Bike Path Bridge at Standstill

            Once again the Mattapoisett Select Board found it necessary to share difficult news about the Mattapoisett elevated pathway, the much anticipated, full opening of the Mattapoisett Bike Path between Depot Street and Reservation Road.             It had been hoped that replacement planking would find the final piece of the elevated pathway nearing completion by […] Read more »

Hybrid-Y Reaches Dead End

            Marion’s resolution to the failed proposal to replace the traditional hammerhead shape as an approved dead end for town roads with a “Hybrid-Y” shape has come in the form of two options: a larger hammerhead or a cul-de-sac.             The hammerhead had been a hot topic in town ever since Fieldstone Lane residents failed […] Read more »

End of Year Transfers Approved

End of Fiscal Year 2022 saw Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee funding a variety of underfunded needs. Coming before the committee on September 22, Town Administrator Mike Lorenco reviewed the requested amounts line by line and department by department. There were no real surprises and all transfers were approved. The total money voted for transfer during the […] Read more »

Flynn, Spirlet Take on More with ZBA

            The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals began its September 22 meeting with membership moves.             The board chose to promote alternate member Donald Spirlet to full member and picked Michelle Upton to become a new alternate member.             Both recommendations must now be submitted to the Select Board for its approval. If approved by […] Read more »

Sobering Reminder of Ongoing Mission

            Old Rochester School Committee member Frances Kearns, speaking for the Equity Subcommittee at the committee’s September 7 public meeting, spoke of its July meeting in which the membership discussed plans for the 2022-23 school year.             Kearns noted that the creation of the subcommittee (originally known as the Anti-Racism Subcommittee) was the result of […] Read more »

RMS Solar Draws Criticism

            The Rochester Planning Board started its September 27 public meeting by briefly reviewing the draft decisions for the Arch at the Meadows project and the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Marion Road Scenic Highway permit application.             Board Chairman Arnold Johnson quickly concluded that both plans were ready for Town Counsel Blair Bailey to review before […] Read more »

Benson Brook Solar Coming into View

            The long-standing solar project at Benson Brook landfill is finally achieving a timeline, reported member Alanna Nelson at Monday night’s Marion Energy Management Committee meeting.             Nelson said that the Eversource connection is complete, and the connection to the grid has been approved.             Committee members agreed that while revenue is now projected at […] Read more »

Johnson Offers Experience to Board of Health

            Albin R. Johnson III was endorsed for the vacancy on the Marion Board of Health by his competition, Tina McMichael, during Tuesday’s joint session of the Select Board and the Board of Health at the Police Station.             The two were separately interviewed by the three Select Board members and Board of Health Chairman […] Read more »

Saltonstall Prioritizes Engineering for DPW

            Following a series of site visits to different kinds of construction, the Marion Department of Public Works Building Committee decided to move forward with Will Saltonstall as its lead architect and manager of procurement.             While stating on his presentation outline a preference for wood construction provided the budget could be met, Saltonstall presented […] Read more »

Enforcement Orders Can Become State Decisions

            “Mattapoisett doesn’t have a wetlands bylaw,” stated Brandon Faneuf, acting environmental agent for the town.             Faneuf’s comment during the September 26 public meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission came on the heels of the discussion of several outstanding Enforcement Orders that the commission has issued in the hope that complaints would be rectified […] Read more »