Whitman Selectmen are standing firm on their budget proposal headed for Town Meeting, including the budget that supports education.

Hanson Selectmen, meanwhile discussed the Regional Agreement amendment on the issue with Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff.

“I’m comfortable that you get the savings in the first year, and that’s the real benefit,” Feodoroff said.

Both boards met virtually on Tuesday, June 30.

“The budget is built on the assumption that we meet in the middle, in a transition from the current [school] budget method … to the statutory method, which is what most communities in Massachusetts that are regional are using,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam. “Hopefully, we’ll see support for that when we go to our Town Meeting on July 27.”

Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski agreed.

“It’s the only real way for us to help the schools to transition from this year to next year,” Kowalski said. “The best thing to do for the students of our system, and for our system itself, is to go with the Selectmen’s recommendation and not the Finance Committee’s recommendation on the school budget.”

Selectman Randy LaMattina, who worked on the panel of officials from both towns that drafted the compromise, said that while there may be a better financial path, there is not a better path toward supporting education and the school district.

“It’s a two-part piece — one will not work without the other,” LaMattina said. “You can’t say you support the budget and not the amendment.”

He said town officials are aware Hanson will “struggle to get there” and if the relationship is going to be preserved both towns are needed.

“It’s sink or swim together and are we going to make it work?” LaMattina said. “For the budget to work this year, we need to offer Hanson some help of what basically and ultimately comes down to $211,000.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci asked if Hanson helped Whitman the previous year when they had to take $840,000 out of stabilization to offset the budget.

“Sometimes you do the wrong thing for the right reason,” LaMattina said, but stressed the 50/50 compromise is the best deal Hanson is going to get.

Lynam said the Finance Committee can, at Town Meeting, recommend a budget less than what the School Committee is requesting, but all that does is reject the budget.

“It has no other action,” Lynam said.

The School Committee’s budget must be presented to Town Meeting. But if Hanson’s budget does not support the assessment, the budget itself is rejected and the district can’t use Whitman’s appropriation until a budget is established, according to Lynam.

If Whitman passes a school budget that Hanson does not, there is no minimum time limit for the School Committee to approve another assessment.

Kowalski also reported that the way a recent paid posting of an ad in the Express by the Whitman Finance Committee, according to town counsel, was not in violation of either an ethical or campaign finance standpoint. Selectmen also have no authority over the Finance Committee, which is appointed by the Town Moderator.

The voters in Whitman and Hanson go to the polls on Saturday, June 27 to elect officials to town boards and the regional School Committee.

Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Whitman Town Hall for voting in that town.

Due to Covid-19 the Secretary of the Commonwealth has allowed Early Voting by mail for all voters. Visit the State Election website at sec.state.ma.us/ele. Absentee ballots are still available for those who are disabled, out of town during polling hours or have a religious reason. If you do not have access to a printer the Clerk’s Office will mail you an application.

Send the completed application to the Town Clerk’s Office at town hall. Applications can be mailed or hand-delivered to the outside drop box or submitted electronically by fax (781-618-9791) or e-mail (dawn.varley@whitman-ma.gov), as long as your signature is visible. For more information call 781-618-9710 for the Whitman Town Clerk.

Please allow ample mailing time for this application and for the ballot. Ballots must be returned to the Town Clerks Office by Election Day.

Due to the pandemic Whitman also purchased a larger drop box for Early voting ballots and all other correspondences that needed to be deposited for Town business. The box is located on the parking lot side of the building next to the stairs and the handicapped ramp.

Hanson votes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hanson Middle School. All voters who cannot vote in person at the Hanson Middle School on June 27 have been encouraged to fill out an absentee ballot application if they would like to vote early by mail.  Both applications are available on the Hanson Town Clerk’s website.

To vote by mail in Hanson, download an application for either an Absentee Ballot (this allows you to have a ballot mailed to you for all elections this year); or, an Early Ballot Application (which is just specific to this election).  Once you have completed and signed either application, please either mail to: TOWN CLERK, 542 Liberty Street, Hanson, MA 02341  OR:  Scan application (with signature) and email to townclerk@hanson-ma.gov.  The Town Clerk’s office will mail you a ballot which will need to be received back to the Clerk’s office by Election Day, June 27, 2020.

Candidates in Whitman are: Moderator: Michael Seele. Treasurer: Mary Beth Carter.Board of Selectmen (vote for two): Dr. Carl Kowalski, incumbent; Randy LaMattina, incumbent; Rosemary Connolly. School Committee (vote for two): Steven Bois, incumbent; Alexandra Taylor, incumbent; David Forth Jr. Department of Public Works Commissioner (vote for two): Kenneth Lailer; David Cook. Public Library Trustees (vote for two): Ann Trotta; Susan Duran. Planning Board: Adam Somerville. Heidi Hosmer is a declared candidate for Assessor.

Hanson candidates are: Moderator:  Sean J. Kealy. Selectman (vote for two): Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, incumbent; James Hickey, incumbent; and Paul Benenato. School Committee: No candidates officially filed, but resident Hillary Kiffen is running a write-in campaign. Assessor:  None filed. Board of Heath: Kevin R. Perkins. Cemetery Commissioner: None filed. Planning Board (5 years): John Kemmett. Planning Board (3 years): Kevin D. Cohen. Hanson Housing Authority (5 year term): Marilyn Cardile. Two Trustees of Public Library (3 years): John F. Papp and Teresa M. Santalucia. Water Commissioner (3 years): Michael J. Chernicki.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 9 raised issues of exactly where the annual Town Meeting will be held. The question will be revisited at the Tuesday, June 23 meeting.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook said Town Moderator Sean Kealy, has looked at various school venues in towns and capacity to accommodate social distancing for Town Meeting.

“Sean would really like to have it outside,” said Town Clerk Beth Sloan. “I think he was really going toward Indian Head.”

Sloan said her only concern for that location is parking capacity.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said she has spoken to the Mass Municipal Association, which has advised that “to the extent you can have it outside, you ought to have it outside.”

She said it helps ensure social distancing and people’s comfort level.

Dealing with residents who do not want to wear a mask, and handling of the microphone are also issues of concern. A recording of the presentation is viewable on the MMA website.

“There’s a lot to work out,” she said. “If it’s outside, then you have to think about do you need a canopy.”

Sloan said the high school would probably be the best location, but then tents and whether to use them would be an issue.

“ADA would probably be the best at the high school as well,” she said. “If you’re going to do it outside, I definitely think we should do it at the high school.”

“The main thing is just saying where it’s going to be,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “You don’t have to say in the gym, or the PAC or the football field.”

Selectman Wes Blauss raised the questions of the size of tent needed in the event of rain.

Selectman Matt Dyer suggested a “drive-in” Town Meeting, as some other communities have done, as well as a streamlined agenda. Feodoroff suggested the consent agenda approach for articles never traditionally discussed such as town reports, could be used as a separate article to be voted on en masse — with the opportunity of placing holds on them before voting in case questions do arise.

For any outside meeting, Dyer argued that any area chosen should be sprayed for mosquitos ahead of time.

WHITMAN — Police Chief Timothy Hanlon and the men and women of the Whitman Police Department condemn the actions of the Minneapolis Police officers which resulted in the death of George Floyd on May 25.

“Our department stands together in denouncing the actions that led to the death of George Floyd,” Hanlon said in a June 3 statement. “We as police officers take an oath to serve each and every member of our community, and we must never lose sight of that. The actions of the involved officers in Minneapolis in no way reflect the values of the Whitman Police Department.”

The methods used in Minneapolis that killed George Floyd are not part of any police-training program in Massachusetts, including those used by members of the Whitman Police Department. Specifically, police are never trained to place a prone suspect on his or her face or to put pressure on the neck or throat of a person being detained.

The Whitman Police Department believes in treating all citizens, including those accused of committing a crime, fairly and with dignity. Officers are trained only to use the amount of force necessary to ensure safety for the suspect, the officers, and civilians in the area.

“The mission statement of our department clearly states that our officers are committed to working with the entire Whitman community to make the town a safe and desirable place for all, and that we will partner with the community to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is fair, impartial, transparent and consistent,” Chief Hanlon said. “We stand with those members of the law enforcement community who abide by these same principles each and every day.”

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, May 26 asked the Recreation Commission to develop a plan for this year — and potentially for next year, as well — before a decision is made for the opening of Camp Kiwanne, and especially Cranberry Cove.

An early opening before June 15 was ruled out because of the logistical challenges presented by the coronavirus.

Recreation Commission member Diane Cohen reported that caretakers, who are permitted to work only one at a time, have begun returning to work at Camp Kiwanee. Town Administrator John Stanbrook said he was not aware of a need to limit caretakers to one at a time.

Cohen explained that Recreation Director William Boyle was working according to hours previously given according to normal operating times, based on budget and anticipated shortfalls in the budget. Selectmen chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Stanbrook to discuss the matter with Boyle for clarification.

“We’re not sure still about swimming lessons and what that looks like,” she said. “We still not sure what phase we’re in — we did want to open when school ends, but I wasn’t sure how the board felt about possibly opening early, maybe during afterschool hours.”

Because of the recent hot weather and people’s frustration at being stuck at home, Cohen asked that if lifeguards could be hired in time, an earlier opening could be considered, although her intent has been to wait until the actual end of the school year, which is typically in mid-June.

“I had a couple of requests and I wanted to be honest and say I would ask,” Cohen said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Board of Health Chairman Arlene Dias for her opinion on the questions Cohen raised.

“I haven’t heard anything from the governor regarding this particular opening,” Cohen said.

Dias said the Board of Health had discussed it at a previous meeting and felt that, if Selectmen voted to open the camp the wanted to be ready for it.

“For us, it would be a matter of testing the water, we would be willing to set up guidelines,” Dias said. “I don’t think the state has issued them yet.”

Dias said a plan for social distancing must be developed, followed by a discussion about how people would be admitted — and how many at one time.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if the two committees could connect on the issue.

“I don’t think we want to be unilaterally be making a decision to open up the Cove without hearing that there is a plan in place already,” she said of the small area with limited access. “We don’t want to be making this up as we go.”

Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan, meanwhile, said the Cove was only budgeted to open June 15, so opening earlier would mean running out of money. It would also require a larger supplemental expenditure from the town, as recreation retained earnings are way down.

He recommended keeping the camp and Cove closed for as long as possible.

Selectman Matt Dyer said the governor’s recommended 12-foot social distancing at beaches would raise the question of how to control admission — would it be through reserved hours, which the Recreation Department would have to work out. Masks would also be required at the beach.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell said a plan is needed and recommended season passes be off the table this year. Selectman Jim Hickey agreed with Dyer and Mitchell, but added he would like to see a plan by June 9.

“What a logistical nightmare this is,” said Selectman Wes Blauss, asking if a credit-card payment system was available. Cohen said the town does but Internet access and lack of a card reader at the camp is a hit-or-miss proposition. Debit card fees would be prohibitive, as well, she said.

“It’s looking to me that by opening the Cove actually at all — and I’m not saying we’re not opening the Cove at some point,” Blauss said. “But, should we open the Cove I can just see that this is going to become difficult to control, and especially for kids — the staff down at Cranberry Cove are kids.”

He foresees the potential for serious confrontations at the beach, and said any plan to reopen the beach must be self-sustaining in view of the town’s deficit, especially if a Proposition 2 ½ override fails and cuts must be made.

Dyer said it is a good idea to provide information to the public of other cooling centers or beach resources on the South Shore.

Director of Elder Affairs Mary Collins and Library Director Karen Stolfer provided reports to the board on their facilities’ service to the community during the coronavirus crisis.

Collins said that, while the Senior Center’s doors are closed, services have continued throughout the pandemic — specifically Meals on Wheels, which serves some of the most fragile people within the community.

“We have seen an uptick on the amount of people that have requested Meals on Wheels after the pandemic began,” Collins said. Referrals for fuel assistance, home care and assistance with insurance sign-ups (the SHINE program) have also continued.

“Obviously, we are concerned about the population that we serve, they are the most vulnerable, but also have a tendency sometimes to socially isolate, which can lead to other issues down the road,” she said. Serving those clients, along with monitoring Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening phases, are her main concerns right now — with senior centers solidly toward the end of phase three.

“In terms of opening for programming, I think that we will have to hold on, and we have decided to try some alternative types of programming,” Collins said. The Friends of the Senior Center are buying a Zoom program to help with keeping in touch with isolated elders.

Besides seniors who look to the center for recreational and informational programming, the center also operates a supportive day program for elders with cognitive conditions, who Collins described as “in desperate need of returning,” but it is not possible at this time.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked what Selectmen could do to support her in the way of town resources.

“The folks have been wonderful,” Collins said, noting how Firefighter Tim Royer and Deputy Chief Robert O’Brien Jr., had approached her before the pandemic really took off about how the Fire Department could help some seniors with picking up groceries or prescriptions. She said the Police Department and Stanbrook have also been wonderful in providing resources to seniors for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Stolfer said the library has begun no-contact curbside pickup as part of a four-phase reopening plan, posted on the library website. While the book drop will soon be open for returns, she stressed there is no rush if people are still not comfortable going out. Current due dates are extended to July 9 with late fees waived until further notice.

Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours. Borrowers are limited to in-house materials as the SAILS Network to which the library belongs is still closed.

Phase 2 will permit people back into the building in limited numbers with plastic shields placed at service desks. In Phase 3, the library opens a bit more with some expansion of services and Phase 4 will represent the “new normal.”

“The timing of these later phases is going to depend on the governor’s timeline,” Stolfer said. Virtual programs such as weekly book chats and crafts are being held in the interim.

For more information, visit the hansonlibrary.org.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen voted on Tuesday, May 19 to move the annual Town Meeting to July 20. The Annual Town Election, however, will take place on the original June 27 date [see related story] to avoid the need of paying for a special election for a school override vote.

“Unless you want a massive cut to services in the town of Hanson, there is a 100-percent chance we are going to need an override,” Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan said. “With the compromise from the School Committee, we are still currently running and $865,000 deficit.”

Moderator Sean Kealy had suggested holding the Town Meeting outdoors for the date for which it had been scheduled — June 22.

Whitman Selectmen have discussed holding their June 22 Town Meeting in the High School gym, which Kealy said he was fully in favor of planning for Hanson on a different night.

Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff reviewed the logistics of postponement for Selectmen, noting that there had been some concern that postponement wasn’t possible since elections in Hanson are posted on the warrant.

“We were concerned we would be in violation of the bylaw if we held the Town Meeting later,” she said. Emergency legislation about the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on town government, allows postponement.

“What is clear, if we don’t have our Town Meeting before June 30, we go to a 1/12 budget for the town,” Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Feodoroff said a 1/12-plus budget permits up-front payments of pension assessment, insurance and other bills offering a discount for payment in-full at the beginning of the fiscal year. Capital expenditures during that phase are discouraged in a 1/12-plus budget.

FitzGerald-Kemmett noted that use of Zoom for Town Meeting is permissible for department heads and other presenters, but not voters.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell agreed keeping to the June 15 schedule would be tight but endorsed Kealy’s suggestion to hold the Town Meeting elsewhere or outside. Selectman Matt Dyer preferred the postponement and use of a 1/12-plus budget until further guidance is available from the governor.

“I don’t want voters to have to feel, ‘I have to go vote and risk my health to make sure I vote on something that’s going to be permissible … am I going to miss out on something that’s going to make or break the bank?’” Dyer said.

Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan also said she is not comfortable putting her roster of checkers at risk on the June 27 date. She also reminded Selectmen that early voting is being encouraged for the September primary and November general election.

In other business, Selectmen discussed the potential for opening Camp Kiwanee, based on Gov. Baker’s reopening schedule pertaining to summer camp activities. While the beach was technically allowed to open May 25,  FitzGerald-Kemmett questioned if there was time — as of the May 19 meeting — to have lifeguards and infrastructure in place by then.

Playground will not be allowed to open under the state’s protocols until June 8.

Recreation Commission member Diane Cohen asked if it were permissible to allow caretaker staff to work, observing social distancing and other safety guidelines, to permit opening by the time school is out. [See related story].

“There is a lot of maintenance to be done at the camp to prepare it,” she said.

Mitchell and Dyer agreed to that in view of the need for the cove as a diversion for kids, but Selectman Jim Hickey noted that since Town Meeting had been moved back to keep people safe, it might be wise to delay the Cranberry Cove opening as well and to limit numbers of people.

“We’ll probably have to go to a day-pass system only, rather than selling season passes,” Cohen said. “I’m concerned about the swimming area, which gets extremely crowded and what those regulations look like.”

An online reservation system is already being looked into.

A schedule of reopening for town buildings, meanwhile, is already being discussed, according to Town Administrator John Stanbrook.

FitzGerald-Kemmett noted that the governor’s task force is deliberately moving with caution to reopen senior centers due to the vulnerability of its population of elder clients, a position Stanbrook indicated he shares.

In Town Hall, employees will be brought back in stages and their temperatures will be checked on entrance and masks and hand sanitizers will be required. Frequent cleaning, weekly foggings and the wearing gloves will be required.

An initial phase will test the regulations with only employees present, followed by phasing in of public entrance to the building. The public will be limited to the use of lower level entrances and bathrooms and public hearings must calculate the number of people required to attend until the “new normal” for full public access can be determined.

After two meetings in five days, the W-H School Committee on Monday, May 18 unanimously voted to set a budget of $55,320,238 for fiscal 2021.

They also voted unanimously to amend the regional agreement for one year in support of a 50/50 split on the assessment to both towns, and for assessments of $11,214,176.79 for Hanson and  $15,367,391.75 for Whitman and transferring $350,000 from excess and deficiency. A first vote adopted a 50/50 assessment split for fiscal year 2021 only — by a 9-1 vote with member Fred Small voting no.

The votes are the first steps in the budget process. Voters at town meeting must still approve the measures.

“You’ve taken three square pegs and found a way to make them round to fit in the hole,” Hanson School Committee member Christopher Howard said of Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak’s work. “This is a step in the right direction. Thank you for what you’ve done.”

“This budget is a first step to supporting the kids in the district,” said Whitman member Dawn Byers.

Szymaniak recommended the $55,320,238 for FY 2021 budget, using $250,000 of Fiscal 2021 Circuit Breaker money in addition to the $450,000 already being used, as well as $350,000 of the $605,000 remaining in the excess and deficiency account, to lower the operating assessment. The budget figure includes the return of the four teaching positions cut last year.

Rollovers from contract savings should result in no change to the $605,000 in E&D when the dust settles.

“This committee doesn’t like using E&D, and I get that, but this money would be rolling into E&D [see below], and I find it as a way to lower the assessment for both communities,” he said.

Potential savings because of the coronavirus closure of district schools were calculated into the E&D numbers so that a 50/50 split on the assessment to both towns would be $11,214,176.79 for Hanson and  $15,367,391.75 for Whitman, Szymaniak said.

He met on a Zoom call Monday morning with Christine Lynch and Michelle Griffin of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the district’s legal counsel and Steve Hemmand from the Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) to relay questions from the committee about the the budget as well as de-regionalization that cropped up in the Wednesday, May 13 meeting.  Town administrators, a half-dozen school officials and School Committee members were also on the call.

“I think this is laid out really well,” said Howard. “It hits a lot of what we talked about.”

Szymaniak said on May 13, that there have been passionate discussions in both towns regarding the budget bottom line for the school district.

“I’ve heard the word compromise, I’ve heard the word deal, I’ve heard the [phrase] ‘Let’s make this happen,’” he said, noting that he and a couple members of the Regional Agreement Committee spoke with Lynch on whether a compromise was doable and what it might look like.

Lynch discussed what a 50/50 compromise would look like for fiscal 2021 moving toward a statutory formula going forward. Using that split between the statutory number between the two towns as well as dividing the current formula to arrive at an example for the School Committee to discuss.

“This is a one-year only method,” Chairman Bob Hayes reminded School Committee members.

Szymaniak said Monday night that amendment language presented by district legal counsel must be approved by DESE, which he said they have done. He also asked legal counsel to write up an amendment to the agreement to submit to DESE and to place on town meeting warrants as a line item.

“They changed a couple of words around, but the overall gist of that amendment met their baseline for approval from the legal side,” he said. Lynch said it would have to be voted on by the committee to forward to town meetings for a vote before budgets are voted on.

If voters affirm the article, then they could vote a school budget.

However, if the commissioner does not approve the amendment, there is still no budget, Szymaniak said.

“I think every person on this committee has influenced a portion of that [compromise],” Howard said. “It’s something that we can put forward in front of the towns, giving the voters of both Whitman and Hanson an opportunity to move forward. … I really think this is a step in the right direction.”

Byers agreed.

“There has been a lot of good communication and a lot of good progress,” she said, expressing pleasure at the savings that prevented budget cuts. “My one reservation was putting students first.”

Lynch also cautioned that it will not be a benefit to allow the district to go to a 1/12 budget — the commissioner would then use the FY 2020 budget, the minimum local contribution used under the statutory method and the FY 2021 Chapter 70 funds.

“In her experience, the commissioner has never increased a 1/12 budget over the FY 2020 numbers, whether it be September, October or November,” Szymaniak said. “She understands that this is painful and problematic for districts [but] if the district doesn’t have a budget by Dec.1, the state will take fiscal control using the statutory method. She said no one benefits if the commissioner is involved with the budget.”

Szymaniak said the major question of an 50/50 split amendment is OK with DESE legal going forward, if that’s what the School Committee wants to do to move a budget.

“I’m really asking — almost begging you — to get a budget out of committee,” Szymaniak said March 13 and echoed that sentiment Monday. “I have to issue pink slips to teachers by May 31. I have some very anxious folks, teaching from their home right now, knowing that the School Committee hasn’t affirmed a budget out of committee yet.”

He said Silver Lake Regional has already made some staff cuts. Szymaniak said he is trying to avoid a 1/12 budget.

Hanson committee member Christopher Howard agreed during the May 13 discussion that it has been a contentious debate that has prevented movement on the issue. To prompt a more formal discussion on Monday, he moved the committee accept the amendment with Lynch’s modifications.

Amendment

On the budget bottom line, Howard is looking to return the four teachers cut last year while looking to excess and deficiency to help bring the numbers down.

Whitman member Steven Bois said Szymaniak’s proposal makes sense, but asked what the agreement amendment committee might think. Whitman’s Christopher Scriven, who sits on that committee, indicated the two are really separate issues.

“This is an amendment to the 1991 existing agreement that’s put forth today,” he said.

Byers questioned the procedure that was being discussed, especially in view of only receiving the three-page amendment proposal a half-hour before the meeting.

Chairman Bob Hayes then suggested waiting a week to vote on the budget, and focusing on voting on the amendment before voting a budget with or without the four teachers and on whether or not to rescind the vote basing the assessment on the statutory method this year.

He suggested giving DESE time to review the amendment to “see if it holds water,” and giving the towns time to weigh in before voting on the budget.

Howard agreed that time for review was fair, as did Whitman member Fred Small.

Budget snapshot

Szymaniak began the budget discussion with a review of the district’s current financial situation.

Potential savings due to schools being closed since March 19 because of the coronavirus pandemic include: the furloughing of custodial contractor SJ Services as of the first week of April when the wife of an SJ employee contracted the virus; the halting of payments to First Service after the last bus run on March 13; and furloughing special education van drivers from North River Collaborative since April 22, but storage fees and the need to keep vans running for upkeep will have to be paid.

After receiving a full bill for April, Szymaniak contacted SJ Services’ owner and he is revising the bill for April and May. The SJ contract typically costs the district about $99,000 per month, but the district could save $100,000.

While three W-H employees are paid by SJ Services, Szymaniak said he anticipates a substantial reduction in the bill from the company due to the furlough.

Szymaniak said a meeting between school districts in the area and First Student on Monday, May 18 was intended as a negotiation over costs for upkeep of buses, insurance and locked storage, for a savings of $250,000 in fiscal 2020. Savings from the contracts would be rolled over into excess and deficiency.

A modification of a contract with Fox Transportation for other special education transportation needs is also being examined, which could bring a $50,000 to $60,000 savings.

“If we don’t spend it, we’re not getting it back next year,” Szymaniak cautioned, however.

North River van drivers have been working with the district to deliver food to families in need who lack transportation, saving about $60,000.

Copy center contactor Collegiate Press has kept employees on and applied, but was turned down for the first round disaster loans, so the district is discussing options with the company, Szymaniak said. Collegiate press has again applied for a loan, and has issued a credit for next year on their bill, but actual copy costs were frozen on March 13.

Despite a canceled spring sports season, head coaches are being paid a “small amount for their service” in the offseason, but  Szymaniak is still anticipating a $65,000 to $70,000 savings in the athletics budget.

“Those are our big-ticket savings, right now that I could see, I didn’t want to put numbers to them because I didn’t have hard numbers, and I don’t want the committee to be upset if those numbers come in lower than I’m anticipating due to whatever expenditures we have going forward,” he said.

On the other side of the ledger, pre-kindergarten tuition is running at a deficit because of the school closing. Savings from SJ Services, athletics and other closure-related cost savings would help fill that projected $300,000 shortfall, Szymaniak said Monday.

Circuit Breaker

“There’s a buzz around both communities around Circuit Breaker,” Szymaniak said of the special education aid the district receives. “Folks have said that we have millions and millions of dollars that we recover in special education every year.”

Tuffy said the program received funds to assist with the cost of individual education plans, with the district using them to pay for the next year’s special ed costs, usually transportation and tuition, because those costs are easy to track — $1,171,000 in fiscal 2020.

“But those carryovers are often used to take care of for unexpected and unbudgeted expenses,” he said. At the end of last fiscal year, the carry-over was $692.

This year’s budget assumed that the district would to spend $450,000 and expect to get the $171,000 plus the $692 carryover makes $1,172,000 available, he said.

Howard asked where remaining funds “live” until the next budget cycle, to which Tuffy replied the money goes to a separate Circuit Breaker fund.

COVID-19-related mental health support costs, meanwhile, don’t include lost revenue such as preschool tuition. A state emergency fund speaks to “any costs” related to closing schools and moving to remote learning, which the district will apply for, but also does not include lost tuition revenue.

CARES funds are also intended as reimbursement funds that must be carefully accounted for, according to Szymaniak.

The preschool line starts off $97,000 in the red for more than $300,000 in fiscal 2021. Szymaniak said it is usually in the negative because the district hasn’t fully funded it since is a partially tuition-based program.

There are also deficits expected in some facilities accounts, according to Tuffy.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, May 5 discussed voter registration and absentee ballot procedures in an effort to reassure voters of their safety during the upcoming town Election.

Absentee and early ballot requirements and procedures are outlined on the town website at hanson-ma.gov.

“The governor has said we can do early voting for Town Election, which they usually don’t do,” said Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan. “That does not mean people come into the Town Hall and actually vote. It’s just basically absentee voting again, but with no excuses needed. … Early voting is I just want to vote [before Election Day.”

Absentee ballots require voters to attest inability to go to the polls on Election Day due to illness, travel or religious obligation. Early voting ballots must be returned before Election Day and can be deposited in the Town Hall Drop Box.

She said the Town Election cannot be extended beyond June 27. Ballot, however, had not been printed yet and people were still able to return nomination papers until Friday, May 8. The last day to withdraw is Wednesday, May 27.

Town Moderator Sean Kealy discussed a definitive date for the annual Town Meeting, noting there has, as yet, been no advice from health officials on when that might be.

“My main priority is to have a meeting where people aren’t getting sick and we’re not transmitting [coronavirus],” he said. “We’ll do everything that we can.”

Selectmen have already postponed the date to June 15.

“But the closer we’re getting to that date, the less certain I am that people are going to feel comfortable — at the best of times, we have difficulty getting a quorum, let alone when people are still extremely nervous about being out in public, and in an area where it will be incredibly difficult to socially distance if we actually do get a quorum — I get very insecure about the date of June 15,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

She said Town Planner Deborah Pettey has suggested that classrooms throughout Hanson Middle School could be used for breakout rooms with a designated teller, combined with some form of video conferencing, could be used to ensure safety.

“It sounded incredibly complicated, but I think it would meet some of the needs,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, expressing confidence that, before the decision needs to be made, more guidance will be available. Town Meeting has had to use the gym for overflow in the past, but Kealy said it gave him concern that some residents were not able to be heard the way they should have been.

Kealy said there are issues on the warrant for which people will be interested in showing up, so lowering the quorum figure would not be beneficial.

‘It seems early to me, too,” said Kealy, noting that Gov. Baker has set a date of Monday, May 18 as the date state businesses begin re-opening. “I would not be surprised to see that extended out.”

His concern was what happens if a Town Meeting does not occur before the June 30 end of the fiscal year.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook said some transfers of funds must be done by June 30, but indicated state officials could approve delays.

“[Lt. Gov.] Karyn Polito was pretty clear at the press conference [May 4] in saying that’s the date we’ve been given as the advisory group to start issuing guidance, but that is not going to be the date everything opens up,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “She was pretty clear about that.”

Select Boards are permitted to postpone town meetings for 30 days at a time, but must permit 20 days for voter registration before a town meeting. That means Selectmen must take a vote on the matter by Tuesday, May 19.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the board would have Kealy attend the May 19 meeting to continue the discussion.

As they await the outcome of ongoing talks between town officials and information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the school budget, the School Committee on Wednesday, April 29 opted to pass over setting a budget figure.

The committee will meet again on May 13.

The discussion and votes followed an executive session at the beginning of the meeting, conducted remotely on the Zoom platform. The executive session was to discuss negotiating strategy or possible litigation concerning collective bargaining with the WHEA teachers’ Union.

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak sought to pass over discussion and action on the fiscal 2021 budget and local assessment because he is awaiting information on any revenue the district can expect from the early school closure forced by COVID-19.

The committee also voted to pass over a discussion about rescinding an earlier vote on the establishment of the statutory assessment method.

School Committee Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven of Whitman said he has heard that some “significant progress” has been made in compromise talks between the two towns.

“If we wait another week, it’s best to hold off and look to set the budget next week,” he said.

Member Dan Cullity, also of Whitman advocated waiting as town officials were slated to meet the next day.

“We’re not going to get anywhere talking about this budget because there’s no new information,” he said. “We’re just going to have the same fights … until we can get over this hurdle.”

If the district does not have a budget in place by June 1, school officials have to inform the Commissioner of Education. Since town meetings are not scheduled until June 15 in Hanson and late June for Whitman, Szymaniak said he will be drafting a letter advising him of that situation so the commissioner can start preparing a 1/12 budget for the district based on the FY 2020 and projected FY 2021 budgets and minimum local contributions and anticipated Chapter 70 funds set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for FY ’21.

“Right now we’re looking at every regional school district in the commonwealth not having a budget by July 1,” Szymaniak said. “I don’t know the process or the formula the commissioner is going to use for every district.”

Committee member Dawn Byers of Whitman argued the district should at least discuss athletics user fees in an effort to put academics first in a school budget.

Member Michael Jones of Hanson asked why she keeps bringing up the subject, when changes in such fees could cost the district students.

“If we lose more students to school choice, that’s a total loss,” he said.

Byers asked for more data on why families make the decision to take advantage of school choice. Small said that would have to go before the Policy Subcommittee for a decision before a decision on user fees is made.

Whitman member Alezandria Taylor also said user fees were not a good idea when a lot of families cannot even afford school lunches.

Revenues from preschool and extended day kindergarten tuitions have “taken a substantial hit,” according to Szymaniak.

“Before we can roll any revenues or money that we’re saving from the closure, [we need to] make sure we can cover the cost of providing salaries for paraprofessionals and teachers due to the loss of tuition that we either couldn’t process because we’re not in school, and all the tuition we have to refund because of the closure,” he said.

State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, has advised the district about federal grants administered by the states to municipalities covering any losses related to COVID-19 and the district is compiling as much information as possible for the application. Areas covered would include cleaning and technology.

Hanson member Robert O’Brien Jr., a deputy chief on the Hanson Fire Department, said FEMA also has funding opportunities for recouping salaries and other costs lost due to COVID-19.