As parents navigate returning to school, and with some being informed that school will start with virtual learning due to COVID-19, many are turning to tutors to help keep kids motivated and learning. Hiring a tutor for your child is a great way to help them with a subject in which they struggle, ensure that they’re staying on top of their curriculum, or prepare them for an assessment.

When looking for a tutor, however, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are many different options out there: from frequency and subject matter to types of tutoring businesses. The following Better Business Bureau tips will help you find the best tutor for your child:

Know your options. There are many types of tutoring services: in-home one-on-one sessions, small group lessons, online instruction, and tutoring centers. You also have to choose between hiring an individual freelance tutor, and going through a tutoring company that will match you to a tutor.

Ask for referrals. Asking friends and family if they have any recommendations is a great place to start. You can also ask your child’s favorite teacher, or other school employees for referrals. Make sure the tutor is knowledgeable in the specific area your child needs help in and has experience working with students your child’s age.

Check references. You should ask the individual tutor or tutoring service for references, and contact them. It’s best to speak to at least three references. Ask about their experience with the tutor and what sort of results they saw. When you’re interviewing potential tutors, make sure they understand what you’re looking for. Some tutors are better at homework help, some are better at long-term lessons, and some are better at quick test preparation.     

Discuss the details. Make sure to talk about availability . Having a consistent schedule is best, but you may need to add additional sessions if a big test is coming up. It’s important to discuss pricing before hiring a tutor. Price will depend on the level of experience of the tutor, frequency and type of sessions, and whether or not you’re going through a center. It’s also a good idea to talk to the tutor about benchmarks of success beforehand.     

Include your child. Throughout the process, ask your child how they think the sessions are improving their school work. Find a qualified tutor near you in the BBB directory. Private tutors and tutoring companies promise to boost children’s competence, but BBB says to do your research before hiring.

HANSON — Parting ways with the Finance Committee, the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, July 21 voted 5-0 to recommend that voters approve Article 5 to amend the W-H Regional Agreement at the Wednesday, July 29 Town Meeting.

The Finance Committee had voted 5-0 against recommending the article. Both boards had voted to recommend approval of the school budget.

Selectmen had met to review the special and annual Town Meeting warrants and vote on recommendations of articles on which they had not yet taken action.

“This isn’t where we want to be, but I really, really truly believe that we should try find a way to support this article and take the 50-50 deal,” said Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell, arguing that the following year’s move to the statutory assessment method is not necessarily set in stone. “You could still renegotiate that agreement — that’s an addendum to the agreement.”

He argued that a “No” vote on the article will cost Hanson more money in the long run, while providing the town less services.

“Everyone has different reasons why they’re not going to support this, and I totally get it,” Mitchell said. “Most of the reasons I agree with, but if I put the reasons aside and I think about the kids and I think about COVID-19, everyone’s been through such a difficult year.”

Mitchell pointed to the challenges the schools must overcome related to the pandemic [see related story] between now and the start of school — and what that will look like.

“If this article gets voted down … We’re the leaders,” he said. “We’re the ones everyone in the town voted for as their voice of reason, and as a resident if my Selectmen didn’t support it, then why would I support it?”

Selectman Matt Dyer initially expressed concern that the article was a “this or nothing” proposition.

“I just don’t think we should be mandated, or sign a contract saying in perpetuity this is going to be statutory,” Dyer said.

Selectman Jim Hickey said he wanted to hear the Finance Committee’s reasons for voting against recommending before he voiced his opinion.

Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan said it came down to a math problem.

“I have to present a balanced budget to Town Meeting,” he said, noting someone would have to offer an amendment from Town Meeting floor to provide the $800,000 needed to fund the article. “Right now, we don’t have the money to cover that $800,000 so it would lead to the significant cuts we’ve discussed.”

He noted the overwhelming margin of defeat of the override question on the June 27 Town Election ballot. He also said there would be no leverage to force Whitman back to the bargaining table.

“If we agree to this, there’s no going back,” Sullivan said, noting he had favored the override.

“I was also for the override and I voted for it,” Hickey said. “But, this is the 11th hour and I’m not willing to take the chance — my kids have already gone through the school system — but, as a parent, I’m not willing to take the chance.”

He said that, while Whitman has the chance to vote on the issue before Hanson does, if Hanson Selectmen do not recommend the article, then Whitman doesn’t have to vote.

“Prior to the [Town Meeting] we’ll know what Whitman did,” said Moderator Sean Kealy about that community’s Town Meeting on Monday, July 27.

“If we, as a board, at least recommend this there will at least be a school system for our kids to go to,” he said. “If this article isn’t approved, there’s a real possibility that the whole school system is going to be shot to hell.”

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed that finding the $800,000 will be the challenge.

“If we pass it, where does the money come from?” she said. “But to think we’re going to get a better offer is delusional.”

Sullivan said revenue is down and new growth is way down, so it would have to be settled at Town Meeting because he said the town could not afford to close the session with that size hole in the budget.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said even if the article fails, Hanson is looking at a bare minimum $10.9 million expense with at least a $500,000 deficit and a future of statutory assessments.

“Everybody’s going to be a colossal loser in that picture,” she said. “To me, this amendment is an opportunity for us to say we agree to the 50-50 for this year.”

She said that while Whitman appears a willing partner to negotiations this year, but is uncertain for prospects after that.

“I can’t believe there is anyone here who rationally believes that we will get a better deal from Whitman,” said Selectman Wes Blauss, but he advocated recommending the article as well.

“I just don’t want to be sitting here on Dec. 2 saying, ‘You know what? We should have took the deal,” Mitchell said about the looming possibility of a state takeover if an agreement can’t be reached.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, July 7 voted to form a De-Regionalization Feasibility Committee.

“People have been talking about it and it’s something we at least have to explore,” Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell said about his decision to place the issue on the meeting agenda. He argued the board should decide how many and what type of members they should name to any committee.

Mitchell advocated at least one selectman and a member of the Finance Committee and three residents at-large be named to the committee.

“Don’t make it big and cumbersome,” Selectman Wes Blauss said, favoring a five-member committee. “Keep it as streamlined as possible.”

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested the committee title — it was originally referred to as the De-Regionalization Committee.

“I think, if you name it a de-regionalization committee, it seems as though it’s a foregone conclusion that we’re going to de-regionalize instead of that you’re going to look at the feasibility of de-regionalization,” she said. “We are not advocating for de-regionalization, we are looking into the feasibility. Just to be clear.”

Mitchell said naming the committee was one of the discussion topics he had in mind.

FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed with a five-member committee.

“Keep it lean and mean,” she said.

Selectman Jim Hickey volunteered to represent the board, and he Finance Committee will be asked to name a member. The vacancies for the at-large seats will be posted on the town website (hanson-ma.gov) for those interested to use in applying.

Indicating that she is aware of several people interested in serving, and acknowledging that other selectmen no doubt do as well, FitzGerald-Kemmett asked about the appointment process. Mitchell suggested a date be set next month for the board to review applications they receive in the intervening weeks — as is the normal practice for filling vacancies on appointed boards and commissions. Town Administrator John Stanbrook will meet with applicants first.

Hickey suggested it could take two-to-three months for any kind of report to come back to selectmen. He has already spoken to officials in Pembroke, which pulled out of the Silver Lake Regional School District, and is waiting to talk to the Finance Committee.

Mitchell suggested a cutoff date of Aug. 4 for applications with the aim that the board would make appointments on Aug. 11.

“I don’t want to make up figures,” he said. “We know what [the W-H region] is going to cost this year, but what’s it going to cost next year? What’s it going to cost in year three? By the time we get to year five is it so much money to Hanson that we don’t have a choice?”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said that, in addition to financial considerations, the committee will need help from Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff about the legal ramifications of disbanding.

“Two to three months is ambitious, but go for it,” she said of the work Hickey envisions ahead.

Selectman Matt Dyer suggested giving the committee until the spring 2021 Town Meeting to present a report and wondered if a School Committee member should also be appointed. FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested a resident active in the schools, but not a member of the School Committee should be appointed.

In other business, the town received a letter from a national lawsuit against Purdue Pharmaceutical’s bankruptcy case relating to the opioid epidemic. Hanson is included in the class-action suit and were required to opt out if Selectmen don’t want the town included by July 15. Hanson could receive more than $6 million, but only a small amount of claims in the $2 trillion would likely be received by the town. No action was required to stay in the lawsuit that would cost noting to stay in.

HANSON — Town officials are looking into options for going ahead with public hearings delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff said she has received several calls from the Zoning Board of Appeals as well as various other boards and commissions about the public hearings that have been delayed. Hanson is further hampered by its technology limitations, as virtual meetings must allow for public participation — not just listening in or watching from home.

“They have to, in real time, be able to ask questions and voice their concerns and positions,” Feodoroff said.

As a result, Hanson’s list of delayed public hearings is long, Feodoroff said, with some of them some near to a conclusion. One was already decided, but a public session was required to ratify the written conclusion.

She raised the issue with Hanson Health Agent Gil Amado and emailed the state Department of Public Health, which said they viewed the meetings as not an essential service, and still governed by the state’s 10-person limit for public gatherings. Gov. Charlie Baker’s most recent order did not address public hearings by municipalities, instead covering the legislative process — town meetings — Feodoroff said.

Regular Board of Selectmen meetings are considered executive board meetings and do not come under the order permitting in-person meetings unless it is an emergency.

Her email to the DPH epidemiologist argued the hearings were an essential service, which is interfering with other critical services such as construction and development.

The DPH deferred to Amado as the local health agent.

After discussing the issue with Amado and Town Administrator John Stanbrook to develop two options: hold hearings outside or at a school.

Outside meetings held at night raise problems from mosquitos, heat and other weather conditions and adequate lighting.

Amado said he would contact WHRSD Facilities Director Ernest Sandland about the possibility of using the Hanson Middle School to ensure social distancing of hearing participants.

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said she was “mystified” be the problem as Planner Deb Pettey had applied for a Zoom account that provides functionality to display documents on the screen.

“Planning just had a meeting last week using it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett. “It may be that people do not know how to use it … I understand there is a learning curve.”

She said she was also concerned about whether using the school facilities would incur COVID-related cleaning costs after the hearings.

“I like this plan, I just think that there’s another option, and it should be fully explored before incurring any costs to have meetings at the schools,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Feodoroff said the Zoom purchase was news to her and that she has worked meetings that way, saying they work well. Amado had not heard about it, either.

Selectman Matt Dyer asked if the concerns Feodoroff raised about outdoor hearings applied to the town’s plan to hold its annual Town Meeting outside.

“There are actually no right answers,” she said. “I’ve been to two town meetings that were inside and, I have to say there were some hairy moments, because the town meetings are well-attended — better attended than in other years, for whatever reason.”

At one of those meetings, some people either refused to wear a mask or stay in mask-free areas, she said.

“I’m not opposed to an outdoor town meeting,” Feodoroff said. “I think it’s a better solution, although it does come with risks.”

She was discussing the matter with Town Moderator Sean Kealy

The School Committee on Monday, June 29 discussed the current budget picture under a 1/12 budget.

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak clarified that the 6-4 vote in December was to provide him and Assistant Superintendent George Ferro with a method of assessment to bring to the communities in February.

The schools began working within a 1/12 budget on Wednesday, July 1 — using fiscal ’21 cherry sheet numbers — puts the operating budget for Hanson, under the state-required statutory method, at $11,397,219.16 and for Whitman, it would be $14,259,517.84.

The Hanson’s overall assessment under a 1/12 budget, with $350,000 in excess and deficiency and another $700,000 in circuit breaker money, would be $11,156,979.16 and Whitman’s would be $13,899,757.84.

Using fiscal 2020 numbers, with no E&D funds, overall assessment under a 1/12 budget would be $11,374,413.46 and Whitman’s would be $14,392,243.54. If the commissioner allows the district to use E&D, circuit breaker and cherry sheet funds, Hanson’s would be $11,134,173.46 and Whitman’s would be $14,032,483.54.

The fiscal ’21 budget sent to the communities was $55,320,238 and the compromise assessment was $11,745,020.21 for Hanson and $16,206,216.79 — using E&D and circuit breaker funds.

Szymaniak still wants to use those numbers at town meetings.

“It was a non-binding vote,” Szymaniak said of the 6-4 vote. “The only binding vote can be a two-thirds majority of the … School Committee on the vote and the assessment methodology.”

He stressed that the 9-1 vote was not statutory and was not an agreement, it was an amendment to the agreement put forth in May to both communities for the fiscal 2021 budget. Both communities, in turn, have to approve the method of assessment at both town meetings.

Szymaniak said Christine Lynch of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) told him there was nothing illegal about that vote.

“It’s challenging to explain that,” he said. “But the only way a budget comes out of committee is two-thirds majority. This committee voted a two-thirds majority [for] the compromise, which was a combination of statutory and agreement, and you voted a budget. It was 9-1.”

Lynch confirmed that the committee did nothing wrong. Only 10 regional districts in the state are now using the agreement methods with DESE now requiring boards of selectmen to sign off on it when their towns approve it.

Given financial storm clouds they see on the horizon, committee members did not favor taking any more money out of excess and deficiency — which is needed for emergency expenses.

Business Manager John Tuffy said the commissioner of education will set a budget that represents an expenditure limit. It doesn’t tell what the funds can be spent on — just the total amount that can be spent based on the current fiscal 2020 budget.

Payroll adjustments will be needed because of the cost of salaries that won’t be met by the 1/12 budget, Szymaniak said. The law requires that, without a budget, all non-professional status teachers had to be sent a reduction in force letter until a budget is approved. The district sent out 117 RIF letters.

“We never said we were reducing 117 teachers,” said Committee Chairman Bob Hayes. “Hear me clearly, we never said that. We said we were reducing in force roughly 40 teachers and staff.”

“This wasn’t a bluff,” Szymaniak said. “That’s not a tactic I’m going to use.”

The disctrict has also been reduced in bond rating from a AA to AA- based on the low level of cash in excess and deficiency.

Szymaniak began his report to the committee by commenting on “vile” remarks about and photos of him posted on social media over the weekend.

“It’s First Amendment rights and I’m not going to tell people to not express themselves,” he said. “But I really wanted to thank the members of both communities who emailed me and Facebook messaged me [as] a show of support in the values and ethics that I put forward and the commitment that I have for the kids of both of these communities.”

Re-opening plans

The district is being asked by the state to formulate multiple re-opening plans — fully remote, a hybrid plan, full day with restrictions and home school. [See page 2].

The first day of school has been pushed back to Sept. 8 with teachers given a start date of Aug. 27 and 28 and three professional development days Sept. 1 to 3. Snow days will be used as remote learning days.

“Parent still aren’t sure of the difference between remote school and home school,” Szymaniak said.

To home school children, parents must submit a letter to the district asking permission to do so along with the curriculum they plan to use, while remote learning is the school’s teacher-driven distance learning program used this spring. Home-schooled children do not receive any school services.

Hybrid programs could, for example, bring students into school one week and teach remotely at home the next.

“It’s kind of nightmarish because we don’t know how many of our teachers are going to feel comfortable coming back to school to teach during COVID-19,” he said. “We don’t know how many students are going to be sent to school by their parents during this pandemic.”

Parents and teachers have been asked to complete a survey to glean that information. All plans must be submitted to DESE by mid-July.

Szymaniak said transportation arrangements are not yet decided.

“We don’t know how many of our staff are going to be returning,” he said. The prospect of laying off about two dozen teachers in the worst budget scenario “really challenges us.”

Measuring distances in actual classrooms, Szymaniak said it appears about 20 students can be fit into a high school classroom, but they have not yet done the elementary school. Class size — to be determined by the budget — will have an effect on that.

“We may not have enough staff,” he said. The district expected to hear the 1/12 budget number by June 30. A $250 per student stipend to cover PPE costs is also being worked on by the state. State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, is also working on funding of between $250,000 and $300,000 to beef up technology for remote learning.

Parents were asked to please return the survey to help make determinations on how the plans will be designed.

Szymaniak said the district is slowly working toward opening summer programs, but building use programs will not be allowed at the high school — except for district-run camps.

New faces

The W-H Regional School Committee welcomed its newest members, 19-year-old David Forth Jr., of Whitman, and Hillary Kniffen of Hanson — and congratulated returning incumbent member Steve Bois during the reorganizational meeting.

Szymaniak, presiding until a chairman was elected, also thanked Whitman’s Alexandria Taylor for her six years of service and Hanson’s Robert O’Brien Jr., for his nine years of work on the committee. Taylor was narrowly defeated in the Saturday, June 27 town elections and O’Brien opted not to seek re-election.

“It’s not an easy task, as those who have been here for many years know, but it is rewarding and you are here for the students,” Hayes said in his welcoming remarks to Kniffen and Forth.

“It’s great to see new faces on the committee,” Szymaniak said. “This is a great team to be on.”

The School District is still looking at a Friday, July 31 date for the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony, according to Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak.

“Right now, the location looks to be outside of the stadium on the JV baseball/softball fields,” he said. The location permits the construction of staging while keeping graduates physically distanced from each other.

“We’re looking at numbers of tickets per graduate and putting families in groups or blocks six feet apart from others,” he said. Only Principal Dr. Christopher Jones and student speakers will be on stage at proper distances. “But we will try to make is as elegant and as celebratory as we can for the Class of 2020.”

While the ceremony is expected to begin at 6 p.m., Szymaniak cautioned that it would be “pretty warm,” as it takes place in the middle of summer.

“We moved it from the football field so it wouldn’t absorb as much heat … the challenge right now is having enough power to power up our audio system,” he said.

Details on the event will be forthcoming as it is “a work in progress.”

School officials will also try to gradually reopen some summer school programs, including coach-sponsored youth sports clinics, school-related camps such as Science Camp are “on the block” and the YMCA program is going to use Duval, where the North River Collaborative will also use classrooms. Strict guidelines set up by the Mass. Department of Public Health will be followed.

“We thought it was important … to make sure we get some kids involved in some things this summer to get them re-acclimated socially with peers and have some fun since many summer camps are closed,” Szymaniak said. He is looking to mid-July or August to get camp programs going.

The state enters re-opening Phase 3 after Monday, July 4.

Szymaniak said the state safety protocols do not now require temperature checks, but all others, including distancing, masks and hand-washing will be observed.

“All the camps and clinics will be un by people that are accountable to us,” Szymaniak said about the potential for leasing the high school’s facilities to boost revenue flow. “I’m very hesitant — and I’m going to leave this up to the committee — to discuss and potentially vote on.”

He recommended not opening buildings for such use until after Labor Day and when school is back in session and new guidelines are known.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for the new school year are estimated to be about $460 per student, or a $1.8 million expense as the district tries to plan for next year as a complete picture of state guidelines are not yet available.

“We won’t be able to control the folks who come into our performing arts center,” Szymaniak said. “We won’t be able to trace somebody if someone ends up getting sick at an event that we have.”

Committee member Fred Small suggested such a situation could leave the district open to liability, which Szymaniak said was exactly his concern and he is asking people who want to rent the facility to be patient.

Committee member Dan Cullity argued the district would not be in a position to make leasing worth the cost of maintaining cleanliness and that the district’s main concern should be getting students back to class.

The committee voted 9-0 to support Szymaniak’s recommendation to close the high school to outside groups until after school re-opens.

Szymaniak said parents and staff are being surveyed about their experience with remote learning this spring, to plan in case it is required for part of the next school year.

Hanson Committee member Mike Jones asked how town meetings would be affected, as both towns are looking at the high school for the sessions. Szymaniak said the gym can fit more than 300 socially-distanced people, with room for almost 125 more in the performing arts center — and that both towns can be accommodated for an outdoor event, as well, he said. Local attendees would also make contact tracing easier, according to Szymaniak.

Budget

A budget Q & A document, used as talking points at a recent meeting of the Whitman Finance Committee, is being posted on the district website to provide information for residents and officials to refer to going into town meetings, including staff reductions and resulting class sizes.

“I implore anybody, if you have any questions, to please contact the superintendent or administration — not for people to be sitting in a meeting and saying, ‘Well, the superintendent can do this …,’” Small said. “When, in fact, its not true, they don’t know what they are talking about and it’s very frustrating.”

The 10-page document is also the subject of an informational half-hour cable show on WHCA-TV hosted by School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes in conversation with Whitman member Christopher Scriven and Hanson member Christopher Howard.

“It’s a dangerous precedent to just float numbers out there when there are really other true numbers, that the true, hard facts come through at,” Hayes said.

“I will not respond to questions on social media,” Szymaniak said. “I will only respond by email or phone call.”

Committee member Dawn Byers urged the committee to keep their eyes on the education they are providing.

“Education should level the playing field, so our budget is something that we’re presenting to prepare kids to compete with our area kids,” she said, concerned about regression by the fall among children whose families can’t afford tutoring or other technology, educational or social-emotional assistance. She also noted years in which she sat in the audience at meetings watching services to children funded last.

“I watched as the leftovers of the municipal budget went to the school as if it was an insignificant piece of the town,” she said. “This district has been an excellent partner to both towns. This district has negotiated every year — unfortunately, some years, negotiating down and cutting the budget.”

She cautioned that excess and deficiency has to be used as a budget safety net and made a motion to meet with the Mass. Association of School Committees to set up a series of workshop to set goals for student achievement, establishing all-day kindergarten and budgetary goals for 2023.

The motion was not supported because other committee members argured, Szymaniak is already working on a strategic plan while the towns are stuggling to fund a level-service budget.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 9 decided to again delay reopening Cranberry Cove and Camp Kiwanee until they see a clear plan, including the financial impact, from the Recreation Comission.

“The financial impact is crucial to this,” argued Selectman Wes Blauss. “There are times when that parking lot is a public menace [even without physical distancing requirements] and requires policing.”

He said he can envision the cove closing again if it does open because of issues at the gate with kid gatekeepers.

“We’re talking young college kids who are going to be dealing with belligerent families who want their people on the beach, now,” Blauss said. “It’s that volatile a situation.”

Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan recommended keeping the cove closed for the season as it is not taking in revenue this year and will require more town financial assistance next year.

Recreation Director William Boyle said, since the cove is fenced in, it falls within regulations limiting attendance for confined spaces to 10 persons at a time, according to the governor’s reopening guidelines.

“I know there is also another memorandum out there about coastal and inland beaches, so right now it’s up for discussion whether or not the Cove is allowed to go to that 12-foot rule between beach towels and no more than 10 persons per beach towel,” Boyle said. “But that would get very tricky very quickly down at the cove.”

Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff, who views the cove as an inland beach said, agreed with Boyle’s summation. She added that unlike the 6-foot distance required for other social settings proper physical distance at a beach is now 12 feet between groups on towels.

“How many groups [are admitted] really depends on your square-footage. … This doesn’t have to be exact,” she said, however, but the beach needs a plan as to how people would be seated.

Matt Dyer said the beach is .3 acres or about 13,000 square feet.

“I think your pretty well above the 10 person limit,” Feodoroff said.

“We need to try to balance the health and safety of everyone with the need for people to have that recreation,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “We’ve got a lot of pent-up demand and a lot of people staying home this year are not leaving to go vacationing.”

Recreation Commission member Diane Cohen said they were waiting for more guidance from the governor as to what phase-in category the beach fell under. Once admission limits are determined they can map out the beach to determine how many people the cove can handle.

“I do want clarification as to what happens when people go in the water, particularly children,” Cohen said, noting younger kids tend to play in groups by the docks.

Feodoroff said she would need more guidance from the state as well adding that enforcement will be hard.

Another issue of concern for Cohen and her commission is trespassing, which has already been a problem. Cohen suggested more control of beach access is possible by opening than not.

“People are swimming there every day,” said Recreation Commission member John Zucco. “I don’t know how you enforce that or what’s going on. … Are you going to tell people they can’t come in because we’ve got people swimming already?”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the rules have to be enforced once it does open, but hoped an officer will not be necessary.

Boyle said that the loss of season passes and swim lessons, it cost the Recreation Commission $17,000.

Recreation Commission member Brian Fruzetti argued for passing over the issue because the Recreation Commission has not met on it.

“You’ve got a lot of safety things all rolled into one here,” Fruzetti said.

Selectmen said they were not willing to make a decision until they see a plan from the Recreation Commission.

“I think it’s a really tricky operation to try to open up without a social distancing component,” said Selectman Matt Dyer. “I think it’s important for the Recreation Commission to do their best to open it up at some point. I’m a true believer in having a local swimming hole is very important for the health of our town.”

If it can’t open he said it is important to help families come up with other resources.

Fields open

Selectmen also joined their Whitman counterparts in green-lighting use of fields for youth baseball as softball.

Paul Clark, president of Hanson Little League attended to “see what we have to do to get the fields open” for the season.

Feodoroff said state guidelines are trying to prevent close contact such as football, FitzGerald-Kemmett said youth baseball has been the only sport to apply for permission so far.

Selectmen voted to approve the proposal Clark outlined for youth baseball as well as girls’ softball.

Parents will be provided safety guidelines, including bringing their own equipment and physical distancing from the state and youth baseball. No kids will be permitted in the dugout in either stage 2 or stage 3. An email was sent out offering refunds for those who want them and the season has been canceled for the youngest division of play.

“What I was impressed with is the younger instructional teams,” Selectman Jim Hickey said.

Clark said the “games” will be more along the lines of instructional drills.

Anti-racism vigil

Selectmen also approved a request to hold a Resisting Racism vigil from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, June 19 at Town Hall Green. The event was originally planned for Saturday, June 13, but organizers Dias, Juvelyn Hartwig of the Recreation Commission, and Marianne DiMascio of Green Hanson and the Plymouth County Reuse Committee, have indicated more time was needed for the work of organizing the event.

Police Chief Michael Miksch has asked to be kept updated on the number of people expected to permit adequate staffing.

Dyer asked for more information about it, which Dias said is modeled after Whitman’s vigil held Sunday, June 7.

“We only want to do it for an hour at Town Hall Green and, we would only have speakers and then walk around the green, so it wouldn’t go off-site anywhere,” she said. “It’s just a matter of getting people together to talk about the issues that have come up recently and how we can learn to communicate better and a variety of other things. … To show we can begin to work together and to begin to work toward some changes.”

Dyer asked about physical distancing precautions. Dias said there is plenty of opportunity for distancing on the grounds of the Town Hall Green.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked about masks and after-event cleanup Dias said masks would be required.

“At this point, in any gathering, you have to be sure to wear a mask,” she said.

Participants would be required to stay on the green, as well.

Whitman’s Board of Selectmen, meeting Monday, June 1, Town Administrator Frank Lynam said Town Counsel had asked to amend the Regional Agreement amendment due to concerns over clarity of how accurately the process had been outlined.

The proposed amendment provides for a 50-50 split of the W-H assessment for fiscal 2021 only and thereafter moves to the full statutory method.

“That was the problem with the language, because it really isn’t 50/50,” Lynam said. “It’s 50/50 of the difference.”

Lynam said two copies of the agreement — one the original from W-H and the other Whitman’s recommended language received Sunday, May 31 — are posted on the town website whitman-ma.gov.

Language changes allow amendments up to a Town Meeting vote, according to Lynam, providing the ability to make changes if there is no uniform agreement with the school district and Hanson, but enables placing it before Town Meeting for action.

Selectman Dan Salvucci asked if he was precluded from speaking against an item on the warrant, as the amendment is, if he disagrees with it.

“This is not a collective bargaining issue where we’ve entered an agreement and now have to present it for approval after we’ve ratified it,” Lynam said. “This is a proposed amendment. We’re all free to speak as we may choose.”

Lynam said the board’s vote to accept the amendment and the W-H budget are conditioned on whether Hanson accepts the agreement and funds the resulting appropriation. Whitman’s affirmative vote at Town Meeting would accept the “50/50” split.

“I think what our lawyer has done in drafting the language for Article 7, has taken care of the questions that we had last week,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

HANSON

Hanson Selectmen did not vote on recommending the amendment to the 1991 regional agreement and the override facing the town, but several agreed the town’s hands are tied, financially.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook on Tuesday, May 26 and Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan led a discussion on the issue. Sullivan said his concern centered on the effects of the changing timeline and COVID-19 delays on the standard negotiating window.

“This is the first time I’ve ever experienced this,” Sullivan said. “I’m fearful that this is the best deal we’re going to get, and I hope — at a very minimum — the citizens of Hanson realize that regardless of how we got here or the tempers that are flaring on both sides, there’s a very real possibility that this is the best deal we’re going to get.”

Sullivan said he is working to set up a couple of informational events to advocate for the override, not for the benefit of the school district but for the overall financial health of the town.

“The worst-case scenario is pretty dire, and I think people need to just take that into consideration,” he said. “I’ve never been a fan of an override, but I think this is a unique one-off circumstance.”

Selectman Matt Dyer said he would like to see an additional year of compromise under the post-COVID “new normal” before going to the full statutory formula.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said the amendment precludes further compromise, which Stanbrook confirmed.

“I think, at this point, that ship has sailed, said Selectman Kenny Mitchell. “We need the override.”

Mitchell said if the override fails, Hanson faces potential cuts to public safety.

Selectmen Jim Hickey and Wes Blauss favored placing the issue before the voters, but Hickey did not agree with the compromise on balance, based on Whitman’s retaining a 6-4 majority on the School Committee. Blauss argued the board was not obligated to support the compromise because it is Town Meeting and Town Election voters and the state is likely to support the statutory formula.

“Of course I’m going to vote for the override, because I see there’s no possible way for the town of Hanson to move on,” Blauss said. “I’m just infuriated, as are most of us, that we’ve been put in this position.”

He argued that Hanson has always been the less wealthy of the two towns and has practically no commercial base. As a former teacher, however, who educated younger members of the police and fire departments who would be among the first to face layoffs in the event of budget cuts, he felt there is no other choice.