Parents of students in the Sippican School community will have to wait longer for the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2013. But with the wait comes good news that was delivered to parents in an e-mail sent by Marion School Committee Chairman Brad Gordon earlier this week. During a School Committee meeting on February […] Read more »
RMS Budget Hearing Draws Crowd
The Rochester School Committee met on Thursday, March 1 evening amid a standing room only crowd. The main order of business was to review the current draft of the FY13 school budget, which, despite its numerous cuts across the board, is $82,676 short of projected required cuts. The school system […] Read more »
Board Approves Three Warrant Articles
Three bylaw changes were discussed and approved by the Rochester Planning Board to put forward at the May Annual Town Meeting. One involves amendments to the home business bylaw, another on a sunset provision for site plan reviews and another to increase the size of an industrial district permitted sign. The board voted to recommend […] Read more »
More Oversight for Taylor Aquaculture Business
The safety of Taylor Seafood’s aquaculture operation – located in waters at the Mattapoisett/Fairhaven border – was put under a microscope during a discussion between the Mattapoisett Selectmen and company owner Robert Taylor at the February 28 board meeting. Amid reports that recreational boats are getting entangled in lines around the operation – and also […] Read more »
Town/RMS Look to Decrease Impact of Cuts
A revised budget presented by Superintendent Doug White and the RMS Budget Subcommittee to the Rochester Board of Selectmen/Finance Committee on February 27 show some softening of the impact of cuts for next year’s budget at the elementary school. Earlier this month, the preliminary budget laid out a reduction of four staff and six paraprofessionals; […] Read more »
Whaler’s Way Hearing Continued
The Mattapoisett Conservation Commission held its regular meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 27 at the Town Hall. The commission heard from Rick Charon on behalf of Dean Whitla for a continued hearing regarding the installation of a new septic system on a property at 68 Fairhaven Road. Several problems with the existing system […] Read more »
Skrutski Denied Variance
The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny Marjorie Skrutski of 10 Marion Road a variance – which would allow her commercial neighbor, Sperry Tents, to park on her property – at their Thursday, February 23 meeting. Ms. Skrutski originally had sought out a variance in October 2011 for an accessory use to […] Read more »
ORR District Braces for Possible Layoffs
With the possibility of staff layoffs at several Tri-Town schools, teachers and parents are in a cloud of uncertainty as to how their schools will look next year. The ORR school district budget season has been exceptionally tough this year due to stagnating state aid, dried up federal dollars, increases in staff contractual obligations/health care […] Read more »
Nonresident Parking Plan for Silvershell Beach Approved
Marion Recreation Director Jody Dickerson received approval from Marion Selectmen on Tuesday, February 21 to pursue a new parking plan for Silvershell Beach that would limit nonresident guests to up to 20 per day. Currently both Marion and Rochester residents are entitled to beach access (with beach permits), thus the rule would apply to guests […] Read more »
Town Meeting Warrant Articles Discussed
The Marion Planning Board is looking at two possible warrant articles to put up for town vote at the Annual Town Meeting on May 21. One involves relaxing setback requirements for building an accessory use pier in Sippican harbor, and the other would permit the building of an accessory apartment of 1,000 to 1,300 square […] Read more »