The Mary Celeste Whiskey & Wine Library gained two approvals after a 4:30 pm public hearing with the Marion Board of Selectmen on November 3 at the Marion Music Hall.
The first was for the transfer of an on-premises alcohol license from 149-151 Front Street to 7 Cottage Street. Founder/Manager Mike Achilles represented the Mary Celeste establishment.
The selectmen’s approval is only the first step for Achilles. He also has to satisfy the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and then Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and Building Commissioner Scott Shippey.
Some neighbors who attended said they were not notified of the public hearing; however, Town Administrator Jay McGrail said Marion had met its legal requirements. Achilles noted that neighbors who live across the street from the establishment are no, by law, abutters for purposes of the hearing.
Ann Ziegler, 16 Cottage Street, asked about potential noise on summer nights. “I’m concerned that the sound will be carried,” she said.
Achilles told Ziegler that he has invested in Noise Aware monitors that measure decibels 24 hours per day. When noise reaches a specified threshold, it notifies his cell phone via an application. “We respect all our neighbors and will do our best,” said Achilles, who plans to close at 10:00 pm. He also pointed out that his restaurant’s general manager lives next door, so “we all have a vested interest in keeping the noise down.”
The establishment is not quite full service, according to Achilles, serving appetizers and desserts. The parking lot accommodates at least 15 cars.
The selectmen closed the public hearing and then voted to approve the liquor license transfer under the provision that permits and safety certifications are met. Under a different action item of the board’s meeting agenda, the selectmen separately approved Mary Celeste’s common victualer license.
In a 4:05 pm appointment, Department of Public Works Engineer Meghan Davis told the selectmen that a project is going out to bid that will create an emergency-only egress from Sippican School out to Mill Street (Route 6). The design is in its final stages, and town officials have viewed the contract.
Construction is scheduled for the summer of 2021 and is to take 60 days to complete in time for the 2021-22 academic year. The cost estimate is $105,000.
Selectman John Waterman asked if the new drive could be used for a regular egress. Davis said it is permitted only for emergency purposes but can be discussed with the state Department of Transportation.
Chairperson Randy Parker asked about the gate, currently planned as part of the chain-link fence with a regular padlock. Parker suggested a sliding gate to avoid being impeded by snow. He also suggested creating the infrastructure while digging to add lighting. “You can pick up power from across Route 6 if you have to. But I want to see the cost, too,” he said.
McGrail suggested running expansion matters by Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois. “We can look into all the aspects here,” said Davis.
Town Planner Gil Hilario appeared before the board in a 4:15 pm appointment to discuss a grant opportunity for electric vehicle charging stations. Bill Saltonstall of the town’s Energy Management Committee sat in.
Hilario told the selectmen that the EMC had targeted an area across the street from the Music Hall and found out it would cost $5,000 to 7,000 to accomplish. He also noted he found a grant to pay for the power upgrade. The EMC would like to move the station from the Harbormaster’s location much closer to Front Street. The project was considered too expensive a couple of years ago.
Hilario hoped to gain the board’s feedback and arrive at a location. Charging stations, he said, can be relocated. A grant would necessitate a site visit, inspection, and analysis.
Later in the meeting, McGrail said that in light of Marion’s recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, including a new case this week at Sippican School, he plans to make changes in town government. For example, public meetings will switch to a fully-remote format accessible by Zoom beginning next week. This meeting, and several others in Marion, have been conducted either in-person at the Music Hall or through a hybrid format based at the Police Station.
“It’s fairly significant for us. It is concerning at the town level,” said McGrail of the trend. “This is the last in-person meeting until we get past the spike. It’s still less than 10 (positive cases) in Marion.”
Red-category (high-risk) towns have surrounded the town for the last few weeks.
The Town Meeting scheduled for 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 5, at the Old Rochester Regional High School auditorium is still on schedule.
“We’re going to take all the necessary precautions,” said McGrail, noting that ushers will ensure that families sit in pods. There will be no opportunity to linger after the meeting. “We’ve been living under this bubble. It gets our attention, but it’s no different than what any other community is dealing with.”
McGrail encourages residents to write to Governor Baker to ask for relief for the town from the estimated $9.5 million the government has ordered Marion to pay for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. McGrail reports that 1,000 tons of sludge needs to be removed from the lagoon. He praised DPW Director David Willett for his management of the crisis.
The town awarded the bid for the new DPW facility design to Saltonstall Architects. “Their portfolio is different from the other (finalists),” said McGrail, “but what they bring to the table in local knowledge cannot be short-changed. We’re working on a contract with them.”
Shea Doonan, whose aquaculture license had been revoked, appeared before the selectmen because the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries “thought it might be a good idea.”
Doonan is trying to gain authorization to sell off the seed from his industry. He said the DMF had authorized his effort. “The problem is the town still hasn’t transferred the site,” he said, noting that he has two farmers interested in purchasing his seed “at an unbelievable discount compared to the open market.”
According to Doonan, it has to be sold to a site holder. Facing a deadline for Saturday, November 7, Doonan said the DMF told him that only the selectmen can extend his deadline another 60 days (from his license-revocation date) to remove all of his gear from the site. “I’m basically between a rock and a hard place,” he said.
McGrail told Doonan he had discussed the matter with Harbormaster Isaac Perry and can authorize the extension. McGrail instructed Doonan to put in a written request as soon as possible.
McGrail praised Town Clerk Lissa Magauran and her team for its work handling the 2,430 early voting ballots that represented 56 percent of the town’s 4,374 registered voters. Of Marion’s 2,430 early ballots, 830 were cast in person at the Town House, the rest sent by mail. By 4:00 pm on Election Day, the Cushing Community Center had seen 1,043 more voters.
Marion will hold a Thanksgiving Food Distribution on Friday, November 20, from 10:00 am to noon at the Community Center; registration is required by calling 508-748-3570. Donations are also accepted.
There will be a grab and go lunch for veterans on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, at 11:00 am at Old Landing. For more information, call 508-748-3570.
The selectmen have one meeting scheduled next month on Tuesday, December 15, at 4:00 pm via Zoom. Selectman Norm Hills was absent from Tuesday’s meeting. The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at 4:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo