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.

WHITMAN — Selectmen will again discuss a proposed medical marijuana growing location in Whitman at its next meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13. Residents are welcome to attend and voice their opinion on the issue.

The proposed location is at 233 Bedford St., behind Sweezey Fence.

“It will be a fully enclosed building — probably a steel building very similar to a commercial garage,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said on Thursday, Dec 1. “It will have security as required by the state”

Ben Smith of Fresh Meadow Farm, who gave a brief review of the process during the Selectmen’s Nov. 15 meeting, will return Dec. 13, asking Selectmen to approve a letter of support or non-opposition regarding the project.

Lynam and Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green are researching the issues pertaining to the town’s obligations and rights should a grow facility be permitted, with the aim of preparing a recommendation for the board.

Lynam stressed that the town is not interested in a dispensary facility.

Medical marijuana dispensaries must be in plain view and people entering must be viewable to passersby to ensure any security issues are obvious, but it is not sufficient to sway Lynam’s opinion of how far the town would be willing to go.

He added that the one call he has received on the issue so far was “emphatically against dispensaries and OK with a grow facility.”

The letter of support or non-opposition is the next step the company, Mission Partners — to be known as Fresh Meadow Farm — must complete toward obtaining a Department of Public Health license. Because they are already in the licensing process, company officials said 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.

“I would not be surprised to see these folks coming back to expand to the recreational piece once the dust settles on that vote,” Lynam said. “Right now the only regulations out are on medical marijuana, so it’s going to be difficult to determine how to regulate or approve a facility that’s for recreational marijuana.”

He said the grow facility is designed to be unobtrusive — there will be no signs and the hydroponic growing operation will be entirely done inside the building. Air scrubbers would  prevent any odors from reaching neighbors.

Lynam also discussed the future of Whitman’s regional animal control contract with Abington, now that Hanson has opted to withdraw from the erstwhile three-town program.

“The intent to creating a district approach for animal control is to take advantage of the geographical area that encompassed Abington, Whitman and Hanson,” Lynam said. “We recognized at the time we did that, that adding Hanson to the mix was going to significantly increase the area of coverage and we had some concerns about it.”

He said the Whitman-Abington program will continue to be reviewed, adding he tends to measure the success of programs in which Whitman participates by the number of complaints received.

“We have not had any issues either in Whitman or, of late, in Abington,” Lynam said. “I would say so far it appears to be working. I’m going to evaluate that, as we normally would any program, as we move forward in the fiscal year and determine if we have the right staffing and the right coverage.”

Whitman’s part-time animal control officer resigned to attend the academy to become an environmental police officer, leaving  the current animal control officer on call 24/7 to cover both towns, paid on a stipend basis. Calls are prioritized as to level of need.

Hanson Town Administrator Michael McCue had met several weeks ago with Lynam and Abington Town Manager Richard Lafond, at which time the three concluded that either they go in different directions or obtain more funding to hire additional staff. McCue determined Hanson would be better off going solo and the other towns agreed. Hanson Selectmen voted Nov. 29 to appoint Ron Clark as interim animal control officer for Hanson. A permanent position would be posted in the spring.

“Apparently there were issues in Hanson that they feel they were not adequately being provided for and they have requested to be released from the contract early,” Lynam said. “I have no intention of holding anyone captive.”

He said he wishes Hanson well and will bill them only for the period the contract was in force.

HANSON — The town has reached amicable agreements to part ways with regional contracts for IT and animal control services, but Selectmen are divided on when and how to reappoint a new Recreation Commission.

The latter issue cropped up as Town Administrator Michael McCue reported to the board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Nov. 29 that the town has received eight applications for the Recreation Director job posting, which closes Friday, Dec. 2.

“We have some fairly strong candidates for that position,” McCue said, asking the board for guidance on how best to proceed. “I don’t think we will have a full [Recreation Commission] reconstituted within the next couple of weeks or so … unless the board directs me otherwise, I would like to move forward in bringing these people in for interviewing them.”

McCue said he would like to have a director in place by Jan. 1, 2017.

Selectman Bruce Young then advocated for meeting as soon as possible to reconstitute the Recreation Commission as the board has received seven applications from people interested in serving on the commission.

“The ideal situation would be if we could meet briefly next week to appoint the Recreation Commission, then they could organize and assign a person to sit with [McCue] and go through the process,” Young said. He noted that McCue and that Recreation representative would then conduct the interviews and recommend a couple of candidates to submit to the fully reconstituted Recreation Commission to appoint, as outlined in the Town Administrator Act.

The board voted 5-0 to appoint Selectman Bill Scott to sit in on interviews with McCue in order to prevent a hiring delay that could cause some applicants to withdraw.

Selectmen Kenny Mitchell and Chairman James McGahan advocated that the investigation process completed before sppointing a new commission so the town can move forward.

“The problem I have with it is we’re probably going to expect some input [from the town’s attorney] because we also have a deadline on Nov. 30,” McGahan said of a previous decision to give Recreation Commission members named in Labor Counsel Leo Peloquin’s report time to rebut its findings.

“I don’t want to make any decisions on any Recreation Commission members until after this Camp Kiwanee [investigation] is completely done and over so we can move forward,” Mitchell said. “I want to start fresh — a nice, clean slate.”

Young asked how Mitchell and McGahan thought the investigation could affect a new Recreation Commission.

“You’re talking about appointing a new Recreation Commission,” Young said. “You might end up with two members from the last board, but those members probably weren’t even involved in that whole scenario. … I don’t see that any of the prior people who resigned put applications in.”

“A statement was made when they resigned,” McGahan said. “I’m not going to hurry up and get somebody in just so they can get that position, which is probably just going to sit there and allow Mike to just do the interview.”

Young argued that five or six new people have applied and should have a chance to go through the selection process in order to get the Recreation Commission back to work, noting the Town Administrator act does not give that post appointing authority. McGahan countered that Selectmen had voted to place McCue as the Camp Kiwanee administrator until a new director is hired.

“I don’t have any problem with him being the interim head of the Recreation Department, and I don’t have a problem with him even being a personnel manager and doing the interviews,” Young said. “I do have a problem with circumventing the Town Administrator Act.”

McGahan said he does not believe that is being done.

Contract changes

The contracts Selectmen voted to withdraw from involve an IT services contract with Whitman-Hanson Regional School District and the regional animal control agreement with Whitman and Abington.

McCue said that, in both cases, Hanson’s withdrawal was being done under amicable circumstances. The IT contract, which Selectmen had approved and authorized McCue to sign an amended contract with the school district through the end of the fiscal year. The town will only pay the $37,500 for a nine-month contract with an option for coverage over a full year.

“It’s unfortunate,” McCue said. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault. … This gives an awful lot of lead time to figure out what makes sense both in the short term and long term for the town of Hanson.”

McCue said a meeting with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner and members of the district’s IT staff over the current agreement revealed the schools’ in-house demand on that staff has greatly increased, making it difficult to continue serving Hanson’s IT needs as well.

Whitman had gone its own way on IT services four or five years ago, hiring it’s own IT director Josh MacNeil.

“If they’re in a position that they feel they can’t really support us to the degree that I think we were hoping for, it makes sense — and both sides were in agreement on this — that the town of Hanson [should] move in its own direction on this,” McCue said. “They were very generous to let us out of the contract.”

He said either a consultant or a full-time IT person could be budgeted for and he has begun meeting with consultants to gauge the cost involved.

In supporting McCue’s advice that the town should also back away from the regional animal control agreement, Selectmen also voted to appoint Ron Clark as interim animal control officer for Hanson. A permanent position would be posted in the spring.

“I’m certainly a proponent of regional agreements when they make sense,” McCue said. “Unfortunately, this is another instance we’ve run into where the workload has basically surpassed the ability of the staff of the agreement.”

McCue had met several weeks ago with Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam and Abington Town Manager Richard Lafond, at which time the three concluded that either they go in different directions or obtain more funding to hire additional staff. McCue determined Hanson would be better off going solo and the other towns agreed to that.

Stephanie Spyropoulos
Express staff

WHITMAN — Residents of all ages have rolled up their sleeves to contribute food, money and time ensuring that neighbors who are alone or in financial need are able to celebrate a joyous and bountiful Thanksgiving dinner.

“Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday for us here in the United States of America,” said Holy Ghost Church Pastor the Rev. James Mahoney before an annual Thanksgiving dinner for seniors at the Spellman Council Knights of Columbus Saturday, Nov. 19. “It’s not only become a national holiday, but I would ask everyone to make it sort of a religious holiday, as well … perhaps you could share with your tablemates what you are grateful to God for … having gratitude in your heart is a beautiful thing.”

The Rev. Thomas Stanton, the parochial vicar of Holy Ghost Church then offered the blessing. After the amen’s, a woman’s voice was heard ­saying, “Go, Pats!”

During the 42nd annual K of C event — five days before the 106th renewal of the Thanksgiving football game vs. the Abington Green Wave on W-H’s home turf — members of the Panthers football team joined forces with Whitman Police officers to serve turkey dinners to more than 320 area senior citizens in about 9 ½ minutes.

Whitman Council on Aging Director Barbara Garvey thanked the Knights for the event.

“Today, each of us will be enjoying this lovely Thanksgiving dinner with about 320 new and old friends,” Garvey said in her remarks. “The Whitman Knights of Columbus Council has always been a very kind and generous friend to this community and, in particular to our seniors.”

Pantry and paws

Conley Elementary School students had gathered to sing, recite poems, and express what they were thankful for during the annual Thanksgiving basket assembly on Thursday, Nov. 17. Superintendent of Schoools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner was one of the guests who attended the Conley gathering.

Bob Hogan of the St. Vincent DePaul Society accepted the school’s food pantry donation and thanked the staff and students for the great holiday show they saw.

“There is nothing we can do without you,” Hogan said. “All we do is give the food out but it is donated by all the so many wonderful people and businesses in Whitman.”

Recently, on a visit to a food pantry in Columbus, Ohio, Hogan said he shared stories of how giving the school system is in Whitman.

“I haven’t found a pantry yet that benefits from schools like the Whitman pantry. When I tell them what you do (at the Conley School ) … you are awesome. Many people will have a Thanksgiving dinner this year and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Students also give to support animals in the town’s shelter through the school’s Pennies for Paws program proving that every penny really does count, gathering enough coins to donate more than $500 to Whitman Animal Control. There were also matched donations from a AEW Capital Management donated $1500 as a matched donation and private donation from a Conley family.

“You reached deep into those pockets and found more pennies,” said Principal Karen Downey in praising her students, saying they were not going to believe how many pennies they raised for the Whitman Animal Shelter.

Tradition revived

At Duval Elementary School, fifth-graders revived the holiday basket tradition after a hiatus of about eight years with an assembly Nov. 17.

The entire student body as well as faculty and staff gathered in the Duval cafetorium — as the fifth-graders participating in the program sat on the stage behind the 15 laundry baskets brimming with side dishes, stuffing mix, table cloths and napkins for a Thanksgiving dinner for families in need.

“All of you have helped out some of our community in the town of Whitman and we wanted to take minute so that we could have all of you be part of the process of handing over all of these food items that are going to help somebody on Thanksgiving,” Principal Julie McKillop said to the students. “Doesn’t it feel good to help other people?”

Cheryl Happeny of the Duval PTO said teacher Erin Smith had suggested the school revive the tradition as a way to help the community. Letters were sent out to students’ families seeking donations of “Thanksgiving-types of foods” and supplies for the baskets.

Whitman Food Pantry volunteers Dorothy Conlon and James Davidson addressed the children, thanking them for their thoughtful gesture for neighbors in need.

“I used to work in the kitchen [at Duval] and I was the cook and manager for about 22 years,” Conlon said. “Shortly after I retired, I started volunteering at the Whitman Food Pantry. This event makes me very, very happy to see all these wonderful baskets full of goodies for people that are not as fortunate as we are.”

She told the students that their baskets would be augmented with a turkey and some vegetables for distribution, which began Nov. 17.

“It does my heart really good to see all of you and what you’ve done here today,” said Davidson, who has been a food pantry volunteer since 1984. “We will be helping approximately 150 families in town with Thanksgiving dinner.”

Last year, the Whitman Food Pantry aided more than 1,300 families and more than 3,200 individuals during the course of the year.

“What you’re doing here is terrific and we hope that you will remember this day for the rest of your life, so that wherever you go in this world you will think back on this day and how you helped someone in need,” he said.

McKillop said the students’ suggestions for other ways the school can help the community would be welcome in her office mailbox.

“Write me a letter and we’ll see what we can do,” she said. “When you go home this weekend I want you to think about what else could we do as a community to make somebody else out there smile a little bit bigger because of our actions.”