Literacy Work Only Beginning

            Upon her season-opening report to the Mattapoisett School Committee on September 21, Chairperson Carly Lavin focused on the Old Rochester Regional School District’s new literacy program launched last year.             “This is a massive change … a long-term goal, and it’s going to require real passion and perseverance to successfully implement,” said Lavin, identifying […] Read more »

Housing Would Necessitate Zoning Changes

            “I’ve reviewed the Master Plan,” began Planning Board member John Mathieu as Monday night’s agenda panned to New Business. Mathieu, who had previously been a board member and more recently returned when a vacancy made it possible. Mathieu said that the updated Master Plan draft is acceptable on a number of levels and focuses […] Read more »

Chewy Prescriptions 

            The three members of Marion’s Select Board agreed during their special September 28 public meeting at the Town House that the Hiring Committee delivered three excellent candidates for the job of finance director to be vacated at the end of the calendar year with Judy Mooney’s retirement.             “Well, I’ve got to say we […] Read more »

Briggs Permitted to Finish Cleanup

            Having been stuck in the weeds of a backstory that dates back to the early 1980s, the Marion Planning Board finally found its way to a solution on Monday night by voting 4-2 to lift a cease-and-desist order and grant developer Sherman Briggs the Special Permit he requested to complete cleanup of a mostly […] Read more »

New Committee to Explore Alternatives

            Rochester’s Select Board, meeting on Monday night, dissolved the Public Safety Feasibility Study Committee that was examining the town’s goal of improving Police and Fire Department facilities and created a Public Safety Facility Building Committee.             Public Safety Feasibility Study Committee Chairman Arnie Johnson told the Select Board that the feasibility report has been […] Read more »

Little Library Approval Rescinded

            Rochester’s Library Board of Trustees quickly dispensed with several of its most controversial issues in a stunningly brief meeting on September 28.             The board started its meeting in a Senior Center room crowded with area residents by adopting the town’s flag policy (rather than adopting its own), wherein the library will only fly […] Read more »

MOSAC Aims to Halt Briggs’ Work

            The Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission had a special meeting on Tuesday to object to the work of a local developer and to ask for notice as an abutter to the proposed work taking place at the intersection of Mill and Spring Streets.             MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell referenced a letter he wrote about […] Read more »

Finance Director to Be Chosen Thursday

            On September 22, the Marion Select Board interviewed the three finalists contending to replace retiring Finance Director Judy Mooney, but the members did not arrive at a conclusion.             They have scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, September 28, at 10:30 am at the Town House meeting room, where it is anticipated they will […] Read more »

Prefab Fire Station Likely

            The final act of the Rochester Public Safety Feasibility Study Committee will be to present its findings on Monday night to the Select Board during the latter’s public meeting, upon which it is anticipated the Select Board will appoint a Building Committee to pursue next steps.             If the town succeeds at building a […] Read more »

Abutter Late to Party

            According to Mattapoisett’s Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King, residents living on and near Cove Street, primarily a barrier beach, have long struggled with issues surrounding property lines and parking. Thus, when resident Sharon Thompson, 5 Cove Street, came before the commission on Monday night to air her concerns, it was clear King had heard […] Read more »