Voters to have say on cost of razing building

HANSON — Voters at the October special Town Meeting will be asked to decide how to fund the abatement and demolition of the old Plymouth County Hospital site, which must be done before the site can be used for other purposes.

“The first thing you have to do is clean up the lot,” said Selectman Don Howard, who made the motion for placement of an article on the Town Meeting warrant.

A placeholder article was approved by a 5-0 vote.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera will be asked to oversee the engineering estimate and request for proposal and bid process, which would hinge on the outcome of a Town Meeting vote. The article would also require a ballot question.

Selectman Bill Scott raised the issue again at the board’s Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting after recently discussing potential costs of a PCH demolition with the company hired by Lite Control to raze buildings not being donated to the town at the company’s former Hawks Avenue site.

“They expressed an interest, if we did decide to move forward on a demolition up there,” Scott said. “They would certainly like to bid on it.”

The Costello Company also looks for developers to work on sites following demolition “and work on cleanup and other issues,” Scott said.

Community Preservation Commission Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett lauded the company’s work at the Lite Control site, but cautioned that if they were used as consultants on a cost estimate they would not be permitted to bid on a demolition contract.

A previous study on the demolition cost at PCH came up with the $1.5 million figure only a few years ago.

“I’m wondering if we might not be able to brush off whoever it was who did that and go back and say, ‘Could you give us a refresh on the estimate that you did?’” she said. “It could be easier for somebody familiar with the property, that’s already done the analysis, to come in.”

Howard has advocated placing the issue on the ballot, proposing that — since the debt on Town Hall renovations is being retired — another 20-year bond could pay to raze the hospital and clean up the site.

“I think it should be voted for by the people,” he said. “I’d just like to see an article put before the Town Meeting to clean up the mess.”

The town owns the PCH property, which has been vacant since 1999.

“Everyone has a bunch of ideas as to what they might like to see at the Plymouth County Hospital, and I think we all agree we’d like to see something done up there,” Scott said. “Seems like every time we bring up the hospital all we get is a history lesson.”

Scott said he was not a fan of investing taxpayer dollars without getting some type of revenue from the site in the future, but admitted he doesn’t have the answer.

“We have a myriad of good ideas,” said Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young. “We just haven’t put those good ideas in the form of either articles or [questions on] the town-wide ballot and let the people pick the direction they would like to go in.”   

Among those ideas are a park or a mixed use of some form of over-55 housing adjacent to a park and even selling lots to a developer for single-family houses.

HANSON — Selectmen have unanimously approved the drafting of a by-law proposal for consideration at the October special Town Meeting which would restrict selectmen from also working as paid town employees answerable to the board.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera was also officially hired, effective Monday, Aug. 10 as selectmen approved his contract at the Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting.

Selectman James McGahan, who raised the issue and volunteered to draft the by-law for town counsel’s review, said that a resident had raised the concern about potential conflicts several months ago.

“I was asked for my opinion and what I intended to do about it,” he said.

He stressed that it was not directed at a specific individual.

Under the proposed by-law, town employees would be allowed to run for selectman, but would have to give up their job during their tenure in office and for a period of time afterward.

“That’s unfortunate, but that’s how it goes,” McGahan said, inviting arguments to the contrary.

Building Department Administrative Assistant Ann-Marie Bouzan, who ran for selectman this year, said she had consulted the state Ethics Commission before entering that race.

She was advised that the only potential conflicts for her, should she be faced with town administrator contract review and negotiation, would arise if there are pending matters in which she had financial interest that the town administrator has direct, immediate power to decide. Otherwise, she was informed, she would not be required to abstain.

As a union steward, she would have been allowed to participate in contract negotiations, but could not vote on the contract had she been elected selectman.

“I’m trying to be as transparent as possible,” Bouzan said. “I just think it’s prohibiting a lot of people from running. The town is only so big — I just want to have that opportunity.”

Selectman Don Howard and Health Board Chairman Gil Amado, who both also sit on the Board of Water Commissioners, would not be affected by the by-law, as the two boards are not connected.

“The incompatibility occurs when the person holding both positions can’t discharge the duties of each,” McGahan said. “It is evident that the selectmen would have the power over the employee in the areas of hiring, firing and determining compensation, which is why I find the two offices incompatible.”

The towns of Carver, Westborough, Concord and Tewksbury have similar by-laws on the books.

In researching the issue, McGahan said he had definite concerns.

“I felt much of the information, although there is no formal state ruling on the matter — suggests that the practice can cause future problems down the road — [and] places an additional workload on officials and, most importantly, provides a disadvantage to the town by not having such a by-law in place,” he argued.

McGahan cited section 23 of the state Ethics Law prohibiting officials from taking additional official actions which “could present the appearance of an impropriety” or cause an impartial observer to suspect bias. Section F forbids actions by officials that could lead an impartial observer to suspect an action had been illegally influenced.

“I felt these two particular points would be difficult to maintain as both a selectman and town employee,” he said, adding that a by-law would get rid of the “good old boy network type of thing.”

Section 20 allows elected officials to hold as many uncompensated or paid elected positions as they wish.

Chairman Bruce Young noted the town administrator, who reports to the Board of Selectmen, is also responsible for evaluating town employees.

“In that particular case you could have a problem,” Young said. “And if you are a union employee, the town administrator acts as the head negotiator for union contracts.”

Bouzan said the conflicts could be resolved by the selectman involved recusing himself or herself from any discussion or vote.

“There’s different issues for every selectman that there’s going to be a chance that somebody’s going to have to recuse themselves,” she said.

Some residents argued a town employee elected, as selectman was most likely to err on the side of caution.

“It’s an interesting issue, but I think we have checks and balances and laws that are currently in place,” said Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “If there were a problem then you could report that to the Ethics Commission. You can also express concern to the employee.”

Residents Thomas Dahlberg and Richard Edgehille voiced support for the proposed by-law.

“I don’t have the same faith in humans as the previous speaker,” Dahlberg said. Abstentions could lead to a lot of tie votes with four selectmen left to make decisions, he argued.

“It’s not anything that has happened, but why let it happen,” he said.

Residents on both sides of the issue agreed the matter was one to be decided by Town Meeting.

In other business, the interim town administrator contract, agreed to during an executive session and reported in public meeting, calls for LaCamera work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. three days a week until he is advised in writing that his services are no longer needed.

On days when he is required to attend Board of Selectmen’s meetings, his hours would be adjusted so that he does not exceed 18 work hours per week.

LaCamera will be earning $65 an hour, but as a part-time employee, will not receive other benefits or compensation other than mileage reimbursement for job-related travel out of town and a town-provided cell phone or $50 reimbursement for using his personal cell phone for town business.

If LaCamera wishes to end his obligations under the contract he must provide written notice of at least 30 calendar days.

WHITMAN — Lifeguards at the town pool have earned a raise, and can expect some increase — depending on the end-of season balance from revenues after maintenance expenses are paid.

Much of the problem surrounding the lifeguard pay issue, according to Recreation Commissioners,  is rooted in turnover at the director’s position over the last two years, affecting the marketing of pool passes as well as the hiring, scheduling and salary budgeting for lifeguards.

“We apologize that this is happening,” said Recreation Commission member Oliver B. Amado III.

The commission wanted to go on record as recognizing and appreciating what the lifeguards do, often under a broiling sun.

“We’re going to try to do what we can for you,” said Chairman Todd DeCouto. “A mistake was made, unfortunately, but we’re going to do everything in our power to help you.”

The pool account is currently at $5,960.53 with two more weeks of payroll left to be paid out, as well as another $400 to $500 worth of bills, interim Director Dan Mason reported to the Recreation Commission Monday, Aug. 3. Two weeks’ worth of revenue will also be added, but he said he does not expect that amount to be a lot of money.

The last lifeguard payroll was $2,657 for the week.

Four lifeguards, three veterans including supervising guard Judith Gill and one recent hire, attended the Aug. 3 meeting to argue for a raise. Recreation Commission members and Mason agreed the lifeguards deserved a raise. Gill is the only full-time lifeguard.

“They should get paid more,” Mason said of the lifeguards. “They should get paid a lot more.”

But paperwork turned into the town when former Director Emily Richardson left, set the salaries for the year unless the commission decides to distribute any funds left at the Aug. 16 end of the season.

“The problem is getting you your money — and please know we want to do that,” DeCouto said. “We’ve got to find a way to do that.”

“We have to fix what’s broken,” Vice Chairman June O’Leary said.

Many other area facilities pay $13 an hour.

Whitman Pool lifeguard Rachel Baker makes $11 an hour. She also works at Camp Kiwanee in Hanson, doing so last week while putting in 35 hours at Whitman, where guard scheduling has been another issue of concern.

“We’ve all been going overtime this summer because we had about seven people to start the summer off,” Baker said. “In the first few weeks, everybody worked every day.”

She has been a lifeguard in Whitman for five years, has water safety instructor certification and acts in a supervisory capacity, but does not carry the title. She is seeking a $1.50 per hour raise and retroactive payment for the summer to reach parity with another senior lifeguard. Luke Laubacher, working part-time at the pool as a fill-in lifeguard as well as working at South Shore Hospital, is labled as a supervisor on the schedule and makes $12.50 an hour.

“We should be paid the same because we are doing the same exact job, he is a sub this year, I’m even more of an evening supervisor than he is,” Baker said.

Laubacher is also a veteran lifeguard with WSI certification. An EMT, Laubacher plans to study nursing. John Gorman, another senior guard, makes $10.25 per hour and is seeking a raise of 75 cents per hour.

Several other lifeguards are also seeking raises.

Gill is, in fact, the only pool supervisor and is paid $15.25 per hour. She is not seeking a raise, but attended to support her staff.

“What we have done in the past is a 25-cent raise every time you return [for another year] in addition to any raise you would get for qualifications,” Gill said. “That’s the problem a lot of the guards are having.”

The commission will meet again at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19 to continue discussing the issue when final pool receipts and expenses are expected to be finalized.

“The park just got over the edge today,” said Mason, noting the summer park program has $611 with no bills left to pay. “It will probably have a comma in it at the end.”

Park Program Director Jeannie Angelos has indicated she plans to end her tenure at the end of the year to start a family, Mason said. But Amado added that she has indicated a willingness to return if a new recreation director resumes responsibility for scheduling bus trips as part of the summer program.

In other business, resident Shawn Kain requested information on how to “start the conversation” toward establishing a free-admission public skateboard park in town.

Kain, a special education teacher in Brockton, is a skateboard enthusiast and co-founder with his wife Shannon of The Practice, an indoor after-school program that includes skateboarding. They are in the process of obtaining nonprofit status for that facility.

An account does exist for funds raised toward establishing a public skate park with from $12,000 to $13,000 still in it, commission members said.

Kain said he would not mind coordinating additional fund-raising efforts. Commission members referred him to selectmen Brian Bezanson and Dan Salvucci “who did all the groundwork” on the park project in the past, as well as Assistant Town Administrator Gregory Enos.

“For some reason, it just died,” DeCouto said of the previous effort. “They got the money together and it just stopped.”

The race is on

Two candidates as of press time have taken out nomination papers for the Senate vacancy caused by the death of Sen. Thomas Kennedy, D-Brockton, earlier this month.

State Rep. Michael Brady

State Rep. Michael Brady, a Brockton Democrat, will run to fill that vacancy, he told the State House News.  Also drawing papers is Republican Viola Ryerson, who opposed Kennedy in the last election.

Nomination papers are available at the Halifax Town Clerk’s office, 499 Plymouth St., Rte. 106, Halifax; the Elections Division, Room 1705, McCormack State Office Building, One Ashburton Place, Boston; and at Brockton City Hall.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin Monday issued the calendar for the special election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in the 2nd Plymouth & Bristol State Senate District. The Senate has adopted the order for the Nov. 3 election. The primary will be held Oct. 6.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers to the local registrars of voters is Tuesday, Aug. 25, and the last day to file certified nomination papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth is Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Viola Ryerson

Nominations for the Senate require a minimum of 300 certified signatures.
The 2nd Plymouth & Bristol District consists of Brockton; precincts 1, 2, 3 in East Bridgwater; and the towns of Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Plympton, and Whitman in Plymouth County; and precincts 1, 2 in the town of Easton in Bristol County.

Alert system is OK’d

WHITMAN —  The Board of Selectmen approved an emergency notification policy and authorized Fire Chief Timothy Grenno to sign the Sachem Rock Regional Emergency Planning Zone By-laws at its Tuesday, July 21 meeting.

Grenno explained that the new notification policy, which is used to alert townspeople about emergency and nonemergency events, makes it clear which town departments are authorized to notify the public about which events, and ensures the notification will be reviewed by at least two people before being sent out.

These notifications might include where to park cars during extreme weather, alerts about accidents or reminders about town events.

Whitman Emergency Officials partnered with CivicReady to create the new emergency preparedness and mass notification services for citizens, whitman-ma.gov/ready, which was launched at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

Selectman Daniel Salvucci worried that residents may stop paying attention to notifications if they receive too many.

“We need them to listen,” he said.

Grenno agreed, saying the system is designed so that residents can choose which types of notifications they want to receive, so some can cut down on clutter if they only want to receive emergency notifications.

People can choose the way in which they are notified, as well, including by telephone, email or traditional mail. Town Administrator Frank Lynam drafted the system with Grenno and said it is “quite robust.”

He added that the messages are limited to one minute each, which should encourage people to take the time to listen to them.

The CivicReady system allows public safety officials to communicate with citizens quickly and efficiently before, during and after an emergency. Citizens can sign up to receive alerts via email, SMS (Text Messaging), voice calls and all messages broadcasted will be available on the Town of Whitman social media sites. FEMA-sourced emergency preparedness content is easily accessible to citizens to keep our community informed in the event of an emergency.

The Fire Chief and Police Chief’s monthly reports were postponed until the August Selectmen’s Meeting.

Retired Rochester TA tabbed to steer town through transition

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, July 21 appointed an interim town administrator and resident members of a search committee.

Retired Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera was the only interim candidate interviewed as Suzanne Kennedy, who had also been on the list, was no longer available.

In accordance with regulations governing the part-time employment of retirees, LaCamera said he expects to work about two or three days a week and is “absolutely not” interested in applying for consideration as a full-time town administrator.

“I could start next week if I had to,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to work five days a week, so I want you to know that. … It’s something to get you through the transition and keep things functioning on a day-to-day basis.”

LaCamera has 32 years of municipal experience in Lakeville, where he served as a selectman and member of the finance committee, and Rochester where he was town administrator for eight and a half years.

Selectmen will have to negotiate and approve a contract with LaCamera. They questioned him on his knowledge of funding regional school projects and his opinion of selectmen public safety liaisons and their attending department head meetings.

LaCamera said he is comfortable with the liaison concept as Rochester has a Public Safety Committee that meets once a month and is part of a regional school district. While he agreed with Town Administrator Ron San Angelo’s view that department heads might not be comfortable with selectmen sitting in on meetings, he had no firm objections.

“I don’t mind [it] sometimes,” he said. “I like the department head meetings to kind of be outside of that, if possible, because department heads tend to say things when selectmen aren’t there, but I’m OK with it if that’s what you want to do.”

Joining Selectman Chairman Bruce Young and a member of the Planning Board on the search committee, selectmen voted to appoint small businessman Michael McLeod, retired Verizon executive Joseph Amaral Jr., retired educator Constance Constantine, former Board of Health member Richard Edgehille and Kenneth McCormick who is a Hanson resident and member of the Pembroke Fire Department.

Young thanked all those who applied for the search committee.

“It was especially good to see new people coming forward who have never been on a committee before,” he said.

Not selected from the pool of 10 applicants were Community Preservation Commission Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, South Shore Vo-Tech Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas Hickey, Library Director Nancy Cappellini, former Selectman James Egan and Plymouth County Mosquito Control Commissioner Kimberley King.

McLeod received a vote from all five selectmen and McCormick received four on a paper ballot circulated among selectmen. Receiving three votes each were Amaral, Constantine, Edgehille and Hickey. Selectmen voted publicly during the meeting to break the four-way tie. At the end of the first round, Edgehille and Hickey were still tied with three votes each.

“I don’t think we should go to eight [members],” said Selectman James McGahan. “It’s too big and it’s an even number.”

In the end, Edgehille received votes from McGahan, Kenny Mitchell and Bill Scott. Selectmen Don Howard and Young voted for Hickey.

In other business, selectmen voted to place an article on $79,841.03 of the $179,841.03 cleanup of Hanson Middle School following a sewage backup in April caused by improperly disposed sanitary napkins.

The W-H insurance carrier pays out a maximum of $100,000 for sewer backups.

The school district had the damage repaired and cleaned twice, but later swab tests required by the Category 3 sewerage backup revealed bacterial contamination in “areas the we ordinarily wouldn’t get into” under cabinets, for example, according to Facilities Director Ernest Sandland. Once walls were opened during repair work this summer, more damage and contamination was found.

“Those were items that were not covered in the original investigation because we didn’t know what was there,” he said. “They went to work last week and that’s when this whole thing started to unfold — the additional work that needs to be done.”

Selectmen’s approval was required to get the work done before school opens.

Both Sandland and School District Business Manager Christine Suckow said Principal William Tranter had immediately contacted the school nurse after the incident about conducting preventive talks with students on how to properly dispose of feminine hygiene products.

“He followed it up appropriately,” Sandland said.

Selectmen also voted to place a $12,100 article on the October warrant for Hanson’s share of a failing hot water heater that serves the lavatories at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.