26th Annual Penny Sale on the Way

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Parents and friends of Holy Family-Holy Name School will be sponsoring our 26th annual Penny Sale on Saturday, April 7. Come and buy some tickets and take a chance on winning one of hundreds of individual prizes being raffled off! They range from household items to children’s toys to gift certificates. There’s even a full kitchen to enjoy supper or some snacks while you play. At the end of the evening, the grand finale is our MEGA Raffle! Always a crowd pleaser!

The Penny Sale will be held at Holy Name Center, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford. Doors will open at 5:00 pm and food will be served all evening. For more information or directions to the center, call 508-993-3547. Please make plans to attend this exciting event with your entire family.

School Recognizes Success of Student Firefighters

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Old Rochester Regional School Committee member Joe Pires couldn’t say enough positive words about the M.M.R. Hose CO. Explorer Post 343 cadet program, a collaborative effort led by Tri-Town firefighters committed to providing young people with the experience and training to be future firefighters.

Pires praised the program on March 26 before presenting the cadets and their leaders with certificates of merit and appreciation.

The program, Pires said, is a success due to the commitment of the cadet leaders, “The people who just give wholeheartedly to this program.”

“I personally have witnessed fine people in this community taking our children as if they were their own,” said Pires, whose son Matthew is a cadet. The skills the program has offered, the education, the experience, Pires said, “I can’t say enough.”

Out of the ten cadets in the program, eight were present for the ORR School Committee meeting to talk about their experiences so far as a firefighter cadet.

Josh Marcio said the cadet program is just like what one would encounter in firefighting academy.

“This is a real good career option,” said Marcio. “It teaches … team building, leadership, and I think that’s one of the most important parts – it’s just amazing.”

Amber Jones found herself facing her fear of heights, which she is sure she will get over eventually, along with any other fears she might have had before.

“They definitely push us to accomplish what we want to accomplish and help us to get over our fears,” Jones said. “And no matter what we have at home, we have a second family with each other,” said Jones. Having known many of the other cadets for years, she said the program has strengthened their friendships as they all seriously consider a future in firefighting.

Jones said she never even thought about firefighting as a career path, but once she became a cadet, “…And seeing how it works and the togetherness of everyone … I definitely knew almost immediately that I wanted to do this for my career, and my family is totally surprised by that.”

One cadet said the program has made him a better person, more open and outgoing.

“It’s an environment where kids can grow and learn … teamwork,” said Rochester Firefighter Tracey Eldridge. “And community is really important.”

The training is intense, and the experience as real as it gets in a controlled environment. Cadets have learned ice rescue techniques, worked inside rapid intervention mazes with wire entanglement props and confined spaces, high elevations, all to begin the recruitment process for the future firefighters of Tri-Town, said Rochester Fire Captain Jeff Eldridge.

“It’s really important that we start building our future firefighters and to see them all together – that’s what does it for me,” Eldridge said. “They take care of each other.”

“And to be able to watch these kids grow and come out of their comfort zone has been amazing,” Tracey Eldridge said. “And we only hope to build the program and a better place, a safe place for kids to do something different.”

After a video presentation showcasing the program, Pires continued praising the program.

“To see all of those images, it tells a story,” Pires said. “It is amazing to just witness and watch … you kids perform and do things maybe that you thought you couldn’t do.”

In other matters, ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll gave an update on some of the new courses the committee approved at the last meeting, as well as a list of additional courses slated for next year.

The first wave of new courses features Advanced Placement Latin, Lego Robotics, Computer Science for All, and AP Computer Science Principles.

“I’m happy to report that all have very strong student interest,” Devoll said. “…Huge.”

The committee approved some additional courses, including a themed English course called Monsters, Murder, and Madness, which Devoll said was a college prep level course. Other courses were technology-based, like Introduction to CAD design, Intro to 3D design, Advanced Robotics, and Intro to Game Design.

“The intent was to expand and grow the Technology Department at the school,” Devoll said, while touching upon an additional technology teacher position currently funded in the fiscal year 2019 budget. “I think the big takeaway is that whenever we decided to add a second tech position, it sounds great but it’s about marshaling the kids … and that’s always a concern. The kids have to show interest.”

Devoll said it’s possible he could be looking at a third technology teacher position next year if increased student interest in tech courses continues, with demand for computer science and engineering on the rise.

“I think these classes look great. I wish I was a student,” said School Committee member Michelle Smith.

Also during the meeting, Business Administrator Patrick Spencer introduced the one bid for the construction of a new security vestibule at the high school for $9,761, which the committee approved. The same company that installed the junior high vestibule will install the high school vestibule, and construction will start as soon as school lets out for the summer.

As it stands, the last day of school will be June 25.

The next meeting of the old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for April 25 at 6:30 pm at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School media room.

Old Rochester Regional School Committee

By Jean Perry

 

The Iconic Seahorse

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There are 54 different species of seahorses in the world. They live along shallow edges of coastlines all over the globe, but they are rarely seen and are often described as the shyest creature on earth.

Seahorses vary in size depending on geographical location and can be found inside fishermen’s shrimp nets, dredged up while eating their favorite food. The smallest pygmy species is as small as your little finger.

Despite its features being visually similar to many other earthly creatures, including the head and neck of a horse and a tail of a kangaroo, the seahorse is classified as fish, having gills to breathe underwater, pectoral fins to navigate, and an internal bladder to swim in a typical upright posture. They also have interlocking body plates like a crustacean crab for protection.

What is called a ‘prehensile’ (adapted to hold or grasp objects) tail is flexible enough to wrap around its neck like a scarf and to even scratch its own head to wonder about how his curious creation ever came to be. Mostly the tail is used to reach out and latch onto a sea grass blade or coral finger to stabilize its location and position in a strong current.

The seahorse’s eyes can move independently, separately moving and focusing in different directions to both objects coming and going like a chameleon. Even more remarkable is the ability, like a chameleon, to change color at the blink of an eye to camouflage itself into the background of its surroundings to hide from predators.

Seahorse reproductive behavior is even more astounding as the male carries the fertilized eggs in a brood pouch placed there by a female. After an elaborate several-day courtship during with couples swim side-by-side holding tails, they both wheel around doing what is called a mystical pre-dawn dance lasting about six minutes. The female then releases her eggs through her ovipositor tube into the male’s brood pouch. He subsequently nourishes them by manufacturing organic compounds as well as hormones for development.

When ready to hatch in a week or two, he convulses his body frame and expels them through a single opening of the pouch. Almost immediately after that, he is ready to receive another brood of eggs from the female to populate throughout the breeding season. This repeated procreation leads to an estimated world population of millions.

Some seahorse populations in the world may be endangered as a result of overfishing, particularly in the Orient for use with Chinese medicine, where seahorse powder is ingested in pills, powders, and syrups to cure kidney disease, impotence, and induce labor. Seahorses are also a favorite delicacy, roasted and sold by street corner vendors impaled on a stick like a lollipop.

This is unfortunate for one of the oldest species on Earth, dating back in fossils 16 million years. This ancient creation came into mankind’s awareness much later, coming to life with Greek mythology and Egyptian art about the time of the Etruscan Empire. It was called hippocampus, (hippo for horse, and campus for sea monster). A favorite myth told how the seahorse steed pulled the aquatic chariot of Poseidon, god and monarch of the sea.

Since then, the seahorse was destined to emerge in the Renaissance movement of great works of art, paintings, woodcuts, carvings, sculpture, and statues. The most world famous is the fountain of Trevi in Rome featuring the winged hippocampus.

There’s one giant seahorse that calls the Town of Mattapoisett its home, known affectionately as Salty the Seahorse. This landmark greets residents every day on their way to work and school, and at night both eyes come alive to light up by solar power. Salty remains under the watchful stewardship of the Mattapoisett Land Trust, and the playground garden park is maintained to honor the generous Dunseith family donation to the town.

Let’s hope Salty continues to reign supreme and stand as a welcoming sentinel for visitors and residents, as well as a mystical silhouette of the real species for children of all ages.

By George B. Emmons

Building Acceptance, Dismantling Ableism

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It’s April again, which means, as I flip my free Easter Seals calendar over to page April, I’m going to start talking about autism again.

April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, marks the start of Autism Awareness Month all across the globe. We included some bits on autism awareness in The Wanderer over the last three consecutive Aprils, but now as we face a fourth April – ten Aprils after the very first Autism Awareness Month – I’m wondering, are we ‘aware’ yet?

Because, really, autism ‘awareness’ hasn’t really changed very much for Autistics or their families. Services for Autistics are still underfunded, supports are still limited, and Autistics are still fighting for their rightful place in society and for their voices to be heard.

The neuro-typical (NT) world still in large part excludes Autistics, still perpetuates damaging stereotypes, still uses the r-word in mainstream culture, and is still dictating the futures of people on the autism spectrum in almost all facets of their lives, especially in schools and in the workplace with a lack of jobs and unequal and unfair wages.

Since last April I’ve learned that many Autistic people aren’t even fans of Autism Awareness Month. Autistic activists and bloggers say blue light bulbs, puzzle piece pins, autism walkathons, and more “awareness” propagated by NTs actually undermines Autistics’ efforts by perpetuating stereotypes, eliciting pity through anecdotes, and talking about autism like NTs are the experts and offering no forum for the true experts on autism – Autistics.

“We don’t care for ‘Autism Awareness Month’ because it focuses on the negativity of autism,” said Chuck McIntyre, a 26-year-old resident of Mattapoisett who is Autistic and active in the Autistic Community advocacy scene. “It follows the perspective of parents who martyr themselves as people who have to ‘deal with’ Autistics and often brings up ‘cure’ culture and increases stigma. But most importantly, it leaves us out of the conversation; it really pushes us out of the conversation.”

I’ve given all that a lot of thought, and I have no option but to agree with him.

The growing pains of personal growth have hallmarked my time between last Autism Awareness Month and this one. Accompanying that was the nausea that ensues when a new idea conflicts with one’s flawed assumption, and the jolt of self-awareness I drove into was like a massive pothole out of nowhere.

This year marked the chapter in my life when I faced the ‘ableism’ I never saw in myself because it didn’t quite look the way I pictured it.

As an advocate for my child and an ally of the disenfranchised, I never considered that perhaps inside me were some unwitting ableist tendencies. I knew they were out there, trying fad “treatments” to “cure” kids of autism and parents withholding vaccines essentially believing that a sick (or possibly dead!) child would be preferable to an Autistic child.

“There are multiple forms of ableism,” said McIntyre. “There’s the ableist that denies that these disorders or ailments exist, or those who call people like me or others ‘fakers.’ There’s the ableist who can say that you can overcome if you just ‘try harder.’”

And among a litany of other examples, McIntyre said, “There’s the ableist who is bitter about having their tax dollars go to special programs [that benefit Autistics],” and so on.

“And then there are ableists who are just bullies,” said McIntyre.

Ableism is also the crass concept that Autism is a defect of nature versus diversity in nature. Ableism is often unconscious, and so is ‘abled privilege,’ which is as simple as being able to look at the floor while talking to someone without being “redirected” to “make eye contact.”

We see ableism on social media videos of people acting kindly towards an Autistic person and being hailed a saint for attending an Autistic’s girl’s birthday party.

“The media in general will form a stereotype of the ‘helpless’ handicapped person,” McIntyre said. “A lot of their stories will be about these people who can’t take care of themselves or some unfortunate family who is living with this ‘Autistic version of the child they dreamed of.’”

This April is the perfect time for NTs to consider a new paradigm, one in which Autistics are accepted and not simply noticed as existing parallel to NTs. If you’re reading this and you are Autistic, I hope with all of my heart that some April we can achieve that. And if you’re NT and you’re reading this, autism acceptance must begin, not with awareness of autism, but with awareness of ourselves and our imbedded assumptions, discomfort with diversity, and reliance on labels that guide us towards preconceived judgments of how people are and how we should treat them.

Awareness means we know that Autistic people exist. Acceptance means Autistic people matter.

“You can be aware of women, and how their body functions,” said McIntyre as an example. “Or, you can be accepting of women and treat them respectfully. It goes the same for Autistics.… You can know everything about autism, or think you do, and still not accept Autistic people; you can still shun them. And if you shun them, Autistic people will still have trouble finding work, and in higher education … leaving room for a stigma.”

“If there isn’t acceptance, then there’s trying to control it, trying to change it,” said McIntyre. “And we’re saying it’s not okay, we’re saying that that lack of acceptance is itself unacceptable.”

Autism is a complex neurological “spectrum” disorder exhibiting disabilities in core areas such as cognitive functioning, fine and gross motor and planning skills, social development, and sensory processing. There is no one cause of autism, although researches suggest a combination of genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Despite exploitative claims, there is no “cure.” According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, one in 68 people is diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder, ranging in number and degree of common symptoms that may affect communication, over- or under-sensitivity to light, sound, or touch, social skills, and repetitive self-soothing movements (‘stims’). Often other diagnoses correlate with autism, such as epilepsy and gastroenterological issues.

It is important that parents know the early warning signs of autism, because outcome is often more positive when intervention occurs earlier in development. Some early signs of autism, which can sometimes be observed in babies as young as six months old, are not babbling, not exhibiting gestures such as pointing, waving, or shaking head ‘no,’ repetitive movements, fixated with objects (e.g. ceiling fan spinning), little to no eye contact, paying more attention to objects than people, limited play with toys, not responding when name is called, aversive to cuddling, isn’t reaching milestones, and sometimes a sudden loss of skills such as speech and social skills.

McIntyre is recording a mini-series of hour-long episodes about autism with ORCTV, which will be aired throughout the month of April, to include topics like autism and the Autistic identity, Autistic rights and self-advocacy, autism stigma and ableism, Autistics and the economy, Autistics and politics, and Autistic allyship.

“This is my campaign to take back the narrative on autism and take back Autism Awareness Month and repurpose it for Autistic acceptance and Autistic appreciation,” said McIntyre.

By Jean Perry

 

Academic Achievements

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William W. Saltonstall Jr. of Marion and Rachel J. Scheub of Rochester were awarded Faculty Honors for the fall 2017 semester at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Faculty Honors are awarded to students with a semester GPA of at least 3.667 on four graded courses, with no individual grade below B-, and no incomplete grades pending.

Marion Resident Honored as 2018 Newman Civic Fellow

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Simmons College student Jessica Rush of Marion, Massachusetts was recently selected for a prestigious 2018 Newman Civic Fellowship. The announcement was made earlier this month by Campus Compact, a Boston-based national coalition comprised of more than 1,000 colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education by preparing students for civic and social responsibility.

Campus Compact announced that Rush is one of 268 students who will make up the 2018 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows, which is named for Campus Compact’s co-founder Frank Newman, and supports students’ personal, professional and civic growth. Rush was nominated for the fellowship by Simmons College President Helen Drinan because of her commitment to issues related to income equality and accessibility to higher education.

“We are thrilled that Jessica Rush has been chosen as a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow,” said Drinan. “As a proud Campus Compact member institution, Simmons College fully supports the mission of the Newman Civic Fellowship and our shared goal of preparing students for a life of civic engagement and a long-term commitment to social responsibility. Jessica has distinguished herself as a leader at Simmons and in her community. I am confident that Jessica will use the Newman Civic Fellowship experience to turn her ideas into action.”

The one-year fellowship provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities. The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation.

“I am honored to be chosen for this fellowship, and I am grateful to President Drinan for nominating me,” said Rush, a second year student who is expected to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2019 and a master’s degree in public policy in 2020. “My work will focus on researching how colleges and universities, including Simmons College, can be more accessible and inclusive for first generation and low-income students. I am grateful to Simmons for recognizing my passion for helping others.”

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate and engage with such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “The stories of this year’s Newman Civic Fellows make clear that they are bringing people together in their communities to solve pressing problems. That is what Campus Compact is about, and it’s what our country and our world desperately need.”

Addition Approved for Ailing Relative

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A Mattapoisett family’s personal problems – trying to keep an ailing patriarch in his home as health issues require increased caregiving – was discussed during the March 26 meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission.

Coming before the commissioners was David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, Inc. representing the family identified as 6R North Street Nominee Trust as they sought permission via a Request for Determination of Applicability to build an addition to an existing home within the 100-foot wetland boundary.

Davignon described the project as a 20-foot by 20-foot, 435 square-foot addition with a porch featuring handicap access and a first floor bathroom. He said that given the petite size of the addition, stormwater run-off from the roof would be minimal and would be directed into existing drainage streams nearby.

“We are not proposing any change in grade,” Davignon said, adding that a drainage swale would move water towards the intermittent stream that flows out under Water Street and into the harbor.

Vera Gibbons and her extended family, who own property along Captain’s Lane abutting the proposed project site, lamented that she and her children had only just received the notification of the plans and needed more time to assess any potential impact. She said they were concerned about the location of the addition and its close proximity to the drainage brook that she said is presently running high.

Davignon suggested that a drainage pipe servicing property along Captain’s Lane needed maintenance and that his clients had offered to do such work.

Gibbons asked whether or not the project needed a variance of the Board of Appeals. Davignon said yes.

Gibbons also said drainage issues plagued 12 Captain’s Lane, but both Davignon and Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King both pointed out that the proposed addition was at a down gradient from all the lots along Captain’s Lane. Thus, it would not negatively affect the Gibbon’s holdings.

“It’s impossible for water to flow uphill,” King said.

King said, “I’m sensitive to anyone with water problems,” but that the project as described seemed appropriate. “I suggest the neighbors all try to work together…. These are historic drainage features.”

Carol Holland, a niece of the family proposing the addition, rose to speak. She was emotional as she described the health issues facing the family and the need to have living space for the family member that would allow him to continue to live at home. “…If they can’t have this, they won’t be able to live there…. I hope [the decision] doesn’t make their lives any more difficult.”

The project received a Negative 3 determination (no Notice of Intent required), allowing it to advance to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Also coming before the commissioners was John Shockro, 1 Harbor Road, with an RDA to extend an existing pervious driveway for a turn-around. He said it was difficult to back out onto Harbor Road and this would eliminate that problem. The project received a Negative 3 ruling.

Ross Kessler, 5 Locust Street, sought and received a Negative determination of applicability to construction a garage at the rear of his property and to pave a portion of an existing gravel driveway.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for April 9 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

 

Survey Yields Professional Development Priorities

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A new professional development (PD) plan throughout the Old Rochester Regional and elementary school districts was just approved during the March 22 joint meeting of the school committees, with teacher, student, and parent survey data steering the priorities of the districts towards further teacher training in social/emotional learning and techniques for “problem and project-based” learning.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Dr. Elise Frangos presented the PD plan that highlights “an inclusive professional development approach” that “addresses twenty-first century needs of our students.”

Teachers, students, and parents from all six Tri-Town schools submitted their feedback on focus areas most important to them, resulting in a finely tuned schedule for professional development topics for the upcoming year.

Teachers prioritized key areas for development, ranking social/emotional supports first, technology integration second, and project-based/problem-based learning third.

Students put learning stress management through yoga, mindfulness, and other activities as the most important social/emotional area for development in school, followed by learning about diversity and handling social situations and relationship building.

For academic support, students expressed a need to develop public speaking skills, followed by research and discussion on how to support academic learning at home. Students also want to see more opportunities for coding and the addition of technology like robotics and drones.

The top five picks for parents’ priorities were science, technology and learning; advanced learning and enrichment; mindfulness and stress management; social/emotional skill building; and planning and time management strategies for students.

Through this type of meaningful, effective professional development, Frangos said, teachers can work towards recertification requirements while advancing instruction and classroom leadership.

“Most importantly, the many professional learning opportunities you can access will raise the achievement of all students and your partnership with our families,” Frangos said.

Frangos explained the project-based learning concept, saying the process begins with a driving question about a challenge or problem, and students focus on relationship building collaboratively and with intention. Furthermore, she said, it engages students with action projects that investigate critical real-life problems, and every student contributes. She stressed the skills this produces that prepare students for the workplace and college.

“Social skills cannot be taught in isolation,” said Frangos is a follow-up email. “Instead, all learners want to learn these skills as part of meaningful work. This is how all team members in any organization improve – through careful consideration of the talents of the team and helping others have a voice and a meaningful role before making their findings or learning public. Project-based learning is something we do to some degree; it needs to be a part of the lives of every student.”

The next meeting of the Joint School Committees is scheduled for May 31 at 6:30 pm in the ORR Junior High School media room.

Joint School Committees

By Jean Perry

 

Sippican Historical Society

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In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded one-half by the Sippican Historical Society and one-half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Because of the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were catalogued and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office). Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture. This installment features 140 Front Street.

The Congregational Meetinghouse (now the Marion General Store) at 140 Front Street was built between 1794 and 1799, during the Federal period. In the 1840s, the Greek Revival style was employed to update this building, which marks the southern entrance to the town center’s small commercial district. The Congregational Meetinghouse, more than any other building, symbolized Wharf Village as an important new focus for the spiritual, commercial, and social life in Marion. It also represented the first step toward independence from its mother town of Rochester. For the first time since the early 1700s, the town folk did not have to travel to Rochester center to partake in religious services.

Farmers Market Project Officially Withdrawn

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Craig Canning had big plans for his wide, open field on Marion Road. Abutters, neighbors, and townspeople in Rochester supported Canning’s proposal to transform the agricultural land into a working farm with a country-style farmers market and café. The large turnout for past Planning Board meetings showed that most of them believed a farmers market in Rochester was a sunnier idea than another solar farm – most people, that is, with the exception of the neighbors across the street who took Canning to court to stop Rochester Farms, LLC from spoiling their picture-window vista.

Now, five months since the Rochester Planning Board approved Canning’s Site Plan Review, the board on March 22 acquiesced to Canning’s request to rescind his Site Plan approval and accepted his request to withdraw his application without prejudice after conceding that Maryann and Kenneth Cutler’s litigation against the project rendered Canning’s business plan financially unfeasible.

Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson re-opened the public hearing to complete Canning’s two requests, pausing first for comment before doing so.

“The only thing I want to say,” said Johnson, “is I absolutely personally feel this [Site Plan Review] decision was very well thought out. There were countless hours in this … and I personally feel that that approval that we did was the best use of that property for the town as a whole.”

Planning Board member Gary Florindo also lamented the withdrawal.

“I’ve been on this board a long time, and that’s the first thing that’s come in front of [this board] for seven to ten years that made sense,” Florindo said, “that would fit into Rochester as well as benefit the people in the neighborhood and the town, and it’s a shame that we’re going this route.”

For now, the field remains as it was: the two greenhouses and wooden shed situated in the center of a late-wintery farmland with its open field vista relatively unchanged, except for the addition of a tractor-trailer stationed directly across from the Cutlers’ picture window.

In other matters, the board reviewed the draft decision of Site Plan Review approval for Borrego Solar Systems, developer of the large-scale solar farm off Rounseville and Mendell Roads. The board refined some of the conditions and details of the decision and sent it back to the town planner for updating. The board will vote on the decision at its next meeting.

Also during the meeting, the board could not act on the Approval Not Required application filed by Thomas Gayoski, Jr. for 35 Burgess Avenue.

Bob Rogers of G.A.F. Engineering said the plan was to create three conveyance parcels, with one over 400-acre parcel dedicated to agricultural use, and land being added to two adjacent residential lots.

The board’s issue was with an existing shed encroaching on the rear setback of one of the residential lots, a non-conformity under the zoning bylaw. Johnson said the board could not accept the filing unless the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance for the shed.

“It’s not because we wouldn’t like to; it’s because we can’t. You know the regs,” Planning Board member Ben Bailey said to Rogers who questioned the board’s concern.

Rogers phoned Gayoski for permission to continue the hearing and request an extension for the application, then returned to the room saying Gayoski did not grant him permission to extend the hearing.

The board was visibly perplexed because Gayoski could have requested the extension and sought approval from the ZBA, which Rogers said did not interest Gayoski.

Rogers said the 21 days since the application was filed was up, and being pressed for time, the application “didn’t have much of a chance” due to the storm and subsequent cancelation of the March 13 meeting. Rogers said it would be too expensive to move the shed, and it would be a risk to go before the ZBA because the ZBA could deny the variance.

“I don’t understand why the answer would be no,” said Bailey. “At least this is a chance.”

“We did not know that this [setback] was an issue,” said Rogers.

As the discussion continued, Rogers argued that the changing of the lot lines would mitigate the non-conformity by adding rear setback footage, but Johnson argued that it would be a trade-off for the creation of another non-conformity the move would make with one of the other lots.

Johnson said the plans were insufficient and could not be approved.

“We have to deny because of a technicality,” Bailey said.

Rogers was clearly frustrated as the discussion wrapped up, but Johnson maintained that the board could only deny the application if Gayoski did not wish to request an extension.

At that, the board denied the application.

The public hearing for Clean Energy Collective for the solar farm on Mattapoisett Road was continued at the applicant’s request for March 23 due to a recent change in the applicant’s plan pertaining to sightlines and screening.

This meeting was the rescheduled meeting for March 13 that was canceled due to the weather. The next regular meeting of the Rochester Planning Board was scheduled for March 27 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Planning Board

By Jean Perry