The newest town employee has been nicknamed “Aquaman” by the Marion Select Board. However, new Police Officer James Cuoco, a champion high school swimmer, will likely take his abilities to land instead.
At the September 3 Select Board meeting at the Marion Police Station, Cuoco, a former state champion in swimming for Old Rochester Regional High School, was appointed to the department. As a Fairhaven resident with experience in another department, he has returned to his home region.
Select Board members joked that Cuoco should instead work with the Harbormaster’s office, but Cuoco, who graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and completed police academy work, said he stays in shape with running these days.
In a night of good news for the town, Grant Administrator Amy Jackson-Grove, hired in April, reported that she and the town secured 10 grants last month. She said approximately $1,400,000 are federal grants, including American Rescue Act funds for the town.
Jackson-Grove said that many believe the grants had dried up after the pandemic but that there was some funding available to update town infrastructure, including road and other updates. She said the town also secured state grants, and almost every department in town has received some assistance, including but not limited to the Sippican School receiving a new generator, money for the Mass Trail projects for easements to extend the trail from the Mattapoisett line through town, transportation service money for the Council on Aging, as well as arts and other programming for the library.
Jackson-Grove said the town is applying for other grants, including a $250,000 grant to ensure that the new Marion Town House is American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The town is applying for a grant to help the Council on Aging educate resident seniors on internet literacy.
The board also agreed to a new policy: Non-voting residents can apply to be on the 250th Anniversary Fireworks Committee. The town’s historical birthday is coming up in 2027, and it is agreed that non-taxpayers can join this planning committee as long as they do not vote on matters pertaining to the use of town funds.
Board members invited all the help to celebrate this milestone for Marion.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Select Board
By Jeffrey D. Wagner