The Rochester Conservation Commission held its March 21 meeting at the Council on Aging to accommodate the larger crowd that was expected for the continued public hearing on the permit violation of the Decas Cranberry Co. project. While the public hearing did provide new information regarding the impacts of the project on the adjacent ponds, […] Read more »
With only one hearing on the agenda and no resistance to the special permit application, the Mattapoisett Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on March 16 was a short and sweet process, much like a drive-through window. But make no mistake about it, when it comes to handling the business of reviewing applications, the ZBA readily […] Read more »
The Mattapoisett Planning Board met on March 20 with an agenda absent any public hearings or discussions. But that didn’t mean business wasn’t conducted. Indeed, it gave the board members plenty of time to hear from Barry Denham as he updated them on the paving of Appaloosa Way, a short private roadway off River Road. […] Read more »
The FY 2018 school budget of $5,896,051 approved by the Marion School Committee on March 15 reflected only a $35,395 (or 0.6%) increase from last year, but committee members lamented that it did not include the part-time physical education teacher eliminated from the FY17 budget, and it also excludes the district’s request to add a […] Read more »
The Marion Fire Department received a call at 9:04 am on Friday, March 24, about a suspicious device in the middle of Pumping House Road off Route 105 in Marion. Fire Chief Brian Jackvony said firefighters secured the area, closed off the road, and viewed the suspicious device from afar using binoculars. What they were […] Read more »
The conversation during the Marion Planning Board meeting on March 20 centered on two elements of the draft Master Plan, facilitated by Ken Buckland, the former town planner and consultant for the town. Whether the board was discussing climate resiliency or open space – the two Master Plan elements under review that evening – the […] Read more »
Having received calls of concern over the Old Rochester Regional FY18 budget, Marion Board of Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson on March 21 said it was time the selectmen went ahead and gave the public “the correct information.” “The School Committee has done a great job with their propaganda machine,” Dickerson said. “They’re entitled to their […] Read more »
After an over three-hour-long meeting with almost 200 parents, students, and educators (past and present) in attendance, the Old Rochester Regional School Committee voted to accept the less preferable fiscal year 2018 school budget – the one town administrators and officials forced upon the school district, saying the towns could not afford any more. With […] Read more »
An exasperated Marion Finance Director Judy Mooney set the tone of the March 9 meeting of the ORR School Committee and Tri-Town town officials when she dug her heels in the sand, drew a line, and told the school committee it brought the school district’s financial problems on itself through poor contract negotiations with teachers […] Read more »
On the eve of what many broadcasters were calling “snowmageddon,” the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission met for their March 13 hearings to consider applications for beach nourishment along Goodspeed Island’s coastal barrier. Representing two clients, Dave Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates presented the plans to fix erosion problems on two abutting properties. Fred Schernecker […] Read more »