Superintendent of Schools Doug White praised the tech department while discussing a district-wide shift to remote learning during the April 2 online meeting of the Rochester Memorial School Committee. On April 3, White wrote a letter to the Tri-Town Communities stating that all six schools in the Old Rochester Regional School district were shifting to […] Read more »
The Town of Rochester is extending its deadline for the collection of property taxes by one month to June 1. The motion passed unanimously during Monday’s live, online meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen. Noting that every week three million people lose their jobs due to coronavirus-related layoffs, Board of Selectman Clerk Woody Hartley […] Read more »
Meetings, in the new reality imposed on the globe by COVID-19, are now a virtual reality, so to speak. The Mattapoisett Water and Sewer met on April 1 via conference calls. Present were Chairman Daniel Chase, legal consultant Blair Bailey, along with commissioners Al Mennino and Dana Barrows. Also present was Water and Sewer Superintendent […] Read more »
Now the rule, not the exception, Mattapoisett’s Board of Selectmen met remotely on April 1, 2020. Before getting started, however, Selectman Paul Silva shared his thoughts on the COVID-19 problem and Mattapoisett’s response. “I want to thank everyone for their hard work in this tough time,” said Silva, speaking from his home, where he confirmed […] Read more »
After another discussion as to whether to take a proposed zoning change at 78 Wareham Road to town meeting so that developer Henry DeJesus can build a 48-unit condo village intended to serve the needs of Marion’s aging community, the Marion Planning Board balked in its Monday night meeting. The April 6 meeting, held via […] Read more »
Three days before the Town of Marion confirmed its first COVID-19 case, Board of Health Vice Chairperson Ed Hoffer insisted the public gets that information immediately. In a March 27 emergency meeting of the Marion Board of Health via Zoom video conference, Hoffer, a practicing physician, said residents need no further information such as address, […] Read more »
On March 26, the Rochester Board of Selectmen held its meeting in separate locations as members navigated, called in and, after several attempts, found the way to see and hear each other. It’s a new day in conducting the town’s business, as remote-access meeting platforms are taking center stage. After a bumpy start, however, the […] Read more »
Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar and Health Director Karen Walega confirm that the Town of Rochester has been notified by Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) officials of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Town. The individual is currently in isolation per DPH orders. Additional contact tracing by health officials is underway. Close contacts (defined […] Read more »
Town Counsel Jonathan Witten advised the March 31 emergency meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen that video-conferencing is not an adequate platform for public hearings. The town is trying to work its regulatory boards back into business and, while Witten endorsed the use of Zoom conferencing for public meetings, public hearings are another matter. […] Read more »
On March 30 the Wanderer received a call from Mattapoisett’s Board of Health Agent Kayla Davis stating, “We wanted to let you know we are releasing a statement today, there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Mattapoisett.” By 2:30 pm, Marion had announced its first case. The notice on Mattapoisett’s website, mattapoisett.net, was available for all […] Read more »