HANOVER – The South Shore Tech School Building Committee voted in a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13 to submit a schematic design budget of $276,449,480 to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) by the required Thursday, Aug. 15 deadline. There will be a final schematic design vote at the end of the month to submit all schematic design documents and the MSBA will begin its review process.
“We have a budget,” said Chair Robert Heywood of Hanover.
The budget was being submitted on Wednesday, Aug. 14, according to Kevin Sullivan of LeftField, the owner-project manager firm working with SST.
MSBA had approved the project to move into the schematic design phase at its April 24 board meeting.
The district’s share of the cost at this stage is projected to be $167,581,808.
The project has also received a basis of grant of $176,213,157 and an estimated MassGrant of $107,119,978, before contingencies are factored in.
The district also has a base reimbursement rate of 55.00 percent, Sullivan said. However the projected reimbursement rate was increased because the building construction intends to meet higher environmental standards and also because the district has shown strong capital maintenance practices.
The Building Committee approved a total project budget is $276,449,480. The project team projects that the district will receive a MSBA grant of $107,119,978, leaving approximately $167,581,808 at the local level. The local share of 167,581,808, notably, is over $7 million dollars less than the projection made at the Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) phase earlier this year.
Based on maintenance and capital planning practices has meant the district has received 1.79, which means hard work done to preserve the building’s condition.
Most districts receive a 1.5 or lower.
“Getting this 1.79 percent is impressive,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t happen that often.”
Additional reimbursements shave another $7 million from the preferred schematic report, according to the budget Sullivan reviewed for the committee.
The project was also under budget for the feasibility study.
“These are estimated costs,” Sullivan stressed. “We’ve done our best to manage costs, based on the information we have and based on our experience on quite a few MSBA projects.”
But until MSBA does their review in August and September, the exact ineligible costs will not be known. These exclusions are things the MSBA does not typically pay for. An example Sullivan gave was removal of contaminants such as underground tanks, if found on a site, and a number of them will be based on price caps.
“There are caps on every single part of this budget, to be honest,” he said. For example. MSBA never participates in the remediation of ceiling or floor tiles.
“These are projections, and I believe they are conservative projections,” Sullivan said of the budget totals he presented.
The preliminary design budget for the preferred schematic had been 260,000 gross square feet.
“We were tasked, as a project team to find ways to make the building more economical – responsibly of course – and to make it more efficient,” Sullivan said. “I think, with some hard work, especially by the architect and the folks at the Vo-Tech, here we are with a schematic design for the building [in which] the size has been reduced to a gross square footage of 249,365 square feet.”
In terms of cost, the changes have reduced the cost by $1.7 million ($2.1 million with mark-ups)
“This is one of the most important milestones in the MSBA’s process,” Sullivan said of the reason for three estimates – including one for $223,603,801 from the construction firm now on board – which maximizes the grant obtained from MSBA and reduces the original estimate by some $2.1 million.
The preferred schematic cost estimate of $283,595,433 has been brought down to the current total schematic cost of $276,449,480.
LeftField had been tracking the district’s share at anywhere from $176 million and $178 million with an MSBA reimbursement between $105 million and $107 million during the preferred schematic design phase. It is now being tracked from $167 million to a little over $169 million with an MSBA reimbursement of between $106 million to $109 million. The district’s share has gone down “significantly,” Sullivan outlined.
“In my experience, this type of cost regression is very unique,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t happen a lot in MSBA projects. Typically, you’ll see the progression, but this whole project stayed almost exactly the same. Sometimes costs go up a little, sometimes it goes down a little, but in this case, it has gone down significantly, and I think that’s a direct response to your team’s hard work.”
Heywood asked if Sullivan’s firm sees this kind of cost regression often.
“We don’t see this often,” he replied.
“This is an exciting time,” said Mateo Battista, vice president and project executive at Suffolk Construction.
The savings had started in the feasibility phase.
“We’ll probably have money left over from that feasibility budget,” said Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey. “Because the district funded the feasibility study with stabilization, when we’re looking at the local balance [local share of the project costs] at the end, we’re not actually financing that because we’ve already earmarked it.”
Sullivan also said some of the purchase of the adjacent house as administrative offices was that about 2,000 square feet of ineligible space for reimbursement in the new school building was absorbed that way.
“The result was a reduction of ineligible costs by the MSBA,” Sullivan said, noting it saved an additional $2 million – and the property did not cost nearly that amount.
“So we saved a lot of money by buying this property and moving [those offices] over here that you did not have to put in the new building,” Heywood said.
Another big portion of vocational building project budgets are the furnishings and technology costs, according to Sullivan, noting it is another area where spending caps apply.
“For as long as I can remember – and I can remember back to 2008 – that type of cap is exceeded in every school [project], even elementary schools,” he said. “On Vo-Tech schools, which require significantly more, that’s what results in a pretty significant exclusion.”
Committee member George Cooney asked if the furnishings and technological equipment for the new school would be moved in during the summer – and if there would be employment opportunities for SST students in that area.
“That’s a firm yes,” said Suffolk Senior Vice President Christian Riordan of the moving schedule. “There’s opportunities for student employment during the entire project. We’re committed to that.”
The next steps for the project are: submission of the Schematic Design Report to MSBA by Aug. 29; MSBA Board of Directors meeting on project approval on Oct. 30 and project approval votes by each member town in January 2025. The Schematic Design Report will be reviewed and voted on by the SST Building Committee on Aug. 27 or 28.

Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC), a welcoming, premier South Shore choral ensemble, seeks experienced singers, from amateur to professional skill levels, to join its membership for the 2024-25 season. PFC is widely recognized for sharing the world’s great choral music as a means to bring people together. 25 season features three concert cycles – winter, spring, summer. Rehearsals are held weekly on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Faith Community Church, 29 Carver Road, Plymouth. New members are invited to join for the winter concert cycle after attending an open rehearsal and completing a Vocal Placement Session (VPS).  Open Rehearsals are held Sept. 9 and 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., walk-ins are welcome. Vocal Placement Sessions are held on Sept. 16 and 23, between 6 and 7 p.m., by advance appointment. To make a Vocal Placement Session appointment and confirm open rehearsal attendance before committing to membership, email Artistic Directors William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly at director@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.  Membership information is available at rehearsal, at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or by Pilgrim Festival Chorus’s fall rehearsals prepare the ensemble for its winter concert, “A Basically British Christmas – Seasonal Favorites From Across The Pond,” performing at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, and at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8, at St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road, Plymouth.
PFC continues its annual tradition of joyful music making at Christmastime, a highlight of the magical season.  In the last century, British composers created many beautiful choral pieces commonly used at Christmas time. PFC celebrates by performing four works penned by composer giants Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, John Rutter, and the late James Whitbourn. With the added drama of brass, timpani, cello, and flute, this will be a magnificent concert ushering in the holiday season. Tickets are now available at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.
Commemorating its 25th anniversary this fall, PFC is dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences. In addition to the winter concert, PFC presents an annual “Messiah and Carol Sing” in late December, a larger choral work with orchestra in spring, and a summer concert featuring Broadway and American traditions. Smaller volunteer groups serve the community by engaging in appearances at various local events.
For more information about membership, email director@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org. For information about this season’s rehearsal schedule, or to purchase concert tickets, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, email info@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.

HANSON – Town officials have reached a consensus on the need for finding alternative, lower-cost methods of providing street-lighting for safety, especially at street intersections.
The discussion —marred by technical difficulties caused echo on the audio feed and rendered useless a virtual connection with Planning Board Chair Joseph Campbell — hinged on changes to street-lighting at the Meadow Brook subdivision on County Road.
“Historically, the town was paying to light all kinds of public ways, like cul de-sacs, and then did some kind of a little ‘come to Jesus’ kind of a thing in the late ’90s/early 2000s, and said, ‘Why are we paying to light all of these streets?’” Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said, “Many of them were shut off. I can’t say for [certain that] all of them were shut off, but the vast majority of them were shut off.”
She added that the town is in no financial position to simply decide to turn them back on and the town would pay for them.
“I think that’s where it becomes a problem,” she said.
“That’s why I’m here,” said Town Planner Anthony DeFrias. “This road is not at a point where these street lights are going to go in.”
That’s what brings the town to place the onus on developers or coming to another alternative arrangement instead of getting to the point where the town would be getting more street lights that then get turned off.
The Planning Board has already voted its approval for the new subdivision, which proposes street lights, DeFrias added, nodding to the town requirement for street lights in general and the subdivision in question
Past discussions centered on the unknowns concerning cost in relation to streetlights.
“Is that the board’s position?” he asked about the concerns. “Because, if it is, obviously it’s in conflict with the subdivision control law and, if that’s the case, now’s the time for us to talk to this developer about coming back to the Planning Board and ask for a waiver for that section and propose some alternative street-lighting.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if the town would have to foot the bill for the street lights.
“Once the rule is accepted, it will be the town’s responsibility to pay for those streetlights,” he said.
Select Board member Ann Rein asked if there were plans to establish a homeowners association in the development, suggesting that such a group could be expected to shoulder the cost through fees. She pointed to Stone Bridge as such a development.
DeFrias said he believes there is some language toward establishing one.
“But there typically is and there hasn’t been one occasion when that doesn’t even come to fruition or its an ineffective arrangement,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
DeFrias said he has done subdivisions in other communities where, instead of a street light, the town went away from street lights, going with an alternative carriage lamps at the end of driveways, paid for by the homeowners. The only street lights would be put in where the subdivision road meets a main street for safety.
“I think that’’s what we’d want to do where it meets the main drag, which would be the case in this,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
“What we do for one, we have to do for everybody,” Select Board member Joe Weeks said. “If we’re going to be spending taxpayer money, we have to do it so it’s fair and equitable for everybody because it’s everybody’s money.”
He asked it would be possible to switch to an alternative power source, such as solar?
DeFrias said that was another option worth exploring. The towns’ subdivision control law has not been updated since 2012, including newer engineering standards, drainage requirements and street lights.
In other business, the Select Board referred an amendment to the zoning by laws proposed by the Planning Board for review and on which to conduct hearings.
Town Planner Anthony DeFrias told the board that a zoning bylaw discussion was to center on a new battery energy storage project approved at Town Meeting last year, but “shot down” by the state attorney general’s office.
“They felt it was two issues that didn’t go [together],” he said. “One had to do, basically, with language that we have that they felt was in conflict with the Waltham case, which is regarding solar – it’s become a crucial case regarding solar. Basically, in a nutshell, there was an access road from one town into Waltham for solar.”
Waltham lost a legal battle over the issue, being found in non-compliance with the Dover Act, which exempts agricultural, religious, and educational uses from certain zoning restrictions.
“We had some language in here that the AG’s office didn’t like, so they turned down the bylaw,” he said. “I’m working with town counsel. We’re going to revise the language so that it meets with what the AG’s office will be comfortable with.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if the issue came down literally to that one tweak.
“That is just a draft at this point,” DeFrias said of the adjustment she referred to and asked the Select Board to consider the change. The Planning Board had given it to the Select Board for that consideration, passing it on to the Planning Board to schedule a public hearing and finalize language with input from Town Counsel before it is returned to the Select Board for placing the issue before the October Town Meeting.
“It’s a draft copy, there’s probably going to be even more changes to it, but this is the starting point,” he said.

State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth, has received the endorsement of both the Sierra Club and the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) in his bid for State Senate. These endorsements from two of the most respected environmental organizations in the state underscore Fernandes’ strong record on environmental issues and his leadership in the fight against climate change.
“We need to protect the water resources of the Plymouth and Barnstable district and ensure that our communities are resilient in the face of climate change,” said Fernandes. “In the eight years as state representative, I’ve been a champion of clean air and water and we have more work ahead to protect our environment.”
Fernandes has been a critical leader on environmental policy in his time in the legislature, according to Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund. “He has successfully championed clean water, the blue economy, and innovative ideas to ensure that Massachusetts remains a national leader in combating climate change. We are certain that he will continue to prioritize our beautiful beaches and outdoor spaces in the Senate.”
“Dylan Fernandes has been a strong advocate for clean air, clean water, and offshore wind,” said Celia Doremus, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter.
Since his initial election in 2016, Representative Fernandes has sponsored dozens of bills advancing clean air and clean water.

The First Baptist Church of Hanson will host a Chicken barbecue from noon to 3 p.m., on Saturday, July 13. Come and enjoy a summer favorite with a half chicken, corn on the cob, various salads, and desert. The cost or donation is $25 each person. The deadline for ticket purchase is Sunday, July 7 in order to guarantee your meal. Take out available with ticket. Call this number: 617-592-7495 or FBCH Office at 781-293-3502. Proceeds will go towards building repairs.
The Church is located at 214 Main Street, Route 27, Hanson, MA 02341. Please contact the church office for more information 781-293-3502 or e-mail: fbchanson@verizon.net or check out our Facebook page. Watch our services Sundays 10AM on Facebook Live or watch past services on YouTube search for “First Baptist Church Hanson”.

Scituate and Cohasset will host the last South Shore Recycling Cooperative (SSRC) household hazardous waste collection this spring It will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on June 15. Fall events will start in October. Registration is required, to reduce wait times. The address and other important event details are revealed on the registration form at bit.ly/Spring24hhw.
All will take place as follows:

• Do not bring LATEX/ACRYLIC PAINT. These paints “clean up with soap and water.” They are not hazardous, just messy. It may be dried and disposed of with regular trash. For more information, review the registration form at bit.ly/ssrchhw or call 781-329-8318.

Register now for the last two spring Household Hazardous Waste collection days.
Five South Shore Recycling Cooperative (SSRC) towns will host the last two household hazardous waste collections this spring.
Registration is required, to reduce wait times.
The addresses and other important event details are revealed on the registration form at bit.ly/Spring24hhw.
All will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows:
Saturday, June 8 — Duxbury, Kingston & Pembroke NO LATEX/ACRYLIC PAINT
Saturday, June 15 — Scituate & Cohasset NO LATEX/ACRYLIC PAINT
Latex and acrylic paint “cleans up with soap and water.” It is not hazardous, just messy. It may be dried and disposed of with regular trash.
If you have questions after reviewing the registration form, visit bit.ly/ssrchhw or call 781-329-8318.