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The sweeter taste of lemons

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WHITMAN — Connor Clough, 12, of Whitman spent a portion of his summer with a debt looming over his head — he had borrowed $25 from his nana and was determined to pay her back.

Mission accomplished — and then some.

With assistance from several family members he decided to open Connor’s Lemonade Stand in his front yard on Beulah Street to raise the money he needed.

Spunky, amusing and tall Connor is on the autism spectrum and has been learning life skills including handling money at school. He recommended the new raspberry lemonade or the fruit punch to this writer as he sat behind his fold-out table while his mom Heather Clough recalled the busy few weeks they have had.

Heather told him that, once he paid his nana back, he could save the rest of the money toward a Nintendo Switch and they headed out again to sell more lemonade for his next goal.

Two weekends ago he got a big surprise from a local car group when members read a post from Heather on social media, inviting people to stop in for her son’s lemonade stand.

The Mopars of Mass., and car club members from Whitman, dropped by and presented Connor with a Nintendo Switch and welcomed him to be a lifelong friend.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the stand opened on a rain delay with Connor later serving lemonade happily posing for photos and greeting neighbors.

“He told me the other night he might be famous,” said his Nana Peggy after they saw his story on the news.

He has, indeed realized some celebrity, which according to his family has done wonders for his self esteem.

He attends the League School in East Walpole where he is learning social skills, interacting with others, forming friendships, managing money and lessons in giving back.

When asked what he will do with earnings Connor with side coaching from Nana Peggy, said he was being “forced” to save money by opening a bank account.

His mother gladly accepted the role of accountant knowing that was his next step in learning about saving and handling money.

Connor quickly chimed in that he thought opening a bank account with added interest was a good move and he would re-think the idea.

The family is also planning on donating money toward a local Autism program to help other families.

In a special moment Nana Peggy was the prime receiver of the largest hug Connor could muster. At least a foot shorter than Connor, his nana softly reminded him during their heartfelt embrace to squeeze her only a tiny bit.

They Clough’s also expressed their appreciation to the patrons of Connor’s Lemonade Stand and the positive response from the community including a local woman who gave Connor a game to go in his new Nintendo Switch, hugs and high fives from the Whitman police and firefighters, and visitors from all over town who stopped to offer Connor encouragement for his fund raising efforts.

Whitman Police Chief Scott Benton retiring

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WHITMAN — Police Chief Scott Benton retires on Monday, Sept. 16 after a 33-year career in law enforcement.

He said he is looking forward to a new era and plans to remain productive however he is looking forward to a greater quantity of downtime.

With two new grandchildren, and another arriving in the coming year, he is looking forward to being a papa along with traveling with his wife Kathie.

His influences in his profession were his father and his uncle who were both police officers, but he didn’t decide until halfway through college to begin his law enforcement career. Benton said from the beginning of his career through the end his clearest intentions were helping others — which drew him to the badge at the start.

“I certainly believe in what a police officer stands for,” Benton said. “You level the playing field on the domestic front- you make it fair for everybody.”

Step by step he climbed the ladder in the Whitman Police department in the community where he grew up. Beginning as an auxiliary officer. In September 1986, to a permanent reserve officer in May 1988 he was a full time patrolman in January 1990 and within two years became the first DARE officer for the Town of Whitman.

He made sergeant in May 1994, detective sergeant in 1997, followed by deputy chief in 2008, and Chief in   2012.

“When they need your help they are usually desperate. It doesn’t need to be a life and death thing but when people come to you (the police) they are looking for your help,” he said.

He has reunited with a few victims over the years who, he recollects, were at a disadvantageous place in their life. The circumstances involving child victims are the ones he will not forget but various occasional triggers evoke memories of other cases from his career.

Like all first responders, being an officer on the street can bring daily occurrences that leave residual emotions inked on the soul.

It has remained an unspoken bond in one particularly horrific domestic case; the victim would likely have been killed if they didn’t reach her on time.

He describes himself as a protective father with an incredible family bond. There were periods of time in their personal lives that he felt his children had endured comments and mistreatment because of his profession. Nonetheless he has no regrets in the choices he has made.

He recalls his own father paying for college while he was a kid cutting classes. He acknowledged that his father gave him a great opportunity to be anything he wanted. In a joking manner he remarked that his father just got smarter and smarter every year. He plans to retire on Sept., 16, that would have been his father’s 80th birthday. He passed away in the fall of 2018.

Benton has witnessed numerous transformations in society over his three decades involving relationships between citizens and officers, one topic of concern he has raised is the use of police body cameras.

“If I was a police officer today I would want to have a body camera to protect myself so that the entire incident was captured,” he said

Based on social media it is unfair of someone to post what they want you to see from an incident that took place- however most of the time that is not the full story.

At the end of the day that’s all we can ever ask for in life is to be treated fairly, he said.

Benton will pass the torch to Deputy Chief Timothy Hanlon also a long time career Whitman officer.

“I was lucky to have Tim (Deputy Chief Hanlon) he has been a great partner in this. He will lead Whitman to its next chapter.   I know he will do a great job. “

In terms of being remembered as chief  Benton said, “I‘d like to think I was a policeman who just happened to become a chief for a little while.”

Study reviews Hanson economic climate

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HANSON — Selectmen on Tuesday, Aug. 27 heard a report on the town’s Economic Development plan from consultant Frank Mahady, owner of FXM Associates of Mattapoisett.

Mahady’s study was funded by a budget amendment  filed in the FY19 state budget by state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, and supported by state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton. A Town Meeting vote authorized the appropriation for the study in the Route 27 corridor and — in the town generally — as a method of assessing general office, retail and industrial space, as well as rental housing needs, in town.

“The greatest demand [nationwide] for commercial space is in so-called industrial wholesale space because of … the need to establish distribution centers on a broader basis,” he said.

Mahady found that an increase in Hanson’s population and number of households is projected to continue, and already exceeds rates of Plymouth County and the state overall.

Hanson’s median household income is “substantially higher” — at $106,000 than Plymouth County at $79,000 and the state at $81,000 — and a higher number of employed people per household. There is also a higher proportion of residents in owner-occupied single-family homes.

At the same time, between 2007 and 2017, jobs in Hanson decreased by 1 percent while county job availability increased by 14 percent and 15 percent statewide.

It had rebounded some since 2011, Mahady pointed out, however.

“Looking at market conditions and trends …we projected that demand for office space in Hanson and surrounding towns is about 8,000 square feet per year over the next few years,” he said. “The vacancy rates are low.”

Mahady said demand for rental housing that can support new construction is substantial, especially in the area of high-end rentals in the neighborhood of $2,700 per month. Tax rates are competitive.

“We think there is a strong potential, from a market standpoint, for mixed-use office/retail/restaurant and residential development in the vicinity of the MBTA station,” Mahady said. “There is a retail gap right now.”

Zoning changes and addressing wastewater treatment issues are required, however, to make such development possible.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said progress made by the owner of the former Ocean Spray building is moving in the mixed-use direction.

“No one should be afraid of rental housing targeted to young professionals and empty-nesters, which is what everybody is doing,” Mahady said.

He said while he did not interview Selectmen due to an oversight, Mahady’s firm interviewed a dozen interviews with business owners in town. While he could tell them who he spoke with, confidentiality agreements dictate that he could not give details about what they said.

Police dispatch

The board also heard department reports from Police Chief Michael Miksch and Town Accountant Todd Hassett.

Miksch focused on the changes to come from joining the regional dispatch center in Duxbury.

He is leaning toward having police officers staff the station after the change, to prevent having a dark station.

Station counts determined that about 300 people a month walk into the station, which Miksch thought seemed high until he reviewed the traffic data.

“On a daily basis, just under 14,000 cars drive by that station,” Miksch said, adding that between 15,000 and 17,000 drive by on peak days.

“That would explain, to me, the number of walk-ins.”

About half of  those people walk into the station because they need a police officer, he said. “Any of those tasks that the civilians can handle, I can teach a cop to do. The other 50 percent, I can’t have the civilian do — dealing with restraining orders, taking in firearms or ammunition.”

He said it also provides a deeper pool of officers to deploy and noted that civilians can’t be sent into the cell block to check on prisoners.

The fire department has also reported that about 15 people a year walk in seeking medical assistance. For his department, Miksch said the answer lies in hiring new officers.

Five dispatchers can be translated into four police officers, he said, two of which can be hired before the regional dispatch takes over on July 1, 2020.

“It’s never been a notion for us to have a dark station,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “That’s never been on the table.”

She said regional dispatch should be cost-neutral, to which Miksch agreed, and estimated that two officers could be in place by January.

Revenue check-up

Hassett provided a financial update to Selectmen as well, reporting that overall revenues to the general fund have exceeded budget by $550,000.

“We did particularly well with excise taxes, licenses and permit revenue,” he said. Pending additional information from the Department of Revenue, he also expects another $82,000 in intergovernmental revenue.

Overall budget returns for the year are just over $800,000. Hassett also told Selectmen he felt town facilities maintenance efforts should be consolidated under a single manager, but that the current issues surrounding education funding might delay any movement on that front.

The Board of Selectmen also reviewed warrant articles and voted to close the warrant for the October Town Meeting.

(This story was amended on Friday, Sept. 6 to clarify the funding source for the study.)

First day of school earns an ‘a-minus’

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Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak gave the Wednesday, Aug. 28 first day of school an A-minus, citing a minor sewage problem at WHRHS as the only noteworthy glitch in an otherwise smooth opening to the 2019-20 school year.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes noted a “few buses were late here and there” as parents photographed their children’s first day.

“Kids had smiles on their faces,” said Szymaniak, who visited every district school along with Assistant Superintendent George Ferro. “It was a great day. It was great to see kids.”

He said the high school’s sewage issue, which occurred at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, was quickly repaired.

Szymaniak also said the open houses held at district schools were “all packed,” and noted Gary Pellitier is the interim principal at Indian Head School and will be introduced to the School Committee at a later meeting.

Faculty and staff attended a welcome back program Monday, Aug. 26 featuring speaker Mike Smith, a nonprofit entrepreneur and skateboarder, who brought a message of personal integrity and critical thinking.

“Mike’s not your typical presenter,” Szymaniak said, describing Smith’s long hair and penchant for wearing hats. “He just didn’t fit into the typical W-H teacher crowd. … But he had a captivated audience for about an hour — he’s phenominal and left a good message about how we should be teaching our kids.”

Szymaniak said Smith focused on character as the most important quality he looks for in potential employees. He also spoke of how the average college student is changing majors six or seven times before graduating just as they will likely change careers six or seven times during their working lives.

“It’s not the teach-to the textbook, it’s teach to the kid and he even said, ‘I don’t necessarily want the straight-A AP kid, who’s just textbook, cookie-cutter. I want the kid who’s a good person,’” Szymaniak said. “He really hit the social-emotional learning piece that we were trying to drive home. Of being a good person.”

Smith told educators that “I could teach a good person what I want them to learn, but I can’t teach them how to be not arrogant, how to be selfless and working with a team,” Szymaniak said. “I think he left a great message.”

SJ Services donated a catered lunch, cooked by facilities staff and an ice cream truck’s visit was donated by Collegiate Press.

Budget panel seeks financial review

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WHITMAN — The Override Evaluation Committee on Monday, Aug. 26, will be working with retired Duxbury Finance Director John Madden to review current town finances and plan for the future.

Madden, who started in Hingham before working in Plymouth for 17 years before moving on to Duxbury for 12 years, has 31 years of municipal finance experience. He has also worked in the private sector on converting accounting systems for cities and towns across the Commonwealth. He is currently education coordinator for the Mass. Municipal Auditors and Accountants’ Association, which he has also served as president.

He expects to provide a progress report to the town in a couple weeks. In the meantime, the School Committee has also contracted with the Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) to conduct a review of the school district’s finances including minimum local funding of the towns.

“You guys are my primary focus,” Madden said after outlining past work he has done for the town of Rockland, as well as recurring work in Uxbridge, Woburn and Mansfield. “Budgeting had been the greatest aspect of being finance director. That, and forecasting and projecting — I just love that.”

Madden said when he started in Duxbury the town had been using nearly $1.9 million in free cash to balance the budget.

“Once you begin to use free cash for ongoing expenses, then it’s no longer considered free cash,” Madden said. “Eventually, you run out of free cash and the tenor of conversations generally changes.”

He said he has spoken to Finance Committee member Scott Lambiase about what the Override Evaluation Committee is looking into and that he can bring perspective to the process.

Madden said he anticipates working closely with Town Administrator Frank Lynam and in talking with the town accountant and, potentially, the building inspector, assessor, “and anybody else you want me to talk to.”

“I’d be comfortable going back about six years to see changes … just to get a look back,” he said. “What are your trends? Are there any anomalies in there? What has changed and what have you done with those changes?”

He plans to translate those five years into a picture of the current financial situation, as well as a look forward five years.

“We’re having a hard time meeting everyone’s needs,” said Committee Chairman Randy LaMattina. “We have seen the school district suffer [and] we’ve given them a good chunk of money but it doesn’t seem enough.”

He told Madden that, ultimately, the committee was set up to formulate a strategic plan of where the town’s finances will be in five years.

“If we’re going to fix it, we want to fix it now,” with the help of a new set of eyes, LaMattina said.

“I know we can get there,” Madden said. “I know we can develop a working tool.”

To do that, he said he needs to know information, including practices done from routine but not written down, about the town that is different from his experience.

“It’s the nuances of what makes Whitman Whitman that I need to know,” Madden said.

During the meeting Lynam also reported that, in order to fund this fiscal year, $350,000 of what historically has been excess levy capacity was used to fund, among other things, the increase in the WHRSD budget.

“The concern I had expressed at that meeting is that we were using money that we couldn’t readily identify, but we anticipate would be available, and as an offset we did retain free cash available for appropriation in the event that these numbers weren’t there,” Lynam said.

He asked the town accountant to work through the available numbers and with the Department of Revenue to extrapolate what those numbers would be.

The resulting estimate is that $553,000 will be available in the levy capacity when the tax rate is set, however, the $350,000 already used for the school budget represents part of that figure.

“If all of these numbers are supported, we will have an additional levy of $203,000 when we set our tax rate in late October or early November,” Lynam said.

Lynam and Madden will be asked to formalize how that is done, according to LaMattina.

The UMass, Boston Collins Center will present a capital plan for Whitman at a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Town Hall Auditorium.

Step one in solving W-H budget woes

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The School Committee plans to open it’s Wednesday, Sept. 18 meeting with a public hearing on the funding formula on which assessments to the towns of Whitman and Hanson are set.

Lawyers for the committee, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and school and town officials will be asked to attend.

“This needs to be done immediately, because it affects how we move forward budgetarily,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes. “It has serious budget impact for everything that we do and this needs to get settled first. This is step one.”

Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam agreed this issue is too critical to get bogged down on.

“This stuff is fairly complicated and, unless we’ve got our eye squarely on the ball at all times, things will be either misinterpreted or not understood,” he said. “Let’s just say what’s done is done. We need to move forward. …The quicker we work on this, the quicker we work on the real work at hand, which is establishing a budget.”

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak provided information on the funding formula as he presented an update to the School Committee Wednesday, Aug. 28 on Whitman’s Override Evaluation Committee, which last met Monday, Aug. 26. [see related story, page one].

Regional agreement

The School Committee approved a proposed new review of the Regional Agreement in June 2018, which was approved by Hanson voters that November. Whitman voters, however, passed over the article at Town Meeting in May.

“Questions had started to arise surrounding the Regional Agreement, whether a town could move out easier than not, but there was an overarching question mark about how the funding was broken up in the two towns,” Szymaniak said.

Szymaniak said the new language was confusing to him, particularly regarding the alternative method of assessment that has been used in the district since 1991 and the structural method requested by DESE. There has also been some question about whether DESE’s request was, indeed, a requirement.

A couple of School Committee members presented Szymaniak with a document regarding that recommendation dated 2007 “encouraging regional school districts to use the statutory method of assessment.”

There are two ways to fund a regional school district, according to Szymaniak. The statutory method is based on the minimum local school contribution and the alternative method, which does not — it is instead currently based on enrollment figures with Whitman bearing the cost of 60 percent of the school budget and Hanson 40 percent. Under the statutory method, he told Hanson Selectmen on Aug. 27 that Hanson might be paying more under the alternative method.

“That will change the amount of funding given by both communities,” Szymaniak said. He said he informed Hanson Selectmen that the change could be coming down the pike, but that School Department attorney Andrew Waugh has interpreted the situation as one where, if an alternative agreement is not adopted, the statutory agreement is used.

“The statutory agreement could swing the pendulum by close to $1 million from Whitman to Hanson,” Szymaniak said. He noted that Hanson Selectmen had questions and plan to seek counsel from their town attorney as well.

“It was more than a recommendation from DESE that we should do this,” he said. “Our counsel is involved with this. We’re still up in the air as far as a firm decision, but their guidance is them saying that we probably … should be using the statutory method for the fiscal 2021 budget.”

Szymaniak said that the alternative method — in which the funding for the prior year stays consistent and the assessment goes up based on pupil population — has been used by W-H.

“I’m an amateur at this,” Szymaniak said. “I’m walking through this for the first time, there’s a lot of new information and I’m not the numbers guy, yet.”

School Committee member Chris Scriven said he was looking for some direction on where the ambiguity lies, because his research on the DESE website indicates the statutory method is a requirement, not merely a recommendation.

“It looked like it was pretty clear,” Scriven said.

Szymaniak said he did not want to present inaccurate information, but wanted to present an idea of what is happening regarding the Regional Agreement.

He read the memo aloud at the meeting, a portion of which requires an annual unanimous affirmative vote by the appointing authority as required to change it to the alternative method.

“We’ve been using the alternative assessments, but I don’t remember us ever, prior to me, taking a vote on this piece of it,” Szymaniak said. “We’re trying to define what we need to do, as a committee, as a district, to move forward, and that’s the legal piece of it.”

A letter Szymaniak received from Waugh indicated that such a vote would be required to use the alternative method.

Hanson Selectmen have placed a place-holder article on the October Town Meeting to discuss revoking the town’s approval of the revised Regional Agreement.

Hayes said the Regional Agreement was revised simply to update it, especially where it referred to schools that no longer exist.

School Committee Christopher Howard said the issue carries the risk of moving officials’ eye off the ball.

“Let’s move on this quickly,” he said, noting that it could bog down efforts to move on improving the budget issue forward.

School Committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., asked how it could have gone unnoticed for 12 years, saying the state should have flagged any improper use of the alternative method by the district, despite the district’s annual filing of end of the year reports on how budget votes are taken.

Szymaniak said, while that is an issue of concern, it shouldn’t be allowed to derail progress on solving bigger budget issues.

“I want as clear a document as we can possibly have, moving forward in my tenure … so we’re not in a shade of gray,” he said.

Szymaniak, meanwhile, lauded the work and mission of Whitman’s Override Evaluation Committee.

“It’s a pretty awesome group of folks that are committed to, I think, what’s in the best interests of Whitman, specifically to see if there’s a need for an override in Whitman and what would that be?” Szymaniak said. “I think we have a couple of things hanging out there … but the group is asking some really good questions to see where Whitman would be in the next five to 10 years financially.”

Reviews planned

He also noted that both the Override Evaluation Committee and the School Committee — using Mass. Association of Regional Schools (MARS) — have approved the conduct of reviews of their respective budgets and financial processes.

School Committee member Dawn Byers, who serves on the Override Evaluation Committee, said former Duxbury Finance Director John Madden’s review of Whitman’s financial picture is aimed to determine whether the town “really does need an override [for] a sustainable budget going forward.”

“The great thing about this committee is everyone has an equal voice at the table,” Szymaniak said. He noted the funding formula could have a “tremendous impact on the override and where the evaluation piece is and the financial needs of Whitman.”

Override panel Chairman Randy LaMattina, a member of Whitman’s Board of Selectmen said Madden will provide a progress report at the Monday, Sept. 16 meeting.

“The committee came up with this idea to add another level of transparency — another level of eyes doing an overview, an independent set of eyes — to go along with what Jeff has put forward with MARS,” LaMattina said. “It’s gathering information stage we’re at now.”

LaMattina said he does not think there is yet an answer to the question of whether an override will be necessary. He did say a previous estimate of October as a time frame for any Town Meeting to deal with an override issue was premature. Officials have lately been discussing the possibility of January or February for that.

A capital study conducted by the UMass Boston Collins Center will be presented at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Whitman Town Hall Auditorium during a joint session of the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee.

“All pieces will work together,” LaMattina said, including involvement by the School Committee and Hanson officials. “I don’t have any results for you right now, but we have made progress.”

Hayes thanked the Override Evaluation Committee for their work findig solutions, cautioning that it is a “monumental task” that won’t be accomplished overnight.

Lifted on the wings of love

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HANSON —  Army Black Hawk helicopters flew in formation this weekend at the Cranland Airport bringing honor, tribute and strength to the family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer Three Scott Landis a year after his death in a private plane crash.

The military training coincided with the anniversary — fitting, as the hosting grounds were one of the most cherished places in Scott’s life, and also where he died after his plane went down last August.

Staci Landis and her two children were embraced by hundreds of servicemen and women among their close family and friends. Although they gathered to celebrate the life and legacy Scott left behind while celebating the recent birth of his daughter Olivia Scott. The Landis’ had learned they were pregnant only a few days before his tragic accident. Jack, 2 ½ and his infant sister were two of the many children at the community event.

In total, there were six Army UH 60 Black Hawks, three Medevacs and a Lakota helicopter UH 72.

Dozens of cell phones were focused skyward as  guests recorded one Black Hawk after another cutting through the sky in a tremendous parade of mammoth military choppers, with rumbling engines and rotating blades.

All operating aircraft from around the state were on the grounds at Cranland Airport, according to CWO 3 Dan MacSwain who grew up in Hanson with Landis and flew overseas with him.

Staci Landis offered a special thank you to Cranland Airport, the Hanson fire department, and Scott’s former aviation unit for their support and execution to make the day as special as it was.

“Cranland was Scott’s favorite place on the planet so it was only fitting to celebrate him in that setting surrounded by his closest family and friends,” she said. “I learn more every day how many people loved my sweet Scott and how many lives he touched in his short life. It was a day filled with love, tears, and most importantly, Blackhawks.”

The choppers were due to continue their flight path toward Joint Base on Buzzard’s Bay Cape Cod for their training completion and a formal ceremony in Landis’ memory.

Hanson police and fire personnel, Boston Med Flight  as well as team members from the Plymouth County technical rescue were among those in attendance as part of the drill.

Catering was provided by Catering by Warren Inc. and Krazy Cook Catering.

Regional pact to face TM challenge

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HANSON — On the eve of the start to a new school year, Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak briefed Hanson Selectmen on district funding calculations, Whitman’s passing over the amended Regional Agreement at the May Town Meeting, and the potential impact of 15 years’ of Whitman billing errors for water and sewer at the high school.

During the Selectmen’s review of October Town Meeting warrant articles Tuesday, Aug. 27, the board added a place-holder article to revoke pervious Town Meeting approval of the amended Regional Agreement.

“If we don’t revoke the agreement we have in place, we could be locked into this right now … especially where it sounds ambiguous, at best,” said Hanson Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan in recommending a warrant article. “Just something to think about.”

“It’s easier to have it on, than not,” said Interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini.

There is no plan to revisit the fiscal 2020 school budget, Szymaniak said.

“One of my goals this year, after I met with School Committee last year, would be to be as up front with the Hanson Selectmen as inquisitive as the Whitman Selectmen have been,” Szymaniak said.

He reviewed how the Regional Agreement was revised in June 2018, and approved by Hanson Town Meeting that fall. Whitman voters, during a “difficult budget process,” Szymaniak noted, passed over the agreement.

“I started asking some questions about why the Regional Agreement was passed over, and the issue around funding came up,” he said.

There are two ways to fund a regional school district, according to Szymaniak. The statutory method is based on the minimum local school contribution and the alternative method, which does not — it is instead currently based on enrollment figures with Whitman bearing the cost of 60 percent of the school budget and Hanson 40 percent. Under the statutory method, he said Hanson might be paying more under the alternative method.

“It could be a substantial swing,” Szymaniak said. “I don’t know if members of the Regional Agreement Committee  knew that the statutory method was going to have an impact on the town of Hanson as drastic as it has.”

The issue was slated for further discussion at the Wednesday, Aug. 28 School Committee meeting.

He sought a recommendation on the issue from district legal counsel on how to proceed without an approved and signed Regional Agreement and was advised that the statutory method would be used until that happens.

The minimum local contribution takes into account inflation, enrollment, wage adjustment, property values, income and municipal revenue growth.

W-H has been funded through the alternative method since 1991, and, despite a 2007 recommendation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that all regional school districts begin using the statutory method, the district did not make that change. He said the 2018 revised Regional Agreement it is inferred that the statutory method be used, but not expressly written out.

Selectman Jim Hickey said he would be interested in looking up School Committee minutes from those discussions to determine why the DESE memo was not recommended at that time.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said it was likely at the time that, while DESE was recommending, but it wasn’t required.

“It seems as time has gone on, it’s a firmer position that DESE’s taking,” she said.

“When DESE usually recommends, that means it’s in effect,” Szymaniak said, adding that he does not see that yet, but noted Dennis-Yarmouth is also grappling with the question.   

FitzGerald-Kemmett also asked about the dollar amount Hanson would be shouldering, noting she had heard it to be about $900,000. Szymaniak confirmed that figure and said Whitman has not yet put the Regional Agreement on any warrant for a fall Town Meeting.

“We definitely appreciate the heads-up,” she said. “We appreciate being told about it.”

Whitman’s Override Evaluation Committee has hired consultant John Madden to conduct and audit/needs assessment, based on where the town could be financially in five years.

Marini said she has discussed the issue with Town Accountant Todd Hassett, who said the statutory agreement would likely be the one that would be used, based on his experience in other communities.

“We really need to know this sooner, rather than later, for planning purposes because that’s a significant amount of money and we have no magical way of making that money appear,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

“This isn’t unique to the W-H School District,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes, a Hanson resident, who attended the Selectmen’s meeting. “This is popping up with Regional Agreements across the state. As you can see, every attorney has a different opinion on it, but it looks like it’s going to fall over on the statutory method.”

He said he expects it to be challenged legally.

In theory, Szymaniak said the agreement could be voided at town meeting and changed to the alternative method, but that the absence of any contract or an expressly worded change, it would default to the statutory method.

The water/sewer bill, discovered by Whitman’s new water superintendent in February, would be split 60-40 without DESE’s involvement.

Since the high school was built in 2004, incorrect bills from the Whitman DPW — said to be caused by human error — have left the School District with not only a $300,000 bill, but no accurate idea of the actual water cost for future budgets.

“That’s a heck of an error,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“A heck of an error and it says human error on the bill,” Szymaniak said. “I have kind of kicked that can down [the road] because of the bigger issue right now.”

The district’s legal counsel is reviewing the situation, but current case law only covers a case of going back about seven years to rectify bills caused by human error.

Police chiefs offer back-to-school safety tips

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As students prepare to return to school, Whitman Police Chief Scott Benton and Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch would like to remind residents to follow several important safety tips.

“We encourage parents to have safety conversations with their kids before they go back to school,” Benton said. “This includes how to safely cross the street and how to be careful when getting on and off the bus.”

Whitman-Hanson Regional School District students return to class Wednesday, Aug. 28.

With students often on their phones texting, browsing the internet or playing games, the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments recommend that parents talk to their children about the following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC) when headed to and from school:

• Never walk while texting. If you need to respond to a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.

• Never cross the street while using an electronic device.

• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.

•  Cross only at crosswalks.

• Do not wear earbuds while walking across the street and stay alert.

Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should NEVER text and drive. Additionally, the NSC reminds operators to:

• Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk or intersection.

• Never go around a school bus that has its lights activated and stop sign out.

• Always stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign.

• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.

• Do not honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.

• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

To ensure that children who travel to school by bus get there safely, the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments advise that students follow these tips from the NSC:

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness.

• Line up away from the street as the bus approaches.

• Wait until the bus has stopped completely and the doors open before approaching.

Behavior on the bus:

• If available, always wear your seat belt.

• Don’t put your head, arms or hands out the window.

• Always wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.

Getting off the bus:

• If you have to cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver. Make sure the driver can see you too.

• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing. When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.

The return of classes also means that there will be many new teen drivers operating on the roads going to and from school.

According to the NSC, teen crashes occur most often because they are inexperienced. They may misjudge gaps in traffic, the right speed for road conditions and turning safely, among other things.

The Whitman and Hanson Police Departments, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminds parents to set rules before their kids hit the road with “5 to Drive:”

• NO cell phones while driving

• NO extra passengers

• NO speeding

• NO alcohol or drugs

• NO driving or riding without a seat belt

Statistically, half of all teens will be involved in a car crash before graduating from high school. Car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens, yet many crashes are preventable. Teens who continue to practice driving with their parents after obtaining their license increase their chances of avoiding a crash.

“A major part of driving safely in general is to not be a distracted driver. This is especially important during the school year,” Miksch said. “Drivers need to be able to give their full attention to school zones, buses and crosswalks. Anything that takes away from your attention on the road puts kids in danger.”

Benton and Miksch and the members of the Whitman and Hanson Police Departments would like to wish all students and faculty a fun and safe school year!

Hanson’s Main Street progress eyed

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HANSON — Maintaining progress at a group of former old Ocean Spray buildings along Main Street, where workers have been installing new windows and siding recently, is key to the future of South Hanson, town officials say.

“We all get a lot of pressure about that,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “Every time we see people at an event … they say, ‘What the hell’s going on with that whole area?’”

A past security problem at 1011 Main St., has led the Fire Department and Building Inspector Robert Curran to approve an occupancy permit to help secure the building, Curran told Selectmen at the board’s Tuesday, Aug. 20 meeting.

He said the building has a fire alarm and sprinkler system, but has had issues while renovation work has been done, including a roof collapse from snow pack

“I have been approached by prior Selectmen to try and help this guy the best I can, to encourage him not to close the building down,” Curran said of the building’s owner. “If the building becomes abandoned, then my feeling is, we’re going to be in trouble.”

He said that, in abandoned buildings, sprinkler systems freeze and fail, leaving the structure to become a potential fire hazard.

Curran noted the owner has Zoning Board of Appeals approval for 21 residential units, with 13 planned in the first phase of development.

“The problem is, it’s going to take a lot of money,” Curran said. “I think he’s spent more money on that project than he ever thought he would.”

He added that industrial buildings could always be shut down.

“There’s all kinds of problems all the time,” he said. “What you’ve got to do is hope that everybody’s safe and that you’ve identified most of the structural issues.”

The building’s owner spent more than $100,000 in design so far just to get the residential aspect started, but Curran said he does not think the man was aware of all the new seismic requirements and other requirements.

“This is going to take a, hopefully, positive attitude from the town,” Curran said.

Curran said his vision for the property is a project called The Village at South Hanson with businesses on the first floor and residences two or three floors.

“Then the whole area will start to develop,” he said.

The board of Selectmen planned to meet with the building owner on Wednesday, Aug. 21 to discuss his plans and what the board can do to help, short of a financial investment.

“We need to try to move this ball forward,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It’s a blight and everyone in town acknowledges it — and it’s private property. You can’t really dictate what people can do with their private property.”

“It’s been an ongoing issue since the 1980s,” Curran said. “This building hasn’t looked good in a lot of years. As long as there’s forward movement, I think that’s progress and I do believe that could be downtown Hanson — I really think that is a possibility.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the property’s location near the Commuter Rail station makes it logical for such a project.

“I think the attitude of the town has got to be to reach out and help him,” Curran said, noting that some buildings to the rear of the property have been sold and plans are in the works by new owners.

Curran provided a department report to the board, noting the busy time of year for inspections.

There have been 172 residential building permits issued since January and nine commercial building permits, Curran said. The department has also issued 132 electrical permits, 77 for plumbing projects and 93 gas permits.

Curran also reported that he had just completed the back-to-school building inspections.

He has also asked the attorney general’s office for help with eight properties in town through the abandoned housing initiative, one of them being the former liquor store on Main Street as well as buildings on Bayberry Road and West Washington Street, among others.

“They are amazing,” he said of the attorney general’s office. “They’ve helped us tremendously.”

In other business, Selectmen reviewed their goals and warrant articles for the October special Town Meeting.

Troop 68 Boy Scout Zev Andruk also outlined his Eagle project to rehabilitate the three-quarter mile section of the Bay Circuit Trail that winds through the Hanson Town Forest.

The trail passes through two wetlands zones in the town forest and he has received permission from the Conservation Commission for two small foot bridges he plans to put in.

“It needs a lot for it to be an active hiking trail, but with what we have in store for it, we believe we can get it done in just under a month,” Andruk said. “This project is basically reclaiming an entire portion of the town so that it has an entire lap around the town forest, making easy access for town employees or the Fire Department.”

He and Conservation Agent Philip Clemons have already walked the trail and marked trees, mostly fallen, that need to be removed. Clemons has also donated all the four-inch Bay Circuit Trail markers and two larger signs for the parking area. A small ATV will need to be used to haul equipment and chainsaws — which, like the ATVs will be used by adults.

The Board of Selectmen’s permission was needed to use motorized equipment in a conservation area. The board voted to grant that permission.