Finish Line in Sight for Randall Lane Solar

            The November 15 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board found Chairman Tom Tucker nudging the board towards closing the public hearing for the site plan review of Randall Lane Solar LLC’s project. Tucker was also looking to have finalization of the members’ decision.             Coming before the board as he has done for just […] Read more »

Some Missed Boil Order Alert

            Woody Hartley told his fellow Rochester Select Board members during Monday night’s meeting that he is concerned that the Reverse 911 system, most recently used in October to alert residents of the Boil Order due to the discovery of E. coli bacteria in Marion’s water supply that feeds a section of Rochester, was not […] Read more »

New Septic Regulation Challenged

The Marion Board of Health is digesting a problematic interpretation of its septic regulations, as reported during the board’s Tuesday Zoom meeting by Health Agent Ana Wimmer.             After hearing from design engineer Dave Davignon of Schneider, Davignon and Leone Inc., Wimmer brought to the board’s attention a potential discrepancy regarding the town’s requirements for […] Read more »

Fall Focus on DPW Funding Plan

            The Town of Marion plans to dedicate a Select Board meeting in February 2022 to present a funding plan for the proposed new Department of Public Works facility to take to Town Meeting next spring.             Speaking to the Select Board during its Zoom meeting Tuesday night, Town Administrator Jay McGrail said that the […] Read more »

Reining in Skyrocketing Legal Fees

            On November 16 as the Mattapoisett Select Board discussed a variety of topics, one stood out as needing immediate attention. Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said that of the budgeted $80,000 for legal fees, nearly 60 percent had already been consumed, six months into the fiscal year.             “We’ve been hit hard by legal fees,” […] Read more »

Storm Put Infrastructure in Jeopardy

            Marion Town Administrator Jay McGrail told the Finance Committee during its November 3 meeting that the town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant at Benson Brook came to within six hours of running out of fuel.             McGrail said that he threatened Eversource that he would call the press if the utility company did not respond.             […] Read more »

Gray, Guey Lee Impact Decisions

            Two Notice of Intent applications heard during the Marion Conservation Commission’s November 3 validated the town’s investment in consulting services and ultimately the hiring of Conservation Agent Doug Guey Lee.             After several months of continued public hearings, two site visits by commission members, consultation with town-contracted wetlands scientist Bob Gray and recent revisions […] Read more »

Beach Projects Highlight Meeting

The November 9 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission found the members discussing one barrier beach project with several jurisdictional sticking points and the possibility of a beachfront enforcement order replete with jurisdiction oversight.             The Notice of Intent filed by David Ricci and represented by Bob Field of Field Engineering is for property located […] Read more »

MRV: Tinkham Well Was Culprit

            Rochester Select Board member Woody Hartley sat in on Tuesday’s meeting of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission and, given the floor, sought answers for his constituents where it concerns the E. coli contamination that resulted in a Boil Order in late October.             “Where did it originate?” asked Hartley.             Due to […] Read more »

Lockheed Martin Property on Town Radar

            The Marion Affordable Housing Trust’s ongoing work with the Barrett Planning Group for Housing and Community Engagement Services will focus on the property formerly occupied by Lockheed Martin Corporation.             Discussion on that topic dominated Tuesday night’s scheduled AHT meeting, but all town boards, commissions and committees will be represented on a subcommittee formed […] Read more »