Mike Huguenin from the Mattapoisett Land Trust (MLT) wasn’t thrilled when Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Chairman Mike King relayed some of the conservation agent’s suggestions for the MLT’s plan to eradicate 20,000 square-feet of invasive phragmites on property located at the end of Noyes Avenue known as Newmann Preserve.

            First thing during the May 15 meeting, Huguenin, on behalf of the MLT and Georgia Glick, said he had not yet received a file number form the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the invasive species eradication plan. Absent that, King said, the process that night would be limited to opening the public hearing and discussing the application, but they would have to continue the hearing until they have a DEP file number.

            Huguenin was hoping for a quick approval process, and asked if the commission could approve the application subject to getting that number, but King had to deny that request.

            “I think that would be violating our own policy,” King said.

            Huguenin’s concern is that time is of the essence when it comes to the proper schedule of treating phragmites, which must first be cleared of dead stalks and then sprayed at a specific point in the plant’s growth cycle. He was hoping to begin the first week of June.

            King had no problems with the plan, nor did two other commission members, but member Trevor Francis pointed to a number of Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold’s comments that caught his attention. To Huguenin’s chagrin, Francis read that list, which included 

 the need for a wetland delineation plan, and she pointed out that no stamped survey plan was provided to distinguish the locations of invasive versus noninvasive species to mitigate any loss of saltmarsh area. Leidhold referenced similar projects – Maple Road and Aucoot Road – and suggested, like those projects, this one should have a wetland scientist perform ongoing monitoring.

            Leidhold suggested a vegetation monitoring plan developed by a wetland scientist and attach it to the Order of Conditions upon approval. She also asked about a long-term plan to restore the saltmarsh, commenting that it was a relatively large area to treat, and asked if the MLT would be planting any native saltmarsh grasses to replace the phragmites to keep them from returning.

            “As we all know, that’s extremely expensive,” said Huguenin. “I would argue this is not a large area, 20,000 square feet, max.”

            Huguenin added that he had spoken with someone from the Buzzards Bay Coalition who he said told him the eradication would likely be a success due to the isolated location. The tides are getting higher also, he said, allowing salt water to reach the phragmites and kill them off.

            The neighbors to the project, Huguenin said, are paying for the eradication budgeted at $2,500, and worried this might evolve into a “$10,000 project.”

            “Unfortunately, [Leidhold] is not here, but we have to take her advice under consideration,” said King. “I think between now and then we as a commission will look at the other projects … and make a determination on what’s appropriate.”

            The hearing was continued until June 10.

            Also during the meeting, the commission decided to continue the RDA public hearing for Andre Rieksts, Scott and Margo Wilson-Atkinson, Park Lane, in order to have the project’s representative, Doug Schneider of D. Schneider & Associates, consult with Liedhold over the possibility of filing the project as an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation.

            The Park Lane property is 8.2 acres and required 102 wetlands flags.

            “[Leidhold] suggested that 102 flags under [a Request for Determination of Applicability] is excessive,” said King.

            Schneider didn’t think that would be necessary, saying he could have the wetlands line confirmed via a regular RDA filing and was simply seeking that the commission check off the box that states the line is confirmed as accurate.

            “The big difference between an [ANRAD] request and an [RDA] is the filing fee,” said Schneider.

            That fee would be $2,000 for the ANRAD, of which the Town would split half-and-half with the state, and $0 for the RDA.

            King explained recent discussions amongst the commission, the town administrator, and the finance Committee regarding fees and a shortfall in revenue to run the conservation office.

            “We have to operate in a more transactional manner in order to keep the office going, and we’ve been operating at a deficit since the beginning of the Wetlands Protection Act, basically,” said King. “I would say that a walk in the woods, though, to cover 102 flags … is not a small amount of work.”

            King looked to the rest of the commission and polled the members on their thoughts of collecting the fee as an ANRAD.

            “It’s a tricky situation,” said John Jacobson. “It takes a lot of the agent’s time, but I don’t know if there’s a justification … for the classification to fall under ANRAD.”

            King suggested a continuation so the commission could contact Leidhold to discuss the filing classification and fee, and also to allow for further time to review the delineation.

            The hearing was continued until June 10.

            The commission approved the NOI for The Preserve at Bay Club, LLC, Split Rock Lane, to extend the road with associated grading and drainage. This application was the “last keystone” to the project, King said.

            The NOI hearing for Scott Snow, 6 & 8 Prospect Road, was continued until June 10, as the commission adhered to its policy of requiring updated plans a minimum of two weeks before the hearing date. King commented that he foresaw no problems with the project and he was pleased with the perc test results.

            The continued public hearing for an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation for The Gingras Nominee Trust c/o Carol Lawrence, Trustee was closed out and approved. The representative for the Randall Road project said one additional wetlands flag was added at the request of the conservation agent, and a potential vernal pool was noted on the plan in anticipation of future certification.

            In other business, the commission issued Negative 3 determinations for the following Request for Determination of Applicability applications: David Riquinha, 26 Mattakiset Road, for an 8’x14’ prefabricated shed and bluestone patio; Jean Ryan, 22 Angelica Avenue, for a 14’x24’ shed on existing lawn within the velocity zone; Allen Duarte and Jane Fagundes, 16 River Bed Lane, for a 14’x28’ in-ground pool, fence, and pool shed.

            The commission issued Certificates of Compliance to Leigh Oler, 25 Grandview Avenue; and Paul Rioux, 12 Laura Lane. The commission closed out the Request for Certificate of Compliance for N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, Inc., 0 Aucoot Road, because the work never commenced. The lien was removed from the property.

            The public hearing for the RDA filed by David & Jennifer Kaiser, 54 Ocean Drive, was continued until June 10 at the request of the applicant.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for June 10 at 6:30 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Hall.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Jean Perry

Marion voters elected to adopt all four of its ballot questions on May 17, making Marion the first of the Tri-Towns to vote in favor of the $2 million Old Rochester Regional artificial turf, track, and auditorium project.

            The Proposition 2 ½ exemption, Question 5 on the ballot, garnered 660 ‘yes’ votes versus the 323 ‘no’ votes.

            The authorization to borrow the $2 million is contingent upon all three towns passing the ballot question, and since it passed on Tuesday in Mattapoisett, Rochester will hold a Special Election on July 10, as Town Meeting voters adopted the warrant article on Monday.

            Question 1 to change the town clerk position from elected to appointed easily passed with 687 in favor and 258 opposed, which means when current Town Clerk Ray Pickles’ term expires in 2020, that position will not appear on the annual election ballot.

            Pickles was noticeably absent from his duty to oversee the polls at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center Friday night, which was just days after Town Meeting voted to defund his salary for this next fiscal year.

            Question 2 passed by another wide margin, 675-274, to allow for a one-year capital outlay exclusion to fund a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Taxpayers will be assessed a one-time, one-year tax increase of roughly $121 for the average property valued at $600,000.

            Question 3 passed by a significant margin as well, 562-401, allowing the Town to borrow $470,000 to fund the outsourcing of curbside trash collection. Adoption of the warrant article nullified Question 4 on the ballot, which asked to borrow $582,090 to purchase a new rubbish packer.

            Planning Board incumbent Will Saltonstall came out ahead in the four-way race for two open seats on the board, garnering 775 votes. Joseph Rocha won the second seat with 342 votes, beating Barry Gaffey, 203 votes, and William do Carmo, 130 votes.

            In the race for Board of Assessors, Catherine Gibbs beat Barry Gaffey, 631 to 229 votes, respectively.

            The results of the uncontested races were as follows: for Board of Selectmen, John Waterman, 840 votes; for Moderator, Brad Gordon, 826 votes; for Board of Health, Edward Hoffer, 753 votes; for Tree Warden, Russell Gunschel, 787 votes; for Marion School Committee, Nicole Daniel, 750 votes; for Open Space Acquisition Commission (two seats), Casey Gunschel, 661 votes, and John Rockwell, 545 votes.

Marion Annual Town Election

By Jean Perry

There was jubilation, shouts of “Yes!” and backslapping all around as Mattapoisett Town Clerk Catherine Hueberger read the Annual Election results that featured two Proposition 2 ½ override questions.

            The voters spoke passing both by considerable margins.

            Question 1 asked voters to approve an override that will allow the town to borrow $9.2-million for the construction of a new fire station.

            After months of discussing the needs of the Fire Department, making presentations at association meetings, and visiting (on more than one occasion) the Finance Committee, Capital Planning, and Board of Selectmen, the voters were in favor of digging a little deeper into their pockets to fund the project.

The question passed 1,226 – 161.

            “I feel great,” Fire Station Committee Chairman Mike Hickey said after the vote was announced. “We appreciate the support of the townspeople.” He said the Fire Department should be moving into its new digs, which will be located adjacent to the police station, in March 2021.

            “I’m overwhelmed,” said Fire Chief Andrew Murray. He said he was grateful for all the support the department received, the warm reception he enjoyed when speaking to groups about the needs facing the aging fire station, and the Town for making it happen.

            According to Murray, groundbreaking will take place in the spring of 2020.

            Question 2, which also asked voters to override Proposition 2 ½ to borrow for improvements that had been identified as critical by the Old Rochester Regional School District Committee. Those improvements are new auditorium lighting and audio upgrades, and repairs and improvements to an outdoor track and athletic field, estimated at $2 million.

            Hal Rood of Rochester, one of the prime movers in getting this request before voters in the Tri-Towns, was beaming.

            “Voters overwhelmingly support this project,” Rood said. “We are confident when Rochester holds its elections in July it will pass.” He thanked the voters of Mattapoisett.

            Shaun Walsh of Marion, another committee member, said with a smile, “We are not counting our chickens before they hatch.”

            Mattapoisett Selectman Jordan Collyer ran uncontested for another 3-year term receiving 1,172 votes. Cary LeBlanc, who also ran uncontested for Assessor, received 1,187 votes. The ORR School Committee seat went to Suzanne Tseki who received 1,047 votes in her uncontested race.

            Open seats on the Mattapoisett School Committee forced a hand count as no one ran, but write-ins were aplenty. Winning those seats were Karin Barrows who received 126 votes and Shannon Fining-Kwoka who received 116. Carla Lavin was defeated receiving only 73 write-in votes.

            The results of the remaining uncontested positions are as follows: Board of Health, Ken Dawicki, 1,125; Library Trustees (two seats), Michael Rosa, 942, and Barbara Gaspar, 1,122; Town Moderator, John Eklund, 1,144; Water/Sewer Commissioner, Dana Barrows, 1,126; Planning Board, Thomas Tucker, 1,107; Mattapoisett Housing Authority, Charles McCullough, 1,119; Constable (two positions), Kenneth Pacheco, 1057, and Donald Bliss, 1003; Herring Inspector, Robert Martin, 1,117; Tree Warden, Roland Cote, 1,135; Community Preservation Committee (two seats), Michelle Hughes, 1,099, and Charles McCullough, 1,025.

Mattapoisett Annual Election

By Marilou Newell