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Hanson looks potential ’22 override

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HANSON — While fiscal 2020 was a “favorable year, financially” with revenues nearly 3 percent over budget, an override is seen as likely to be necessary for fiscal 2022, Selectmen were advised during their Tuesday, Aug. 25 meeting.

Town Accountant Todd Hassett met for his quarterly report via telephone with the Selectmen who gathered in a socially-distanced manner at Town Hall.

“Fiscal ’22, even despite what may go on with state revenues, will be extremely challenging for us absent an override or some sort of major change going forward,” he said. “We need to start some preliminary planning so we get the message out to the community. … It’s important to get ahead of this early.”

The fiscal 2021 budget is balanced, “despite some moving pieces” on the revenue side, Hassett stressed.

“The actions that Town Meeting approved [did not produce] a shortfall,” he said. “We have a balanced budget.”

While there have been about $90,000 in unused reserve funds this year, Hassett said that is unusual and traceable to the COVID shutdown this spring. Town Meeting had also used $450,000 in free cash to support the operating budget.

Fiscal 2021 revenue estimates at Camp Kiwnanee are down to $142,000 — compared to $218,000 in fiscal 2020 — as event cancellations continue to require refunds.

“Although the sign-ups for future events at the lodge seem to be rebounding, a lot of them are pushed into the next fiscal year,” Hassett said, advising the $142,000 be held in case the camp’s operations need to be shored up. “We’ll cautiously watch how this year progresses.”

The transfer station, meanwhile, exceeded revenue forecasts by about $30,000, mostly from the three-year sticker sales, meaning a decline will be seen in fiscal ’21 as disposal costs continue to rise.

Selectmen also heard an update on the former Maquan School.

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett noted that the reuse committee has been investigating the possibility of using it for senior housing despite hurdles ranging from town administrator turnover to COVID.

“I just wanted to get a sanity check, because we are definitely in very different economic times than we were when we originally talked about this,” she said.

The “backup plan,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, was the $1 million approved at a recent Town Meeting for demolition of the building.

A formal request for proposal to contractors for possible reuse — to be able to say all avenues were explored — have produced early returns indicating people were looking for the town to invest in a sewer system first, among other services.

“We’re not spending any money for somebody else to make money off of that property,” she said. “Everybody said [in a town survey] wanted to retain the property.”

Both the library and senior center have spoken about the need for expansion.

A consulting firm had also advised the reuse committee that lease of the property would bring in only between an estimated $800,000 and $1 million because of the site work and engineering planning needed.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked for a vote from the board on whether they wanted to sell the property.

“I say definitely don’t sell it,” said Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell.

Selectman Matt Dyer said whether the property is used for a library or senior center project, a comprehensive plan is needed on how to best use the space.

FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested the Maquan property dovetails well with proposals for the reuse of the Plymouth County Hospital site.

The board also heard a quarterly report from Fire Chief Jerome Thompson who noted the department is answering multiple calls 15 percent of the time, arguing that supports the need for a full staff of four firefighters at all times.

Aggressive maintenance programs keep buildings and equipment in good shape, he said.

Thompson credited his department for its response to COVID-19 despite guidance from state officials that sometimes changed daily. Since March 1, the department transported 68 cases of suspected COVID and 14 confirmed cases.

“I want to point out that there could have been more confirmed [cases] that we don’t know about,” he said. Even suspected cases required the use of full protective equipment and a 30-minute cleaning of the ambulance on return to the station.

“It changed everything we did,” Thompson said. “It pretty much affected all aspects of out operation. … And it will for the foreseeable future.”

PPE supplies from the state are in good shape so far, he noted, but cleaning supplies are hard to come by.

FitzGerald-Kemmett also lauded the fire and police departments for the — sometimes controversial — rolling birthday parades in which they participated this spring.

“It helped people mentally at a very bad time,” she said.

SST outlines school year

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HANOVER — South Shore Tech will be returning to the 2020-21 school year under a hybrid instruction model on Monday, Sept 14, according to Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey, who reviewed the plan during a Thursday Aug. 13 meeting of the SST School Committee.

The committee approved the proposed plan.

All students will be supplied with either a ChromeBook or a laptop to start the year, with the laptops switched out for ChromeBooks when a new shipment arrives later in the school year. A tech help desk will also be established.

Instruction will begin on Sept. 16 after two days of student orientation. The calendar reflecting the new start date was also approved.

Frequent hand-washing requirements and building cleaning, mandatory mask regulations and bathroom monitors to keep students from hanging out in lavatories are being set up. A separate COVID nurse’s room is being designated and LPN hired to assist the school nurse. Ventillation systems are also being monitored.

“The key element of a hybrid model is that it’s going to allow us [the] flexibility to respond to circumstances, should they change,” Hickey said. “This is something to start with and, as things evolve in one way or another, we will adapt.”

Right now, students will be in academic settings for two days out of five in all grades and learning remotely the other three days, Hickey said. The two days will vary for freshmen and sophomores, depending on students’ assigned cohort. Remote learning days will be more accountable than it was in the spring. It will be in real time with a set schedule and attendance will be taken.

Remote strategies are also being designed in case the need arises to quarantine a group of students if one is exposed to COVID-19 or if the state requires another shutdown.

“All of the protocols and structures that we would employ in a face-to-face regular school year, we’ll employ here in the hopes of providing some structure for students,” he said.

For most students, the shop weeks will be a full week of in-person instruction, recognizing that while student safety in important, there must be a hands-on component, which is not easily replicated remotely.

Freshmen and sophomores will be in the school building all week for shop instruction, while juniors and seniors — except for allied health, computer tech, graphics and MET II — will go to school on an alternating day method, half being in the building and half being on remote learning at anyone time.

“We looked at our pressure points,” Hickey said about how the plan was developed. “We all know the building is too small and you layer in a public heath crisis like this and it really exacerbates some of the issues with size.”

Transportation was also examined on the state guidelines of 25 students on a bus.

The school day will be slightly shorter with morning and afternoon bus runs. Freshmen and sophomores will be on the same schedule each week with a 9:05 a.m. start time and 2:25 p.m. dismissal.

“If you’re a junior or a senior, your world is going to be split a little bit,” Hickey said, with instruction beginning at 7:40 a.m. and dismissed on shop weeks and at 1 p.m. The school day, shortened by 75 minutes to allow for the second run of buses, with buses cleaned between runs.

Hickey said it also provides better control of the flow of students into the building and on shop day.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has permitted the timing modification to allow the safe transportation of students.

With a three-foot spacing between students, PPE will be depended on to ensure safety, while for lunches 70 desks have been placed six feet apart in the gym and another 35 in the cafeteria during five lunch periods.

Hickey said if a minimum of six feet distancing were used for classroom instruction, SST would have been going to a completely remote learning model, Hickey said.

Each cohort of about 60 students will be located in classrooms grouped together with students staying in assigned rooms and teachers will switch rooms.

Shop teachers are being asked to separate students as well.

Seniors will be able to continue with coop jobs with the expectation that employers will continue to comply with OSHA guidelines.

Whitman board eyes property issues

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 11 voted to authorize a grant application to fund the next level of site assessments on the Regal Property, a vacant lot next to the commuter rail on South Avenue.

The town contracted with Ransom Consulting in 2017 to perform Phase 1 and 2 site assessments of the property, according to Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green. Grants from Mass. Development funded the assessments.

“We’ve got some ideas of the nature and level of the ground contamination and … there is still an amount of work to be done, a Phase 3 type of assessment to determine what it’s done to the soil and groundwater,” she said, noting a comprehensive settlement and surface water settling study remains to be done. “They need to assess the ecological characterizations of the land and also do a human health assessment and what impact it might have to future site occupants.”

The third assessment is in the cost area of $63,900 and a lack of funding had halted its progress. Green noted, however that there has been a lot of progress in the realm of brownfields redevelopment over the last three years, with more state and federal funds being made available. She still has to reach out to Ransom to obtain an updated grant proposal and cost analysis.

Grants for such work are now up to $100,000 she said.

“We would get enough money to finish the site assessment an know exactly what we’re dealing with,” she said.

Protection from municipal liability in proceeding with projects on such sites is now available by statute through the Attorney General’s office, Green advised.

While the town would have to pay the grants back if the property was sold at a large profit, Green said that is not likely because the land has been under tax title for so long.

“A huge selling point for the Regal property is it’s right next to the commuter rail station,” she said. “There will be lots of eyes on that property once we know what we’re dealing with in terms of redevelopment.”

A wetlands survey has determined that just over four acres of the property is developable. A similar brownfields property of 3.36 acres in Jamaica Plain was developed to include 132 housing units and retail/office space and self-storage building, which created 90 jobs.

Green also spoke about the Community Preservation Act ballot question on the state ballot, now that the act has been passed at the July 27 Town Meeting. Selectmen voted to place the question on the ballot.

Selectman also heard an update from Green on a housing production plan, which also must be approved by the Planning Board, but it did not recommend doing so.

Green had asked for waiver of that approval from the Old Colony Planning Board, which declined to do so.

“It’s very disappointing in that adopting this housing production plan and having it recognized by that department, would have opened up some grant opportunities for us,” she said.

In other business, Selectmen approved a farmers’ series pouring permit on the premises at 599 Washington St. — the block where Supreme Pizza is located. A common victualler’s license was also granted for the location.

Old Colony Brewing co-owner Dennis Nash said the plan for the site at 605 Bedford St., foregoing the pouring license there. They will instead brew the beer at the Bedford Street location and operate a taproom on Washington Street. No outdoor dining is planned like is currently offered at Bedford Street and only 25 seats are planned at the Washington Street site under current COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Owners of other businesses in the town center — including John and Craig Duval, whose family has owned Duval’s pharmacy for 74 years, along with another area businessman, expressed concern over parking. A concern shared by Health Board Chairman Eric Joubert.

Building Inspector Bob Curran said a bar or business in that area are permitted by right an have never had to go before the board of Appeals. He also said most of the taproom’s parking needs would occur on nights or weekends when there is not typically a lot of traffic downtown.

The board also recommended revisiting the parking issue if a problem crops up.

What’s new in the stacks?

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Greetings! I hope you all are well. It’s been such a strange time for all of us, and I don’t want to minimize that, but I am happy to say that there are things to be grateful for. After a long period of not being able to see our patrons or even talk to them, we are back in business again, although at a distance.

Most libraries, including ours, are still closed. A few are partially open, but practicing great care in terms of contact. In the most meaningful way, though, we can serve you again, we can talk to you and we can even see you!

On that subject, we are now able to resume ordering new materials. During most of our shutdown, we have not been ordering books, CDs, DVDs or audiobooks. Some of the vendors were completely closed and some delivery providers were not delivering. All that is successfully over, and, clutching our money in our fists, we are tearing through catalogs to catch up.

There can still be a few wrinkles – our vendors are short-staffed in many cases, as some of the libraries in the network are. But, as I write this, there are six huge boxes of new fiction in our Community Room waiting to be cataloged, and an enormous nonfiction order on the way. We also have new films, CDs and audiobooks, and our network is available to order holds from as well.

So here is some of the good news: John Grisham, “Camino Winds;” John Sandford, “Masked Prey;” Lucy Foley, “The Guest List;” James Patterson, “The 1st Case” (and many more); Jennifer Weiner, “Big Summer;” Emma Straub, “All Adults Here;” Linda Castillo, “Outsider;” Kevin Kwan, “Sex and Vanity;” Danielle Steel, “The Wedding Dress;” Elin Hilderbrand, “28 Summers;” Louise Penny, “All the Devils are Here;” Jim Butcher, “Peace Talks;” and David Baldacci, “Walk the Wire” Many of these will be available in large print and audiobooks as well.

Our Hallmark movies have been such a success, we now have a selection of Hallmark books that are based on the movies. Just search Hallmark under All Fields in the catalog and there they are! Their bright covers are an antidote to the news of the day; just get onto the couch and dive in.

In nonfiction, a selection includes “Across That Bridge,” by John Lewis; “The Berkshires Farm Table Cookbook” by Elisa Bildner; “The Kidnap Years,” by David Stout; and “Too Much and Never Enough,” by Mary L. Trump.

The movies in the lineup include “Mr. Robot, Season 4;” “Midsommer Murders, Series 21;” “The Way Back;” “Uncut Gems;” “The Hunt;” “Burnt Orange Heresy;” “The Wretched;” ‘Yes, God, Yes and I Still Believe.”

I wish I could list them all, but be assured that there is much more to come. Our director, Marcie, can be found on the floor of the Community Room, licking her chops as she puts the shiny new volumes on carts. It’s pretty rare that we buy this much at one time, but we have a lot of time to make up. Meanwhile, our curbside pickup is doing big business, and even with the new books just starting to come in, our patrons are catching up on books they otherwise would have read in the past three or four months.

Central Site is working on the last few bugs, but it is wonderful to talk to so many of you and get some news of your doings.

We follow what I laughingly call the scientific approach, but we do keep abreast of the spread of the virus through official sites and by checking Governor Baker’s press conferences. By necessity, we err on the side of caution. We are also given updates by our own town government and board of health, the two bodies who will make decisions on opening. Be assured that we quarantine everything that comes in—this may show up as overdue books, but don’t worry.

As for our Summer Reading, the new missions ended officially on Aug. 5, but the program continued through Aug. 26. Prizes can be picked up (one at a time per person at curbside) through Sept. 9. Stephanie encourages families to repeat activities for fun.

One reminder: if you place a hold from home, that does not mean it is instantly available at the library. We get reports during the day of holds that have been placed—we have to wait for the reports to be generated.

If you get an email notice of a hold being available, call to make an appointment to pick it up. Otherwise, please wait for us to call and let you know that it is ready. But certainly, call anytime with questions. We are glad we have some good news for you.  Cheers!

Old Cottage Farm keeps Hanson couple busy

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Old Cottage Farm in Hanson is hidden away behind wooden, gray fence panels with lush, flowering vines. Commuters on the busy Route 14 through town have perhaps driven past the property un-noticed.

Ruth Sylvester and her husband Dean have raised four children and have been at the homestead for nearly 52 years. They have developed the land into a fruitful farmland with goats across the street on their second piece of property- a total of eight acres.

Undeterred by a hard day’s work   Sylvester says she allows herself to sleep in but not past six o’clock, a luxury compared to 3:30 a.m. in years past.

“Life is not a free trip; what you put in you get out of it,” said Ruth.

The couple in their mid 70’s finds the energy to keep up with the daily tasks of a farm which takes…

“All day long”, they both replied with a laugh.

“You have to keep moving”, she said.

Accompanied by the playful Casey a four-year-old English Springer Spaniel, the Sylvesters wandered their enclosed gardens as four hundred chickens at the far end of the property socialized outside their coop.

“You take a seed that is tiny…  you cannot see it and it produces this, “ said Ruth proudly gesturing her crops with open arms.

  A sweet smell of peaches ripening in the trees lingered in the air with more than 870 plants: 20 varieties of tomatoes, dozens of varieties of squash, lettuce and cucumbers to name a few.  She said there are days when she calls it work depending on the weather and heat but she is devoted to the land and has no foreseeable motivation to discontinue doing what she loves.

Specializing in honey production Dean keeps 30 bee hives strategically placed along the wood line of their property. They will produce upwards of 800 pounds by the season’s end.

Although she is modest and humbled by the flattering remarks it’s Ruth, according to Dean, who begins the entire garden every season starting with seedlings in a greenhouse, planting every last one.

Dean is the resident mechanic on property and there is no shortage of jobs to complete.  Although the couple spends plenty of time ‘together’, working side by side with their spouse has a different meaning. They each plan their daily to-do list simultaneously achieving the same goals needed for the farm, however, quite independently. They both agreed. There is plenty of space for that.

For years they have placed a wooden, French style produce cart in their front yard and using the ‘honor system‘ as payment in their metal box,  locals frequent the farm stand to purchase their produce. Farm fresh eggs along with their jars of honey are also for sale on their indoor screened porch.

Ruth just retired less than a year ago from her full time job at age 76 from Traveler’s insurance as an account manager. She attributes her green thumb to her childhood.  Her dad was Canadian and got killed in the war. Her mother brought her to see her grandparents in Six Mile Brook near Pictou County, Nova Scotia for two months a year. The 400 acre farm had no telephone, no electricity and no running water, she said.

After all is done for the day with the water well on their property and a stretched hose they are fortunate, thankful, and sometimes tired.

The farm stand is located at 744 West Washington Street in Hanson.

Hanson BOS votes to open Cranberry Cove

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The Hanson Board of Selectmen met on August 11 for their first in-person meeting since March.

Cranberry Cove

Recreation Director William Boyle was on hand to discuss the possibility of opening Cranberry Cove despite staffing shortages. Boyle explained that they don’t have enough staff, including lifeguards, to run the Cove as they normally would. At their last meeting, the Recreation Commission voted in favor of opening the beach to the public with appropriate signage indicating that there are no lifeguards and swimming would be at your own risk. Boyle was seeking a vote from the Selectmen as well. General Counsel Kate Feodoroff, who attended the meeting over the phone, cited the recreational use statute which protects property owners from liability if people are using their land for free. The water has also been tested regularly and is safe for swimming.

The selectmen engaged in some debate as to whether it would be in the best interest of the town to open the Cove. Selectmen Clerk Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett pointed out that some youth sports such as baseball have proceeded with their seasons this summer and suggested it would be inconsistent and unfair to allow one form of recreation to proceed while prohibiting another. She said, “We’re at a place where people need to be responsible for their actions and their children’s actions and they need to monitor them and do whatever is best for them, society, and their little family… I don’t want to be into trying to decide if kids should be going down to swim or not.” Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell agreed saying, “Accountability needs to start at home.” Selectman Matt Dyer said he believed the Board should have a uniform approach in their decision-making regarding recreation during the pandemic.

Selectman Jim Hickey saw things differently saying, “It’s not about being consistent, it’s about not repeating a mistake.” Selectman Wes Blauss made a point to publicly state that there would be no social distancing on the docks. Hickey concurred saying, “There’s not 6 inches, let alone 6 feet on those docks.” Blauss stressed that the priority should be on getting children back into school, a feat complicated by a lack of social distancing and potential spread of the virus. Despite some objection from other members of the Board that the issues were separate, Blauss said he felt that they really weren’t. He also referenced the loss of the Whitman-Hanson graduation due to the actions of a couple of seniors.   

Following deliberation, the Board voted 3-2 in favor of opening Cranberry Cove with proper signage and in compliance with Governor Baker’s orders. Blauss and Hickey were the dissenting votes. The Board also took a vote to extend the FY 2021 to FY 2022 camping season at Camp Kiwanee from May 9, 2021 to October 31, 2021. It passed unanimously.

Marijuana Cultivation

Mitchell told the Board that they would need to select a peer review firm for the marijuana cultivation special permit application that was submitted by Impress LLC on August 6. Feodoroff as well as Town Planner Deb Pettey were available to answer questions and make recommendations to the Board. Federoff explained the need for the peer review saying it was necessary to have engineers who are engaged with the town analyze the plans submitted by Impress LLC to ensure that they are consistent with the neighborhood. Of greatest concern is the mechanical plans which will include odor control as that was the type of concern most voiced during the town’s hearing. Pettey offered that the town could handle the review of the site plans but would not be able to properly review the mechanical plans. According to her, the firm Trinity would be able to handle the bulk of the needed review.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said, “I don’t want us doing anything in house, they are on the hook to pay for this. I want to make sure it is thoroughly peer reviewed… if we need to get two engineering firms – one to look at mechanical and one to look at site and the rest of the stuff, then I think that’s what we do.” Federoff agreed saying that the town did not need to limit itself to one engineer but noted that they would want to be sure not to duplicate efforts if choosing to go with more than one firm. The Board voted to allow Town Administrator John Stanbrook to select the firm or firms.

Committee Openings

The Board decided to elect Blauss and FitzGerald-Kemmett to the task of interviewing candidates to fill the at-large vacancies on the new De-Regionalization Feasibility Committee. Hickey will serve on the committee to represent the Board of Selectmen and Kevin Sullivan will represent the Finance Committee. Blauss and FitzGerald-Kemmett will interview 11 candidates before making their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen during the August 25 meeting.

FitzGerald-Kemmett read from a lengthy list of town committees in need of volunteers. They included the Facebook Upkeep Committee, 200th Anniversary Committee, Conservation Commission (associate members), Cultural Council, Disabilities, Economic Development, Finance, Highway Building Committee, Historical Commission, Memorial Day and Patriotic Observance, Memorial Field Trustees, North River Commission, and an alternate for the Zoning Board. Applications for appointment as well as information on the committees are available on the town website.

Voter Registration and Early Voting

A voter registration session will be held on Saturday, August 22 from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 8 pm at the town hall. It will be the last chance to register to vote for the September primary. The town will offer in-person early voting for the September primary on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 at the town hall from 8 am until 12 pm. Early voting will also be available during regular working hours from Monday, August 24 through Friday, August 28.

Town Finances

The Board voted to accept the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act reimbursement money. According to Stanbrook, the town is eligible to receive over $900,000 through the Act.

Stanbrook told the Board that the state has announced the much-anticipated numbers for Chapter 70 funding and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA). Hanson will receive $14,658 in Chapter 70 funding – just under the amount of $14,955 budgeted at town meeting. The actual numbers for UGGA came in at $1,359,810 which represented an increase of $176,700 over what was budgeted and approved at town meeting.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation announced $4 million in mass trails grants. Hanson was on the list for the Bay Circuit Trail relocation and will be receiving $100,000. FitzGerald-Kemmett thanked Dyer and Chairman of the Conservation Commission Phil Clemons for their hard work. “That was some bright and lovely news in the middle of an otherwise dismal year,” she said.

Roadwork

In other news, Stanbrook told the Board that the construction at the Liberty St. and County Rd. intersection will begin on August 24. The work will be paid for out of the state’s Complete Streets Funding Program. Road paving, which is paid for through the town’s Ch 90 allotment, will be finished in the next few weeks on Rte. 14, County Rd., and West Washington St. Stanbrook said, “Please slow down while in the work zone to enhance safety for you and for the town’s employees and contractors. I would like to thank everyone for their patience while this needed work is completed.”

EEE

Finally, Mitchell said that the EEE level in Hanson is currently moderate. If it is increased to high, fields in town will automatically get shut down. Mitchell noted that it is not decided through a vote of the Board of Selectmen, but rather is a decision made by the Board of Health.

Manslaughter charges filed against Lyric’s mother

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Shaniqua Leonard, 29, of Whitman was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court Tuesday morning facing manslaughter charges in the death of her 2-year old daughter Lyric Farrell back in December 2019.

She was taken into custody in Whitman on Monday.

Leonard was originally charged with one count of reckless endangerment in connection to her daughter’s death but faced upgraded additional charges after results were released from the medical examiner’s office.

According to testimony and statements presented by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Kenney, the autopsy results and report from the medical examiner found Lyric to have substantial blunt force head trauma, a brain bleed, optical nerve and retinal hemorrhaging.

The reasons offered by Leonard as to how Lyric was injured and as it was seen on the cell phone videos showing Lyric banging her head – were not comparable to the level of the sustained injury she experienced.

She died on Dec. 31, 2019, according to Kenney in a 3 ½ minute phone call to 911 EMS the night she was taken to the hospital.  Lyric was found propped up on a couch wrapped in a blanket. Leonard stated in the call to EMS, which was recorded, that she didn’t think the child was breathing. Whitman EMS started CPR after gaining entry to the house and noted the six other siblings were fully dressed and wearing jackets.

Leonard offered explanations and videos from her cell phone which were later obtained by the State police to offer an account of the 2-year old banging her own head on the floor and giving reasons such as:  the child hurt herself causing her own head trauma.

Kenney entering the statements and interviews with doctors and specialists who treated Lyric that the amount of trauma she sustained was comparable to a severe car accident.

There were various levels of bruising, healing and scratches on the child’s back and between her shoulders, which did not match statements Leonard made regarding the child’s causing self injury and contradicted testimony made by the six other children.

Sharon Farrell, Lyric’s grandmother, and her sister Laura, Lyric’s great aunt, sat in the proceedings.  They made a brief, joint statement outside the court.

“We are just happy that there has been a charge brought forth in this and we are hoping this continues and we will get justice for her.  We were favored. We are impressed… we are happy that they are keeping her (Leonard)… and we are waiting for justice for Lyric after that we are going to see if we can get justice with DCF.

“They should have never gave Lyric back to her mother, “ said her grandmother Sharon Farrell who wore a silver heart necklace and a purple shirt with Lyric’s smiling face.

“Her smile. Her smile and she was a sweet, sweet girl,” Sharon Farrell said. This is how she remembers her granddaughter.

Lyric lived with her grandmother up until two weeks before the 2019 holidays when DCF returned her to Leonard – who biologically had six other children. She had lost and regained custody of all of the children just months prior to Lyrics death.  Lyric was the last child placed back with Leonard. The children ranged in ages of 12 down to year old twins.

  Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz had requested a $100,000 cash bail on Leonard in connection with the updated charges.  GPS monitoring, no contact with any of her children, mental health counseling, and no possession of a firearm were among the stipulations requested by the Commonwealth.

In the  serious concern of Leonard being a flight risk, which the judge took into consideration in his final decision, it was apparent she had tried to travel to California and had contacted family in Mississippi the very night of Lyric’s trauma transport resulting in her death two days later.

Michael Tumposky, Leonard’s defense attorney, argued that she has stayed in compliance with all of the court imposed conditions of her release for the past 7 months on $2500 bail, and did not attempt to leave or see any family out of state.

“If there was any intent or ability on her part to flee while she was out on $2500 cash bail possibly looking at a murder charge she would’ve done so,” he stated.

Leonard was present in the court and she pled not guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to reckless endangerment of a child.

The imposed bail for Leonard on Tuesday was $25,000 cash bail and no contact direct or indirect with any of her biological children.

The children were taken away from Leonard’s custody nearly eight months ago. The children have been placed in foster homes, are receiving therapy and are in place for adoption, according to Kenney.

  Leonard is due to appear in Plymouth Court in September.

W-H District financing questioned

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 11 decided to seek a joint meeting with the School Committee and district officials on the school budget assessment issue within the Regional Agreement.

Selectman Randy LaMattina suggested the discussion in open session, as it had been discussed that way by the School Coommittee, on Thursday, Aug. 6 — as well as on Facebook. The School Committee had voted 7-3 to table the issue.

“Obviously, this is something that has drastically affected our two towns,” LaMattina said. “Over the last six or seven months now, we’ve talked about partnership.”

He said the last budget process was part of the effort to try to preserve that partnership, and he was seeking a sense of the board’s opinion on the “obvious issue” that will hang over the partnership between two towns and school district until it is properly addressed.

The issue he takes up now, LaMattina said, is that through documents uncovered by Assistant Town Administator Lisa Green over the last couple of years, and a statement from a recent Regional Agreement committee illustrates that nothing points to actual malfeasance.

“Why [the assessment issue] was never discovered? I don’t know,” he said. “The talking point has been, ‘We never knew.’ I thoroughly disagree with that statement that somebody did not know. … Unfortunately we didn’t know about this and, when I say we, I mean the towns of Whitman and Hanson.”

LaMattina noted School Committee member Fred Small asked for a third-party investigation, including the Whitman and Hanson Select Boards. He concurred, not out of a goal of seeking financial retribution, LaMattina said, but to obtain a proper explanation to the towns and accountability to the taxpayers.

“One member of the School Committee made some statements [Aug. 6] as if current sitting Selectmen had covered this up,” LaMattina said. “I think that is an aggregious statement. I think this board has been at the forefront of trying to find an answer to this.”

The School Committee on Thursday, Aug. 6 discussed the issue toward the end of a lengthy meeting centering on the school reopening plan.

Small had moved that Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak be empowered to collaborate with the two Select Boards and the District’s legal counsel and town counsels, if needed, to “contact and work with the appropriate investigative authority … in order to determine if there was any impropriety or malfeasance concerning the methodology of the Regional School’s assessment over the past several years.”

School Committee member Dawn Byers asked if he had a time period in mind, to which Small suggested perhaps 2013 forward.

“What I’m hoping to accomplish here is we would have a third party that would be looking into the assessment situation and we can finally be able to get an unbiased assessment of what had occurred, be able to decide where we go from there, and close the door and move on.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes noted that, as of the Aug. 6 meeting no others had been contacted about the motion.

School Committee member Christopher Howard suggested a third party, perhaps a law firm “with nothing to do with this” be hired to look into it.

He said it should not be limited to the state and suggested it might not be the best course of action to have the state do that.

“I think it requires some additional thought,” Howard said.

Hayes suggested the motion be amended to require the boards turn over all pertinent documents to any investigators who might be looking into the issue, rather than empowering the superintendent.

“I consider our superintendent to be an unbiased third party, because whatever happened, happened before the current administration,” Small said.

School Committee member David Forth said he would not consider any party involved in the issue to be completely unbiased.

“I think we should take more time with this,” he said, suggesting another meeting in which the committee could focus on it more and obtain more documentation. He also said any decision to investigate should come as a formal vote.

School Committee member Christopher Scriven agreed with Forth and Howard, questioning the ultimate objective, which Small said was closure.

Forth, who said he has already made inquiries with the state inspector general and the Attorney General’s office about how such a probe would move forward, asked if the Committee would be able to move forward if “the people who caused the problem are continuing to be part of a future discussion, whatever that may be.”

He argued that the there has been so much focus on COVID-19 that, there hasn’t been enough time to look into the assessment issue. New member Hillary Kniffen argued that, now that a budget has been approved, it is time to move forward.

Scriven agreed that the issue can’t be passed over in the hope the issue would just go away.

“I just think the divisiveness is not going to lead to good,” she said.

School Committee member Dan Cullity said the investigation would not be about budget or which methodology was used, but about what happened along the way “either deceiving, hiding, doing whatever” in the past.

“We can’t go back and fix any of that,” Cullity said. “You have to find your history to make sure you don’t repeat it.”

Howard leaned toward a discussion in executive session before sharing the information with the public, while Forth favored an open session for that discussion.

“When we’re done, we owe it to the public to have everything transparent,” Howard said. “I just don’t know how to get everything out on the table publically without there being legal ramifications, which is our responsibility to understand.”

LaMattina on Aug. 11 called for a public meeting in which the issue is aired out and a third-party investigation is possibly authorized.

Selectman Brian Bezanson agreed, also arguing — like Small at the School Committee meeting — that both towns need closure.

“We owe it the taxpayers to find out what happened and to remedy it so it can’t happen again,” Bezanson said. “Was it a mistake? Was it incompetence and then a cover-up? Who knows?

He said an investigation by the state inspector general or other independent agency to determine why Whitman paid $4 million more than they should have.

Selectman Dan Salvucci agreed, but was concerned if they were going over the School Committee’s heads. Selectman Justin Evans expressed concern about it turning into a proxy fight, preferring to see all three boards come together in a public meeting.

“We have 10 [School Committee] officials,” said Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “It’s their issue. So I have some hesitancy to take the ball and run with it.”

He said things he would like to see, but are not likely to, are the schools admitting the error and Hanson to admit Whitman carried them all those years.

“Maybe that’s what we’re looking to get,” LaMattina said. “We’re looking to say, ‘You wronged us,’ and through that have accountability.”

That accountability can ultimately rebuild the partnership, he said.

In other business, Whitman Selectmen on Aug. 11 reviewed Lynam’s job description and the process for hiring a new Town Administrator as he prepares to retire.

If the town opts to go with a search committee, he strongly suggested the board keep it small, with two Selectmen, another town official — he recommended the treasurer-collector — the assistant superintendent of schools and a citizen at-large or two. If the board does not want to use a committee, someone is going to have to coordinate with Paradigm, the search contractor on developing candidates, Lynam said.

LaMattina said the board is strong enough to make that decision, and that is the kind of work they were elected to do. He envisioned that the company would supply the board with three-to-five candidates to interview.

“We’re the people that are dealing with it constantly, and I don’t remember being asked to be on the search committee for the superintendent,” he said. Bezanson and Salvucci agreed.

Lynam said he believes Selectmen are fully capable of making the decision without a committee, if that is the direction in which they want to go.

The board decided to have the consultant narrow the applicants to a final group of the best three-to-five for them to interview. Lynam said it could take up to the end of September. While he used October as a target date for retirement, he would consider staying on until the search is concuded.

W-H honors state champions

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As Division 2 state champions the Whitman Hanson boys’ basketball team was honored on Monday night at the Dennis M. O’Brien field. Their showcase of talents at the TD Garden played out in March when they clinched the victory but fell short when the season was shortened in June due to Covid.

In June when preparations for the  final game were being made  and immediately following the cancelled game against Taconic Coach Bob Rodgers talked with The Express Sports Reporter Nate Rollins.

“One thing I told the kids is to look up at the banners in the gym on that boys’ basketball league championship banner, there’s a co-champion in there,” said Rodgers, who wrapped up his 20th year on the Panthers’ bench. “Nobody knows what year it is. It’s such a great accomplishment for the kids to win our first-ever state championship. It’s not going to say co-champions; it’s going to say state champions. That’s what they are.”

The team was honored in Monday’s short ceremony as parents and their varsity athletes viewed several clips of their season with memories highlighting the final year for seniors playing at Whitman Hanson.

Pete Smith representative of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association MIAA also presented the team with medals on behalf of the organization.  The champs received personalized jackets and championship rings as well.

Cancellation of the June title game Rodgers addressed the loss of playing time and the many changes experienced since the spring due to the pandemic.

“For the one last moment to be together as a team and I knew that it would be tremendously disappointing but when you think of what the whole world, the kids that play in the spring and families that have lost loved ones (pause) it really pales in comparison,” said Rodgers, who has officially served his 20th season with the Panthers.

During the ceremony he recalled the contributions, and efforts of players calling their team work ‘unselfish play, with everybody contributing’ to the state championships at the Garden.

He acknowledged several families as well as players who had tough roads and challenges; applauding their countless contributions of time, selflessness and volunteer efforts through the four years in the Whitman Hanson basketball and sports programs.

Sue Moss, retired wellness teacher and sports photographer at Whitman Hanson who is lovingly known as “Boss Moss,” was given a jacket and a hearty thank you for all her time and volunteer work she devotes to the sports department and families.

(Express sports correspondent Nathan Rollins contributed to this report.)

Whitman keeps offices appointment-only

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WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 11 addressed COVID-19 issues centering on Gov. Charlie Baker’s new travel policy and resident complaints about Town Hall access. Selectmen voted unanimously to maintain the current access policy for Town Hall and to support the travel policy.

“Things aren’t really getting any better,” said Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “We’ve been lucky in this state because we’ve kept it controlled so far.”

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said he has researched surrounding towns as to how town hall access is being handled. In Whitman, all employees are at work and delivering all requested town services through alternative means. A drop box is available for payment of municipal bills, which can also be paid by USPS or online. Ballots mailed to residents for voting may also be placed in the drop box.

Selectman Justin Evans asked how the state primary election on Sept. 1 — and the week of early voting before that — would be handled.

Lynam said that, just as with the local election in June, residents would be required to enter by one door and exit by another with rope lines directing flow and surfaces continually disinfected.

For the primary, Town Clerk Dawn Varley has recommended that other Town Hall offices be closed both for the primary and the Nov. 3 general election. The board also unanimously voted to support that recommendation.

“If you have something that requires direct communication and contact with a town employee, we are handling those on a schedule basis,” Lynam said. Two meeting areas have been set up in the Town Hall auditorium spaced to permit both privacy and social distancing. Those meetings require an appointment.

“The question now becomes should we open the door and just let people come in at will?” Lynam asked the board.

Everyone currently entering the Town Hall, for either appointments or to work must enter through the handicapped entrance and pause for a temperature scan.

“If we open to the public in an on-demand basis, we’re not going to be able to do that unless we hire somebody to attend to the door,” he said. “The significant majority of surrounding towns are doing exactly what we’re doing.”

The other towns Lynam surveyed have closed senior centers and libraries, are maintaining town services and requiring appointments to enter the town halls.

Of four town halls he found that had open access, two required people to enter through a single door staffed by an attendant.

While Lynam said he would abide by the board’s decision, he advocated waiting at least until school is back in session to see how things progress.

“I would just hate to see us eliminate those limitations and then have an employee contract COVID,” he said. The town of Fairhaven has already seen that happen, according to Lynam.

Selectman Randy LaMattina asked if there were any services not being provided under the current access policy.

Lynam said the passport program (almost all international travel is affected by a ban on U.S. travelers because of the pandemic), and one person complained about what they felt was their inability to get a marriage license. He spoke to the town clerk, who reported that office is working on marriage licenses by appointment Tuesdays from about noon to 7 p.m.

“To my knowledge, we are not preventing anyone from obtaining the services that they would expect from the town of Whitman, other than the Senior Center,” he said.

LaMattina urged that the board continue to err on the side of caution.

“We’ve been pretty lucky as a town,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had any employees exposed. If we’re not sacrificing services, I wound say status quo.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci agreed the town should maintain current practices until Gov. Baker changes guidelines or announced a vaccine is available.

Travel policy

Baker’s travel policy — pertaining to travel to states where the virus has not yet declined or leveled off — has circulated to all town departments. “Let’s be practical about this,” he said. “We’re in a pandemic —no question on anybody’s part that we’re there — [and] we have to do some responsible things to help control the spread, and one of those is limiting your exposure by not traveling to places where there are problems.”

He asked the board to adopt the policy to help manage the pandemic.

Selectman Brian Bezanson asked whether there were exemptions for town employees or essential workers.

“Unlike the original COVID requirement, this does not exempt public safety personnel. This applies to everyone,” Lynam said.

It also requires that people traveling on vacation certify they are COVID-free or undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Lynam said a problem lies in the time it takes to get test results — sometimes as long as 10 days in the worst-case scenario.

It does not, however, apply to shopping day trips.

“For example, Rhode Island’s on the ‘bad list.’ If you drive across the border to buy a six-pack or whatever, and then come back home, that’s not considered travel,” he said. “This is self-reporting, too. People will have to self-certify that they’ve done what’s necessary to comply with the policy, and that’s a regulation promulgated by the governor’s office.”

Evans said he initially shared Bezanson’s question, but noted the order exempts critical infrastructure employees who come into the state to do work on that infrastructure.

“If we were called in as mutual aid for a Providence fire, they’d be exempt,” Evans said, asking if the town could specifically vote in the test requirement to make it clearer.

Lynam said he tried to avoid writing in anything that further limits compliance with the policy.

“The regulation is specific,” he said. “Whether our policy says it or not, if they’re violating the regulation, then they are in violation. … I’m not sure that it’s necessary to dually define it.”

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green said she has been doing some research into COVID testing, noting Baker has issued new testing guidelines to make it easier for asymptomatic people to obtain tests. However, one must call a test site to make an appointment. But one location in Brockton disconnects people who press the prompt as neither a Brockton Community Health patient nor symptomatic. Wait times for Community Health patients are long. At other testing facilities, there is a cost that requires a reimbursement process and a wait for about seven days for results.

“It’s difficult for people who have vacation plans either out of state or who have booked or purchased tickets to an event prior to any of this going into effect, and if they don’t go they aren’t refunded any money,” she said. “So they’re not making it very easy.”

Bezanson asked if quarantine periods were on personal time.

“Part of the policy intent is to address the difference between discretion and need,” Lynam said. He and his wife, he said as an example, were planning to go to Vermont next week, but have decided to cancel that trip.

“The issue is the notice for travel requires notification of the employer,” he said. “I think it’s irresponsible for an employee to decide on their own, ‘We’re going to travel somewhere, and if we have to quarantine it’s your problem.’”

He said there has to be some give and take. Sick time would be permitted to be used for quarantine, however, Lynam said, adding that the town has used working from home as an option.

Both Lynam and Evans said they have had to cancel plans for travel to weddings this year.

Greeen said people who still want to go on with vacations can accommodate their travel and event plans.