As they serve some of the most vulnerable members of the community during COVID-19, senior centers in Whitman and Hanson are trying to also address the sense of isolation some of their clients are beginning to feel as the pandemic enters its sixth month.

Health experts’ predictions of a second wave of the virus is also raising concern.

Massachusetts Councils on Aging have been stressing all spring and summer that, while the senior center doors have been closed, service have still been provided.

Only activities at which clients congregate have been curtailed.

“A lot of the seniors I have spoken with are starting to feel that sense of isolation, and these include many people who have been really active and are continuing to go to the supermarket and do the basic things that they need,” said Hanson Multi-Service Center Director Mary Collins. “The socialization is a huge part of what we do during our activities and we have to figure out a safe way to socialize.”

Moving the programs they do offer outdoors has been seen as a solution for the Hanson center. All the tables and chairs are being removed from the center and placed into storage. Computer terminals, where some clients used to while away free time playing solitaire, have been removed.

But activities like chair yoga and the women’s group are returning in late September with the hope that the chorus can start up again in October, Collins said.

In order to attend these events, note that there is a cap on attendance. Call 781-293-2683 in Hanson and 781-447-7619 in Whitman to make reservations. Masks must be worn at all times and social distancing will be maintained at all times. A COVID-19 screening along with temperature check will be performed prior to each senior center program attended. Hanson attendees are required to sign a waiver of liability prior to attend programs. Do not arrive any sooner than 10 minutes prior to the start of the activity and leave the grounds when the activity is complete.

“The safer, the better, and outside is the place to do that,” Collins said. “We’re starting slow. It’s one step at a time.”

Whitman Selectmen have voted to delay any return to in-person programs until at least the first of the year, said new Council on Aging Director Mary Holland.

“We can’t even have outdoor events,” Holland said, noting some communities, such as Hanson are allowing that. “I totally understand, the elderly are among the most vulnerable populations.”

But she had hoped to be able to place a tent in the parking lot where regular programs such as the knitting group, might meet while observing social distancing requirements.

The Whitman Senior Center is allowing hairdressing and podiatry appointments, with seniors required to wait outside until their appointment time, when they must go directly to the room where the service is being provided, and leave the building as soon as they are done.

“You have to do what’s best for your community,” Collins said. “We have to follow the letter of the law. It has to be small groups with a lot of space.”

She said that, before the decision is made to return to events inside Hanson’s building, the Board of Health will have to inspect and approve it.

“I want to make sure everything is in place and we have enough space before we go back to allowing anybody to go in there,” Collins said.

Facilities are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between patrons.

Transportation to the Family Dollar store, local banks and pharmacies is still provided, but ridership on the 14-seat senior van is limited to four people at a time. As with the hair and podiatry appointments, the van is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between trips.

Hanson is not offering van transportation at this point.

“We are all facing challenges during this pandemic,” Holland wrote in the September Seen Your News? Newsletter from the Council on Aging, which is produced remotely by senior volunteers. “It’s OK to have your feelings, but you know you are not alone. We are here for you! Just phone call away if you need assistance or a friendly voice.”

For more information on current programs and pandemic limitations call the Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center at 781-293-2683 or the Whitman Council on Aging at 781-447-7619.

Cohort assignments for the coming school year were expected to be released on Friday, Aug. 28, according to Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak, as administrators continue to work toward the Sept. 15 first day of school’s hybrid instruction model.

“Depending on what happens tomorrow with the staff coming back and the fires we’re putting out,” an FAQ will be posted as soon as possible, Szymaniak said during the Wednesday, Aug. 26 School Committee meeting.

One issue still up in the air is how hot days, that could still occur in early September, would affect the school schedule as not all school buildings have adequate air-conditioning. Szymaniak said snow days will not be called this winter — instead instruction will simply pivot to remote learning — but he had not yet heard guidance on “heat days” from the commissioner of education. A blizzard that knocks out power for all or large parts of the school district would be the exception to that plan.

School Committee member Fred Small said Comcast is continuing its essentials program at $9.95 per month. Originally offered to new customers for two weeks of high-speed internet at home during the pandemic, the program is aimed at assisting low-income households.

Internet need

Assistant Superintendent of Schools George Ferro said families can be sponsored within the essentials program, if needed. Families should contact building principals if they need that assistance.

“If your WiFi fails because there is a power outage in a snowstorm, or if someone hits a tree and you lose your power, there will be compassion on the part of teachers K-12 to say, ‘Hey, look, don’t worry about that,’” Szymaniak said.

Szymaniak also sought guidance from the School Committee on a recommendation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that would have local school districts accommodate children of teachers who reside in town, but teach in other districts, to attend schools four days a week. The children would be placed in a supervised setting in a library or other setting.

The committee authorized a survey of resident teachers and district staff on the matter before making a decision on participation.

Szymaniak said complying is based on the capacity of a school district, and not all have the space.

“Everything is throwing the decisions back to the local level, which I appreciate at times,” he said. “But, also, it’s been a challenge and I don’t want to divide our community.”

School Committee member Hillary Kniffen, who is a teacher, said she was concerned about the optics of teachers appearing to receive special privileges.

“It’s shame on the commissioner for putting districts in this position,” she said. “Child care is hard for everyone. It’s a hybrid model and nothing, nothing is good for anybody in this.”

Small suggested residents might wonder why similar arrangements were not made for public safety workers. Federal policy includes teachers as essential workers, but the state does not right now, according to Szymaniak.

Since the school district is looking at school reopening from a compassionate, humane aspect, perhaps some of the emails the district has been receiving are OK, Ferro said.

“Maybe some of the problems we’re experiencing are OK because everybody’s experiencing them differently now,” Ferro said before going over the district’s schedule for a hybrid remote learning program for elementary, middle and high school students.

The Ingenuity program includes concept coaching that connects with a virtual tutor immediately.

“It’s different, but it’s exciting — it could be very cool,” he said. “Now, there are people out there saying I’m all wet, which is fine because that’s what everybody gets to do, they get to have their own opinion.”

Szymaniak reported that more than 100 teachers received reduction in force (RIF) letters in May. The district also no longer has a human resources department, which had been cut in a previous budget year and the work distributed between about a half-dozen people on the Central Office staff. Adding to that issue are people who can’t come back to school for medical reasons because of the coronavirus.

Szymaniak said he has 14 teachers, five paraprofessionals and one duty aide who can’t return because of a valid medical issue.

“Luckily, we were able to find roles for them in district and keep them off extended [Family Medical Leave Act] leaves, keeping them working,” he said.

“Teachers have gone above and beyond this summer to prepare for virtual learning,” Szymaniak said, noting that building principals have also worked long hours over the summer to accommodate social distancing into school routines. Google will be the instructional platform, not Zoom or another option.

getting ready

While buildings aren’t school-ready yet, he lauded the facilities department for the work they have been doing over the summer to see that buildings were cleaned and will be ready for the first day of school.

Szymaniak also thanked the public for supporting the schools both financially and in spirit. There are 396 students who will be going to fully-remote learning, which took some time to verify and adjust cohort assignments and transportation issues.

Virtual open houses for schools are being planned.

“The reason we can’t have a live open house is I can’t really control the community at this point,” Szymaniak said.

At lunchtime, there will be no special orders at the lunch line — it will all be grab-and-go with a cell phone application being made available for parents or high school students to use for ordering lunch.

Before and after school care will also be available at the elementary schools provided by the YMCA, including remote assistance for parents who require it.

There are about 30 more families opting for home schooling, bringing the number to around 70, Ferro reported. Szymaniak added that those families can change their mind, but should notify the district by mid-October in order to give time for their children to be added to a cohort in time for the second quarter to begin in early November.

The committee voted to accept a state policy requiring face masks in schools.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 11 voted to authorize a grant application to fund the next level of site assessments on the Regal Property, a vacant lot next to the commuter rail on South Avenue.

The town contracted with Ransom Consulting in 2017 to perform Phase 1 and 2 site assessments of the property, according to Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green. Grants from Mass. Development funded the assessments.

“We’ve got some ideas of the nature and level of the ground contamination and … there is still an amount of work to be done, a Phase 3 type of assessment to determine what it’s done to the soil and groundwater,” she said, noting a comprehensive settlement and surface water settling study remains to be done. “They need to assess the ecological characterizations of the land and also do a human health assessment and what impact it might have to future site occupants.”

The third assessment is in the cost area of $63,900 and a lack of funding had halted its progress. Green noted, however that there has been a lot of progress in the realm of brownfields redevelopment over the last three years, with more state and federal funds being made available. She still has to reach out to Ransom to obtain an updated grant proposal and cost analysis.

Grants for such work are now up to $100,000 she said.

“We would get enough money to finish the site assessment an know exactly what we’re dealing with,” she said.

Protection from municipal liability in proceeding with projects on such sites is now available by statute through the Attorney General’s office, Green advised.

While the town would have to pay the grants back if the property was sold at a large profit, Green said that is not likely because the land has been under tax title for so long.

“A huge selling point for the Regal property is it’s right next to the commuter rail station,” she said. “There will be lots of eyes on that property once we know what we’re dealing with in terms of redevelopment.”

A wetlands survey has determined that just over four acres of the property is developable. A similar brownfields property of 3.36 acres in Jamaica Plain was developed to include 132 housing units and retail/office space and self-storage building, which created 90 jobs.

Green also spoke about the Community Preservation Act ballot question on the state ballot, now that the act has been passed at the July 27 Town Meeting. Selectmen voted to place the question on the ballot.

Selectman also heard an update from Green on a housing production plan, which also must be approved by the Planning Board, but it did not recommend doing so.

Green had asked for waiver of that approval from the Old Colony Planning Board, which declined to do so.

“It’s very disappointing in that adopting this housing production plan and having it recognized by that department, would have opened up some grant opportunities for us,” she said.

In other business, Selectmen approved a farmers’ series pouring permit on the premises at 599 Washington St. — the block where Supreme Pizza is located. A common victualler’s license was also granted for the location.

Old Colony Brewing co-owner Dennis Nash said the plan for the site at 605 Bedford St., foregoing the pouring license there. They will instead brew the beer at the Bedford Street location and operate a taproom on Washington Street. No outdoor dining is planned like is currently offered at Bedford Street and only 25 seats are planned at the Washington Street site under current COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Owners of other businesses in the town center — including John and Craig Duval, whose family has owned Duval’s pharmacy for 74 years, along with another area businessman, expressed concern over parking. A concern shared by Health Board Chairman Eric Joubert.

Building Inspector Bob Curran said a bar or business in that area are permitted by right an have never had to go before the board of Appeals. He also said most of the taproom’s parking needs would occur on nights or weekends when there is not typically a lot of traffic downtown.

The board also recommended revisiting the parking issue if a problem crops up.

The Hanson Board of Selectmen met on August 11 for their first in-person meeting since March.

Cranberry Cove

Recreation Director William Boyle was on hand to discuss the possibility of opening Cranberry Cove despite staffing shortages. Boyle explained that they don’t have enough staff, including lifeguards, to run the Cove as they normally would. At their last meeting, the Recreation Commission voted in favor of opening the beach to the public with appropriate signage indicating that there are no lifeguards and swimming would be at your own risk. Boyle was seeking a vote from the Selectmen as well. General Counsel Kate Feodoroff, who attended the meeting over the phone, cited the recreational use statute which protects property owners from liability if people are using their land for free. The water has also been tested regularly and is safe for swimming.

The selectmen engaged in some debate as to whether it would be in the best interest of the town to open the Cove. Selectmen Clerk Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett pointed out that some youth sports such as baseball have proceeded with their seasons this summer and suggested it would be inconsistent and unfair to allow one form of recreation to proceed while prohibiting another. She said, “We’re at a place where people need to be responsible for their actions and their children’s actions and they need to monitor them and do whatever is best for them, society, and their little family… I don’t want to be into trying to decide if kids should be going down to swim or not.” Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell agreed saying, “Accountability needs to start at home.” Selectman Matt Dyer said he believed the Board should have a uniform approach in their decision-making regarding recreation during the pandemic.

Selectman Jim Hickey saw things differently saying, “It’s not about being consistent, it’s about not repeating a mistake.” Selectman Wes Blauss made a point to publicly state that there would be no social distancing on the docks. Hickey concurred saying, “There’s not 6 inches, let alone 6 feet on those docks.” Blauss stressed that the priority should be on getting children back into school, a feat complicated by a lack of social distancing and potential spread of the virus. Despite some objection from other members of the Board that the issues were separate, Blauss said he felt that they really weren’t. He also referenced the loss of the Whitman-Hanson graduation due to the actions of a couple of seniors.   

Following deliberation, the Board voted 3-2 in favor of opening Cranberry Cove with proper signage and in compliance with Governor Baker’s orders. Blauss and Hickey were the dissenting votes. The Board also took a vote to extend the FY 2021 to FY 2022 camping season at Camp Kiwanee from May 9, 2021 to October 31, 2021. It passed unanimously.

Marijuana Cultivation

Mitchell told the Board that they would need to select a peer review firm for the marijuana cultivation special permit application that was submitted by Impress LLC on August 6. Feodoroff as well as Town Planner Deb Pettey were available to answer questions and make recommendations to the Board. Federoff explained the need for the peer review saying it was necessary to have engineers who are engaged with the town analyze the plans submitted by Impress LLC to ensure that they are consistent with the neighborhood. Of greatest concern is the mechanical plans which will include odor control as that was the type of concern most voiced during the town’s hearing. Pettey offered that the town could handle the review of the site plans but would not be able to properly review the mechanical plans. According to her, the firm Trinity would be able to handle the bulk of the needed review.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said, “I don’t want us doing anything in house, they are on the hook to pay for this. I want to make sure it is thoroughly peer reviewed… if we need to get two engineering firms – one to look at mechanical and one to look at site and the rest of the stuff, then I think that’s what we do.” Federoff agreed saying that the town did not need to limit itself to one engineer but noted that they would want to be sure not to duplicate efforts if choosing to go with more than one firm. The Board voted to allow Town Administrator John Stanbrook to select the firm or firms.

Committee Openings

The Board decided to elect Blauss and FitzGerald-Kemmett to the task of interviewing candidates to fill the at-large vacancies on the new De-Regionalization Feasibility Committee. Hickey will serve on the committee to represent the Board of Selectmen and Kevin Sullivan will represent the Finance Committee. Blauss and FitzGerald-Kemmett will interview 11 candidates before making their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen during the August 25 meeting.

FitzGerald-Kemmett read from a lengthy list of town committees in need of volunteers. They included the Facebook Upkeep Committee, 200th Anniversary Committee, Conservation Commission (associate members), Cultural Council, Disabilities, Economic Development, Finance, Highway Building Committee, Historical Commission, Memorial Day and Patriotic Observance, Memorial Field Trustees, North River Commission, and an alternate for the Zoning Board. Applications for appointment as well as information on the committees are available on the town website.

Voter Registration and Early Voting

A voter registration session will be held on Saturday, August 22 from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 8 pm at the town hall. It will be the last chance to register to vote for the September primary. The town will offer in-person early voting for the September primary on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 at the town hall from 8 am until 12 pm. Early voting will also be available during regular working hours from Monday, August 24 through Friday, August 28.

Town Finances

The Board voted to accept the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act reimbursement money. According to Stanbrook, the town is eligible to receive over $900,000 through the Act.

Stanbrook told the Board that the state has announced the much-anticipated numbers for Chapter 70 funding and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA). Hanson will receive $14,658 in Chapter 70 funding – just under the amount of $14,955 budgeted at town meeting. The actual numbers for UGGA came in at $1,359,810 which represented an increase of $176,700 over what was budgeted and approved at town meeting.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation announced $4 million in mass trails grants. Hanson was on the list for the Bay Circuit Trail relocation and will be receiving $100,000. FitzGerald-Kemmett thanked Dyer and Chairman of the Conservation Commission Phil Clemons for their hard work. “That was some bright and lovely news in the middle of an otherwise dismal year,” she said.

Roadwork

In other news, Stanbrook told the Board that the construction at the Liberty St. and County Rd. intersection will begin on August 24. The work will be paid for out of the state’s Complete Streets Funding Program. Road paving, which is paid for through the town’s Ch 90 allotment, will be finished in the next few weeks on Rte. 14, County Rd., and West Washington St. Stanbrook said, “Please slow down while in the work zone to enhance safety for you and for the town’s employees and contractors. I would like to thank everyone for their patience while this needed work is completed.”

EEE

Finally, Mitchell said that the EEE level in Hanson is currently moderate. If it is increased to high, fields in town will automatically get shut down. Mitchell noted that it is not decided through a vote of the Board of Selectmen, but rather is a decision made by the Board of Health.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 11 addressed COVID-19 issues centering on Gov. Charlie Baker’s new travel policy and resident complaints about Town Hall access. Selectmen voted unanimously to maintain the current access policy for Town Hall and to support the travel policy.

“Things aren’t really getting any better,” said Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “We’ve been lucky in this state because we’ve kept it controlled so far.”

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said he has researched surrounding towns as to how town hall access is being handled. In Whitman, all employees are at work and delivering all requested town services through alternative means. A drop box is available for payment of municipal bills, which can also be paid by USPS or online. Ballots mailed to residents for voting may also be placed in the drop box.

Selectman Justin Evans asked how the state primary election on Sept. 1 — and the week of early voting before that — would be handled.

Lynam said that, just as with the local election in June, residents would be required to enter by one door and exit by another with rope lines directing flow and surfaces continually disinfected.

For the primary, Town Clerk Dawn Varley has recommended that other Town Hall offices be closed both for the primary and the Nov. 3 general election. The board also unanimously voted to support that recommendation.

“If you have something that requires direct communication and contact with a town employee, we are handling those on a schedule basis,” Lynam said. Two meeting areas have been set up in the Town Hall auditorium spaced to permit both privacy and social distancing. Those meetings require an appointment.

“The question now becomes should we open the door and just let people come in at will?” Lynam asked the board.

Everyone currently entering the Town Hall, for either appointments or to work must enter through the handicapped entrance and pause for a temperature scan.

“If we open to the public in an on-demand basis, we’re not going to be able to do that unless we hire somebody to attend to the door,” he said. “The significant majority of surrounding towns are doing exactly what we’re doing.”

The other towns Lynam surveyed have closed senior centers and libraries, are maintaining town services and requiring appointments to enter the town halls.

Of four town halls he found that had open access, two required people to enter through a single door staffed by an attendant.

While Lynam said he would abide by the board’s decision, he advocated waiting at least until school is back in session to see how things progress.

“I would just hate to see us eliminate those limitations and then have an employee contract COVID,” he said. The town of Fairhaven has already seen that happen, according to Lynam.

Selectman Randy LaMattina asked if there were any services not being provided under the current access policy.

Lynam said the passport program (almost all international travel is affected by a ban on U.S. travelers because of the pandemic), and one person complained about what they felt was their inability to get a marriage license. He spoke to the town clerk, who reported that office is working on marriage licenses by appointment Tuesdays from about noon to 7 p.m.

“To my knowledge, we are not preventing anyone from obtaining the services that they would expect from the town of Whitman, other than the Senior Center,” he said.

LaMattina urged that the board continue to err on the side of caution.

“We’ve been pretty lucky as a town,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had any employees exposed. If we’re not sacrificing services, I wound say status quo.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci agreed the town should maintain current practices until Gov. Baker changes guidelines or announced a vaccine is available.

Travel policy

Baker’s travel policy — pertaining to travel to states where the virus has not yet declined or leveled off — has circulated to all town departments. “Let’s be practical about this,” he said. “We’re in a pandemic —no question on anybody’s part that we’re there — [and] we have to do some responsible things to help control the spread, and one of those is limiting your exposure by not traveling to places where there are problems.”

He asked the board to adopt the policy to help manage the pandemic.

Selectman Brian Bezanson asked whether there were exemptions for town employees or essential workers.

“Unlike the original COVID requirement, this does not exempt public safety personnel. This applies to everyone,” Lynam said.

It also requires that people traveling on vacation certify they are COVID-free or undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Lynam said a problem lies in the time it takes to get test results — sometimes as long as 10 days in the worst-case scenario.

It does not, however, apply to shopping day trips.

“For example, Rhode Island’s on the ‘bad list.’ If you drive across the border to buy a six-pack or whatever, and then come back home, that’s not considered travel,” he said. “This is self-reporting, too. People will have to self-certify that they’ve done what’s necessary to comply with the policy, and that’s a regulation promulgated by the governor’s office.”

Evans said he initially shared Bezanson’s question, but noted the order exempts critical infrastructure employees who come into the state to do work on that infrastructure.

“If we were called in as mutual aid for a Providence fire, they’d be exempt,” Evans said, asking if the town could specifically vote in the test requirement to make it clearer.

Lynam said he tried to avoid writing in anything that further limits compliance with the policy.

“The regulation is specific,” he said. “Whether our policy says it or not, if they’re violating the regulation, then they are in violation. … I’m not sure that it’s necessary to dually define it.”

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green said she has been doing some research into COVID testing, noting Baker has issued new testing guidelines to make it easier for asymptomatic people to obtain tests. However, one must call a test site to make an appointment. But one location in Brockton disconnects people who press the prompt as neither a Brockton Community Health patient nor symptomatic. Wait times for Community Health patients are long. At other testing facilities, there is a cost that requires a reimbursement process and a wait for about seven days for results.

“It’s difficult for people who have vacation plans either out of state or who have booked or purchased tickets to an event prior to any of this going into effect, and if they don’t go they aren’t refunded any money,” she said. “So they’re not making it very easy.”

Bezanson asked if quarantine periods were on personal time.

“Part of the policy intent is to address the difference between discretion and need,” Lynam said. He and his wife, he said as an example, were planning to go to Vermont next week, but have decided to cancel that trip.

“The issue is the notice for travel requires notification of the employer,” he said. “I think it’s irresponsible for an employee to decide on their own, ‘We’re going to travel somewhere, and if we have to quarantine it’s your problem.’”

He said there has to be some give and take. Sick time would be permitted to be used for quarantine, however, Lynam said, adding that the town has used working from home as an option.

Both Lynam and Evans said they have had to cancel plans for travel to weddings this year.

Greeen said people who still want to go on with vacations can accommodate their travel and event plans.

HANOVER — The South Shore Tech school calendar could be modified next month to reduce the 180-day school requirement.

“The commissioner has hinted at this,” Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said at the Wednesday, July 15 SST School Committee.

Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley has announced he would  allow districts to plan 170-day calendars for the school year, with additional staff training days.

Hickey has been holding meetings of a working group of administrators and faculty to plan a return to school in the fall. Such a move the first day of school to after Labor Day.

“We’re definitely, like so many other school districts, threading a needle insofar as — we don’t have all the state guidance on transportation and some other aspects — but we are expected to submit a plan [to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] by the end of the month that will address how we want to open,” he said.

While details will have to be worked out throughout the summer are:

• Capacity to open, including space on buses, students who drive themselves and family drop-offs; and

• Flexibility of the school’s master schedule.

Families have been surveyed on the issues surrounding reopening and their concerns.

“If the state guidance on bus transportation is somehow less than one kid per seat, what I just said to you is, unfortunately, going to have to be visited even more,” he said. “But everyone seems to be, if we’re going to bring children into this building, we must find a way for all of them to be on campus for their technical studies.”

The school could handle bringing every student back for their shop weeks with two grades of kids per shop, according to Hickey who said, and another model is being developed which will allow them to return for a portion of their academic week. Greater focus will be on younger students, especially freshmen. Weeks when they are not in school, would focus on remote learning.

Hickey said he personally does not think it will be possible to bring everyone back for academic and shop instruction, transportation and classroom capacity based on social distancing guidelines for students.

All classrooms have been already modified to comply with state guidelines then officials have to look at the master schedule to figure out ways to balance off some class sizes before being able to really judge class sizes.

The School Committee heard a spending update from interim business manager John Tuffy regarding the 1/12 budget under which the district has been operating since July 1. The 1/12 budget is in effect unless and until town meetings approve a school budget next week. This district cannot deficit spend.

“Income hasn’t been an issue in the past,” Tuffy said. “This is a very different time that we have now.”

That presentation, during the Wednesday, July 15 meeting, followed a review of the region’s assessment problem by Whitman School Committee member Fred Small.

“We need to be as transparent as possible,” said Small. “We need to be forthright with the public, and we all need to find some way to all come together because we have a lot of children’s lives at risk and their education is at risk — and education is life.”

He said he was a volunteer official who did his best, and apologized to residents and promised never to take the word of school administration — and that his new motto would be trust, but verify.

“There’s been finger-pointing back and forth in both towns,” Small. “The residents of our towns bear no burden in this.”

He recalled a Whitman resident speaking to him in 2016 about the town’s paying $200,000 to $300,000 too much annually in the budget for schools. He brought the concern to Chairman Bob Hayes who, Small said, responded that he was informed it was a “swinging number” and minor in a $50 million budget.

He relayed that information back to the resident along with the advice that the superintendent would be the best person to reach out to. In 2017-18 a Regional Agreement Committee was formed to review that document and the Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) was hired to redraft the agreement, making it legal to today’s standards.

“I would encourage everybody to go back, watch the meetings and draw your own conclusions as to some of the verbiage that was used,” Small said,

A Whitman Selectman asked him last March which assessment method was being used by the district. He asked the same question of the district’s business manager and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He was told by both the district and DESE that the statutory method was used and he reported that to Whitman Selectmen.

“Over the following months, it was determined, and I’m not sure who did the physical math … that the statutory method was never being used,” Small recounted.

The district administration investigated and the business manager was placed on leave in September 2019. Months of discussions on the impact and a presentation on the assessment formulas from DESE followed that.

“The discussions about the compromise and its impact continue to this day,” he said. “In January 2020 the School Committee had been informed that an agreement had been reached,”

In an executive session, the details of which may now publicly be discussed, the business manager was paid through March 31 and the former business manager and the district mutually agreed not to disparage each other.

“When we were told this I did strenuously object to any type of agreement,” Small said. “The towns have been partners for a long time, you can’t blame one town over another.”

He stressed that the calculations in question were performed during a prior school administration.

Tuffy reviewed the current cash flow situation within a 1/12 budget based exactly on what the district spent in fiscal 2020 — $4,368,000 per month — but the assessments will be based on assumptions made when the fiscal 2021 budget was calculated. Any funds not spent in July are added to the allotment available in August and so on through the year.

“If we were a private business, we’d talk about burn rate — how fast do we go through our money?” he said. The first billing warrant processed for fiscal ’21 is just over $2.1 million.

He said that is unusual and due to a lot of subscription fees to technology products and the $1.2 million assessment from Plymouth County Retirement.

A teacher payroll during the school year runs about $1.5 million.

“We certainly don’t expect to have any issues through July and August, but once we start to get into September, if we’re still in a 1/12 budget, we’re going to have to be careful how we move forward and maybe talking to the state about some form of relief,” Tuffy said.

Hanson member Christopher Howard said, regarding Town Meeting that there seems to be misinformation and/or confusion in his community between the correlation between the budget article and the assessment methodology.

“It seems like there are some folks that are suggesting that [people should] vote no against the budget article because they don’t like the assessment methodology and that’s really not accurate at all,” he said. “It really takes both towns to agree.”

He stressed the Town Meeting vote concerns the budget, not the assessment formula.

Hanson member Hillary Kniffen agreed there is confusion and asked if another town meeting could be held in both towns before September. Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said a lot will be determined by the result of the town meetings and cash flow within the 1/12 budget.

“We’re trying to open school in a pandemic and the thought of losing 40 positions or being level-funded is challenging,” he said. “This isn’t a joke. This is real. I don’t have the money.”

Chapter 70, regional transportation and Circuit Breaker funding is also uncertain.

Legislators secure $400K in relief funds for W-H schools

BOSTON — The Mass. House and Senate have both approved a supplemental budget to provide additional relief for COVID related expenses, including funds for personal protective equipment, field hospitals and contact tracing.

Included are a pair of amendments filed by Senator Mike Brady, D-Brockton, Representative Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, and Rep. Alyson Sullivan, R-Abington, to direct additional funds to the towns of Hanson and Whitman for the benefit of the regional school district.

One amendment will provide $200,000 for Whitman-Hanson to fund remote learning related expenses and another amendment will provide an additional $200,000 for personal protection equipment for the schools, staff and teaching professionals.

“We know this will be a challenging school year for all involved and these additional funds will certainly help,” said Cutler. “Now every Whitman-Hanson high school student will have access to a chromebook and every teacher and staff member in the district can be assured of having an adequate supply of PPE.”

Brady added, “Maintaining access to educational opportunities for all must be a priority. These amendments will allow our teachers to better support their students and provide the best education possible under these challenging circumstances.”

“We know that our classrooms are going to look different this fall as we grapple with the impacts of COVID-19. These amendments will provide sorely needed resources to benefit our schools and reduce the burden on local taxpayers,” said Sullivan.

As part of Governor Baker’s education guidance, school districts are required to create three separate re-opening plans. One of those plans must be for completely remote learning in the Fall. Another plan must be for a hybrid model that includes both remote and in-person learning. These plans will require support from the state and investment by school districts to ensure that remote learning still meets the needs of students.

The House and Senate bills will be reconciled and then sent to Gov. Baker for his approval. The budget is facilitated by federal CARES Act funding in response to the COVID pandemic.

For voters concerned about the safety of voting in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an alternative besides absentee or early voting.

In July, a new law was passed to allow all registered voters in Massachusetts to vote by mail in any 2020 election, with no excuse needed.

Whitman and Hanson town clerks said the applications were being mailed to all Massachusetts voters beginning Wednesday, July 15 for the state primary election Sept. 1.

“They’re mailing out applications on July 15 to every registered voter as of July 1 that has not already applied for an absentee ballot or an early voting ballot,” said Whitman Town Clerk Dawn Varley. “This is all new to us.”

Applications are mailed back to local clerks’ offices. Return postage of the ballot application is paid by the commonwealth.

“We send it out, they fill out the application for early ballot and it’s only good for this year,” said Hanson Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan. “Once we receive the ballots, we mail it out to the people and they have to get it back to us.”

Secretary of State William Galvin’s office has been great about updating security measures and providing clerks with direction on the issue.

As required by the new law, a Vote by Mail application will be mailed to every person who was registered to vote by July 1 and who had not already requested an absentee ballot for the State Primary or for all elections this year. A second mailing will be sent out in September to all voters who have not already applied for a Vote by Mail ballot for the November election. The applications are pre-addressed to your local election official and no postage is necessary.

Vote by Mail applications must be delivered to your local election office no later than four business days before the election. For a State Primary ballot, your application must reach your local election office no later than Aug. 26. For a State Election ballot, your application must reach your local election office no later than Oct. 28.

If you wish to vote by mail, you are strongly encouraged to return your application as early as possible, to make sure that you will receive your ballot in time to return it and have it be counted.

Vote by Mail applications are available for download and may also be requested by contacting the Elections Division.

Ballots and outer envelopes must be signed by voters under the pains and penalties of perjury, that the ballot inside is theirs,” Varley noted.

Sloan said she has not heard any concerns from voters on the security of voting by mail, but Varley said she has.

“I’ve had a lot of people comment about it — about [potential] fraud and, ‘what happens to my ballot?’” she said. “My answer is we are responsible town clerks. … I assure them that their ballots are kept in a secure place, that we don’t open them.”

She said people are most often concerned that their ballot will be looked at. Varley assured voters that her staff is not interested in looking at who a resident votes for — they just want people to vote.

Ballots are taken out to the tabulating machines in bulk and checked against voters’ names just as each voter would have to do at check-in tables. Absentee and early vote ballots are counted the same way.

“We have to record in the state system when we mail in the application,” she said. “We have to record in the state system when we mail a person the ballot. We have to record in the state system when we get the ballot from the person.”

After the ballots are mailed back the clerks’ offices alphabetize them and place them in the vault.

“They have to be opened in clear view in front of people,” she said. All envelopes and ballots have to be saved for a specific time in case a result is challenged.

“I haven’t heard if we can put them in [to machines] as we get them, but not tally,” Sloan said. “I know that was supposed to be part of the election law, but I don’t know if that got passed or not.”

She said Galvin’s office has been inundated with questions and has not provided complete direction on counting mail-in ballots yet.

“Of course, we’re not to that point yet, so we don’t have to worry about that part,” she said. “From what I understand, they were going to try to pass a law that we could put the ballots into the tabulator — but not tabulate them — so it would make our lives easier come election day, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not.”

You can find more information on voting by mail on our Voting by Mail FAQs page.