The Marion Select Board convened on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:00 pm at the police station. The meeting opened with updates on the town’s 175th anniversary celebrations from Kellie Crete, a member of the anniversary’s planning committee.
In early 2027, they will kick off with a winter fest, followed by a 175th birthday party on May 14. During the summer, the committee is also considering hanging anniversary banners on light posts across the town, a historical scavenger hunt for Sippican students, tea with an Elizabeth Taber impersonator, and a planting event with the tree committee. In the summer, they’d like to do a July 4 parade, bird island trips, a public showing of old movies, and concert night at the bandstand. They also hope to bring back “illumination night,” a boat parade, and a dance at the wharf.
In the fall, the committee plans to hold a history night with guest speakers telling stories about the town. Light refreshments will be served. For the fall, they are also planning a culinary event, possibly a pie-eating contest, walking tours of Marion in collaboration with the Sippican Historical Society, and community projects.
Most of the meeting focused on planning and costs for pavement and sidewalks for the upcoming year. Discussions began last week after Tabor Academy donated $50,000 to the town and requested it be used to maintain the portion of Spring Street bordering the school.
Clerk Randy Parker said it would be a disservice to the taxpayers to repave Spring Street out of favoritism for Tabor and instead focus on roads prioritized by town engineers. Chair John Hoagland and audience members argued that the section of Spring Street by Tabor should be rehabilitated to bring it up to the standard of the rest of the street.
Parker and Hoagland analyzed all the town’s streets in need of maintenance, and all select board members present agreed that the section of Point Road between the Marion Golf Course and Delano Road, and Water Street between Main and South Street, were in the most need of repairs. A decision could not be made on the portion of Spring Street by Tabor, or Front Street between Vine and Pitcher Street, so they were tabled for the board’s next meeting on September 15.
During an annual inspection, officials found that 52 Ichabod Lane encroached onto Kenney’s Landing, owned by the Land Trust, with a paved driveway, wood pile, and several small items. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman sent certified mail to the owners, but they have not responded. Board members emphasized the importance of communicating the matter to residents, such as by calling and hand-delivering mail, before moving forward.
The board unanimously agreed to donate an unused plastic water tank to the Department of Conservation and Recreation District 2 Fire Warden from the Marion Fire Department. Water and sewer commitments from August 24 totaling $5,002.33 for low-pressure pump repair and final readings were approved unanimously.
The town received over $75,000 from the Commonwealth to aid in recovery services for the blizzard earlier this February. The money would cover overtime costs for the Fire, Public Works, and Police Departments, totaling $46,095. Gorman said the remaining funds would support approximately $81,000 in overtime.
Gorman also reported that they inspected two lifts at Town Hall today. The lifts are operational, enabling future meetings to be held there. He also said the bid will be sent out September 26 for the South Coast bike trail and that he will meet tomorrow with legal professionals to discuss land use.
Gorman informed the board that the East/West Wells in Rochester, which had been down for over a decade, had been repaired. He added that it is up to commission and will be running in the coming weeks, offsetting Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply costs.
Marion Select Board
By Zakary Sarkarati