February Whitman Updates
February Updates: As we get closer to Town Meeting a lot of the important news for the Town is going to have to do with budgeting and proposed articles. I’m grouping those at the top of this post.
Budget Articles: Budget update 2/6
With General Government and Public Safety requests in, and a projected 5% increase with the Whitman-Hanson Regional School assessment, the FY25 budget is beginning in a million dollar deficit. Selectman Shawn Kain presented budget trends for a few departments explaining the current situation.
Express Article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/the-tough-work-is-ahead-of-us/ WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/3Eu2t6CeOQw?si=Y7m1SjbUsQxFOxM6&t=114
School assessment 2/7
The Superintendent presented a level services school budget that increased 3 million dollars, or a little under 5% (School budget, not town assessment). With stagnant state aid as our assessed need declined, and a bunch of one time funding supported items coming into the budget that translates to an 11% increase in Whitman’s assessment.
Express Article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/truly-a-level-service-budget/ WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/ywMQ9P3I73g?si=0AMRHhsqyRrw4Zyh&t=67
Override question 2/20
The Board of Selectmen explored the possibility of an override to meet the assessment from Whitman-Hanson. No votes were taken but a placeholder article and ballot question were discussed. The deadline to get a question on the ballot is April 11.
Express article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/whitman-eyes-school-override/ WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/YtNyClNUB6Y?si=55hslz4zNtbLPyyA&t=1189
Murder suspect fled to Kenya, caught, escaped, caught again
This was a crazy story to follow, and my heart goes out to the family of the victim for this roller coaster attempt to face the justice system. The boyfriend of Margaret Mbitu, the Whitman nurse whose body was found in a car at Logan airport was caught in a nightclub in Kenya, staged a wild escape from Nairobi police custody, and was caught again. The suspect lived in Lowell, the murder was in Boston, and he was caught in Kenya. The only tie to Whitman was that it was the home of the victim. But still every time the story changed you probably wondered why news vans were parking in front of Town Hall or the Police Station.
Enterprise article: https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/crime/2024/02/14/kevin-kangethe-margaret-mbitu-whitman-nurse-murder-logan-airport-boston/72595193007/
Animal rescue
From international police chase to our first responders helping with a horse. Whitman fire called for the assistance of the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team to help an elderly horse that was unable to stand on her own. She was treated bye a vet and is expected to have no lasting effects.
Fire Press Release: https://www.whitman-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1150
Snow day
🤷♂️ Acting on the best available knowledge Whitman and all our neighbors shut everything down, only to be a little underwhelmed
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/100063511493323/posts/pfbid05o9Dbs6KECiNuzGh1vMfd6Pfn6hZeMYJtBrxt8akzdJihBaVxEeiqVws2CvkFPmPl/?
ARPA presentation
The Plymouth County Treasurer and all three Commissioners were in Whitman to present a check for $2.2 Million in ARPA funds for the ongoing Sewer Force Main Project. If you’ll remember SOMEONE (https://youtu.be/i09izWn1MZA?si=0Bs5NILk909mU5lx&t=1472) suggested using ARPA funds for this project to free up ratepayer funds for the DPW building which was experiencing some cost overruns. ARPA funds must be allocated by the end of 2024 and most municipalities have found water and sewer infrastructure projects to be the best use of those funds.
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/100063511493323/posts/pfbid026v1fX2WHFJVDbqWg8ujJqzKJjuEpwH56f9qbDMASZy8cBj8DthhCF8Gkqk7RBzdJl/? WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/YtNyClNUB6Y?si=KYsMC9Bksyor36zA&t=341
South Shore Tech New Building Options narrowed
The South Shore Tech Building Committee decided to pursue a new building, with a 900 student capacity, at several recent meetings. The expected date for the Debt Exclusion vote is January 2025.
Express article: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/sst-narrows-design-options/