The Marion Select Board met on Wednesday, February 18 in the Marion Police Station. Chair Randy Parker noted a joint session with the Planning Board has been delayed. The two boards have yet to select an alternative date. The joint meeting will include the interview of applicants to fill the vacant seat on the Planning Board, with the temporary term being from March 2 to May 15.
Jumping down the action-item list, the Select Board first tackled the discussion of the vacant harbormaster job description. Currently, there is an open harbormaster position with Marion Police Chief Richard Nighelli saying they have been working to formulate a job description for the open position. Confusion comes between civilian versus law enforcement classifications. The chief said, “we need to cast a wide net,” and mentioned looking at all training requirements for the position, which include those recommended by the Harbormaster Training Council as well as the completion of Police Academy, or equivalent.
The chief said a new harbormaster will be given the power to arrest, adding, “I’m not comfortable giving someone the powers to arrest if they’re not properly trained.” The chief recommended that the town not necessarily strictly look for a police officer, but “we look for the best candidate, and if we so happen to get a police officer that has experience – it provides the town some flexibility to go in that direction.”
Vice Chair John Hoagland said he had met with the chief recently and stated, “we may have gone too far in the pendulum of law enforcement at the cost of the community.” He clarified by saying he believes the sailing community and boaters may not be well represented if someone with little experience on the sea is appointed. “I’d like to have a candidate that’s truly a water dog,” he said.
Next, following the approval of minutes from February 3, the Select Board moved to discuss the Town Clerk position finalist. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said the town received over 30 applicants for the position. They screened 10 of those applicants and interviewed four. Katrina Desroches was selected from among the finalists and was appointed as Marion Town Clerk with a unanimous vote of approval. Her first day will be Wednesday, March 4.
The board moved to a discussion regarding the fortune teller license process. The prospective applicant was not present, and so a short discussion moved ahead without them. Chair Parker stated, “We don’t have any rules or regulations on this,” referring to fortune teller businesses. There is a separate license category for fortune tellers, hence the confusion of the process. The discussion was closed, as further progress will have to wait until the applicant is present.
The board then opened a discussion regarding the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) grant application to prepare a historic preservation plan. Members of the Marion Historical Commission were present, with Chair Meg Steinberg and member Will Tifft coming forward to speak. Steinberg stated the town received an invitation from the SRPEDD to apply for the organization to complete a historic preservation plan for the town at their expense.
Select Board member Norm Hills mentioned the many existing preservation initiatives already held by the town but said this endeavor by SRPEDD “falls in line with helping us understand what’s going on.” Hills also articulated appreciation of the fact it is a non-committal agreement, meaning the town wouldn’t be bound into approving any recommendations. Parker pushed back, saying he believed the town had voted against such measures (i.e. creation of an historic district). Tifft said this plan proposition is merely a list of recommendations, not a historic district or by any measure bound by law. SRPEDD would look at the entirety of Marion and not just the village.
SRPEDD’s proposition is the beginning of a larger Southeast plan, using Marion as a starting point to test this initiative. “We don’t get opportunities like this very often,” said Hills. The vote was split but still passed, with Hoagland and Hills voting for and Parker against.
Also at this meeting, the board approved some additional articles of the March 23 Special Town Meeting Warrant. One of the warrant articles refers to 13.4 acres off Parlor Town Road that would be transferred from Select Board control to the Open Space Acquisition Commission. This article was approved. The board approved the articles with a unanimous vote. Citizens petitions for the Special Town Meeting may be submitted until Friday, March 6.
In his Town Administrator’s Report, Gorman highlighted the successful ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Department of Public Works Operations Building the week prior. On a minor update for the Town House, sheetrock installation continues. There have also been two interested artists in the mural contest so far.
The next meeting of the Marion Select Board has been rescheduled due to the weather to Tuesday, March 3 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.
Marion Select Board
By Sam Bishop