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 »

            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 »

            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 »

            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 »

            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 »

            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 »

            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 »

            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 »

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 »

The ancient way known as Old Slough Road has long been looked at as a possible emergency exit roadway for residents living in the Angelica Point area. This train of thought came about over time as the town has sought to find ways to improve egress from flood-prone areas, especially those along coastal locations. The […] Read more »