Hanson Business Network promotes small firms

HANSON —About a dozen small business owners and employees gathered at the Edward Jones office in Shaw’s Plaza Wednesday, Dec. 2 to kick off the Hanson Business Network (HBN) to help each other develop and promote their companies — and perhaps shake up town officials’ attitudes toward business development.

The group is looking to meet on the third Wednesday of each month for now as they work to define the group’s direction and structure. The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Edward Jones.

Among the issues discussed Dec. 2 was the need to revitalize the Main Street area near the MBTA station and High Street near the former Plymouth County Hospital as well as ways the town can help attract new business — while remaining neutral politically —and how members of the group can help each other.

“What I’m looking for out of this group, is a support system for some of us in the area,” said host business manager Josh Singer of Edward Jones. “It’s pretty tough to run a business in such a small town as this.”

Still Singer, like the others in attendance, loves doing business in Hanson.

Laurel MacCurtain, who owns Five Rings Pet Resort with her husband Michael, a Whitman firefighter, said they are very comfortable in Hanson, too.

“If there is anything we can be doing to increase local business, we’re on board with it,” she said.

Like MacCurtain, most of those attending the meeting have business, if not personal, roots in Hanson.

Meadow Brook Restaurant owner Wilbur Danner, for example, is a longtime resident who has served as chairman of the Whitman-Hanson School Committee, has worked on several of the town’s building committees and has served as an assessor. He, too, spoke of rough going to get his establishment going.

“It’s hard to open a small business in the town, you have no support from anyone,” said Danner, who also owns restaurants in Abington, Rockland and Hyannis. “You have to go by your reputation from other places. I’d like to see something develop to shake up the town fathers a little bit.”

Whitman native Kathy Jo Boss, who has operated Boss Academy of Performing Arts in Hanson for 14 years, agreed with Danner.

“I feel very connected to the town, but it is difficult to get a business here,” she said. “We just built a new building and it wasn’t easy.”

Bill McDonough, managing partner of Scribendi Advertising & Public Relations, noted that — despite operating a small Hanson-based firm with a portfolio of national and global clients since 1998  — “I haven’t had a single client in Hanson.”

McDonough has also been a member of a handful of chambers of commerce in the region, and has been dissatisfied with the general attitude toward small businesses in such organizations.

“You need that water cooler moment, but there’s no one to meet at the water cooler when you’re in business for yourself,” said HBN organizer Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, a legal consultant preparing to launch her own firm. Her husband John Kemmett is also considering an expansion of his electrical business.

She got the idea for the HBN while doing fundraising when she realized the same businesses in town are approached all the time. Building a network can help businesses define projects they want to support.

“I wanted to jump-start it, get everybody introduced to one another, figure out what we wanted the group to be, what’s important to you and what’s this going to look like,” she said.

For one- and two-person businesses, such informal information sharing can also be vital to business development, as well as encouraging socially.

Bob Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Funeral Home in town since 1976, and his daughter, Office Manager Amanda Sullivan, characterized their interest as part of their family business’ commitment to the community.

“The town needs to be strong,” Bob Sullivan said. “I’m always interested in the business people and seeing what we can do to keep the towns strong, because it helps everybody.”

Amanda Sullivan is also a Hanson resident and plans to stay with the business in town for a long time.

Also attending the meeting were Julie Gainey, president of Master Gourmet Packaging who sells specialty packaging to hotels and restaurants across the country, Steve Smith of Max Machine, which machines medical devices, robotics and projects for the Department of Defense, and Timothy Dunn of Wicked Design Group which is involved in custom automotive design work and fiberglas repair, both Smith and Dunn are located at 1000 Main St.

Smith is hoping the networking opportunity can help his business survive amid challenges from international competitors and the advent of 3-D printers.

Hanson Selectmen review employee policies

The Board of Selectmen are reviewing updated town policies regarding employee benefits and conduct.

Policies pertaining to domestic violence leave, the Family Medical Leave Act, information technology use, HIPPA practices, social media and municipal vehicle use are being studied. Some are out of date and others, such as the social media policy — which has been urged by Selectman James McGahan — and the vehicle use policy are new.

McGahan said he would be looking at LaCamera’s social media policy draft in comparison with what other towns are doing.

“In looking at some of the town policies that we have, and some that we’re lacking that we should have, what I’ve tried to do is take the ones that really need to be addressed as soon as possible,” said interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera at the Tuesday, Dec. 8 meeting. He will be meeting with town department heads next week to obtain their input.

“I’d like the board to look at these policies and see if [you] have any suggestions for changes or recommendations to improve these policies,” LaCamera said. “Sometime in the first part of January, we’ll take all of this input and revise the policies and hopefully, the board will vote on these policies so they can be implemented.”

LaCamera noted employees are supposed to receive copies of the policies every year, sign an acknowledgement that they received them and have read them.

Town Counsel will also review them, especially new policies or those affecting union contracts.

“It’s better to get them wrapped up now,” said Selectmen Kenny Mitchell.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young also commented on the complaint policy, which calls for complaints to be filed with the board or commission in charge of the person the complaint involves.

“The town administrator should explain the procedures in dealing with a complaint as mandated under the Open Meeting Law,” Young said, particularly if an executive session is in order. “I think that can eliminate potential Open Meeting Law complaints. I just happened to think of that in [light] of recent events.”

One Open Meeting Law complaint— stemming from an incident at Hanson Day last June — has been accepted for review by the Attorney General’s office. He noted three or four OML complaints had been filed regarding town government, but only the one had been accepted for review.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not trying to discourage or encourage anyone to file an Open Meeting Law complaint,” Young said. “But keep in mind it’s serious business, because every elected board or commission is responsible for complying with the Open Meeting Law.”

He noted there is a misunderstanding of what constitutes a violation.

If a quorum of members on any board attend a public meeting, it does not automatically constitute a violation of the Open Meeting Law. They may do so provided they communicate only by open participation.

“They may not deliberate at such meetings,” he said.

One-on-one conversations outside posted meetings are permitted so long as they don’t become “chain letter” conversations with other board members.

McGahan added it is important in filing Open Meeting Law complaints to know exactly what the breach was to avoid frivolous complaints.

“It could basically tarnish your reputation,” Young said. “That complaint is out there … and it may or may not be true. It becomes a public record and stays a public record.”

Tree warden

In other business, the board voted 4-0-1 to appoint David Hanlon of 5 Arthur St., as tree warden, filling a vacancy until the annual Town Election in May. Mitchell, who works for Newcomb Tree Service, abstained. Michael Means of 342 South St. had also applied.

Selectmen agreed both were clearly qualified for the position and encouraged both to run for the office in May.

Both Hanlon and Means work with the Highway Department. Hanlon is an 18-year veteran, citing familiarization with MGL sections 41 and 87, which govern tree warden responsibilities. Means is also a call firefighter/EMT as well as a senior heavy equipment operator at the Highway Department.

“The priority of tree warden, number one is public safety,” Hanlon said, who noted dealing with utility companies is also important.

Means agreed that public safety is paramount. Both have limited experience with grant writing, but Hanlon has retail budgeting experience and has worked with Highway Surveyor Bob Brown on budgeting. Means said he has little municipal budgeting experience.

Both expressed a willingness to obtain arborist training.

McGahan, who said he also reviewed both men’s Facebook posts, said Hanlon’s grasp of state statues made the difference for him.

“This is two good men applying for the position,” McGahan said. “I checked both your Facebook postings and I saw nothing negative toward this board or to any of its members.  I like some of the stuff you guys have put out there — it’s positive — and that means something to me.”

“It’s nice to see you guys step up,” said Selectman Bill Scott.

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Hanson Selectman clarify school budgeting process as they take issue with budget critics

HANSON — As the town begins work on the fiscal 2017 budget, some officials have taken exception to statements made at a Nov. 18 School Committee meeting on how that budget is formulated.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera reported Tuesday, Dec. 1 that town departments are already submitting budget proposals as the process begins.

Hanson Town Hall

“What I’m going to do before we even get to the point where we distribute the budgets to the selectmen and the Finance Committee is to sit down with each department head and review each budget to make sure what’s being submitted is what we want to be submitted,” LaCamera said. “There will be some discussion with [selectmen] about some of their budgets.”

He estimated the budgets will be ready for presentation to selectmen and the Finance Committee by the end of January.

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young noted that it was said at the School Committee meeting that “a couple of people made statements that the School Committee comes before the selectmen and they better make sure they get there soon to make sure the selectmen will give them enough money.”

That statement is inaccurate, according to Young.

“The selectmen really don’t have anything to do with meting out how much money the schools get,” he said.

The budget and assessment are certified by the School Committee, and the assessment then comes before the Finance Committee for a recommendation, Young said.

“I believe the selectmen and town administrator also make a recommendation on that as well, but it’s the Town Meeting that actually votes the assessment up or down,” he said. “The selectmen really have little or no power to cut the budget of the School Committee.”

He also commented on the assertion by teachers’ union representative Beth Stafford that the last successful override was followed in the next year by increased requests from other departments as the increased levy limit went into general funds.

“The only way that can really happen is if the School Committee chose to lower the assessments to the two towns,” Young said. “I realize an override is only earmarked for one year, but unless the purpose of that override somehow goes away … there isn’t leverage in the other departments to fill that gap.”

LaCamera also stressed that both towns must agree on a school budget to adopt it. He reported that he had met during the day on Tuesday with Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam regarding the regional school budget, among other issues.

“The concern in both towns is [that] we have only a limited amount of funds available to spend so, if you’re asking for a million dollars or something, the towns can afford that kind of money,” LaCamera said. “What concerns me is we don’t seem to be part of the process.”

Hanson’s Finance Committee has appointed a liaison to the School Committee, but LaCamera said he and a representative from the Board of Selectmen should also attend budget meetings.

“I think the communication between the School Committee and the towns needs to be worked on,” he said.

Selectmen also discussed town and school department capital improvement plans.

LaCamera and Capital Improvement Committee Chairman John Norton have agreed to “wipe the plan clean” and start over, taking off project proposals on the list that have not been addressed — and may not need to be — after five years. LaCamera has also informed department heads that he will be reviewing submittals, and seeking selectmen’s input, before they are advanced to the Capital Improvement Committee.

He suggested a similar review be conducted regarding the schools’ capital improvement matrix.

“In fiscal 2016 there’s $5 [million] to $6 million that has potentially not been addressed and … somebody needs to tell the board why these things are on the list,” LaCamera said. “If it’s a priority that needs to be addressed, that’s OK, but to say that we’re going to fund $5 million in one year is impossible.”

Many project numbers are estimated pending an engineering review.

In other business, the board amended and approved language for a new posting for the Town Administrator’s job and revisions to the contract under which the new administrator will be hired.

Young also reported periods of rain during the past week have pushed the completion date for the Indian Head roof project to Dec. 6.

Hanson installs new drop box as an easy payment option

HANSON — Convenience now comes in the form of a locked, secure steel drop box in front of Town Hall into which residents may leave bill payments or official correspondence on off hours or in the case of persons with mobility problems.

“Convenience is really the perfect word,” said Treasurer Jean Sullivan. “It’s perfect because of the [traffic] light, too.”

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera announced at the Tuesday, Nov. 10 Board of Selectmen’s meeting that the drop box was officially in place, but that parking spaces along the horse-shoe driveway may need to be adjusted to improve access and traffic flow.

“For safety’s sake we need to have room to pull in and room to pull out,” Sullivan said.

The weather-proof drop box will be checked on a daily basis, or more often when needed with all correspondence delivered to the appropriate departments.

Residents are asked not to make cash payments via the drop box.

“People are getting away from [paying in cash] anyway,” Sullivan said.  “We take payments here, we do online payments, we do a lock box, a lot of people mail them in — this is going to be another way.”

Between all the payments accepted by the Treasurer/Collector’s Office conducts 35,000 transactions per year, including real estate, motor vehicle and personal property taxes as well as water bills.

Highway Department employees installed the device manufactured by American Security Cabinets, and the steel-encased cement safety poles that protect the drop box from bumps by vehicles.

Voters at the October special Town Meeting approved a $3,000 transfer from free cash to install the drop box to aid residents, particularly handicapped or elderly persons, in delivering payments or other correspondence from their vehicles. Selectmen recommended it, but the Finance Committee had not done so.

Former Finance Committee member Barbara Arena noted at Town Meeting that there were alternatives, such as online payments and mail, that work just as well and that $3,000 could be better spent on other areas.

“I know a number of towns have this particular item in place, and its not only a convenience but … the easier you make the process to pay bills, the quicker your going to put that money into action for the town,” Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young said at Town Meeting.

Assessor Lee Gamache also recommended passage of the drop box article.

“I see [elderly people] come in and just struggle trying to come into the Town Hall,” Gamache said. “Young mothers with children, too. You see them lugging everything from the car to come in and pay a bill when they could just drop it in a box.”

Hanson’s new secure drop box, into which residents may deposit payments or correspondence for all town departments, is located next to the flagpole in front of Town Hall and is accessible without the need to get out of a vehicle.

Photo by Tracy Seelye