May 6, 2008

By Kenneth J. Souza

A regular meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen was called to order in the Marion Town House on Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 pm by Chairman Roger Blanchette. Also present were Selectman Andrew Jeffrey, Selectman Jonathan Henry, Town Administrator Paul Dawson and Secretary Helene Craver.

The board first met with Police Chief Lincoln Miller and Anthony R. DiCarlo, who was a candidate for consideration to be appointed as a full-time office with the Marion Police Department. Chief Miller said Mr. DiCarlo would replace the retiring Sergeant Larry Savery.

The board unanimously voted to appoint Mr. DiCarlo as a full-time police officer with the Marion Police Department for a one-year probationary period as per the Chief's recommendation.

The board next met with John Gregory of Tata and Howard and Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Rob Zora to discuss the possibility of continuing work on the Village Loop project past the anticipated stop date of Memorial Day.

"What they plan on doing is having one crew working on individual water services," Mr. Gregory said. "They already agreed that they will work with the town, particularly on any events in the South Street area. If they need to move due to any events, they are willing to do that. They are looking to do this during the month of June and will be completely shut down during July and August. They will resume work in September as agreed to in the contract."

"I don't think this is going to be a problem," Mr. Zora said. "They are going to be in a very small area with a small crew. If they need to mobilize they can or, if needed, shut down for a day. It's going to help move the project along faster."

Mr. Zora added they plan to begin on South Street to make sure the work didn't interfere with any summer events at the Beverly Yacht Club. "Any congestion in the center (of town) won't happen," he said.

"I just feel we made a promise to the businesses that we wouldn't disrupt them during the busy (summer) season," Selectman Henry countered.

"I, for one, thinks it makes sense," Selectman Jeffrey said. "They've worked hard to keep disruptions to a minimum. As long as you're not going into July and August and working on any main road, I don't have a problem with it."

The board thereby gave their approval to extend work past the Memorial Day holiday as requested.

The board then received a request for an abatement of a $2,205.88 water bill from Holly Fern of Point Road. "You can see that the Water Department had calculated the previous five bills prior to the town's water rate increase," Mr. Dawson said. "I understand there is a hardship here, but the meter was checked out and appears to be accurate."

There was a second water abatement request from Douglas and Elizabeth Leatham of Riverview Lane for a bill in the amount of $2,618.59. According to Mr. Dawson, it was suggested by the Leathams that air infiltrated the system somehow and caused inaccurate water meter readings. DPW Superintendent Rob Zora said he hadn't experienced such a problem before and he had no idea how air could have gotten into a pressurized system. "That amount of air did not come from us and I don't know how it got into the system," he said.

With that, the board unanimously voted to deny both abatement requests.

The board also:

* Granted permission to Bristol-County Plymouth Company of Marion to use a portion of the Silvershell Beach parking area as a staging area to shuttle materials via helicopter for a project on Ram Island during the week of May 12-17. "Obviously this is an unusual request," Mr. Dawson said. "They did contact the DPW, Police and Fire Departments and, essentially, all are okay with it. They envision this to take one day, possible a day and a half."

"The only issue I have is refueling the helicopter (at the site)," Selectman Jeffrey said.

"They're going to use a certified company that refuels helicopters," DPW Superintendent Rob Zora noted, adding that someone from the Marion Fire Department will also be onsite to monitor.

* Noted the Town of Carver didn't feel their residents would be of interest to help offset costs for additional hours at the Marion Transfer Station. Likewise, Mr. Dawson reported that the Town of Wareham is experiencing similar budget constraints and couldn't contribute additional money either.

The Selectmen then revisited the proposal to expand hours at the town's Transfer Station, possibly charge for residential privilege stickers, and establish a policy on the use of town-owned dumpsters as per their recent discussion on these topics.

As for the hours at the Transfer Station, Mr. Zora suggested opening for a few hours on Sunday and maybe closing one other day during the week.

"People now are being forced to work six days a week, so Sunday is an important day," Mr. Zora said. "I think it's just a matter of readjusting hours and not adding hours (to the week)."

With that, the board unanimously voted to request the Marion-Carver-Wareham Regional Refuse District to open the Transfer Station on Sundays and shuffle hours from one of the weekdays. They also agreed to send a letter to the other two members towns asking for their support in this change.

As for the town-owned dumpsters, Chairman Blanchette suggested they be locked and signs be posted clearly stating that violators using these dumpsters for household trash will be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and $300 for the third offense. "Many of the smaller contractors working in town drop off their excess waste and trash at these dumpsters on their way out of town," he said. "These dumpsters are being emptied three and four times a week ... at our expense."

"Who is going to enforce this?" Selectman Jeffrey said. "If we're going to pass this, we have to take those measures."

"My feeling is we need to do something because it's getting out of hand," Chairman Blanchette said.

"I think you're creating an unenforceable problem for the Police Department," Selectman Henry said.

"There will always be abuses of any town regulation," Mr. Dawson said. "But I've lived and worked in communities where they've wrestled with these issues and it takes time but it can be done."

The board also unanimously voted to eliminate the emptying of commercial dumpsters by the Marion DPW and also voted to restrict curbside pickup of trash within town to residential properties only, both effective July 1.

Finally, as to residential privilege stickers, the Marion Finance Committee (FinCom) had previously recommended charging residents $25 for these stickers to access the beach, town parking, and the transfer station, but Selectman Henry felt the fee was a bit high. He suggested either $5 or $10 to start.

"I do agree that $25 to start from zero is a bit high," Selectman Jeffrey said.

Mr. Dawson noted having received several e-mails from residents -- most of whom supported having a single residential sticker -- but the ideas varied as to what the fee should be and whether or not there should be separate stickers issued to residents and non-residents.

The board then unanimously voted to begin charging $10 for residential privilege stickers and $35 for non-residential/guest privilege stickers, both effective July 1, 2008. Chief Miller noted that resident stickers had previously been issued on January 1 of this year, so those who already have them will not be obligated to pay the new fees.

Under the Town Administrator's report, Mr. Dawson noted the updated cost estimate for the proposed Marion Police Station project has come in at $3.8 million. With the current economic climate, he's hoping that actual bids may come in below that amount as evidenced in the recent Harwich Police Station project which came in about $1 million below estimates.

The board then read a letter of support from FinCom Chairman Dr. Richard Kemp endorsing the proposed $3.8 million Police Station project. Although that cost is $400,000 more that what was proposed in 2006, it represents a "bare bones" concept and a greatly reduced facility which is what residents called for when it received a tie vote and was previously defeated in an override election.

According to Dr. Kemp's letter, at the town's current 4.5 percent interest rate, the new Police Station would cost about 20 cents per $1,000 of valuation or about $96 per year for the median Marion home valued at $469,600.

"The long-term reality is that the police station will have to be replaced -- sooner rather than later," Dr. Kemp wrote. "Delaying the decision will result in a more expensive solution and ultimately a larger tax increase. For many it may seem desirable to continue and procrastinate because of the current economic troubles. However, (the FinCom) believes that approving the police station now is prudent and a financially sound decision to remedy this long-delayed infrastructure problem."

"I really think the Police Station Building Committee has been very mindful of the criticisms, but really it's just a common municipal building without all the frills," Selectman Henry said.

Mr. Dawson also advised the Board of Selectmen will be meeting on the following upcoming dates: May 19 and 20 (Town Meeting); May 27; June 10; and June 24.

Lastly, this being his final Selectmen's meeting, Mr. Jeffrey wished to offer a parting statement.

"Probably what I'm going to take away with me the most is the people who serve in this town -- we are very lucky to have them," Selectman Jeffrey said. "I just want to thank the Town of Marion for allowing me to serve you for the last six years."

There being no further matters to come before the board in Open Session, they unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 9:15 pm and would thereafter adjourn for the evening.

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