HANSON — Owners of the Meadow Brook Restaurant, 1486 Main St., have received approval for their request for an extension of the facility’s liquor license as they alter the premises to include a deck for outdoor dining.

Sunday hours for the serving of alcoholic beverages will now be changed to 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to attract brunch business. Those hours had been noon to 12:45 p.m. The deck area is expected to seat about 30 people.

The business owners have pledged to do what they can to mitigate noise concerns raised by abutters.

“It’s something we wanted to offer our patrons in Hanson instead of driving to the Cape,” co-owner Lynae Connelly said.

A handful of neighbors on both sides of the business attended the Tuesday, June 27 Board of Selectmen’s meeting to voice concerns about existing and perceived future noise problems. Selectmen, however noted that the Meadow Brook — and previous businesses at the site — have operated a restaurant business there for many years and urged the Meadow Brook owners to work with neighbors to provide noise and sightline barriers as a good faith gesture.

“They bought a building that had been vacant for awhile,” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “They’ve resuscitated it, brought jobs back, they are huge community partners. They put a lot of money into that building. I think that they’ve indicated they are willing to be good neighbors.”

The selectmen also noted that the restaurant was there before the abutters moved in and a compromise is in order.

“Whoever the developer was that built those condos should have made a better buffer between the restaurant and the condos,” Selectman Jim Hickey said, noting that a fence that had fallen down had been installed by the neighbor on the opposite side, Michael Lewis. “I think, as a board, we’re trying to get a happy medium. … You already knew the noise was there to begin with.”

Lewis of 1488 Main St., noted that Wilbur Danner had promised to put up a stockade fence when his family bought the restaurant, but it has not been installed yet.

Danner said the expense of bringing the facility, which had stood empty for some time, had cost more than was anticipated. He and son in-law John Connelly pledged to do what they could to install tree barriers on one side, and a plastic noise-reduction sheet on the side where the deck will be built.

Danner, his wife Barbara and his daughters Lynae Connelly and Deborah Scrivens are co-owners of the restaurant.

“The building had been shut down for at least eight years before we took it over,” Wilbur Danner said. “I put a lot of money into that building, primarily with a septic tank, which cost me $168,000, and bringing the building up to code. … We try to do as much as we can as we can afford it.”

The Board of Appeals has already approved the deck area, which the owners had sought in response to customer requests in an effort to increase business.

“I don’t know if we’re in a position to know what was agreed upon between the restaurant and this gentleman when it opened up,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’re not legal counsel … but you’re now going to have people outside on a deck. If there were any issues, it might get worse.”

She stressed, however, that she favored “anything that’s going to help a small business increase their business and bring more business into town,”

Great Cedar Condominium resident Donna Frehill and two of her neighbors had complained about the potential for noise from the deck service. The outdoor dining area will be on that side of the Meadow Brook building.

Frehill said she and her neighbors have been bothered by noise from a fan and, while the Meadow Brook has been a good neighbor and has allowed them to hold condo association meetings in the function room at no cost, they remain concerned about the potential for increased noise from the outdoor dining area.

“Our concerns are how late people are going to be out there … and that noise level during weeknights and weekends,” she said. “Our concern is what kind of noise level will be there, will there be some controls over that?”

Scrivens said there would be no live bands playing outdoors.

John Connelly said the business could look into a plastic noise control curtain to help mitigate noise as well as looking into options regarding a tree barrier or fencing.

“Right now, there is no buffer between us,” Lewis said of his property on the other side of the building. “So, if you want to add this deck, what’s going to stop the noise?”

He said his family already deals with car headlights shining into their house “all hours of the night.”

Lewis had installed the old stockade fence that had fallen into disrepair before he approached Danner about installing a new fence. Trees that had also helped serve as a buffer had also been cut down, he said.

“We close at 10 p.m., we don’t hold late functions,” Lynae Connelly said. “The fence was in disarray when we bought it.”

Lewis said he didn’t care whose property the fence is built on, but since his property is for sale, Selectmen Kenny Mitchell said a fence could present a problem for the next owners.

Lewis said he has already had two people looking at his house comment on the lack of a buffer.

“You can’t put up a fence on somebody else’s property because that becomes a problem,” Selectmen Chairman James McGahan said, agreeing with Mitchell. The previous restaurant owner’s cooperation in installing a fence with Lewis had disregarded which property the fence was on.

Lewis said he has since had the property line surveyed to ensure the property line is now clear.

Mitchell said that, while the selectmen do not have the authority to force the business owners to install a fence, he urged them to work with neighbors to reach a solution to the problem.

“To make good neighbors, it would make sense,” he said.

McGahan suggested that fast-growing hemlock trees could be a solution.

HANSON — As Hanson works to fill vacant posts on 31 town committees, it named two people on Tuesday, June 13 to new or revitalized committees.

Michelle Mills of Capt. Nathaniel Drive, a retired teacher and librarian who has had cerebral palsy and right hemiplegia since birth, was appointed to head up the Hanson Disability Commission. Holmes Street resident Gary Banuk, a retired teacher and industry researcher with budgetary experience, was appointed to the town’s dormant Education Fund Committee.

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said discussion of the general state of committee vacancies should be delayed to June 27, due to the evening’s full agenda. The board concurred.

“I think it would be helpful to get descriptions of what each one of the committees does and how many people we’re down,” she said. “Then we could have a more robust discussion.”

Selectmen’s Administrative Assistant Meredith Marini has already done some of that work.

“Some of them are standing committees,, so we can skip over a bunch of them,” Marini said. “I’ll go through and pare it down and [leave] the ones that you are probably going to have questions on.”

Mills has a bachelor’s degree in special needs with a minor in psychology and is a pastoral minister to the disabled as well as chairman of the Cohasset Commission for the Disabled. She holds a certificate in pastoral care.

“I started the Commission on Disabilities in Cohasset,” Mills said of the group she chaired for seven years. “We want a van for the town for the seniors and we would be up for information.”

Town Administrator Michael McCue said the Disability Commission, just created at the October 2016 Town Meeting, would oversee efforts to make facilities accessible according to state and federal guidelines, assisting with decisions about sidewalks and crossings.

“Very specific people need to be on that — someone who is disabled, a family member of someone who is disabled — it’s rather succinct,”  McCue said. “As soon as we wanted to start to get rolling, I reached out to Mrs. Mills.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said Hanson is fortunate to have someone with Mills’ experience step forward to take the post.

“We need someone designated to run the group and at least four Hanson citizens,” Banuk said. “I think people from Hanson would like to see the money distributed to Hanson people.”

He also said he would like to see the tax bill check-off changed.

“It starts at $1 to $10, which is nothing nowadays,” he said. “I think this is a way for people to put a few dollars into this, because I hear people talking about it … and maybe we can do something for the schools.”

Banuk had also served as a member of the former Indian Head and Maquan Schools Priority Repair Committee.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked what the Education Fund Committee’s charter and purpose are. The committee, according to Selectmen’s Administrative Assistant Meredith Marini, was formed by Town Meeting in 1993 to form a committee consisting of the superintendent of schools or their designee, and four Hanson residents serving three-year terms to provide scholarships funded by a check-off box on town tax bills.

“The committee has been inactive for years,” Marini said. “The last time somebody was appointed to it was in 2008. Mr. Banuk has inquired about it and we’d like to get it up and running again.”

McCue said the fund currently contains about $7,500.

Selectmen also filled a vacancy — through June 30, 2018 — on the Recreation Commission, after some discussion about possibly tabling the decision in order to attract more applicants.

Selectman James Hickey suggested a month’s delay to bring in “new blood, perhaps someone who has not been in there before.” He also said he had been told a third application was coming in, but it had not been filed.

“I would like to see us be a lot more active in reaching out and soliciting more volunteers,” FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed. “This isn’t a reflection on anybody in the past, I’m just talking about going forward, this is what I’d like to see us do.”

The motion was withdrawn, however, at the request of Recreation Commission Chairman AnneMarie Bouzan, who urged action as the new commission is trying to get things moving again.

Health Board Administrative Assistant Theresa Cocio of 1211 Whitman St., was ultimately chosen on the stipulation that she step down from her post as union steward, but may remain on the negotiating committee. Cocio said she had indicated that willingness to Marini when she filed her application.

Bouzan noted that Cocio, who had applied for appointment when the new commission was appointed, had never volunteered for other boards.

Former Camp Kiwanee Caretaker and volunteer James Flanagan of 43 Baker St. had also applied.

“I knew you guys weren’t going to vote for me, so if you want to appoint her you can,” Flanagan said, withdrawing from consideration. “I was just throwing my hat in to volunteer. … I know that they can use a lending hand.”

McGahan said he appreciated the gesture.

“I’ll talk about the elephant in the room,” he said, referring to labor counsel Leo Peloquin’s report, which mentioned Flanagan in several areas. “I know that you objected to it, and I heard what you had said, but that is definitely something that struck me. … We’ve still got to heal and move forward. More time is needed.”

In other appointments, Health Agent Matt Tanis was named records access officer for the Board of Health, Senior Center Director Mary Collins was reappointed as a member of the Old Colony Elder Services Board of Directors and FitzGerald-Kemmett was appointed as the Board of Seletmen’s representative to the Hanson 200th Anniversary Committee.

“I have weaned down many of the other things that I was part of in order to give this job its due respect,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said of her new position of Selectman.

“You’ve got more energy than anyone can deal with, so absolutely,” McGahan said of his vote in support of her appointment.

With the change of Memorial Field Trustees from an elected to an appointed board, Selectmen voted to appoint Michael Josselyn of 33 Litchfield Lane, whose elected term would have expired in May 2018 and Robert O’Brien Jr., 1003 Monponsett St., who received the most votes for a two-year term ending in 2019. Mark Gomes, 113 Andrew Lane, who received the most votes for a three-year term, ending in 2020. Both Josselyn and O’Brien already serve on parks and fields and have said they would be willing to serve on the Memorial Field Trustees. Selectmen said Gomes had made no such commitment, and may withdraw if he wishes.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 13 voted to appoint Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett as the board’s liaison to work with the town administrator in formulating a proposal for a committee to explore transition options for the Maquan School building.

“I feel a sense of urgency on this because we don’t have much time, and I know government has a tendency to kind of work slow,” Selectmen Chairman James McGahan said. “There’s got to be a timeline on this. If we don’t act on this timeline, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) stuff can’t be transitioned and the building formally closes, then there’s really nothing you can do with it. We have to have a plan.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett will meet with Town Administrator Michael McCue as a point person, over the next two weeks, in formulating an ad hoc committee for the board to vote on at the June 27 meeting.

“One of the main topics at the next meeting is going to be boards and committees, so this should fit in nicely with that, as opposed to just doing it on the fly right now,” McCue said.

The School Committee officially informed Selectmen by letter May 22 of its April 12 vote to return the school building to the town due to declining enrollment. The district has also updated parents and guardians of administrative changes for the school’s final year — the 2017-18 school year.

The committee will be charged with recommending what the town should do with the building, including whether to sell or lease it — or to tear it down, McGahan said.

With the upcoming retirement of Indian Head School Principal Elaine White, effective June 30, Maquan Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wilcox will serve as principal of both schools next year. John Riley will continue as Indian Head School’s assistant principal and Director of Science Mark Stephansky, a licensed principal/assistant principal, will be based at Maquan where he will also serve as assistant principal.

Maquan Administrative Assistant Susan Andrews will remain in place next year and will move to Indian Head for the 2018-19 school year. Indian Head Administrative Assistant Joan Maloney is retiring, effective June 30, and a temporary assistant will be hired for next year. Maquan’s Early Childhood Coordinator Patricia Collins and School Psychologist Joan Joyce will continue to assist with administrative responsibilities.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell said he wanted to see a feasibility report, but McGahan said the report made during the former School Building Committee’s work is still available.

“If we don’t act soon enough, we could miss a window,” McGahan said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she understood Mitchell’s concern, but noted the committee would not make a final decision, it would “simply ferret out all the information that this board would need to make the decision about what they would propose to Town Meeting.”

She said residents must be informed of the pros and cons of the available choices — including whether to lease, sell or raze it.

“There’s only so many options,” she said.

“If we were going to sell it, I think we would need a commercial realtor to come in and put a value on it to see what it’s worth,” Mitchell said. “Is that something the community would do?”

FitzGerald-Kemmett also said the building’s proximity to the Indian Head School should also be taken into account in what the building might be used for if it is sold.

McGahan said the town should also take into account the need for playing space for indoor youth sports teams such as cheerleaders and basketball.

“My biggest concern is the pitfalls to be unwary of [include] when does that ADA get triggered and when do all the required code upgrades get triggered,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Is it if we sell it, is it if it starts being used at all, if it’s leased does that grandfather us in? We really need some help maneuvering through all those kinds of decisions.”

In other business, the board began hearing suggestions from members for its goals for the coming year. FitzGerald-Kemmett outlined her concerns about some ongoing projects as well issues she would like to see the board take on. McGahan also listed some issues of concern, with other Selectmen due to submit their lists in the coming days.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she wanted to see updates on the sale of town-owned properties and planning for the Plymouth County Hospital site as well as a cost estimate on razing and site cleanup of the existing highway barn as part of the project to place a new facility at the former Lite Control site.

New goals she listed included: exploring the use of the former Plymouth County 4-H building at the food pantry site for a potential use as a senior center; work with the Capital Improvement Committee and department heads to get a clear picture of the status of town buildings; Main Street development; better public outreach to inform residents of programs, town needs and upcoming meetings and elections; and formulating a performance measurement format for McCue.

McGahan asked for formulation of a sidewalk plan, aiming at 1,000 feet per year over the next 10 years, to protect pedestrian safety as well as exploring the potential for placing solar panels at the food pantry to help defray utility costs.

Selectmen also voted to empower Selectmen Don Howard to vote for the Plymouth County Commissioner’s budget, except for the line item that would increase commissioners’ salaries by $13,000 per year. The board is asking for that increase — which returns the three commissioners’ pay to the $28,000 that was paid the position before 2008 — be phased in over three years.

The pay had been cut under pervious commissioners, when a previous administrator was displeased with their job performance. Plymouth Selectmen has already unanimously voted not to support the increase.

WHITMAN — A mushroom-like plume of brown debris was seen drifting over homes on Hogg Memorial Drive in Whitman around 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, June 1 after workers in the street hit a gas main while replacing water pipes — an ongoing project in the neighborhood, according to Fire Chief Timothy Grenno.

A Whitman officer on a detail at the scene reported the initial gas break alerting officials to the incident. The area was shut down to traffic and residents in approximately 15 homes on the street, out of an abundance of caution, were evacuated. There were six people combined and the Whitman Middle School on Corthell Avenue was used as a brief place of shelter for those closest to the accident zone, Grenno stated in a press release.

National Grid was on scene later around 9:30 a.m. and began to repair the pipe. Later in the day a Clean Harbor crew was preparing to sanitize the area after 5 p.m. A worker said he was unable to comment on what was being cleaned or tested and referred the Express reporter to National Grid for comments.

The initial incident was startling to neighbors who said they did not hear anything just voices and shouting following the incident as the crew realized they hit the gas main.

Jennifer Grady, who lives at 201 Hogg Memorial Drive where the digging was occurring and quickly realized there was something serious as she saw brown smoke covering her windows. She exited her home and later was directed to leave the area for safety reasons.

Two homes closest to the scene were covered in brown and reddish dirt and rust. There were no reported injuries.  Residents were able to return home at about 10:20 a.m. according to Grenno.

“When you have a leak of that size, it clears all the rust and dirt out of the line, because of this, a brown gas cloud covered the south and west end of town and began blowing into the center of town,” Grenno said.

Whitman is at the end of the National Grid line in a highly pressurized area.  Firefighters secured the scene and set up hoses to protect nearby structures, anticipating possible ignition of the gas, he said.

EMS was also on scene to assist a male resident on the street who was unable to exit his home due to his medical status and sheltered in place at his residence.

Whitman Police assisted on scene and were instrumental in evacuating homes. The East Bridgewater Fire Department provided station coverage for Whitman and responded to several emergencies in town.

Whitman Fire Rescue cleared the scene around 11:30 a.m. National Grid was on-site completing repairs, and Hogg Memorial Drive was closed until all crews cleared.

“We’re thankful that no one was hurt and we appreciate residents’ cooperation and patience during this incident,” said Chief Grenno  “At no time was anyone in serious danger.”

HANSON — Residents turned out, despite a light rain, to watch ceremonies featuring selectmen and other town officials gathered at the town’s Civil War memorial on the Town Green after marching down Liberty Street Monday, May 29.

Keynote speaker, retired Army Col. Robert Huke of Hanson spoke to residents who displayed their support and commitment to the town’s observances despite the wet weather.

Wrapped in blankets, sharing colorful umbrellas and lining the street to show solidarity and respect countless residents remained present to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to country.

Huke touched on the meaning and history of Civil War General John A. Logan, who was a leader of that war’s Union veteran’s group, the Grand Army of the Republic. Logan was a driving force behind the observances we now celebrate as part of Memorial Day, Huke reminded the crowd.

“Enjoy your day, enjoy extra time with family and friends but I ask you this, please don’t forget why we celebrate. This is why the many gather here to honor our veterans the few who were so willing to give of themselves to defend their brothers and sisters and their country,” he said. “There is a difference about today Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans it’s about honoring those who lost their life.”

Other traditional portions of Hanson’s observances included a reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by Bruce Young and a ceremonial rifle salute by the 22nd Mass. Vol. Infantry re-enactment group.

HANOVER —  After a meeting of the regional agreement subcommittee planned for this week, the South Shore Tech Regional School Committee members should be receiving a semi-formal copy of it ahead of a full review.

The work has been under way for several months, according to Chairman Robert Molla of Norwell at the Wednesday, May 17 meeting. Once the committee approves revisions, the revised agreement can be forwarded to the member towns.

Town Meetings would need to vote on whether Hull is admitted to the region. At this point, Hull is not a factor in the revisions to the regional agreement.

“The Hull negotiations right now are on temporary hold until at least May 23 [when] they are meeting to give us their indications as to which way they’re going to go and whether we are going to continue negotiations,” Molla said.

Superintendent-Director Thomas Hickey said, if Hull agreed to join the region by the time the revisions were complete, two votes would be needed at town meetings — on the regional agreement and Hull’s admission.

“If they don’t happen at the same time, amending the regional agreement would take a two-thirds vote of our towns,” Hickey said. “Timing matters. It could be at the same town meeting.”

Hull would only vote on the terms of admission, not the regional agreement revisions.

“At our most aggressive,” Hickey said, and depending on the Department of Education’s response, the regional agreement revisions could be ready to present to the member communities this summer for consideration of special town meetings in the fall.

The committee also held a brief public hearing on the annual school choice vote. The members, as is customary voted against participating in the state school choice program because the school already has “an established process for admitting students who reside outside the school district.”

The committee voted to set the non-resident tuition rate at $16,719 for fiscal 2018.

In other business, the committee honored veteran automotive instructor, Ronald Michaud — who retires this spring, as staff member of the month.

He joined the SSVT teaching team Jan. 2, 1985.

“All you need to do is drive up Route 53 – the new automile — to find Ronnie’s success as an instructor,” said Assistant Principal Mark Aubrey of the student body’s honoree. “At almost every dealership, you’ll find at least one South Shore graduate and, in many, literally a handful can be found working under cars, in front offices or selling vehicles on the showroom floor.”

Students described him as a shop instructor who cares about his students and who makes learning fun day in and day out and who helps students obtain careers in the trade.

Student Body President Jacob Cormier of Hanover, who served as student representative to the committee this year, was honored as student of the month. A computer technology student, Cormier was selected by his instructors on the basis of his grades and in-class leadership and engagement, according to Assistant Principal Sandra Balmer.

Sophomores Cody Campbell — team bronze medal and additive manufacturing — of Rockland, Ashton Gnoza — team bronze medal — of Abington and sophomore Chris Osborne — silver medalist, welding — of Hanson were recognized for their success at the recent SkillsUSA state competition.

Whitman hopefuls meet the press

WHITMAN — Candidates for seats on the Board of Selectmen and W-H School Committee [see related story, page 8] fielded questions Thursday, May 4 — and some in uncontested races made brief presentations — during a forum co-sponsored by the Whitman Democratic and Republican town committees.

Incumbent Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and challengers Laura Howe, Finance Committee member Randy LaMattina and Nita Sault fielded questions ranging from the town’s financial future to the ongoing opioid crisis and town building needs, among others. Each gave a brief opening statement before the questions began.

All except Sault said they would consider supporting an operational override to fund the municipal budget.

The session, held in the Selectmen’s meeting room of Whitman Town Hall, was broadcast live and will be rebroadcast on WHCA-TV Channel 9 over the next two weeks. This writer, and WHCA-TV Access Operations Coordinator Kevin Tocci presented questions. Republican Committee Chairman Brian Bezanson and Democratic Chairman Larry Roache moderated. WHCA-TV Executive Director Eric Dresser served as timekeeper.

“It is strictly a nonpartisan event,” Roache stressed. “We’re here as citizens of Whitman, and hopefully we’ll get a better understanding at the conclusion of tonight’s forum where we’ll be going forward.”

Whitman ties

All four selectmen candidates stressed their ties to Whitman: born in town, Howe described herself as “the only Whitmanite” in the race; Sault was raised in town until her family moved to California and began the process of moving back about five years ago; LaMattina was also raised in town and Kowalski and his wife moved to town in 1972.

“We have lost our voice in this town,” Howe said of her campaign based on accountability, transparency and approachability. “We did not lose it yesterday, we did not lose it last year, we may not have even lost it 20 years ago.”

Kowalski agreed that being a Whitmanite is important, but said he has learned to love the town and wants to continue working see it improve. He said he wants to continue working to support the town he has grown to love.

Kowalski, seeking re-election, said, “if anything is going to hurt Whitman, it would be division.” “I don’t think it’s a Whitman problem,” he said. “It’s a statewide problem, it’s a national problem, it’s a global problem.” He lauded Howe’s impulse to bring people together.

LaMattina said he and his wife were dedicated to living in Whitman when they married and the former firefighter stressed he wants to put to work what he has learned on the Finance Committee and “move those ideas up to the Board of Selectmen.” His candidacy is motivated by the “vanilla reason” — care about the quality of life for all town residents.

“You can only do so much work on a recommending board” such as the Finance Committee and that he wants to explore ideas for the town on a policy-setting board. Howe, meanwhile, wants to be a voice of the people and is also running because the town is being lost to division.

Sault, meanwhile, noted she has become active in town activities since returning as a “full-time” resident last year. She said she does not believe it is necessary to continue discussing divisions because she does not believe the problems are insurmountable.

“I want to get on the board so I can help going forward,” she said, noting the other candidates also have a lot to offer. “What’s happened in the past … can only serve as a lesson.”

In view of the upcoming June 12 joint budget meeting between town and school representatives regarding the fiscal 2019 budget, candidates agreed a Proposition 2 ½ override may be necessary, while stressing that a lot of work lies ahead. Howe has proposed the possibility of giving tax breaks to seniors or exempt them from a Prop 2 ½ override as a way to pass an override.

“We have to stop this pitting people against people,” Howe said, denying she is anti-school. “It is not the elderly’s desire to see children fail, it is not young people’s desire to see elderly go without ambulance service. We are a community.”

Kowalski said if an override is a way to get the school district out of the bottom 10 in per-pupil spending “I think we need to take it seriously.”

A former longtime member of the School Committee, Kowalski said he has never felt that the elderly have been dissatisfied with the school, but the education budget has reached the point where it needs more funding.

Sault said Prop 2 ½ has not kept up with needs over many years, comparing it to the Prop 13 measure in California, where she lived for a time that inspired 2 ½.

“Everything seemed great at first,” she said. “Everyone got tax benefits. Then suddenly there was no money, or less money, for the schools, fire, infrastructure.” That led to school bonds, which became a fixture of “every single election.”

LaMattina, meanwhile said Prop 2 ½ is an “excellent firewall between municipal spending and the taxpayer” as well as an extra layer of protection for those on fixed incomes. “I do not know if it will be possible next year to fund the schools without an override, though,” he said about his experience on the Finance Committee.

Opioid addiction, the candidates agreed, is one of the biggest problems facing the community and nation today.

Kowalski, whose wife is the director of the Highpoint Treatment Center in Brockton, is also a member of the grant-funded Whitman-Hanson WILL program.

“We live the opioid crisis all the time,” he said. “It’s not a problem that’s going to be solved overnight at all.” He outlined how the towns’ police and fire departments and schools have been supportive of the effort, adding that parents and friends of addicts must become more involved in combating the problem.

LaMattina said programs require start-up funding through grants or town funding.

“You see how this affects people,” the former firefighter said. “It’s not going away.”

Howe, who worked in high-risk child-care for eight years, said opioid addiction is only one social problem impacting such children.

“The number one solution is building strong families,” she said. “You do not build strong families tearing apart people on social media … by finding issue with each other — commonality and finding ways to work together.”

Sault said people need to realize that relapse is a big part of recovery from any addiction.

Debt structure

The candidates said they were interested in an exploration of whether the balance of police station debt — financed within the levy limit — should be shifted to an override. LaMattina said he has raised the issue with the Finance Committee and Sault said she would want to make sure that move would free up funds for schools and. They agreed the need for a new DPW building and that increasing the tax base will take creative approaches.

“We’re not a town that’s easy to expand,” Kowalski said.

“We have to look into ways of spending money to make money,” Sault said, suggesting solar or geothermal power for town buildings.

LaMattina said the town has already explored solar opportunities, but said new ideas must be explored while reviewing spending in a town with little room for growth.

“We do not have a spending problem in this town,” he cautioned, however. “We have a revenue problem.”

Howe said tighter budgeting is a place to start, noting she had to face such a situation at a time when she was homeless.

“That’s when you really figure out your budget,” she said. “No one here seems to know what a real tight budget is, because I did not see it on Town Hall floor [at Town Meeting].”

She said there is also a need for more community-based programs, such as farmer’s markets and outreach programs, to support residents in need.

Kowalski summed up the town’s most pressing problems as support for the schools as well as the opioid crisis, but added there are creative ways to look at problems.

“When you have a failure, wipe it off your face as fast as you can,” he said. “Put it behind you, start working on making things better. When you succeed, wear that. … There are a lot of things in this town we do well — wear it.”

Sault said she does not view Whitman as a Dickensian village with dark problems, either.

“There are issues, and they have happened over a long period of time — sidewalks, streets,” Sault said. “ I think those need to be worked on. Infrastructure. Schools. I don’t think they are unresolveable.”

LaMattina said while the town has financial challenges, he does not feel they are insurmountable either, but said the opioid crisis is far more serious because it affects kids.

All four candidates supported new DPW building, with Sault suggesting that alternative energy such as solar power panels could help finance it while LaMattina, Howe and Kowalski favor a debt exclusion for funding, but Kowalski also said he found merit in alternative energy savings. They also agreed on the need to maintain a single tax rate for residents and businesses to attract and keep new business in town.

None see the need for prior municipal experience before running for office.

“These people have obviously made a case that they care about Whitman,” Roache said. “They want to see Whitman continue to improve.”

Bezanson expressed pride in the forum, as well.

“No matter what happens on [May] 20, Whitman’s got a bright future with these kinds of candidates running for these positions,” he said. “Whether you win or you lose, you’re making Whitman a better place.”

Selectmen candidates meet in Hanson forum

HANSON — Economic concerns, town government practices and the future of th town highway barn and Plymouth County Hospital sites as well as Camp Kiwanee were discussed by the four candidates running for two seats on the Hanson Board of Selectmen Sunday, May 7.

Incumbent Selectman Bill Scott, Community Preservation Committee Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, former Recreation Commission Chairman Jim Hickey and former Selectman Jim Egan met in a candidate’s forum co-sponsored by the town’s Democratic and Republican town Committees. The quartet fielded questions from the audience for more than an hour.

One-to-three minute opening and closing remarks were included in the program, moderated by Bob Hayes and broadcast over Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV. Members of the audience were asked to pose questions that all four could answer.

“It’s great that we have four candidates for two seats — there’s been years when there’s been one candidate for one seat or no one wants to run,” Hayes said.

A financial services professional for 30 years and Hanson resident for 20, FitzGerald-Kemmett said she is running because “it’s time to recognize that the same old-same old isn’t going to work anymore,” and pointed to her experience with community programs as qualities that will help her work toward finding common ground. She is a board member of the Hanson Food Pantry, a co-founder of the Hanson Business Network and has been president of the Panther Education Trust.

“We really need people that are going to be on the Board of Selectmen who can work with everybody in the town, who are going to listen to what the voters want and are going to check their egos at the door and be here for the right reason — to be a public servant,” she said.

Hickey said he is running to foster Hanson’s strength — it’s small-town sense of community. He has been a youth softball coach and Camp Kiwanee volunteer.

“There’s a danger in being an elected official,” Hickey said. “The danger is one of attitude sitting on this side of the table — ‘I know what’s best for the town.’ … I will be your best and most attentive listener.”

Egan, who served on the Board of Selectmen for nine years before being unseated in a recall three years ago, is a retired English teacher at Silver Lake Regional School District, where he also served as a union negotiator and on several curriculum and other educational development committees. He has lived in Hanson since 1973.

“I am familiar with working together as a team to get things done,” he said, stressing the town must make maintenance of town-owned properties and funding requirements for future budget needs are key. “I do not have an agenda. I offer only experience and a hard-working ethic to get problems solved.”

A lifelong Hanson resident and a retired police chief, Scott said he is seeking re-election because, while the board members should agree on goals, some disagreement is healthy.

“I vote my conscience and I vote what I think is best for the townspeople,” he said. His police career spanned departments in Hanson, Hanover and Halifax and he is now a cranberry grower.

Highway building

Candidates were asked about the difference in a $1.5 million vote to build a new highway barn at the LiteControl property, which is now quoted at $4.5 million including cleanup at the current highway barn site.

Scott said the buildings left behind when LiteControl relocated were offered to the town, which was the reason the Highway Building Committee was founded once Town Meeting accepted the gift. The parent company spent $4 to $5 million on cleanup at that site, he said.

“We are moving forward, and the environmental concerns are all being addressed by DEP, Army Corps of Engineers — it’s not just a he said-she said type of thing,” Scott said. “Cleanup up at the old facility, we’re told by the engineers they can clean that facility and cap it, and it will be safe for young people, but all sorts of studies will be done to assure that that is a safe site.”

Egan said the appropriate research has not yet been done at the old site to determine what needs to be done to make it useable for any other purpose and noted the price tag has gone up “significantly” since the Town Meeting vote on accepting the land. Hickey said the site cleanup could easily increase to $6 million, and without an engineering study the financial risk is too great for the town to bear. FitzGerald-Kemmett also expressed concern about the higher price tag and the need for transparency, but that the issue is ultimately up to the voters.

Town contracts

Selectmen Bruce Young asked about how a $1 million indemnification clause in former Town Administrator Ron San Angelo’s contract could have been allowed and prevented in the future.

“Thanks for that question,” Hickey said sarcastically, as the query was aimed at Egan, who had served on the board that hired San Angelo. Hickey said he would not let that happen in a contract.

FitzGerald-Kemmett, who negotiates contracts in her professional life, suggested a “punch list” of provisions that must be either included or barred from contracts. “We’re in this role to protect the town,” she said.

Scott said he would defer to town by-laws as indemnification is common to municipal contracts, but said it appeared that the contract in question “far extended that.”

Egan said the board at the time sought town counsel input on the contract, which counsel approved.

“It was on his recommendation that we signed that contract,” Egan said.

Business
development

The candidates were also asked about attracting and retaining businesses to support the tax base.

FitzGerald-Kemmett, a small business owner, pointed to her work with the Hanson Business network, but added Main Street is the “elephant in the room.” She also advocated a Community Development Committee to help write grants to help with the issue. Hickey agreed Main Street is a problem, but pointed to Hanson’s access limitations compared to Whitman’s access to Route 18 as well as Hanson’s need for a business strategy.

Egan noted that the Main Street property in question is privately owned and limited by its proximity to wetlands. He said the town could — and should — work to streamline the permitting process for all individuals. Scott agreed that the private property in question presents an issue and that the town has a history of not being business-friendly. He also supported the town’s tradition of a single tax rate.

Town priorities

Egan said the town still has to resolve its student location plans, as in closing the Maquan School; work would still need to be done to prepare Indian Head and Whitman Middle schools for additional children.

FitzGerald-Kemmett also pointed to Maquan, as well as to the persistent budget gap with the schools, noting the need to “have conversations early” and to be in tune with one another to be more efficient as a school district and town.

Scott said the schools were an area on which all four could find agreement — at least as an area of concern.

“The funding aspects that come up every year are unsustainable,” he said. “We cannot continue to reach to the taxpayers to fund this.” He also said the failed new school project three years ago created a lack of trust among Hanson residents, which he volunteered to help bridge.

Hickey said education has to be the most important issue.

The candidates pledged to work to move the town past recent divisions.

Passive recreation proposals were preferred as future Plymouth County Hospital site uses by Egan, but Hickey and Scott said some development should be considered and the public should have input, Hickey said. Scott said the DEP has previously ruled a septic system is not viable due to the nature of the soil, but added that the hospital had operated with a sewage treatment plant, and suggested that might be an option. FitzGerald-Kemmett said she would like to see the PCH committee’s recommendations placed before voters, but wants to see some form of park and doubts much development is possible there. She suggested, however, that a solar farm might be possible.

At Camp Kiwanee, the candidates envision a range of uses. FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested four to five communitywide events could be held there, Scott said the new recreation director should be able to help with that. Egan, meanwhile, said a performance pavilion at the PCH site could be run in conjunction with Kiwanee.

“That might be a way to make Camp Kiwanee a little bit more accessible to the types of events most townspeople seem to be interested in,” Egan said.

Hickey said his involvement at Kiwanee was the first town activities he became involved in 20 years ago.

Scott and Egan, who also has served on the Board of Selectmen, said they are aware and committed to devoting the hours needed to do the job. FitzGerald-Kemmett said she is aware of the time commitment required, has considered it at length, and is fully prepared to do what is needed to get the job done.

“Whatever it takes,” said Hickey, who said his commitment to the job would follow that for his family and job.