, began preliminary fieldwork for the latest audit in April 2016, according to Sullivan. Primary work is begun in November when the books on the fiscal year are closed.

“Management and staff, consistent with prior years, were responsive to all our questions and available to us throughout the whole audit,” Sullivan said. “The end result was actually a smooth audit process.”

He added there were no disagreements with district management during the audit and district officials knew what the firm needed and were prepared.

“The school district is audited by an accredited auditing firm yearly,” School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said. “It is also audited by DESE (the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), because we receive federal money and state money. … There’s always been questions as to what’s going on with different finances. Every single year we are audited by a private company.”

The audit reports were part of a School Committee meeting devoted to preliminary budget discussions ahead of the Wednesday, Feb. 1 rollout of the fiscal 2018 W-H school budget.

The Clifton Larsen Allen audit was broken up into two groups — the Government Y statement of debt position and activities as well as the fund-based financial statement, which deals with current funding sources.

Long-term financial liabilities of pensions and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) are included in the Government Y report. The fund-based report centers on revenue coming in and payments going out.

The district’s net position is about $30 million, including net investment and capital assets — about $59.2 million — and includes building, equipment of about $66 million less the current outstanding debt of $7 million. Restricted net position is $1.9 million, of which $600,000 is related to Circuit-Breaker funds and $1.3 million consists of other special revenue funds.

An unfunded pension liability and unfunded OPEB liability create a combined $30.8 million deficit. Annual OPEB costs were almost $5.1 million, up from $4.8 million the year before — the total unfunded OPEB liability is about $55 million, with the whole liability to be brought in during fiscal 2018.

“It’s put out over the years,” Hayes said. “It’s not a liability that’s got to be paid. Most towns, most school districts have these liabilities because of other post-employment benefits.”

“There’s no requirement to fund this at the moment,” Sullivan agreed.

Long-term debt has decreased from $14.8 million to $6.6 million because the district entered into a debt refinancing in fiscal 2015, which crossed over fiscal years.

Fund financial statements show the general fund, the most important as it relates to operation of the district, shows a balance of $2.7 million, which is $169,000 higher than the previous year.

“You are very conservative with your revenues, so you probably collected about $150,000 more in revenue than you planned and you turned back about $583,000 in expenditures that you didn’t use,” Sullivan said, adding that the year before there was about $150,000 from unused encumbrances. “Since we’ve been doing the audit, that’s been pretty much how it’s been working … it’s a position of strength.”

The committed fund balance, or excess and deficiency line item, is at $950,000, up from $750,000 from the previous year. The signed fund balance reserved for encumbrances in fiscal 2016 budget, but still in processing at year-end.

The unassigned, or free-and clear, fund balance stands at almost  $1.4 million. That figure, Sullivan said, represents 3 percent of revenues.

“The reason why we look at that is that your revenues could fluctuate 3 percent and you have enough unassigned fund balance to cover anything if it happened,” he said. “The chances of your revenues fluctuating are pretty non-existent because 90 percent are made up of assessments and Chapter 70 monies, which are very constant.”

District Treasurer David Leary also advised that the committee vote to assume two bond authorizations at the auditors’ request — one to rescind $283 left from the bond on the high school building, the other to rescind an outstanding $281,300 from the Maquan feasibility study. The board unanimously approved both requests.

“We’ve got a very strong debt position in this district,” he said, echoing Sullivan’s report. “It’s pretty unusual to find a place where the only thing that you owe is the money on this building, which is a little over $6 million and a short-term note for technology.”

The district maintains a solid AA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s with a stable outlook.

He also suggested the committee authorize him to invest some $400,000 worth of scholarships in the treasurer’s custodial care in an effort to “do a little better” in increasing their yield.

“Right now they are sitting in small savings accounts,” he said.

“As you can see in hearing from our treasurer and our auditors, WHRSD appears to be in good financial and business management condition right at this particular time,” Hayes said.

Tyler W. Stearns
Express correspondent

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Jan. 10 unanimously decided to allow Mission Massachusetts to open a medical marijuana grow facility in Whitman.

The vote provides the company with a letter of support, the next step it must complete toward obtaining a Department of Public Health license.

Selectmen first discussed the issue in a Nov. 15 meeting continued to Dec. 13 in an effort to provide residents a chance to comment. The number of residents who attended the Dec. 13 meeting prompted Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci, who chaired that meeting, to schedule Tuesday’s session for the Town Hall Auditorium to permit a larger crowd to attend.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had also said he needed to research some of the questions that were raised Dec. 13.

Since the Dec. 13 meeting, Mission Massachusetts has held a public informational seminar to discuss project details and the professionalism of their company at the Whitman Public Library on Jan. 5. Multiple members of the company’s team went to each meeting, but the Jan. 5 session on was their opportunity to educate the public about their intentions, representatives said.

“We want to professionalize the industry,” various members of Mission Massachusetts have said throughout this process, including its CFO Ben Smith.

The Jan. 5 meeting did not appear to quell anxieties, as some opponents again spoke out against it Tuesday night.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had expressed concern that opponents were mistakenly describing the facility proposed for 233 Bedford St., behind Sweezey Fence.

Not a dispensary

“We’re recognizing this is a product no different than a drug company manufacturing oxycodone here,” Lynam said. He, and the board, continued to reiterate that they are “not interested in a dispensary.”

Because Mission Massachusetts is already in the licensing process, company officials said in November that they qualify for the pool of applicants for a recreational marijuana license, but are now solely focused on the medical-use growing facility they hope to locate in Whitman.

Town officials have remained adamant that they would permit no recreational use dispensary in the town.

“We’re not confused, we’re concerned,” one Whitman resident said Tuesday night.

“Just because something is legal does not make it right” said another, to applause from some in the crowd.

Contrary to previous meetings, several residents spoke in support of the facility Tuesday night. One asked, “Would you have a different opinion if we were talking about a distillery?”

A young resident argued that this would be a positive change for the town, and that younger professionals would be inclined to move to town  with it in place. They argued that most of the younger generations do not have a negative attitude toward marijuana.

“I didn’t come to the realization that I would vote for this until I saw the Brockton Facility,” Chairman Carl Kowalski said. He also noted that oipiod abuse is a greater concern as there are “four opioid deaths a day in Massachusetts.”

Voices heard

Many residents also voiced their anxieties about Whitman’s reputation.

“Why Whitman?” was a question asked by some attendees.

Mission’s Jan. 5 presentation listed towns such as Georgetown, Plymouth, Franklin and Brockton as municipalities with cultivation sites. Only Brockton stood out to one resident, who asked, “Why do we want to be like Brockton?”

Police Chief Scott Benton has toured the Brockton facility and said, “Not only is it run well and secure, it’s a business. Whether we like it or don’t, the voters (62 percent in Whitman in 2012) have spoken and this has been legalized.”

Benton has opposed dispensaries locating in Whitman.

Some opponents were concerned that their voices were being ignored by the board, but Selectman Brian Bezanson countered that, “We are bound to act on behalf of everyone, not 50 or 60 … We are here to make the best decision for everyone.”

“It is hypocritical to want medical marijuana in state but not in our town,” said Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci, referencing the 62 percent of Whitman voters who favored the medical marijuana bill in 2012.

“There is a need for medical marijuana,” said Board member Scott Lambiase before the votes were cast.

Hearing the Board of Selectmen speak in favor of the facility and of medical marijuana, half of the crowd had already left before the vote.

Tuesday night’s meeting lasted nearly two hours, with the vote occurring at 8:47 p.m.

Mission Massachusetts has also discussed their commitment to working with local communities and their desire to hire locally. They estimate 15-20 jobs, but also commented that this is a low estimate to make initial expectations reasonable.

confusion

The legal distinctions between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana has been a topic of confusion over the course of these meetings. This was complicated when state Rep. Geoff Diehl spoke at the Jan. 5 meeting with information that only pertained to recreational laws, according to Lynam.

Lynam said Friday, Jan. 6 that Diehl provided misinformation to the group, including that there are three ways to prevent the grow-site from happening.

“Unfortunately the information he provided applied to recreational marijuana, not medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said, noting that he had tried to correct Diehl during the meeting, but Diehl had disagreed at that time.

He called Lynam at home after the Jan. 5 meeting to admit his mistake. He also contacted Mission Massachusetts.

“He contacted me later to acknowledge that, in fact, his comments did not apply to medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said. “I don’t know what difference it would have made to the members present, but there appeared to be a small vocal group of opposition.”

Some of those opponents “demonstrated an unwillingness to listen and an intolerance for any position other than their own,” according to Lynam.

(Express editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.)

Avivacious teen with endless dreams, local Hanson resident, dancer, model, and Massasoit college student Maddie Phillips celebrates life and sees no road blocks ahead.

Phillips, who was born with Down syndrome recently recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for television, which she debuted last week.

The message: educating others about how she wishes people would see her and not interpret her only as someone with a disability.

Mingle with Maddie, a reception hosted by Maria Wood owner of Fashion Focus in Pembroke where Phillips is developing her career in modeling and acting, was also a gathering of friends and family as Maddie spoke of future endeavors.

Wood has coached her in poise, confidence, public speaking and modeling for several years and is now helping her break-in to the modeling industry.

“My words come from my heart. Your encouragement makes me feel stronger,” Maddie said as she thanked everyone for coming and sharing in her excitement.

Her parents Lisa and Scott Phillips were at the event with a debut of their own, the first copies of “Angel,” a book written by mom Lisa about Madison Rose Phillips’ journey through life with Down syndrome.

Through her life, Maddie’s various talents include 15 years of dancing, horseback riding and volunteer at Sunshine Farm in Bridgewater. Sunshine Farm uses healing and uplifting experiences for children who have experienced trauma in their lives. She also plays guitar, and for many years jogged with her mom.

Liam Talbot of Hanson was in the front row to cheer her on after presenting her with yellow roses at the event — head also been her prom date last spring before both graduated with the Class of 2016 from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

Talbot has had a life long struggle with arsenic poisoning, an illness he was born with, but he has also overcome the stigma of his condition — and has an unstoppable outlook on life.

She thanked him and said he is her friend that she thinks about him each night before bed. With a gracious heart and full of spunk she went on to thank each person who attended reminding them of a reason they were important to her.

When describing her life she stated simply, “I am happy.  Sometimes people think or tell me I can’t be normal.  I am Down syndrome. I get upset and say ‘what should I be?’ I am not invisible and I want to fit in. I take a breath, calm and I thank my insides. I can be a better person and find inspirations then I go after it. I am not just Down syndrome I am like her,” she said pointing to all the girls in the room. “I am very funny, nice, confident, energetic, and very determined.

Her advice to others with a disability? “Down syndrome can’t stop you. You can’t give up,” she said.

In her PSA Maddie educates others and asks, “Do you see me or do you see disability?” She tells the audience, “I have Down syndrome but it doesn’t define who I am.”

To see Maddie’s recent event and learn more about her endeavors visit facebook.com/mariawoodfashionfocus.

After several days of frigid weather, people have been venturing out on ice-covered ponds and bogs to play hockey, figure skate, fish or run all-terrain vehicles. While ATVs are generally not permitted on public land in any weather, local fire chiefs warn that outdoor ice is never “100-percent safe.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) agrees that “the only ‘safe’ ice is at a skating arena” because frozen bodies of water can be dangerous.

“With the cold weather we’ve had, a lot of people want to get out on the ice,” Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson said Tuesday morning. “We get a lot of phone calls [but] we can never say that the ice is 100-percent safe because there’s several factors like currents, waterfowl being on it or fish  or stumps … all kinds of different things can affect it.”

“There’s always a concern for ice thickness,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno. “There’s many areas that have open water.” Like Hanson, Grenno’s department does not make general statements concerning the safety of ice on ponds in town.

“We just tell people to use their best judgment and, if there’s open water, then the pond should be deemed unsafe.”

Thompson referred to MEMA’s ice-thickness guidelines that suggest four inches of ice for fishing, five inches can hold a snowmobile and eight to 12 inches a vehicle and 12-15 inches for a pickup truck. His department does not check ice thickness on area waterways.

“You need to keep in mind that, just because it’s eight inches in this spot, it might not be eight inches in that spot,” Thompson said. “We recommend if you do go out, you don’t go it alone. You should always have somebody with you and you should pay attention to your surroundings.”

Generally, ice that forms on moving water (rivers, streams, and brooks) is never safe, according to MEMA. Ice freezes and thaws at different rates and the thickness of ice on ponds and lakes can vary depending on water currents, springs, depth, and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. It can be a foot thick in one area and just inches thick a few feet away. Daily changes in temperature also affect its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely safe.

MEMA offers the following tips to follow before venturing out and what to do if you or someone you are with falls through the ice.

Before going
on the ice

• Look for slush, which can indicate that the ice is no longer freezing so you face a greater risk of falling through.

• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow can hide weak and open ice or cracks.

• Test the ice strength. Use an ice chisel to chip a hole through the ice to determine its thickness and condition. If it is two inches thick or less, stay off.

• Never go on ice alone. Another person may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through.

• Keep pets on a leash when walking them near bodies of water so that they don’t run onto the ice.

If someone falls through the ice

• Do not go out onto the ice to try to rescue a person or pet.

• Reach-Throw-Go: Try to reach the victim from shore. Extend your reach with a branch, oar, pole, or ladder to try to pull the victim to safety. If unable to reach the victim, throw them something to hold onto (such as a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or life preserver). Go for help or call 911 immediately.

• If you fall in, use cold water safety practices: Try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, moving forward by kicking your feet. Once back onto unbroken ice, remain lying down and roll away from the hole. Crawl back toward land, keeping your weight evenly distributed.

• If you can’t get back on the ice, use the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP): Bring your knees up toward your chest. Cross your arms and hold them close to your body. Keep your legs together. Try to keep your head out of the water. Do not try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or shore is close by. Swimming in cold water cools your body and reduces survival time.

Helping a victim when out of
the water

• Get medical help or call 911 immediately. The victim needs help quickly to prevent hypothermia.

• Get the victim to a warm location.

• Remove the victim’s wet clothing.

• Warm the center of the victim’s body first by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing.

• Give the victim warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to drink.

• Place the victim in a warm shower or bath with their arms and legs out of the water to warm the core of the body.

Thompson said his department has not had to yet deal with burst pipes or other frigid weather problems, even as they responded to a Mutual Aid fire call in Pembroke on New Year’s Day.

Heavy turnout gear keeps firefighters warm on cold-weather calls, but there is also a rehab truck available through the Department of Fire Services to provide a heated area in which firefighters can warm up. The Highway Department can also be called in to sand and salt, helping to reduce the likelihood of falls on the ice.

Towns are also keeping an eye on weather forecasts to determine how they should approach a severe winter storm forecast for Jan. 4.

“We’re just keeping an eye on it because the weather people don’t know what it’s doing yet,” Grenno said Tuesday. “If it’s going to hit us with wet snow and high winds then we’ll ramp up here and be ready to take on whatever it deals us.”

“Right now, they still don’t know what it’s going to do,” Thompson agreed. “I’m sure that MEMA will be giving us some updates as we get closer. We check our equipment daily, so we’re all set.

“It there’s the possibility that it will be a significant event, myself, the police chief, the other department heads, the Town Administrator, will meet to discuss it — we always have the schools involved in that — and based on the forecast, we may put on additional personnel,” he said.

Fire departments also work closely with senior centers to obtain lists of elderly residents who may need assistance in weather emergencies.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 20 voted unanimously to award the Plymouth County Hospital demolition contract to low-bidder J.R. Vinagro Corp., of Johnstown, R.I., which bid $989,450 for the project.

Engineering costs must still be calculated on the project and the approval is conditional on the “successful fulfillment of any additional required submittals and certifications,” Town Administrator Michael McCue said.

“I think it’s great news,” said Selectman Kenny Mitchell.

All bidders provided complete submissions, including the required bid bonds. Bids ranged from Vinagro’s low of $989,450 to a high bid of $2,429,450.

Voters at Town Meeting appropriated $1.8 million for the demolition work, of which $300,000 was from free cash.

“Based upon the criteria stipulated in the bid documents, Vinagro is a qualified and responsive bidder,” Hanson’s town engineer Alan Hamscom wrote to the board on behalf of Beta Engineering, of which is vice president. “Based upon our involvement with Vinagro on past demolition projects, we recommend award of the subject contract to J.R. Vinagro Corp.”

McCue, too, said he has dealt with Vinagro on a similar demolition project when he worked for the town of Avon.

“I had no issues [with them] and was very pleased to pass that along to our engineer,” he said. “They do have a track record both with our engineer and myself.”

Selectmen Chairman James McGahan said there were 10 bidders for the contract. McGahan asked why there was such a wide range of bid prices. McCue said a lot of it has to do with the companies’ locations as well as the advantageous timing of the bid process during a slow period for such work.

“They are a local company,” McCue said of Vinagro. “I think they are trying to make further inroads in the business — get some more small projects under their [belt] so that they can continue to be successful and win bids. … It’s not at all unusual to see a wide range of bid prices.”

The next two lowest bids were from Ramco Survey Stake Co. of West Bridgewater at $1,067,000 and American Environmental Inc., of Holyoke at $1,078,850.

The demolition project at the former Plymouth County Hospital site involves tearing down the main hospital building as well as all the out buildings behind the Bonney house and near the water tank as well as the old paint shop behind the food pantry building and a trailer in the woods, according to Selectman Don Howard.

Selectmen also approved, by a 4-1 vote with Selectman Bill Scott in opposition, a request for a waiver of the rental fee at Camp Kiwanee for an event sponsored by the Hanson Business Network to benefit nonprofit school groups.

The St. Patrick’s-themed event — with corned beef and cabbage dinner and Irish entertainment — from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., on Friday, March 17, 2017 is a fundraiser for Panther Education Trust and the Hanson PTO, both 501 (c)(3) organizations. The event is a way of “giving back to the community,” HBN representative Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett wrote in the waiver request.

Mitchell and Selectman Bruce Young both pointed out that the Hanson Has Taste event McGahan hosted to supply ChromeBooks for the Middle School was a similar use of the facility.

“The precedent has been set,” Young said, indicating FitzGerald-Kemmett’s request was also in compliance with camp policies and procedures.

But Scott was concerned about why a school group was not sponsoring the event.

“Why is the business network applying for [the waiver]?” Scott asked.

In other business, selectmen tabled a discussion of properties at Lakeside Road and Brook Street with the Conservation Commission because of “a mix-up on the agenda.” Conservation Chairman Phil Clemons, who had asked for the discussion, was not notified it was being included on the agenda, McGahan said. Area residents had also expressed interest in attending any discussion on the subject.

A discussion and potential vote regarding animal control services was also held over to Jan. 10 because a planned arrangement was not finalized and a secondary plan is being sought, McCue said. Whitman has agreed to cover Hanson under the regional agreement from which Hanson is withdrawing until a new plan is in place.

The W-H School Committee will likely be seeking a full-day kindergarten program again for fiscal 2018, this time armed with annual cost estimates beyond the estimated $500,000 start-up costs.

Budget discussions will begin at the committee’s next meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 11 in preparation for the official budget rollout on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend both sessions.

“Starting in January would be a good time to recruit people and show what you support to this committee so we can make our decision moving forward into the next budget year,” said Chairman Bob Hayes at the Wednesday, Dec. 14 meeting. “We have no problem putting in extra seats. We will do that and we’d love to have everyone here.”

Tuition-free full-day kindergarten was part of the $3-million Student Success Budget that failed an override in May.

“I’ve been for this since it first came up, so I say keep going for it,” School Committee member Robert Trotta said. “I think it’s important — we all know it’s important— and it’s a big budget item, but eventually I think we need to get all-day kindergarten into our budget.”

Part of an expected cost reduction after the first year is that a mid-day bus run would not be needed, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said.

She pointed out that, while the override failed, more parents were convinced of the benefit of full-day kindergarten and enrolled their children. But, educators cautioned the limited number of scholarship slots available creates a “have and have-not” situation, in which some children miss out on the benefits because their parents cannot afford it.

“We’re part of the shameful low part — probably 70 districts — that doesn’t fund kindergarten, Committee member Dan Cullity said. “The state’s already looking to do pre-K, so we’re so far behind, it’s ridiculous.”

“The criticality of this is we can’t have those students starting behind,” agreed Committee member Chris Howard.

Cullity said the South Shore is the only region of the state where most districts do not mandate full-day kindergarten.

“It takes them two to three years to catch up,” he said.

“Sometimes they don’t,” Gilbert-Whitner added.

Cost details

Hayes asked Business Manager Christine Suckow to research second and third-year costs of full-day kindergarten to provide more information for town officials and voters.

“That’s the number one question I’ve had asked from the finance committee standpoint,” he said.

Gilbert-Whitner also said the state bases Chapter 70 funds for full-day kindergarten as a whole child, where half-day program reimbursement is based on “half a kid.”

“Clearly state aid should go up,” she said. “But that’s not a ‘will,’ that’s a ‘should.’” The district’s status of being short of target share will also have an effect on Chapter 70.

On the other end of the K-12 curriculum, the committee also heard a report on the after-school programs at the high school, now funded by a renewed 21st Century Grant, which the district will soon have to fund.

“Grants are seed money and we are then supposed to move forward,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Student support

The grant has been in place for seven years, initially an annual $105,000 grant for three years which has been renewed once already, according to WHRHS Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak. The district has received more than $700,000 over the seven years, using it to fund after-school programming and transportation.

“For me as a high school principal, sending kids home without parents before 2 p.m. — kids who are at-risk or kids who need support — that’s challenging,” Szymaniak said. The high school day was pushed ahead, ending at 1:40 p.m., to permit a cost-saving bus schedule five years ago. He said the grant-funded programs have provided effective programs for the at-risk population and “kids who need to find a niche after school.”

Szymaniak credits the program for helping bring the dropout rate down to .2 percent from 3.9 percent in 2009.

“That’s our goal here — to graduate kids,” he said. “We’re hoping to renew the grant, but if they don’t fully fund it, I don’t want to cut programs.

After school enrichment program coordinator Maureen Leonard said 40 students take part in academic and emotional support and enrichment programs and she also works with their families. A credit recovery program is also featured for students lacking the credits to graduate in four years.

A success plan is established for each student in the program.

Participant Olivia Affannato spoke of her experience.

“I used it, at first, as somewhere to do my homework because, when I’m at home, I don’t really want to do homework,” she said. “I quickly realized it’s more than just that.”

Affannato said the program had helped her learn to advocate for herself and build relationships with peers and faculty, along with providing her to work with outside groups in regard to her concern over the ongoing opioid crisis.

“Programs like this probably should be highlighted even more,” Trotta said. “People need to know that schools do have special programs like this and students can become very successful.”

Szymaniak said there is a team approach at W-H to support all students.