Voters Say ‘No’ to Cottage Bylaw

            The first motion of the Mattapoisett 2026 Spring Town Meeting came from the moderator, Liz Anne Campbell, who asked the voters to declare her decisions on whether or not a simple majority or a two-thirds majority had been decisively achieved, versus declaring the actual hand count or, motion to allow the moderator to call […] Read more »

ZBA Bids Farewell to Richard Cutler

            The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals on April 30 finished work on two continued hearings and said goodbye to retiring long-time member Richard Cutler.             The meeting began by accepting the withdrawal of a Variance Petition to allow a shortened front setback for a new home construction at 28 Marion Road. At the board’s […] Read more »

SRPEDD to Assist Open Space Planning

On May 4, the Mattapoisett Planning Board met with Taylor Perez of the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) to discuss drafting an updated Rules and Regulations document for the town.             Perez explained that her input would be primarily involved with clerical aspects of the project, formatting the document to conform with […] Read more »

Weeds Threaten Snipatuit Pond

            As Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday further reviewed the Town of Rochester’s Notice of Intent application for proposed work with a harvester to cut and remove invasive aquatic weeds in Snipatuit Pond, the commission mulled over a variety of alternative ideas for eradicating the water-choking plants.             Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly began the discussion by […] Read more »

Outdoor Water Meters up for Consideration

            The final article on the warrant for the Marion 2026 Annual Town Meeting is a previously tabled Citizens Petition from November’s Special Town Meeting asking if voters support property owners’ right to install, at their own expense, a secondary meter for outdoor water usage.             A successful Article 43 may help some homeowners avoid […] Read more »

Park Commission Needs Help

            TheRochester Select Board is considering taking over the day-to-day management of the Park Commission.             The highlight of the May 4 Select Board meeting came when Town Administrator Cameron Durant explained the Park Commission needs help with the department’s daily operations because one member of the commission is not running for re-election and another […] Read more »

Island Wharf Argument Tabled

The Marion Select Board tabled its discussion of Island Wharf and the disagreement around public parking to the board’s next meeting during a joint session with the Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday night.             Planning Board member Eileen Marum decried members of the Select Board, specifically Chair Randy Parker and Vice Chair John Hoagland, regarding […] Read more »

Art Center to Be Expanded, Refurbished

            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, April 23 to hear two cases, one pertaining to the Peters of South Street and one involving the Marion Art Center.             Chair Cindy Callow began the first Public Hearing, originally submitted by Jessica and John Peters of 20 South Street, for a Special Permit […] Read more »

New Language Clarifies Parcel Swaps

            The Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday adopted new bylaw language for swapping conservation, recreation, or open-space parcels within a subdivision.             In essence, this addition to town zoning regulations sets the necessary steps that had not previously been specified when a subdivision permit is reopened for the purpose of swapping one open-space parcel for […] Read more »