Private Pool Approved

            The Rochester Planning Board Tuesday permitted the construction of an in-ground swimming pool behind a multi-unit home at 7 Marion Road. Building owner Kerri Souza received approval to install an 18×36-foot, 6-inch-deep pool with a steel-wall vinyl liner that she alone will use behind her four-unit building.             The project’s installer, Gary Medeiros, promised […] Read more »

Accessory Dwellings Limited to Family

            The Marion Affordable Housing Trust discussed a potential Accessory Dwelling Bylaw for the Town of Marion during its January 10 public meeting at the Music Hall.             “If you look at how this is written, it’s written so as not to promote accessory dwelling,” said Chairperson Terri Santos, who told the members that the […] Read more »

Capital Planning Casting Wide Net

            It’s that time of the fiscal year when town departments draft new budgets and review their capital needs. For Mattapoisett’s Capital Planning Committee, it’s also a time to continue casting a wide net that captures all capital expenses in an effort to shed light on all proposed expenditures. The process now includes data on […] Read more »

Bylaw Updates Aiming at March

            The Marion Planning Board reviewed what Chairman Norm Hills described as “another batch of bylaw changes” when it met remotely via Zoom on Monday night.             Board member Andrew Daniel anticipates problems enforcing Section 230-6.2 on Signs, which on election days would authorize town employees to remove political signs inside of the required 150-foot […] Read more »

Rochester Looks at Fire, Police Wish Lists

            The committee charged with studying the feasibility of replacing or rehabbing the town’s public-safety buildings met with study consultant Ted Galante on Tuesday afternoon to exchange ideas on viable options.             Galante began the meeting by handing out copies of the wish-list books that have compiled what both Fire Chief Scott Weigel and Police […] Read more »

Cove Circle Garage Case Continued

            Don and Barbara Easterday’s January 12 proposal for a two-car garage on their pie-shaped lot at 52 Cove Circle was found lacking by the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals, which voted to continue the case to February 9.             The Easterdays sought a variance from Section 230-5.1 of the Marion Zoning Bylaws for the […] Read more »

Public Still Has Say on Septic

            Rochester Health Director Karen Walega urges residents to register to attend one of the two remaining public hearings on the state Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed changes to Title 5 septic regulations and to contact Representative William Straus and Senator Michael Rodrigues.             “The deadline for letters to DEP has been pushed back to […] Read more »

CWMP Study Focused on Nitrogen

            In listening to consultant Kent Nichols Jr. of Weston & Sampson, Inc. review Marion’s 20-year Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan during the town’s final informational workshop on the CWMP held January 12, Select Board Chairman Randy Parker asked, “How are we going to do all this and increase our outfall permit?”             The permit piece, […] Read more »

Marion Back to Drawing Board

            Five days after announcing that contract negotiations with candidate Evan Lehrer were unsuccessful, the Town of Marion was no closer to hiring a new town administrator. The January 13 announcement stated that the Select Board was continuing to explore options with the consultant (Bernie Lynch) from Community Paradigm Associates.             The Select Board, which […] Read more »

Help Wanted at ZBA

The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals began its January 12 meeting with a vote to recommend the Finance Committee raise the former’s annual budget from $300 to $1,000 for FY24.             The reason was made clear by the meeting itself. Without the help of Building Department Administrative Assistant Patrice Braz, who resigned on December 19 […] Read more »