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 »
The Rochester Conservation Commission began the process of reviewing current fee structures and the implementation of new or additional fees during the October 3 meeting. Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon provided fee structure data from surrounding cities and towns as a starting point for the commissioners, saying “Fees are all over the place.” Farinon said that […] Read more »
When Mattapoisett Tree Warden Roland Cote recently passed a construction site on North Street, he was surprised to find all the trees and a historic stone wall removed. On October 2, Cote went before the members of the Mattapoisett Planning Board to describe the clear cutting, accompanied by Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Hering and Highway […] Read more »
The Marion Conservation Commission on September 27 didn’t have any public hearings scheduled, but it did have in its possession a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection upholding the commission’s April 22 denial to allow Michael Popitz of 18 Indian Cove Way to construct a driveway and associated grading through a bordering vegetative […] Read more »
The Marion Board of Selectmen on October 3 approved a new cell phone policy for Council on Aging van drivers, and they will proceed to eventually establish a town-wide employee policy on cell phone use during work. According to Town Administrator Paul Dawson, COA Director Heather Sylvia requested the policy in light of some grants […] Read more »
Despite the chilly fall air outside, it was hot inside the Marion Town House Annex on Monday night as sparks flew during the Marion Planning Board’s discussion of modifications to the Special Permit for Patrick’s Candy Pantry. Planning Board Chairman Eileen Marum began the discussion, with the applicant Brian Kelly’s son Patrick and his friend […] Read more »
One supporter of the citizens’ petition to amend the solar bylaw at the Fall Special Town Meeting reviewed the article on October 2 with the Board of Selectmen during its meeting with the town moderator to discuss the warrant, receiving advice on how to form a motion on the town meeting floor. Six articles appear […] Read more »
Social media has been active lately, said Rochester representative of the ORR School Committee, as he raised “serious” parent and community concerns over the school district’s bus company during the September 28 joint meeting of the ORR School Committee and the combined Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester School Committees. “What I saw and what I was […] Read more »
Francis Jones’ public hearing to convert to a two-family was re-opened on September 14 after a continuation from the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals to allow the building commissioner to conduct a visual inspection of the house to ensure that it is fit for a two-family dwelling. Building Commissioner Jim Buckles said he visited the […] Read more »