After months of speculation, a public hearing was held on Tuesday evening at the Marion Board of Selectmen’s meeting on the ‘alteration of premises’ of the local Wave Restaurant.
The popular Marion watering hole has been closed for several months and is adjacent to both the new 40B project and the proposed Marion bike path.
Owner Todd Zell spoke to the board and said that the restaurant, located at 210 Spring Street, will have ‘pretty serious renovations’ including a relocation of the main bar.
According to Zell, the wall between the existing bar and the dining room bar and restaurant will be taken down and the two areas will constitute a new bar area, reducing the old combined ‘at bar’ seating from 44 seats to 21 seats. The proposed plan, to be finished and given to the BOS, will show reconfigured seating arrangements.
In addition to the renovations, a name change was proposed, dubbing the new establishment ‘Brewfish’. Zell presented the BOS with a picture of the new logo and name for the restaurant. After a ‘soft opening’ for the owners and contractor’s family and friends in late May, the restaurant plans to tentatively re-open on Thursday, May 29.
Next up was a presentation by Jeff Oakes, Ken Litke and Robert Coykendall on an Update on Project Need Form for the Marion Bike Path Committee. The bike committee requested the board sign a state-required application called an Update on Project Need Form to give the committee the ability to apply for state and federal grants to fund the study, engineering and building of a bike path linking Mattapoisett and Wareham, via Marion.
“We need to get in line for funding,” said Oakes. “This will get the ball rolling for Marion and have us asking for money that is available at the state and federal level for funding our bike path in Marion,” said Oakes. Ken Litke spoke and asked for special funding from the town for $800 for two bike racks to be positioned at Elizabeth Tabor Library and Washburn Park, which will be a starting or ending point of the Marion Bike Pathway.
A discussion regarding the Marion Affordable Housing Trust followed regarding the Habitat for Humanity project Regulatory Agreement. Recent wording from the Department of Housing and Community Development conflicted with the Habitat for Humanity and the Town of Marion’s version of what constitutes ‘affordability’ when an owner of an affordable unit decides to sell the unit. According to DHCD’s wording, if the affordable owner cannot find an affordable buyer in 90 days, he or she can sell the unit at market rate.
This new rule dominated the discussion at the meeting, and Town Counsel Jon Whitten, guest Janis Robbins, and the BOS came to the conclusion that they needed to discuss the matter in more detail due to the serious repercussions. Jack Beck, the local representative for Habitat for Humanity weighed in and said, “let’s build the house, spring is here, let’s get it done.” Whitten offered three ways to deal with the conflicting requirements regarding affordable housing being sold within 90 days, now in the DHCD.
“I’m advising you [BOS] to vote against this because this is not what town voters voted for at town meeting and the DHCD’s language goes against what we …” said Whitten.
Under Action Items, the board voted on two water commitments totaling $3,777.68.
The board then agreed to a request to close Front Street on Tuesday, May 27 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm for Tabor Academy Commencement.
Volunteers at Sippican Elementary (V.A.S.E.) requested and were approved for the second annual 5K fundraiser scheduled for May 4.
Susan Connor was nominated and approved as the Inspector of Animals for fiscal year July 2014 to June 30, 2015.
A one day all-alcohol license was approved for VFW Post 2425 for a Ham and Bean Supper and Penny Sale from 6:00 to 10:00 pm on April 4.
Also approved was a one-day wine and malt license to the Tri-County Music Association for their Pops Fundraiser Concert at Tabor Academy to be held on June 8 at 5:00 pm.
Two water abatement requests were discussed, one at 28 Pawkechatt Way for Kevin Olivera who had an outside faucet leak amounting to $1190.64. The board agreed that the water did not enter the sewer system and abated the sewer portion of the resident’s bill.
A request for abatement for sewer at 355 Delano Road showed an unoccupied home with a water leak which flooded the basement, but the water did not go into the sewer system in the town. The BOS agreed to abate the bill, which showed that 7,210 gallons of water leaked onto the property.
A discussion of the items to be included in the Annual Town Warrant was presented by Finance Chairman Alan Minard who detailed the items. Minard and the board went through each of the warrant articles and asked and answered questions regarding the articles. After the question and answer session, the board voted to close the warrant, as is.
A proclamation for Equal Pay Day was discussed briefly and approved.
An application for a Class I license, proposed by A & J Boats was approved. “This is a state approval needed for this business,” said Town Administrator Paul Dawson, “nothing has changed with this business, this is just a state licensing update.”
The next Tri-Town Selectmen’s meeting will occur on Thursday, April 10.
The board ended the meeting to go into Executive Session for strategy related to ongoing litigation.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
