HANOVER — The South Shore Tech Regional School Committee on Wednesday, May 20, saluted school staff members who have worked to produce personal protective equipment for hospitals and first responders as well as students.

Cohassett member George Cooney did not join in the conference call.

Engineering instructor Jerry Shaw, paraprofessional Lisa Bellontoni, and community liaison Paul Bello were lauded for their work in making 3,000 PPE face shields over the past two months.

“They have given up their own time to come into school to make PPE,” said Principal Mark Aubrey. “They are winding down, but we’ve been able to supply, just on the backs of these people, from fire departments to hospitals all over the South Shore. … We’ve been able to give and give and give and it’s been great.”

Aubrey said the school wanted to recognize the time they’ve given up and their expertise.

Paraprofessional and support staff member Rachel Haynes was also lauded for her efforts to support teachers in virtual classrooms and working with students in small-group hangouts online.

“She has gone as far as to copy work and mail it to the students so that they have the work that they need to complete their [assignments],” Aubrey said.

Guidance Counselor Todd has also been a key to supporting students during remote learning, according to Aubrey.

“He’s really the conduit between the families, the students and the teacher, and he’s doing a great job,” Aubrey said. “He has a very difficult job — he’s never going to make everybody happy, but that’s not his job. His job is to do what’s best for the kid and he understands that.”

Zahurak has also been instrumental in improving the number of students participating in the school’s breakfast program.

Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner also lauded teachers and staff for creating the new normal for the school’s operations during the pandemic.

She also praised the district’s paraprofessionals.

“They have been extraordinary in supporting our teachers and have done an amazing job supporting students,” she said.

She also reported that the culinary department transformed the perishable food items left in the kitchen at the close of the school building in March into 500 meals for Abington and Norwell councils on aging and the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club.

“Our parents have been allies in this as well,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey. “It’s really about old-school communication and outreach … combined with the latest technology in an attempt to reach kids.”

The school loaned out about 150 devices and will make the purchase of more a goal with the federal CARES funds.

The state has not yet issued guidelines for reopening school in the fall, but Hickey said sufficient PPE supplies will be a focus as well as plans for trade instruction that requires hands-on work by students.

Graduation has been scheduled to 10 a.m., Saturday, June 27. But prom has not yet been decided, but Aubrey said he should have more information about it in two weeks.

“We’re hoping the South Shore Music Circus will be the venue and we will prepare as normal a graduation as possible,” said Hickey. An online recognition of the senior class will be held on Friday, June 5.

A virtual welcome for rising freshmen is also being planned for eighth-graders attending the school next year later this month. June 12 is the last official day of the school year.

The committee held its annual hearing on school choice, voted against participating in the school choice program because the district has an established process of admitting students who do not reside in the district.

Regarding the fiscal 2021 school budget, Hickey said the district’s original budget, which was based on the governor’s budget numbers, may look different when the House Ways & Means numbers come out by July 1.

“We’ve generally been able to count on Chapter 70 money not being less but, at this point nobody’s been able to say that with confidence,” he said. “It will be a very unusual summer, financially.”

The district is preparing a template for a 1/12 budget to hedge against potential problems at the town meeting level. It takes six affirmative town meeting votes to confirm a budget. Some communities have town meeting set for June, but Hanson has delayed its Town meeting until July 20. Whitman’s will be June 22. Other communities have not set dates at all.

“I am not immediately concerned with a 1/12 budget, as it might take us through the summer,” Hickey said. The budget can be reassessed when the Ways & Means numbers are released, giving towns the ability to set town meetings and enact their plans.

An outdoor graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 is being planned for July 31 — rain or shine — at the WHRHS football field, depending on social distancing rules at that time, according to Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak.

But first, the seniors will get a car parade send-off on Friday, May 29.

“I don’t know what [commencement] is going to look like yet, I don’t know if we’ll be able to have everyone in attendance, or if we’re going to stage it like the Air Force Academy did, with just the graduates spaced six feet apart [there],” he said. “I’m hoping by July 31 our restrictions are a little less — we will still maintain social distancing and everything — but we’re really looking at a live graduation on July 31.”

Plans can be modified if things shift in the next month or so, but Szymaniak said the ceremony is what seniors said they wanted in a recent video meeting with him.

W-H principal Dr. Christopher Jones, with the assistance of both towns’ police and fire personnel, delivered graduation lawn signs to seniors’ homes the week of May 4.

A Senior Class car parade, set for 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 29 is planned to pass by each school in the district to allow seniors to thank teachers. Whitman and Hanson police and fire personnel will be “actively involved in the send-off as well, Szymaniak said.

Hanson Middle School has scheduled a similar parade for their eighth-graders in June and Whitman Middle School is planning something similar.

“The senior class has asked that all school and teachers be represented, meaning all teachers at the elementary and middle [teachers as well], will be staged at different areas of the high school parking lot, from the tennis courts up to the loop – building-specific, so seniors can drive through and say goodbye to their teachers,” Szymaniak said. “Wave goodbye and do a real senior send-off on the 29th, which would have been graduation day.”

A virtual scholarship awards ceremony will be held and live-streamed on Saturday, June 30.

Commissioner of Education Jeffrey C. Riley issued new remote learning standards earlier this month, called power standards, which Szymaniak described as “just diving down deeper into the core of what we were already doing.”

Instead of review, teachers across the district are diving deeper into the curriculum and principals are working on how students will be assessed and graded on report cards. Grading will be credit or no credit at the high school and a pass/fail system is being looked at for the middle school and elementary levels.

To close out the school year, students have to pick up belongings left at school since March 15 and teachers still have to close out classrooms.

Principals will be establishing a time frame for teachers to come in and pack up all student materials into bags for a drive-up parent pickup much like what was done when Chromebooks were issued. High school seniors will go first on May 26 and 27. Elementary and middle school teachers will report to their buildings that week to pack up their classrooms and students’ belongings.

Building-specific parent pickup times will be scheduled for the week of June 1 to 5.

“We need our Chromebooks returned … June 11 and 12,” he said. There are close to 700 Chromebooks out and the district wants to ensure they are all returned with as little damage as possible.

HVAC project

Interim Business Manager John Tuffy reported that the $500,000 ban debt remaining for the Hanson school HVAC project will be rolled over on May 28. He said it does not add to the district budget or debt burden, it is just a routine rollover already accounted for in next year’s budget.

The School Committee voted to rescind a Feb. 26 vote for a Whitman Middle School feasibility study and warrant article in favor of new language from bond council that includes authorization to borrow.

“What has happened a little bit is Whitman has changed how they’re going to do their funding source, as I understand it,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes.

“The town of Whitman, facing a severe revenue crunch, does not have the available funds to pay for it out of free cash, as they were going to once do,” said Committee member Fred Small. He said they plan bans similar to the HMS HVAC project — a three-year ban — to fund the feasibility study.

Tuffy concurred with Small’s description, explaining that bond counsel has presented Whitman with the option of using free cash or borrowing the money. Town officials are discussing a three-year loan, but the final decision is up to Town Meeting.

Small also reported that the Whitman Finance Committee held a brief discussion on the matter Tuesday, May 12, and that it has also gone through the facilities subcommittee.

“There’s revenue issues in every town across the commonwealth,” he said.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen after a joint meeting with the Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 5, voted 4-1 to reaffirm the statutory method for school budgeting this year. Later in the meeting, however, Selectman Randy LaMattina argued for a reconsideration that, while not approved, left the door open to hearing out any Hanson compromise.

Selectman Justin Evans, who represents Whitman on the regional agreement amendment panel, dissented from the vote to reaffirm the statutory formula.

“I can’t see this as anything but punishing the schools for a disagreement with another town,” he said. “I’d like the opportunity to continue and present something to this board before we vote it down.”

“To now paint the town of Hanson as the enemy is wrong,” LaMattina said.

The meeting was conducted via Zoom meeting and recorded for playback on the Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV YouTube cannel.

Finance Committee Chairman Richard Anderson advocated the end of negotiations for a compromise as a way to move other business forward.

Finance Committee member Kathleen Ottina, who has extensively researched the assessment formula issue according to Anderson, said the statutory method was never properly enforced.

“People … never took the time to do the math,” she said. “Over the course of the last six fiscal years, Whitman has already paid $4.1 million that would have been paid by our partner town had the statutory method been enforced.”

She said that she has tried to “nicely inform” to finance committee chairmen in both towns that the real problem is the loss of $3 million in Chapter 70 money for Hanson, which has increased their minimum local contribution to the school district.

“We can’t go back in terms of suing, or trying to recapture, that money apparently, but we certainly can’t go forward and continuing to subsidize Hanson’s bill,” Ottina said. “Whitman people should be paying Whitman’s bills and Hanson people should be paying Hanson’s bills.”

She said she is not convinced that any type of compromise is in the best interests of the Whitman taxpayers.

“We don’t get aid we don’t need, so we don’t have aid we can give away,” agreed Finance Committee member Rosemary Connelly. “The aid is very specific to the need of the town.”

She said paying Hanson’s bills was part of the reason Whitman can’t provide cost of living increases to its town employees.

Evans said Hanson has made it clear that they do not plan to fully fund the school budget.

“They’ve given numbers that they say they can afford, and they don’t plan on exceeding those numbers,” he said. “In trying to find our way out of this situation we can either let Hanson underfund the school system and meet our statutory obligation [by laying] off teachers in that scenario, forcing a 1/12 budget by voting down the budget or letting Hanson vote the budget down, or we can make up the difference and protect the schools and the students from a dispute between the towns.”

He has been seeking one-time relief that includes the four teachers in the elementary schools cut from the budget last year as his conditions to move the towns forward.

“The town of Whitman is being taken for a ride with this entire charade,” Anderson said, arguing that the regional agreement amendment panel does the work it was formed to do — amending the agreement that are in the best interests of the students, faculty and both towns that serve the district. He asked what kind of figures Hanson has provided.

“It took a very long time to even getting a number from the Town Administrator for what they were able to afford this year — or willing to afford, or however you want to say it — and I only got that number this past week,” Evans said.

“That’s part of the charade that I grow increasingly tired of every single day,” Anderson said. “It’s time for them to educate their citizens about how they need to pay their bills. We’re not going to pay Hanson’s bills.”

Evans said, if the statutory method is where the district will end up, there shouldn’t be a need to lay off teachers to get there. Connelly said such a move is already unnecessary.

“We are willing to fund,” she said. “So it’s not us.”

She said that she has watched a video of a September 2017 Hanson Selectmen meeting that proved the board knew about the assessment formula then.

Anderson said information on what Hanson can afford, coming from the town administration gives no indication about the taxpayers’ willingness or ability to pay. Evans agreed that the Mass. Association of Regional Schools assessment last year showed Hanson has the capacity to afford an override, but have not formed an override committee.

“This is a big deal to the Whitman taxpayer,” Anderson said of the $500,000 difference in Hanson’s favor. “We’re going to tell the fire chief that line items from the Fire Department [are] going to be reduced in order for us to fund the fire department in Hanson. That’s what we’re talking about. It’s $500,000 we don’t have.”

Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said he had been supportive of a compromise, but after Evans was rebuffed at a recent meeting by Hanson’s Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, he changed his mind.

“I think we need to say, ‘No, it stops here,’” Kowalski said. “Whitman has always come through.”

Connelly argued that Hanson voters are being misinformed.

“We’ve been the victims of fake news from Hanson, and it’s hurtful,” Kowalski agreed.

Whitman’s budget

During the discussion of Whitman’s Article 2 preparations for Town Meeting, Anderson noted that anticipated local receipts are down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“You’re forecasting how much we’re taking in in things like motor vehicle excise tax in a very difficult economy, meals tax in a situation where the restaurants are on the edge,” he said. “It’s reflected in the fiscal ’21 revenue summary.”

Assuming the town funds everything sought in the Town Meeting warrant, Whitman would “certainly maximize our levy to the point where we’ve spent $582,000 more” and would have to adjust the ambulance fund — among other accounts — to keep the town out of the red, Town Administrator Frank Lynam said. Free cash would have to be used for other expenditures because other available funds would be used for the larger numbers.

“People should know that this is a very bare-bones budget,” Lynam said.

Connelly asked if the budget reflects new realities such as a town pool that may not open for the summer or a library that remains closed to walk-in patrons. She asked if funds from such relatively dormant facilities could be transferred to public safety and other accounts where there is greater need.

“Could we rethink how we’re using our money?” she asked.

Lynam said the funds are essential to the operation of departments, noting there is little savings to be realized. Some, like the Recreation Department, are funded by revolving accounts.

“We’re certainly in uncharted waters,” Anderson said as the discussion moved to municipal salaries. “We have been talking about reining in salaries for while, and I would hope that the sacrifices the town departments are making is recognized throughout all of the departments.” No cost of living adjustments are being considered in the new budget.

He said the Finance Committee has opened up a “really interesting dialog” with the regional school district.

“I think it’s really time that we talk about what kind of commitments they can make in this particular aspect of the budget,” he said.

The Building Facilities and Capital Improvements Committee has not competed its work, either. Anderson said the Finance Committee is working with that panel in order to provide time for them to formulate a complete recommendation on all the capital articles on its matrix.

Outright purchase rather than lease/purchase as well as contracting for replacement value insurance on town-owned vehicles are also being viewed as a way to save money in the long-run.

Should the town approve a Whitman Middle School feasibility study, Lynam said, it makes more sense to borrow the $850,000 than to used free cash — as the state reimburses a portion of that amount. It is also consistent with the recommendations of the Collins Center Capital Improvement Plan recommendations, according to Selectman Justin Evans.

“The regional school budget is really holding us hostage,” Anderson said.

Lynam agreed that the schools and certain fixed costs are the only areas of the budget where Selectmen and the Finance Committee have no control.

The veteran’s benefits account, for example — already in the red — is expected to increase by $48,000.

“Even though we are generally curtailing expenses, Article 2 and our borrowing costs, all of the things that represent raise and appropriate, are going up $1.3 million this year,” Lynam said. “It’s a big number.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci asked why Whitman Library costs are up 18 percent when the library is closed, prompting Lynam to observe that two area towns have furloughed library staff — except for the library director — until September, signaling an intent to remain closed all summer.

“We haven’t addressed that yet, and it’s probably something that should be discussed,” he said.

Anderson suggested the cost of accreditation renewal for the library could be partly responsible for the increase. Connelly also suggested that electronic books being made available as well as use of library WiFi from the parking lot could have an effect.

“People are continuing to borrow books electronically,” Lynam said. “That has no impact on us.”

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 28 — via GoToMeeting teleconference viewable on Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV — discussed the potential formation of a deregionalization study panel and reviewed the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve had a couple of people reach out to me and ask when are we going to be forming a deregionalization feasibility study committee,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

She said it was her recollection that selectmen wanted to give the voters a say on the issue.

“I think we knew, financially, it probably wouldn’t be in our best interests, at least initially,” she said. “Also, we knew it would be a two-to-three year process, conservatively, to deregionalize.”

They had supported a Town Meeting warrant in the past, but she wanted to touch base with the board on whether it needs to be done now.

“I think, right now, we can put this on the back burner,” Selectman Matt Dyer said. “I don’t think forming a committee would be productive in our talks with regional assessment at this time.”

He argued that the issue could be considered for the October Town Meeting, if necessary.

Selectmen Kenny Mitchell, noting the School Committee was slated to discuss whether it should rescind the statutory assessment methodology at its Wednesday, April 29 meeting, agreed that Hanson could hold off on the issue. Selectmen Jim Hickey and Wes Blauss agreed.

FitzGerald-Kemmett also stressed that she and Dyer are still working as part of the regional agreement committee.

“Forming a deregionaization committee in the middle of while we’re trying to have diplomatic talks is probably not going to sent the right message,” she said. “There’s a time and place for everything and now just might not be the time.”

COVID response

State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, also attended the virtual meeting to report on state developments regarding coronavirus and its potential economic effects on the state.

Aside from noting Gov. Charlie Baker’s extension of the stay-at-home order and closure of non-essential businesses through May 18, Cutler briefly discussed the reopening advisory board chaired by Lt. Gov. Karen Polito.

“The governor did stress this is really going to be guided by the [public health] data at the end of the day,” he said. “If that continues to trend in the right directions then I think we’ll see some reopenings after May 18. If that takes a sudden departure in any direction, then obviously that could change.”

Gov. Baker has also signed a virtual notarization law to help process legal documents, and a law to protect homeowners and tenants from foreclosures and evictions as well as credit reporting non-payments.

Cutler also reminded selectmen that town meetings may be postponed for 30 days at a time, if needed.

The Legislature is scheduled to hold its first virtual session on Thursday, April 30 to cast roll-call votes on bond legislation that requires a vote in formal session. The session could also lay the groundwork for meeting processed for work on the budget.

“We’ve heard from some economists and budget experts on what we call our consensus revenue forecast last week, and we heard some fairly dire predictions, ranging from a potential hole from anywhere from $3 billion to $6 billion for the next fiscal year,” Cutler said. “Obviously, it’s hard to pinpoint that because we’re still in the middle of the acute period here.”

He said economic recovery trends can be summarized in four letters — V, L, U and W. The V would mean a steep, rapid recovery after the economic decline during the pandemic. The L, would illustrate no immediate recovery, the U would mean a recovery after a plateau and the W, would mean a secondary downturn after a quick recovery.

“Those are the different scenarios we’re looking at, based on what’s happening on the ground and revenues,” he said. “[There’s] a lot of fluid activity, but I think Thursday’s formal process will help us on the path toward hopefully getting some form of consensus around this.”

He said a specific timeframe on budget numbers is not yet possible.

In other business, selectmen approved a placeholder article for a potential Proposition 2 ½ override.

“With no budget in place and no idea of what assessment number might come our way, I thought it was prudent to at least talk about it,” Stanbrook said. “It is not forced upon us or a reality yet.”

This spring marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 25, 2020.  Let’s celebrate by joining Green Hanson’s annual Clean Up Green Up by cleaning up our town.  During Earth week, April 19-25 let’s all try and spend some time cleaning up trash along our streets.  The Hanson Highway Department has joined us in our efforts and will be helpful disposing the trash appropriately.

Where to participate?  Here’s some “hot spots” that have been pointed out:

County Road; Route 27 near the transfer station and towards Elm Street, as well as the top of Elm Street; pockets along Winter Street, especially near Brook Street;  pockets of all along Whitman Street, especially near King Street to Route 58;  pockets along West Washington Street; Maquan Street near the pond; and anything else you can find!

What to do?   Go prepared with garbage bags, boots, gloves (vinyl/plastic are best), brightly colored clothing with long sleeves and pants.  Be careful of your surroundings, and watch for ticks and sticker bushes.

When you are done collecting, you can notify the Hanson Highway department and you can drop the bags off at 797 Indian Head St.  Please notify them via email:  [email protected] or call 781-293-2822 that you are leaving bags from Clean Up Green Up.  If the trash is too heavy, bulky, too much for your car, you can call or email as listed and a member of the Highway Department will come pick your hard work.

If you are on Facebook, post your work on a Hanson page, or on the Green Hanson page so we can see how much trash we have all picked up.  For more information on Green Hanson, please contact:  [email protected].

This weekend, families celebrated Passover and Easter in markedly different ways than in past years.

Easter egg hunts were all canceled this year, however spotted this week in the Whitman Park, in the place of eggs, were colored kindness rocks.

Social media postings on several Whitman sites showed the colorful finds and encouraged others to hide their own kindness rocks.

(The idea as a craft can also be helpful for art class during the home school day).

In an eggstra-extraordinary way a local business owner Monica Cole of Jan’s Towing and Recovery Service of Whitman put in more than just a full day of delivering Easter baskets.

Along with family and co-workers the group decorated and stuffed more than 150 Easter baskets to deliver and ready for curbside pickup in Whitman in hopping good fun.

“Easter was getting passed over,” Cole said. “We were brainstorming and came up with the baskets as a way to ease financial stress and anxiety for parents -out of the recent social isolation status and create joy and smiles for all.”

They made 100 baskets and, within three hours of posting it to the Whitman page, 90 baskets were already reserved. They increased the number to 175 baskets to make sure everyone who needed a basket could be included.

“I was excited that families in need were reaching out to us to accept the help for the free baskets,” said Cole. “During such a hard time with uncertainly families can depend on the local businesses to support them as they support us.”

Cole has been in business since 2016 in her Whitman location and in Boston prior to that. She is also a resident and raising a family here so seeing the community come together is rewarding to her and those around her on a personal level. Earlier this week she thanked the community via the Whitman Facebook page for the positive responses and expressed her full heart with the celebration of the Easter holiday.

Also shared via social media were local families who left decorated eggs at the ends of one another’s neighborhood driveways. Special sidewalk chalk messages of encouragement and Happy Easter greetings were left for morning sunrise surprises. Several prizes were left anonymously, but there were rumors that the Easter Bunny had been seen hopping down several Whitman streets.

Shopping for preparations for holiday meals is also more challenging as precautions against coronavirus are imposed.

In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, local grocery stores, such as Shaw’s on Liberty Street, are allowing a maximum of 60 people in the store at one time. Social distancing is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and grocery shopping in smaller groups can ease the minds and hopefully protect others as we all avoid groups in any capacity.

The Stop & Shop at Bedford Street in Whitman has also begun limiting their shoppers.

Responding to an inquiry through social media, Stop & Shop stated “that all of their stores are limiting shoppers however each state varies in capacity.”

In their online Covid19 statement they also posted general update to shoppers.

“We know that Stop & Shop plays a critical role in our communities during situations like this, and we remain committed to doing our very best to support customers and associates.”

There are also guidelines posted in how each store is handling and creating an environment conducive to the CDC guidelines.

Personal milestones are different, too, during a pandemic.

Among recent birthday celebrations Jackson Manoli of Whitman turned 2 years old. His parents held a drive-by-and-honk birthday in which family and friends could say hi. The doorway was decorated with balloons and signs and even a Whitman police officer stopped momentarily to whirl his siren a high point for Jackson. Parents Matthew and Devon Manoli said the birthday was “unique” in the sense of guests standing separated on the lawn or staying in their cars. It was not what you would expect for a child’s birthday celebration however they were all smiles over seeing family and friends showing love for  Jackson who was thrilled to have “big boy chips” as he took his photo from a distance. The year they celebrated his Coronavirus birthday will be in their memories and photo albums. He had plenty of colorful balloons lining the fence to show all who drove by that he was indeed now a two year old.

With the stay at home orders and social distancing requirements to slow the spread of Covid-19  in a more noticeable form homeowners and families are spending  additional time in their yards, both playing  in and cleaning them up.

Dan Delprete of Dandel’s Construction in Hanson has seen an uptick of landscape projects as they began their season nearly six weeks earlier than their typical spring routine.

Samantha Murphy of Landscape Supply Yard which is also located at 1 Liberty St., Hanson said that they have seen a boost mostly on mulch and loam sales early lawn prep products.

The company supplies to landscapers so the increase in sales of these items and the movement is reassuring that yards are being spruced up daily by local landscaper businesses.

The physical activity of yard work in the fresh air and sun can be rewarding and a great project for people. They may be currently homebound but they are clearing out their yards and enjoying the exterior of those “four walls” as they practice social distancing.

“Finding the good in all the bad,” said Delprete has kept him in a positive perspective.

The weather and the days the sun is shining they are seeing more people looking at patios and taking brochures, he added.

Wyman’s Nursery in Hanson was open Easter weekend with several families buying flowers and looking for grave flower baskets.

Deb Seele of Whitman and her husband Michael who is Whitman’s town moderator were planning to clean up and decorate her dad’s grave. This year is unlike years past as she couldn’t be together with her elderly mother who is in quarantine at American Living of Hanson, she said.

Having her in the residential setting has been unsettling for now as they create a new normal like so many other families only talking through the phone. She planned to update her mom on the Easter flowers and their visit to her beloved late husband.

Heather Weydt and her daughter Jessica, 13, of Hanson purchased flowers to top off baskets they planned to construct and drop off at doorsteps for their loved ones. They planned to add a sweet Easter surprise of candies since they could not physically be with one another, she said.

Phil Wyman of Wyman’s garden center expressed his thanks and gratitude as a small business to be open in these difficult times.  He had simple gardening tips for families who aspired to create a garden or plant project. The least complicated, beginner gardener could plant Pansies which he called a more “durable” flower that quickly adds color and tolerates spring temperatures.

Preparing a garden indoors with peas, lettuce, and cabbage is an easy way to get kids involved in the planting kits and seeding process.

Reaping the rewards as the blossoms flourish the project can easily get everyone involved in most age groups.

“With a little bit of love and fertilizer you will get it all back and more,” Wyman said.

HANSON — Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest coronavirus policy, limiting stores to 40-percent capacity — including employees — at one time, was among the legislative updates provided by state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, in a Tuesday, April 7 Board of Selectmen’s session held remotely over the Go To Meeting conference call platform.

The store capacity guidelines went into effect April 7.

A first responder testing facility has been opened at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro and drive-through testing for the public is being conducted by CVS in Lowell. The appointment-only testing (online at cvs.com) aims to provide up to 1,000 tests per day.

“I would expect, and hope, to see more of those types of those sites coming online,” Cutler said.

Cutler also outlined the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which is designed to help small businesses, and self-employed people — or gig workers — will become eligible for state unemployment benefits this week through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“I am seeing these requests being filled,” Cutler said.

He also noted that the state’s budget, which is expected to be affected by revenues reduced by the economic impact of COVID-19, is expected to be delayed. The legislature also passed a bill permitting both towns and school districts to operate on 1/12 budgets.

“Since this is a disaster declared by FEMA, carefully document all your expenses because we may be able to get reimbursement from the federal government,” Cutler said.

Town officials do not report out to the public the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus as the Board of Health continues to follow Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines, according to Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“That is a decision that is made by each local board of health and we honor their sovereignty and the ability to make that decision,” she said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said Hanson health officials had begun making reports, but were met by “push-back” from the DPH to local boards due to the concern over the potential for bullying.

“We’re following the DPH guidelines,” said Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias. The DPH is currently issuing reports per county. “The concern is, if we say we have a very low number people are not as diligent as they should be, and having a low number of positives doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of people in town with COVID.”

Dias advised residents to act as if everyone they come into contact with has the virus and to stay away and protect yourself.

“We’re going to stay the course,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook said the town’s Emergency Preparedness Committee has been meeting regularly throughout the pandemic crisis.

Police Chief Michael Miksch told Selectmen the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) is allowing health boards to update public safety personnel about positive cases in their communities, to properly prepare them for emergency calls. He coordinates that, since the 911 center is in the Police Department.

While the town has enough personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand right now, the advance information allows police and fire to be conservative with its use.

Both Miksch and Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., expressed some concern about uncertainty on the “burn rate” of how quickly PPE supplies will be used.

“We’re tracking it very closely,” Thompson said. “In anticipation of shortfalls, we’re putting in orders very early to get some.”

The Fire Department has already closed its building to public access. They have brought the third, back-up ambulance back online to be used exclusively for COVID-related calls.

“We’ve moved more to a security role in policing, where we’re constantly checking the public buildings … trying to keep people from gathering,” Miksch said. The public is also discouraged from walk-in business at the station with phone and email communication preferred.

Health Agent Gil Amado said his role is to ensure compliance with state health guidelines, with which all stores and restaurants in town are complying.

“The big thing about this is social distancing,” Amado said. “Prevention is the best method here. … The citizens of Hanson are doing a good job — we’ve had nobody in non-compliance.”

Stanbrook reiterated that essential town employees are still reporting to work, with non-essential staff working from home to the extent that they can. All public meetings are being held via conference call. Public hearings that can be postponed are being rescheduled and a new act passed by the state on April 3 permits the dates and deadlines of mandatory ZBA hearings and they will be postponed without adverse effects to the town.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen has followed its March 17 decision to delay the Town Meeting to June 15 with a unanimous vote on Tuesday, March 24 to move the town’s annual Election — from Saturday May 26 to Saturday, June 27.

The last day to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk would be Wednesday, May 6 and to submit them to the registrars is Friday, May 8. The deadline to file nomination papers with the Town Clerk will be Friday, May 22 and to object or withdraw is Wednesday, May 27.

Tuesday, May 26 would be the last day to register to vote in the Town Election.

Gov. Baker’s March 12 declaration of a State of Emergency, allows municipalities to postpone Town Meeting and Town Election due to public safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration also suspends the Open Meeting Law requirement that public meetings be held in an open and accessible location, while encouraging remote meetings so long as the public is able to follow along with deliberations.

The Selectmen’s agenda, posted on the town website hanson-ma.gov, included instructions for the public to join the meeting.

The conference call meeting was broadcast on Whitman Hanson Cable Access and is available for repeat viewing on the WHCA YouTube channel.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook reported to the board that he has compiled a list of all essential and non-essential personnel in Town Hall and throughout the town.

“It doesn’t mean what people do isn’t essential — it has nothing to do with the work that they do,” Stanbrook said. “In this particular situation that we’re in right now … non-essential people do not have to come in [to work]. They’re going to be working from home as much as possible, they have remote access … to the programs that they need to do their jobs and also to answer voicemails from remote locations.”

Social distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing practices are also being followed in town buildings.

Selectmen voted to authorize Stanbrook to sign warrants for the board and provide reports to Selectmen during the emergency.

Selectmen also decided against imposing a temporary ban on reuseable bags as residents have been expressing concern about their use during the coronavirus emergency, according to Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“They are concerned that the coronavirus could be transmitted, could be carried on these and the state of New Hampshire has banned reuseable bags,” she said. “Because I’m trying to be responsible to what people’s concerns are, we put it on the agenda.”

Health Agent Gil Amado said he spoke to Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias that day, who reported that most stores will now refuse to place items in reuseable bags, but will permit the customer to do so. He favored an advisory to the stores rather than a ban on the reusebale bags.

Noting that Shaw’s is likely the only store affected, it would be up to the store to make such a decision.

Selectman Matt Dyer, echoing the rest of the board’s attitude that it does not seem to be a major concern, noted that Shaw’s now has a policy against packing reuseable bags, but permitting customers to do so if they wish.

“I think this really does fall under the perview of the Board of Health,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I’m just putting it on here to get the discussion going and give the Board of Health some idea of where the Selectmen’s heads are at.”

Amado also said the pandemic is pointing to the need to obtain the list of hair salons in town from a hand-written list in a lose-leaf notebook at the Town Clerk’s office.

“I think we have a lot of lessons learned, Mr. Amado,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ll be doing forensic look at lessons learned once we get through this.”