By Abram Neal
Express Staff

HANSON —  Will a regional animal control officer meet the town’s need for that service? While there is some skepticism among both Hanson and Whitman officials, they are willing to give it a try for one year.

On Tuesday, June 16 Hanson Selectmen worked quickly through a short agenda without major discussion. The most controversial topic of the evening, regionalization of an animal control officer, was approved by a 4-1 vote.

Selectman Bill Scott was a vocal opponent of the proposal.

At the same time, Whitman Selectmen were voting 5-0 in support of the regional approach on a one-year trial basis.

Whitman, Hanson, and Abington have drawn up an inter-municipal agreement to share an Animal Control Officer and an Assistant Animal Control Officer, who would be a Whitman town employee. Each town would pay a percentage of the salary and operational budget for the tri-town officers. Position descriptions for both the ACO and the Assistant ACO have been drawn up as well.

As Hanson does not currently have a facility to house lost or abandoned animals, and compared to the cost previously of hiring an ACO for the town, this would represent significant savings for the town.

Selectmen Donald Howard and James McGahan were concerned about whether the town counsel had reviewed the contracts. Town Administrator Ron San Angelo responded first that the position descriptions must be legal, as he had copied Duxbury’s ACO contracts nearly identically. He then stated that Abington’s legal counsel had reviewed the tri-town agreement, though the Selectmen remained unconvinced and insisted that Hanson’s attorney must review the agreement. Concerns included liability and workers compensation if the Whitman town employee were injured in Hanson.

Whitman Selectmen expressed concern about the pay scale being offered.

“By combining our resources we can share in the expenses associated with animal control,” Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam told his board. “The concept we’re moving to is responding to calls as opposed to patrolling.”

The towns’ financial share in the agreement is based on population. Lynam said he had doubts about the workability of the numbers, but that his counterparts in Hanson and Abington were more confident and he was willing to try it “recognizing that we may have to tweak some of the budget numbers.”

Whitman already takes a very successful regional approach to veterans’ services with Abington.

San Angelo also reported on two projects underway at the Town Hall. New lighting fixtures and doors both are being delayed due to technical problems – the lights due to pipes in the ceiling that do not allow the lights to be properly recessed and doors that were “made wrong” and need to be rebuilt.

He also reported that the second annual Hanson Day was a great success, with a turnout of about 1,000. San Angelo also presented quarterly budgets prepared by the Town Accountant.

The Chairman, Bruce Young, read into the record reports from the Monponsett Pond Committee, which reported that Brockton had tapped into the pond for five days during May when blue-green algae colonies were at 190,000 parts per million, above the safe limit. As well, status updates on two building projects at the Indian Head and Maquan Schools were read, although nothing major has changed since the last report.

Finally, the Board recognized Shannon Arlin, a South Shore Vocational Technical High student for her gold medal at the SkillsUSA contest in the field of Graphic Communications. Arlin will go on to represent Massachusetts at the National contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Chairman Young read the Board’s citation into the record, although Arlin was not present to receive it. The Board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Joan Powers from the Historical Commission.

— Express Editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.

Operation Swift Response, a two-day drill held in Plainville and Topsfield last week allowed first responders to test their strengths statewide.

Several agencies and technical rescue teams from the South Shore took part in the joint response under one command post in the simulation of an EF3 tornado. The practice drill required the deployment of rescue teams to multiple sites for recovery, rescue and support.

More than a dozen local fire chiefs also participated in area command posts as part of the disaster drill.

“It was a great training exercise, working alongside the technical teams from each county and utilizing statewide  assets — everything from  technical rescues to learning the logistics of area  command,” said Whitman Fire Chief  Timothy Grenno.

Hanson Fire Lt. Robert O’Brien Jr., was deputy director of operations for Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team. They quickly learned that moving personnel was their first priority and on day one of the drill relocated 150 people by aircraft from the Mansfield Airport.

“We had a limitation in what we could move for equipment. We had to come up with a better system in what we moved first,” O’Brien said. “We were able to move six people using the medevac helicopter. In the utility helicopters we were able to move 11-12 person teams.”

With 14 squads participating, the helicopter was repurposed to bring in other resources forcing the “players in the drill” to rethink their strategy and reconfigure their resources.

Mannequins and live victims, portrayed by military personnel, were used during rescue missions and as part of the hands-on medical phase.

Victims who were “injured” but described as walking wounded were airlifted out and the remaining “victims” had symptom cards describing their injuries for rescuers. 

“We now have a better system in place to move equipment and as far as moving personnel it was flawless,” said O’Brien.

Such lessons were the object of the exercise, which tested the overall effectiveness of emergency operations in case of a major disaster.

More than 100 first responders including many local firefighters attended the physically challenging exercise. The teams were moved by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to the drill site.

In press releases prior to the event, Capt. Rob Reardon of Duxbury Fire, PIO assistant coordinator for the drill, said several local and statewide participants were involved: Fire Chiefs of Massachusetts, Technical Rescue Committee, COMTRIST, National Guard, Department of Fire Services, Mass Emergency Management Agency, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, and Plymouth and District 14 Technical Rescue Teams.

The drill was intended as a test in times of disaster and will predict future areas of improvement for all responders.

“It went very well. It took a lot of planning — 24 separate meetings. We had a few small hiccups as part of the learning process but for the most part — it went very well,” said Chief Kevin Nord of the Duxbury Fire Department.   

There were several goals in running the two simultaneous drill sites including the main component of communication between rescue teams and assembling resources to manage an area that was “deemed inaccessible,” he said.

Participants assembled in teams with approximately 90 skilled technical rescue technicians as part of the incident.

Two National Guard helicopters were used; one flying from the north and one from the south to access the drill sites.

The Plainville Fire department doesn’t have its own technical team but they do have members who train on other tech squads. Nord expressed great thanks for Chief Justin Alexander as a gracious host to one of the sites as well as the entire Plainville Fire Department.

Along with the more than 100 participants in the drill there were abundant efforts in coordination, said Nord.

The logistics and planning between sites, central command and communication for a wide area were well coordinated during the two twelve hour days funded by FCAM Technical Rescue Committee, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts National Guard.  Training funding was used for participating agencies, according to the press release.

Teams had great exposure and familiarization working with the National Guard soldiers who were embedded in the event, said Nord.

He also thanked everyone who came together for the drill.     

Gen. Rice was very gracious to allow us the use of the National Guard’s Black Hawks, Nord said. The coordination and positive response of participants was “exceptional,” said Nord.

Gov. Charlie Baker and EOPPS Secretary Dan Bennett attended along with his undersecretary.

The governor was pleased by the show of support of the Commonwealth, said Nord.

HANSON — The town’s firefighters, their family members, town officials and residents gathered for the annual Firefighters Memorial Sunday on June 14, to honor fallen firefighters and former department members who have passed.

“While it is right and fitting that we meet here every year to remember our past heroes — firefighters James Craig, Thomas Lovett and David Grindall — we must also remember that their families have sacrificed, and to let them know that we appreciate the sacrifice that their loved ones made and recognize the toll it takes on them every day,” said Chief Jerome Thompson Jr.,

He also noted that, across the nation so far this year, 42 firefighters have been killed in the line of duty.

“Let us remember the sacrifices that have been made by our brothers and sisters, and honor them by improving our culture and our perspective on firefighter safety and training,” he said.

Members of the Hanson Fire Department marched from the station onto the front lawn to the bagpipe skirl of  “Scotland, the Brave,” played by Don Teague.

W-H student Ainsley Stewart sang the national anthem and the Rev. Kwang Lee, associate pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church, offered a prayer.

“As we join in prayer for those who serve our Hanson community as firefighters, we are mindful of those who have gone before us,” Lee said.

State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, presented Thompson and the Hanson Fire Department with a citation from the General Court honoring the occasion and shook hands with each firefighter.

“Today is a day for reflection,” said Cutler, who represents Hanson. “Our message this morning is a simple one — thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice and thank you to your families for sharing you with us.”

Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young spoke for the board, while members Kenny Mitchell and Jim McGahan also attended the ceremony.

“The Hanson Fire Department has a long and honorable history in this town, and has grown from an all-volunteer fire department to the current, first-class, 21st century department for fire and ambulance services of full-time firefighters and EMTs deeply committed to serving the citizens of Hanson,” Young said in thanking the department on behalf of residents. “When we now think of the passing of our firefighters, and think of the names of each, we will also remember their humanity, their courage, their loving dedication to family, to community and to the lives of the citizens they serve.”

Lt. Keith Wilson read the poem, “A Firefighter’s Prayer,” after which firefighter Christopher Harris lowered the flag to half-staff and Lt. Rob O’Brien read the names of Craig, Lovett and Grindall as firefighter  Kevin Mossman rang a fire bell for each name. W-H alum Matthew Paru played taps and Teague played “Amazing Grace” before Harris raised the flag again.

Thompson then presented Lt. Gary Smith with his 35-year service pin.

  

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen have asked Town Administrator Frank Lynam to circulate a questionnaire among downtown businesses to gauge the parking situation and the effect it has on business volume.

Lynam will also be drawing up a list of holiday weekends on which he intends to restrict tollbooth fundraisers due to the traffic tie-ups that hurt business. Both issues will be discussed again at the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, June 30.

“I received some comments about parking,” Lynam said Tuesday, June 16. “We have a number of businesses downtown and, while we have municipal lots, they’re not always conveniently located to the businesses.”

As a result, they find employees using on-street spaces, typically intended for customer use, as all-day parking. Lynam also noted that most downtown business post time limits for parking during their weekday business hours.

“I’m suggesting we consider a two-hour parking limit,” he said. “It should be ample time for anyone to do business downtown, and more importantly, it prevents people from parking their car there all day.”

Enforcement is the main concern with that, as there is no budget for a meter maid, according to Lynam, and parking meters were not an option officials want to consider. Police Chief Scott Benton said the friendly approach would work better than meters, too.

“You’re going to get the people who decide, ‘I’ll pay … I’m good with that. I’ll keep that spot and I’ll pay and have it all day,’” he said.

Parking tickets used by the department would also have to be changed to reflect the time limits and applicable fines.

“From my personal experience, I have never had a problem finding a parking spot downtown,” Benton said. “I don’t own a business there, either. I’m not saying some people don’t experience that.”

Selectman Scott Lambiase said a lack of signs directing people to the municipal lots is also a problem.

“This might not be something for government to get into,” he said. “[Businesses] should self-police it if its their own employees that are … creating this problem and deal with it.”

Selectman Dan Salvucci applauded businesses such as Duval’s and McGuiggan’s Pub that provide off-street parking for employees.

“One of the things we want in Whitman is to be customer-friendly,” Salvucci said.

Selectman Brian Bezanson suggested the questionnaire to determine the extent of concern among business owners and Benton said he will ask his regular downtown detail officers on Saturdays to be attentive to the issue and report to him.

Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski also noted that the complaints he has heard about tollbooth fundraisers’ effect on parking availability stems from tollbooth organizers parking spaces all day, which drives customers away.

The tollbooth restrictions, meanwhile, would apply to holidays when downtown shopping traffic is heaviest such as Easter, Mothers and Fathers days, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“It has a significant impact on traffic and it also hurts the merchants that are trying to do business during those times,” Lynam said of tollbooths on holiday weekends. “I think stores market during those days and putting a group in the center kind of makes it difficult to work.”

The Board asked Lynam to come back next meeting with a new application form listing the excluded holidays he was considering and to post them on the town’s website.

The Knights of Columbus hold an annual tollbooth on Columbus Day weekend as a tie-in with its namesake explorer.

“We might find that there aren’t as many that we would want to decline as we think right now,” Kowalski said.

Benton said the tollbooths are assigned a police detail for safety and that there have been no accidents related to them.

“Traffic is going to back up,” he said. “It kind of goes with the fundraisers.”

HANSON — The Hanson Water Department’s ban on outside watering is lifted as of June 11, however water restrictions will now be in effect.

Hand-held hoses only will be permitted between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information,  contact the Water Department at 781-447-1200.

HANSON — Town Administrator Ron San Angelo has been offered the job as town manager in Southbridge, which is located in southern Worcester County near Sturbridge.

The Southbridge Town Council voted 8-1 on Thursday, June 4 to make the offer.

San Angelo was among three finalists — including North Kingstown, R.I., Town Manager Michael E. Embury and Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik.

There had been 22 applicants, seven of which were considered finalists, according to Council Chairman Shaun Moriarty. Of the seven, four were invited to interview, with one withdrawing.

Knapik received the one other vote cast in Southbridge.

“Ron has a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Moriarty said. “He has a proactive attitude and he’s definitely a go-getter.”

The Town Council has heard positive reports about San Angelo, Moriarty reported.

“From everything we heard, he’s a stand-up guy,” he said. “I’m sure each town has their own dynamics.”

Moriarty said the town manager position in Southbridge “has more authority delegated by town charter than in most town administrator communities.”

Both San Angelo and Embury also interviewed as finalists for the post of Brewster town administrator to succeed Charles Sumner, who is retiring after 29 years on the job, according to the Cape Cod Times, which reported Tuesday night that Embury had been offered the Brewster job.

San Angelo had informed Southbridge of the Brewster interview, which took place Monday, as did Embury’s. Brewster Selectmen interviewed Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark Tuesday night before voting to offer the job to Embury.

Ironically, Clark had been Southbridge’s town manager until August 2013, about the time San Angelo was hired in Hanson.

The next step, according to Moriarty, is the contract-negotiating phase.

“He was offered the position pending successful contract negotiations and those negotiations are currently underway,” Moriarty said. “We’ll see how quickly both sides come to terms.”

Southbridge Town Council has already met to discuss its frameworks for a deal and has appointed a negotiations committee to work with San Angelo toward trying to come to terms on a contract.

“Hopefully [that will happen] the sooner, the better so we can move forward,” he said, noting that it is hoped San Angelo could start early to mid-August.

San Angelo’s current Hanson contract includes a 60-day notification before he would leave to work elsewhere.

Hanson Selectmen are in the process of reviewing that contract as some board members see unacceptable differences between San Angelo’s pact and that of former Town Administrator René Read.

San Angelo requested an evaluation and renewal of his contract out of consideration for his family’s security this spring following conflict with the board. He posted a copy of the letter to Selectmen on the Voices of Hanson Facebook page.

“The Board of Selectmen is in a position to immediately offer me a new contract if you believe that I have done a good job for the citizens of Hanson,” he wrote on March 24. “It is my intention to begin looking at long-term options for the security of my family.”

At the same time, he listed more than a dozen accomplishments and stressed his “strong commitment” to Hanson and a wish to remain on the job.

Selectman Don Howard said at a meeting last month that he has “no qualms” about working with San Angelo, the third town administrator he has worked with over seven years.

“He’s from another state, and sometimes he gets carried away because he’s been a mayor and a manager,” Howard said. “As far as what we hired him for as an administrator for the town of Hanson, in my opinion he’s doing his job.”

“I agree the job’s getting done,” said Selectman James McGahan. “I question, sometimes, the way he does it.”

McGahan said there are three specific points in the contract that concern him, including the indemnification clause.

“Under the old contract, if he was guilty of misconduct the TA was dismissed,” he said. “There is nothing of such in this contract.”

In April, Selectmen approved a policy under which access to town counsel by individual selectmen requires approval only by the Selectmen’s chairman or vice chairman. The town administrator would be notified of such requests, but would not have the power to approve or deny them.

That same month, San Angelo interviewed for a town administrator job in Norwell as one of three finalists. Norwell Selectmen hired Braintree Town Solicitor Peter J. Morin by a 4-1 vote.

Selectman David DeCoste voted for Hanson Town Administrator Ron San Angelo. In the end, however, the board decided Morin was a “better fit” for Norwell.

The Norwell Selectmen Chairman Ellen Allen had noted San Angelo was up-front about his history with Hanson Selectmen — both with the board that hired him and the current board. He did not mention it in his final interview.

“With the way he talked about that with the screening committee we all felt comfortable with his explanation,” Allen said. “But he’s kind of taken on that interaction with them in the public in a way that concerns me.”

Southbridge has a population of 16,719 and is one of 14 municipalities in Massachusetts with a city form of government, but which retain “town of” in official names.   The economy of “The Eye of the Commonwealth,”  was driven for many years by the American Optical Company, which closed in 1984.

WHITMAN — Scores of motorcycles growled away from the Whitman VFW Sunday in the second annual Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Motorcycle Memorial Run.

Chrissie Williamson and Trisha Griffith, both graduates of Whitman-Hanson were just two of more than 500 people who attended the second annual event June 7. The event was organized by the American Infidels Motorycle Club, a nonprofit group dedicated to the “promotion of the ‘American Way’” and passionate in its support of military members and veterans.

Vasselian, a native of Abington, was killed in Afghanistan in December 2013.

It was evident Sunday that small town heroes are not forgotten and that town lines did not separate, but instead gathered strangers and friends to honor the life of a young man who sacrificed his life for his country.

His widow Erin Vasselian and her mom Trisha Doyle were both among the hands in the crowd greeting and thanking guests for attending. Many groups connected as riders although others attended in support of food, raffles and vendors that drew in the large crowd. All were gathered in support of the Vasselian Foundation.

The Doyle’s own Cow Bells Café in Whitman center where her father David is owner and chef. He keeps a photo of his late son in-law on the café wall. There is even a special hamburger named in his honor.

“We have seen an outpouring from both our hometown of Abington where Daniel grew up and have been embraced by Whitman,” said Doyle.

“Erin is keeping busy. It is day-to-day. Sometimes it (losing Danny) doesn’t seem real,” he said. “But, she keeps busy and having the veterans group is helping her in support and getting through.

“Last year over 80 percent of riders who attended (in the rain) didn’t know Danny or the family and they came for him anyway. It is overwhelming.”

“The Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Memorial Fund was created in memory of the United States Marine, who was known to most as “Danny” or “Sgt V.”  He was killed in action in Afghanistan on Dec. 23, 2013 while serving his third tour of duty protecting our country.  Sgt Vasselian was posthumously awarded both Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal with valor.

The foundation will honor his sacrifice by assisting veterans, active duty service members, and military families of Massachusetts who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of unavoidable circumstances.  The foundation also awards annual scholarships to graduating Seniors of Abington High School, according to the website mission statement.

A road race on Veteran’s Day in November will be held in his honor with money going toward the foundation. For upcoming events visit dannyvfund.org.