It has been a long process for Wellspring Farm in Rochester with months of public hearings — oftentimes punctuated with frustrations that have escalated into angry exchanges –where large turn-outs have required the use of the Rochester Council on Aging meeting space. But not on October 12. Coming before the Rochester Planning Board on October […] Read more »
Rochester is celebrating the $1,693,485 grant the State 911 Department awarded the town to upgrade its emergency response infrastructure and cover the costs of integrating into the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (aka the ROCCC), a regional 911 service in Duxbury covering the towns of Duxbury, Halifax, Plympton, and soon, Rochester. Duxbury Fire Captain Rob […] Read more »
The Marion Planning Board listened on October 16 to a number of Marion residents who support the resurrection of the proposed zoning bylaw change for land located north of Route 6 that was defeated at Town Meeting this past May. The board was asked to spearhead the new effort to persuade residents to approve the […] Read more »
On October 16, the Mattapoisett Planning Board re-opened preliminary discussions with David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates representing Dennis Arsenault. Arsenault is proposing a two-lot subdivision situated deep inside a recognized wetlands system at the end of Snow Field Road. Chairman Tom Tucker asked Davignon if the plan before the board had any […] Read more »
The Marion Conservation Commission on October 11 held a brief discussion on the town-owned Grassi Bog property, which is under the management of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission. According to some photos submitted by Selectman Norm Hills taken at Grassi Bog, there appears to be some persisting water problems at the site despite extensive […] Read more »
On October 17, the Rochester Conservation Commission resumed discussion and debate regarding the establishment of fees for filings. Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon distributed a spreadsheet and other supporting documentation that detailed what other cities and towns charge for filings such as Determination of Acceptability applications and Notices of Intent. Unlike surrounding communities, Rochester had not […] Read more »
The Marion Board of Selectmen on October 17 voted to appoint Marion Police Lieutenant John Garcia as the next police chief for the Town of Marion. The board held public interviews with Garcia and Sergeant Richard Nighelli last month, choosing to open up the position internally to department veterans holding rank of lieutenant or sergeant; […] Read more »
On October 10, the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen was ready to interview five residents who had expressed interest in becoming a member of the Conservation Commission. With two open seats and a staggering number of applications, the Conservation Commission has been struggling to make quorum, noted Selectman Tyler Macallister. Macallister is a former member of […] Read more »
Things are suddenly a tad sunnier for residents opposed to solar farms clouding up the scenic landscape. Residents were only looking to amend the solar bylaw to prohibit large-scale solar farms from the Route 105 scenic highway when they proposed an article for the Special Fall Town Meeting. But town counsel cautioned that banning the […] Read more »
Last time it was the Coalition for Responsible Retailing (CRR) and a Marion liquor store owner asking the Marion Board of Health to reconsider a pending bylaw to ban flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes; on October 10 it was the non-profit Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO), and the Washington […] Read more »