Another 70+ acres of land in Rochester will never be developed now that the conservation restriction and subsequent closing on the Estabrook property on Estabrook Way off Walnut Plain Road was made official on June 4.

The Rochester Board of Selectmen approved the conservation restriction that will protect the roughly 78 acres of land that includes direct access to the Walnut Plain Cedar Swamp, an especially unique and pristine habitat, said Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon.

This particular land acquisition is a special one, Farinon said, because not only is it the first piece of that type of habitat to be permanently protected in town, but it is also the first parcel of land to be permanently protected in that part of Rochester.

The Rochester Land Trust acquired a $35,000 grant from the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program to cover the costs associated with acquiring and protecting the land, and with the assistance of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, developed the conservation restriction selectmen signed that evening.

The Conservation Commission will be the holder of the conservation restriction while the Rochester Land Trust will be the official owner.

Two separate grants totaling $165,000 covered the costs associated with the land acquisition.

“On behalf of the Coalition and the Land Trust, I’m very excited to get this project squared away,” said Allen Decker Esq., director of land protection for the BBC.

RLT President Bob Lawrence said the land would be made accessible to the public, referring to the Shoolman Preserve off New Bedford Road as the concept planned for the latest acquisition.

In other matters, the board ratified the employment contract for Sargent “soon-to-be” Chief Robert Small.

The contract with a term of 33 ½ months takes effect at the stroke of midnight on September 15 upon current Police Chief Paul Magee’s official date of retirement. As part of that contract, Small, who currently resides in Whitman, will relocate closer to Rochester within 18 months.

“Thank you,” said Small, “and I’m looking forward to continuing all the relationships in town here … and I look forward to having even more involvement with everybody.”

The Town Hall meeting room is now fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with new automatic doors on its expanded side entrance, an expanded hallway doorway leading to the new ADA compliant restroom, and even those squeaky, ancient (not to mention uncomfortable) benches have been removed and replaced with more easily moveable padded chairs.

In other matters, Selectmen Chairman Greenwood “Woody” Hartley presented former Selectman Naida Parker (who is still the town clerk) with a certificate of commendation for her many years as a selectman.

Town Hall will be adopting its summer hours by closing early on Fridays at 1:00 pm July 6 until August 23.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for June 18at 6:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

The Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen again looked at the ongoing issues associated with recyclables when it met on June 5.

Town Administrator Michael Gagne said that he and several other communities, all currently in a dispute with ABC Disposal, Inc., have received confirmation from ABC that they would continue to fulfill their contracts with the municipalities and pick up recyclables as contract issues are worked out. He said that the municipalities are waiting for a decision to be rendered in Superior Court where a lawsuit filed by the City of New Bedford is pending. New Bedford asked the court to decide if ABC had the right to ask for a cost adjustment during an active contract.

Selectman Paul Silva said that he had been thinking about the possibility of a district or regionalized framework where towns would enter into an agreement to work together.

“I spoke with Representative Straus and he is interested in working with us to look at costs [of] putting together our own district.” Silva said that the success of the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District had inspired the concept.

“He could bring the DEP to the table,” Gagne added.

Selectmen and newly appointed Chairman Jordan Collyer thought that the Community Compact with the governor recently signed by the board might also give the Town leverage.

“The agreement puts us in the running for funding projects, especially those that require regional effort,” said Collyer.

The selectmen voted to have Gagne engage in further discussions with surrounding towns on this matter.

In other news, the selectmen met with retired Fire Chief Ronald Scott regarding Veterans’ Memorial Park, known to most as Ned’s Point. Collyer said a memorial had long been planned for the park but that now, with donations from benefactors, work could commence.

Scott presented a design that includes three flags, plaques, and lighting. He said that care of the flags, including rising and lowering them each day, would be handled by a group of volunteers.

“The goal is to provide a memorial at no cost to the town,” Collyer said.

Scott said that the American Legion members support the project. At that, the selectmen granted permission for the memorial to move forward.

In his report, Gagne said that bidding was about to begin for Phase 2B of the bike path and that work would begin soon on lower Pearl Street.

Regarding the bike share program, Gagne gave credit to Bonne DaSousa and Fairhaven Selectman Robert Espindola for reviewing vendors. He said that in Mattapoisett, bikes would be available to rent at the town wharves, Brandt Island Bike Path, public library, Ned’s Point, and Point Connet. There will be five bikes at each location. Bike usage is accessed through the use of a downloadable app on a personal electronic device. The fee is $1 per hour. Gagne also said that bikes could be ridden into Fairhaven and left there if the ride ended there.

Also during the meeting, Patrick Dawson was appointed as a board member to the Mattapoisett Council on Aging, and the selectmen accepted the resignation of long-time Historical Commission member and former chairman Josephine Pannell. Gagne said, “Jo was always a tremendous resource, an excellent member.” He asked and received agreement that the board will present Pannell with a citation for all her volunteer work throughout the years.

The selectmen set their summer meeting schedule as follows: July 10, August 14, and September 11. All meetings will commence at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen

By Marilou Newell