Editor’s note: The Old Rochester Regional School Committee will see races this month between incumbents and challengers in all three of the Tri-Towns. This week we present the candidates for one open seat in Marion and one open seat in Mattapoisett. The Rochester candidates will appear in the May 18 issue of The Wanderer. […] Read more »
CPA Funding Impact Disputed
While the FY24 Operating Budget and Water and Sewer Enterprise funds garnered relatively routine voter approval, projects recommended by the Community Preservation Committee drew the lion’s share of citizen commentary extending Marion’s Annual Town Meeting to nearly two hours. The spring-season meeting, held on Monday night at Sippican Elementary School, saw all 34 […] Read more »
Nips Stay, Dog Waste Goes
Before Town Meeting began on May 8, the Mattapoisett Select Board held a brief meeting which included recasting a vote taken on April 20. The vote was for the Select Board’s support of Article 1 Elected Officials’ Compensation, contained therein, a $7,500 raise for the Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer. It was later determined […] Read more »
Zuker Prepared to Go It Alone
Developer Matt Zuker appeared before the Marion Planning Board on Monday night with an overview of his 48-unit, townhouse-style, residential development that he plans to construct off Route 6 near the Wareham town line. The Presubmission Conference was the opening act of an anticipated series of meetings that will feature vastly more-detailed presentations […] Read more »
ZBA Supports Attached Apartments
Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals on April 27 reviewed two proposals that turned single-family houses into multifamily dwellings. The board approved a special permit for construction of an in-law apartment above a garage at 24 Mayflower Lane, but the members weren’t sure about a plan to convert a basement into a dwelling unit at 128 […] Read more »
New House Improves Setbacks
Following an April 27 public hearing, the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to approve Theodore Duncan’s special permit to knock down his house at 17A Pine Grove Lane and build a new one on the same lot. The property is zoned Residence B. Representing Duncan, Brian Grady from G.A.F. Engineering described the […] Read more »
Proposed House by Pond Requires Closer Look
Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday decided the planners of the proposed construction of a new single-family home attached to an existing garage at 485 Neck Road will need to file a Notice of Intent that will allow the panel to oversee the project’s progress. Carmelo Nicolosi of Charon Associates, representing petitioners John and Stephanie […] Read more »
Sneak Peek at Town Meeting
Of the 34 warrant articles up for vote at the May 12 Annual Town Meeting, the one that drew the most attention during Tuesday night’s “pre-Town Meeting” public hearing at the Music Hall was the $1,200,000 ladder truck being requested by the Marion Fire Department. Given the floor, resident Alan Menard estimated that […] Read more »
More School Choice Slots in Grade 8
It was determined at the April 27 meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee that up to 12 eighth graders will be allowed School Choice slots within the ORR District during the 2023-24 year. The vote will not change either the maximum of 125 School Choice students allowed in Grades 7-12 or the […] Read more »
Assistant to Maintain Title
The Rochester Select Board met on Monday and approved and signed the warrant for the May 22 Annual Town Meeting, with one big surprise. It was by a vote of 2-1, with board member Paul Ciaburri voting against. That negative vote from Ciaburri, who was attending remotely via Zoom, resulted from discussion of one […] Read more »