The Old Rochester Regional School Committee and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 voted to hire the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) as its consultant to assist them in the search for a new school superintendent during a joint meeting on October 9. ORR School Committee Chairman Carey Humphrey said representatives from four different consulting groups […] Read more »
Marion is close to making a real promise to preserve the historic Town House with a preservation restriction currently in the works that would preserve the historical character of the Town House – the exterior, at least – into perpetuity. As a requirement for the Community Preservation Act funds allocated by Town Meeting this past […] Read more »
During the October 15 meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission, Todd Cambra presented evidence that a perennial stream does not exist on his property. Cambra, 1098 Walnut Plain Road, via a Request for Determination of Applicability, refuted a perennial stream designation as shown on United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic mapping. Cambra submitted photographic evidence […] Read more »
Marion Conservation Commission Chairman Jeff Doubrava explained the public hearing process on October 9 to several residents gathered with concerns over the potential impacts of a home construction and boulder embankment plan proposed at 68 West Avenue. Laura and Frank Utano’s Notice of Intent calls for the demolition a single-family house to construct a new […] Read more »
The Town House meeting room was packed for the Marion Planning Board meeting on October 7 with residents opposed to a plan for a two-lot subdivision at 213 Converse Road off Beach Street, with some insisting the engineer’s stormwater management design will result in flooding that would impact public safety. When it was their turn, […] Read more »
The Mattapoisett Finance Committee has been diligently studying and commenting on the Fall Special Town Meeting Warrant for many meetings. On October 10, while Town Administrator Michael Gagne presented the committee with the recently signed warrant, he focused the committee’s attention on a number of public works projects, most of which are in whole or […] Read more »
During the October 9 working meeting held by the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, the necessity of buying a new harbormaster’s boat was discussed. Coming before Selectmen Paul Silva and Jordan Collyer was Mattapoisett Harbormaster Jay McIntosh who presented outlines on staffing and equipment needs now and into the future. But the big-ticket item, a new […] Read more »
It won’t be long now before the large-scale solar farm proposed for the large open space on Marion Road owned by Craig Canning, Rochester Farms, LLC, is approved. The Rochester Planning Board on October 8 gave a nod to Sarah Rosenblat of SWEB Development USA, LLC before wrapping up the public hearing and bringing it […] Read more »
Mattapoisett Planning Board Chairman Tom Tucker made no attempt on October 7 to disguise his distaste in having amendments to the current Marijuana Zoning Bylaws be heard in a public meeting. As the petitioner, Stuart Bronstein, explained why the amendments were being put before the public, Tucker maintained a controlled but clearly displeased countenance. Before […] Read more »
Superintendent Doug White told the Rochester School Committee on October 3 that a potential roof-mounted solar project at Rochester Memorial School is still in the negotiation process between the Town of Rochester and the solar developer. In September, the Rochester Board of Selectmen postponed taking any further action toward approving an agreement with Select Energy […] Read more »