After last week’s loss at the Rochester polls, the members of the Tri-Town Unified Recreational Facilities (TURF) is ready to re-organize, re-energize, and re-focus their efforts and energies to get what they believe the students attending Old Rochester Regional Junior and Senior High Schools critically need – safe, clean, fully-functional illuminated athletic fields, track, and auditorium lighting.

            Tom Flynn, president of the TURF group, lead the discussion, saying, “The purpose of tonight’s meeting is not to express frustration with the past, but to move forward. … We can’t go back.”

            With that, for a little over an hour, a wide range of topics were brought up by the approximately 60 people who attended the July 16 meeting held in the ORR High School library.

            Attendees asked questions about the funding process which had failed to receive sufficient votes to move forward into a 15-year bond for $2 million – the sum being sought to replace the football field with artificial turf, repair the track, and to replace aged lighting in the high school auditorium. 

            Flynn explained that seven separate votes had been required and all needed to pass to move the funding request further: one school committee vote, three affirmative votes at three town meetings, and three majority votes at town elections.

            The final piece failed when Rochester voters did not pass the question in their July elections after both Marion and Mattapoisett did.

            But it was clear that TURF had heard the three towns when they asked for a capital plan moving forward.

            ORR School Committee member Tina Rood said that the committee had not crafted capital plans, believing that doing so drew attention and monies away from classroom needs. However, she now appreciated that such a plan was necessary and was eager to engage in those discussions.

            Superintendent Doug White said that the regional district agreement between the three towns was currently under review, and that capital needs would be woven into the fabric of any changes a new agreement might contain. He said that local schools do have capital plans, but that the district did not historically have one.

            The late former school business administrator, Patrick Spencer, had developed such a plan, but the towns’ position was that the document had not been provided to them for consideration. That plan has subsequently been sent to the towns’ respective capital plan committees, Flynn said.

            While there were moments when people wanted to return to the “why” the Rochester vote had failed versus how to revamp the process, Flynn, while having empathy, didn’t want to get mired in reflection.

            Flynn shared the costs associated with the artificial turf, a little over a million dollars, as well as yearly maintenance, about $5,000. He also said that while grass fields were less expensive to install, the school would need three natural fields and those maintenance costs were much higher.

            There was discussion about best ways to reach out to everyone in the three communities, as well as how private funding and grants might be pursued.

             Flynn asked all to check the TURF website for updates and invited people to stay involved. Further meetings would be scheduled soon to continue discussion and develop action plans.

            “Clearly, most of the people believe in this,” he said.

            To learn more, visit www.orrturf.com.

By Marilou Newell

            There is a $202,000 deficit in the Old Rochester Regional School District fiscal year 2019 budget, and the Marion Finance Committee wants to know why.

            Marion Finance Director Judy Mooney on July 10 said she and Town Administrator Jay McGrail received an expense report from the ORR School District roughly a month ago that revealed the deficit and, according to Mooney, she and McGrail asked the district for information relating to the deficit around three weeks ago and still have not received what they have asked for.

            Since that time, Business Administrator Paul Kitchen has resigned from the position that he has held for only about five months, effective late September.

            Marion Finance Director Judy Mooney said there are no other funding sources to cover an FY19 deficit, and all three towns would have to agree to fund any remaining ORR deficit.

            “[Fiscal year 2019] is pretty much a done deal,” said Mooney, adding that the school district should still be closing out some purchase and sales orders and other encumbrances and in order to balance out the FY19 budget, it might not be able to pre-pay some of its out-of-district tuitions as it often does. “That’s probably what they won’t be able to do as much this year,” she said.

            “So it’s their problem, not ours,” said Finance Committee member Margie Baldwin.

            But it could be the FinCom’s problem in the future, commented Mooney. “Clearly you can see that in the audit.”

            As the school district negotiates its next contract with teachers, Mooney said curtailing teacher salary increases is likely where the focus needs to be.

            “ORR’s budget is probably, I’m gonna guess, 80 percent salary, 70 percent,” said Mooney. “That’s … huge – and the rest are all expenses.”

            The FinCom is concerned about controlling teachers’ salaries and briefly discussed School Choice, which only brings ORR $5,000 per out-of-district student.

            “The numbers were way off for last year’s budget, for 2019,” said Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters, pointing specifically to the utilities line item which he said has been “way off” since fiscal year 2016. “There is a lot of stuff here that’s disconcerting – or concerning, however you want to phrase it.”

            “I think their game plan is to not prepay (tuitions), said Marion Town Administrator Jay McGrail. “And that’s going to screw them in 2021.”

            McGrail commented that the towns “never really have a chance to delve in and look at their (the ORR School District’s) overall expenses.”

            Mooney said the FinCom could only speculate as to the reason for such a significant FY19 overspending because, she said, “We’ve heard nothing.”

            FinCom member Karen Kevelson commented that “most teachers” at ORR have salaries close to $100,000 a year, “And we’re getting a mediocre education for that – I mean a mediocre education.

            “Parents are complaining,” Kevelson continued. “Parents that I don’t even know that say they regret moving to Marion or Mattapoisett because of the high school.” She added that students “aren’t learning as they should be.”

            According to Kevelson, she said ORR teachers are “the highest paid in the state.”

            Mooney suggested the FinCom look into ORR’s financial trends because, she said, “I don’t thing anyone’s ever delved into ORR.”

            “Looking at their financials, it really doesn’t look good,” stated Mooney.

            We have tried for 10 years to work with ORR,” said Kevelson, “and we’re not very good at it or successful at it, and we’ve tried to hold them accountable but it’s just …”

            “Well, let’s try it again,” said McGrail. “Let’s see if we can pull together some people from other towns,” he added, suggesting a subcommittee of sorts to investigate ORR’s financial situation.

            After the meeting, McGrail told The Wanderer that ORR still had time to balance its FY19 books because they hadn’t closed them yet.

            “They can change a lot within their budget,” he said. 

            Mooney added that the expense report showing the $202,000 deficit was generated a month ago, but added, “But really it’s going to be covered by the end of the year with their purchase orders and encumbrances.”

            During a follow-up phone conversation with Superintendent Doug White on July 12, White stated that the June 2019 financial report that displayed the $202,000 deficit was a result of the timing of the report itself, as various encumbrances had not yet “hit” the report as having been reconciled before the FY19 books are closed.

            Fiscal year 2020 began on July 1, 2019, during which time FY19 financials are generally still in the process of reconciliation.

            According to White, “The report changed back over,” putting the FY19 budget back into the positive heading into FY20.

            As for Kitchen’s resignation, White stated that Kitchen has resigned “for personal reasons,” and will remain in the position of business administrator until September 24.

            The position is currently posted and will be filled once a qualified candidate is found.

            The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee is scheduled for August 14 at 7:00 pm at 13 Atlantis Drive.

Marion Finance Committee

By Jean Perry

            The Rochester Conservation Commission on July 2 gave its blessing for aspiring Eagle Scout Jacob Andrews of Troop 31 to cut back an overgrown path at the YMCA property off Snow’s Pond Road, a place the YMCA has allowed the scouts to use as a camp for some time now.

            Andrews’ Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) proposed to flush-cut some shrubs that have invaded a path the YMCA uses to access the Mattapoisett River, and to widen the path no greater than 8 feet.

            “The YMCA has been pretty good towards letting us use the camp,” Andrews said, “so we figured we’d do some good for them, and it’s not going to harm the environment because we’re just flush-cutting the shrubs so that the soil doesn’t erode, and there’s going to be no harming of the aquatic plants near the base of the path.”

            According to scoutmaster and commission member Kevin Thompson, who recused himself from the vote, the troop will be coming before the commission again in the future with a maintenance plan for the path to alleviate any concerns that the path would suffer another series of years of negligence and keep the path clear.

            Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said she walked the site with Andrews who showed her the scope of the work he wants to complete.

            “It’s a project that can be done without any adverse impacts to the wetland resource areas bordering on Snipatuit Pond,” Farinon said, further recommending that the commission issue a Negative determination for Andrews’ RDA so no Notice of Intent would need to be filed.

            The commission concurred and gave the Negative determination.

            Also during the meeting, the commission had to continue the public hearing for the

Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Erica Buster and Simpson Solar, LLC to confirm 10,100 linear feet of wetland boundary and 1,600 linear feet of a riverfront area at 102 Quaker Lane.

            Steve Gioioso of SITEC Engineering went over the application to confirm the delineation at the 64-acre parcel, although he was not yet ready to disclose any information on any potential project for the site, saying that the applicant was at least a month away from being ready to come before the commission again with an actual project proposal.

            Farinon requested a continuation to allow for more time to review the extensive wetlands line, stating that she was currently facing two major deadlines for two other projects and would require the assistance of a peer-review wetlands scientist. She named local wetlands specialist John Rockwell as her chosen consultant, which Gioioso approved.

            The hearing was continued until August 6.

            In other matters, the commission issued a certificate of compliance for Danny and Victoria Hughes, 549 Walnut Plain Road, having determined that the proposed two-story garage was constructed according to plan.

            The commission issued a Negative determination for the RDA filed by John Maffei, 739 Snipatuit Road, to remove wild vegetation from the landscaped area, remove concrete debris, clean catch basins and the surrounding pavement, apply new sod, and sealcoat pavement within 100-foot Buffer zone.

            The public hearing for REpurpose Properties for the age-restricted residential development slated for Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner Mall was continued until August 6 at the request of the applicant.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for July 16 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Jean Perry

            With a light agenda before them and wanting to allow time for the arrival of Allen Decker of the Buzzards Bay Coalition (BBC), the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission was able to discuss other matters during the July 8 meeting.

            Chairman Mike King asked the commissioners to consider a policy change, specifically when to accept a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) versus requiring the application of a Notice of Resource Area Delineation (NRAD).

            Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold and the commissioners had been asked to look at fee structures by the Board of Selectmen several months ago. Through that review process, it was determined that there are occasions when Leidhold’s time is consumed with large projects filed under an RDA absent an engineer’s expertise or the necessity of the applicant’s needing to file their delineation request with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). An NRAD filing also requires the petitioner to have the application filed with the county’s Registry of Deeds.

            Leidhold said that applicants filing for large wetland delineations should be required to engage a licensed engineer versus relying on the limited time her office has for such activities.

            King asked the commissioners what the cutoff number would be that would trigger the requirement for a NRAD filing. After some discussion, the commissioners determined one to 25 wetlands flags could be filed under an RDA, 26 and above would require an NRAD.

            While they were on the subject of policies, King stated that he recently learned that the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) allowed for firmer enforcement tactics, but that it was important to allow those receiving an enforcement order time to prepare plans that would correct matters.

            “On the issue of enforcement orders, we have to give 90 days to develop plans and for the hiring of a licensed professional,” King shared. Secondly, he said, under the WPA, “We can impose fines that can go back two years.”

            Continuing, King stated, “It’s the only method we have under the WPA” to get the attention of those who violate orders of conditions imposed by the commission. He said of the two-year retroactive period, “If you don’t take care of this issue, we’re going back,” adding that fines could be considerable. He said the commission must draft concise enforcement orders to attain “more compliance and less litigation.”

            Decker’s arrival signaled a subject change. Coming before the commission, Decker explained that a small 4-acre parcel owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition at the “Shaw Farm” reservation that straddles Fairhaven and Mattapoisett is slated for conveyance to Philip DeNormandie, the abutting property owner. DeNormandy is also the farmer whose large holdings in the area have been significantly granted as public lands.

            Decker said the contractual agreement originally signed with DeNormandie mandated the conveyance, but that the parcel would remain protected into perpetuity under the conservation restriction. The BBC needed the agreement of both towns given that the property in question is located in the municipalities. Decker sought and received the support of the commission.

            In other business, an Extension of Order of Conditions requested by William Fredricks, 30 Hollywood Road, was granted for an additional 3-year period.

            An RDA filed by Michael Wall, 5 Bethany Lane, for the replacement of a failed sewage disposal field received a Negative determination.

            An NOI filed by Delmont Limited, William Muldoon, 74 County Road, also for septic repairs and improvements received an order of conditions.

            The commission also ratified an enforcement order for landscape disturbances that exceeded the limits of work permitted for property located at 22 Pine Island Road. The full scope of the violation is yet to be determined.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conversation Commission is scheduled for July 22 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell