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Whitman Couple Mourned

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A couple from Whitman succumbed to their injuries after a rotten tree fell on their car in a freak accident in Abington on Sunday morning during stormy weather.

Franklin Teixeira, 49, who was driving, and his wife Manuela, 52, were identified as the victims by Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

Their adult son Frank Teixeira works in the Whitman-Hanson school district technology department.

“At Whitman-Hanson, we are deeply saddened by the untimely loss of Frank Teixeira’s parents.  We are keeping Frank, a valued member of our Technology Department, in our thoughts and prayers.”   Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner.

“The tree, which was rotten and hollow, was completely uprooted and appears to have fallen as a result of the morning’s high winds and snow. The tree fell through power lines and disrupted service at 255 Rockland Street for a time,” Plymouth County DA Timothy Cruz said in a press release.

The incident was investigated by Abington Police, State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and State Police Crime Scene Services and Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

School questions placed

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By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
[email protected]

[Correction]

HANSON — Both towns will be voting on contingency, or “lump sum” articles at town meetings to fund the fiscal 2017 school budget, which depends on a single override question passing at the ballot box should town meeting voters support such a move.

While Whitman Selectmen were voting to place a $1,726,588 ballot question for its share of the assessment increase in the $49,714,344 WHRSD operating budget on Tuesday, April 5, Hanson Selectmen were discussing their options with town counsel in a meeting attended by the School Committee, its attorney and an overflowing crowd of interested residents.

With a successful override, Whitman’s assessment would be $12,719,345.

The 20.15-percent local assessment increase includes 3.5-percent hike inside the levy limit with the balance contingent on a Proposition 2 ½ override in both communities. The total increase outside the levy is $3 million, apportioned based on student population.

In the end, the Hanson Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 to place a $1,241,141 article and ballot question for its share of the increased assessment, which would raise the town’s assessment to $8,956,207. Selectmen Don Howard, Kenny Mitchell and Bill Scott voted to place the contingency article while James McGahan joined Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young in preferring a tiered question. That option would have broken the override total into several layers of financial options for funding the school budget.

Town Counsel Jay Talerman and School Committee attorney James Toomey agreed last week via conference call that the tiered option is legal, but Talerman cautioned it could have “unintended consequences.”

“My experience with pyramid overrides — take it for what it’s worth — is it doesn’t usually work out the way you think it would,” he said. “There are a lot of unintended consequences. The no votes tend to pile up pretty quickly. There’s a lot of uncertainty.”

The state recommends an explanatory phrase that the highest amount voted yes to on a pyramid, or tiered, question will be the operative amount.

That was a main reason McGahan found a tiered question preferable.

“There’s a lot of pressure here tonight for us to vote it one way,” McGahan said of the contingency article and question. “You don’t understand that, with the pyramid approach, there’s a good chance you could get the $1.2 million. It’s something to think about.”

Young had framed some sample questions for Selectmen to discuss, including one that offered funding choices from between $1.2 million down to $1,000. He did not support the contingency question for that reason.

“I believe people should have a choice,” Young said. “I represent all the people in Hanson. I support education in the town of Hanson, but I like to go with a choice of what people are willing to give back to the school system.”

Resident John Barata asked if a tiered approach would become the “new norm” for overrides in town. Young replied the only reason it was being sought now is because this was the first time the option was explained to them. McGahan said it was unlikely to come up much in the future.

Selectman Don Howard, a Hanson resident since 1948, said he built his house in 1960, eight years after graduating high school from the Indian Head School — and has seen three children and six grandchildren attend W-H schools.

“I feel, as an adult, I’m responsible for the children in our town,” Howard said. “All the [tax] money I’ve spent, I’m glad I spent it. … There are a lot of people in town that don’t want to pay for the schools, and I understand that, because the tax burden in town is getting quite high. … I believe in doing everything for the children.”

Had Hanson Selectmen approved the pyramid question while Whitman’s voters were faced with a contingency question, it would send the question back to the School Committee — just as would happen if one town approves an override while the other defeats it. The School Committee would then recertify its budget and has the option of coming back with the same figures.

Should that occur and the towns split decisions a second time, the issue would go before a so-called Super Town Meeting.

Ironing out some of those wrinkles is why the two boards sought out legal opinions.

“We narrowed the scope of what you all can talk about and discuss, in terms of whether it’s a single number or a few different numbers,” Talerman said of the conference call.

He said the menu option discussed last week was ruled out as something better used for municipal overrides and Town Meeting votes only on the school budget’s bottom-line figure.

“The purpose of the ballot question isn’t to appropriate anything, it’s just to increase your levy limit,” Talerman said. “Attorney Toomey and I are in agreement that you can’t confine the schools’ line items in their budget.”

He said using the menu option, as explanatory material would be instructive for voters, but added the schools must be able to spend their bottom-line figure where it is most needed.

“There may be an opportunity below the ballot question to provide some explanatory material, subject to the restrictions of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, but I’m concerned — and I think Attorney Toomey is concerned as well — as to putting [the menu of Student Success budget elements] it in a ballot question itself,” Talerman said. “I think there’s plenty of opportunities to educate the public.”

A School Department breakdown of where new staff hired under the Student Success budget shows an equitable distribution between the two towns.

“I think that’s terrific,” McGahan said.

After reading into the record some social media posts critical of some of the selectmen, McGahan said he did agree with one post arguing that if the public is expected to trust the School Committee regarding the need for the Student Success budget, they should also trust selectmen on how to fund it.

“I don’t think those comments reflect every single person in this room,” School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said. “I don’t think there’s anybody on the School Committee … or any of the citizens of the town who don’t trust every single person in this room.

Hayes noted that, as an elected board, the School Committee’s job is to advocate for the education of children.

“The citizens of the town don’t know the system’s broke if we don’t come forward,” he said.

McGahan suggested selectmen are also elected to do the School Committee’s job as well as governing the town, which elicited a loud chorus of disagreement from the audience.

“I have the right to care about what goes [on there],” he responded. “I’ve got three kids going to the schools, too — just like anybody else — as a citizen, absolutely, but also as a selectman to make sure that our kids are taken care of in our schools.”

Hayes acknowledged that all public officials are doing the best they can to help schools but that the towns people should have the opportunity to vote on whether or not they want to fund that mission, as voters are the ultimate funding authority.

 

 

 

Three charged in drug arrest

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WHITMAN — Three area men are facing drug charges after search warrants were executed on Monday, April 4 by detectives assigned to the WEB Task Force at Whitman apartments identified as being the places of suspected heroin and fentanyl sales over the past several months.

“Monday’s search warrants and this operation show that the WEB Task Force and Whitman Police Department are committed to aggressively pursuing similar ‘quality of life cases,’ in which neighborhoods are overcome with daily fentanyl and heroin transactions, as well as the drug’s use,” stated a press release issued by detective Sgt. Scott Allen of the East Bridgewater Police Department. “The WEB Task Force and Whitman Police will continue to investigate anyone suspected of selling these deadly drugs.  Nearly all opioid investigations currently involve fentanyl mixed with heroin or contain solely fentanyl which is packaged and sold on the streets.”

Monday’s search warrants were the culmination of an investigation that has been ongoing since just around the start of the year, according to Allen.

“WEB Task Force investigators had received information over the past several months identifying an apartment located at 309 Old South Ave., Whitman that was suspected of being utilized as a main meeting site where suspected fentanyl/heroin sales were taking place to persons from Whitman and other nearby communities,” a press release issued by Allen on Tuesday stated. “Information had been received from concerned citizens, numerous sources of information, as well as supported by approximately 10 prior Whitman Police calls for service at 309 Old South Ave.”

Over the past several months, at least five non-fatal suspected fentanyl/heroin overdoses have occurred either directly at 309 Old South Ave., or in close proximity to the residence which involved individuals identified as being associated to the investigation, according to police. During the investigation, police said a father of one of the targets of the probe reported to Whitman Police that he had been observing the same male subject he believed was selling suspected fentanyl/heroin to his son and his friends at 309 Old South Ave.

“During the investigation, a WEB undercover officer was able to initiate undercover fentanyl purchases from the person suspected as supplying fentanyl to persons at 309 Old South Ave.,” the release stated.

After making three undercover purchases of fentanyl, on March 24, WEB Task Force investigators and Whitman Police Officers arrested the target of this undercover operation, Saquaan R, Louis, 24, a listed resident of 1968 North Main St., Fall River. Louis had been identified as a former resident of the city of Brockton with prior drug offenses. WEB Task Force detectives had identified Louis as being a distributor of fentanyl, and suspected him of distributing fentanyl to persons at 309 Old South Ave, Whitman on multiple occasions.

Louis was arrested at the Route 18 Wendy’s parking lot in Whitman on March 24, in a vehicle while in possession of three bags of fentanyl that WEB investigators believed he was selling that day. Louis was arrested and arraigned at Brockton District Court for; possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl (a Class B Controlled Substance) and three counts of distribution of fentanyl (for prior sales to an undercover WEB detective in Whitman over the prior weeks). He was held on $25,000.00 bail at Brockton District Court and was last known to still being held at the Plymouth County House of Correction.

“Even after Mr. Louis’ arrest, WEB investigators continued to observe suspected drug transactions occurring at and/or from within Apt. 1 at 309 Old South Ave, Whitman,” the release stated.  “Several suspects of the Whitman end of the investigation had been identified and search warrants were sought by lead WEB and Whitman Detective Peter Aitken for 309 Old South Ave.,  Apt. 1 and a second location, 23 ½ South Ave, 2nd floor, also inWhitman.

On Monday evening, WEB investigators executed both search warrants.

At 309 Old South Ave., investigators located and arrested one of the main Whitman suspects, Robert Barton, 23, a resident of  309 Old South Ave., Apt. 1, according to the report.

“Mr. Barton was in possession of a small quantity of heroin when detectives executed the search warrant,” the report stated.

Detectives searched Barton’s residence and located digital scales and plastic baggies consistent with being utilized to distribute quantities of fentanyl. Also seized were multiple cellular phones police believed to be used to facilitate and arrange drug sales. A significant amount of hypodermic needles and syringes were located throughout the apartment, consistent with detective’s suspicions that the apartment was being utilized by many fentanyl/heroin users to inject and use the drugs just purchased at or near that location.

Barton was arrested and transported to Whitman Police station where he was charged with; possession with the intent to distribute a Class B substance (fentanyl) and possession of a Class B controlled substance (fentanyl).

WEB detectives executed a second search warrant Monday night at the , 23 ½ South Ave, 2nd floor, Whitman. This apartment had been identified as the residence of the other target of the probe, Ryan Hooper, 23.

“Mr. Hooper had been subject to surveillance during the investigation and was suspected of being involved in fentanyl/heroin sales at 309 Old South Ave., as well,” police stated. “On March 29, and prior to search warrants having been issued, Whitman Police responded to 23 ½ South Ave. related to a call involving Mr. Hooper. During this police response, Mr. Hooper was in possession of approximately 90 or more Clonazepam pills, also known as Klonopins or ‘K–pins,’ which is a benzodiazepine, a drug frequently and dangerously abused in conjunction with heroin or fentanyl use.”

Hooper is being summoned to Brockton District Court for possession with intent to distribute a Class C controlled Substance (Clonazepam) by Whitman Police related to the March 29 offense.

“Mr. Hooper had been the main probe of the 309 Old South Ave. investigation prior to March 29 and had previously resided with Mr. Barton and/or stayed at his Old South Avenue residence during this investigation,” police stated.

Hooper was also arrested by Whitman Police on Dec. 13, 2015 for a commercial Burglary at The Smoke Shop, 27 South Ave, Whitman — a business that sells electronic cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia. Hooper was charged and arraigned for breaking and entering of a building at nighttime for a felony, assault and battery on a police officer and an assortment of drug charges as he was arrested and found in possession of numerous drugs including suspected heroin/fentanyl.

Barton was arraigned on Tuesday, April 5 at Brockton District Court. He was held on $500 cash bail, which he had not posted as of Wednesday morning. Barton is due back in court May 5. No arraignment date has been set for Hooper’s newest charge.

Louis’ offenses are pending in the pre-trial session at court.

American legion hosting Meat raffle this weekend!!

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american legion 3x4 04-01-16

Schedule, diploma changes Ok’s at W-H

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Next school year will mark the beginning of a change in class schedules under the program of studies and how some diplomas are earned at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

The School Committee has approved the proposals by Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak, which change the high school schedule from a trimester to a full-year semester system and implements a “Diploma B” program for approved students struggling academically.

“It’s a solid program,” he told the committee on March 16 about the schedule change. “But it’s a change in our program of studies this year that directly affects the Class of 2020, indirectly affects the Class of 2017 for next year, and ’18 and ’19 — and there’s a grandfather clause.”

Students sign up for seven or eight classes, but only five meet each day. The full complement of classes meets within seven-day rotations. Seminar returns to the schedule every afternoon, as does the senior’s end-of-day period for Community Service Learning internships and senior privileges.

He explained that students in the latter two classes have already earned up to 36 credits.

“It’s just a little bit of a tweak, not taking away any rigor in our classes, giving kids the opportunity to have one teacher in a core subject for the entire year,” Szymaniak said.

Courses will no longer be valued at two credits per trimester, they will be four credits per full-year course and two credits per semester, Szymaniak explained to the School Committee. The current trimester system requires106 credits for graduation, but that will change to 96 credits for the class of 2020.

“Balancing that out, looking at all the other schools in the area — and I look at Duxbury, Silver Lake, East Bridgewater, Scituate — keeping in line with them, we’ve moved to four credits for a full-year course and two credits for a semester and 96 credits to graduate,” he said. “If I’m a diligent student and I take seven classes … I can even fail a class here and there and still make our graduation requirements.”

The schedule change has had its critics among some students and parents. Two underclassmen, requesting their names be withheld, recently contacted the Express about their concerns, including the number of classes required, confusion about a rotating class schedule and weekend AP classes. The latter has been a fact of life already, according to Szymaniak, who would like to see them return. He cited day-long AP seminars that have been attended by W-H students all over the South Shore, and expressed a wish to have the staffing to offer them here.

“We’re no different than anybody else as far as class time,” Szymaniak said. “Teachers have to instruct in a different way — they’re still going to cover content, but they’re not going to have as many hours in a day to do that.”

The class rotation thereby closely mirrors a college class schedule.

“Next year’s juniors and seniors will have experienced two schedule changes in the past two years,” one sophomore said. “There have been two petitions to have the schedule just stay how it is, both of which gained quite a lot of signatures, but the principal paid them absolutely no mind.”

Szymaniak said this week that the petitions had been withdrawn by student organizers after he met with them before he had a look at the documents, and he explained that the previous change, which suspended seminar period was necessary following the reduction of five teachers following budget cuts.

Another student pointed to the confusion from the class rotation as his main concern, and Szymaniak conceded there would be some confusion at the outset.

“I’ll concede they did some things right,” the student said. “My biggest concern would be that [classes rotate] every day, which would be fine if there weren’t two classes dropping throughout the week.”

“It’s going to be a little confusing at first,” Szymaniak said Monday. “But it’s something that’s familiar [in other schools] on the South Shore.”

He noted students have just registered for next year’s classes under the new schedule, so there has been no concrete feedback from them or parents as yet.

“I think parents want continuity,” he said. “They want their kids to have a teacher that they know for all year.”

Diploma B approved

The School Committee also approved a Diploma B designation for students who are approved for it.

“I’m an advocate for all kids in our school,” Szymaniak said, noting the district offers a Community Evening School, based on credits, with a separate graduation ceremony. “What I see now is a core group of kids — probably 15 to 20 per grade — that are not college-bound, that are not tech-bound, they want to go in the military, they want to work, they want to go to Massasoit. Our Diploma A has requirements that some of these students find really challenging to pass, foreign language in particular.”

He stressed that the Diploma B designation is in no way a form of tracking students, but is based on a program in Hull. Szymaniak altered the program for W-H, requiring 92 credits to graduate compared to the 82 to 86 credits Hull High School requires for a Diploma B. The additional credits W-H requires would be in elective courses.

Students would be no different from other WHRHS students at regular commencement ceremonies and all diplomas look alike, but transcripts would carry the Diploma B designation.

It is not meant as an easy out, however, Szymaniak cautioned. Four years of English, three years of math, science and social studies, and attempt at foreign language and other credits will be required.

“Every eighth-grader entering the high school is a Diploma A student,” he said. “At the end of freshman year — sometimes sophomore year — things happen.”

At that time, Szymaniak will meet with at-risk students and their parents to discuss goals and solutions. If, at the end of sophomore year a student is still in grade recovery, Diploma B will be discussed as an option.

“Everything’s fluid,” Szymaniak said, explaining that Diploma B   students could always switch back over to Diploma A. “Some of my students go to CES and then transfer back in.”

On record, more storage is needed

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WHITMAN — Say you needed an old file from Whitman Town Hall. Depending on its age and subject matter, it could either be close at hand or require a search of file cabinets or temporary file boxes in offices all over the building — if you are lucky.

A tour of file storage locations shows records filling old vaults, spaces under exterior and interior stairs, the two stories of former book stacks in the wing of the building that used to house the library, boiler and storage rooms, and the cells of the former police station.

They are also stored in a custodial closet containing an inaccessible, but working, toilet that must be flushed once a week lest the water evaporate and cause a buildup of sewer gases. More are kept on the landing and steps of the second floor behind the auditorium.

“What I’m seeking to do is install a record carriage system so that we can store a large quantity of records in compact spaces,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said of a Tuesday, March 22 vote of the Board of Selectmen to authorize a warrant article for $53,000 to seek funding for the project. “It would enable us to place records that are very haphazardly placed everywhere in the Town Hall and kind of bring them together and organize them, inventory them and have them where they are accessible and reasonably secure. Right now they are in every nook and cranny of the building.”

One of the storage systems will be placed in the selectmen’s office, allowing access from two sides and will compress files to fit more into the space. Four more will be placed in a room behind the lower Town Hall meeting room that is temperature and humidity-controlled to adequately protect records.

“It’s a short-term solution,” Lynam said. “It’s a good solution for five years or so. At some point, we’ll have to have a more viable solution, and I think [the key] is actually getting the state to come into the 21st Century and accept the concept of electronic archiving.”

Lynam had also discussed the situation with the Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee on Thursday, March 3.

“One of our worst traits, or characteristics, is record storage,” he told the committee. “We’re not in compliance with state law in terms of how to preserve records and we’re not in compliance with good business practices on how to secure and protect those records.”

Lynam contacted the state storage system contractor, Delegate Systems, to conduct a site visit and provide a design and estimates on a solution. Their initial quote included $14,864.75 for rotating storage in the selectmen’s office, he said.

Among the problems the system would help solve is the long-term storage of personnel records, according to Lynam.

The state archivist has told town officials that some records, including minutes from meetings, which must be easily retrieved as hard copies, cannot be digitized. Under current state law, for example, e-mails exchanged between public officials must be printed out with hard copies kept on file.

About 20-to-30 percent of files can be stored electronically, but is an expensive project, Lynam cautioned.

“And it won’t replace the need for storage,” he said. “They (state archivists) had consistently rejected it because their concern was, if we create a file today, will we be able to read it 20 years from now. Paper is constant.”

During the five to seven years of secure, organized filing that the new system will buy for the town, Lynam suggested perhaps some method of long-term accessibility to digitized records could be developed. The problem, however, is here now.

“In the big picture, this is not a lot of money to address the issue we’re addressing,” he said.

“I think it’s way past due,” said Building Inspector Robert Curran, a member of the Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee.

Member Christopher Powers voiced support for a more long-term solution, such as electronic storage.

“We’re eventually going to end up there,” Lynam said. “This is something happening all around us and we’re going to be part of that movement.”

Override options opinion sought

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HANSON — Lawyers for the town and Whitman-Hanson Regional School District are expected to meet Thursday, March 31 — along with Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young and School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes — to review the legal options open to the town regarding the form and procedures for a Proposition 2½ override ballot question in a regional school district.

The meeting is aimed at providing the answers selectmen need to vote on placement of the override article on the Town Meeting warrant or directly to a ballot by the Tuesday, April 5 deadline.

Selectmen also voted 4-1, with Selectman Don Howard dissenting, to select Michael McCue as the new town administrator pending the completion of a background check and successful contract negotiation.

Young had consulted the Department of Revenue (DOR) website at mass.gov/dls to determine what options might be open to the town and suggested one of two multiple-question overrides might best suit Hanson as it approaches the WHRSD budget for fiscal 2017.

“Basically, [MGL Ch. 59 Section 21] for some reason, makes the Board of Selectmen the appropriating authority, not the Town Meeting, for the placement of ballot questions,” Young said. “It also gives the Board of Selectmen various options as to how those ballot questions may be placed.”

A “menu” override would break the Student Success budget’s 20 program segments, approved by the School Committee on March 16, into separate questions from which voters may choose the ones they are willing to support.

A “pyramid,” or “tiered” form breaks such issues down into two or more funding levels. The traditional contingency article would have Town Meeting vote on May 2 regarding placement of a single funding question on the ballot.

The question is would either option to a contingency article — written concerning local school districts — be legal for a regional district?

School district counsel James Toomey argues it is not legal and town counsel Jay Talerman had not yet offered an opinion, which Young has sought.

“We need a complete and accurate picture of what the selectmen can and can’t do in relationship to the proposed assessment and subsequent override,” Young said of his request to Talerman. Young indicated the tier, if not the menu option, may apply based on Talerman’s preliminary review.

“The second section … explicitly provides a Town Meeting must act on the total budget and is prohibited from allocating from among accounts or placing any restrictions on the appropriated money,” Hayes read from an email from Toomey. “I think the vote has to be up or down, whether we like it or not. It’s a budget that has been voted upon by an elected body,” Hayes said.

Selectmen were referring to voting options on a Town Election ballot.

Former Selectmen James Egan agreed with Toomey.

“I’ve had a little bit of experience in this area,” Egan said. “The School Committee determines how to spend the money, it’s the role of he Board of Selectmen to determine how to get the money. You can’t do what [Selectman James McGahan] is saying about tiering and making choices … that is not the role of a Proposition 2 ½ override. … You don’t have the right to determine how monies are spent.”

Young said he agreed with that, and it’s why he questions the menu option.

McGahan favors a menu option because he said he does not believe an “all-or-nothing” ballot question would pass in Hanson.

“I personally don’t like the override approach,” McGahan said. “It’s too risky.”

He said on Wednesday morning that voters need to know in which of the towns additional teachers and security cameras included in the budget request will go, especially in view of declining enrollment in Hanson schools.

“If we’re going to support this, this, this, but not this and not that — it’s defeated,” Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera cautioned about voting in a different manner from Whitman, which would send the budget back to the School Committee. “A lot of those options that are in this 2½ ballot question only apply to local school districts. Most of the options having to do with the tier structure … doesn’t work in a regional school district, unless the School Committee accepts a lower amount.”

The W-H Regional School Committee unanimously voted on March 16 to transfer $750,000 from the excess and deficiency fund and to set a 20.15-percent increase to the towns’ assessments in support of a Student Success budget for fiscal 2017. With the assessment increase accompanying the Student Success budget, the total fiscal 2017 operating budget sought will be $49,714,344.

Hanson’s share of the operating assessment is $8,956,207 — with $1,241,141 subject to an override vote — based on student population and Whitman’s is $12,719,345 — with $1,762,588 subject to an override vote.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner stressed that the budget’s bottom line has increased only 1/10th of a percent and will actually fall short of level service without an override.

For Whitman voters, an override would mean an additional $1.24 per $1,000 in valuation [$336 per year on the average home value of  $270,940 to $558 on homes valued at $450,000], in Hanson, it would mean an additional $1.13 per $1,000 in valuation [$331 per year on the average home value of  $293,500 to $509 on homes valued at $450,000].

LaCamera said Hanson officials are proposing a 3.5-percent assessment increase, a figure, which would support the level-service school budget.

McCue chosen

Selectmen approved Michael McCue of Mansfield as its selection for the town’s next town administrator.

Young and McGahan reported they had each taken a finalist — Young checking McCue’s references and McGahan checking Sarah Smith of East Bridgewater — asking a dozen identical questions for each in conversations with all references.

Both said they received nothing but glowing responses for each candidate, but selectmen preferred McCue’s experience. He is currently town administrator Rochester, a post he has also held in Avon, and has served as an administrative assistant to selectmen in Mendon, as an Economic Development grants officer in Walpole and was a selectman in Mansfield for six years. McCue had been a finalist for Hanson’s former executive secretary position about 12 years ago when Michael Finglas was hired, and his parents have lived in town for about 20 years.

Young said he wanted “the best of the best” for the job.

“I lean, personally toward someone with more experience,” agreed Selectman Bill Scott.

McGahan said he struggled with his decision, and lauded Smith’s initiative in attending some selectmen’s meetings during the process.

“I liked her attitude, I like the way she conducted herself,” he said. “But I do think, if you’re looking at the résumé, if you’re looking at the experience, I would echo what Bill said.”

Selectman Kenny Mitchell concurred, but Howard voted for Smith.

“She’s new, she’s young and vibrant and I think she’d make a good candidate for the town of Hanson,” Howard said.

The board also voted to have a Norwell private investigation firm conduct a background check including a nationwide criminal,  civil and financial search; employment verification; academic degree confirmation and a nationwide media, news and public data search.

Rescue team frees man from trench

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HALIFAX — Members of the Plymouth County Technical Rescue team rescued a 51-year-old man from a trench after the land gave way around him Tuesday morning.

Paul Brown of Plymouth was approximately eight feet down in a yard on South Street in Halifax on Tuesday morning when the earth around him collapsed.

“He was conscious the whole time, “said Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

It took rescuers two hours to free Brown.

“We were in constant communication with him and he was receiving advanced life support treatment as the team was working to free him,” Viveiros said.

Chief Viveiros along with Lt. Rob O’Brien of Hanson fire spoke to media following the intensive rescue effort. A long backboard with several pulley systems was secured to heavy ropes as the group slowly and methodically pulled  Brown up.

“They used small army-type shovels to move the dirt as any heavy machinery could jeopardize the victim; dumping more dirt on him,” said O’Brien who is part of the Plymouth County Technical Rescue team.

After securing the trench for members to enter, buckets were moved by rotating firefighters who were taking turns in the hole lifting dirt out. Fire chiefs as well as their fire department members who are specially trained in technical rescues represented many towns on the South Shore.

A portable heating unit was placed with flexible tubes in the ground while the man was trapped as he began to show signs of hypothermia.   

It appeared Brown suffered from possible lower extremity injuries, said Viveiros.

Brown who works for Evergreen Landscaping was in the trench working when the area collapsed around him. Another person who was not injured had operated an excavator.

They continuously talked with him letting him know that there were specialists to help get him out, the ‘best of the best’ who constantly train for these rescues, said Viveiros in an effort to keep the victim calm.

The homeowner said Brown was speaking to her and expressed that he didn’t think he could get out when she called 911 after 9 a.m. Tuesday.   She said she could see him moving the dirt with his hands but he could not free himself.

The repair was involving a septic system unit and was on private property, said Viveiros.

“I just can’t say enough for the support and what they did here – the technical team and the individuals who were here today,” Viveiros said.

The incident’s positive outcome and rescue was very fortunate, he said.

Brown was flown via Med Flight to a Boston Hospital.

OSHA and several state inspectors were on scene throughout the day as part of the investigation, according to Viveiros.

Whitman nearing sewer settlement

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WHITMAN — The town  might finally be able to sort out issues regarding their shared sewage situation with the city of Brockton.

Last year, Brockton mayor Bill Carpenter hit Whitman with a termination notice for outstanding payments due dating back to 2013. But at the Whitman town selectman meeting on Tuesday, the board worked on straightening out the issues and explained the situation in detail.

Brockton wanted Whitman to be a common user of their shared sewage system and for the town to share the cost of any repair expenses. While Whitman is willing to pay a share of it, they do not want to be responsible for the neighboring city’s issues when just 160 feet of the town’s pipeline extends into Brockton, Town Administrator Frank Lynam argued.

Recently, Whitman sent Brockton a check for $300,000 to take care of an audited 2013 payment and currently, they have $900,000 set aside to make the payments for 2014 and 2015. They will need to obtain another $600,000 from the Finance Committee to catch up on those payments.

Lynam said that it was not that the town was avoiding the payments. He said that there were errors in the original bill Brockton sent and the town would be more than compliant to pay when Brockton sent a correct bill based off of flow – the method which the town agreed to pay upon originally.

In the past few years, the town has spent $8,000 in audits trying to figure out why they were charged the amount they were instead of what they believed they would be charged, Lynam noted.

Unhappy with the inconsistencies, Selectman Daniel Salvucci suggested that the neighboring town may be hurting for money – which is why the rates could be higher than expected.

The board approved new procedure for issuing liquor licenses in town. From now on, they will send their rules, regulations and enforcement policies along with the license to establishments in town so that everyone is aware of the rule. The final page of the document will require the business’ signature and it appears as though they will either send it back to the town or keep it at their establishment. That part has yet to be determined.

Liquor licenses became an issue when an establishment in town violated theirs on several occasions and the town came to a conclusion – they did not have any way to strictly penalize an establishment for violating the rules.

With space lacking at the town hall, the board agreed that the archives room needed to be expanded in order to store more files.

“It’s a short term solution,” Lynam argued. “It’ll probably work for the next five to seven years. But then we’ll probably have to go digital at some point.”

Deficit spending was approved, at Lynam’s request, in order to demolish the barn on 215 South Avenue. It was damaged during winter storms and he said it was about to fall apart. While the town might not have had the funding at the moment, he argued that they will recoup the funds and then some when they sell the property.

While spending money may have been an issue, the town did receive a sizable sum from the state — $167,000 to be exact for being what the state of Massachusetts considers a “Green Community”.

Whitman and Hanson have shared a building inspector’s vehicle in recent times and in order to keep the deal in place, the board argued that the costs should be split equally – specifically gas and depreciation.

Using $3,200 from the World War II Memorial Fund, the Whitman Recreation Commission’s request to replace a fence around the basketball and pickleball court, which is located behind the police station, was approved. Pickleball is a game similar to tennis with a racket more similar to a table tennis racket and a ball more similar to a whiffle ball.

Ridder Farm’s request for a 12 General On-Premises Wine and Malt License was approved and takes effect specifically on holes four, 12, 13, 14 and 16.

Rickard D’Ambrosio’s Auctioneer License for DBA Gallery on 605 Bedford Street was approved.

The board set their April meeting schedule and their first meeting of the month will be Tuesday, April 5.

The case for school social workers

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Why does the W-H Regional School District need social workers?

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said it’s a question he frequently hears.

“We have seen over time an increase in the number of low-income students and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. “We’ve seen increased numbers of students from families that are not functioning in ways that really support students. Students are coming to school with issues and problems that 20 to 25 years ago we would have never thought possible.”

Principals from all seven W-H schools gave emotional testimony to the pain they see among children and adolescents in all economic levels in their schools whose needs are not being met.

They have had to find help for middle schoolers who cut themselves, suicidal students, children in custody of grandparents and students on the autism spectrum or who are dealing with crippling anxiety and depression ­­­­­— all while providing a quality education.

North River Collaborative has funded “very part-time” social workers for the elementary schools to share — and those principals lauded their work and dedication — but Gilbert-Whitner said more needs to be done.

Duval Principal Julie McKillop said her school has 16 pupils who have changed custody since June.

“Those children need to be supported throughout their day,” McKillop said. “That doesn’t shut off for those kids at 9 o’clock when the school day starts, and then start back up at 3 o’clock.”

School psychologists — there is one per school — are busy special ed testing, adjustment counseling and helping with social work, she said.

Conleey Principal Karen Downey noted her school is “into double digits with children who are DCF-involved” and counseling cases are increasing.

“I know you hear a lot about the opioid crisis,” Downey said. “That starts with these kids we can’t reach.”

At Hanson Middle School, Principal William Tranta said the problem goes beyond kids involved with DCF or the free and reduced lunch program.

“This is about all kids,” he said. “We’re seeing, in the middle schools, the results of the elementary schools not having the mental health support. … It’s about the social-emotional health of our students, not about what their income level is.”

Whitman Middle School Principal George Ferro agreed, but said the situation presents an opportunity to take action rather than being reactive.

“We’re taking kids from every walk of life, from every piece of life, from every socio-economic group, but it’s incumbent upon us as educators to take them where they’re at, give them the skills that they need to succeed not only in first grade, fifth grade, ninth grade, but for the rest off their life,” he said.

Unaddressed  problems grow bigger as students move to higher grades, educators said.

“I’m the end game,” said High School Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak. “I see the results of what we haven’t supported.”

After six years at WHRHS, he said he can see there is a gap of students who hadn’t had basic needs met in the elementary and middle schools.

“I know last year we spent a lot of time talking about the transition room we built [at WHRHS] specifically for students coming out of hospitals and psychiatric hospitals back into the building,” said Administrator of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Dr. John Quealy. “I just wonder how many of those kids would have been prevented [from needing that] if we had social workers at the elementary level.”

School committee member Susan McSweeney said social workers allow teachers to focus on teaching.

Indian Head Principal Elaine White said depression and anxiety is a problem for a lot of kids, some needing hospitalization.

“All of those services we lost, I think we’re reaping the problems now, because here we have kids in high school who are unable to function,” she said.