Halifax Joins Regional Mental Health Clinician Program to Address Substance Use and Mental Health Crises
HALIFAX - December 2 - Halifax has committed to joining Kingston and Plympton in a regional mental health clinician co-response program, allocating nearly $10,000 from opioid settlement funds to help purchase a mobile trailer that will serve as office space for the collaborative initiative.
The Full Story
The Halifax Board of Selectmen unanimously approved an intermunicipal agreement on December 2nd that will bring a dedicated mental health clinician to work alongside police officers responding to mental health and substance use disorder calls across the three Silver Lake region towns. The board also voted to allocate $9,834 from the town’s opioid abatement settlement funds to help purchase and equip a modular office trailer that will be stationed at the Kingston Police Department.
Police Chief Joao Chaves explained that the program builds on a successful but short-lived earlier effort that had included Hanson and Carver. “A couple years back, we had gotten a clinician paid through a grant from the Department of Mental Health with Hanson, Carver, ourselves, and Plympton. It was a very successful program,” Chaves told the board. That program ended when the clinician left for another position and grant administration issues arose with the host community.
Under the new arrangement, Kingston applied for and secured a grant from the Department of Mental Health to fund the clinician’s salary. The clinician will work with William James College to ensure proper credentialing and training. Kingston Lieutenant Mike Skowyra, who joined the meeting remotely, emphasized that the program targets individuals suffering from substance use disorders or mental health issues, with particular attention to collaboration with school resource officers across the three towns.
“The sergeant, it was very intentional that we place this sergeant in charge of our SROs, that the clinician is the Silver Lake towns, right, to kind of go into the schools where necessary, where appropriate, to kind of collaborate with them on issues that are being seen in the schools and seen at home, things that are carrying over both ways,” Lieutenant Skowyra explained. He noted that the Kingston High School principal has already expressed enthusiasm about guidance counselors collaborating with the clinician.
The financial arrangement for the $66,000 trailer purchase was structured around the same percentage formula used for Silver Lake Regional School District assessments. Kingston, as the host community and grant holder, will contribute $18,645, while Halifax’s share is $9,834 and Plympton will pay $4,521. Importantly, Kingston agreed to absorb half the trailer cost upfront, recognizing that the facility will primarily serve Kingston’s needs, and will also cover ongoing operational expenses such as utilities.
Board Vice Chair Tom Pratt raised several important clarifying questions, including confirming that Halifax’s MBTA community status has no bearing on the grant, that the town has sufficient opioid settlement funds to cover the commitment without overextending itself, and that the entire cost is being funded through opioid settlement money. Lieutenant Skowyra confirmed all these points and explained that purchasing rather than renting the trailer made more fiscal sense, as rental costs would exceed purchase costs after approximately two and a half years.
The trailer will include a “soft interview room”—a space designed for sensitive interviews with juveniles, trauma victims, and individuals experiencing mental health crises. This stands in contrast to traditional police interview rooms and represents best practices for dealing with vulnerable populations. Lieutenant Skowyra noted the space could also be used by officers when the clinician is unavailable.
Chief Chaves emphasized the importance of using opioid settlement funds appropriately, noting that the state monitors whether communities are utilizing these resources as intended. “We got to utilize them because if not, the state’s going to stock them down. I’m like, we’re giving you guys this money to be utilized for these things and you’re not using it,” he said, adding that the funds cannot be used for staffing or manpower positions but are appropriate for this type of equipment and program support.
The intermunicipal agreement includes a provision allowing any town to withdraw from the arrangement without penalty, providing flexibility should circumstances change. Board Chair Jonathan Selig was designated as the signing authority for the agreement and related financial commitments.
Other Significant Business
The board conducted several other pieces of important business during the meeting. In a touching tribute, Halifax Elementary School teachers Tina Sarney and Jackie Thibeault presented plans to install a memorial brick for Dick Bayramshian, a beloved teacher who passed away over the summer after 31 years of service to Halifax students. The brick will be placed in front of the school’s flagpole, marking the first such memorial at that location.
“Mr. B was a kind, funny, and deeply dedicated teacher who gave 31 years to our students and Halifax families. This small tribute reflects the enormous impact he had on all of us,” one teacher told the board. Selectman Tom Pratt noted that when Bayramshian passed, “my email was flooded when he passed, looking for some sort of tribute.” The board unanimously approved the memorial installation.
The board also made progress on establishing an Override Study Committee, appointing three community members: Samantha Dufresne-Cox, Mark Dillon, and Tara Tonello. The committee will be tasked with gathering and presenting accurate information to residents about what a potential override would look like, including positions, services, and funding implications. The committee is designed to be informational rather than advocacy-focused.
“This committee that we’re putting together is basically just to get a clear picture to the people in town of what, if we did an override, what that looks like,” Chair Selig explained. Board members emphasized that committee members need not support an override personally, but should be committed to presenting factual information so residents can make informed decisions. Board Chair Selig was designated as the board’s representative to the committee.
In liquor license business, the board approved a one-day beer and wine license for Independent Fermentations Brewing to conduct tastings and sales at 416 Plymouth Street on December 13th from noon to 5 p.m., coinciding with the town’s annual Holidays in Halifax celebration. Board members noted that the second Saturday in December typically brings significant foot traffic to town businesses.
The board set December 16th as the date to interview three finalists for the combined Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer position. A round of interviews for Town Administrator candidates is scheduled for December 17th, following the screening committee’s review process managed by Community Paradigm Associates.
Administrative Updates and Public Information
Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy provided several community updates, including information about the Friends of the Library’s annual silent auction running through December 17th, the availability of 2026 recycling stickers at $75 per vehicle, and a reminder about the winter parking ban in effect from November 1st through March 31st.
Fennessy also reminded residents about proper disposal options for medical waste and unused medications. The fire department maintains a drop box for sharps disposal, with additional collection available at the recycling center. The police department operates a kiosk for unused medications at the police station.
The board also announced that it is seeking residents to serve on the ADA Commission, which currently has only one member. The commission requires five citizens at large plus the town’s ADA coordinator to function properly, with a minimum of three members needed for a quorum. The board set a January 20th deadline for residents to submit talent bank forms for consideration, with appointments to be made at the January 27th board meeting.
Board members made a plea for community involvement. “The town is only as good as the folks that want to come in and help,” Chair Selig said, noting that many committee commitments require relatively minimal time while providing valuable learning experiences about local government.
Why It Matters
The regional mental health clinician program represents a significant step forward in how Halifax and its neighboring communities respond to residents experiencing mental health crises or struggling with substance use disorders. Rather than relying solely on traditional law enforcement responses, officers will now have access to a trained mental health professional who can provide immediate assessment, de-escalation, and connection to appropriate treatment resources. For families dealing with mental health or addiction issues, this means more compassionate, clinically informed interventions that can lead to better long-term outcomes. The program’s integration with school resource officers also suggests increased support for young people struggling with these issues, potentially intervening before problems escalate. The use of opioid settlement funds for this purpose directly connects resources from the pharmaceutical litigation to addressing the ongoing addiction and mental health crisis in local communities.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve installation of memorial brick for Dick Bayramshian at Halifax Elementary School flagpole. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 04:23)
Motion: Approve Select Board meeting minutes for November 4, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 04:55)
Motion: Approve Select Board meeting minutes for November 18, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-0-1 (Pratt abstained). (Timestamp: 04:59)
Motion: Approve one-day beer and wine license for Independent Fermentations Brewing, LLC for December 13, 2025, noon to 5 p.m. at 416 Plymouth Street. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 08:03)
Motion: Appoint Samantha Dufresne-Cox to Override Study Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 14:00)
Motion: Appoint Mark Dillon to Override Study Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 17:10)
Motion: Appoint Tara Tonello to Override Study Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 18:33)
Motion: Designate Jonathan Selig as Board of Selectmen representative to Override Study Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 19:39)
Motion: Enter into intermunicipal agreement with Kingston and Plympton for regional mental health clinician program and modular office trailer. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 34:11)
Motion: Allocate $9,834 from opioid abatement funds for startup costs of regional clinician program. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 34:55)
Motion: Designate Town Administrator Bob Fennessy as signing authority for intermunicipal agreement. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 35:22)
Motion: Approve payroll warrant 48 ($367.40), vendor warrant 49 ($441,993.04), and ambulance commitments 11-10-25 through 11-16-25 ($48,161.80). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 43:18)
Motion: Approve payroll warrant 50 ($473,762.29), vendor warrant 51 ($79,957.17), withholding warrant 52 ($168,621.17), and mobile park fee 12 ($5,160.00). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 43:53)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 44:15)
Public Comment
No formal public comment period was held during this meeting. However, community members Samantha Dufresne-Cox and Mark Dillon addressed the board regarding their interest in serving on the Override Study Committee, and Halifax Elementary School teachers presented their memorial brick proposal for the late teacher Dick Bayramshian. Kingston Police Lieutenant Mike Skowyra and Police Chief Joao Chaves participated extensively in discussion of the regional mental health clinician program.
What’s Next
The Board of Selectmen will interview three candidates for Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer on December 16, 2025, during their regularly scheduled meeting. Town Administrator candidate interviews are scheduled for December 17, 2025. The deadline for residents to submit talent bank forms for appointment to the ADA Commission is January 20, 2026, with appointments expected at the January 27, 2026 board meeting. The Override Study Committee, now with four appointed members including Board Chair Selig, will begin organizing and scheduling its initial meetings. Town Administrator Fennessy will execute the intermunicipal agreement for the regional mental health clinician program on behalf of Halifax.
Full meeting available via Area 58 Community Access Channel.