Whitman Select Board Sets Tax Rate, Addresses Dog Complaint

Town officials weigh options to aid low-income residents, promote neighborhood safety

WHITMAN, MA - November 26 - The Whitman Select Board set a uniform tax rate estimated at $13.12 without a residential exemption. The exemption, which would shift some tax burden from lower-valued homes to higher-valued properties, sparked discussion among board members and residents.

John Galvin, a resident of High Street, urged the board to consider the exemption, citing concerns about the impact of upcoming debt exclusions for large building projects on property taxes.

"In fiscal 29, our taxes from fiscal 24 to fiscal 29 will have gone up approximately 35 percent. How in the world is a low-income person and a senior going to afford that?" Galvin asked.

Board member Dan Salvucci expressed reservations about the proposal, questioning its fairness to homeowners with higher-valued properties.

"Even though you're saying somebody that owns a house that's pretty expensive, they can afford it. In actuality, can they?" Salvucci said.

The board opted for a uniform tax rate projected to be $13.12 per $1000 of valuation, and did not adopt the exemption but agreed to further study its potential impacts. Principal Assessor Wendy Jones noted that the town already offers other exemptions and is exploring additional options to assist seniors and low-income residents.

In other business, the board held a hearing on a dog complaint filed by Chris and Samantha Fialkowski against their neighbor, Teresa Colantoni. The Fialkowskis reported two incidents involving Colantoni's dog, Dutch, attacking their leashed dog while walking in the neighborhood.

Samantha Fialkowski described the most recent incident, saying, "The dog aggressively charged us and left their property and crossed the street and came at Charlie directly, and I naturally tried to pick him up to protect him, and he continued to advance with teeth and tried to bite him, and then he did bite him twice."

Colantoni and her partner, David Packard, acknowledged the incidents but maintained that Dutch is not aggressive. They explained that the dog had escaped through an unnoticed gap in their fence, which has since been repaired.

"I don't want my neighbors to be afraid," Colantoni said, agreeing to remove the dog door that allowed Dutch unsupervised access to the yard.

After hearing from both parties and neighbors, the board decided not to label Dutch as a dangerous dog. Instead, they attempted a compromise, directing Animal Control Officers to inspect the property and implement additional safety measures.

Animal Control Officer Joe Kenney recommended a six-foot leash requirement when walking the dog and a thorough inspection of the property's fencing. The board set a 10-day deadline for the inspection and implementation of safety measures.

"I think for the neighborhood, I usually recommend the six-foot leash when it's being walked, which you can, the six-foot leash is a pretty standard size leash," Kenney said. "It's not a three-foot, which is a pain in the neck to walk your dog on."

The meeting also included a swearing-in ceremony for two Whitman Fire Department promotions. Patrick Travers was sworn in as Lieutenant, and Nicholas Grasso as Deputy Fire Chief.

Fire Chief Timothy Clancy praised both officers for their dedication to the department. "Patrick grew up in Whitman Fire, and one thing to say about Patrick is he has a true passion for the fire service," Clancy said.