Rochester Readies for 911 Regionalization

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Rochester is celebrating the $1,693,485 grant the State 911 Department awarded the town to upgrade its emergency response infrastructure and cover the costs of integrating into the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (aka the ROCCC), a regional 911 service in Duxbury covering the towns of Duxbury, Halifax, Plympton, and soon, Rochester.

Duxbury Fire Captain Rob Reardon on October 16 presented an update on the grant and the projects slated for completion in early 2018 during a meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

According to Reardon, the state received about $48 million total in requests from municipalities across the state, and awarded $12 million – Rochester, Reardon said, has likely received the largest grant amount ever awarded in the history of the Regional Emergency Communication Center (RECC) Support Grant.

“They believed in this project,” Reardon said.

Breaking down the funding, Reardon said $119,000 would go towards the hiring of a full-time director at the ROCCC, and $400,000 is for design and architect fees for an expansion of the ROCCC. The rest of the $1,174,800 will be spent between Rochester and the ROCCC on “stuff we need,” as Reardon put it.

In Rochester, about $224,000 will cover upgrades to police, fire, and Department of Public Works repeaters. “They were in dire straits and in need of repair,” said Reardon.

Increasing the height of the antenna, installing an HCAV system at the police station, and the addition of a generator will also be funded.

At the Rochester dispatch center, $91,086 will integrate the local 911 into the regional system, and to be installed will be an emergency phone for $2,151, $2,313 to secure the lobby, $8,000 for an alarm system, $18,000 for a video surveillance security system, $2,600 remote door lock, and a $1,700 door buzzer, among other miscellaneous items.

Another $28,165 will outfit the Fire Department trucks and ambulances with computers.

At the ROCCC, in addition to the new director, several full-time and part-time staff will be hired to cover the increase in service to Rochester so three employees will be on duty round-the-clock, with four on duty during peak hours.

Reardon noted that with this particular grant, there are no obligations for the Town to match any of the funds granted. The conversion to a regionalized 911 is 100 percent funded by the state.

“This is obviously to promote regionalization,” said Reardon.

The upgrades top Rochester’s emergency response infrastructure, Reardon said, “…Include safety features to police and fire…that you don’t see in small towns.”

“It’s phenomenal,” Reardon said. For example, normally while a dispatcher is speaking over the police radio, an officer would be unable to interrupt should an emergency arise. With this new upgrade, an officer in trouble would be able to intercept the dispatcher to call for help.

“With this new system, the second the officer keys that radio the dispatcher hears it. I don’t know any other department around here with it,” said Reardon.

As for a timeline, Reardon said there was a delay in releasing the grant money, so there will ultimately be a delay in the integration. The initial target date was January 1, 2018, but now Reardon is aiming for March 2018. He assured the selectmen that the new 911 system would be in place by the start of fiscal year 2019, which starts July 1, 2018.

In addition to the grant, Rochester is also locked in for an additional $125,000 annually for five years to cover the cost of the 911 service, which would have cost Rochester $300,000.

In a follow-up interview with Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar, she said currently the Town spends $320,000 each year to run its local dispatch center, and that total does not include the cost of benefits to union employees.

“It’s quite a big savings for us,” said Szyndlar.

After the five years, Rochester will engage the ROCCC in negotiations on an annual 911 service cost.

In other news, the 2017 Rochester Country Fair generated some money this year, compared to a loss last year in 2016.

Country Fair Committee member Kelly Morgado said this year’s country fair went well. Last year, Morgado said, the fair incurred $66,000 in expenses and only recovered $65,000 in income. This year, the fair spent $63,000 but brought in $68,000 in revenue.

Morgado said the country fair is considering bringing back Thursday night to next year’s country fair schedule, “But it has to be a big night,” Morgado said, “so that has yet to be determined.”

“All in all, I think this year went well,” said Morgado.

Morgado did report that four members of the Country Fair Board of Directors have resigned. “So we’re trying to work it all out right now.”

Also during the meeting, Szyndlar emphasized that the Town of Rochester is not really haunted, and the interviews featured in The Wanderer’s fictional Halloween story did not really take place. Szyndlar said there were multiple residents who actually believed that the town was haunted.

The town administrator also announced that the Town’s new website would likely be up and running on or around November 20.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 23 at 6:30 pm in the Rochester Memorial School cafeteria before the start of the Special Fall Town Meeting.

Rochester Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

 

The Mystery of the Spooky Stone Head

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One day back in the 1950s, a woman went about her work on the old family farm in Dartmouth. The day was dark and the sky cloudy, and as the older woman worked in the yard by the old ancient torn down stone wall, the rain fell on and around her; nevertheless, she persisted in her labor, probably tossing aside some of the rocks that she could lift and rolling heavier ones over to the side.

One of those stones at the bottom of the falling down wall was a bit more peculiar than the rest. It was odd, the shape of it. She moved in closer and kicked the 16-pound stone over with her foot. It’s unknown when the last time that particular rock saw the light of day before Warren Parson’s grandmother unearthed it over a half a century ago, but the rock was indeed special enough to be on display for years in a local museum and remain in the family to this very day right here in Mattapoisett.

“It’s a family inheritance,” said Parsons. “A strange inheritance.” For how many families do you know that possess a garnet-encrusted granite stone head that likely pre-dates the colonial era of New England?

“My grandmother saw the face of it and she kicked it over and said, ‘whoa!’”

Parson’s ‘gram’ named the stone head she discovered “King Phillip’s Head”, probably because of the location where it was found, Parsons said. But how it ended up at the bottom of a crumbling stone wall is only one of the mysteries surrounding the stone head. There are still other questions, like, where did it originate? Who made it, and why? Whose face is forever sculpted into the coarse surface of this 14-inch tall, seven-inch wide stone, that was hidden away face down in the ground beneath the weight of centuries of time?

Could it be Native American? Or Viking, Parsons wonders aloud. Or maybe it came from South America somehow.

But perhaps the most pressing question was — at least for Parsons and his brother — could this stone head be haunted?

“Back then it was a pretty strange anomaly. It still is!” said Parsons. “I used to take it for show and tell in first and second grade until they put it in the museum.”

The stone head found a temporary home at the old Children’s Museum in Russells Mills in Dartmouth until the location closed and the museum was relocated to Gulf Hill some time in the 1960s or ‘70s, Parsons said.

“When they closed down the museum we got it back and my brother kept it,” said Parsons. “He said it was evil and he wanted to bury it back in the ground. He felt evil in it.”

That’s when Parsons took the stone head for himself and has kept it for about 30 years now.

On March 18, 1999, Geochron Laboratories of Cambridge took samples of the scant remains of some organic paint found within the eyes and mouth of the stone head’s face for a radiocarbon age determination. Later that May, the lab reported that the carbon dating analysis determined the stone head was 400 years old, plus or minus 40 years. Parsons has a copy of the report, which he has kept to show naysayers who doubt the validity of the stone head.

Parsons described the location of the old family farm in the Slocum Road area of Dartmouth as beautiful, overlooking the Paskamansett River valley.

“It was probably a very important site and that was probably why they (whoever they were) put it there,” said Parsons. He also speculated that perhaps the stone head was hidden there on purpose to protect it during subsequent violent upheavals between the Native Americans and the colonial settlers. But his guess is as good as anybody else’s at this point – that is, unless there is someone out there, perhaps someone who has found a similar stone head somewhere and knows more about the history of such seemingly spooky things.

Meanwhile, the mystery of the stone head persists, even as Parsons and the stone head cohabitate in Parsons’ Prospect Street home.

The stone head has a personality that is multifaceted, Parsons says. It stands upright on its own on the floor near Parsons’ television in his living room. And depending on the lighting, the face tends to take on a multitude of different shapes – and some of them are indeed ghastly.

“The eyes darken,” said Parsons. “It shows up in the shadows at night. On the nose it looks like it has a huge scar.”

Parsons is convinced that there is something eerie about the thing. Perhaps paranormal, or maybe it’s evil and cursed, or maybe there’s just some mystical power to the stone head, but the thing’s got “vibes,” he said, and how one interprets them is pretty much chalked up to what kind of person they are, Parsons thinks.

“I light him up at night and he looks at me. I definitely get vibes from him. I think he’s cool.”

Parsons said he has been trying to find a home for the primitive statue, but so far no one wants to put up the old stone dude. He said he brought it to a Native American museum in Middleboro that rejected it, “Because it was an ‘effigy’ figure and they don’t want any effigy figures in their museum.”

“It’s very unusual,” said Parsons. “I’d really like it to go to the appropriate place, to receive recognition (and a little bit of retirement money as well would be nice), but receiving recognition is important.”

But it could be cursed though, he again emphasized. “There’s something weird about it.”

“It’s got some kind of significance,” Parsons said. “What? I don’t know…”

By Jean Perry

 

Spring Street Zoning Change Revisited

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The Marion Planning Board listened on October 16 to a number of Marion residents who support the resurrection of the proposed zoning bylaw change for land located north of Route 6 that was defeated at Town Meeting this past May.

The board was asked to spearhead the new effort to persuade residents to approve the zoning change.

In what would prove to be a lengthy discussion of past strategy mistakes, town resident Sherman Briggs initiated the discussion with the board, noting that he had been contacted by Marion Town Planner Gil Hilario asking that Briggs reconsider the proposed development of the land on Spring Street.

Briggs had previously pitched the idea of a multi-use development off Spring Street that included 34 housing units for what was described as “empty-nesters”. In order to implement his development plan, the zoning on the property must be changed from General Business/Limited Industrial to Residence E Multifamily Residence.

Voters rejected this change at Marion’s Annual Town Meeting in May.

The attorney for Briggs, Patricia McArdle, requested that the Planning Board bring the article to Town Meeting, saying, “Procedurally, because we brought it before Town Meeting before, we cannot bring it again for two years.”

Briggs stated that he would be “willing to run the gauntlet again,” adding, “But I’m done practicing.” He suggested that if the article was to go to Town Meeting that all Town boards should work cooperatively.

Planning Board Chairman Eileen Marum expressed her support of the zoning change, while Vice Chairman Steve Kokkins reviewed for the board the issues that were raised at the May Town Meeting.

Kokkins noted that there had been concerns about the density of the development and traffic related to it, but that generally he supported the project and the zoning change.

Board member Will Saltonstall commented, “A project of this nature is suitable for the location and property,” and wondered aloud why it didn’t succeed in May. Briggs replied, “Two words – John Rockwell.”

Saltonstall summarized what he believed Rockwell’s concerns were — that the area is zoned commercial, there is a certain amount allocated for the town, and was residential use the highest and best use for the land?

Board members acknowledged that the project dovetailed well with the Town’s draft Master Plan, which contemplates mixed-use developments. Briggs noted that the land already achieved mixed use with the inclusion of Baldwin Brothers and the Marion Institute on the property. He noted that the residents of his proposed housing development could walk to nearby businesses.

Saltonstall reiterated his support but cautioned, “We need to be careful how this is perceived. This is Sherman Briggs’ project, and we support it. Not push it, [Briggs] pushes it.”

Kokkins added that there was abundant commercial land in town that is under-utilized and that “times had changed” since that land had been zoned commercial.

McArdle highlighted the concern voters at Town Meeting had about the sewer, noting there is already sewer on the lot.

Town resident, tree warden, and participant in the development of the Master Plan Margie Baldwin spoke in support of the project, but suggested the Planning Board be aware that the zoning change could be perceived as a zoning change to benefit one developer. She urged the board to convince residents this zoning change is right for the town.

Resident and Marion business owner Dan Crete spoke in support of the zoning change, but admonished the board for not presenting the Town Meeting article well in May, saying “[It] was not marketed well, to be honest. There was no verbiage about why, or how it fit in [to the town], it was poorly done. It will be very important for the Planning Board to be persuasive at Town Meeting.”

Members of the board expressed their belief that the zoning change fit well with what was contemplated in the Town’s draft Master Plan, the adoption of which will be voted on at the upcoming Fall Special Town Meeting on October 23.

Board member Chris Collings suggested there might be more success with a new attempt at passing the zoning change because, “The difference is we have an actionable plan now – the applicant and the Planning Board can co-present this. [We are] trying to find candidate properties to [implement] our Master Plan.”

The discussion concluded with Hilario commenting that the Marion Affordable Housing Trust voted its support of the zoning change at its most recent meeting. Kokkins was quick to point out that the proposal is for market rate housing units, and they are not considered affordable housing. Board member Norm Hills warned the board that only the zoning change, not the development, should be discussed at Town Meeting, and the two should not be conflated.

In other business, the board was asked to make a recommendation to the ZBA regarding a request that 120 Front Street be considered an existing two-family structure. Hills pointed out that the structure has been abandoned for years, noting, “The Fire Department has used it a number of times for practice. I wonder what the inside looks like!” Hills brought up the zoning bylaw that states, “…a non-conforming use or structure that has been abandoned, or not used for a period of two years, shall lose its protected status…” and be subject to the current zoning bylaws. Hills believed that it was clear the intent of the owner was to raze the structure. The board agreed to make the recommendation to the ZBA that the property be held to current zoning requirements, and any other use would require a Special Permit.

The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for November 6 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Planning Board

By Sarah French Storer

 

Marilyn C. (McLean) Keegan

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Marilyn C. (McLean) Keegan, 83, of Rochester died October 20, 2017 at Tobey Hospital after a brief illness.

She was the wife of Walter Keegan.

Born in Boston, the daughter of the late George and Frances (Hubbard) McLean, she was raised in Dorchester and lived in Natick for many years before moving to Mattapoisett and then Rochester.

She was formerly employed as administrative assistant to the chief of police for the Natick Police Department.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Marie Grenier of Pelham, NH; a brother, George McLean, Jr. of Belmont; a sister, Joan McLean of Belmont; 2 grandsons, Joshua Grenier and Shawn Grenier, both of Pelham, NH; and several nieces and nephews.

She was the mother of the late Catherine Keegan.

Her Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 8:45 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Wareham at 10 AM. Visiting hours are omitted. For directions and guestbook. please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

 

Climate Change and You

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The Plumb Library, in partnership with the Elizabeth Taber Library in Marion and the Mattapoisett Free Public Library, presents the third in the Community Engagement Series, “Climate Change and You” on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30 pm at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, 17 Constitution Way, Rochester. Join a discussion of local effects of climate change with experts Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University, and Robert Macedo, volunteer regional coordinator of SkyWarn, a National Weather Service project. Register at the Events Calendar at the Plumb Library website, www.plumblibrary.com. Space is limited. Refreshments will be served.

The Great Hamilton

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The public is invited to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on Sunday, October 29 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm to hear New England native Charles W. Stockbridge present a free short lecture on Alexander Hamilton followed by his abbreviated performance from a play he wrote on Alexander Hamilton entitled “The Great Hamilton.” Learn about one of our founding fathers and America’s first Treasury Secretary as Mr. Stockbridge reenacts some highlights of Hamilton’s life.

The Mattapoisett Library is located at 7 Barstow Street and is handicapped accessible.

Ticks Are Here to Stay and Multiplying

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Did you know that ticks are active the entire year? Have you read about the Lone Star Tick as well as the other ticks? On Saturday, November 4 at 10:30 am at the Mattapoisett Library Meeting Room, Entomologist Blake Dinius, who was recently hired by Plymouth County, will talk about ticks in the South Coast. Mr. Dinius will discuss the facts on ticks, the diseases they carry, and proven methods of protection.

This event is jointly sponsored by the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Mattapoisett Woman’s Club. If you would like more information, please contact Mike Huguenin or Barb Van Inwegen.

Swamp Subdivision Preliminary Talks Close

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On October 16, the Mattapoisett Planning Board re-opened preliminary discussions with David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates representing Dennis Arsenault. Arsenault is proposing a two-lot subdivision situated deep inside a recognized wetlands system at the end of Snow Field Road.

Chairman Tom Tucker asked Davignon if the plan before the board had any changes from those reviewed and discussed on September 18. Davignon responded no.

Original conceptual design was for the construction of a roadway extension at what is currently a dead end on Snow Field Road. That roadway plan would have allowed access to upland acreage where the proposed lot subdivision is planned. However, during earlier preliminary discussions, it was clear that Planning Board oversight of a roadway extension would prove a long process, given the surrounding wetlands.

When Davignon went before the Planning Board back on September 18, the plan had changed, with the proposed roadway extension redesigned into a shared private driveway for the two lots, and a large cul-de-sac where Snow Field currently ends. The proposed cul-de-sac would provide frontage for the lots, while the driveway would not require Planning Board oversight.

On this night, Davignon responded to a few questions from the Planning Board and concerns presented by abutters.

Highway Surveyor Barry Denham said the cul-de-sac “looks strange,” with Tucker agreeing.

But Davignon, while agreeing it might look strange, said the design did meet requirements. “It’s not relevant if it looks funny,” said Davignon.

Denham asked, “But do we have a guarantee it complies with zoning requirements? I’ve never seen it before, but I don’t have the expertise to guide the board one way or the other.”

Moving on to other questions, Planning Board member Janice Robbins asked, “In terms of design, who oversees that? Do we have the authorization to ensure it meets guidelines? …It is our duty to approve a driveway?”

Tucker said the board had approved new driveways in the past. He also confirmed to Robbins that the board would be overseeing the construction in terms of its compliance with construction standards.

Regarding if and how the newly created cul-de-sac might become the responsibility of the Town, Tucker said the developer could ask the Town to accept it in the future via a Town Meeting vote. Davignon said, “If it is built to spec, the Town can accept it.” He added, “It happens all the time.”

Abutter Peter LaFreniere asked how the stormwater runoff that is already a problem on Snow Field Road would be managed. Davignon said a drainage study would be completed, yet it was unclear whether that study had begun yet. Davignon said the study would help with drainage calculation and planning.

Abutter Andrea Osborne said, “Our biggest concern is the water.” She likened the changes to the roadway and the creation of a long driveway to a dam. Davignon held to his conclusion that once water movement studies were completed, culverts and berms would allow water to drain properly.

Robbins said, “But your plans show waivers for drainage.”

“Well,” said Davignon, “we are going to do a drainage analysis.”

Abutter Gary Zahn asked how the proposed cul-de-sac was going to benefit the neighbors. Davignon said from a public safety standpoint it would allow emergency vehicles to turn around and access fire hydrants more readily.

Denham stated that he would like to see a peer review consultant brought into the planning process. Tucker concurred, and noted to Davignon that the board would be asking for that consideration.

Tucker then asked Davignon if he thought further preliminary discussions were needed. Davignon said he thought the concept was ready for full Planning Board vetting. The board members agreed to close the preliminary discussion phase.

Next stop for this project is the Conservation Commission scheduled for October 23 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Planning Board is scheduled for November 6 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Planning Board

By Marilou Newell

 

Community Garden Seeks New Home

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Mattapoisett’s Community Garden is, sadly, now homeless – but not for too long, hope the 13 gardeners who have been cultivating garden plots in the soil of private property at the corner of Prospect Street and Pine Island Road for some time.

The community gardeners are wishful that perhaps a Mattapoisett resident with some extra land might graciously have between two-thirds of an acre to an acre of land to lease to continue the community garden activities of avid gardeners who themselves lack the space on their own properties to practice the fulfilling, relaxing, rewarding art of gardening.

Mattapoisett residents Eric and Claudette O’Brien don’t have the space on their postage stamp of a parcel, said Mr. O’Brien, “And I think that’s the case with a lot of people. They just don’t have the land, whether it’s shade or whether it’s simply the space.”

The O’Briens, who visit their garden plot at least once a day to water and tend to the growing bounty, had been enjoying another abundant summer of onions, garlic, kale, broccoli, and squash among other things when the community gardeners received the notice from the landowner that they needed to vacate the property by October 15.

Finding another location for a community garden is essential, says Bob Nichols, who has been gardening at the Pine Island Road site for seven out of the at least 10 years the Community Garden has been there.

Nichols said that historically there has always been some gardening of some sort at the current Community Garden site.

“She (the landowner) feels bad about pulling the plug on this,” said Nichols, “but she has to move on with her life ad I totally understand that.”

A house is now slated for construction at the corner lot.

“I feel bad for the people at the garden,” said Nichols. “I’m probably the only one who has enough room in my back yard…but most of the others, that’s 12 people who don’t have a place to garden next year.”

One thing that is a must for a community garden, says Nichols, is that there has to be a water source or the potential to install one. A community garden would be best if it were centrally located, added Nichols, “But that’s not a must.”

“Once we get started we’re pretty self-sustaining,” said Nichols. “As long as there’s water and we don’t have to do a crazy amount of knocking trees down and digging up stumps.”

Nichols said he was hoping to have another place for the garden by the end of this fall because a certain amount of prep work has to be done to ensure success in the spring.

According to Nichols, he approached the Mattapoisett Agricultural Commission back in May, which received Nichols’ proposal to find town-owned land for a community garden with enthusiasm, the commission even proposed two possible sites for the garden, Nichols said. Since then, though, Nichols says hasn’t heard anything back from the Town.

At this point, says Nichols, “We’ll take anything we can get our hands on.”

Anyone willing to offer up land on which the community gardeners can work their green thumbs, contact Bob Nichols at 508-758-8353.

By Jean Perry

 

Driver Safety Course

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On Thursday, November 9 from 10:00 am to 3:00: pm, the Mattapoisett COA is hosting the AARP Driver Safety Course for licensed drivers of any age. Pre-registration is required no later than November 7 at noon.

Why take a driver safety course? Because driving has changed since you first got your license, and doing so could save you money.

By taking a driver safety course, you’ll learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. You’ll learn how you can manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. There is no test to pass.

You may be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course, so consult your agent for details. You might also be eligible to receive a discount on roadside assistance plans. After attending the course you’ll receive a certificate of completion that can be presented to your insurance agent for a possible reduction in your auto insurance premiums.

Cost is $15 for AARP members, $20 for non-members. Make checks payable to AARP.

There will be a lunch break. You may bring your own lunch or pay a separate $3 fee for pizza at the COA.

Anyone with questions may call Jacqueline Coucci, Council on Aging director, at 508-758-4110.