The unpermitted backstop that contributed to a several years-long legal battle between the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals and Tabor Academy is allowed to remain now that the ZBA has granted Tabor the variance it requested. On March 10, with a unanimous vote, the board let bygones be bygones and allowed the controversial backstop to […] Read more »
It didn’t take long for tempers to flair as abutters packed in Rochester’s Town Hall on March 10 for the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals meeting began to speak out against their neighbor’s application for a variance. Robert Fiano, 397 North Avenue, applied for a zoning variance in order to construct a 28- by 33-foot […] Read more »
After debating the pros and cons of the school choice program, the Old Rochester Regional School Committee on March 9 voted to only add 15 school choice slots to the next school year to replenish the 18 graduating school choice seniors of this year. Five slots were approved for seventh grade, two slots for eighth […] Read more »
In a letter dated March 1, Brona Simon of the Massachusetts Historical Commission requested that the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs order an archeological survey of the 620 Boston Road property before ground is broken to construct a large-scale solar farm. The letter asserts that the area is an archeologically-sensitive area rich in […] Read more »
With a word of warning to all in attendance at the March 14 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission, acting Chairman Peter Newton said that due to the absence of Chairman Bob Rogers, Environmental Agent Liz Leidhold, and Secretary Teresa Austin, some hearings might have to be continued. He asked for everyone’s understanding and patience […] Read more »
During the March 7 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board, members signed covenant modifications to The Bay Club’s recent trash agreement with the Town. Clearing this hurdle allows the subdivision association to seek inclusion in public trash collection from the Board of Health. In recent months, the Planning Board has been under pressure from at […] Read more »
During the March 3 meeting of the Rochester School Committee, Chairman Tina Rood told members, “The piece about the override is not positive to everyone….” Rood had recently attended the Old Rochester Regional school district budget meeting on February 29. That summit meeting included finance committee members and administrators from the Tri-Town. The possibility of […] Read more »
The state will test the indoor air quality of Sippican School to find the source of what could be exacerbating the allergies of some teachers and possibly some students, as previously discussed by the Marion School Committee and Marion Teachers Association and Health and Safety Committee member Nicole Boussy on February 3. Results of testing […] Read more »
Looking over the printed spreadsheets and draft budget summaries, the Marion Finance Committee on March 2 saw some progress in closing in on the half million-dollar shortfall in the fiscal year 2017 budget. Since the committee’s last meeting, the deficit had decreased somewhat due to a withdrawal from the town’s overlay account (municipal cash reserve). […] Read more »
The Master Plan process in Marion has shifted into ‘open space mode’ and how to manage open space properties in the future. Currently, a number of different entities acquire and oversee open space parcels, evidenced by a recent map of Marion that resembles a patchwork blanket of sorts showing which entities are responsible for which […] Read more »