WHITMAN - June 30, 2026 - The Whitman Select Board engaged in a critical debate over the town’s economic future, revealing that Whitman has been sitting on a hidden “golden egg” of economic growth—its existing sewer infrastructure—while nearby South Shore towns aggressively lobby to build the exact capacity Whitman already possesses. The board pushed for active business outreach to reverse a trend of prolonged commercial vacancies.
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During committee updates, Select Board member Dawn Byers brought back infrastructure data from an Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) economic commission meeting. Byers noted that surrounding municipalities like East Bridgewater, Avon, Easton, and Stoughton are scrambling to build out sewer capacity, explicitly quoting East Bridgewater officials who named sewer infrastructure as “the biggest driver of growth”. Whitman, conversely, has maintained its centralized sewer layout since the 1980s but has struggled to leverage it effectively to retain or attract stable commercial tenants.
“[Other towns] are all working towards getting what we have so... I think we need to still go back to what we originated with the sewer... businesses should want to come here because it should be easy.” — Dawn Byers
The revelation sparked an open policy discussion with board member Daniel Salvucci, who warned that the Department of Public Works (DPW) indicates the town may be approaching its legal limits under the agreement with the City of Brockton, which processes Whitman’s wastewater. Salvucci noted that water supply limitations from Silver Lake further complicate large-scale commercial tie-ins. The board collectively resolved to add wastewater metrics to a future agenda, summoning DPW representatives to clarify exact capacity limits.
