Halifax Tackles MBTA Zoning, Pivots Grant, and Extends Municipal Support to Hanson
Record-Breaking Town Meeting Draws Over 700 Voters
HALIFAX - December 17 - Halifax's recent town meeting saw an unprecedented turnout of 722 registered voters, making it the largest on record since the 1970s. The meeting, held to address the MBTA zoning issue, showcased the town's ability to manage large-scale civic engagement.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad praised the efforts of the town clerk's office and facilities team in handling the unexpected surge of participants. "We anticipated it to be a large group. We were thinking probably around 500, but 722 is a lot," Haddad said.
The meeting's primary focus was the MBTA zoning article, which did not pass.
In response to the vote, Board of Selectmen Chair John Bruno suggested including a resolution in the spring town meeting warrant. "I would like us to do is, for the spring town meeting, to have on the warrant a resolution instructing our local representatives to work to overturn that law," Bruno proposed.
The town's decision not to pass the MBTA zoning article has already drawn attention from the Attorney General's office. Haddad reported, "We were contacted already by the Attorney General's office asking if we passed it or not."
In a separate development, Halifax successfully secured a $125,000 grant for a school regionalization study but transferred it to Kingston due to potential non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Law. The grant, initially applied for in partnership with Kingston at the request of the Halifax School Committee, was awarded to explore regionalization options.
Haddad explained the pivot: "We were able to give that grant to Kingston because Kingston will be in compliance. The good news there is we're not going to lose out on that because it was a regional grant approach."
The town is also facing challenges with ongoing grants due to the MBTA zoning decision. "We do have a couple of ongoing grants that could be in jeopardy, so we are trying to speed up those projects and get invoices in," Haddad said.
In a display of municipal cooperation, Halifax is extending support to the neighboring town of Hanson by offering veteran services and building commissioner assistance. This collaboration showcases Halifax's strong municipal team and fosters positive inter-town relationships.
"We're in communication with Hanson on the veterans position, doing some potential regionalization there," Haddad reported. "At the very least, we're going to help our neighbors out in the meantime so that Hanson residents still have access to veteran services."
The town is also assisting Hanson with building commissioner services. Haddad anticipates presenting a formal agreement with Hanson at the January Board of Selectmen meeting.
Selectman Jonathan Selig praised this initiative, saying, "It's great that we are now able to offer other towns assistance and not be on the other end of that situation."
The meeting also addressed the reallocation of $40,000 in ARPA funds from a Pine Street intersection study to a highway barn roof project. This decision sparked a discussion about the need for urgent action on the Pine Street intersection, which has been a safety concern.
Selectman Thomas Pratt expressed frustration with the lack of progress on the intersection project. "To me, 12 months is a long time to have nobody been on a project," Pratt said, emphasizing the need for a concrete plan within 90 days.
As the final meeting of 2024, the Board of Selectmen reflected on the year's achievements and challenges. Bruno commended the professionalism of the board and town staff, stating, "The professionalism that you guys have brought to this and Cody and Pam and Irma is just so far beyond expectations, it's wonderful."
The meeting concluded with holiday wishes and a commitment to addressing key issues in the coming year.