The Marion Town House Building Committee was back before the Marion Board of Selectmen on March 7, this time to request the addition of an article on the Annual Town Meeting warrant that would authorize the expenditure of $34,300 for the existing Town House Building Committee to conduct its own feasibility study of a new building at the VFW site.

There is just too much energy in this committee to sit back on the sidelines and not remain involved, said Town House Building Committee Chairman Bob Raymond. Raymond would rather the Town Meeting voters decide on which committee should do the exploring – a new one proposed by Planning Board Chairman Robert Lane and Finance Committee Chairman Allen Minard, or one composed of the same Town House Building Committee members using the same consultants and data from a past new building exploration that Raymond says would help mitigate costs.

And, Raymond added, if the two groups are both going at it, then twice as much could be accomplished.

“Is it possible that both groups could work together as one committee?” asked Board of Selectmen Chairman Jody Dickerson. “We see enough fractions down in Washington. We don’t need it here in Marion.”

Dickerson asked, “Instead of going down two different roads at Town Meeting, is this something that we could work together on?”

“We already have a base plan of a town hall new building,” said Town House Building Committee member Wayne Mattson, which would keep costs down for a study, he added.

Selectman Steve Gonsalves said he understands the committee’s frustration, but perhaps the current committee still needs a set of “new eyes” to make sure all voices are heard in the ongoing debate. Gonsalves advocated for both groups to come together in cooperation for one goal.

Selectman Stephen Cushing was not in the mood to keep beating the same subject, he said. He asked the committee and Lane and Minard who were seated in the audience where the two groups stood on the idea of merging.

“Our goal has always been to renovate the town house,” said Mattson. “In all fairness … we’ve been looking at this objectively, not just one sided.”

Lane stood and said he would like to see the two groups work together, but with conditions.

First, Lane argued that at least three new members should be appointed to the Town House Building Committee, one of which would sit as the chair. Second, all architectural work should be done by an independent contractor, he said.

“All of that is to ensure independence and objectivity,” said Lane.

Resident John Waterman said he didn’t think the warrant needed two articles and that having two would simply serve to confuse voters. He added, “I think it’s really up to the selectmen in the end to decide who will be on that committee.”

Minard said the last day to submit an article in time to make the warrant was February 23, but Dickerson corrected him, saying that that was the deadline for citizen petitions and the deadline does not apply to appointed and elected boards.

Raymond said he felt his committee’s article was “more inclusive” and perhaps the other committee, which has not been formally established and appointed yet, should withdraw its own article on the town meeting floor.

In the end, the selectmen voted to allow the Town House Building Committee’s article to proceed.

In other matters, the board received the invitation from the Wareham Veterans Council to participate in the August 17-21 visit of the Moving Wall, the half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Veterans Council Chairman Bob White also asked the selectmen to declare that week in August as a special week honoring veterans in a proclamation, which Dickerson openly accepted with a motion to declare that week “Veterans Week” in the Town of Marion.

The Moving Wall will be installed behind the Wareham Town Hall in front of the middle school on the Anderson Track field across Viking Drive. Once the site opens on August 17, it will be a 24-hour operation until the wall is taken down, with public viewing hours starting on Thursday, August 17 at 12:00 pm and ending on Monday, August 21 at 4:00 pm. More information will be available as the event draws near.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 21 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

Mattapoisett Police Department Press Release

On Friday, March 3, at approximately 8:45 pm, a resident of Mattapoisett Neck Road called the police station to report that an 11-year-old boy had just knocked on his door asking for a ride to New Bedford. Due to the frigid temperature, the resident brought the young male into his home to await the arrival of the police.

Upon arrival at the residence, Sgt. Robert Boivin and Officer Kristen Tavares found the 11-year-old inside the home visibly shaking and crying. The weather at this time was 26 degrees and extremely windy. The boy was wearing a leather type jacket, jeans and work boots. He was not wearing gloves or a hat. The officers asked the young boy to tell them what happened that night, and he went on to say that he was in the car with his mother, Marina Johnson, and his younger brother, age 8. He told the officers that his mother was very mad at him because she said he always “acts up.” He stated that his mother told him to get out of the car, which he did, then she told him to shut the door, which he did. That is when he said that his mother sped off.

They young boy reported that he tried to catch up to the car but it was going too fast. He said he walked to the nearest house and knocked on the door and asked for a ride to New Bedford. When asked where he lives, he told the officers that his house burned down a few weeks ago and he doesn’t have a home. He reported that he, his mother and brother have been staying at a shelter. He was transported to the police station where the Department of Children and Families was notified.

The New Bedford Police were notified and requested to check the shelter for Marina Johnson. Officer Scott Leblanc and Officer Tavares responded to New Bedford to assist in locating Ms. Johnson.

New Bedford Police found the Lexus that Ms. Johnson was operating in Mattapoisett at the shelter. The Lexus was previously reported stolen from outside the Dollar Store.

The New Bedford officers initially spoke with Ms. Johnson. She went into the shelter and then ran out a side door with her 8-year-old son. Mattapoisett officers assisted New Bedford in the apprehension of Ms. Johnson who was located knee-deep in water and mud in the marsh with her 8-year-old son.

Ms. Johnson was arrested and transported initially to the New Bedford Police Department.

Mattapoisett Police took custody of Ms. Johnson and transported her to the Mattapoisett Police Department where she was booked and charged with Reckless Endangerment of a child under 18, a misdemeanor, and Abandonment of a child without support, a felony. She was held on $10,000 bail until her arraignment.

Ms. Johnson was arraigned in Fourth District Court Wareham on Monday, March 6, 2017. She pleaded not guilty and was held on $25,000 bail and was transported to Framingham State Prison.

The 8- and 11-year-old boys were placed in foster care by DCF.