FinCom Wants Voice in School Budget Process

            Following the April 7 meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee, which included a financial presentation from Old Rochester Regional Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber and Superintendent Mike Nelson, the April 14 meeting returned to the subject of school budgets.             “The school numbers were very disturbing,” began FinCom Chairman Pat Donoghue, […] Read more »

Raccoon Calls Up, No Rabies Confirmed

            According to the Marion Board of Health on April 20, Animal Control Officer Sue Connor has received a record number of resident phone calls reporting wild animal sightings.             The discussion over the impending annual oral rabies vaccine distribution kicked off the conversation.             Public Health Nurse Lori Desmarais said that during this spring […] Read more »

Abutter Opposes Propane Business

            Flanked by engineer Bob Collucio and installer Troy Phillips, applicant Dena Xifaras presented a well-organized proposal on April 20 before the Marion Board of Selectmen that is meant to eventually yield a special permit to operate a propane storage business at Luce Avenue.             But Xifaras’ application was met with stern opposition from abutter […] Read more »

‘Virus Isn’t Sick of Us’

            Coming before the Mattapoisett Board of Health on April 14, Public Health Nurse Emily Field provided an update on what has clearly changed our social culture – the COVID-19 pandemic.             Field began her comments by saying that Mattapoisett is in the yellow zone, which translates to a 3-percent positivity rating over a 10-day […] Read more »

Selectmen, FinCom Approve Warrant

            The warrant articles for the Rochester Annual Town Meeting got the seal of approval from both the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee during the former’s hybrid meeting held on April 20. Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 24, at 7:00 pm at Rochester Memorial School.             After the public hearing was […] Read more »

Only Codification Makes Cut

            The April 20 meeting of the Marion Planning Board could have been a long night’s journey into day. It was, however, a rather short meeting with all cases except one continued.             The case being opened and acted upon was the public hearing for the Proposed Bylaw Codification. The board members unanimously voted to […] Read more »

MOSAC Looking to Avoid Slippery Ride

            The residential development being vetted for Spring Street at Mill Street could result in stormwater runoff affecting bicyclists, according to Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission Chairman John Rockwell.             “This project’s been going ahead, I guess full steam for a while, and I figured, well, we’d be notified about it when it was time […] Read more »

Route 6 Poses Long-Term Challenge

            When the Mattapoisett Master Plan Committee reconvened on April 7, its members were challenged in trying to think of ways to improve the movement of people in and around the community. It came as no surprise that the elephant in the virtual room was state Route 6.             Subcommittee member Carole Clifford opened the […] Read more »

Callow Named Chair of ZBA

            The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals is looking for a few good members.             The March 28 departure of Chairperson Christina Frangos was dealt with stunning ease during the ZBA’s April 8 Zoom meeting, in which Cynthia Callow volunteered and was immediately thanked and voted into the lead position by attending members Margie Baldwin, […] Read more »

ORR Advances Amended Agreement

            The Old Rochester School Committee held a special meeting on April 13 to vote for its approval of the regional agreement amendment proposal that its members hope will be on all three town meeting warrants.             The committee took two votes, the first to approve the amended agreement and the second to establish a […] Read more »