A routine special permit hearing before the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals on September 10 turned into a more extensive discussion about how recent changes to Massachusetts zoning law could affect the town’s bylaws.             The discussion followed the board’s consideration of a special permit application from Robert and Elizabeth Allen to demolish and […] Read more »

            The Marion Conservation Commission met on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:00 pm to vote and hear from citizens seeking to modify their properties in accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.             Doug Guey-Lee, town planner and conservation agent, reported the recent removal of overgrowth and trees at 4 West Avenue on Planting Island, […] Read more »

            For the second time, an overflow crowd prevented the Conservation Commission from hearing plans to replace seven rental houses on Mahoney’s Lane with seven larger single-family homes.             Eighty-seven people arrived at the Fire Station Conference Room for the September 14 meeting, while another 39 joined through Zoom. The hearing had been moved from […] Read more »

            Board appointments and a board vacancy dominated the agenda when the Rochester Select Board met briefly on September 8.             The board began by appointing resident Timothy White to the Board of Assessors for a term expiring with the results of the spring 2027 election. This appointment will replace assessor Jana Cavanaugh, who passed […] Read more »

There are 30 properties in town with delinquent taxes and Select Board members at Tuesday’s meeting were seeking answers from town tax title attorney David Condon.                       Condon said that, with changes to the law and a proactive approach, the town can recover the tax funds, and he expressed confidence that most of these cases […] Read more »

            The Marion Board of Health met on Thursday, September 3, in the police station’s conference room. While waiting for more members to arrive, the board began by approving minutes from their July 23 and August 6 meetings.             Next, the board extended a grant approved at their last meeting for an additional 30 days […] Read more »

            The Rochester Planning Board on Tuesday approved a minor modification to the site plan review approval for a 68-unit senior living apartment building at Rochester Crossroads, 22 Cranberry Highway, but not before questioning who is controlling the massive series of projects being planned there.             That area of Cranberry Highway also includes the recent […] Read more »

            Mattapoisett residents will be asked to return to Town Meeting on Monday, November 9, as the town prepares a short warrant expected to focus largely on project funding and transfers rather than new taxpayer spending.             Town Administrator Mike Lorenco told the Select Board Tuesday that the highway department building is expected to cost […] Read more »

            A plan seeking to double the number of solar panels at the Marion Department of Public Works (DPW) administrative office was shared during the Energy Committee meeting on Monday, August 31. The plan, proposed by chair Christian Ingerslev, would leverage federal subsidies to reduce the project cost by $80,000.             According to committee members, […] Read more »