Progress on the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center has come a long way, Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson told the Board of Selectmen on May 2.

“There has been a tremendous amount of work that has been done,” said Dawson. He gave ‘kudos’ to Facilities Manager Shaun Cormier, as well as to Recreation Director (and Selectman) Jody Dickerson for his contribution, “and lots of different volunteers,” Dawson continued, “including the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department community service team.”

The work done so far, Dawson listed, is painting of the kitchen area, installation of carpet throughout, and installation of ADA-compliant bathrooms and a new heating and air-conditioning system.

According to Dickerson, Cormier estimated that the Town managed to save $17,000 in painting labor costs alone by utilizing the county sheriff’s department community service workers.

“It’s just an incredible amount of effort,” said Selectman Steve Gonsalves.

Selectman Stephen Cushing added, “It’s amazing how many people volunteered. They say it takes a village…. It’s been a whole lot of effort put into this facility and it’s really beginning to show.”

Also during the meeting, the board approved a motion to move forward with a Route 6 corridor study, fully funded by SRPEDD (Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District).

Planning Board and Master Plan transportation subcommittee member Jennifer Francis told the selectmen in a letter that SRPEDD, with some existing funding, would sponsor a study of Route 6 from the Mattapoisett line to the Wareham line.

Dickerson said that Mattapoisett Town Administrator Michael Gagne mentioned during last week’s Tri-Town Boards of Selectmen meeting that Mattapoisett would be undergoing a similar Route 6 study and suggested the two towns coordinate their efforts. Marion selectmen agreed and will have the Marion Planning Board contact the Mattapoisett Planning Board to begin the conversation.

In other matters, the board granted Brew Fish an amendment to their entertainment license to allow for up to a two-piece acoustic performance outside on the patio. Hours are limited to Thursday 5:00 – 9:30 pm, Friday 5:00 – 11:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 – 11:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 – 9:30 pm. The board encouraged further sound mitigation so that neighbors will not be disturbed by the music.

The selectmen have arranged their summer meeting schedule as follows: July 11, August 1, and August 15 at 7:00 pm at the Marion police station.

This was Selectman Stephen Cushing’s last regular meeting as a selectman before the Marion Town Election. Dickerson thanked Cushing for his years of service, and Cushing thanked members of the town hall administration as well as his fellow selectmen and town department heads for their work and support.

“It’s been an honor…” Cushing said. The board celebrated with a cake once the meeting was over.

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for May 16 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

Marion Board of Selectmen

By Jean Perry

Rochester Planning Board Chairman Arnold Johnson essentially told Wellspring Farm owners Jim and Holly Vogel to hold their horses before continuing any further work until the board completes its Site Plan Review of the therapeutic horse riding facility for children and adults with developmental disabilities at 42 Hiller Road.

Before getting too deep into the public hearing the night of April 25, Johnson sternly cautioned any abutters present that the Planning Board would not be focusing on the use of the property – that was up to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which had already granted the Vogels a Special Permit for use. The Planning Board was only concerned about matters of parking, drainage, traffic flow, and screening.

Johnson then turned to the applicants’ attorney George Boerger and issued another stern warning regarding concerns the board voiced during the initial preliminary informal meeting that remained unaddressed in the Site Plan Review submitted to the board.

First, though, Johnson said he found out that work had begun without a permit “accidentally.”

“I talked to the contractor … and asked him if he had a plan,” said Johnson. “And he said ‘no.’”

Johnson said he sent the contractor to the Town Hall Annex for the proper application at that time.

“It kind of angers me a little bit that you file an application with us, and we don’t even open the public hearing … and work starts on it that really isn’t allowed and isn’t really what you’re presenting to us [in your plan],” said Johnson, “…and tonight you show up and you don’t even have that squared away.”

Boerger replied, “I apologize for anything that we’ve done.” Mr. Vogel later took responsibility for the work and apologized himself.

“The bottom line is, you jumped the gun,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure why you jumped the gun. It took a long while to get to this night.”

Johnson again cautioned the applicant, “It’s all one hundred percent at your risk because the Planning Board has the absolute right to rip it all up and restore it to what it all was and then rip it all up again and make it a parking lot.”

“We just want to move forward,” Boerger said. “There’s no intent to not work with the board. I’m sorry that happened.”

Johnson told Boerger a traffic study for independent review would be necessary, including how many vehicles enter and exit and the traffic flow.

There was some discussion over some fencing – existing and new – meant to screen the business from abutters. ZBA Chairman Richard Cutler was present to help the Planning Board who asked Cutler a number of times to explain the intent of certain aspects of the fence.

Several abutters complained about older fence falling down and looking “junky,” as Kathy Mendoza of 32 Hiller Road described it.

“We can address the fence issue,” said Boerger. “That is not an issue.”

The public hearing was continued until May 9.

The next meeting of the Rochester Planning Board is scheduled for May 9 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

“I have to hold my nose,” said Mattapoisett Conservation Commission Chairman Bob Rogers as the commission reviewed, one more time, a request by Jay and Julie Duker for an Amended Order of Conditions for the construction of a pier and floating dock into Aucoot Cove.

After months of technical explanation by their representative David Davignon of N. Douglas Schneider & Associates, and after concerned comments by several abutters, most notably Brad and Jane Hathaway, the commission originally granted the project an Order of Conditions in August 2015, allowing it to proceed.

The Dukers’ project had changed over the winter, sending Davignon back to the Conservation Commission with a request for modification to orders previously granted. Now the Dukers wished to scale back the length of the pier.

With the public hearing reopened on April 24, Davignon presented the final plan. Issues related to the type of wood that would be used to construct the pier were resolved as Davignon said that “green-heart” pilings would be used with pressure treated boards for the walkway, a change from all green-heart material.

Other conditions previously set included protection to the marsh and barrier beach areas during construction with the majority of the work taking place from the water, albeit very low water.

“It doesn’t make good sense to me to have it built on a barrier beach,” said Rogers, but he also noted that the project had already received ConCom approval and that this hearing was simply to amend the order of conditions. “We are trying to get as much environmental protection as we can,” he said.

Brad Hathaway still objected. “This is crazy!” said Hathaway. He and his daughter Jane once again attempted to present a variety of reasons why the project was ill-conceived, including the presence of eelgrass and storm surge potential. But Rogers reminded them that the project was already approved.

“The plan will apparently go to the State,” Hathaway concluded, adding with exasperation, “…and the State has done a lousy job for Mattapoisett.”

Rogers responded, “The plan could be appealed. I would just as soon not vote for it, but if it goes to the DEP, we’d be spending money.”

Commissioner Mike King interjected, motioning to the Hathaways, “With all due respect, this is an amendment.”

Jane Hathaway countered, “With all due respect, while we can voice our concerns we will.”

The commissioners voted to accept the amended plans that included that all conditions imposed on the project are detailed on the plan of record.

Jeff Youngquist of Outback Engineering was back before the commissioners with plan modifications from the Reservation Golf Club for repairs to a golf cart path.

The commissioners accepted a revision for the construction of a wooden bridge over a culvert versus repairs to the culvert.

“They’ll leave it as natural as possible,” Youngquist said. He also said that the golf club would be back before the commission when the proposed bike path extension came near the area in question and also that a Chapter 91 waterways license was pending. An order of conditions was drafted for the notice of intent filing.

Also coming before the commissioners and receiving orders of conditions were Jeff Himawan and Andrew Bennett with a notice of intent filing for construction of a new home at 10

Point Road in Pease’s Point; Derek Tavares, 3 Nantucket Drive, with a request for determination of applicability for the construction of a shed; and Peter Chimel, 10 Brandt Island Road with a request for determination of applicability for the installation of an in-ground pool.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for May 22 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell