Hazard Mitigation Planning Underway

The December 16 meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board included an in-depth report from Gabrielle Belfit of Tighe and Bond, an engineering and environmental consulting firm who has assisted the town with a number of technically challenging projects over the years. On this night, the topic was the recently completed Hazard Mitigation Plan update. She […] Read more »

ORR Exceeds MCAS Averages

Tri-town students at both the high and middle school levels have exceeded state averages in the MCAS for science, mathematics, and English language arts, according to a presentation from Sharlene Fedorowicz, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.             Following the heels of her meeting with the Marion School Committee from earlier this month, Fedorowicz last […] Read more »

Signs of Storage Discussed

            On December 12, Rochester’s Zoning Board of Appeals extended to January 2025 its hearing into the signage for the ExtraSpace Self-Storage facility proposed for County Road after raising alarms about the exact look of those signs.             Project representative Joseph Sanda told the board the developer is seeking a special permit to allow erecting […] Read more »

78 Wareham Road Project Moving Along

The December 16 meeting opened with action items before proceeding to scheduled public hearings.             The Board voted unanimously to approve the FY2026 budget, and also a $2,400 to Field Engineering from the 78 Wareham Road Consulting Account.             Minutes of the December 2, 2024 Planning Board Meeting and the October 7, 2024 Joint Meeting […] Read more »

Moratorium On Building Use

On December 17 the Mattapoisett Select Board voted to place a moratorium on the use of the town’s properties by any entity other than recognized and duly appointed or elected boards and committees. Town administrator Mike Lorenco noted that presently, there aren’t firm rules or guidelines for such use of municipal properties, the absence of […] Read more »

January Special Town Meeting Articles Set

Rochester’s Board of Selectmen Monday closed and signed the warrant for the January 27, 2025, Special Town Meeting after a preliminary review of its 17 articles. It agreed, however, to delay until a later date voting on whether to recommend or not recommend the articles.             The first seven articles are spending proposals that the […] Read more »

Cap Planning Gets Project Updates

            At the December 9 meeting of the Mattapoisett Capital Planning Committee town administrator Mike Lorenco gave a status report on a variety of multi-phase multi-dollar projects.             Topping the list was the Main Street (village streets) construction project. Lorenco said that design currently stands at 20-percent and that an arborist has been hired to […] Read more »

Deliberation on High Street Development

Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday endorsed one Approval Not Required application for a proposed house lot at 0 High St. but extended the hearing for three other lots that are part of the same project after the developer’s representative refused to accept the condition the panel wanted to place on those parcels.             For lots six, […] Read more »

Good News in Marion Schools

From meeting the new school service dog, strong MCAS scores, and celebrating the district’s first Feinstein Foundation Golden ticket award, the Marion School Committee on December 5 was filled with good news.             Sippican Elementary School third-grader Rose O’Brien, a Feinstein school for her good deeds, won a random drawing that helped garner $5,000 for […] Read more »

Request for Determination of Applicability Denied

A Request for Determination of Applicability filing was turned down on December 9 when the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission reviewed the filing brought by Colin Labrie, 7 Hollywood Road.             The filing was for the removal of trees within the 100-foot wetlands boundary an area subject to coastal storm flowage. Representing the applicant was Chris Vandenberg […] Read more »