It was evident on September 5 that Joseph Longo was a bit surprised by the Rochester Conservation Commission’s reaction to his placement of a proposed single-family home off Mendell Road. As he explained, “We did consider other designs, but felt this one reduced the impact of the project.”

The project’s full scope calls for a new residence within the 100-foot buffer zone of a bordering vegetated wetland and a portion of the construction within the 200-foot outer riparian zone of Sherman Brook.

Longo said that the Planning Board had permitted the subdivision of the 11-acre parcel. And while he could have turned it into five lots, he opted to make the lots larger and design the area for a three-lot subdivision.

The application before the commission was for Lot 2, which had received approval from the Board of Health for a septic system and drinking water well with the placement of the home on the southern most corner of the lot some 200 feet off the roadway. The proposed home would include four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a four-car garage, Longo said.

Everything seemed satisfactory until Vice Chairman Daniel Gagne asked if Longo had considered other designs such as placing the structure sideways on the lot with the front door facing the adjacent lot. Longo said they had, but that homeowners didn’t want that type of placement.

Gagne countered that such considerations might further limit the impact on the riparian zone, saying, “We can approve [a project] in the riparian zone, but we don’t have to.” Gagne said that the commission saw a lot of “creep” into resource areas by homeowners and thus wished to control that happening on this project by limiting impact in the beginning.

Chairman Mike Conway asked whose name was on the deed.

In his application, Longo is listed as the property owner of record, a partner of CorGo Enterprises of Rochester, and the applicant’s representative as a partner of JL3 Consulting, Inc., of Centerville. Conway questioned the corporation’s registration with the state saying when he investigated CorGo he couldn’t find them in the registry.

There was a pause before Longo said he would drop off the appropriate documents to the office the following day.

Conway continued that, if CorGo wasn’t a legal entity, the commission couldn’t hear the application.

Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon said that although the commission had reviewed a number of projects along the riverfront area, the majority had been for work on already disturbed lots. This project was for a newly created lot, which would have to meet a number of new regulations for construction in a riverfront area. She passed out new documents from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions for the commissioners’ reference.

Farinon said that while she was sure Longo had taken great care in the design and sensitivity towards the resources areas, it needed to be documented in the filing versus simply through verbal acknowledgement that other designs had been considered. She also said that studies from a wetlands scientist were needed to ensure the project would meet performance standards.

Before the application was continued until October 2, giving Longo and his partner Ryan Correia time to provide alternative design options, Correia accessed the Massachusetts Secretary of State website on his phone pointing out the CorGo listing therein. Conway thanked him for that and asked for the hardcopies to be provided as well.

Two other hearings scheduled for this night were continued until September 18. Those hearings were a Notice of Intent filing by REpurpose Properties for land located on Rounseville Road for the construction of a 22-duplex residence, and an abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation filed by Steve Long, Borrego Solar Systems, for property located at 75 Vaughan Hill Road.

Deborah Carr came before the commission with a Notice of Intention to Sell, Right of First Refusal notification for property her family owns off Leonard Pond. She said that the former Boy Scout Camp, lands that her family had allowed the organization to utilize for decades, needed to be sold and, as governed by regulations, was giving the Town the right of first refusal. She said that currently the family holds a purchase and sale agreement valued at $956,000 and wanted to move forward as quickly as possible given that the municipal process had been slow going.

Farinon said that the 24-acre site was “gorgeous,” but thought that the Town would not be willing to buy the property.

“We are not in a position right now to buy this property,” Farinon said.

“I have a responsibility to my family,” Carr said. “If the town can’t buy it, I’ve got to sell it.”

Conway made a motion to advise the selectmen not to exercise the right of first refusal.

However, both Gagne and commissioner Chris Gerrior felt that the price tag shouldn’t hinder the commission from asking the voters to consider the purchase. Gagne said, “We can recommend; the selectmen can decline.” Gagne believed the commission should be the voice for conserving land.

Carr said, “Don’t hold me up: do what you have to do.”

Conway’s motion failed, and a new motion passed asking the selectmen to move forward with an article on the Town Meeting warrant to purchase the land.

In other business, Farinon announced that on Thursday, September 27, at the Rochester Council on Aging, a public forum will be held to discuss the Green Communities State Initiative. There will be two sessions that same day, one held at 3:00 pm and another at 7:00 pm, she said.

Farinon explained that Rochester is considering the program that includes objectives associated with energy conservation and alternative energy sources. She said the town would benefit from substantial cost savings and grant money that would be used by the town for energy reduction programs and projects.

Gagne asked if the initiative would lead Rochester towards having even more solar projects, saying, “I’m concerned this will push more large-scale solar.” Farinon said she didn’t believe that would be the case but might inspire looking at solar projects over capped landfill areas.

On the subject of candidates for an empty seat on the commission, Conway asked if Farinon had received any applicants. She said that one promising candidate had withdrawn his interest. The commission is seeking to fill a seat and an alternate vacancy as well.

The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for September 18 at 7:00 pm in the town hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell

The Town of Marion has started its exploration of the latest version of a Town House renovation project – one that is more piecemeal in nature – that would take a more gradual approach, spreading out the cost, and improvements, over longer periods of time.

Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson told the Board of Selectmen on September 4 that he reached out to Marion Town House Building Committee members Bob Raymond and Bill Saltonstall, as well as Facilities Director Shawn Cormier and the project engineer, to come up with a plan to “gently attack” the project, Dawson said, by breaking it down into bite-size chunks taxpayers would find more palatable and easier to swallow.

The concentration will begin by focusing on the building’s envelope, Dawson explained, which will seal in the interior from the exterior and insulate and waterproof the 141-year-old structure.

“The architect is going to come back to us with a proposal to see how we can best organize that and get some cost estimates for budgeting purposes,” said Dawson. From there, the funding can be allocated over a number of years. “We have been meeting and talking about it … with some very good discussions.”

One important step, Dawson said, is to have the Town House commercially appraised to get a true sense of the actual value of the property.

“I think we need some more info,” said Dawson. “We’re working away at that and we will have more information as it becomes available.”

In other news, local aquaculture farmer Shea Doonan was granted an aquaculture license for an oyster farm off Mitten’s Flats after the board voted to give the project final approval.

This was the “final go-around,” as Dawson stated it, as the project has undergone a rigorous federal and state permitting process that first began with the board earlier this year, filtered through the Conservation Commission for approval in August, and now with an approval letter from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in hand and a nod from Harbormaster Isaac Perry, it was back to the selectmen.

“[The state] has completed their work and they are okay with the Board of Selectmen issuing the permit as it has been applied for,” reported Dawson.

Perry told the board that Doonan’s other aquaculture site off Ram Island is in good standing and suggested, “We see no reason to hold him up on this second site at Mitten’s Flats.”

The board asked Doonan if he would like to say a few words, to which Doonan hastily replied, “No, thank you,” a response based on past experiences with the Board of Selectmen when a series of exhaustive debates did not benefit Doonan so much in other proposed project site applications in Marion waters.

With this approval, Doonan has just one more step, which is the permit to start building.

“Congratulations,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Norm Hills told Doonan.

Also during the meeting, at the request of John Rockwell, chairman of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, the selectmen voted to endorse the bike path project for Point Road as MOSAC prepares to apply for Community Preservation Act funding in the near future.

According to Rockwell, the project involves a paved bike path along 4,000 feet of Point Road beginning at Creek Road and heading south.

Rockwell referred to Point Road as one of the “five deadly roads in town,” of which there is a push to install paved bike paths for safety.

“We’re just looking for a letter to put in the application saying this is a good project and worthy of consideration,” said Rockwell, who has already garnered a letter of support from the Conservation Commission and is expecting one from the Planning Board.

“Thanks, John, for moving things forward,” said Selectman Randy Parker.

“I look forward to biking on it,” said Selectman Jon Waterman.

In other business, the selectmen approved the use of $21,000 from the Marion Music Hall’s restoration account to restore a piano, which will bring the value of the piano to approximately $35,000. The older piano currently at the music hall will be transferred over to the Council on Aging.

The board appointed Casey Gunschel to the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission, and re-appointed George Pina to the Marion Council on Aging.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen will be September 18 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

On a simmering September 4 evening when thoughts of tall cool drinks – water that is – were on the minds of many, the Rochester Board of Selectmen signed a comprehensive 20-year municipal water agreement with the Town of Marion.

Selectmen Chairman Greenwood “Woody” Hartley stated that legal counsel for both towns had thoroughly vetted the agreement.

After numerous meetings, the agreement grants the Town of Marion the right to search for water sources and water supplies within the Town of Rochester, among many other rights granted by the document.

Historically, Marion has depended on freshwater sources within Rochester’s boundaries, while Marion has also provided a number of Rochester households with water from systems it installed and maintains.

The agreement also mandates that, should Rochester elect to develop water sources, the cooperation of both towns is necessary to obtain regulatory approvals.

Rochester Water Commissioner Fred Underhill said, “It’s good to have this done for another twenty years. We fixed some of the glitches in the original agreement.”

Hartley thanked Underhill for his tireless efforts.

Also coming before the selectmen was Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon to discuss the Municipal Vulnerability Plan and Hazard Mitigation Program. She said that grant monies had been received for the Town to move into brainstorming and planning sessions with the help of Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). She explained that the program would include two four-hour workshops facilitated by a contractor that would include participants from the Fire and Police Departments, Council On Aging, Board of Health, and other town agencies, along with business owners and large landowners. Farinon said that at the end a report would be produced to assist the Town in moving forward with hazard management planning.

The selectmen asked Farinon to return in March at which time they would determine timing for the workshops.

Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar reported that the Town had finally received reimbursement from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for storms dating back to 2013. The $56,000 received would go into the General Fund, Szyndlar said.

Szyndler also reported that Acting Police Chief Robert Small was selected for the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Committee’s executive board.

Regarding the annual meeting recently attended with SEMASS, Szyndlar said that the topic of recyclables was broached. She said the solid waste disposal company would be assisting the Town in re-educating its citizens on the proper use of recycle bins. With costs for trash and recycling collection rising, she said it was critical to teach people the importance of clean recyclables. To that end, literature would be distributed to households as well as educational video productions.

On the theme of recycling, Szyndlar said that a textile recycling company, Waste Zero, provides curbside pick up of clothing and similar items which could supplement solid waste removal, she explained. One of the upsides of the service, she said, was a payment to the Town of $20 per ton of acceptable materials. She said the company was interested in giving a presentation to the selectmen. This news was favorably received.

In other matters, Hartley announced that the Council on Aging is seeking three community members to assist the Board of Directors in selecting a new director. Interested parties may call Sharon Lally at the Council on Aging at 508-763-8723 no later then September 10.

Earlier in the evening, the selectmen appointed Kimberly Burke to the Plumb Library Board of Trustees and acknowledged retiring Rochester Chief of Police Paul Magee with a citation for his years of service to the Town. Magee served Rochester from January 2003 until September 2018.

The selectmen also granted use of the Pine Street fairgrounds to the Rochester Lions Club for a Touch-a-Truck event scheduled for October 13.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for September 17 at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell