HANSON – The Select Board took a virtual tour of employment ups and downs on Tuesday, Dec. 3 as they heard a report of public safety staffing concerns, welcomed a new master mechanic and celebrated the silver jubilee years of two Town Hall employees.
Police Chief Michael Miksch outlined his department’s staffing picture – which struck a somber tone, but pointed to a potential silver lining.
Hanson’s department is down two officers and is “kind of struggling” to rehire, but he added, that is nothing new to any police department, pretty much, in the northeast, he said.
The department has advertised and received a lot of applications from “brand new officers” that would have to be sent to the police academy.
“We anticipate two more openings going into the next fiscal year,” he said. “That’s a great pool to start with, because it will take us six months just to get somebody into an academy. So, we’re in a good spot on that side.”
To try filling the vacancies in the meantime, and maintain proper staffing levels, he said the department has put out an ad seeking people interested in lateral transfers.
“We had, I think it was, five total that had come in at that point,” he said, indicating that Thomas Malloy was one of them. “Three of the five did not meet the requirements that we held out there for a lateral.”
The chief asked the board to vote favorably on hiring Malloy with a start date of Monday, Dec. 23.
Miksch said Malloy was interviewed and proved to be a “very strong candidate.” They had another potential candidate slated for an interview on Thursday, Dec. 5.
“You might see me again in two to three weeks, or maybe after Christmas,” he said. “We’ll see how that goes.”
Currently a Plymouth Police officer, Malloy graduated from the academy in 2023. He is also a graduate of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and attended Massasoit Community College for a year, studying fire science, before entering the Marine Corps, serving for 11 years.
“He seems like a very good candidate,” Miksch said. “He was his class president in the academy [and] has been very well-regarded and is coming to us with high recommendations.”
Longevity lauded
The board honored two of the Town Hall’s administrative staff members of town departments for their longevity and dedication to serving residents during the meeting.
“We know you’re behind the scenes making it all happen,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett, noting that most people think in terms of a conservation agent or building inspector running departments, but they don’t realize there is a cast of people supporting them and getting the day-to-day work done.
“We are fortunate to have two such people,” she said. “And I think it’s pretty monumental to have people that have been in a job as long as you ladies have.”
Ann Merlin, who works in the assessor’s office, and Virginia Costley received citations from the board “expressing [their] sincere appreciation in recognition of 25 years of service and commitment to the residents of Hanson.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett also lauded Merlin for everything she did to help organize the town’s 200th Anniversary party in 2020. The party was one of the few events not canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you were fortunate enough to have been there, then you saw Ann Merlin’s decorating skills … amazing,” she said. “The details that this woman put in. It looked like it was otherworldly, it was just amazing.”
She also performed the Patsy Cline classic “Walking After Midnight.”
“She’s a very, very talented lady in many ways,” Green said. “I’m very privileged to work with her.”
“Virginia is just unparalleled in her knowledge,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “[She] has overseen all types of personalities and abilities and kept us on track.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett termed the Appeals Board one of the most important boards in town.
“People don’t realize that a lot of the exceptions that are made there are what defines what our town looks like,” she said. “You’ve been a huge, critical part of that, and I thank you.”
An emotional Costley thanked the board.
Master mechanic
The Select Board also voted to welcome it’s newest employee – hiring Kevin Simms of Bridgewater as the Highway Department’s master mechanic, contingent upon a successful background check and physical when he is recovered from planned surgery. His start date is anticipated to be Dec. 30.
“We conducted quite a search,” said Town Administrator Lisa Green, noting the position had been posted a few times. “Finally, we did get three candidates. Unfortunately, two withdrew, but the final candidate we did interview, turns out was a top person.”
Simms has at least 30 years of experience in automotive repair, ranging from diesel mechanics to aerial hydraulics and he has been a fleet supervisor with additional experience in welding and meal fabrication. He has also been a maintenance supervisor and shop foreman. He has schooling in air brakes and is a certified ASE master technician, which promotes excellence in vehicle repair. He has also worked on tires and is familiar with HVAC.
While he did have a Class B CDL license, he had let it lapse because his prior employer didn’t require it, he is looking into whether he can get it reinstated as well as pursing his 2A Hoisting license as well.
Simms was not able to attend the meeting because he was having surgery the next day, and his doctor advised him against going out and risking becoming ill.
“As you know, we’ve been short a mechanic for little bit of time,” Highway Director Richard Jasmin said. “Kevin comes with a wealth of experience that I think is going to help us get a fleet maintenance program up and running.”
He said Simms is not looking to “bounce around” any more as a lot of mechanics do in the course of their careers.
“He just wants a home, now, and he’s more than happy to make it Hanson.” Jamison said. “On top of that, we’re going to save a lot of money, because now we send everything out – from oil changes to minor weld jobs [and] it’s getting pretty pricey.”
While highway equipment will be Simms’ priority, the plan is to expand the job description to include other municipal vehicles.
“When he gets here, he’s going to have a little bit of list to get through, especially going into the winter,” Jamison said. “But I don’t see there being a terrible issue helping out. … I’d love to be able to lend a helping hand it [we] could.”
Simms’ will have the normal probationary period for the Highway Department of 90 days, with the town negotiating with the union to give him up to a year to obtain the CDL and Hoisting licenses, Green said.
“We don’t believe it will take that long, but they are willing to go that long,” she said, adding that, within six months he needs to at least show progress towards obtaining those licenses. Once he does obtain them, he will have another 90-day probationary period.
“We have spoken to him [and] he is agreeable to that,” she said. It will not impact vacation time, personal days or holidays. She said he is also taking quite a large pay cut to come work for the town.