Subdivision Clears Conservation Review

After several visits before the Rochester Conservation Commission, plans developed by Bracken Engineering of Plymouth finally cleared the last erosion control hurdles on April 18. Zach Basinski of Bracken Engineering represented Gary Mills and Douglas Church in their two Notice of Intent filings, but the previous hearings on the matter of the two-lot subdivision planned […] Read more »

FY18 Budget Highlights

On April 12, Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael Gagne met with the Board of Selectmen as municipal department heads came forward to discuss and sometimes defend their budgets. Then on April 13, Gagne navigated the FY18 budget process towards the final draft in a meeting with the Finance Committee. It has taken months of planning, pages […] Read more »

Facilities Dept. Pushes for ADA Accessibility

The facilities manager in Rochester told the Board of Selectmen on April 10 that for weeks he has been self-assessing handicap accessibility within Rochester buildings and properties, and he gave the board a summary of what steps he would like to take next to bring the town into Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Facilities manager […] Read more »

Budget Supports Special Education and Small Class Size

The Mattapoisett School Committee held a public hearing for the FY 2018 school budget prior to their regular meeting on April 10 at Center School. The public hearing was sparsely attended; however, the debate generated by a single attendee was significant. Superintendent Doug White outlined the priorities of the school committee and the drivers behind […] Read more »

ORR Tackles Student Speeding to School

The ORR school resource officer Matthew McGraw was asked by the Old Rochester Regional School Committee to look into reports of students speeding in their vehicles to school on Route 6, especially from the Marion direction. On April 5, McGraw reported his findings, prompting the committee and ORR Principal Michael Devoll to consider creating a […] Read more »

Pier May Be High And Dry At Low Tide

A re-evaluation of the costs associated with building a pier into Aucoot Cove sent engineer David Davignon back to the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on April 10 to request an amended Order of Conditions for a Notice of Intent filing by Jay Duker, 112 Aucoot Road. The new request sought to decrease the length of the […] Read more »

No Marijuana Bylaws Yet

As the Mattapoisett Finance Committee wends its way through department budgets in preparation for the spring annual town meeting, they heard from Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain on April 6. Crain’s overview of the planning board’s FY17 accomplishments and FY18 budget included thoughts on how the Planning Board will fit into the conversation of what […] Read more »

Grant to Cover Acushnet Road Bridge Repairs

During a brief working meeting on April 11, Mattapoisett Selectmen Tyler Macallister and Paul Silva along with Highway Surveyor Barry Denham discussed the May 16 annual elections, the upcoming spring town meeting, and the continuation of repairs to village roadways. Denham was congratulated on securing a Baker-Polito Administration Municipal Small Bridge Program grant. Denham said […] Read more »

Special Meeting to Deny Driveway

Michael Popitz’s Notification of Intent to construct a new driveway within the buffer zone of the wetlands was denied during a special meeting of the Marion Conservation Commission early morning on Saturday, April 8. The commission held the meeting before scheduled site visits in order to meet the 21-day deadline for issuing a decision once […] Read more »

Hartley Wins Selectman Seat, Question Fails

Greenwood “Woody” Hartley III is Rochester’s winner in the race for Board of Selectmen in this April 12, 2017 Annual Town Election. Hartley received well over half the votes for Board of Selectmen with 584. Incumbent Richard Nunes received 326, and Bendrix Bailey got 239 votes. Hartley was present for the closing of the polls […] Read more »