South Shore News...letter: The 'Polished Turd': South Shore Towns Navigate Unwanted State Mandates
When Control Isn't Local: MBTA Zoning, Battery Storage, and Municipal Resistance
September 29 - October 6, 2025
This was the week the MBTA Communities fight moved from theoretical to real, and the results weren’t pretty. After months of legal battles, grant losses, and state threats, Hanson residents voted to approve zoning for 750 theoretical housing units in a deliberately chosen wetlands-heavy site—while Planning Board Chair Joe Campbell called the whole thing “a polished turd.” It was a brutally honest assessment that captured what many South Shore officials are feeling as state mandates collide with local control on everything from housing to energy infrastructure to public health regulation.
The week also brought budget battles exposing deeper questions about transparency and priorities, environmental crises forcing immediate action, and fiscal decisions that will shape communities for decades. From Duxbury residents fighting a residential battery storage facility to Cohasset parents demanding answers about kindergarten funding, this was a week when the rubber met the road.
State Mandates & Local Control
Hanson Approves “Polished Turd” MBTA Zoning After $1.1M in Lost Grants - Read more
In a sometimes contentious Special Town Meeting Monday night that drew 151 voters, Hanson residents voted to adopt state-mandated MBTA Communities multifamily overlay zoning—but not before Planning Board Chair Joe Campbell opened the discussion by declaring bluntly that not a single elected official or town board member supported the state law. His description of the proposal as “a polished turd” captured the town’s dilemma: craft the best possible outcome from an impossible situation, or let the state impose something worse.
The numbers told the story. Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett presented documentation showing the town has lost $1,109,000 in grants since July when it lost compliance status, including $170,000 in supplemental Chapter 90 road funding. Over the past five years, Hanson has received over $5 million in grant funding—streams that would be permanently cut off without MBTA compliance. “This is real money. It’s not hypothetical play money,” Kemmett emphasized.
Town Counsel Jay Talerman painted a stark legal picture. Following the Supreme Judicial Court’s Milton decision, towns that fought the requirement have exhausted their legal options. If Hanson rejected the zoning, the state could appoint a special master to draft zoning on the Commonwealth’s terms, potentially selecting areas more suitable for development and stripping away the town’s site plan review authority. The district was carefully chosen: 78 acres between Phillips and High Streets, extensively wetlands-heavy, making significant development highly unlikely despite theoretical capacity for 750 units.
Several residents expressed the dilemma many faced. Steven Smith articulated it perfectly: “I am very against this bill. I think Maura Healey is overreaching a lot with it. Having said that, I am urging you to vote yes on this.” The alternative, he argued, would simply allow the state to impose worse terms without local input. Select Board member Joe Weeks summed up the board’s position: “None of us agree with this. None of us want this in this town. This is state overreach. It is completely inappropriate. However, it is in our face right now. This is the best course of action for us right now.”
The meeting also approved 27 other articles totaling over $1.1 million, including collective bargaining agreements providing 2% raises for police, firefighters, highway workers, and administrative professionals, plus $31,000 for library hours—amended up from the requested $21,000 after resident Frank Milisi argued the library consistently faces cuts despite serving many children.
Budget Battles & Transparency
Cohasset Kindergarten Fight Exposes Deeper Budget Questions - Read more
Will Ashton’s citizens petition to guarantee tuition-free full-day kindergarten sparked a broader confrontation about how Cohasset allocates its budget. Ashton presented analysis spanning 13 Excel tabs comparing Cohasset to peer communities, suggesting the town systematically underfunds education while spending two to four times more than peers on administrative functions. Over five to six years, administrative budgets increased approximately 50 percent while IT spending grew more than 80 percent.
Jennifer Chu expressed alarm: “It is extremely offensive to hear that any of you would accept a $17 million increase on a $10 million project,” referencing the public safety building. Nick Francona said gathering information has been “extraordinarily difficult” and residents don’t feel equipped to make informed decisions. Select Board Chair Ellen Maher invited Ashton to meet with the board for comprehensive budget review. The board did not vote on the petition, awaiting input from advisory and school committees before the tentative November 15 special town meeting.
Hingham Senior Center Drops to $30.6M—Still Draws Fire - Read more
The Center for Active Living building committee presented a revised $30.6 million total project cost—a 10% reduction from the original $34.1 million estimate—but the presentation still generated significant debate. The building footprint has been reduced from 28,700 to 25,950 square feet (9.6%), while parking dropped from 204 to 170 spaces (16.7%). Value engineering saved $700,000 on the heating system, $250,000 by eliminating material hauling, and reduced landscaping by 50%.
Advisory Committee member Brian Stack noted that when adjusted for inflation, Hingham’s costs per senior appear 37% to 70% higher than recent projects in Wellesley, Scituate, and Marshfield. Glenn Mangurian calculated roughly $210 annually for the median homeowner at $30 million, arguing this is reasonable for a 50-year facility. Multiple residents defended the project, with Dick Ponte noting 20-25 Hingham residents travel 30 miles weekly to Marshfield for duplicate bridge because the current center lacks space. Environmental concerns were raised about cutting hundreds of mature trees at Bare Cove Park. The project targets May 2026 town meeting for approximately $29.9 million in new appropriations via debt exclusion.
Plympton Weighs $60K Annual Cost for Permitting Software Despite $74K Grant - Read more
The Board confronted a difficult dilemma: accept a $74,000 state grant for permitting software that would require approximately $60,000 annually after the initial setup period. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy secured the Community Compact grant for OpenGov software to coordinate between Building, Health, Conservation, and Assessor departments. The grant would cover startup through June 30, but then the town faces annual costs for a three-year contract.
Dennehy explained the software addresses coordination problems where developers submit different plans to different departments. She cited a solar project where fire department plans lacked wetlands delineation, preventing fire apparatus from accessing the entire perimeter. Board member Nathaniel Sides questioned the return on investment. Dennehy acknowledged labor savings “are not that significant”—the benefits are “really just for ease of use.” Resident Mark Wallis urged Town Meeting approval given the recurring cost. No vote was taken; the Board directed further research.
Environmental & Infrastructure
Duxbury Enacts Mandatory Water Restrictions as Drought Worsens - Read more
The Selectboard voted 4-1 to impose strict outdoor watering restrictions effective immediately in response to a Level 1 drought. Odd-numbered houses may water only on Thursdays, even-numbered houses only on Wednesdays, all before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Violators face $50 first offense, $100 per day for subsequent violations. Water and Sewer Superintendent Mark Cloud explained residents currently use 82 gallons per person daily, significantly exceeding the state’s 65-gallon target. When questioned about enforcement, Selectboard member Amy MacNab countered: “What Mark meant to say is that we are going to enforce this. With everything we can.”
The board also approved a water abatement 4-1 for Tom Symington of Heritage Lane, who faced a $4,223.45 bill for approximately two years of unmetered water use due to a faulty meter. Cloud revealed multiple properties in town have non-functioning water meters, suggesting similar situations may arise.
Duxbury Residents Mount Fierce Opposition to Residential Battery Storage Facility - Read more
In a packed Senior Center meeting room Monday evening, the Selectboard heard impassioned testimony from dozens of residents opposing New Leaf Energy’s plan to build a 20-megawatt-hour lithium battery storage facility on West Street in a residential neighborhood. The proposal, denied by the town in 2023 but approved by a land court judge under the Dover Amendment, has become a test case for whether Massachusetts communities can maintain meaningful zoning authority.
Fire protection specialist Steve Walsh provided expert testimony about lithium-ion battery fires: “These facilities, there’s nothing you can do to put the fire out once they go.” Matt Koenig, who makes his living with battery storage systems and co-authored the root cause analysis for the McMicken facility explosion in Arizona, questioned why the facility couldn’t be sited at the substation located half a mile away. When New Leaf Development Director Erin Kendrick joined remotely, Selectboard member Amy MacNab questioned what percentage of stored energy comes from renewables—Kendrick acknowledged approximately 22% of Massachusetts’ grid energy comes from solar, with the remainder from conventional sources.
State Representative Ken Sweezey announced three recently filed bills that would create a statewide moratorium on residential BESS projects, establish mandatory buffer zones, and require the state to accept local board decisions on siting.
Kratom Debate Puts Boards of Health on Front Lines as State Action Stalls - Read more
The legal status of Kratom in Massachusetts is currently defined by a profound policy vacuum at the state level, forcing local Boards of Health to create an inconsistent patchwork of regulations. Kratom remains legal statewide, but the 194th General Court is considering two fundamentally opposing legislative paths: several bills aim to outlaw the substance entirely, while others propose comprehensive regulatory frameworks including age restrictions and safety limits.
In the absence of clear state legislation, Canton enacted a complete prohibition effective September 2025 with penalties escalating from $1,000 to $5,000. Kingston scheduled a public hearing on proposed regulations for October 6. Whitman’s Board voted to table further discussion, citing limited resources and litigation risks. Significantly, anchor cities including Quincy, Brockton, Weymouth, and Plymouth show no documented public action on Kratom regulation.
Education
East Bridgewater Sets November 15 Special Election on School Debt Exclusion - Read more
The Select Board voted unanimously to place a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion question on the November 15 ballot, seeking voter approval to exempt borrowing costs for the new Central Elementary School project from tax levy limits. The election will be held at Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., following a special town meeting on November 10. Board member Katherine Mullen: “It’s up to the town to decide whether or not they want this project done.” The brief meeting also addressed accessory dwelling units, with Planning Board representative Roy Gardner explaining the current ADU bylaw remains in effect minus provisions flagged by the Attorney General.
Scituate Schools Break Ground on Hatherly Project Despite Bid Protest - Read more
Tree removal began at Hatherly School this week, with students “yelling timber at the window,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Raab reported. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for October 6, even as the district navigates a bid protest involving three electrical sub-contractors. “The AG has made it clear that the town did not make any mistakes in its bid documents,” Dr. Raab said, though timeline concerns remain with substantial completion scheduled for March 2027.
Meanwhile, Gates Middle School’s redesigned schedule is showing early success. Principal Ryan Beattie reported 82 sixth graders in band—”more than we’ve had in a long time”—and no seventh or eighth grade losses this year. The new schedule features shorter core blocks (45 minutes instead of 63) meeting five days weekly instead of four, plus dedicated “WIN block” time three times weekly for targeted support or enrichment.
Hingham Schools Approve 10 Electric Buses, Saving $200K First Year - Read more
The School Committee voted to authorize ten electric school buses that could save approximately $200,000 in the first year, pending additional state grant funding and town counsel review. Transportation Director Padraig Cunningham reversed his initial skepticism after research showed Vermont districts getting over 125 miles per day even in cold weather. The district would pay just $8,000 per bus in year one ($80,000 total) under a Highland Capital arrangement, compared to approximately $280,000 for replacing diesel buses.
The meeting also addressed emergency roof repairs at South Elementary, where routine HVAC work revealed extensive hidden corrosion with a “giant hole” in structural steel. The work qualified as emergency repair, and Facilities Director Matt Meehan submitted over 75 photographs to MSBA as additional evidence supporting the district’s Statement of Interest. The committee approved using $65,000 from the emergency capital repair fund.
Abington Expands International Trips to Sophomores to Boost Enrollment - Read more
The School Committee voted unanimously to allow 10th-graders to participate in international field trips beginning in the second half of sophomore year, addressing struggles with low enrollment that have led to trip cancellations. The change came as the committee approved a joint trip with Whitman-Hanson to Berlin, Prague, Krakow, and Budapest during April vacation 2026. Social studies teacher Ms. Daisy noted previous attempts had failed: “We couldn’t get 13.”
The committee also approved Dr. Moschella’s goals for 2025-2026 and the FY 2027 budget development schedule. Director of Finance Sarah Gainey noted town officials are anticipating “a difficult budget year ahead and a possible override,” with the schedule requiring level-funded budget scenarios and override determinations by March 23, 2026—significantly earlier than usual.
Municipal Operations & Governance
Plymouth Airport Advisory Committee Gets Resident Voice Amid Controversy
Plymouth Select Board Appoints Lorraine Ramsay to Airport Advisory Committee
In a decision reflecting deep community concerns about Plymouth Municipal Airport operations, the Select Board appointed Lorraine Ramsay, a West Plymouth resident and frequent airport meeting attendee, to the Airport Community Advisory Committee during its September 30 meeting. The appointment came after a competitive process that drew ten applicants and highlighted tensions between airport expansion advocates and nearby residents worried about noise, safety, and quality of life impacts.
Ramsay received three votes from board members Keohan, Quintal, and Iaquinto, while Ken Kessel received one vote from Chairman Golden and Daniel Skizim received one from member Canty. Ramsay introduced herself as a resident who has attended every airport commission meeting for the past year and a half, expressing concern that the airport has become more of a business operation than a community service. “I think the noise is a public nuisance, environmental issues, and health issues, so they have to be addressed,” she told the board.
Current CAC member Steve Lantange revealed significant information from recent meetings, stating that when the committee’s chair asked engineering firm Dubois and King about a compromise runway extension to 4,999 feet, the firm responded that “insurance companies require 5,000 feet to let the private jets come to airports”—contradicting airport officials’ longstanding claims that runway expansion was primarily about safety rather than accommodating larger aircraft.
Multiple speakers criticized the CAC for lacking transparency and resident outreach. Lantange noted that after seven months, the committee has accomplished nothing regarding resident communication, no email address exists for residents to submit concerns, and a list of resident priorities has never made it onto the agenda. The runway reconstruction project (Article 24 on the upcoming town meeting warrant) has generated significant federal and state funding, requiring only $400,000 in town funds.
Norwell Advances $945K Woodworth Field Complex Renovation
Norwell Moves Forward on $945,000 Woodworth Field Complex Renovation
Recreation Superintendent George Grey announced October 1 that the town is ready to execute a contract with Gale Engineering to begin the design phase of comprehensive improvements to Woodworth Field, serving over 650 youth participants annually in baseball and softball programs. The project, funded through $945,000 approved at last year’s town meeting, includes a 42-space parking lot, improved traffic flow, enhanced safety features, and infrastructure upgrades designed to last 20 years.
Grey explained that the improvements were necessitated by parking congestion and safety concerns, particularly during busy weekend schedules when emergency vehicle access becomes challenging. Select Board member Ren Layne raised specific concerns about the traffic pinch point at the southeast corner of Woodworth 3, where children and vehicles converge dangerously. Grey acknowledged these issues and explained that the new design includes designated gravel walkways, improved signage, and restrictions on informal parking areas that currently create hazardous conditions. Comparing busy Saturday mornings at Woodworth to “Woodstock,” Grey noted that police and fire departments have expressed strong support.
The ambitious timeline positions the project for construction beginning August 1, 2026, with the facility remaining closed for approximately three months—allowing Little League and Girls Softball to complete spring and summer seasons before seeking alternative arrangements for fall ball. The town has already obtained conditional approval from Historic New England for all proposed improvements, a significant milestone given the property’s historical restrictions as part of the Jacobs Farm property.
Financial Performance
Plymouth County OPEB Trust Shows Strong 9.44% Returns Over Five Years
Plymouth County OPEB Trust Shows Strong Returns
Plymouth County Commissioners received a glowing report on the county’s Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust, which has generated a 9.44% annualized return over five years and grown to $4.26 million in total value, with $1.2 million attributed to investment gains. Deputy Treasurer Jeff Welch presented the impressive performance data, highlighting how the fund has grown from approximately $3 million in principal investments to its current value.
Commissioner Greg Hanley praised the program’s impact on member communities, specifically noting how Carver’s bond rating improved simply by joining the trust, resulting in “tremendous savings” during the town’s school and public building borrowing. Looking ahead to the trust’s 10-year anniversary, Hanley proposed hosting an event to attract more of Plymouth County’s 27 communities to join the program.
Welch warned that unfunded OPEB liabilities may soon face the same mandatory funding requirements that pension systems encountered in the 1980s. “I do believe, as does the Treasurer, but more so my opinion is that there’s going to be more mandates that unfunded OPEB liability gets funded,” he said. Currently serving 165 retirees on Med-X coverage, the fund could theoretically cover monthly premiums of $1,047 per retiree for approximately six and a half years if needed.
Another week, another round of state mandates forcing local decisions. Between MBTA zoning, Dover Amendment energy projects, and public health vacuums on substances like Kratom, South Shore communities continue navigating the space between state directives and local control—sometimes reluctantly, always consequentially.