Monday’s torrent of wind and hard rain eventually made the Silvershell Beach parking lot look like … Silvershell Beach itself at very high tide.
In reporting to the Marion Select Board during Tuesday night’s public meeting, Town Administrator Geoff Gorman was thrilled to discuss the team approach led by Fire Chief Brian Jackvony and Police Chief Richard Nighelli, whom he said were “proactively involved” in reaching out to everyone in town with updates, including businesses affected by the weather.
“When it hit yesterday morning … the DPW had been on the road from early in the morning,” said Gorman, describing the Department of Public Works’ efforts to rake out catch basins to prevent localized flooding and assorted other measures.
Gorman further stated that the town received emails from Eversource explaining the utility company’s plans and response times.
An “e-blast” was sent out to residents, and the storm was estimated to have peaked at 11:00 am. Approximately an hour from high tide, coastal-access areas such as Silvershell Beach, Island Wharf and Old Landing were flooded. A pier broke away from Old Landing, and a downed power line closed a section of Front Street at Ryder Road.
The DPW collected three or four truckloads of downed branches, according to Gorman.
The town kept Silvershell beach shut down into Tuesday, while 333 homes had lost power as of Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, almost all residences were back online.
Unrelated and not on Tuesday’s agenda, therefore not discussed in accordance with the state’s Open Meeting Law, the Town of Marion sent out a press release Tuesday afternoon, informing residents that Aucoot Cove has been temporarily closed after elevated levels of bacteria were discovered.
According to the release, a spike in levels of fecal coliform was detected by the town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant during routine testing on December 12. The results, received on December 15, came as a surprise following a December 11 sample indicating levels well within state-required limits.
The state’s Division of Marine Fisheries recommended that Aucoot Cove remain closed for 21 days as a precautionary measure. New test samples were to be taken on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into the source of the fecal coliform.
Gorman confirmed after the meeting that the Aucoot Cove situation was not discussed publicly because the agenda had been set, rendering any discussion during public session unlawful.
Fencing at the perimeter of the construction site of the new Maritime Center was scheduled to go up on Wednesday, as site manager Bob Grillo (Marion’s building commissioner) and his project team prepare to initiate site preparation beginning on December 27.
Gorman is the liaison with the state’s Seaport Economic Council, the granting agency supplying the bulk of the financing. He said the SEC has requested a groundbreaking event be scheduled.
“They’re very excited about this project,” said Gorman.
“I have mixed feelings about making a big deal out of all this,” said Select Board Chairman Toby Burr, especially upon hearing about large plaques with town officials on the building. Burr said he prefers honoring the late George A. Jennings, Marion’s longest serving harbormaster (1986-99.)
Gorman said he would investigate the details of the SEC’s expectations for the new harbormaster headquarters. He anticipates a standing sign entering Island Wharf that recognized the SEC and the Town of Marion.
In updating the new DPW construction at Benson Brook, Gorman reported that Marion Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier and his team continue to identify items in the budget that can be moved internally. The deadline is April 1 for the opening of construction bids. Gorman said the next step is to review the bid package.
“What’s keeping us right now is we don’t want to put anything out to bid that we can do ourselves. Most of the time bids are good for only 30 days. Shaun will know within a week,” he said.
The Town House Conference Room is now open to support public meetings. Gorman instructed the public to reach out to Executive Assistant Donna Hemphill to request use of the room, which is intended only for in-person meetings, not hybrid meetings where people can attend remotely.
Gorman is looking to getting the Town House “fobbed,” which would greatly improve security as well as convenience for town employees.
Town offices will close at 11:30 am on two Fridays, December 22 and December 29 and be closed altogether on consecutive Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
Citing the work done by Meghan Davis and Jody Dickerson of the Marion DPW, the town and contractor P.J. Keating are recipients of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) 2023 Quality in Construction Award.
Marion has received a $135,000 grant that will support an upgrade that will create robust IT structure that will enable the town to begin digitizing town records by the end of next year.
Under Action Items, the Select Board votes to approve the addition of an Emergency Inspector Fee of $150 for same-day, weekend or holiday responses as required. Board member Randy Parker, an electrician, recused himself from the discussion and vote.
The board also approved a Water/Sewer commitment of $155 for sewer reconnection (December 13.)
The Marion Select Board will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo