WHITMAN – The inadvertent omission, or in one case, inclusion, of a vote by the full Select Board, of a few positions from the list of annual appointments voted during the June 24 meeting, led to one of the more whimsical corrective measures during the board’s Tuesday, July 8 meeting.
And then there was the film proposal for a story about a pre-teen vampire. But more on that later.
Select Board member Laura Howe was asked to leave the dais July 8,while the Board again voted on her, and a few other appointments.
Her reappointment, as animal control officer, field driver and pest control manager, had to be revoted.
“At our last meeting, we voted all of the appointments, and we were all sleeping at the time and we forgot that Laura was on that list three times,” Chair Dr. Carl Kowalski said of the June 24 meeting, “So, she actually voted to hire herself three times, which is not cool. It was a mistake. Inadvertent. What we’re doing now is just correcting it.”
The board re-voted 3-0-1, with Howe abstaining, to reappoint her.
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter apologized that Howe’s reappointments were not separated from the rest of the list to avoid such a mistake, and pledged that would be done next year.
Select Board member Justin Evans was absent from the meeting due to family travel.
“It was completely inadvertent, and I appreciate your use of that language,” Howe said of the procedural error.
Howe apologized for the confusion, Carter apologized again, as did Kowalski.
“We all apologize,” he said.
The Board also voted to appoint William Hogan as assistant wiring inspector for a one-year term through June 30, 2026, as he had been erroneously omitted from the fiscal 2026 list.
The Select Board voted to appoint James Ewell as conditional inspector of buildings, building commissioner, ADA coordinator, advisory member to the Bylaw Study Committee, fence viewer, outdoor advertising division and zoning enforcement officer.
“This is the beginning of a discussion around what’s happening with the building Department,” Kowalski said.
Carter said Ewell is a certified local building inspector and has been Whitman’s assistant building inspector since 2019, has held a construction supervisor’s license for about 30 years and has operated his own business, Ewell Construction, for more than 25 years.
“I’m very pleased that Jim will be taking this very important role as conditional building commissioner and zoning enforcement officer for the town, and I look forward to working with him.”
After a letter was signed in executive session, he was beginning work in the positions the next day.
Ewell’s hiring was also approved.
The inspection rates for the assistant building inspector and building commissioners were also raised by the Board.
“This rate that I’m asking to be raised is just Tom Rubles’ rate,” Carter said. He is an assistant building inspector for Whitman, but is also a certified building commissioner for Rockland, which is his full-time job.
“As a certified building commissioner, Tom has requested an increase to his inspection rate for Whitman, [and] I’m currently requesting the Select Board increase Tom’s current rate for inspections to $50 per inspection,” she said.
He has offered to assist the town with the issuance of permits and inspections during the transition time.
“He’s thinking he may be able to do 10 to 12 hours a week while everything gets caught up and addressed, because the precious building inspector had been out most of the month of June,” she said. “While his term ended June 30, I think there has been work that has accumulated that both Jim and Tom will attack and clear through it.”
The Select Board approved the rate to Rubles’ inspections.
Sharon LoPiccolo’s appointment as temporary treasurer-collector was also rescinded by a vote of the board.
LoPiccolo, who previously held the position of assistant treasurer-collector, was appointed to that position in November 2024, when the former elected treasurer-collector vacated the position, Carter said. That appointment ended on May17, 2025 – the date of the town election.
“Since the person who was elected to the position of treasurer-collector declined the candidacy, the Board reappointed Sharon as temporary treasurer-collector for one more year,” Carter said. However, the Town Hall union voted not to reserve LoPiccolo’s right to return to the position as assistant for another year. For that reason, she has decided to return to her position as treasurer-collector at this time.
“I just want to thank Sharon for stepping up as the temporary treasurer-collector for the town,” Carter said. “She has done a wonderful job in this very important role – it’s very fast-paced, and Sharon, you are true asset to the town, and we really thank you.”
Later in the meeting, the Board also voted to retain LoPiccolo on the town’s newly established Aid to the Elderly and Disabled Fund Committee, at the request of Chair John Galvin.
The Board then voted to appoint Debra Ó Broin as temporary treasurer-collector through next May’s Town Election, subject to successful negotiations. Ó Broin has worked for State Street for more than 20 years, having been promoted to several different positions while at that firm. Carter said Ó Broin has strong financial, analytical and customer service skills. The Whitman resident also plans to run for the elected position in May 2026.
The board also planned to discuss the particulars of the appointment in the executive session.
In other business, an of out-of-state travel request by Fire Chief Timothy Clancy and approved at the June 24 meeting had to be re-voted because the item had not been listed on that week’s agenda.
Clancy’s request would allow him to attend the Aug. 11 to 16 Fire Rescue International conference as well as the Executive Fire Symposium Oct. 10 and 11.
“At the last meeting, the chief did speak at public forum and the board voted it, but it was not on the agenda,” Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter said. “We’re just having it as an agenda item, revoting it.”
The Board members again voted to approve the request.
Npw, about that vampire …
Whitman will also become something of a minor film mecca, as the board granted permission to resident Tanya O’ Debra to film a “low-budget, independent film at a private residence,” July 21 to 25.
Board members were very curious about the film.
“I knew that question would come up,” Carter said.
“Half Pint,” is a short film about a an 11-year-old dork who is bullied at school and decides to disguise himself as a vampire to scare off the bullies.
“It’s gotten so bad that she can’t leave the house, so she acts out and elaborate vampire fantasy to take back control of her life,” Carter read from the film’s synopsis. “She orders fangs from an online Halloween store and calls her best friend, Henry, to assist her in a plan that backfires spectacularly.”
“Is it a true story, or just…” Vice Chair Dan Salvucci asked.
“Yeah, Dan,” Kowalski quipped before the board voted to grant it’s approval.