The Marion Select Board met on Tuesday in the Police Department for their first meeting following their approval last week of the Town Meeting Warrant. On their agenda were various position appointments, new town policy drafts, and a discussion of the proposed and in-progress Marine Resources Commission Charter.
First, the board approved the minutes from their March 24 meeting without discussion.
Next, Cathy Stone, president of Sippican Lands Trust, and John Chester, real estate project manager of Buzzards Bay Coalition, spoke regarding regulations and a land swap from SLT to BBC. The properties in discussion are off Point Road, namely Osprey Marsh, Howland Marsh, and Shaw’s Island. Select Board Chair Randy Parker clarified this land is known for its boardwalk.
Stone stated a big importance was the groups wanted “double protection” to comprise the properties. The board members approved unanimously and signed off on the transfer.
Next were appointments. Patricia McKim was appointed as a full member of the Marine Resources Commission with a unanimous vote. She was already approved before she could speak. Davis Sanford was appointed as alternative member to the MRC. He said he has been coming to Marion since he was six years old and has lived in town since 2007. He told the board he has attended meetings for around a year. The board approved this appointment unanimously. Next, Tucker Burr was also appointed as an alternative member of the MRC with a unanimous vote.
Retired planner Ann Morgan was appointed as alternate member to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a unanimous vote. Dina Nichols stated she’s been on “many boards and commissions over 30 years.” She mentioned she was also a realtor. She was also appointed as an alternate member to the ZBA with a unanimous vote.
Following the rapid appointment approvals, the Select Board moved on to the approval of the draft of the Revocation, Suspension, and Nonrenewal policy. The draft policy focuses on Board of Health licenses. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said the Board of Health had already looked at it after Select Board Vice Chair John Hoagland requested. The Revocation Policy was approved by the Select Board.
Next, the Pavement Moratorium Policy had its first read. Chair Parker requested the Planning Board see it. “They ought to know about it,” he said. Member Norm Hils asked if the Department of Public Works had seen it, to which Gorman said they had extensively looked it over. The board tabled the discussion and promised to vote on it at their next meeting following more discussion and inter-department dialogue.
Next, no representative was present from the Buzzards Bay Musicfest Board of Directors. There was confusion on their application, but Executive Assistant to the Town Administrator Donna Hemphill said the group wanted to allow attendees to be able to park at the Community Center to be shuttled to the festival. Parker requested more information, although the request was granted so long as the Community Center is notified.
Marine Resources Commission members were present to discuss the MRC Charter. The two town bodies went through the document chronologically, with Parker saying all needed language had been added. In the importance of the charter and putting on paper what responsibilities the MRC has, Hills said, “there’s multiple things that say who does what. Hopefully this will codify it.”
They discussed membership, clarifying there are seven voting members, two alternates, and two ex-officio who also don’t vote.
On to duties, MRC member Scott Cowell said they were to keep the Select Board and other town bodies informed on relevant issues, saying they would be “keeping people apprised of what’s going on.” Referring to the harbor and responsibilities pertaining to it, Cowell said, “this town has been spoiled by the last four harbormasters,” mentioning work often done by them that is beyond their cited responsibilities.
On to the town’s future plans, the Select Board and MRC agreed work on the seawall has to be on the master 10-year plan. They also discussed looking into Bird Island maintenance, agreeing it’s imperative. Dredging and infrastructure are also important to Cowell and the MRC, with Hoagland saying those projects will have to go to capital planning.
Overall, work on the MRC Charter is ongoing, though they and the Select Board found much common ground at the meeting.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Department’s conference room.
Marion Select Board
By Sam Bishop