Wetland Delineations Prioritized

            Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday approved the next step for a plan that will place a 15-acre, self-storage facility at Kings Highway and Route 28. The panel approved an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation that reflagged the parcel’s 2,700 linear feet of bordering vegetated wetlands.             The Concom approved the site’s first wetlands delineation […] Read more »

Sewer Upgrades Town Meeting’s Biggest Ask

            The Mattapoisett Fall Special Town Meeting will take place on Monday, November 6, at 6:30 pm at Old Rochester Regional High School Auditorium. At that time, voters will be asked to transfer and spend revenue included in 11 warrant articles.             On Monday, the Mattapoisett Select Board unanimously moved each article for voters’ consideration. […] Read more »

Town Sticks with One Tax Rate

            After a Classification Hearing held on October 12, the Rochester Select Board voted to maintain a residential factor of one, resulting in a continuation of the town’s practice of Residential and Commercial/Industrial properties being taxed at the same rate for FY24. Rochester’s estimated tax rate for FY24 is $11.06, down 6.82% from FY23.             […] Read more »

ORR Launches Vision 2028

At its opening public meeting of the 2023-24 academic year, the Old Rochester Regional Joint School Committee/Superintendent’s Union #55 heard from Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner, whom Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson suggested the district employ as a facilitator for Vision 2028, ORR’s strategic plan for the next five years.             “Finally, we’re here,” said Nelson, addressing […] Read more »

Garages Bidding for Bathrooms

            Marion Health Director Lori Desmarais brought to the Marion Board of Health’s October 5 public meeting attention a conversation she had with Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo, who has received recent requests to install bathrooms in garages to be used for office space (not a residence.)             “Right now, we don’t currently have anything […] Read more »

Plant Needs Electrical Repairs

Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Henri Renauld has been largely assured that insurance will cover damage that the Water Treatment Plant sustained on August 8 when an EF-1 tornado ripped through a section of town north of Route 195.             In his report to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission on Tuesday, Renauld […] Read more »

Permanent Condition Still Talks

A 24 Parlowtown Road resident is learning as he goes about the trees posing danger and the brush growing into his yard.             Paul Drucker went before the Marion Conservation Commission on September 28 with a Request for Determination of Applicability to cut down and remove 14 tall trees and brush-cut to the ground.             […] Read more »

Fairhaven Sewer Plant Upgrades

            Mattapoisett’s Special Fall Town Meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 6, will feature several capital expenditures, including $350,000 for renovation to the Highway Department and $300,000 for roadway improvements. But those sums will be eclipsed by the $8,000,000 needed for the town’s 16% share of needed upgrades to the Fairhaven sewer plant.             During the […] Read more »

Support Mounting to Fight CR

            Rochester’s Planning Board Tuesday agreed to join the Conservation Commission in its protest of what a recent regional Conservation Restriction agreement will do to the town’s water rights on 13 acres of Rochester land.             The board approved sending its own letter to the Select Board to take further action against the 241-acre regional […] Read more »

ConCom Wants Help Fighting CR

Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday took further action on the much-debated, 241-acre, regional Conservation Restriction that includes 13 acres at Red Brick Farm East but gives Rochester no rights to the water there. The commission decided to take its appeal to keep the town’s rights to that water local directly to the Select Board.             When […] Read more »