New Counsel Offers Timely Tips

            The main message that Jason Talerman of New Bedford-based Mead, Talerman & Costa LLC put out to attendees of Monday night’s special Rochester Select Board meeting was that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Division of Open Government is looking for educated compliance with the Open Meeting Law, not to set a trap to snare an […] Read more »

Sewer Expansion Carries Sticker Shock

            Residents of the Peases Point and Hollywoods Road neighborhood were invited to a public presentation hosted by the Mattapoisett Sewer Department on March 29 to learn about possible sewer expansion into the beach community.             What they received was a shocking revelation, as construction estimates were high above expectations by thousands of dollars – […] Read more »

Holy Ghost Committee Begins Review

            On April 3, the Mattapoisett Planning Board heard from member Nathan Ketchel regarding the establishment and first meeting of the Holy Ghost Grounds Committee, a committee charged with exploring use options for the publicly held acreage off Park Street, formally known as the Holy Ghost Grounds.             Ketchel is the Planning Board’s representative on […] Read more »

Member’s Application Gets Negative Determination

            Rochester’s Conservation Commission started its Tuesday night meeting by signing off on a project by one of its own.             The board endorsed panel member William Clapp’s plan to build a four-bedroom, single-family home with paved driveway and septic system on a 2.5-acre lot at 0 Clapp Road by voting a Negative Determination on […] Read more »

Affordable-Housing Debate Intensifies

            There is fundamental disagreement among the members of the Marion Planning Board on the merits of town’s Inclusionary Housing Zoning Bylaw (230-8.12), and the airing of those views extended Monday night’s public meeting at the Police Station to nearly two and a half hours.             More than half the meeting had already been dedicated […] Read more »

Town Meeting Warrant Closed

            The Marion Select Board voted during Monday night’s public meeting to approve the Warrant for the May 8 Annual Town Meeting.             Hearing mainly from Finance Director Judy Mooney and also from Town Administrator Geoff Gorman, the board reviewed the Warrant with a focus on financial articles. Gorman explained that the town decided to […] Read more »

FY24 Budget Met with Unanimous Approval

            The FY24 Marion School Budget Hearing took place on March 8 with full approval of the Marion School Committee.             Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson introduced the public hearing and handed off the presentation to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.             Based on figures shared at Tuesday night’s […] Read more »

Dangerous Dog on Probation

            The Rochester Select Board Monday night conducted a dangerous-dog hearing based on a charge by police that the 12-year-old American Pit Bull Nomad owned by John McCusker of 105 Robinson Road has been used as a weapon to threaten town law enforcement officers.             In the end, the board concluded the animal’s actions just […] Read more »

Voters Faced with Increase in FY24 School Budget

            The Mattapoisett School Committee voted during its March 20 public meeting to approve Superintendent of School Mike Nelson’s proposed FY24 school budget of $7,842,346.             The figure above includes $98,922 for Bristol Agricultural High School, which is not included in the general operating budget of $7,743,425. The operating budget represents an increase of $208,382 […] Read more »

Rochester Faces 2.7% School Budget Increase

            The Rochester School Committee unanimously voted during its March 23 public meeting to approve Superintendent of School Mike Nelson’s proposed FY24 school budget of $7,025,493.             The figure above includes $200,563 for Bristol Agricultural High School, which is not included in the general operating budget of $6,816,930. The operating budget represents an increase of […] Read more »