By Cameron Myette

Express staff

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen discussed the ramifications of an override in the effort to close the $2.1 million school district budget deficit during its Tuesday, March 21 meeting.

Selectmen also voted to close the warrant for the May 1 Town Meeting, opting to place the override and ballot question articles, but not to make recommendations at this time — as was done with all incomplete budget issues.

“We can’t recommend if we don’t know the figure yet,” Town Administrator Michael McCue said.

W-H Business Services Director Christine Suckow said if both towns agreed to 6.25 percent within the levy limit, an override would amount to $1 million split between the two towns, with roughly 60 percent of that ($600,000) being Whitman’s share and about 40 percent ($400,000) Hanson’s based on student population.

Taxpayers in Hanson could expect to pay 34 cents per $1,000 valuation on their property taxes — $98.60 on an average household of $290,000 based on the current W-H assessment — if an override is passed.

“Once both towns decide this, what’s inside the levy and what’s outside the levy, than I can create more accurate numbers,” Suckow said.

Seletman Bruce Young asked why the district accepted the governor’s budget numbers, which provide only a $20 per pupil Chapter 70 aid increase, instead of planning for the $50 that local legislators are again seeking to add. Last year, they were successful in pushing that increase to $55 per pupil — $135,000 for fiscal 2017.

“Almost inevitably, [the governor’s] number doesn’t hold up,” Young said. “It’s part of their anticipated revenue.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said the district couldn’t budget effectively on a figure it doesn’t have.

“If it does come through, you get another bite at the apple,” he said. “Everything has a drop-dead date. … You would never have this situation if the governor’s budget came out in January.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said that situation is also a by-product of the district’s dependence on state aid, and that last year’s failed override would have added services to an already level-service budget that was inside the levy limit. This year’s increase is intended to maintain a level-service budget.

“That’s the difference, and I think it’s important to remember that,” she said. “It’s a quite different story than last year. … This year it’s not as positive a scenario due to cost increases.”

In Hanson, some capital projects for schools, public safety, recreation and highway needs are also combined in a single article.

The frame on one of the Highway Department trucks has failed, resulting in a need to obtain a new truck. The old truck lasted 19 years of service on the highway department and the new truck that the department is looking at will have a life of about 20 years.

David Hanlon of the Highway Department said the cost of the new truck would be well worth the investment and the strength covered by this one truck would be the strength of one and a half trucks, if purchased. A price for the vehicle is still being estimated.

Ramp and windows

In other business, Selectmen dicussed a letter from the Hanson Food Pantry board of directors including safety standards concerning the windows and ramp that is attached to the Hanson Food Pantry Building. The Hanson Food Pantry (HFP) Board recently met to discuss some of these matters.

The state found the ramp is not in compliance with Architectural Access Board (AAD) standards, which are more demanding than the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Volunteers working on the pantry renovation had installed the ramp as close as possible to compliance, according to Building Inspector Robert Curran, but it was not quite correct. A post supporting a corner of the roof is in the way of complete access, and Curran has estimated it will cost more than $27,000 to be done as he would recommend.

They met again and came up with a new plan to widen the ramp, support the roof and would cost between $6,000 to $10,000. He is now awaiting bids before it can go before Town Meeting.

“A complaint was received and we had to respond,” he said. Curran has done so in writing.

McCue is looking into obtaining an ADA grant for the ramp work.

Curran said McCue asked him to look at the windows and verified issues raised by a letter from the pantry board, offering to have a contractor look at the 27 windows for an estimate of cost.

“We are truly grateful for the roof repairs that have been done. It has mitigated potential future degradation of the building,” Food Pantry Board member Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett stated in a letter to Selectmen.  “While the majority of the building is completely weather tight, the front building that was formerly occupied by the Plymouth County Extension Services is not. There are several windows that are missing. This has caused heating costs for the HFP (as well the town for the non HFP-occupied portion) to increase as a result of heat being lost out of the broken windows. Additionally, it will likely end up resulting in wildlife occupying the building and in water getting into our building.”

She explained that the pantry board was asking if Selectmen were aware of the window situation and if it would be possible to get new windows installed.

“While placing boards over the windows may be a good short-term solution, we are hoping that replacement windows could be sought as the long-term solution,” FitzGerald-Kemmett wrote.

She told Selectmen volunteers would be welcome to help on the ramp project, under close supervision of a professional contractor.

HANSON — Practice doesn’t always make perfect but practice makes better.

Guest Author Illustrator Brian Lies of Duxbury reminded students of this small but powerful lesson, which made a big impact on the students at Maquan Elementary School on Friday — a visit sponsored by a grant through the Hanson Cultural Council.

He is currently working on his 30th book and has a series of stories featuring bats, which has made the New York Times Best Sellers list.

He read to the students but not before a short animated talk about how he became an author/illustrator.

He shared relatable life lessons with the students and even did a side-by-side comparison of a drawing his mother had saved when he was in second grade. The short, colored illustration had a few words and four photos. Students’ eyes brightened as they mumbled about his poor drawing skills.

Lies used the pictures to demonstrate how he was not perfect as his work and took years of development, classes, schooling and practice. He also shared how he, too, had received notes on his English papers asking him to add more detail.

He spoke with enthusiasm and encouragements letting the students know that you can acquire a certain skill, then become better by working at it.

Lies was born in Princeton, N.J., and graduated from Brown University in 1985 with a degree in British and American Literature. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for two and a half years, and then created Op/Ed page illustrations for numerous publications, including the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune and Christian Science Monitor.

He showed the students dozens of drawing pads in which many of his top sellers were sketched.

Lies explained writing, rewriting and editing his drawings was part of his process to get the exact message, and art work to completion before the publication of a book.

In developing his character of the little bat who wears floaties Lies was inspired as a father and recalled as an adult how young people can feel left out in different circumstances.

He illustrated his first children’s book for Houghton Mifflin Company in 1989, and has since illustrated more than two dozen others, such as his New York Times bestselling bat series (“Bats at the Beach,” “Bats at Library,” “Bats at the Ballgame”  and “Bats in the Band”).

Lies work has garnered numerous awards, and can be found in galleries around the country, according to his website.

After question-and-answer times, students helped Lies brainstorm what bat should be doing in a drawing he then autographed and donated to the Maquan Library .

He explained his drawing techniques using an example of shading with peeled crayons and soon the white sheet of paper was dancing with a little bat that may have had a job as a dog walker.

WHITMAN — A special permit and site plan approval application for a solar farm consisting of 3,940 panels and associated equipment has been granted leave to withdraw without prejudice by the Zoning Board of Appeals Monday, March 13.

The vote, necessitated by a clerical error on the part of one landowner and the petitioner, BrightEnergies of Los Angeles, will permit the company to re-apply when the error — which identified the wrong parcel address — is corrected.

The address had been identified as 81 Bedford St., instead of 0 Bedford St., which is the correct address, according to company managing partner Jon LoCascio. The error resulted in an incorrect or incomplete list of abutters notified about the 7 p.m. hearing.

ZBA Chairman John Goldrosen did allow members of the board and interested residents attending to ask general questions about the solar farm proposal.

LoCascio said the proposal would be brought back regarding 0 Bedford St., and that the address mistake had been brought to the company’s attention about 30 days ago.

Goldrosen noted that, once a hearing is advertised in the newspaper, a hearing must be held.

Member Wayne Andrews said the site plan as submitted as “no good” as it is not to scale and does not show any topographical contours or accurate abutters.

“Everything is missing from this site plan,” he said, advising that the company review Whitman’s zoning regulations.

Building Inspector Robert Curran said his impression was that the company planned to revise the site plan. He also reminded ZBA members that Whitman has become a Green Community and that he had forwarded a copy of the regulation revisions reflecting that status.

“There’s provisions for solar or alternative energy in our bylaw,” Curran said.

Goldrosen also read into the hearing record letters from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Fire Chief Timothy Grenno, listing concerns about the plan as submitted.

The Conservation Commission expressed concern over any wetlands impact on the site and planners noted questions about determination of the location of the Brockton water line and whether there would be an easement conflict before being able to approve the plan. Grenno requested engineered road access on three sides of the property; a solid surface, such as crushed stone, for ground cover; weed and overgrowth containment; gated access with a lock the fire department can open and training for public safety departments.

“It may turn out you can’t put everything there that you want,” Goldrosen said about the wetlands issue.

Board member Steven Cacciatore also asked about safety including whether the electricity can be turned off in an emergency and the potential for the solar panels to be hot enough to spark brush fires.

“We’re just asking because we don’t know,” he said. “This has not come up to us before. … We want to know if there’s going to be a problem.”

LoCascio said he is more often asked how it’s going to work in the snow, assuring the board that the farm would have a rapid shutdown system to control fire risk when panels reach a certain temperature.

Andrews sought information on how the project would benefit the town.

“The great thing about this project is all the energy is going to the town, so we would be discounting and saving the town money reducing the town’s overall cost for electricity,” LoCascio said. He said the output of about 1.9 megawatts would lock in energy costs for municipal buildings for 20 years.

Curran added that the town would have to enter into an energy-purchase agreement with BrightEnergies. The difficulty in gauging the effect of those savings stems from a recent change to LED lighting.

“We can’t take historical electric bills and use those in any way for this,” Curran said. “But by the time this all goes through, the town will know what its average monthly bill is.”

BrightEnergies would own the solar equipment, but lease the property.

Board members were also interested in learning of other area solar farms and any problems encountered with the facilities.

Abutter Jackie Alger, owner of Wag This Way dog daycare also had some questions for the board’s consideration — water runoff, wetlands, possible requirement of a retention pond, access during construction, how inspections would be handled, dust control plans during construction, work hours and temporary electrical power during construction, noise, tree removal, traffic and security fence plans.

HANSON — While town officials consider it too early for a vote on the pact, the Board of Selectmen discussed the status of the town’s contract talks with Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television at its Feb. 28 meeting.

Progress reports on building razing and raising projects [see related story, page 3] were also discussed.

“The general consensus that I want to pass along to the public is that we are working on this,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan about individual conversations he has had with other selectmen about the cable access contract. He stressed that none of the one-on-one conversations constituted Open Meeting Law violations.

“We have a contract that we are being asked to sign — and this is for another 10 years — and one of the sticking points on it is that we need to follow up on the financial reports that are owed to the town through the Board of Selectmen,” McGahan said.

WHCA TV Executive Director Eric Dresser said Monday, March 6 that he understands the selectmen’s concerns are reasonable, as there are several items in the contract still being worked out.

“I think there’s some things above and beyond the things that they mentioned that they’d like to see, in terms of the reporting, that we’ve got to get on the same page with — as you would in any negotiation,” Dresser said. “We are aware of the areas of the [financial] report that need to be updated and those projects are already in progress.”

He said one was submitted at the end of last week. Cable Access Board Chairman Arlene Dias has since supplied the rest, she said Wednesday. She had not attended the Feb. 28 meeting because she said she was told the issue had been removed from the agenda.

McGahan said Feb. 28 that, while some financial reports had been received, “We didn’t get everything that we need.” He has created a matrix of reports owed to them and a ballpark timetable of when they should be received by selectmen in both towns. He also wants to see audit reports — required every three years — and regular 501(c)3 status updates on the service’ nonprofit status and to require that meeting minutes be posted on the WHCA website, as well as annual reports.

Resident Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, who has experience with 501(c)3 organizations such as the Hanson Food Pantry, said a copy of the WHCA tax returns could supply much of that information.

“We need more transparency with this group in terms of accountability,” McGahan said of the WHCA Board of Directors. “Otherwise we’re just rubber-stamping this contract.”

Town Administrator Michael McCue said a consensus of the board was all that was needed until its members are ready to ratify the contract.

McGahan said he, McCue and the cable board should meet again to discuss the issue. He also said he would like to invite the board chairman and/or WHCA executive director to selectmen’s meetings on a quarterly basis for updates on programs and services.

Selectman Bruce Young noted that a percentage of everyone’s cable bill supports the local cable access studio Cable rates, especially for seniors, was also a concern raised by Richard Edgehille, a resident and past volunteer videographer for WHCA.

“Seniors can’t get anything,” agreed Selectman Don Howard.

Edgehille suggested transparency could help hold Comcast accountable.

“If everybody in town understands that you’re doing your homework on it, as far as knowing how much it costs for that studio to run, there’s no waste,” he said.

McGahan agreed that it is in the cable board’s interest, as well, to show the money is being spent where it should be spent.

Edgehille also said the second contract should not be a mirror of the first one, because that initial contract was a start-up document.

“It should be tweaked,” he said, noting that much of the original contract language concerned the hiring and job function of the late WHCA Executive Director Steven Roy, who died last spring. “We wouldn’t be talking about this if Steve Roy didn’t leave us. He kept the ship going.”

Dresser said that, while he is a different person than Roy, he plans to brag about the “good stuff we’re doing here” and he wants town officials and the community to know about them.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction to remedy some of those things we’re concerned about,” McGahan said of the contract talks.

WHITMAN — Capital school projects and the status of plans for a new DPW building [see related story] were the focus of the first meeting of the town’s Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee since last spring.

WHRSD Business Services Director Christine Suckow, School Committee member Fred Small and Facilities Director Ernest Sandland attended the Feb. 16 meeting to review capital projects priorities for the fiscal 2018 budget cycle. Small is also chairman of the School Committee’s facilities subcommittee.

“The function of this committee is two-fold — to oversee and manage capital projects and to make recommendations about spending,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam, who again chairs the Buildings panel. “The decision to spend that money is made by Town Meeting.”

The Buildings Committee makes recommendations on capital expenditures and the Finance Committee makes recommendations on whether they believe expenditures are appropriate and good for the town. The panel will be meeting again when it receives capital plans for other departments and will also meet with the Finance Committee.

“We will look at what we are willing to commit for funding this year,” Lynam said. “The only way whatever plan we come up with will work is if we have a united plan — we’re all on the same page.”

He does not see the town dipping into stabilization for capital projects this year.

“I’m more concerned with the budget itself,” he said. The per-school breakdown of the school budget for Whitman schools is: $1,631,000 for Whitman Middle School; $654,000 for Conley and $456,000, according to Suckow.

Whitman generates most of its revenue from local taxes, with the reserve for appropriation ambulance account coming in second, according to Lynam.

“When we look at purchases and our ability to fund them, we’re constrained by what we’re able to generate in revenue,” he said.

Lynam again explained that a recent windfall in personal property taxes from National Grid, having made significant improvements to the company’s property in Whitman. As that money is expected to go away within eight years, Lynam has advocated spending the tax receipts on nonrecurring capital expenses.

“If I build a budget on money that isn’t going to be there next year, were [in trouble],” he said. “We’re behind the eight-ball.”

School department capital requests, most of which have been on the list from previous years, include:

• An engineering study for the Duval School roof;

• Fire alarm and smoke detector replacement at all three of the town’s schools, $50,000 each;

• Repairing and relining the middle school gym, $25,000;

• Installation of a gym curtain at WMS, $14,000;

• A Green Communities program at all three schools, $335,000;

• Replacement of WMS rooftop units, $50,000;

• Installing and cleaning ceiling fans at all three schools, $25,000;

• Replacement of exterior doors with a card-reading system for added security, $16,000;

• Loop driveway at the rear of WMS, $16,000;

• Crack, seal and reline playgrounds, $13,000;

• Replacement of Conley and WMS kitchen equipment, $53,000;

• Uninvent replacement in five rooms at WMS, $35,000; and

• Sidewalk replacement at Duval, $20,000.

Other repairs have been prioritized for later years.

Lynam said one of the difficulties in funding repairs to facilities involves the fact that assessments for the regional schools are apportioned based on population. Whitman currently has 59.5 percent of the region’s school population.

“That number has been moving for at least the last eight years,” he said. “We are creating more of the expense and we are paying for more expense of operating the region.”

Savings from energy-saving updates would help, he said.

Sandland said that, with such programs, energy costs would be reduced and budgets will be more manageable.

“When you look at these repairs, you’ve got to keep in mind these buildings are not a lot different from what we do at home,” Lynam said. “What we’re looking at now are the things that need to be done.”

The door lock project, on the other hand, is part of the district’s program to improve school security as well as making any needed repairs, Small said.

Playground and sidewalk repairs are aimed at addressing trip hazards, which cause spikes in insurance premiums. Repairs needed to the roofs at Conley and Duval are to newer sections.

“We’ve complained to the state that [at Duval] here we are, we spend $80,000 on repairs to a roof that you guys funded,” Sandland said, noting a similar problem was encountered at Hanson Middle School. “They didn’t care.”

Salvucci asked that if the total of repairs prioritized for this year — estimated at about $500,000 — could be done, how much time could that buy the town before more work is needed.

Light units and rooftop units have to go out to bid before those details are known, Sandland said.

Whitman’s share ($451,389) of $758,000 repairs to the high school prioritized for the year include (cost estimates below are totals):

• Turf field at the high school, estimated at between $425,000 and $500,000;

• Roadway repairs, $210,000;

•  Industrial ceiling fans for heat distribution, $12,000;

• Traffic lighting for safety, $20,000;

• Exterior envelope repairs to composite wall system $25,000;

• Hot water heater replacement, $35,000 as well as

• Replacement of rooftop units, $100,000;

• Window glass replacement, $15,000;

• Energy upgrade, $111,000 for LED lighting in classrooms, $65,000 for LED lighting in computer labs, cafeteria, music suite and gym; and

• Second floor carpet replacement, $45,000.

In other business, the Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee reorganized, renaming Lynam as chairman. Lynam had stepped aside last year after his workload increased after his former assistant Greg Enos had resigned to take a position in Ashland, and a new Finance Committee required his assistance. Wayne Carroll, a DPW Commissioner who had been asked to chair the committee recently announced his decision to step down.

With the hiring of new Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green, that situation has changed, Lynam said.

“You now have an assistant, that takes a lot of the pressure off your back, and you have the time,” Salvucci said in nominating Lynam for the chairmanship.

Committee member Patrick Fatyol was voted as vice chairman and Salvucci was elected clerk.

HANOVER — The South Shore Vocational High School Committee’s student of the month award usually celebrates purely scholastic or athletic achievement and student leadership, but an act of heroism also distinguished the selection for February.

James Dwyer of Hanson was honored for his courage outside of school — saving his father’s life by performing CPR. He went in to school the next day and brought his usual positivity according to a staff member. Dwyer is a junior automotive technology student.

“We’re lucky to have a student like James at South Shore Vocational High School,” said a member of the faculty.

The committee also heard an update on plans for a new horticulture program, which South Shore Tech is interested in adding  as soon as the next year.

According to Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas Hickey, this would be a slow-building program, starting with a single instructional hire with a landscaping background. In addition to this, Hickey said that a member of the science faculty would contribute to this program by teaching plant science. This would only be temporary, as once the program grows a second faculty member would be hired and dedicated to the program.

To add a new program, state law requires that SSVT show a demand for jobs in a particular field.

There is a lot of optimism from Hickey that this will happen.

“I saw 23 different companies in a survey that they annually hire 98 to 106. That’s a pretty significant number,” said Hickey

In addition to looking at the labor demand, guidance counselors for incoming freshman asked about their interest in the program, since the program is not listed currently in the brochure.

“Sixty-five percent said they want that on their list” said Hickey

Guidance counselors also asked current freshman if they would have been interested in the program.
“We asked, if they could turn back time would they have explored this program? Over 50 percent of students would have been interested,” he said.

Hickey stated that the only agricultural high school in the area is Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole — almost 30 miles away from SSVT. Hickey said he recognizes this discourages many South Shore students from pursuing agriculture.

Breakfast
for Students

In other business, Principal Margaret Dutch and members of the school committee are currently reviewing new ideas for the breakfast program.

“We want to assure breakfast is available to all students and that the breakfast they are receiving is appropriate for starting their school day,” she said adding that they are currently looking at data to support this initiative.

There are many varying perspectives on how to approach this issue. Dutch points out that students, parents, teachers and faculty view this very differently and that each perspective needs to be accounted for.

Timing, for example, is an issue. It is now unclear if breakfast would be available before classes or take place during classroom time.

Chairman Robert Molla questioned if this would interrupt class time.

“We don’t have enough time for educational purposes,” said Molla

Principal Dutch responded, “If you have someone who’s hungry, are they engaging in the education anyway?”

Dutch also posed an additional question, “Is just eating something a breakfast? Or does it need to be something specific and balanced?”

She said the meal would be required to meet the healthy food standards in the same capacity that the lunch program does.

There are many ways to approach this topic.

“We’ve talked about our bus schedules, if kids are getting off the bus with only a few minutes to spare they might not want to risk getting food,” Hickey said. “If kids are interested in getting food before class, we should consider rolling back our bus schedule.”

Dutch said that they did not expect a small idea like breakfast to grow into such a complex and nuanced issue.

Staff report

After a double whammy of wild winter weather, the region has seen just about every form of precipitation imaginable since Thursday, Feb. 9, forcing three straight school day cancellations and adding to the cost of snow removal efforts in Whitman and Hanson.

Whitman DPW’s Highway/Park Superintendent Bruce Martin said he is still calculating the cost since Feb. 9, but Town Administraror Frank Lynam said Tuesday that he has already authorized deficit spending for snow removal.

“We had contractors in Sunday night,” Martin said, noting a lot of salt was also used on the streets. “It’s expensive.”

“The slush is tough because the plows don’t scrape it as good, you almost need a squeegie,” he said. “It’s harder to push, it’s harder for the sidewalk snowblower to clean — everything is harder because it’s wet an slushy.”

“Ballpark cost of [cleanup has been] $30,000 not counting fuel, salaries  and material,” Hanson Town Administrator Michael McCue said Monday. The $30,000 paid for outside contractors, according to McCue.

Martin said he keeps an unofficial snowfall log for his own reference and the town is up to 55 inches of snow for the season, a figure that is slightly above average, which is in the “high 40s.”

“Even last year — people think last year was a down winter, but we were actually right above average with 51 inches,” Martin said.

On the roads, police and fire departments responded to numerous reports of accidents and stuck vehicles.

State officials also wanted people to take their time going to work Monday morning to allow crews a chance to clear the roads after the second round of snow, slush and ice hit the state Sunday.

On Sunday night, Gov. Charlie Baker called for an 11 a.m. start time for some state employees, as did the state Senate and House of Representatives.

On Sunday night, Baker said the two-part storm that was expected to stretch into midday Monday was “more unpredictable” than last Thursday’s storm and that he wanted to wait until the picture came into better view before deciding whether to delay or cancel work for state employees. The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a winter storm warning for most of Massachusetts and warned of strong, damaging winds and the possibility of power outages Monday.

The wind associated with the Feb. 9 storm had already proved damaging to the home of a Hanson family.
“Our East Washington Street house was hit by a large pine tree during the peak of the [Thursday, Feb. 9] storm,” said Express photographer Stephanie Spyropoulos. “There were a few loud booms at the time reported as thundersnow by the weather forecasters.”

She described the situation as “scary, loud and chaotic for a short period of time” as police and firefighters arrived assessing the damage and the downed wires. No injuries were reported.
One large limb and several smaller punctures occurred when the tree fell striking the front of the cape style home. A smaller tree which was also crushed may have absorbed some of the weight of the pine.

The roof was boarded up by Sunday afternoon and ready for the next round of snow.

Heavy winds returned on Monday afternoon as those not working or clearing snow headed out to play in it. Neon sleds, snow pants and matching hats were like brightly colored gum drops standing out in the snow banks at the Whitman Park on Monday. Still, the hill was not as busy as normal.

The wind was blowing in full force and picked up speed Monday at noon as a small crowd of teens braved the cold on a snow day to take a few runs down the hill at Whitman Park. However families with smaller children who were red faced and chilled to the bone were making the last few steps as parents began to pack sleds and wet jackets in the cars.

Carrying her infant Dylan in a baby carrier on her chest Tammy Bengin of Whitman walked her two dogs both Siberian Huskies along the Whitman Park.

Despite the cold she bundles up and heads out because the dogs need to get out and they love the cold, she said. She doesn’t love the winter weather but said that in spring you will see her walking and making tracks across Whitman.

Staff writers Tracy F. Seelye and Stephanie Spyropoulos and State House News Service writer Colin Young contributed to this report.

HANSON — A municipal park — perhaps including a common, walking and picnic areas or a gazebo bandstand — has been recommended by the Final Plymouth County Hospital Committee as a use for a portion of the property once the dilapidated hospital building is razed in April.

“Even though we have great resources like sports fields, a nice pond on either side of the Town Hall and Camp Kiwanee, Hanson has never in its history had an actual park,” Committee member, and Conservation Commission Chairman, Phil Clemons said.

Selectmen voted Tuesday, Feb. 7 to support the recommendation for designing a park on the site. Selectman Don Howard chairs the PCH Committee. The vote, not intended as a final approval, enables the PCH Committee to move forward with financing a park design.

Selectmen also approved a bid from Almar LLC of Medfield, as well as a change order, for the latest roof repair project at Maquan School.

The park project would be located in parcel two on the 55-acre property, in which three parcels with distinct features have been identified. Parcel two is where the food pantry, community garden, water tower and other buildings are located.

“It’s a sensible thing to do,” said Clemons. “We think we’ve answered questions regarding funding and the whole concept. The committee would be interested in feedback from this board.”

The board liked what they heard.

“You came to us with a potential solution,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan. “But, not only did you come to us with a solution, you came to us with a point on how to fund it, so I’m very impressed.”

He updated the Board of Selectmen on the PCH panel’s work. The committee has also proposed ways to fund the project.

Clemons’ PowerPoint presentation outlined the PCH Committee’s work over the course of more than 45 meetings, and indicated residents expressed a “strong desire” for a park at the site in a survey conducted last year.

“We need to make sure we set aside a way to fund the maintenance of the park,” McGahan said. “I’m sure that’s a big concern.”

Voters at the October 2016 Town Meeting authorized $1.8 million for razing the former hospital and outbuildings, with a bid of $1 million awarded to J. R. Vinagro. The balance of the unused funds reverts to the town and cannot be retained for maintenance.

The Committee has proposed the establishment of an account in which proceeds from the sale of the former hospital superintendent’s house “or a few other sources,” would be deposited to help fund maintenance. The panel also recommends an appraisal of the superintendent’s house.

The Committee has also applied to the Conway School of Landscape Design to plan a park on the site, estimated to cost about $7,000 and expects to hear that result soon. Clemons said feedback on the application has been “very positive.” The $7,000 price tag would encompass several site visits and a public meeting in Hanson for public input and ideas as they gather information. The cost would be paid over two installments at the beginning and end of the process.

Town Administrator Michael McCue said, at that price level, there is no need for competitive procurement.

Community Preservation funds are considered as a funding source for the design, but that process could delay the work. The town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) expected to be completed this month, would allow the committee to apply for several grants for the park. It also makes $4,000 in Conservation Commission funds immediately available for the park project, as well as more modest conservation funds that could be permitted for use by the state.

On Feb. 15 the Conservation Commission will discuss and vote on the possibility of going that route.

“Every previous version of that [OSRP] plan has included vague ideas about the county hospital — now it’s time to get specific,” Clemons said.

Besides a common, the plan could also include a low-maintenance playground, accessible walking trails, connection to the 200-mile Bay Circuit Trail and a possible dog park.

Other recommendations for the PCH property’s remaining parcels that are still under discussion, involve expanding the water tank easement to allow a second water tank, supporting the Bonney House as an historic education site, exploring the possibility of an unobtrusive cell tower and a solar array option for the south end of the property.

“There’s income for the town from [a solar facility],” Clemons said.

The PCH Committee is also investigating the use of online crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe to help pay for the project and its maintenance.

“We seek not to increase, but to control tax burdens,” he said.

“From what I can see, it gives you some revenue from the solar and the only thing you’re missing is an adult driving range,” Selectman Bruce young said.

“We think the golfing public has other options,” Clemons said.

Maquan roof

The board’s vote on the bid for the repairs to a small section of the Maquan School roof followed a similar vote by the School Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The School Committee recommended awarding the contract to Almar LLC for a bid of $44,747 as well as an alternative of $9,500 for a total of $54,247 for the second phase of the roof’s repair. The Selectmen’s vote allows McCue and School Business Services Director Christine Suckow to sign the contract.

The work entails additional items found that were not part of the original roof repair contract for the flat part of the school’s roof. Flashing and brickwork found in need of repair will now be addressed.

A $7,600 change order with consultants Gale Engineering was also approved to appoint the firm as clerk of the works on the project.

WHITMAN — Popular Children’s Illustrator John Steven Gurney made lots of silly faces when he spoke to the students at Conley Elementary School Thursday, Jan. 26. They were just as pleased to give him the arched eyebrow and make cartoon-like expressions in return.

After all, they were envisioning how they would look as a character in one of his many books.

Having the perfect pout and eye expression is the goal when Gurney is sketching for publications, he told students. His well-known “A-Z Mysteries,” “Pet Hotel,” “The Bailey School Kids,” and more than 140 other books grace the shelves of libraries everywhere and Conley is no exception.

Many Conley students were engaged in drawing easy cartoon figures, and most gasped when the PowerPoint showed their favorite books, which were illustrated by Gurney.

He gave a detailed step-by-step description of the creative process which goes into illustrating — explaining that he works closely with the editor, and not the author, of a book — which can be a lengthy process to define the finished product.

During the PowerPoint presentation, his various stages of work were explained complete with using his son to capture a moving subject. He later compared the early sketches to the finished pages in the book.

Several second-grade students whispered across their row to one another about a book they were currently reading in class.  They giggled as if they had a kept secret for the ending but then realized Gurney would never reveal the ending of the book.

No spoiler alert needed.