December Updates
Posting a monthly update for the second month in a row, and still playing around with the format. Let’s see how long I continue this into 2024.
Tax classification hearing held, tax rate set
Whitman’s Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to maintain the 1:1 commercial to residential tax rate, consistent with historic precedent. The Board had extensive discussion about opportunities for residential tax relief in light of the coming Debt Exclusions for building projects, but decided that shifting the tax burden to the already small commercial tax base was not the best way to do that. Following that vote, the Department of Revenue approved the Town’s tax rate at $12.74 / $1000, a reduction from the current $13.57. Whitman-Hanson Express article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/whitman-sets-fy-2024-tax-rate/ WHCA recording of the meeting: https://youtu.be/gPhbs-1Asas?si=NLs1KHEfZLi3uWiI
Whitman Police hold successful toy drive and host a bin for The Action Team sock drive
Whitman Police held a very successful 8th Annual Stuff a Cruiser and Ambulance. They even had special visitors stop by as Santa, the Grinch, and Whitman Police Comfort Dog Nola all made appearances. Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/100064693148598/posts/pfbid02FyPXgxHFzEgVNQqq1GaiJw6NE9GVLFEoe8t53dShyUC85Cv4Jfj2tkHEGEg6nH2wl/?
Whitman Police also followed that up by hosting a Sock Drive bin for The Action Team’s Socks for the Homeless, turning them over after a very successful Sock Drive.
Whitman representatives attend OCPC summit
Representatives from the Whitman Selectmen’s office, including myself and Vice Chair Dan Salvucci, attended the Old Colony Planning Council Annual Summit to learn what services our regional planning organization can provide and network with representatives from the other 16 member communities. Whitman is currently seeking the assistance of the OCPC on a number of issues, including a Housing Production Plan, an Open Space Plan, and is actively participating in their Brownfields Redevelopment program which was awarded a $500,000 grant from the EPA.
DFS Tree lighting in the park
Whitman-Hanson Dollars for Scholars hosted their 4th Annual Tree Lighting in the park. This has quickly become one of my favorite holiday events. Dozens of sponsors got creative with their tree decorations, and vendors, and food trucks, and music, and visits from Santa and the Grinch had everyone feeling the Holiday spirit. As always, the proceeds went to support scholarships for Whitman-Hanson seniors. Facebook post:https://www.facebook.com/100000214791941/posts/pfbid0qBCc6nY6T1RhBRDU7cstyiLiZKZkoYyFQxrjpXUfChqr3Pzw4UWXpYviB76tWMdMl/?
BOS and FinCom Kicked off FY25 budget process
The Board of Selectmen met jointly with the Finance Committee to get a jump start on planning for the Town’s FY2025 Operating Budget. Anticipating inflation related cost increases, a strained tax base, and the end of ARPA and ESSR funding the ground was set for a very difficult town budget. Initial revenue projections provided to the Finance Committee had the town already looking at a deficit with only known pension and insurance obligations, contractual salary increases, and a projected 5% assessment from the School District (well below recent levels, where state aid has been stagnant for over a decade). Expect a LOT more discussion on the budget. Bottom line, it’s not a growth year. Whitman-Hanson Express article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/getting-an-early-start-on-fy-25-budgWHCA recording: https://youtu.be/kfCXOHl7euM?si=5ccCO6uRtZj5scPQ
Whitman’s Justine Rota makes Holiday Baking Championship Finals
Whitman Baker Justine Rota competed in this season’s Holiday Baking Championship on the Food Network. While she came up short in the final competition, she made Whitman proud. Rota’s Sweet Standards is a home bakery in Whitman, and she can be found at all sorts of Town events. Sweet Standards recently had a table at the vendor event the first night of the Holiday Tree Lighting. Whitman-Hanson Express article:https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/whitmans-rota-in-food-network-holiday-baking-finals/ Sweet Standards Website: https://sweetstandards.com/?
SST building project informational meeting
South Shore Tech Superintendent Tom Hickey presented the latest on the SST building project at a forum in Whitman. The project is still in early days, with an expected vote in January 2025, but I’ll try to highlight some of the decisions at this moment. SST is looking at expanding, in total enrollment, in programs offered, even looking at adding member towns. The new building designs are for between 805 and 900 students, and they are designing increased lab space to offer plumbing and veterinary technician programs. This will be important to Whitman; we send more students than any of the 9 member towns, and under the current regional agreement that means we’ll be responsible for the largest share of the debt for the duration of the loan. Whitman-Hanson Express article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/whitman-eyes-sst-building-project/ WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/avaVT4XP2B4?si=GqWoXdX8QiRAnMIr
Fire Chief Timothy Clancy receives Executive Fire Officer distinction
Fire Chief Timothy Clancy graduated from the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program in Maryland, he was one of only 36 fire service leaders in the program. The Chief’s final capstone project was "A Qualitative Review of the Mental Health of the Fire Departments and Evaluating the Current Mental Health Programs in Plymouth County Massachusetts". Press release: https://www.whitman-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1132
Whitman COA Senior Holiday Luncheon
Our Council on Aging held its Senior Holiday Luncheon in the Town Hall and had a packed house!! Volunteers from almost every town department pitched in, and I’m told COA director Mary Holland’s jokes “sleighed!” Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/100064693148598/posts/pfbid0K59fFmUTWnfEmECCBcncQ1DNpgTEuRJstgdkcKBHjMdBMTGXEHAtYHMkcMG18LXql/?