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Whitman panel to study voting devices

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Whitman panel to study voting devices

WHITMAN — A committee is being formed by Town Moderator Michael Seele to study the pros and cons of electronic voting at Town Meeting — an issue affecting bylaws that will ultimately be put before Town Meeting to accept or reject.

Seele and Town Clerk Dawn Varley are the first two members of the study committee, being asked to update selectmen on its progress in March. Members from both sides of the issue will be placed on that panel.

Whitman panel to study voting devices

Small, remote control-type devices, like the one showed above, are being studied as a voting toll. They have a numeric keypad on which a yes or no vote would be cast by punching number one or two. They can be leased or purchased with the town able to borrow extra from other towns if a huge Town Meeting turnout is seen.

The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 15 expressed divided opinions on the idea — with Brian Bezanson and Dan Salvucci supporting electronic voting, Scott Lambiase voicing objections and both Lisa Green and Chairman Carl Kowalski saying they need more information before forming an opinion.

“I’m not really comfortable being on the fence on anything,” Kowalski said. “My first reaction was we don’t need that.”

But, he added that he understands how a shy person can feel cowed by the number of people around them that may be voting differently.

“I’m interested in hearing some more about the motivation for this,” he said.

Varley opened the discussion with a report on how electronic voting works and opinions of officials in towns now using it.

The small, remote control-type devises with numeric keypad on which a yes or no vote would be cast by punching number one or two. They can be leased or purchased with the town able to borrow extra from other towns if a huge Town Meeting turnout is seen.

“I’ve pretty much given you all the information that I found out, and that’s what my job was,” Varley said.

She did report that voice votes are generally inaccurate, standing counts are time-consuming and public votes can result in the potential for intimidation.

“I have a problem with that [last point] because we shouldn’t feel intimidated or fear retribution when we’re in our own town — in our own community — and we all have a common interest,” Kowalski said. “They’re our friends and neighbors.”

Kowalski said, even though there have been contentious town meetings in the past, the current practice of voice and standing votes has worked for a number of years.

“I don’t remember the really weird times,” he said.

Another reason for considering electronic voting is the continuing effort to increase voter turnout.

“Every Town Meeting, I’m fighting to get 150 people,” Varley said. “I think this might be it.” Lawn signs and reminders on census forms are also being considered.

“The participation is going to be [based on] what you have for warrant articles,” Lambiase said. “I think that the biggest thing is that a great majority of the populace has no idea what we do at Town Meeting.”

Bezanson said he, too, likes to think intimidation is not a big factor in low Town Meeting turnout.

“It doesn’t stifle any discussion,” he said of electronic voting. “But I think it really takes a burden off the voter when it comes time to make the vote.”

Salvucci also favors electronic voting, but expressed concern over its ease of use, especially for seniors.

“I like the idea of the device,” Salvucci said. “I like the idea of secret ballots because you vote the way you want to vote. It’s that simple.”

Seele discounted concern about intimidation, saying he has not received any complaints from voters about it.

“We have a tradition here in this town of standing up and being counted for you vote,” Seele said. “I’ve not gotten the sense … that there was any sort of recrimination or intimidation going on against anybody.”

He called it “probably the largest conceptual issue” around electronic voting.

Police Chief Scott Benton again argued that intimidation could cut both ways, as his department “doesn’t make everybody happy.”

While the police have a lot of supporters in town, he said the job doesn’t always make friends in performing their duties.

“I’m not saying I’m against [electronic voting],” he said. “In my line or work, I’m here to represent our department and look at the misuse because that’s what we deal with.”

Seele said he is also concerned about the nuts and bolts of how it would work, especially for the disabled and those uncomfortable with the technology.

“I’m all for technology,” he said. “But I wonder if this is a hammer in search of a nail.”

Lambiase, who works in Duxbury where electronic devices — but only on close votes — are used, said officials in that town calculated they only saved four minutes in an eight-hour town meeting.

“Personally, I don’t agree with it,” he said. “I’m more of the spirit that Town Meeting is to be an open town meeting and we should not be afraid to get up and speak our mind and be proud of our vote.”

Green said the discussion toward making Town Meeting more efficient is a healthy one, but said more information is needed before any decision is made.

IT Director Josh MacNeil said a lot depends on the company used and whether devices are leased or purchased, but agreed with Green that more information is needed.

“I agree with everything that’s been said here,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam. “I can agree that the concerns people have are valid, because I can remember town meetings when I may have been the only one standing up.”

He said people genuinely feel intimidated in voting for contentious issues.

“I don’t know that that’s a reason to do this,” Lynam said. “I think it’s something we should look at.”

Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

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The Lobstah Tree: Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

WHITMAN — A Christmas tree is not an uncommon sight this time of year, but one constructed out of lobster traps just might make you stop for a second look.

Lobsterman Tim Walsh of Whitman points out he is not an artist, but he has created a bit of roadside folk art.

“I just wanted to bring the ocean a bit further inland,” he said.

Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

AHOY, THERE: Tim Walsh takes time out from building his tree for a photo. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Where grass and farm land are familiar, he is set to light up his lobster tree in the backyard of his Perry Avenue home simply to evoke joy in all who travel down the busy Route 58/Plymouth Street as they go through Whitman and Hanson.

After the positive responses he received last year and the countless folks who stopped along the roadside to snap photos of his lobster tree, Walsh set out to go bigger with 300 stacked traps painted in greens and reds.

It took him about a full day and a half to stack the traps. The tree will be lit with hundreds of colorful holiday strands and the dedication to his late friend will top the unique structure.

The tallest buoy belonged to fisherman John Fleck of Hull who lost his battle with cancer.

“He was my friend, mentor and fellow fisherman,” Walsh said.

Several of the dangling buoys also belong to friends making the tree a unique vessel of heartfelt joy.

His family is also an inspiration.

Walsh’s wife Lori, who hails from Weymouth, is expecting their first child in the spring. She is a holiday lover, Walsh said.

She is also the inspiration in the naming of his lobster boat the Miss Lori, which is moored in Allerton Harbor in Hull where Walsh grew up.

A graduate of the Class of 2004 in Hull, he spent his days either in the water or on it.  His father passed on the trade of fisherman and love of the ocean, he said.

“I love it,” he said.  “I couldn’t do it if I didn’t.”

Walsh logs an average of 10 hours a day on his boat — it’s both his career and passion for living as a lobsterman.

He takes time off during the winter and heads back out in the spring.  He is looking forward to the holidays and some much needed rest with his family.

South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS

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South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS…for 2016 anyway

HANOVER — As it now stands, South Shore Vo-Tech will again administer the MCAS test as planned in the spring while the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education irons out details of an MCAS/PARCC hybrid exam as the new state standard.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey updated School Committee members on the issue during the Wednesday, Nov. 18 School Committee meeting.

“My gut is why would we change midstream,” he said.

More than half of state school districts administered the PARCC test in spring 2015, while SSVT conducted a pilot PARCC test but administered MCAS.

South Shore Vo-Tech to keep MCAS“In 2016, the test will be MCAS with a sprinkling of PARCC-like questions,” Hickey said. “In 2017, the expectation is that the hybrid test would be real for everybody, but everyone would be held harmless.”

By 2019 all testing is expected to be online.

“Let’s just take one year at a time,” said Hickey, adding he needed to obtain more information on the district’s options for 2016. “As it stands here, the curriculum is what it is. Our math and English departments are perfectly comfortable with the curriculum that they’ve been teaching and they continue to get our kids ready. I have absolute confidence that they will continue to do so.”

He stressed, however, that SSVT must prepare for any future changes.

Whitman representative Dan Salvucci, meanwhile, said delegates to the recent Massachusetts Association of School Committees conference voiced general opposition to standardized testing.

“They feel you need to look at [students’] entire educational experience … and not just if he passes a final exam or MCAS,” Salvucci said. “I had to agree with them, but you also need to be able to test students.”

Scituate representative John Manning said alternatives to standardized tests could be an area where vocational schools have an advantage.

“We have people out in the trades telling us what our students need to know,” he said.

In other business, Kyle Thompson of Hanson, a senior culinary student and football team quarterback, was named Student of the Month for November.

“Every month we introduce different facets of leadership and success,” said Guidance Director Michael Janicki. “Kyle’s nomination came about a s a result of his leadership on the football field.”

Thompson leaves everything out on field and is a role model for his teammates, football coaches reported in their nomination. He is planning to attend college — most likely at Bridgewater State University — where he plans to pursue a degree in teaching or business.

November’s Staff Member of the Month is science teacher Jeremy Shaw. He was not able to attend the Nov. 18 School Committee meeting, but will be recognized next month along with the December honoree.

According to Principal Margaret Dutch, Shaw has been teaching at SSVT since September 2013 has degrees in electrical and computer engineering from WPI and Tufts University.

He has “excited an engineering curiosity” in SSVT students while developing a comprehensive engineering program at the school, according to Dutch. He is also a physics teacher, a senior class advisor and helps out with the cross-country team.

“Mr. Shaw is a good person,” read one student’s nomination. “He is always there to help and is an amazing teacher.”

Molla said he asked that the presentation be made despite Shaw’s scheduling conflict as a demonstration of the committee’s commitment to honoring a staff member in the month they are chosen.

“The committee takes this quite seriously,” Chairman Robert Molla said.

“He was thrilled to have it and thrilled to know that it came from the students,” Dutch said.

School Committee members and school staff alike expressed great satisfaction with the Nov. 14 open house.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve done a couple tweaks of where things are and how we present the school and departments — and we nailed it,” Janicki said. He added that feedback regarding students who attended and their families was universally positive as well.

The school also received good news regarding work students have performed as Habitat for Humanity volunteers, doing electrical work on two house projects on Center Street in Hanover. Habitat is now seeking additional help from SSVT students and teachers for a project in Duxbury.

“Although Duxbury is not in the district, I feel this is an excellent opportunity,” said Hickey. “It comes recommended from the staff.”

Senior students would be working on it only for a couple of shop week cycles into December, returning in the spring to do some finish work, according to Hickey.

School budget concern voiced

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School budget concern voiced as the School Committee honored students for good works

As the School Committee honored students for good works in both the classroom and community Wednesday, Nov. 18 they expressed deep concern over the district’s ability to sustain such excellence in the face of dropping per-pupil expenditures within tight budgets.

With several dozen members of the teacher’s union — wearing matching black T-shirts — looking on, an update on the fiscal 2016 budgetary impact evolved into a discussion on the outlook for the 2017 budget.

“Nearly everyone in this room knows that we’re 10th from the bottom in per-pupil expenditure, and every year we have budget presentations in February and in March we certify the budget, and then we are always looking at how are we going to make ends meet,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said.

Additional state funding or the hiring of young teachers, whose salary steps are lower than retirees, has then been depended on to make it work.

“This year we haven’t been able to,” she said.

The state is trying to wean the district from Chapter 70 funds, and the assessment increases from the two towns have thus far not been enough to make up for that reduction. A teachers’ contract is still under negotiation and three other contracts for student transportation, custodial services and Copy Center are all up for renewal, too. Charter Schools are also costing the district $300,000 a year, according to Gilbert-Whitner.

“As a result we have not been able to provide everything this year that we were able to provide last year,” she said. “I’m very concerned about that.”

One of the cuts was to library programs, which raised the ire of a retired teacher who volunteers in the Indian Head School’s library in Hanson.

“I’m not happy with the way the schools are going,” said Peggy Westfield of State Street in Hanson. “My kids are done, so I don’t have a vested interest in the schools right now, but I’m very concerned.”

She voiced concern over the fact that teachers are now working without a contract and that the district has sought mediation after only 84 minutes of discussion between teachers and the negotiating subcommittee. She suggested it might be time to work to rule as a demonstration of exactly what extra services teachers perform.

“I’m absolutely appalled at how little per-pupil expenditure is spent in these two towns,” Westfield said.  “It’s absolutely disgusting. How do we change that?”

School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes said the committee has been trying to get that point across to voters for years, but few people come to meetings to offer opinions or ask questions. Both he and committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., said concerned residents must also attend selectmen and finance committee meetings and follow up by attending Town Meetings.

“For many years, people have said W-H cries wolf,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “I think it’s become very clear that, when you’re 10th from the bottom, you’re probably not crying wolf.”

She said that this year there is a real possibility of W-H sinking closer to fifth from the bottom.

“It costs a lot of money to run a school district, and where we are now is a concern,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Committee member Fred Small agreed with Westfield that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of a teaching staff shrinking from repeated cuts and unfilled vacancies, but cautioned the district can’t write checks that can’t be covered.

“We have a big problem,” he said.

Hanson residents Michael Jones of Elm Street and John Barata of Meadow Lane also voiced frustration over the school budget.

Jones asked for an update on past discussions about forming a committee to work with the towns on a workable budget.

“We’ve not only lost library, we’ve lost a computer class,” he said. “Teachers at Indian Head have over 30 kids in their class. It’s ridiculous. What are we cutting next year?”

Gilbert-Whitner said conversations have begun on a cooperative effort.

“Truth be told, an enhanced budget involves an override,” she said.

Whitman Middle teacher Beth Stafford said she is concerned about what happens to school override funding the year after the override.

Barata reminded the meeting of financial arguments made when a new Hanson school was rejected.

“They said we have to take care of the people and the current schools we have,” he recalled. “Now’s the time to put those people’s feet to the fire, for them to pay that extra money they didn’t want to pay for the new school — which I totally understand — we need them to put that toward our teachers and, in turn, our kids.”

Hayes urged that new state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, and representatives Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, and Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, be asked to attend an upcoming meeting to discuss the state funding formula and hear people’s concerns — and follow up to hold them accountable on the issue.

Hanson repair plans reviewed

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Hanson repair plans reviewed as Selectmen consider amending the regional agreement for the W-H regional school district

HANSON — Selectmen say it may be time to amend the regional agreement for the W-H regional school district in an effort to codify the board’s authority to approve emergency school building repairs costing more than $5,000.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young also suggested that it might be time to adjust that figure for inflation over the 18 years since the over $5,000 repairs clause was added to the regional agreement in 1997.

Hanson repair plans reviewedAn emergency repair to a heating coil at Maquan School’s cafeteria  — costing $5,276 — has cropped up this week.

Facilities Director Ernest Sandland said replacement could cost as much as $16,000, according to Selectman James McGahan.

Young expressed concern that selectmen are asked to authorize emergency repairs, such as the heating coil, in the hope that Town Meeting will vote to reimburse the school district, with no guarantee that will happen even for needed repairs.

“The regional school agreement really has to be amended,” he said. “There’s no place in the regional agreement that provides for selectmen to give the go-ahead. … But we’ve been doing that for years.”

He also said he favored a change to the $5,000 in repairs clause to make towns responsible only for the costs over the $5,000 mark — in the case of the heating coil, $276.

“If this was $4,900, the school committee would be bearing the entire amount of money,” Young said. “But because this is $5,276, it’s over $5,000 [and] we’ve got to pay for the whole thing, which to me doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense.”

He said an adjustment for inflation is also needed and suggested the school district should be conducting continual reviews of the regional agreement.

“Either bring the [threshold] up to $10,000, or even more, or we pay for anything over $5,000 and they pay for up to $5,000,” he said.

Selectman Bill Scott agreed that the towns should only be responsible for repairs over $5,000.

The discussion followed a budget process update by interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera Tuesday, Nov. 17 on the fiscal 2016 municipal budget and concerns about projects included in the school department’s capital improvement matrix.

“One of the things that we need to look at is what does that all mean and do we need all that,” LaCamera said of the   school departments’ capital plan. “The second or third issue has to do with the capital plan the Board of Selectmen is working on.”

The highway barn and Plymouth County Hospital site projects are among those selectmen want to see go forward, he noted.

“Those items should be included in the plan whether we do anything or not,” he said.

McGahan noted the town’s capital improvement matrix does not always reconcile with the school committee’s list.

“We have to somehow get them in sync,” LaCamera said. “We can’t have two lists out there at the same time with multiple projects.”

LaCamera said he is starting the budget process based on level-service spending plan, noting that union contracts are now up for negotiation so no cost-of-living increases are included until negotiations are completed.

Tax rate set

Selectmen also voted unanimously to set a uniform tax rate of $16.55 for fiscal year 2016. Residential and small commercial exemptions were not recommended, both in keeping with past actions as not applicable to town properties.

Assessor Lee Gamache presented the Board of Assessors’ recommendations during a public hearing at the selectmen’s meeting.

“That’s not a certified rate yet, but that’s the calculations,” Gamache said of the figures presented to selectmen illustrating the impact of a uniform rate as well as shifts of 1, 5, 10 and 25 percent should split rates be chosen. “Historically, Hanson has not ever adopted the split tax rate.”

The Board of Assessors did not recommend a split rate, arguing it could end up discouraging business development in town.

The average single-family home assessment is now at $292,100 with a tax of $4,834.21 and the average commercial assessment is $481,800 with an annual tax of $7,973.79 under a uniform rate.

The assessors also reported that the fiscal 2016 estimated tax levy is $18,880,954 with an excess capacity of $37,472.

“You folks are there as the unsung heroes of how the town actually works,” said Scott. “I personally believe that our people that work for us are our most important resource.”

Whitman seeks female police officer

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Limited Civil Service list approved as Whitman seeks female police officer

WHITMAN — Selectmen on Tuesday, Nov. 10 approved a request by Police Chief Scott Benton to call for a selective Civil Service appointment list of female candidates to fill a pending retirement vacancy.

The department needs to hire another female officer to comply with federal as well as Massachusetts standards for department accreditation, which recommend that 14 percent of staff be female. Whitman is now at 3.8 percent. Mass. General Laws also require departments to make the effort to hire female police officers to serve in units dealing with rape reporting, counseling and prosecution as well as — whenever possible — have a female officer interview a female rape victim.

“As a service to the citizens and for the efficiency of the Police Department, it’s my job to tell you when I see a problem, and this is a problem,” Benton said. “This is an opportunity to address it.”

Civil Service provides for a department to call for a selective list in such circumstances, according to Benton, so long as officials can articulate why it is needed.

“In looking at the operations of the Police Department and some of the things I deal with, they are prohibitive of us running as efficiently as we could,” Benton said. “Currently we have one full-time female officer … who works a day shift and has some administrative duties as well.”

Statistics regarding gender of both those arrested for crimes, or who are victims of domestic or sexual abuse, also require an additional female officer, according to the chief.

In 2012, 97 of the 312 full custody arrests, or 31 percent, were females. Another 60 victims of 92 reported domestic assaults, and all three victims of sexual assault reported to police were females. In 2013, 94 of the 313 full custody arrests, or 30 percent, were females. Another 40 victims of 57 reported domestic assaults, and five of the six victims of sexual assault reported to police were females.

“In recent years, we’ve even run into a problem with matron coverage,” Benton said. “We call in the specials when we can, however I can’t force them to come in and if they can’t come in obviously that becomes an issue.”

Selectmen agreed that Benton had made his case.

“I think a female officer — somebody that’s trained to deal with this type of victim, these types of cases — you’re right on the money,” Selectman Dan Salvucci said. “You’re absolutely right that you should be doing this.”

Taxes, trash

In other business, selectmen agreed with the Board of Assessor’s recommendation for a tax factor of 1 for both residential and commercial properties, and heard an update on progress toward a new trash-hauling contract from DPW Superintendent Bruce Martin.

Assessor Kathy Keefe said the total valuation of property in town is $1,423,288,613 and has already been certified by the Department of Revenue. The excess levy capacity this year is $1,460,512.

“That’s unusual,” Keefe said of the excess levy figure. “The reason for that was the new growth that did get approved this year was for a valuation of $1,328,292. That was and increase of 353 percent, almost all of which was attributable to New England Power’s improvement in infrastructure.”

She also reported the average single-family home is valued at $270,939 and the increase on tax bills, with the rate of $15.59 is $122.

“We’re very close to staying level in our assessments based on what we’ve spent and what we’ve seen in growth other than the unusual growth we’re talking about with National Grid,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said. “The tax rate is actually going down two cents per $1,000.”

He added that it is possible, and had happened with Verizon in the past, that National Grid — who provided their valuation numbers — could come back and seek an abatement, arguing they had overestimated.

“If we moved ahead in planning this money, it could be disastrous for us,” Lynam said. “I think we should wait it out and see where it goes.”

Salvucci supported the tax factor of 1 for both residential and commercial properties as a way of attracting much-needed business to town.

“It’s a way to say we’re business-friendly,” he said.

Martin reviewed changes residents will see when a new contract for trash hauling is finalized. The board has already approved a return to the $250 per year fee structure.

“We’re still negotiating with two haulers,” Martin said. “The current hauler is doing a good job, we are negotiating with them and another hauler right now.”

The hope is that a contract will be finalized this month with a contract signed Dec. 1.

“Either one is going to mean automated delivery, which will change our trash collection to a two-barrel system,” he said.

Each household would be provided two 64-gallon tubs, both equipped with lift-bars, which current barrels do not have. One trash barrel and one recycle barrel are included. The trucks are fitted out with a mechanical device that lifts barrels to empty them into the truck. Barrels are outfitted with computer chips and a serial number assigned to the property. When you move, the barrels stay behind.

“There is a cost associated with that,” Lynam has said. “It’s in the $320,000 to $350,000 range for the barrels.”

The first two barrels are paid for by the town, replacing lost or damaged barrels is on the resident.

Large item disposal, now permitted once a week, will likely change to once a month with a $10 fee, with how that will be collected still to be determined.

 

Mattress sales aid WHRHS music

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Mattress sales aid WHRHS music as annual fund-raising event

If you are looking to buy a new mattress — and industry research indicates that every year 10 percent of you are— the students in Whitman-Hanson Regional High School’s band and chorus programs hope you come to them first.

The first of what is intended as an annual fund-raising event, a mattress fundraiser sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 as the WHRHS cafeteria is set up as a mobile mattress showroom, according to Jack Isaacs of Custom Fundraising Solutions. He runs the fund-raising events in Massachusetts.

Mattress sales aid WHRHS musicSimilar benefit sales have raised $6,500 for Easton’s Oliver Ames High School football team, $5,540 for Hingham High School’s golf team and $9,350 for Norwood High School, among programs in more than 60 high schools in the greater Boston area. The average school mattress sale raises between $4,000 and $7,000, Isaacs said, and some schools raise more. Marshfield High School recently raised $12,000 for one of the school programs through a mattress sale.

The W-H sale is aimed at purchasing band instruments and defraying travel expenses for the band, chorus and High Frequency Show Choir, according to teachers Devin Dondero and Donald Legge.

Students making referrals to the sale receive a commission in their own account.

“He showed up at my door,” Legge said of how they decided on doing a mattress sale. “I took his card, but in the back of my head I was saying, ‘This is crazy — it’ll never work.’ But, after going to his website (CustomFundraisingSolutions.com), and seeing all the other successful schools around the area, I was convinced.”

Isaacs also spoke at a parents’ meeting last week to explain the sale to them.

The sale will feature brand-name mattresses, adjustable beds, and luxury pillows with layaway and delivery, within five to seven business days, available. Cash, check and credit card payments will be accepted and varieties from firm to pillow-top, orthopedic to memory foam are included at prices up to 50 percent off retail.

“You’ll see everything you’d see as you walk in a mattress store, except because we come to the school, our showroom essentially is free — we have no overhead,” Isaacs said Friday, Oct. 30 before briefing students on how to market the sale. “All the money stays locally in the communities that everybody loves.”

Prices at the W-H sale range from $249 and up for twin size; from $289 for full; $299 and up for queen and $499 and up for king/California king.

Student referrals can not only earn $25 commissions for the students, but also bring an additional $50 off any mattress set for the referred customers. Prizes are also raffled off among students after a threshold of 40 referrals come to the sale.

Posters about the sale, being placed at local businesses also bear five $50 coupons — limit one per customer.

Custom Fundraising Solutions runs fund-raising sales from 50 locations in 34 cities nationally. All mattresses are brand new with full factory warranties.

Brady wins state senate seat

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Brady wins state senate seat: Geoff Diehl strong in suburbs as a tale of two districts emerges

By Tracy F. Seelye
and Deborah Anderson
Express staff

As many political watchers had predicted, Brockton’s landslide win for state Rep. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, Tuesday was too big for state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, to overcome despite big wins in all but one other town in the 2nd Plymouth and Bristol District.

Brady wins state senate seat

Mike Brady

“I’m very humbled by all the support,” Brady told supporters Tuesday night. “It was from all of your efforts all across [the district].”

Diehl, for his part, told supporters, “you have to try, you can’t just cede this race,” in his remarks at Whitman’s VFW.

“We’ve had the best supporters I’ve ever seen,” said Diehl, whose campaign out-spent Brady’s two-to-one. “A lot of people thought this race was unwinnable from the get-go. … We looked at the numbers and felt it [was] a potentially winnable race.”

But Brady held on to win the state senate seat — vacant since the death last June of state Sen. Tom Kennedy, D-Brockton — by a margin of 14,381 to 10,242 for Diehl and 643 for Halifax Independent Anna Grace Raduc.

Kennedy was much on Brady’s mind as he gave his victory speech.

“He was a great friend and mentor to myself and a lot of others and he was also a man of great faith and truth,” Brady said. “He would let me know if my tie wasn’t straight or whether I needed a haircut.”

He also thanked his two opponents in the race.

“You’ve got to give them a lot of credit, everybody ran a great race,” Brady said, noting it was now time to “keep this community and this district moving forward” citing, in particular, veterans’ legislation he is supporting.

Diehl said he views his wins in the suburbs as a “win overall,” and  made a promise to supporters.

“I will not stop working hard for you everyday as your state representative,” Diehl said. “You elected me — not power-brokers up on Beacon Hill — and I’m still going to stand up to special interests.”

Rather than look on the result simply as a loss, Diehl called it “an opportunity to gauge the work to be done” to ensure greater balance on Beacon Hill.

Brady garnered 11,193 votes in Brockton to Diehl’s 3,594. Brady also edged Diehl in the portion of Easton that falls in the district — 397 to 388 with 9 going for Raduc.

Elsewhere, it was all Diehl, but not by enough to overcome Brockton’s 7,599-vote differential.

Whitman went big for its “native son” giving Diehl 1,930 votes to Brady’s 727. Hanson cast 1,142 votes for Diehl and 494 for Brady. Halifax voted 592 for Diehl and 288 for Brady and Plympton gave 229 votes to Diehl and 90 to Brady. In East Bridgewater voters gave their state Rep. Diehl 1,037 to Brady’s 423 and in Hanover, Diehl garnered 1,350 to Brady’s 775.

Raduc received 506 votes in Brockton, 12 votes in East Bridgewater, 21 in Hanson, 13 in Plympton, 32 in Whitman and 41 in Halifax.

In Whitman, 28 percent of the town’s 9,659 voters cast ballots. Hanson saw a 23 percent turnout.

“Geoff Diehl has the hometown advantage,” Whitman Selectman Dan Salvucci said Tuesday afternoon. “In the district, I think that Geoff has worked so hard that it’s almost like he has a right  to get it, but the fact is if he doesn’t win it’s not from a lack of trying.  He’s done it all — he’s knocked on doors in all the towns in the district, especially Brockton, and win or lose, he’s done his best.”

It was a concern  Diehl supporters voiced all day.

“He’s been doing great everywhere, but Brockton’s iffy,” said Whitman resident Joe Goldsberry, holding signs for Diehl Tuesday morning, of his candidate’s chances. “Hopefully there’ll be a low turnout in Brockton.”

Whitman Town Clerk Dawn Varley  had ventured to guess shortly after the polls opened Tuesday that Diehl’s candidacy could translate into a 13 percent turnout in town.

In Hanson, where several poll workers brought knitting projects to pass the time during lulls, Town Clerk Beth Sloan said the special primary turnout in September has already been exceeded before 9 a.m. Tuesday. One poll worker competed an entire blanket during the 3-percent primary turnout in September.

On Tuesday, the projects included a baby blanket, sweaters and at least one pair of socks. Sloan was hopeful voters would be interrupting the handicrafts often, with the 23 percent turnout, she got her wish.

South Shore Vo-Tech honors staff

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South Shore Vo-Tech honors staff during SSVT Committee Meeting

The South Shore Vo-Tech School Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 21 honored the first of the school’s unsung heroes to be named Staff Member of the Month.

The award salutes a teacher or other school employee — nominated by students and selected from nominees by the Student Council — for their contributions on the job.

first of the school’s unsung heroes to be named Staff Member of the Month.

Pam Knights of Whitman, a SSVT cafeteria employee, was selected for her dedication to student nutrition and her welcoming personality on the job.

Pam Knights of Whitman, a cafeteria employee, was selected for her dedication to student nutrition and her welcoming personality on the job.

“Vo-Tech has been a big part of my life,” an emotional Knights said of her award. “But I couldn’t do it without the students. Twenty-one years as a ‘lunch lady,’ I love it here. I just wish in my time that they had girls come here.”

She recalled the last time she had won an award was in the second grade — for penmanship.

“Thank you, and now I’m going to go home and watch the Bruins,” she said.

SSVT Treasurer James Coughlin said employees like Knights make the cafeteria program such a success.

“They make money down there,” Coughlin said. “It’s a great program.”

Knights and Student of the Month Kewayne Francis, a senior graphic communications student from Rockland, were presented awards at the meeting.

Student Advisory Council member Maddie Long read some of the recommendations from her fellow students.

“She is sweet, patient and polite to all of the students,” one student wrote. “Pam greets each student with a happy disposition and a smile on her face.”

“She is always there to make sure we eat sufficient food — she knows it’s our fuel to learn,” Long read from the student comments.

Principal Margaret Dutch said Knights, a graduate of Brockton High School, is dedicated to the students as much as her favorite ice hockey team.

“To know Pam is to know she is an avid Bruins fan,” Dutch said. “During the season she keeps the students and the faculty members up to date with the highs and lows of the Bruins season.”

She is also dedicated to the school, from which many of her family members graduated, “So really she is the only one waiting to get an award — and here it is.”

Francis was lauded by Guidance Director Michael Janicki as a mentor for new students as well as his leadership within the graphics department.

“The transition into high school can be nerve-wracking for some students and Kewayne has taken it upon himself to become a mentor for some of the new students,” Janicki said.

Hanson Town Administrator search continues in January

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Re-post is delayed as Hanson Town Administrator search continues in January, aiming to lure more applicants

HANSON — Selectmen Tuesday night voted unanimously to delay re-posting the town administrator’s position until January, with the aim of having someone in the job by April 1, 2016.

The timetable issue cropped up during a discussion of the new $100,000-$120,000 salary range and the need to detail the “excellent benefits package” currently mentioned in the ad.

Hanson Town Administrator search continues

Selectmen Tuesday night voted unanimously to delay re-posting the town administrator’s position until January, with the aim of having someone in the job by April 1, 2016.

“I think the benefits package is a good amount of money, compared to other towns,” Selectman Chairman Bruce Young said. “If we elaborate on that then we can attract more applicants.”

The delay is intended as a mechanism by which officials hope to attract more than the 21 applicants received after the first posting, while keeping the two already selected finalists in reserve.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera suggested the delay and advised selectmen that the salary increase, dependent on Town Meeting approval, could still be offered under cash reserves already available in the fiscal 2016 budget to offer the higher salary for six months.

If the increase is then rejected by Town Meeting, LaCamera said, “It’s like any other town employee — it gets voted down. All contracts are renewable year-to-year, subject to Town Meeting appropriation.”

Selectmen Kenny Mitchell had advocated waiting until March to re-post, but Young pointed out that waiting that long could overlap the town election cycle.

“Right now it’s very slim pickings, in my opinion,” Mitchell said of the low number of applicants seen so far.

LaCamera noted, in response to a resident’s question, that the delay makes sense as qualified candidates who might be interested in applying are now busy with work on fiscal 2017 budgets.

“I’m not trying to discourage you from doing anything,” he said. “I think you should have gotten a lot more candidates that should have applied. If you do it now, I’m not sure you’ll get a lot more candidates.”

Selectmen also tabled appointment of a General By-Law Committee on LaCamera’s advice, pending a review of the current by-laws by town counsel — leaving the three applicants attending the meeting rather all dressed up with no place to go.

Joseph Campbell of 150 Woodbine Ave., who works in IT at Bay State Telephone & Security; Amy Wright of 19 Lance Lane, who works for Stewart Title Guaranty Co.; and healthcare professional Jennifer Killeen of 14 Crooker Place, were all in attendance at the meeting.

The By-Law Committee has not met in four years.

“I would suggest we look at what the charge is for this particular committee,” LaCamera said. “There’s a lot of state statutes, and stuff like that, that have changed over the years.”

He also felt the five-member committee’s need for applicants has not adequately been publicized by selectmen.

In other business, Holiday Committee member Steve Amico outlined plans for the annual Holiday Festival from 5:30to 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks, on Dec. 12. Selectmen approved use of the Town Hall green for the event.

The Holiday Committee is also selling $5 buttons to help defray costs of the free event. Buttons may be obtained by contacting Amico at 781-293-2532, or by looking for them at local stores.

Individuals or businesses seeking to make donations may do so via the Hanson Holiday Committee account at Rockland Trust, Amico said.

Young then asked Amico if the Holiday Committee was an official town committee, igniting some low-level sparks.

“If it was [an] official town committee, I couldn’t be on it,” said Amico. As a recalled selectman, he is prohibited from serving on official boards for two years following his June 2014 recall.

Young then suggested the Holiday and Hanson Day committees should be “sanctified” as official town committees and suggested the question might be brought before a future Town Meeting “so they just don’t disappear.”

“I appreciate your input, but I think we’re going to remain independent at this point in time,” Amico said.

“It’s not your decision,” Selectman Bill Scott said in an aside.

Amico replied that a Town Meeting article it was up to the board.

Selectmen’s Executive Assistant Meredith Marini suggested a committee that will need official status — and should be formed soon — is one to plan Hanson’s bicentennial observances in 2020.

“It’s a lot of work,” she said.

Young indicated he has already heard from one Scout leader who is interested in helping plan it.